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.

In this episode of the Overheard Podcast, we sit down with legendary Canadian climber Sonnie Trotter — one of the most influential voices in modern rock climbing. From his early days learning to climb in a grain silo in southern Ontario to conquering some of the hardest routes on the planet, including Cobra Crack, The Path, and Rhapsody, Sonnie has spent thirty years pushing the limits of what’s possible on rock.

Now, with his new book Uplifted, Sonnie turns his focus inward — reflecting on the lessons, relationships, and moments that have shaped his life in the vertical world. He speaks candidly about balancing ambition with family, risk with purpose, and how the act of writing gave him a new perspective on his lifelong passion for climbing.

Recorded live during the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, this conversation explores the art of storytelling, the evolution of adventure, and the mindset required to stay inspired after decades at the top of your sport.

If you love climbing, outdoor storytelling, or simply hearing from someone who’s dedicated his life to living with purpose, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!!

n this episode of Overheard, host Dan Ruedl sits down with award-winning author and environmental writer Craig Childs, winner of the Environmental Literature Award at the 2025 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival for his latest work, The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light.

From the deserts of the American Southwest to the artist cabins of the Banff Centre, Childs shares the story behind his newest book — a journey by bicycle from the blinding glow of Las Vegas to one of the darkest night skies in North America. Together, they explore what darkness means in an age of light pollution, the value of solitude, and how reconnecting with the stars can help us see ourselves and our planet more clearly.

Craig discusses his creative process during his Banff Centre residency, his lifelong connection to wild landscapes, and how The Wild Dark fits into the broader arc of his celebrated career as one of North America’s foremost voices in environmental literature.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about wilderness, wonder, and what it means to truly look up.