Lydia Bradey on Everest, Resilience, and Redefining Women’s Mountaineering

In this episode of the Overheard Podcast, recorded live at the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, host Dan Ruedl sits down with legendary New Zealand mountaineer Lydia Bradey. The first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen. Lydia reflects on her early life, the hardships of breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport, and the personal growth that came with her historic ascent in 1988.

They dive into Lydia’s long career as a high-altitude guide, her work across the world’s most extreme environments, and her contribution to Joanna Croston’s new book, Mountaineering Women: Climbing Through History — a powerful collection of stories shining light on women whose achievements were too often overlooked.

Lydia opens up about humility, resilience, and what it means to tell women’s stories in mountaineering — stories that may be “less boastful,” but no less extraordinary.

Listen as Lydia Bradey shares the wisdom earned from decades at altitude, and what she’s learned about courage, silence, and the climb within.