First Females Podcast
A podcast celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first female ascent of Mount Everest and recognising women in mountaineering.
“Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is most important”
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!
I’m beyond excited to announce that my second guest on First Females is Hannah Shields - a mountaineer, endurance athlete, and the first Northern Irish woman to summit Mount Everest.
From Everest to the North Pole, Hannah has survived inhospitable conditions, unexpected setbacks, and experienced moments of triumph. She offers invaluable advice for anyone who wants to take on a challenge, reflecting on the lessons she’s learned about perseverance, adaptability, and pushing past limits.
Episode 2 is now live - listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at the links above.
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 are developing a new film project to bring Junko’s story to a wider global audience. The team are actively looking for financial support to make this happen. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a legacy project that celebrates a forgotten female as well as resilience, ambition and achievement.
If you’re interested in supporting or helping us grow this vision, please get in touch.
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
