Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life

Ed Viesturs was a childhood hero of mine. When I was younger—dreaming about mountains—his story helped shape what I thought “greatness” actually was: more than bravado, but also patience, judgment, and the discipline to come home.In this episode, Ed takes us inside an 18-year mission: climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen—with Annapurna as the final, most dangerous obstacle. We talk about the real risk near the end of any long goal: when attention, pressure, and expectations tempt you to break the rules that kept you safe in the first place—and the one rule Ed used to survive. What we cover The “long game” mindset that lasts decades  Why Annapurna was “off the charts” dangerous  How pressure (fame/sponsors/ego) makes people “step over the edge”  Why the summit isn’t the finish—getting down is ReferencesNo Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World’s 14 Highest Peaks — Ed Viesturs (with David Roberts) 🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Greg Benning is a masters single sculler outside Boston — and at 64, he’s still finding ways to get faster. I came into this conversation not knowing much about rowing, but that’s exactly what made it powerful: once Greg translates the sport, what emerges is a universal framework for longevity performance.For the last 15 years, Greg’s question has been simple: can marginal gains in efficiency offset age-related decline? In this episode, he shares the practical systems that keep him sharp — from how he thinks about “power leaks” in the kinetic chain, to how he refined fueling around hard sessions, to the daily logistics that make consistency possible in a real adult life. In This Episode, You’ll Hear The mindset shift: treating aging as a problem-solving game, not a verdict  A simple “1% method” for identifying the small changes that compound over years  Why rowing is a power-endurance sport (and how it compares to running/cycling/swimming)  The hidden performance trap Greg discovered: under-fueling hard days — and how changing it improved how he felt and performed  How technical execution gets harder under high exertion — and why cues matter most when it “hurts”  The environment side of longevity: designing mornings so training is frictionless (and traffic-free)  Why equipment and connection points matter — where speed gets “lost” before it ever reaches the water Resources Mentioned / Related Joe Friel’s Training Bible (referenced in discussion)  Shimano Rowing Dynamics / footwear and “power leak” discussion (related article/background)🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Amelia Boone rose to prominence in the early 2010s as one of obstacle racing’s most dominant competitors — known for thriving in long-format, high-suffering events and earning the “queen of pain” reputation. But this conversation is less about grit-as-identity… and more about what it takes to stay capable for decades.We talk about the hidden cost of over-optimizing, why Amelia stepped away from tracking sleep and HRV, and how longevity often demands a shift: from proving toughness to practicing it — through better self-honesty, better recovery, and a calmer relationship with effort.What We Cover The public “queen of pain” persona vs. the reality underneath it  Why she stopped tracking sleep/HRV — and what she gained instead  The difference between pushing through and listening early  How obsession can masquerade as discipline  A practical way to assess readiness without outsourcing it to a score  Staying ambitious while protecting the long gameIf you’re trying to stay strong, curious, and capable for the long haul — without letting training turn into a second job, a stressor, or a scoreboard — this conversation is a grounded reminder of what actually scales with age: self-honesty, restraint when it counts, and a relationship with effort that leaves you more alive, not more depleted.References:Amelia writes brilliantly on her Substack! 🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What happens when the moment that changes your life doesn’t come from the “dangerous” thing… but from an ordinary day at home?Cedar Wright has spent decades in the vertical world—professional climber, storyteller, and filmmaker whose adventures helped bring climbing culture to a wider audience. But in this conversation, the sharpest lesson isn’t about climbing at all. It’s about how quickly capability can disappear—and how “next year” is never guaranteed. In this episode The freak accident that broke Cedar’s neck—and the clarity it forced  Why “playing it safe” can still cost you the life you want  The difference between reckless risk and chosen risk (and how to live with consequence)  Watching a friend lose the ability to climb—and what it taught Cedar about urgency  Staying hungry at 51: identity, edge, and how to keep moving forward without pretending you’re invincible  Cedar’s “fetal attempt at immortality”: leaving something behind that outlasts him Cedar’s films + storytellingCedar talks about using small cameras, self-shooting, and editing to tell stories that go beyond climbing—and how the “Sufferfest” films resonated with people because they were about having a big-hearted adventure close to home. Follow Cedar on InstagramSupport Cedar’s Dirtbag Fund!Cedar founded The Dirtbag Fund to give small grants to young climbers who are scrapping by, contributing to adventure culture, and pushing their craft forward. Cedar describes it as a big part of the legacy he wants to leave behind—and a way to keep the door open for the next generation.How to give back: (and yes—Cedar notes it’s tax deductible, and even $1 helps). Go to  https://www.thedirtbagfund.com/🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Amy Appelhans Gubsers (56) is a nurse at UCSF, a mom and grandma, and the first person to swim from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands—nearly 30 miles and roughly 17 hours in cold Pacific water, in what many consider shark territory. This is more than an epic swim. It’s a practical conversation about how big goals actually get done: patience over years, calm under pressure, and the ability to keep moving when conditions stop cooperating.In this episode: The long-game reality behind “overnight” achievements  The mental skill that mattered most during 17 hours  Cold-water decision-making + staying calm  Sharks: real risk, smart planning  Why goals like this are never truly solo Takeaway: Massive goals aren’t won by hype. They’re earned through durable process. From the vault: recorded + released ~1.5 years ago — still one of our clearest blueprints for pursuing a massive goal with real stakes.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Overhead motion is everywhere — in sport and in life. This episode is a practical deep dive on shoulder pain with Dr. Tyler Nelson, who works primarily with climbers but applies the same principles across overhead athletes and active adults: build tolerance with smart progressions, manage volume, and avoid getting trapped chasing “perfect fixes.”What to expectThis is more technical than a typical Ageless Athlete episode — but it stays grounded. You’ll get: a clearer way to think about overhead shoulder pain (without spiraling into anatomy anxiety)  how to scale training while symptoms settle (instead of fully shutting down)  how to rebuild overhead strength and range over time with progression Practical takeawaysOverhead pain isn’t automatically “dangerous.” Often the move is: modify the dose, don’t panic. Capacity beats perfection. Many mechanics narratives become a distraction from what matters most: what your shoulder can tolerate week to week. Progress by angle before chasing full overhead volume. A simple ladder: horizontal pulling → angled pulling → true overhead (and for climbers: steeper angles → less steep → vertical over months). Every drill is still load. It’s easy to accidentally stack too much “rehab” on top of training. You don’t need a forever routine. Once things feel normal, the goal is a shoulder that holds up in real life — not a lifelong checklist of correctives. Watch the video version (recommended for this episode)Many of the movements and drills Tyler references are easiest to understand visually. You can watch the full video episode here: https://www.youtube.com/@agelessathletepodcastAbout Dr. Tyler NelsonTyler is a clinician and educator focused on upper-extremity injuries. He works mostly with climbers, but his framework translates cleanly to anyone training or working overhead. Connect with Tyler Camp4 Human Performance (C4HP): https://www.camp4humanperformance.com/ About Tyler: https://www.camp4humanperformance.com/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c4hp/References (optional further reading) Scapular dyskinesis and shoulder injury risk (systematic review/meta-analysis): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33211975/ Rotator cuff–related shoulder pain framework (Lewis 2016): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27083390/ Scapular dyskinesis clinical assessment reliability/limitations: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7646607/Friendly noteThis episode is educational and not medical advice. If you’ve had a major traumatic injury, dislocation, progressive neurologic symptoms (numbness/weakness), or severe loss of function, consider evaluat🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What if staying athletic for life isn’t about doing one thing really well — but learning how to start over, again and again?Susan Hunt has spent the last four decades doing exactly that.She describes herself as “very average” — yet she’s completed Ironman triathlons, raced the Eco-Challenge in Borneo, run the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara, and summited Mount Everest at 53.Now at 68, she’s still competing — recently winning her age group at a Half Ironman and qualifying for the World Championships.What makes Susan different isn’t just what she’s done.It’s how many times she’s started over.In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to stay capable for decades — not just physically, but mentally.We talk about reinvention as a skill, how to approach training across different disciplines, and why knowing when to turn back might matter more than pushing forward.This is a conversation about building a body that lasts — and a mindset that keeps expanding.👤 About Susan HuntSusan Hunt is an endurance athlete and adventurer whose career spans multiple disciplines and decades.Her accomplishments include completing an Ironman triathlon, racing the Eco-Challenge in Borneo, running the Marathon des Sables, and summiting Mount Everest at age 53.She continues to compete today, most recently winning her age group at a Half Ironman at 68.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it take to stay capable through the years?Jason Hardrath is one of the most creative endurance athletes in the mountains today.An ultrarunner, climber, and mountain linkup specialist, Jason is known for massive single-push adventures that combine running, climbing, swimming, biking, and even paragliding. He has completed the Bulger List — the 100 highest peaks in Washington — in record time, along with numerous Fastest Known Times (FKTs) and ambitious multi-sport mountain projects.But this conversation isn’t about the feats themselves.It’s about how Jason is preparing for the long game.At just 36 — younger than most guests on Ageless Athlete — Jason is already thinking carefully about how to train, recover, and fuel differently so he can keep exploring the mountains for decades to come.In this episode, we explore three key shifts Jason is making now to stay strong and agile as he ages, along with the mindset that allows him to keep evolving as an athlete.We also talk about:• Why Jason began combining running, climbing, and flying in the mountains • The story behind some of his most ambitious mountain linkups • What COVID and injury taught him about identity as an athlete • How he approaches strength training and recovery differently now • Nutrition, inflammation, and the habits that help him stay durable • Why every athlete should think about the long gameThis conversation is ultimately about something deeper than performance.It’s about building a relationship with your body — and your passions — that can last a lifetime.Connect with JasonWebsite: https://www.jasonhardrath.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonhardrath🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What happens when the thing that defines you is suddenly taken away?For legendary American alpinist Jack Tackle, climbing wasn’t just a sport — it was identity.For more than five decades, Jack has explored remote mountains across Alaska, the Himalaya, and the Karakoram. He spent decades guiding in the Tetons and helping shape an era of bold American alpinism built on patience, partnership, and resilience.But in the year 2001, everything changed.Jack was struck by Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system. Within days he lost the ability to walk and spent 53 days in the hospital, much of that time in intensive care. Doctors later told him that if treatment had come even a day later, he likely would not have survived.For many climbers, that moment would have marked the end.Nine months later, Jack guided a client across the Grand Traverse in the Tetons — one of the most demanding ridge climbs in the United States.Now in his seventies, Jack is still climbing and still reflecting on the deeper question that many athletes eventually face:What happens when your body changes… but the thing that defines you is still calling?In this conversation, Jack shares lessons from a lifetime in the mountains — about resilience, identity, consistency, and the quiet discipline required to keep showing up decade after decade.This episode isn’t just about climbing.It’s about the deeper human question of what we fight to keep in our lives — and why it matters.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

