Take the Lead: Hanging On, Letting Go, and Conquering Life's Hardest Climbs

Written by Sasha DiGiulian

Narrated by Sasha DiGiulian

This program is read by the author.

World champion climber Sasha DiGiulian tells her story—from coming of age under the scrutiny of social media, navigating a male-dominated sport, and tackling her most heart-stopping climbs—and shares the power of perseverance and positivity.

At age six, Sasha DiGiulian stepped into a climbing gym for the first time and was competing within a year. Decked out in all-pink gear and with her blonde hair tied into pigtails, Sasha knew from an early age what it was like to be a girl in a traditionally male-dominated sport, vowing to never sacrifice her femininity to fit in. With a fierce love for the climb and incredible natural talent, Sasha soon won her first National Sport Climbing Championship at only seventeen, and a year later took the title of World Champion.

To her fans, it looked like Sasha was on top of the world. But under the accolades, she was just another young woman learning how to handle the intense scrutiny of social media and dealing with body dysmorphia, all while quietly facing a potentially career-ending injury. In a relatable and inspiring voice, Take the Lead reflects on the highs and lows of Sasha’s illustrious life and career for the first time, bringing listeners on her remarkable journey from novice climber to Columbia University graduate, adventurer, environmentalist, and entrepreneur, and one of the most recognizable faces in climbing.

For listeners of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and Megan Rapinoe’s One Life, Take the Lead ultimately emphasizes the power of perseverance, fearlessness and positivity in tackling some of the most daunting and fearsome climbs—on and off the wall.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Sep 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781250290380

Sasha DiGiulian

SASHA DIGIULIAN is a world champion climber and three-time U.S. national champion. At 30 years old she has traveled to over 50 countries and accomplished 30+ First and First Female Ascents. In 2016 she graduated from Columbia University with a focus on journalism and business, and is the founder and CEO of SEND Bars, a superfood nutrition bar company. Aside from having been featured in dozens of magazines and news media pieces, she has written for many publications, including Outside magazine, National Geographic, Rock and Ice, SELF, Seventeen, and CRAVE. Sasha is an outspoken environmental activist and a global athlete ambassador for Right to Play and Up2Us Sports. She has served on the Board of the Women’s Sports Foundation for several years and travels globally for speaking engagements, sporting events, and commercial work.

Reviews for Take the Lead

[Dan T · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not a climber, but enjoyed the book! Easy to get “hooked” (pun intended) on it.