Austrian outfitter Lukas Furtenbach has been dreaming of the Himalayas since childhood, inspired by postcards from his uncle, a doctor on Reinhold Messner’s expeditions. Years later, Furtenbach turned that obsession into a radical business model: running expeditions on the world’s deadliest mountains that are safer, faster, and more successful than ever before.

By fusing modern medicine with cutting-edge technology, he’s built a thriving operation for elite clients—one that relentlessly pushes the limits of what’s possible, and, critics argue, what’s ethical.

In this episode, we talk with Lukas about his career and his vision for a new way to climb Mt. Everest. We explore the uncomfortable tension at the heart of the industry: climbers are drawn by real risk, while operators are tasked with eliminating it.

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Everest has always stood at the crossroads of myth, power and ambition. In this episode, author and climber Ed Douglas unpacks the forgotten colonial history of Everest, from military invasions and mystical misconceptions to the birth of the expedition industry as a tool of Empire.

We dive into how the mountain was claimed, named, mapped, monetised, and how these power dynamics still echo today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everest.Lives is a podcast exploring the world’s most iconic mountain, through bold questions, surprising stories and voices you rarely hear. Hosted by Himalayan journalist Ben Ayers and documentary director Claudia Corbisiero, the series digs into the truth behind our global obsession with Everest. From fake summits and forgotten heroes to avalanches, rescues, and rivalries, this is the raw, real human drama playing out on the roof of the world.

From the team behind Everest.Live. New episodes coming soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.