It’s March.The January energy has faded. The motivation posts are quieter. And this is where the real long game begins.In this episode, I lay out 10 non-negotiables for athletes who plan to keep performing — not just this year, but for decades.This isn’t about hype. It isn’t about biohacking. And it definitely isn’t about chasing trends.It’s about durability.Drawing from over 100 conversations with top athletes, as well as, coaches, and scientists on Ageless Athlete,— I unpack what actually holds up.We cover:Why longevity medicine is being over-marketed — and what truly scalesThe role of deliberate novelty in protecting your brainWhy the current nutrition culture war is distracting athletesMuscle as structural insurance after 35The danger of outsourcing discipline to dataHow to use the healthcare you already have (most of it covered by insurance)Why sleep isn’t revolutionary — but foundationalIdentity as a performance anchorCommunity as a biological variable, not a luxuryAnd why you have to stop blaming your ageThis episode is less about motivation and more about ownership.You don’t stop doing things because you age. You age because you stop doing things.If you plan to stay strong, sharp, and capable in 2026 — this is your reset.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Why do we avoid the very feelings that might help us grow?In this conversation, Jerome Rand shares what it’s like to spend 271 days alone at sea—crossing oceans with no easy way out, no distractions, and nowhere to hide.But this is more than just a story about sailing.It’s about what happens when you sit with discomfort long enough for it to change you.We talk about: why real growth often feels like resistance, not progress  what prolonged solitude reveals about your mind  how risk sharpens your sense of what matters  and why the ratio of suffering to joy can be wildly skewed—and still worth it Jerome also reflects on identity, aging as an adventurer, and how your relationship with challenge evolves over time.🎧 Watch the full video version: https://www.youtube.com/@agelessathletepodcast🔗 Connect with Jerome RandWebsite: https://www.jeromerand.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeromeRandInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailingintooblivion/Jerome's Excellent Podcast: Sailing Into Oblivion🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does running feel like inside one of the most controlled countries in the world?Johan Nylander entered North Korea shortly after it reopened—joining a small group of foreign visitors to run the Pyongyang Marathon.At 52, he found himself on a starting line few outsiders ever experience.But this story doesn’t start there.After years covering geopolitics across Asia, Johan was burned out—physically depleted and struggling to run even a single kilometer. What followed was a quiet rebuild: step by step, race by race, until running became something more than fitness.It became structure. And then, freedom.In North Korea, that idea takes on a different meaning.We talk about: what it’s like to run through Pyongyang  how movement feels inside a system built on control  starting endurance sport later in life  rebuilding after burnout  and how freedom can show up in unexpected ways Johan has spent his career reporting on power and control.In this conversation, we explore what happens when those ideas become personal.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

This episode brings together moments from conversations recorded throughout 2025 with athletes who have spent decades working inside uncertainty — in the mountains, on open water, on the road, and in daily training.What connects these excerpts is more than accomplishment or outcome. It’s how each person has learned to operate when conditions narrow, when simplicity, judgment, and restraint matter more than force.Every clip comes from a full-length episode in the Ageless Athlete back catalog. Below is a guide to the original conversations featured in this collection.Episodes FeaturedSonnie TrotterBreaking large, intimidating goals into something workable through structure, patience, and preparation. 👉 Full episode: Going All In — Reverse-Engineer the Goals You Will Risk Everything For 📅 September 17, 2025Judi OyamaContinuing to show up into her sixties, carrying identity, history, and independence into a sport that never made space easily. 👉 Full episode: From Teenage Skate Rebel to World Champion at 65 — How Judi Oyama Keeps Winning 📅 August 12, 2025Andy DonaldsonStaying present in open water when progress disappears and plans dissolve. 👉 Full episode: The Deep End: Cold Oceans, the Edge of the Map, and the Mind’s Breaking Point 📅 July 24, 2025Kitty CalhounVoluntary simplicity, living out of a car, and learning how focus and endurance feed each other in the mountains. 👉 Full episode: From the Deep South to the Himalaya — How Discipline Shapes a Life 📅 October 21, 2025Jamie WhitmoreRebuilding life and identity through cancer, recovery, and service — choosing who to be again and again. 👉 Full episode: When a World Champion’s Body Betrayed Her — And What Came Next 📅 July 4, 2025Andy McVittieUnderstanding the body, rebuilding trust, and why longevity starts with clarity rather than intensity. 👉 Full episode: The Movement Optimist Returns: Strong Hips, Stable Ankles, Happy Feet — Extending Performance and Moving Without Fear 📅 August 6, 2025Susan Marie ConradExtended solitude, judgment, and patience while paddling alone through remote Alaska. 👉 Full episode: Whales, Bears, and the Will to Return — Lessons in Survival From Two Solo Voyages Through Alaska 📅 August 20, 2025Jim DoniniDecades of perspective on partnership, restraint, and why coming home matters more than summits. 👉 Full episode: Survival Is Not Assured: An 82-Year-Old Alpinist Who Chooses The Hardest Lines 📅 August 27, 2025Joan Beyerlein & Doug BeyerleinCuriosity, consistency, and staying engaged into their seventies without chasing youth. 👉 Full episode: Out of the Box at 75 🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What if the story you’ve been told about aging joints isn’t the whole story?In this episode of Ageless Athlete, I speak with orthopedic surgeon and researcher Dr. Kevin Stone about what’s recently changed in orthopedics — especially for athletes over 40 who’ve been told to slow down, live with pain, or prepare for joint replacement.Dr. Stone shares how modern approaches are shifting from simply removing damaged tissue to repairing, replacing, or regenerating it, and why many people referred for total knee replacement may actually have other options. We talk about cartilage, arthritis, biologic repair, precision surgery, and what long-term outcomes really look like when patients are tracked over decades.This is not a conversation about miracle cures. It’s about understanding what’s possible today, how to ask better questions, and how athletes can make clearer decisions about longevity, movement, and return to sport.In this episode:Why arthritis and “wear and tear” isn’t always the end of the storyWhen cartilage can be repaired or regrownBiologic repair vs. partial and total joint replacementHow precision and robotics are changing return-to-sport expectationsHow one athlete was able to run across America on repaired kneesResources:Play Forever by Dr. Kevin StoneStone Clinic & Stone Research — clinical care and long-term outcomes research discussed in the episodeThis episode is about expanding the conversation — so aging athletes can keep playing the long game.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

At 62, David Green did something most endurance athletes wouldn’t.He stopped taking supplements.Not as a statement—but as an experiment.What followed wasn’t a drop in performance. It was the opposite.More clarity. Better training. And eventually, the fitness to run across Europe.In this conversation, David shares what changed when he stopped outsourcing decisions and started paying closer attention to his body.We talk about simplicity. About trust. About what happens when you remove noise instead of adding more.This isn’t anti-supplement.It’s about agency—knowing what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and when it might be time to step back and listen.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

