About this episode
The episode explores how mountaineering and endurance running reflect changing ideas of freedom, identity, and the body through discussions with experts on women's autonomy in outdoor adventure.
What can the worlds of mountaineering and endurance running reveal about changing ideas of freedom, identity and the body? Laurie Taylor talks to Sarah Lonsdale, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at City, University of London, about her new book Wildly Different - her study of early 20th‑century women who sought autonomy through outdoor adventure. She focuses on the mountaineer Dorothy Pilley, whose Alpine achievements and reflective writing challenged prevailing assumptions about femininity and physical capability. In 'Dirtbag Dreams', Carl Morris (sociologist, historian and social psychologist from the University of Lancashire) explores the history of mountain, ultra and trail running in the US and Britain from its origins right up until today. He asks if the ever-increasing popularity of these sports risk making them overly commercial and corporate? A keen fell runner himself, Morris examines the distinctive values that shape these endurance communities, including ideas of authenticity, self‑sufficiency and the pursuit of physical extremity. Producer: Natalia Fernandez
People in this episode
Host: Laurie Taylor
Guests: Sarah Lonsdale, Carl Morris
Topics covered
- mountaineering
- endurance running
- freedom
- identity
- femininity
- physical capability
- authenticity
Keywords
- mountaineering
- endurance running
- freedom
- identity
- femininity
- authenticity
- physical capability
- outdoor adventure
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: City, University of London, University of Lancashire
Books & works: Wildly Different, Dirtbag Dreams
More episodes of Thinking Allowed
- Football and gambling · June 9, 2026 · 28 min
- Ethics in sociological research · June 2, 2026 · 28 min
- Suicide, Society and Liveability · May 26, 2026 · 27 min
- Debt and Wealth Inequality · March 10, 2026 · 28 min
- The demise of Grand Theory? · February 25, 2026 · 28 min
- Gentrification in Detroit and London · February 17, 2026 · 28 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Thinking Allowed podcast page.