First Females Podcast
A podcast celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first female ascent of Mount Everest and recognising women in mountaineering.
In 1975, Junko Tabei became the first woman to climb to the summit of Mount Everest.
Over the past 50 years, almost 900 women have followed in her footsteps, defying cultural and physical barriers to reach the world's top.
Very few people have heard of Junko Tabei. The First Females Podcast is being made to shine a spotlight on her remarkable achievement and to celebrate the incredible stories of women from around the world who were the first from their countries to reach the summit of Everest.
In her interviews with female Everest summiteers from around the world, Tori will bring her unique perspective and firsthand experience to the conversation to inspire future generations of women to dream big, climb higher, and break barriers in their own lives.
The podcast is being made in Wales with support from Huw James, a science presenter and filmmaker from Caerphilly, and Bethan Lee from Cardiff who will be supporting with the planning and coordination of the project.
Register for Tori’s newsletter to be the first to listen each fortnight!
“Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is most important”
In this (eighth) very special episode of the First Females Podcast, recorded in Nepal, I sit down with Everest Summiteer & Seven Summits Summiteer Jo Bradshaw to talk about legacy, resilience, and why some stories still haven’t been told loudly enough.
Against the backdrop of the Himalayas, our conversation weaves together Jo’s own extraordinary experiences on Everest with her deep commitment to celebrating the life and impact of Junko Tabei.
Episode 8 is now live - listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at the links above.
See previous episodes below:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Following in her footsteps - Yala Peak Trek
To mark 50 years since Junko’s Everest ascent, Tori returned to Nepal in April with fellow summiteer Jo Bradshaw, Adventurous Ewe and an amazing team of women, to climb Yala Peak (5,550m) - one of the peaks climbed by Junko.
On 21 April 2025, after five days of trekking and acclimatising with the support of brilliant local guides, porters, and cooks, they reached the rocky summit under clear skies. The team’s energy, resilience, and support for one another made it an unforgettable journey. Tori will produce a special podcast episode from the Yala Peak Expedition transporting listeners to the mountain trails and summits of Nepal, as well as capturing the experiences of the team.
With footage from this expedition they have developed a new film project to bring Junko’s story to a wider global audience. ‘More Than a Mountain’ is a documentary film which focuses on this year’s Yala Peak expedition, led by fellow Everest Summiteer Jo Bradshaw, in which they walked in the footsteps of Junko. What began as a trek quickly became a deeper story of connection, courage, and celebration, as an extraordinary group of women came together to honour the pioneering spirit of a woman who has been hidden in history.
You can watch the film here and if you’re interested in screening the film or helping us grow this vision, please get in touch & follow the film on instagram.
Photo Credit - Jess Tinkler
Photo Credit - Jess Tinkler
Would you like to get involved?
Tori would love to work with sponsors who share her motivation for shining a spotlight on women’s achievements within mountaineering and beyond.
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, get in touch!
Artwork by Tomas Bjerkan - 3rd Undergraduate Design Student, York St John University