This episode brings together moments from conversations recorded across the first half of 2025 — voices from different sports, environments, and stages of life, each describing how they continue to train, move, and stay engaged as conditions change.These clips span endurance running, climbing, paddling, cycling, swimming, and exploration. What connects them is more than performance level or accomplishment, but also the way each athlete thinks about adaptation — physically, psychologically, and over long stretches of time.If a particular segment resonates, the full conversations are available in the Ageless Athlete back catalog. Below is a guide to the original episodes featured in this compilation.Episodes Featured in This Collection Ray Zahab (Episode Name and Release Date) 👉 Full episode: Impossible To Possible: Build That Toughness That Can Help You Overcome Even Cancer 📅 Jan 7, 2025Chris Bertish 👉 Full episode: 93 Days Alone On The Ocean - When There’s Nowhere Else to Go 📅 Feb 18, 2025Travis Macy 👉 Full episode: One Mile at a Time: The Healing Power of Movement and How You Can Fight Mental Decline 📅 Feb 25, 2025Ned Overend 👉 Full episode: Chasing Momentum: How To Train To Win In Your 70s From A World Champio 📅 Mar 25, 2025Andy 👉 Full episode: The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong! 📅 April 8, 2025Jerry Moffatt 👉 Full episode: Jerry Moffatt’s Revelations: The Power of Obsession, and His Surprising Key to Success 📅 May 8, 2025Dean Karnazes 👉 Full episode: Fighting Fit in Your 60s — Dean Karnazes Keeps Running While Everyone Else Slows Down 📅 April 15, 2025Bob Becker 👉 Full episode: Unstoppable: The 80-Year-Old Who Runs 100+ Mile Ultramarathons—and Reminds Us Why Showing Up Still Matters 📅 May 8, 2025Bill Ramsey 👉 Full episode: The Thinking Climber: What a Philosopher’s Double Life Reveals About Curiosity, Reinvention, and the Long Arc of Mastery 📅 May 21, 2025Lisa Smith Batchen 👉 Full episode: Reversing Time: Aging Is Your Superpower To Break Through Limits 📅 Feb 11, 2025Bob Babbitt 👉 Full episode: Racing Strong at 73: Daily Rituals For Recovery, Energy, and Clarity 📅 Jun 4, 2025Sarah Thomas 👉 Full episode: Four Times Across the English Channel: What One Impossible Swim Can Teach You About Identity, Grit, and Starting Over 📅 May 28, 2025🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does “use it or lose it” actually mean after 60 — when recovery slows, strength is harder to regain, and stopping even briefly can change what’s possible?Buzz Burrell is one of the quiet architects of modern mountain and trail culture, to talk about consistency — not as motivation, but as survival.Buzz ran his first ultramarathon nearly six decades ago, long before endurance sports had language, infrastructure, or spectators. Since then, he’s lived a migratory life shaped by mountains, deserts, canyons, and long routes where commitment matters more than speed. Today, he’s slower than he once was — and more relevant than ever.We talk about:Why “use it or lose it” becomes literal with ageHow consistency replaces intensity as the real long-game skillCanyoneering and environments where commitment is irreversibleWhy aging athletes can’t afford long layoffs — physically or psychologicallyStaying engaged with movement even when progress slowsWhat it means to keep going without pretending you’re improvingConsistency isn’t glamorous. But it’s what survives.Buzz Burrell Mountain runner, outdoor industry veteran, co-founder of the Fastest Known Time (FKT) movement, and lifelong explorer of wild places.Recommended: 🎙 Podcast — The Buzz (Buzz’s long-form conversations on trail and mountain culture) 🌐 Website — fastestknowntime.com 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bbolder/🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What do world-class athletes actually eat — not in theory, not on Instagram, but in real life, day after day?After more than 100 conversations with elite climbers, ultrarunners, surfers, and endurance athletes, I started noticing a pattern I didn’t expect.It wasn’t about optimization. It wasn’t about trends. And it definitely wasn’t about eating something new every day.It started with breakfast.On nearly every episode of Ageless Athlete, I ask a simple question:“Where are you right now — and what did you have for breakfast?”Over time, a clear through-line emerged across sports, ages, and disciplines: the athletes who last tend to build simple, repeatable defaults, especially around food.This isn’t a nutrition lecture. I’m not a scientist. And this isn’t about macros or perfection.It’s a human, experience-based conversation about how consistency, environment, and intention durably shape performance — especially as we age.In this episode, we explore:Why many elite athletes eat the same breakfast most daysWhat breakfast reveals about routine, discipline, and decision fatigueWhy consistency often matters more than noveltyHow environment matters more than willpower when it comes to eating wellWhat I had to relearn about protein, micronutrients, and recoveryHow my own diet evolved from gym culture to outdoor sports to a mostly plant-forward approachReferenced conversationsLionel Conacher — big-wave surfer, first surfed Mavericks at 59Jerry Moffatt — one of the most influential climbers in historyLynn Hill — first to free climb The Nose on El CapitanSteve McClure — elite climber still performing into his 50sHarvey Lewis — one of the most accomplished ultrarunners aliveGary Linden — big-wave surf pioneer with six decades in the ocean, now surfing in his 70sKitty Calhoun — legendary alpinist climbing strongly into her 60sAlso referenced: my conversation with EC Synkowski on practical, evidence-based nutrition for active people.Key takeaway: The nutrition that lasts isn’t exciting. It’s repeatable.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

“When I tell people I started sailing at sixty, they’re shocked.”We don’t often think of our sixties as a time to begin something new—which is part of the problem.In this New Year’s Eve episode, I sit down with Deborah Hammett, a former school principal who learned to sail at 60, moved onto a boat, and now travels solo by sea.But this story isn’t really about sailing.It’s about what happens when identity loosens—when long-held roles fall away, and you choose to become a beginner again, not because you have to, but because you want to feel alive.We talk about: fear and solitude  fixing an overheating engine miles offshore with no help coming  building competence slowly  and the kind of confidence that comes from adaptation, not comfort This conversation explores aging not as decline, but as a long arc of learning—and asks a simple question:👉 What would you do if the next chapter didn’t have to look like the last one?Deborah shares life aboard a sailboat with honesty, humor, and humility—the beauty, the friction, and the lessons that come with starting over.You can also follow Deborah on Instagram for real, unfiltered glimpses into life at sea: 📸 @youngsaltat60🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it really take to stay strong into your 70s — physically, mentally, and emotionally?In this episode, I sit down with Steve Swenson, one of America’s most respected alpinists, to talk about endurance, aging, and the habits that have kept him moving for decades.Steve has climbed Everest and K2, completed first ascents in the Karakoram, and summited Everest without supplemental oxygen — an experience that strips away ego and rewards preparation, judgment, and restraint. But this conversation isn’t about chasing summits.It’s about what Steve has learned over a lifetime of extreme environments: why endurance matters more than talent as you age, why strength training becomes non-negotiable in your later years, and why staying uninjured is often the biggest win of all.We talk about:What climbing Everest without oxygen actually feels likeHow Steve trains to stay strong and capable into his 70sWhy consistency beats intensity over the long runStrength training, sarcopenia, and aging wellPartnership, judgment, and making smart decisions under stressThis is a grounded, experience-driven conversation for anyone thinking seriously about longevity — not just in sport, but in life.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What really keeps the brain sharp as we age — and what quietly puts it at risk?In this episode of the Ageless Athlete Podcast, host Kush Khandelwal speaks with Dr. Tommy Wood, neuroscientist, physician, and strength athlete, about the science of cognitive reserve and why long-term brain health depends on challenge, learning, and effort — not comfort or flow.Flow states feel rewarding, but as Dr. Wood explains, they don’t create the kind of stimulus the brain needs to adapt over decades. Instead, the brain thrives when it’s pushed to learn new skills, navigate uncertainty, and stay engaged through physical movement, mental effort, and diversified identity.This conversation connects neuroscience, exercise science, and psychology in a practical, accessible way — especially for adults who care about aging well, staying mentally sharp, and maintaining performance into midlife and beyond.🧠 Topics Covered in This EpisodeWhat cognitive reserve is and why it matters for healthy agingWhy flow states don’t build long-term brain resilienceHow struggle, learning, and novelty stimulate neuroplasticityExercise as brain insurance — what that actually means biologicallyIdentity diversification and why tying yourself to one role is risky as you ageHow comfort and over-specialization can accelerate cognitive declinePractical ways to invest now for cognitive returns later📚 Featured Resource — Upcoming BookDr. Wood’s upcoming book expands on the ideas explored in this conversation:📖 The Stimulated Mind: A Breakthrough Plan to Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age🗓️ Release Date: March 24, 2026The book explores how stimulus, challenge, learning, and environment shape brain health across the lifespan — and why cognitive decline is not inevitable.🔗 Learn more and pre-order:https://thestimulatedmind.com(Pre-orders meaningfully support this work.)🔗 Where to Find Dr. Tommy WoodWebsite: https://drtommywood.comPodcast: Better Brain Fitness (with Dr. Josh Turknett)Book: The Stimulated Mind (2026)Speaking & Writing: https://drtommywood.comResearch & Teaching: University of Washington School of Medicine🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

