50 years ago today, Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei became the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest.

At 12:30 on May 16th, 1975, Junko Tabei and Sherpa Ang Tsering reached the summit. "Here is the summit. I don’t have to climb any more” were Junko’s words, “There was no higher place in the world than where we stood and the sensation was tremendous”.


Photo credit - The Junko Tabei Foundation

Today, on this historic anniversary, I’m incredibly proud to launch First Females, my new podcast celebrating trailblazing women like Junko who dared to go first.

First Females Podcast

Very few people have heard of Junko Tabei, and for that reason, I decided to embark on a project 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. 

The First Females podcast aims to explore their motivations, the challenges they faced, and the legacy they leave behind. I hope to bring a unique perspective and firsthand experience to the conversation with the aim of inspiring future generations of women to dream big, climb higher, and break barriers in their own lives.

New episodes will be released every fortnight. Please give it a listen, share it, leave a review, and let me know what you think.

Episode 1: Rebecca Stephens

We’re launching with a legend - Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to summit Everest.

In this debut episode, we explore the legacy of Junko Tabei’s historic first ascent, the evolution of women in mountaineering, and Rebecca’s own journey from journalist to record-breaking climber.  

Discovering the Mountains

Rebecca didn’t grow up surrounded by peaks. In fact, she had no climbing background when she first stepped into the world of mountaineering. But a chance encounter with legendary climber Edmund Hillary sparked her curiosity, leading her to cover an Everest expedition as a journalist. That experience changed everything.  

During that first trip, she climbed to 7,100 meters on Everest’s northeast ridge and discovered a love for high-altitude adventure. The thrill, the challenge, the intensity - it was a revelation. From that moment, she knew she wanted to climb Everest herself.  

Summiting Everest & Becoming the First

Rebecca’s journey to Everest in 1993 wasn’t easy. She had to leave her job, find sponsorship, and train intensely. But even after reaching the mountain, obstacles kept piling up - bad weather, exhaustion, and missed summit attempts tested her resilience.  

Just as hope was fading, Rebecca’s Sherpa teammates stepped forward, offering their support. Together, she made one final push for the summit, overcoming extreme fatigue and uncertainty. On May 17, 1993, she stood on top of the world, becoming the first British woman to reach Everest’s peak.  

Honouring Women in Mountaineering

Rebecca is passionate about celebrating Junko Tabei, whose 1975 summit paved the way for other women on Everest. In March 2025, in conjunction with the Mount Everest Foundation Rebecca organised a ‘Women at Altitude' event at the Royal Geographical Society in London where among the guests were 20 female Everest summiteers. 

In our conversation, she shares why this milestone deserves global recognition, the barriers Junko overcame, and the lessons we can take from her remarkable story.  

Rebecca’s journey is one of courage, determination, and breaking barriers - qualities at the heart of First Females.  

Listen to the episode here: 

You can continue follow Rebecca’s adventures on:

Instagram: @rebeccastephensofficial

Website: www.rebeccastephens.com

X: @RStephens7S

Thank you

I would like to extend an enormous thank you to the talented Huw James and Bethan Lee who have supported me in the production of the First Females podcast. Without them, I would certainly not have anything to share with you today.

Huw James, a science presenter, adventurer, and content creator from Wales who has supported all of the technical production of the podcast. Huw brings invaluable expertise, passion for quality, and meticulous attention to detail. Huw is the host and producer of the Athlete Climate Academy podcast.

Bethan Lee is the incredible woman who supports the delivery of my projects, from talks and events, to festivals and now podcasts. She brings them to life visually and organisationally.

Sponsorship Opportunities

I’d love to involve others who share a motivation for shining a spotlight on women’s achievements within mountaineering and beyond. I’m actively looking for funding to support the production of the First Females podcast. If you're interested in sponsoring the First Females podcast, please get in touch.