Thirty Below and the Heart of Human Spirit with Cassidy Randall

Award-winning author and journalist Cassidy Randall joins Overheard Podcast fresh from winning the Banff Award for Mountain Literature at the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Her new book, Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women’s Ascent of Denali, has been celebrated by Vanity Fair, TIME, Outside, and The Washington Post—and now stands as one of the most talked-about works in modern mountain literature. In this conversation, Cassidy reflects on the forgotten history of the women who dared to climb Denali, the creative process behind bringing their story to life, and what it means to have that work recognized on the world stage in Banff. She opens up about her personal journey as a writer, her connection to wild places, and the ongoing challenges women face in adventure and storytelling. Recorded live during the 50th Anniversary of the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, this episode dives deep into courage, creativity, and what it truly means to break trail—on the mountain and on the page. Keywords: Cassidy Randall, Thirty Below, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, Banff Award for Mountain Literature, Denali, women in climbing, mountain literature, adventure writing, Overheard Podcast, Banff Centre, female adventurers, outdoor storytelling.