This week’s episode is a little different. Instead of interviewing a legendary athlete or coach, I was invited onto the Adventure Sports Podcast to talk about the questions that many of us — everyday athletes, weekend warriors, late bloomers, and lifelong learners — wrestle with as we get older.If you come to Ageless Athlete for honest conversations about aging, movement, and staying curious in a changing body, this episode is very much in that spirit. We recorded this conversation back in May, but the themes feel even more relevant now: How do we keep doing the outdoor sports we love? How do we adapt with age? And how do we stay connected to joy when progress shifts shape?In this episode, we explore:what aging actually feels like for an an everyday athletewhy our relationship with our sport changes over timehow to stay motivated when improvement slowsthe role of curiosity in lifelong performancehow community shapes longevity in outdoor sportswhy reinvention is normal — and sometimes necessaryThese aren’t lessons from the mountaintop — they’re observations from someone who’s simply been asking these questions alongside you, year after year, conversation after conversation.⭐ THANK YOU & CREDITSA big thank-you to the Adventure Sports Podcast for the invitation and for allowing us to share this conversation here. You can find their show at: https://adventuresportspodcast.comAnd thank you — truly — for sticking with Ageless Athlete through 103 episodes. This community means more than I can say.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What happens when a life in climbing spans five decades, multiple eras, and some of the most surprising moments in outdoor history?In this episode, legendary climber Russ Clune takes us inside the world that shaped him: the Shawangunks (“the Gunks”) of the 1970s and 80s — an unlikely counterculture just two hours from Manhattan where artists, dirtbags, misfits, and pioneers built the early soul of American climbing.Russ shares rare, behind-the-scenes stories from his incredible career, including:• Competing in a government-run climbing event in Cold War Russia Painted red lines on limestone cliffs, leather-gloved belayers, Soviet stadium crowds, and a Wyoming cowboy becoming a national hero overnight. It’s a chapter of climbing history almost no one has heard.• The quiet era of “competitive free soloing” in the Gunks Russ recounts the friendly, unspoken one-upmanship among friends that culminated in his iconic solo of Supercrack. A moment that revealed both the power and limits of the mind — and marked the end of his soloing career.• What longevity really looks like at 66 Not superhuman strength — but consistency, humility, curiosity, and the ability to redefine performance as the decades unfold.• How to stay connected to your sport when your body changes Russ talks openly about becoming the belay anchor instead of the rope gun, and why aging in climbing can feel meaningful in its own way.📘 Russ’s Book: The LiferWe talk about his excellent memoir, The Lifer, which chronicles his adventures across the Gunks, Yosemite, Europe, South America, and beyond. It’s full of laughter, history, and insight — a must-read for anyone who loves climbing or stories of a life lived with passion.👉 Highly recommended: search “Russ Clune The Lifer” wherever you buy books.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What happens after you run for five straight days — 466 miles, 111 hours, two broken ribs, a torn hamstring… and then go right back to teaching high-school civics on Monday?In this rare, intimate conversation, ultrarunner Harvey Lewis shares a front-row look into his healing journey after Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra — widely considered one of the toughest and strangest endurance races in the world.This is not just a running episode. It’s about recovery, identity, and the small, consistent choices that help everyday people rebuild and age with strength.Harvey opens up about:How he cracked his ribs and tore his hamstring on Day 5Why he kept going for 12 more hours after the injuryThe exact recovery tools he used (sleep, sauna, red light, ART therapy, movement)How he distinguishes “trying harder” from “trying smarter”Why purpose (his Haiti fundraiser) kept him movingThe mindset shifts that matter more at 49 than mileage ever didHow a human-powered commute — even on crutches — became part of his rehabThe real meaning of resilience, especially after setbacksThis episode is shorter than usual as Harvey had to get back to class — but we hope to bring him back for Part Two.And a personal note: We just crossed 100 consecutive weekly episodes of Ageless Athlete. Thank you for being here, for listening, and for making this community possible.Timestamps00:00 — Breakfast, the run commute, and showing up to school 03:00 — How the injuries happened during Big’s 07:00 — The surprising pace of his healing 10:00 — What “trying harder” actually means in recovery 13:00 — The role of sauna, red light, ART therapy, and sleep 17:00 — Why nutrition matters more than protein myths 22:00 — Motion as medicine: walking, cycling, gentle running 26:00 — The Backyard Ultra: explained in simple terms 33:00 — Mindset in hour 80–100: hallucinations, purpose, micro-rest 40:00 — Running for David in Haiti 45:00 — Veganism, misinformation, and fueling as an ageless athlete 51:00 — Harvey signs off to rush back to classReferences & LinksBig Dog’s Backyard Ultra — Race format & rules https://backyardultra.comHarvey Lewis Instagram https://instagram.com/harveylewisultrarunner🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

When Loree Bolin was told she’d never run again, she didn’t just defy expectations — she redefined them.At 70, Loree completed her 11th Ironman triathlon after years of battling knee osteoarthritis. But this isn’t just a story about sport. It’s about service.A retired dentist and lifelong endurance athlete, Loree sold her practice at 60 to launch a nonprofit bringing medical and dental care to underserved communities across Tanzania. Her work now includes safehouses for girls fleeing forced marriage, business programs for widows, and a school for over 200 kids — all in regions where access to care and education was once nonexistent.In this episode, Loree shares how sport fuels her purpose, how she rebuilt her knees without surgery, and why your most impactful years might be the ones still ahead.🙌 Support Loree’s WorkWant to get involved with Health & Hope Foundation — or help fund their next school, clinic, or safehouse? Visit healthandhopefoundation.org to donate or volunteer.🎧 Love the Ageless Athlete Podcast?If this episode moved you, share it with a friend — and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us keep telling stories like Loree’s.🧭 Topics & Timestamps[00:02:00] Why she left dentistry to pursue humanitarian work full time[00:08:00] Her first volunteer trips — and the moment that changed everything[00:14:00] Grandmothers breaking rocks, and the birth of a business program[00:21:00] Starting a school in rural Tanzania for 200+ kids[00:30:00] How she manages teams and funding from Seattle[00:39:00] What most people misunderstand about volunteering[00:43:00] Training for Ironman while traveling overseas[00:56:00] Cultural barriers, custom inspections, and resilience[01:06:00] Reversing osteoarthritis and getting back to racing[01:13:00] What Ironman feels like at 70[01:22:00] Strength, recovery, and mindset for long-term health[01:33:00] Her vision for the next decade — and advice for those wondering what’s next🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

