132: Think You're Too Old? She Climbed El Capitan at age 70: With Dierdre Wolownick episode artwork

EPISODE · May 5, 2026 · 58 MIN

132: Think You're Too Old? She Climbed El Capitan at age 70: With Dierdre Wolownick

from Girls Talk Healthy Aging · host Alli Kerr & Shawna Kaminski

What if everything you've been told about aging is wrong? In this unforgettable episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with the extraordinary Dierdre Wolownick—a woman who didn't just defy aging stereotypes… she shattered them. Dierdre started rock climbing at age 60. At 70, she climbed Yosemite's legendary El Capitan—becoming the oldest woman to ever do it. Oh—and she also happens to be the mother of world-renowned climber Alex Honnold of Free Solo fame. But this conversation goes far beyond climbing. It's about curiosity, courage, reinvention, and what's truly possible when you stop listening to the noise telling you to slow down. Dierdre shares: Why fear is often just a lack of knowledge—and how learning dissolves it How curiosity became her greatest superpower (and how to reignite yours) The moment she decided she didn't just want to watch climbers… she wanted to be one Why society's expectations around aging are limiting—and how to break free from them Her powerful philosophy: stop consuming media that tells you how to age How to listen to your body and mind instead of external pressure The biggest mistake people make when starting a new goal (and why it causes them to quit) Dierdre also breaks down her award-winning framework from her book Success in 7 Steps—a simple, actionable system to help you achieve any goal at any age. You'll learn the three key categories that drive real success and how to start in a way that actually sticks. With a life that spans continents and careers—teacher of five languages, international speaker, musician, marathoner, artist, and founder of a community orchestra—Dierdre is the definition of lifelong growth. Her story is living proof that it's never too late to start… and never too late to become someone new. If you've ever thought, "Maybe I'm too old for that"… this episode will change the way you see your future. Because aging isn't about slowing down—it's about deciding how far you still want to go. Watch the video trailer for Climbing Into Life: The Dierdre Wolownick Story: https://youtu.be/Q6JXH1mdWIM?si=Z-0gjstM995I73vt Get Deirdre's book Success in 7 Steps here: https://www.amazon.com/Success-7-Steps-Dierdre-Wolownick/dp/B0DXDK3P5F Follow Deirdre on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dierdre_wolownick_honnold/ *Subscribe, Share, & Rate our Show. And follow us on social media:**   📷 Instagram: @GirlsTalkHealthyAging   Facebook Group: Girls Talk Healthy Aging: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030 🌐 Website: GirlsTalkHealthyAging.com   📧 Email: [email protected] Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://shawnakworkouts.com Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).  Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online here: https://www.thepinkphysique.com 

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132: Think You're Too Old? She Climbed El Capitan at age 70: With Dierdre Wolownick

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Humanizing Change Tremendousness Join us each episode as we talk with innovators in their respective fields about their unique journeys and how they humanize change in their own work, right here, on Humanizing Change. Tips, News and Stories for Older Adults Esther C Kane CAPS, C.D.S. "Tips, News, and Stories for Older Adults" delivers weekly insights tailored for seniors. We bring you summaries of curated news, practical advice, and inspiring stories that matter to the 55+ community. From health and finance to technology and lifestyle, our content keeps you informed and engaged. Sourced from trusted outlets, each episode offers valuable information for navigating your golden years. Join us as we explore aging with positivity, wisdom, and engaging stories. Your perfect companion for staying active, learning, and embracing life's later chapters. AI Erik's Podcast Audio Erik Conn The AI News Podcast where we talk AI. NEWMORROW SESSIONS - A PodCast Series on the Future of Hospitality Mario C. Bauer, Florian Schneider, Axel Weber & Dr. Tillman Bardt The Newmorrow PodCast is more than a podcast — it's a platform for open dialog on the future of our business, a platform for those building what doesn’t exist yet. Here, we share and embrace our passion for the hospitality industry, but we won’t romanticize the journey. We ask the tough questions, confront uncomfortable truths, and prepare for a future that resists easy answers. We believe that the tougher and wilder times become, the more openly, honestly and humanely people need to talk to each other and act together. We believe, openness, togetherness, and truthfulness should also be cornerstones of a professional community to develop our utopian idea of „open source“. This is a space where visionaries don’t just imagine the future — they wrestle with the paradoxes that shape it: success vs. happiness, data vs. instinct, stability vs. reinvention. Join leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers as they share not what made them — but what’s actively shaping them, now and next. So tune in

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How long is this episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging?

This episode is 58 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 5, 2026.

What is this episode about?

What if everything you've been told about aging is wrong? In this unforgettable episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with the extraordinary Dierdre Wolownick—a woman who didn't just defy aging...

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