This quarter on Ageless Athlete brought together some of the most surprising and meaningful stories of the year — from record-setting endurance swimmers to rebel skateboarders, alpinists, paddlers, big-wall climbers, and athletes redefining what’s possible in their 60s and 70s.Across ten very different conversations, one theme kept surfacing: Courage in uncomfortable places.Not the loud kind — but the quiet courage that appears at the edge of uncertainty, identity, aging, and ambition. This “Best of Q3” highlight reel pulls together the moments that stayed with me long after the mics were off.Featured Guests & ClipsThis episode includes curated highlights from:Sonnie Trotter — Precision, conviction, and breaking big goals into tiny stepsJudi Oyama — Rebellion, falling and rising again, skating with fire at 65Andy Donaldson — What the ocean reveals when everything falls apartJamie Whitmore — Choosing light and purpose after cancerAndy McVittie — Making movement safe again; rebuilding confidence through simplicitySusan Marie Conrad — A night with whales, weather, and the wild in AlaskaJim Donini (Part I and II) — Partnership, trust, grief, and a lifetime in the mountainsSeb Berthe — Integrity over convenience; sailing to the Dawn WallJoan & Doug Beyerlein — Curiosity, partnership, and staying in motion at 75Chris Anthony — Mongolia, humility, and finding perspective far from homeWhat You’ll LearnWhy courage often shows up in small, humble decisionsHow elite and everyday athletes navigate fearHow aging can deepen, not diminish, athletic purposeThe role of values, integrity, and long-term devotionWhat it means to reinvent yourself without losing yourselfThe emotional cost — and reward — of chasing a life in motionWhy This Episode MattersMore than athletic stories — they’re reminders of how to live. Every clip is a moment where someone stepped forward despite uncertainty, discomfort, or change. If one of these voices resonates, go back and listen to the full episodes from Q3 — each conversation goes far deeper than this highlight reel can capture.Listen to the Original EpisodesAll full episodes from Q3, 2025 can be found in all popular podcast apps or at www.agelessathlete.co🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What happens when you mix psychedelics with some of the most fearsome waves on Earth? What does it take to stay curious, joyful, and deeply alive—well into your 70s?In this wide spanning conversation, legendary surfer Jock Sutherland joins Ageless Athlete to talk about the radical experiences, deep values, and spiritual practices that shaped his life—from surfing Pipeline in the 1960s to climbing mango trees and sharing fruit with neighbors at 77.Raised off-grid on Oʻahu, Jock came of age paddling rivers, spearfishing, and spending summers with the “Hermit of Kalalau.” His mother, Audrey Sutherland—a pioneering solo paddler—raised him on a handwritten list of survival skills that included everything from “save someone drowning with available equipment” to “dance with any age.”Jock opens up about:His early experiments with LSD, and why surfing while high never replaced the clarity of presenceWhy he left surfing at the height of his fame to join the ArmyThe life lessons he learned from injury, reinvention, and working as a roofer for over 50 yearsHow community, fruit bartering, and stretching classes help him age wellAnd what it means to stay in love with movement, the ocean, and learning—at any ageThis is a conversation about psychedelics, surfing, reinvention, and awe—but more than anything, it’s about how to live with wonder, even as the decades pass.🔥 Topics & Timestamps0:00 – The sourdough, marmalade, and mango trade that fuels Jock’s mornings 5:00 – What it means to be the “one-man fruit distributor of Oʻahu” 13:00 – Summers with the Hermit of Kalalau and Audrey Sutherland’s list of life skills 22:00 – Surfing Pipeline: early fear, speed, and beauty 30:00 – LSD, consciousness, and why surfing high didn’t last 38:00 – Leaving pro surfing to join the Army 48:00 – Rooftops, reinvention, and building a different kind of life 58:00 – Staying active at 76: stretching, herbs, and still surfing 1:05:00 – On legacy, parenting, and feeling unfinished 1:10:00 – “Too old to start?” Jock’s answer 1:14:00 – The billboard message he’d leave for Hawaiʻi📚 References & MentionsAudrey Sutherland’s list of life skills: via The New YorkerLet My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia)Fierce Grace – Documentary on Ram DassThe Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing ChampionshipThai herbal supplements mentioned by Jock (no official site – listeners should research independently)🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

After 60 years in the weight room, Dan John has distilled fitness down to its essence: Move well. Lift often. Walk every day. Recover deeply.In this conversation, Dan joins host Kush Khandelwal to share the universal rules for staying strong and mobile through every decade — especially for climbers, runners, and outdoor athletes looking to balance performance and longevity.They unpack how fit literally means “to knit” — body, mind, and life woven together — and how that philosophy can guide everything from how you train and eat to how you recover and show up for others.Topics include:How to train for decades without breaking down or burning outThe six fundamental movement patterns for lifelong mobilityHow to integrate mobility into your strength sessions — without extra timeWalking as a cornerstone of strength and recoveryHow to structure strength training alongside endurance sportsThe art of recovery and “everyday strength”Why ritual matters more than motivationThe difference between hurt, injury, and agony — and how to manage eachDan’s blunt but liberating three rules: Don’t get fat. Don’t get debt. Don’t stop walking.This is a conversation about strength, yes — but also about meaning, consistency, and how to build a body and life that last.📚 REFERENCES & RESOURCES MENTIONED🧭 Dan John ResourcesWebsite: https://danjohnuniversity.com/YouTube: Dan John Strength CoachArticles & Programs: available through DanJohn University📘 Books by Dan John40 Years With a Whistle — Reflections on coaching, teaching, and staying curiousNever Let Go — Essays on strength, life lessons, and long-term consistencyEasy Strength (with Pavel Tsatsouline) — How to get stronger by doing less, smarterAttempts: Essays on Fitness, Health, and Long-Term ThinkingIntervention — A framework for identifying what truly matters in training and lifeFrom Dad, To Grad, and Beyond — A rare personal collection mentioned during the episode📗 Other Books & Thinkers MentionedLife Lessons from a Remarkable Coach: Percy Cerutty by Alastair Gunn — On the pioneer who inspired “Easy Strength” principlesOriginal Strength by Tim Anderson — Movement resets and mobility foundations (discussed in his “Tonic Thursdays”)Gift of Injury by Dr. Stuart McGill — On spinal health and walking as medicineGray’s Anatomy — Referenced when explaining the complexity of wrists, ankles, and small joints🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Imagine growing up in the conservative Deep South, where young women were expected to play it safeNow imagine trading that world for Himalayan storms, frozen walls, and a seven-year stretch of living out of a Subaru to chase something bigger.Kitty Calhoun did exactly that. She became the first North American woman to summit Dhaulagiri and the first woman to climb Makalu’s West Pillar—two of the hardest, highest peaks on Earth. Along the way she’s survived avalanches, eight-day storms, and the loneliness of cutting new lines where no woman had before.But at 65, Kitty’s story isn’t about danger or glory—it’s about clarity. About the discipline, focus, and simplicity that have allowed her to keep climbing, mentoring, and living fully decades after most people would have retired their harness.In this conversation, we explore:Growing up in the Deep South and breaking gender barriers in one of the world’s most male-dominated arenasWhat surviving a Himalayan storm taught her about resilience and prioritiesHow seven years of minimalist living shaped her philosophy on focus and freedomThe difference between chasing summits and finding meaning in the climb itselfWhat she’s learned about longevity, humility, and living with purpose at 65Kitty also shares how she’s passing her lessons forward—through mentoring younger women, climate advocacy, and a renewed connection to simplicity in an age of excess.This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered how to stay passionate, grounded, and physically vibrant as the years go by—and how courage can evolve from proving yourself to knowing yourself.🔑 TakeawaysDiscipline is freedom; simplicity sharpens focus.Strength doesn’t fade with age—it refines.True leadership is opening doors for others, not standing on top of them.The outdoors isn’t an escape—it’s a mirror.📚 References & LinksKitty Calhoun – Protect Our WintersTEDx Talk: “Last Ascents” by Kitty CalhounPatagonia Profile: Kitty Calhoun📸 Jay Smith🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Nutrition advice is everywhere — and most of it overcomplicates what should be simple. In this replay, EC Synkowski, founder of Optimize Me Nutrition and creator of the 800-Gram Challenge, shares a refreshingly practical approach to fueling performance, recovery, and longevity.She’s coached CrossFit athletes, corporate teams, and everyday movers — and she’s one of the most grounded, science-based voices in nutrition today.🧠 What You’ll LearnThe 800-Gram Challenge: a data-driven, no-BS way to eat more fruits and vegetablesHow much protein we really need (and why “more” isn’t always better)Why consistency beats restriction for long-term healthHow to eat well when you’re on the road, in the mountains, or living out of a vanWhat truly matters more than supplements for living long and strong🥦 About EC SynkowskiEC is a licensed dietitian, CrossFit seminar staff alum, and the creator of The Consistency Project podcast. Through her brand Optimize Me Nutrition, she helps people cut through the noise of fad diets with simple frameworks that actually work.🌐 optimizemenutrition.com 📸 Instagram: @optimizemenutrition 🎙️ Podcast: The Consistency Project🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

At 59, Charlotte Brynn has swum across some of the world’s most punishing channels — in pitch black, in near-freezing water, and even after being bitten by a shark. But her story is more than toughness.It’s about what happens when you don’t reach your goal — not once, but five times. It’s about staying in the fight for 12 years to complete the English Channel. And it’s about discovering that real strength isn't just physical — it's the willingness to try again, and again, and again.In this conversation, we cover:What it’s like to swim a full ice mile (41°F water, no wetsuit, no room for error)The shark bite during her Catalina Channel swim — and why she kept goingWhy she failed the English Channel five times — and why the sixth attempt finally workedHow she learned to let go of outcome and embrace self-loveCoaching insights that go far beyond swimming: discomfort, confidence jars, and showing upWhat “ageless” really means when you’ve swum through jellyfish, sewage, and self-doubtThis episode is a masterclass in resilience, identity, and choosing growth over comfort — no matter your age.🔗 Resources + MentionsCharlotte’s site: brynnswim.comThe Swimming Hole (Vermont): theswimmingholestowe.comInternational Ice Swimming Association: iceswimming.comCharlotte’s 28.5-mile Manhattan Island Swim: NYC SwimJoan Weisberg, past guest and friend of Charlotte — hear her story in [“Out of the Box at 75” → Episode #92]🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it take to climb into the unknown — when you can’t see the way forward?Erik Weihenmayer is one of the most accomplished adventure athletes of our time. The first blind person to summit Mount Everest, he has since climbed the Seven Summits, led expeditions around the world, and kayaked the full 277 miles of the Grand Canyon. Now 56, Erik continues to seek awe and discomfort — from the storm-battered granite towers of the Bugaboos to the whitewater chaos of the Colorado River.But this episode isn’t about past headlines. It’s about fire. About why Erik calls the outdoors “the greatest laboratory for learning.” About how aging reshapes goals without dimming curiosity. About the difference between fear that paralyzes and fear that sharpens. And about the daily experiments in trust, grit, and reinvention that make a life feel ageless.If you’ve ever felt like your best adventures are behind you, Erik’s story is a reminder: the summit isn’t a peak on a map. It’s the choice to keep moving into uncertainty, one step, one breath at a time.In This Episode:What the Bugaboos taught Erik about patience, fire, and partnershipFrom hating hiking as a teen to discovering the outdoors as a lifelong teacherHow he climbs by feel and trust — and the most intense “unknown” he’s faced on a wallThe reality of kayaking blind through Class V rapids in the Grand CanyonHow aging has shifted his goals and risk calculus at 56Life outside the mountains: family, home, and the small rituals that keep him groundedWhat fulfillment means now: summits vs. unlocking others’ potentialWhy “No Barriers” is more than a slogan — it’s a mindset for every season of lifeReferences & ResourcesErik’s book: No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon — Amazon linkErik’s organization: No Barriers USAErik’s website: erikweihenmayer.com🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it look like to age curiously, train smarter, and build a life of meaning—together?Meet Joan Weisberg-Beyerlein and Doug Beyerlein: partners in life, love, and adventure. At 75, Joan is training for a 10-mile open water swim in Vermont. Doug is still running ultramarathons and logging 3-hour trail runs for fun. Between them, they’ve overcome addiction, burnout, injury, and the daily cultural script that says we should be slowing down by now.In this lively, thoughtful, and often hilarious conversation, we unpack:How Joan went from overweight and smoking to marathon runner at 30—and then started swimming ag 65Doug’s journey from high school chess club president to finishing over 70 ultramarathonsHow they met later in life and built a bond rooted in adventure, reinvention, and playWhat it means to train with intention, embrace adaptive nutrition, and keep redefining yourselfHow to live so fully that you end up educating your own doctor about agingThis episode is about more than swimming or ultrarunning. It’s about living with joy, curiosity, and self-awareness—at any age.🧠 Key Takeaways🎯 You’re never too old to change your story—from addiction or burnout to high performance🥗 What “adaptive nutrition” actually looks like in your 70s—and why one-size-fits-all fails us as we age🧘 How injury can become a gateway to deeper self-awareness and healing❤️ The joy of doing hard things together and how love itself can be an act of reinvention🧪 Aging well = training the mind, body, and spirit with intention and playfulness🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it take to bet everything on a dream? To live out of a van before it was fashionable, to commit to hard lines with no guarantee of success, and to walk away from risk when the stakes are too high?For Canadian climber Sonnie Trotter, it has always come down to conviction. From iconic ascents like Cobra Crack and The Path to bold multi-pitch routes on El Capitan, Sonnie has built a career — and a life — around the power of desire and the art of going all in.In this episode, Sonnie opens up about:The moment on Mount Stephen with Tommy Caldwell when he chose family over risk — and why that decision shaped his climbing life.What it means to reverse-engineer objectives, breaking down the impossible into repeatable steps that anyone can apply to sport, career, or life.The reality of van life with young kids — the chaos, the beauty, and the lessons in resilience.Why desire matters more than talent in chasing audacious goals.How sleep, recovery, and health now stand as his most important climbing priorities.This is not just a climbing story. It’s a conversation about awe, identity, and how to keep your fire alive — whether you’re chasing 5.14 cracks or simply trying to stay true to your path in midlife.Stay to the end: Sonnie shares his philosophy on legacy, why life is shorter than we think (in the most liberating sense), and how to pursue what matters with urgency and love.Sonnie's InstagramSonnie's book - Uplifted! 🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it take to come back after a body-breaker of an injury—not once, but sixteen times?Chris Anthony is a legendary ski athlete, filmmaker, and adventurer who has stared down more than his fair share of wipeouts, surgeries, and life-altering setbacks. But instead of fading quietly from the spotlight, Chris rebuilt. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually.In this episode, we explore what it really means to recover—not just to return to sport, but to reinvent yourself in the process.You’ll hear Chris talk about:The gruesome reality and mental toll of having 16 knee surgeriesHow he kept skiing—and pushing limits—long after most would have quitHis unforgettable days shooting for Warren Miller ski films (before GoPros and drones)His time skiing across Mongolia with the local military—and the cultural surprises that came with it (hint: fermented horse milk)What he’s building now with the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project (CYIP) to help underserved youth through outdoor educationChris’s story is a powerful reminder that aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down. It means getting smarter, tougher—and more intentional with how we heal, move, and lead.⚠️ Host's Note on NutritionIn this episode, Chris shares candid reflections on his recovery journey—including the role diet played for him, which includes red meat. While I personally follow a mostly plant-based lifestyle and believe it's possible to fuel performance without animal products, I also deeply respect the importance of honoring each guest’s lived experience.We don’t have to agree on everything to learn from one another. And I’m proud to share real, nuanced conversations—even when they reflect different paths.🔗 Links & ResourcesLearn more about Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project (CYIP) → chrisanthony.comFollow Chris on Instagram → @chrisanthonyskiWatch the Warren Miller ski films → warrenmiller.com🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Last week in Part I, we began our journey with legendary alpinist Jim Donini — exploring his surprise cancer diagnosis, his early days in Yosemite, and the philosophy that has defined his career: “Getting to the top is optional. Getting back down is mandatory.”In this second part of our conversation, we turn from the mountains themselves to the human side of Jim’s story. At 82, Jim reflects on:The partnerships that shaped his greatest climbs — and what makes someone a great partner in the mountains and in lifeThe sacrifices and personal costs of chasing bold objectives, and the double-edged gift of being able to block out hardshipLessons from living and climbing in places like Pakistan and Patagonia, and how those cultures shaped his worldviewWhat it means to slow down, face illness with honesty, and still look ahead with optimismThe legacy he hopes to leave, and what “ageless” means to him todayJim speaks with the same candor and optimism that have marked his five decades in the world’s hardest ranges. His reflections on life, loss, and resilience remind us that survival is never guaranteed — but meaning can be found in how we choose our lines, both on the mountain and off.If you haven’t yet, go back and listen to Part I — it lays the foundation for everything we cover here.📌 References & Related LinksSurvival Is Not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Donini by Geoff Powter — Winner of the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA)🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

For more than five decades, Jim Donini has defined what it means to be an alpinist. Not by chasing the tallest mountains or summit glory, but by seeking out the hardest lines in the world’s most remote ranges — places where storms, hunger, and survival itself are never guaranteed.Now at 82, Jim is still climbing, still dreaming, and still teaching us what resilience looks like. In this first of a two-part conversation, he opens up about receiving a surprise cancer diagnosis, how he approaches adversity with the same directness he once brought to multi-week storms in the Karakoram, and why he has never lost his motivation to keep moving forward.We cover:Why the highest peaks never interested him — and why difficulty mattered more than altitudeThe philosophy of retreat: “Getting to the top is optional. Getting back down is mandatory”His early days in Yosemite and how confidence and boldness shaped his pathStories from Torre Egger, Latok I, and the Karakoram — some of the most consequential climbs in modern alpinismHow he keeps looking ahead despite health challenges and the odds of ageJim’s story is one of awe, resilience, and optimism. It’s a reminder that survival is never guaranteed — but meaning can be found in the way we choose our lines, on the mountain and off.📌 References & Related LinksSurvival Is Not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Donini by Geoff Powter — Winner of the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA)👉 Next week: Part II, where Jim reflects on partnerships, sacrifices, cultural lessons from years abroad, and what it means to live agelessly in the face of mortality.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

At age 49, Susan Marie Conrad paddled 1,200 miles—alone—through the remote, storm-swept waters of the Alaskan Inside Passage. Twelve years later, at 61, she went back and did it again.In this powerful conversation, Susan shares what it means to return—not just to the same wild coastline, but as a different person. We unpack what changes when you chase something bold later in life, how nature reshapes your mindset, and what happens when you open yourself up to synchronicity, generosity, and the unexpected.We also talk about the stark environmental changes she witnessed: the plastic where it didn’t belong, the shrinking glaciers, and the fragility of ecosystems many of us will never see.This episode is a meditation on endurance, improvisation, awe, and the will to keep growing—even (especially) as we age.🧭 What We Talk AboutWhat exactly is the Inside Passage—and what makes it so wild and magicalThe brutal logistics of a solo sea kayak expedition (and what people get wrong)Fear, failure, and what to do when a grizzly bear shows up 30 feet awayHow aging changed her approach to adventure—and made the second journey even deeperWhat climate change looks like from a tiny boat in a vast and fragile ecosystemWhy she mentors younger women to take on big expeditions of their ownFinding purpose through challenge, stillness, and storytelling🔗 Links & Resources📸 Susan's Instagram🌊 Susan’s Website📷 Susan's Books:📚 Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage 📷 Wildly Inside: A Visual Journey Through the Inside Passage🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

At 65, Judi Oyama is still lining up at the start gate — not in a “Masters” category, but shoulder-to-shoulder with athletes half, or even a quarter her age. She’s a World Champion slalom skateboarder, a Guiness record holder, a Hall of Fame inductee, and a pioneer who’s been breaking barriers since she first picked up a board in Santa Cruz in the early 1970s.Back then, women’s divisions barely existed. Prize money was unequal. Media crews left during women’s finals. Judi skated anyway — pushing through invisibility, injury, and a sport that wasn’t built to include her. Five decades later, she’s still competing, still winning, and mentoring the next generation of racers who may one day take the sport to the Olympics.In this episode, we talk about:What slalom skateboarding actually is — and why it’s so addictiveHow Judi fought for gender and racial equality in skateboardingThe longevity toolkit she’s built: CrossFit, heavy lifting, recovery, and smart nutritionWhy representation matters, and how she’s mentoring young women in the sportHow to stay competitive, joyful, and relevant in your sport for decadesHer motto: “Be badass every day” — and what it means in practiceWhether you’ve ever stepped on a skateboard or not, Judi’s story is about rewriting the limits others put on you, and replacing them with your own.- Follow Judi on Instagram - Judi in the Guiness Book of RecordsCover pic 📸 Dave Re🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Physiotherapist, coach, and lifelong climber Andy McVittie is back for the final chapter of our three-part deep dive into aging well, moving well, and living without fear of injury.If you haven’t listened to Part I (The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong!) or Part II (Aging Joints & Grateful Bodies: Elbows, Fingers, Sleep, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves), I highly recommend going back. In those episodes, we tackled the myths about aging, explored upper body resilience, and broke down joint-by-joint strategies for staying strong.In Part III, we turn our attention to the often-overlooked foundation: hips, ankles, and feet.We cover:Why hips, ankles, and feet are often neglected—and why that’s a mistakeEarly warning signs your hips or ankles need attentionSimple self-tests for hip mobility and ankle strengthWhat to do if you’ve been living with old injuries or imbalancesStrategies for preventing long-term issues and keeping your lower body strong for decadesHow to return to activity after injury or time offAndy’s take on recovery tools—what’s worth your time and what’s just marketing noiseHow to structure a realistic, sustainable weekly maintenance planThe mindset shift that keeps you moving confidently for lifeThis is practical, encouraging, and packed with the kind of wisdom that comes from decades of helping real people—not just athletes—move better, heal better, and age with optimism.Resources & ReferencesAndy McVittieAndy's WebsiteAndy's InstagramThe Self-Rehabbed ClimberLevel Edges Pulley Splints: leveledges.co.ukRelevant Past Episodes (look for these titles in your podcast app)#65 The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong!#68 Aging Joints & Grateful Bodies: Elbows, Fingers, Sleep, and the Stories We Tell OurselvesTools & Resources MentionedCalf Raise App on iOS – for testing ankle strength and endurance🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Every few months, I pause to reflect on the conversations that left a mark—ones I keep thinking about long after the recording stops. This episode is a curated collection of those moments from Q2 2025.You’ll hear stories that go beyond performance. These are reflections on resilience, identity, aging, and the human drive to keep exploring what’s possible—physically and emotionally.In this episode:Sarah Thomas reflects on childhood, potential, and joy after record-breaking swims and cancer survival. 🎧 [#76 Four Times Across the English Channel: What One Impossible Swim Can Teach You About Identity, Grit, and Starting Over]Bob Becker, 80, shares what he’s learned from DNFs and brutal finishes in 100+ mile races. 🎧 [#73 Unstoppable: The 80-Year-Old Who Runs 100+ Mile Ultramarathons—and Reminds Us Why Showing Up Still Matters]Bill Ramsey introduces the “Pain Box” and how meaning comes from effort, not ease. 🎧 [#75 The Thinking Climber: What a Philosopher’s Double Life Reveals About Curiosity, Reinvention, and the Long Arc of Mastery]Bianca Valenti recounts a terrifying moment that launched her into big wave surfing—and a fight for equal pay. 🎧 [#72 Bianca Valenti’s Second Act: How She Won Equal Pay, Redefined Her Sport, and Trains Her Body and Nerves for Big Waves — and for Life]Rob Matheson, age 74, recounts his bold climb of an E7 sea cliff route—and what came after. 🎧 [#78 When the Gear Might Not Hold: Cutting-Edge Rock Climbing at 74, Mentorship Across Generations, and Why Boldness and Growth Don’t Have an Age Limit]Dean Karnazes on laying it all on the line for the world’s first marathon at the South Pole. 🎧 [#70 Dean Karnazes: Fighting Fit in His 60s, Running Ultras on Weekends, and Tracing the Marathon’s Roots in Greece]Andy McVittie, climbing physio, shares how to assess your shoulder health and why tendon care is everything. 🎧 [#65 The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong!]Jerry Moffatt narrates one of his proudest moments: the visionary onsight of Equinox. 🎧 [#67 Jerry Moffatt’s Revelations: Dangerous Free Soloing Before It Was Cool, The Power of Obsession, Letting Go at Your Peak, and His Surprising Key to Success]Neil Gresham, climbing coach, explains why Rob Matheson wasn’t treated any differently—and what that tells us about aging, mindset, and training. 🎧 [#80 Lexicon, Boldness, and the Long Game: Training Smarter, Climbing Harder, Peaking Late—Because Age Doesn’t Matter]—Each of these clips holds its own power, but the full conversations go deeper—into mindset, identity, resilience, and what it means to keep pushing, especially as we age. If something in this episode resonates, I hope you’ll go back and give the full interview a liste🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

In Part II of our deep conversation, Andy Donaldson takes us into the heart of open water swimming—where the body aches, the mind wanders, and sometimes… things go wrong.We pick up the story after his return to the sport. But this time, it's different. Andy isn’t chasing medals—he’s chasing meaning. And the path leads him through shark-infested waters, swollen throats, and swims so long and cold they push his body toward shutdown.In this episode, Andy shares:What happened during his 15-hour swim across the Molokai Channel that landed him in the hospitalThe physical and psychological cost of extreme endurance—and how he prepares for itHow he trained his mind to stay calm through chaos, pain, and fearWhy rest is one of the most underappreciated tools in elite performanceThe habits, rituals, and community that help him stay grounded—even as he takes on the world’s hardest swimsThis is a conversation about what lives on the other side of burnout—and what it means to build a second act rooted in intention, not just achievement.Whether you're an athlete, a late bloomer, or someone reevaluating what truly matters… there’s something in this episode for you.🎧 Listen now and share your thoughts with us.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it take to walk away from something you’ve trained for your entire life… and then find your way back — stronger, wiser, and with a whole new purpose?In this two-part conversation, we sit down with world-record-holding swimmer Andy Donaldson. But Part One isn’t about records. It’s about the reset — the season of burnout, career shifts, mental struggle, and the slow, imperfect process of coming home to yourself.Andy was once on the edge of elite swimming. Then he left the sport entirely — went to work as an accountant, burned out, and eventually found himself guiding volcano tours in Nicaragua during the pandemic. Somewhere along the way, he started swimming again —, just for himself.That path led to an unexpected win at the legendary Rottnest Channel Swim… and the beginning of one of the most astonishing comebacks in open water history.🧭 In This Episode (Part I):How burnout pulled Andy away from competitive sportWhat it's like to truly step away — and live life outside the poolHis quiet return to swimming in Perth, and why it felt different this timeThe daily practices and mindset shifts that set the foundation for performanceThe win at Rottnest that changed everythingWhat open water swimming teaches you about control, trust, and identity💬 Stay tuned for Part II next week:We dive deep into Andy’s record-breaking Oceans Seven challenge, a brutal 15-hour swim in Hawaii that nearly ended in disaster, and how he reframed suffering to find meaning, connection, and strength.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Seb Berthe didn’t just train for a legendary big-wall objective — he built the entire pursuit around a constraint: no flying. So he and his partner sailed across oceans, lived simply, trained creatively, and arrived at the wall already shaped by the journey.This episode isn’t only about climbing. It’s about what happens when your values become part of the plan — and how the “how” can change what the achievement means.In this conversation:Why the constraints you choose can deepen a goalTraining for a long, technical objective with limited resourcesMomentum, patience, and the mental rhythm of long projectsPartnership under stress: what it looks like when two people commit fullyA practical, non-preachy view of sustainability in outdoor cultureTakeaway: Big goals don’t have to be optimized. Sometimes they get more meaningful when you choose the harder route on purpose.🔗 Links + Resources Mentioned📸 Seb Berthe on Instagram:📹 Seb Berthe on Bon Voyage in Annot, FranceCover pic credit: Alex Eggermont🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What happens when your life as an elite athlete is stripped away—and you’re forced to rebuild, not just your body, but your identity?In this powerful and personal episode, we sit down with Jamie Whitmore—a world-class endurance athlete whose story is less about podiums and more about persistence.Jamie was once one of the most dominant XTERRA racers in the world—winning races across continents, climbing mountains on her bike, and chasing down competitors on foot. But when life shifted, so did her focus. Today, she’s a mother of twins, a coach to high school runners, a deeply intentional athlete, and a reminder that strength comes in many forms.We talk about:What XTERRA racing actually is—and why it’s so brutally beautifulThe moment she lost her athletic identity, and how she found her way backWhy fear on a mountain bike was her way through, not away from, traumaTraining with a paralyzed leg, and what it taught her about compensation, patience, and adaptationHer daily habits: 5:00 AM wakeups, coaching teen athletes, core work, cross-training, and the power of doing less—but doing it wellWhy movement, variety, and play are the keys to longevity—and joyThe mindset shifts that came with motherhood, midlife, and physical changeAnd why being “gutsy” today looks different than it did in her 20s… but might matter even moreWhether you’re in a season of rebuilding, reinvention, or quiet consistency—Jamie’s story will help you rethink what real strength looks like.🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

What does it take to climb your hardest route at 50—and then hold the rope while someone else pushes that same line even further?For Neil Gresham, that moment came on Lexicon, a bold and beautiful E11 route he developed and climbed later in life. In this conversation, Neil shares the full story—from discovering the line in the Lake District to the deep personal shift that allowed him to reach a new peak, years after he thought he’d already hit it.We also talk about what it was like to support a rare flash attempt by another world-class climber (whose recent film on Lexicon just dropped), and how that moment made Neil reflect on performance, legacy, and the long game.But this episode goes far beyond a single climb.We explore:Why Neil climbed his hardest routes after 45The nutrition and training strategies that helped him recover faster in his 50s than in his 20sWhat most athletes misunderstand about agingCoaching climbers into their 70s—including how he succeeded working with Rob MathesonThe mindset shift that helped him let go of pressure and finally enjoy the process againWhether you’re a climber or not, Neil’s story is about curiosity, adaptation, and staying sharp—mentally and physically—as the years go by.References & Resources:🎥 Lexicon: The Story of a Climb (Neil’s own film): https://vimeo.com/ondemand/e11lexicon📘 Learn more about Neil’s coaching and training programs: https://www.neilgreshamtraining.com/ 🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Wendy Fisher was once one of the fastest women on skis. A U.S. Ski Team racer and 1992 Olympian, she seemed destined for a long career in elite competition. But by her early 20s, she was burned out, struggling with identity and disordered eating, and quietly unraveling inside a system that prized performance over well-being.This could’ve been the end of her story. Instead, it became the beginning of a much more human one.In this episode, Wendy shares how she walked away from ski racing and found her way into big-mountain freeskiing—becoming one of the sport’s pioneering women and starring in iconic ski films like Ski Movie and Global Storming by Matchstick Productions. We talk about her second act in life, how she stayed connected to movement and self-expression, and what she’s learned about letting go, showing up, and staying curious in her 50s.Whether you’re a lifelong athlete or just trying to stay grounded and active as you age, this episode offers perspective, honesty, and a few good powder-day metaphors.🧩 Topics We CoverThe mental toll of elite sport and perfectionismWhy Wendy left ski racing at her peakDisordered eating, burnout, and identity loss in early adulthoodHow one freeskiing contest changed everythingBecoming one of the first women featured in major ski filmsFrom athlete to coach, DJ, and community builderWhat movement looks like now — and how it feels different in midlifeLetting go of guilt, chasing joy, and embracing new chaptersParenting young athletes with honesty and humilityWhat it means to be ageless in a results-obsessed cultureWant to see Wendy ski? Start with Skiing For MyselfMore on Wendy: https://www.wendyfisher.me🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

At 74, Rob Matheson climbed one of the UK’s most serious routes: The Bells, The Bells! — a sea cliff climb in North Wales known for poor protection and real consequences - a fall can mean catastrophe, even death. This isn’t a nostalgic story about what he used to do.It’s about what he’s still choosing to do now.In this conversation, we talk about what it means to stay bold as you get older—not by chasing risk, but by understanding it more clearly.We get into: What changes (and what sharpens) after decades of climbing  How judgment and composure start to matter more than raw strength  The difference between fear and actual danger  The role of mentorship—from his father to his son  How outside attention can distort decision-making, even late in life  Why he keeps going back—not to prove anything, but to explore what’s still there There’s something deeper running through this conversation.Not just climbing—but how we relate to challenge, identity, and growth as we age.Check out Rob's fantastic Youtube channel! 🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

“I call my age group the 70 to death—and we show up early, because we still can. If you want to feel young, hang out with people chasing PRs, not prescriptions.”Bob Babbitt has raced more than 300 triathlons, co-founded Competitor magazine, helped popularize the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series, and has spent decades spotlighting athletes of all abilities through storytelling.At 73, he’s still training, still racing, and still waking up at 5:30 a.m. for his morning cold plunge.But this episode isn’t just about endurance sports. It’s about how movement, community, and a willingness to reinvent yourself can keep you young—physically, mentally, and emotionally.We dive into:The chaotic, hilarious origins of Ironman (including Big Macs and boomboxes)How triathlon went from fringe to global by aligning with city economicsDaily habits Bob swears by for recovery, clarity, and energyWhat the “70 to death” age group can teach us about aging wellThe work of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and how sport empowers identityWhether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or just someone thinking about how to age on your own terms—this one will stay with you.🔑 Key TakeawaysLongevity is built through reinvention. Bob’s career spans media, sport, and philanthropy—and each chapter began with curiosity, not certainty.Movement fuels mindset. His fitness routine isn’t performance-driven—it’s how he stays clear, focused, and in motion.Community is everything. Surrounding yourself with people who “refuse to act old” is one of his core longevity strategies.Sport = transformation. Whether you’re a first-time triathlete or a challenged athlete rebuilding after injury, crossing that finish line changes everything.🗣️ Notable Quotes“I call my age group the 70 to death. And we show up early—because we still can.” “Sport is what makes us whole. As long as there’s air in your lungs, you should be moving.” “If you want to feel young, hang out with people chasing PRs, not prescriptions.”🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

At midnight, Sarah Thomas stepped off the coast of England into darkness—swimming into history as the first person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel, nonstop. That alone would be astonishing. But what makes her story unforgettable is what came before: a breast cancer diagnosis, grueling treatment, and the slow, painful journey of rebuilding trust in a body that no longer felt like hers.In this powerful episode, Sarah opens up about more than just world-record swims. She reflects on how to start over after loss, how movement can become a form of healing, and what it really means to “still float”—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether you're an athlete, a survivor, or simply navigating your own midlife turning point, her story is a quiet masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and grace.🔑 Key Themes & TakeawaysRebuilding After Crisis: Why Sarah’s swim wasn’t about proving strength—it was about rediscovering identity in a different body.Grit ≠ Perfection: How embracing her limits post-cancer helped her redefine success, and why being “less than 100%” doesn’t mean giving up.Movement as Healing: The power of returning to the water—emotionally and physically—as a space of control, anonymity, and joy.Longevity Lessons: What Sarah’s approach to endurance can teach us about aging well, training smart, and honoring the long arc of performance.The English Channel as a Metaphor: How a swim so steeped in history became her proving ground for something deeper: presence, surrender, and quiet strength.Start Small, Stay Present: Why big goals demand micro-focus—and how thinking one stroke at a time can carry you through life’s hardest miles.🔗 References & Resources🌐 Sarah Thomas’s Website: sarahthomasswims.com📺 TEDx Talk – “Go Big”: Watch on YouTube📚 Ocean’s Seven Challenge (Wikipedia): Learn More📰 TIME Magazine – “Sarah Thomas Swims English Channel Four Times Nonstop After Surviving Cancer”: Read Article🎖️ WOWSA Hall of Fame Inductee: World Open Water Swimming Association Profile📍 Lake Champlain 104-Mile Record Swim: Coverage by Marathon Swimmers Federation🎥 Longevity insights + behind-the-scenes.Ageless Athlete on Substack - 1-2x / month. No spam.🎥 Want the full experience?YouTube — full-length video. free.📍More clips + behind-the-scenes Ageless Athlete on Instagram - follow along. 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention