Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life
A podcast for people who refuse to decline quietly. It features conversations with top athletes, scientists, and thinkers who are still getting stronger, sharper, and more capable with age. The show explores what changes, what breaks, and what actually works as we age. Hosted by Kush Khandelwal, a rock climber, athlete, and entrepreneur.
Episodes
The Uncomfortable Skill Most People Avoid — The One That Sets You Free | Beth Rodden
Beth Rodden is one of the most influential climbers of her generation—known for major Yosemite free climbing, multiple free ascents on El Capitan, and routes that helped push standards forward. I came into this conversation expecting more about training, aging, and climbing goals. Instead, Beth took us somewhere rarer: the inner work behind the highlight reel. She speaks with a kind of directness
Anti Decline Mindset — Playbook to Stay Capable | Mike Wardian, 52
Some guests make you want to train harder. Mike Wardian makes you want to live wider — and stop postponing the things that matter. Mike is 52, a runner, adventurer, and lifelong “yes” person. What stood out here wasn’t a race résumé. It was how he builds a life where training fits inside the day, curiosity stays lit, and progress keeps happening even when time is tight. Mike’s story has that real-
Seven Things 70-Year-Old Athletes Understand That Most of Us Learn Too Late
Two weeks ago, I attended Vitalist Bay in Berkeley, surrounded by scientists, doctors, founders, and researchers exploring the future of longevity.A few days later, I was in the Eastern Sierra, recovering from ankle surgery, mountain biking instead of climbing, soaking in hot springs, and thinking about a different side of healthspan: the lived side.In this solo episode, I share 7 lessons from 70+
You Start Losing Muscle After 50 — Stop Making These Mistakes | Joe Friel, 82
Joe Friel is 82, still training, and still paying attention. In the last five years, he felt the shift—power fading on climbs, muscle disappearing even with a lifetime of lifting—and he’s not sugarcoating what that feels like. This episode is about the mistakes that quietly accelerate decline after 50: training like your recovery is unchanged, letting ego run the plan, and waiting too long to adju
Fear Is Stealing Your Life — Here’s How to Take It Back | Caroline Paul, 62
Caroline Paul has spent decades doing things most people stop doing after 50 — flying experimental planes, surfing, skateboarding into Yosemite at 57. Her new book, Why Fly, is built around a question that follows her everywhere: what changes in us when the world suddenly feels bigger than our problems?Astronauts call it the overview effect — that strange shift that happens when you're sudden
The Discipline of Not Dying — This Survival Code Kept Him Alive for 18 Years | Ed Viesturs, 66
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 dan
Still Getting Faster in his 60s — The Marginal Gains System | Greg Benning, 64
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 offs
She Won the World’s Toughest Races — Then She Rebuilt From the Inside | Amelia Boone
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 tr
Stop Waiting for the "Perfect" Season—You Pay This Price | Cedar Wright, 51
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 capabi
How to Achieve Hard Goals — Doing What Nobody Had Done Before | Amy Gubser, 56
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 abi
Don’t Try to “Fix” Your Shoulder Pain — Do This Instead | Dr Tyler Nelson
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
Your Training Has to Adapt as You Age — Or You’ll Stall | Susan Hunt, 68
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
3 Things You Must Do Differently After 40 to Stay Strong and Agile | Jason Hardrath
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 t
Why Some People Stay Capable Into Their 70s — And Others Don’t | Jack Tackle, 72
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 res
Long Game: 10 Rules for People Who Refuse to Decline With Age (2026 Edition)
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 wit
Most People Avoid This Feeling — But It’s Where Growth Happens (271 Days Alone at Sea) | Jerome Rand
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 li
Running a Marathon in North Korea — What Freedom Actually Feels Like | Johan Nylander
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—physica
How People Learn to Keep Going: Best of Ageless Athlete 2025 (Part II)
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
Your Knees, Ankles, and Hips Are Ready for a Second Act — How Modern Science Can Help You
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 re
He Stopped Taking Supplements at 62 — And Got Fitter | David Green (Ran Across Europe)
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 attentio
How Athletes Adapt Over Time: Best of Ageless Athlete 2025 (Part I)
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 accomp
Why Stopping Is More Dangerous Than Slowing Down — Buzz Burrell at 70+
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 langua
Long Game: Why Most People Get Food Wrong — What Top Athletes Do Differently
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
She Started at 60 — And Built a Bold New Life | Deborah Hammett
“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 i
Stay Strong Into Your 70s — Lessons From Five Decades on the World’s Highest Mountains | Steve Swenson, 73
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
Why Some People Stay Sharp as They Age — And Why Most Don’t | Dr Tommy Wood
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. W
Getting Stronger in My 40s Isn’t What You Think — Here’s What Changed | Kush Khandelwal
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
Still Climbing at 66 — What Russ Clune Changed to Keep Performing
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
How Harvey Lewis Recovers After 5 Days of Nonstop Running — Injury, Sleep, and What Breaks First
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.Th
“You’ll Never Run Again.” At 70, Loree Bolin Reversed Her Arthritis, And Finished Her 11th Ironman
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 und
Aging, Injury, and the Comeback Mindset — Best of Q3 2025
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
At 77, He Still Chases Big Waves — Why Curiosity Beats Comfort as You Age | Jock Sutherland
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
Stronger for Life: The 5 Strength Markers That Matter Most After 40
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 lite
She Walked Away From a “Safe” Life — And Never Looked Back | Kitty Calhoun, 65
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 ha
Most People Get This Wrong About Protein — Simplify Your Nutrition (Rebroadcast)
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
Crossing the English Channel at 59 — The Mental Game When Your Body Wants Out | Charlotte Brynn
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
At 56, He’s Still Choosing the Unknown — A Life Beyond Limits | Erik Weihenmayer
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 sto
Winning in Their 70s — What Most Athletes Learn Too Late | Doug & Joan, 75
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 cult
Going All In — Reverse-Engineer the Goals You Will Risk Everything For | Sonnie Trotter
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
Sixteen Knee Surgeries — And a Return to Skiing When It Should’ve Been Over
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
What It Costs to Live Boldly — Partnerships, Sacrifice, and Risk at 82 | Jim Donini
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
At 82, He Still Chooses the Hardest Path — A Life Where Survival Is Never Guaranteed | Jim Donini
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
Whales, Bears, and the Will to Return — Lessons in Survival From Two Solo Voyages Through Alaska
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 resha
From Teenage Rebel to World Champion at 65 — How She Keeps Winning | Judi Oyama, 65
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 ex
The Movement Optimist Returns: Strong Hips, Stable Ankles, Happy Feet—Extending Performance and Moving Without Fear | Andy McVittie
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
The Lifelong Pursuit of What Matters Most - Best of Q2, 2025
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:
The Deep End: Cold Oceans, the Edge of the Map, and the Mind’s Breaking Point | Andy Donaldson
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 c
The Comeback: From Accountant to the Pinnacle of Open Water Swimming | Andy Donaldson
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 c
He Sailed to the Dawn Wall — Why Values Make Hard Goals Deeper | Seb Berthe
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 t
When a World Champion’s Body Betrayed Her — And What Came Next | Jamie Whitmore
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, cli
Lexicon, Boldness, and the Long Game — Training Smarter and Peaking Later | Neil Gresham
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 ne
From Olympian to Freeskiing Pioneer — How One Woman Rebuilt Her Identity | Wendy Fisher
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
When the Consequences Are Final - Climbing a Death Route at 74 | Rob Matheson
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
Racing Strong at 73 - Daily Rituals For Recovery, Energy, and Clarity | Bob Babbitt, 73
“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 traini
What One Impossible Swim Can Teach You About Identity, Grit, and Starting Over | Sarah Thomas
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
He Outperforms Climbers Half His Age — Still Improving at 65 | Bill Ramsey
What if your best climbing wasn’t behind you—even at 65?This episode is a masterclass in longevity, discipline, and duality. Our guest is a rare figure who has spent decades pushing hard at the edge of two very different worlds: as a tenured philosophy professor and a lifelong climber still sending 5.14s.Bill Ramsey started climbing before sport climbing existed. He trained on treadwalls before th
What Actually Improves Metabolism as You Age — Ketones, Fasting, and Fueling for Endurance | Dr. Brianna Stubbs
Ketones and fasting get marketed like shortcuts. This conversation is the opposite: a grounded look at how your body actually produces energy—and what changes as you age.Dr. Brianna Stubbs is a researcher at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and a world-class endurance athlete. We talk about metabolic flexibility (your ability to switch fuels), what ketones can and can’t do, and when fastin
In His 80s, He Runs 100-Mile Ultras — What Keeps Him Going | Bob Becker, 82
Bob Becker didn’t start running until his 50s.Now, in his 80s, he takes on 100+ mile ultramarathons—long, lonely efforts where the real challenge isn’t fitness. It’s staying steady when everything hurts, the clock is closing, and quitting would be easy.This isn’t an episode about “defying age.” It’s about why people keep going—what purpose does to pain, how community changes endurance, and the qui
Facing Fear in Big Waves — And Building a Second Act | Bianca Valenti
What does it take to paddle into a 50-foot wave—and then keep choosing that life after burnout, setbacks, and real fear?Big wave surfer Bianca Valenti has built a career where the consequences are immediate. But this conversation goes beyond surfing. It’s about what happens when you commit to something that demands your whole self: the training, the recovery, the mental discipline, and the identit
Cold Oceans, Chemo Miles, and the Body’s Breakthrough - Best of Q1 2025
In this special highlight reel, we revisit the most unforgettable moments from the past few months of Ageless Athlete. These are stories that stuck with me—narratives that challenged how I think about fear, recovery, aging, and what the human body (and spirit) can do when fully committed.You’ll hear:A nurse in her 50s swimming 30 miles through 43-degree water toward the Farallon Islands—without a
Fighting Fit in Your 60s — He Keeps Running While Everyone Else Slows Down | Dean Karnazes
Dean Karnazes has been called one of the fittest humans on the planet — and he’s not slowing down. In his 60s, he’s still running ultramarathons on the weekends, living part-time in Greece, and exploring the historical roots of endurance itself.In this episode, Dean takes us through:What running looks like for him todayWhy Greece has become his spiritual and physical homeThe true story of the mara
Aging Joints & Grateful Bodies: Elbows, Fingers, Sleep, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves | Andy McVittie
Physiotherapist and coach Andy McVittie returns to the podcast for a deeper dive into the aging body — what breaks down, why it happens, and how to keep moving through it all.In this episode, we move from big-picture thinking to the specific joints and patterns that affect everyday athletes most: shoulders, elbows, fingers, and knees. Andy shares how to work around pain, when to push and when to p
The Power of Obsession — And the Skill of Letting Go | Jerry Moffatt
Before climbing was mainstream—before comps, cameras, and careers—Jerry Moffatt was already pushing the edge. He trained with a rare intensity, took real risks, and became one of the most influential climbers of his era.But the part that makes this conversation last isn’t what he climbed. It’s what happened after: Jerry stepped away while he was still at the top—and had to rebuild a life that wasn
How To Train To Win In Your 70s From A World Champion | Ned Overend, 70
What does it take to stay at the top of your sport for over four decades—and still be competitive at 70?In this episode, we sit down with Ned Overend, the first-ever UCI Mountain Bike World Champion and six-time national champion, who’s still toeing the line with athletes half his age. But this isn’t just a story about biking—it’s about reinvention, smart training, and building a body and mindset
The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong! | Andy McVittie
Physiotherapist, coach, and lifelong climber Andy McVittie challenge the myths about aging and physical decline. Andy brings decades of hands-on experience, working with outdoor athletes and everyday movers who want to stay active, resilient, and injury-free well into their 40s, 50s, and beyond.We discuss why it’s never too late to get strong, how to prevent the aches and pains that cause many ath
She Was Told She’d Never Run Again — One Year Later, She Finished a 140-Mile Ultra | Tara Tulley
Tara Tulley’s story is an ode to the power of resilience, determination, and self-belief. At 45 years old, she stood at the start line of a grueling 140-mile ultra-marathon—not as a runner, but as a spectator. Weighing over 250 pounds, battling the effects of POTS, and having stepped away from running for years, she made a bold promise: One year from now, I will be here, and I will run this race.W
He Nearly Died Surfing — Then Rebuilt His Brain and Came Back Stronger | Shawn Dollar
“Fear doesn’t have to destroy you—it can become rocket fuel if you learn to harness it. That mindset carried me through big waves and even bigger challenges on land.”In this episode, we dive deep with Shawn Dollar, a big-wave surfer known for paddling into massive 60-foot waves—twice—earning him two Guinness World Records. As awe-inspiring as those rides were, Shawn opens up about an even more dau
What’s Still Possible When Everything Is Slipping Away? | Travis Macy
“What do you do when the person who raised you starts slipping away?”In this episode, I sit down with ultra-endurance athlete and coach Travis Macy—but this isn’t really about racing.It’s about what happens when the real challenge begins at home.Travis’s father, Mark Macy, was once his teammate—racing Eco-Challenge together at the highest level. Today, he’s living with Alzheimer’s.And yet… they’re
93 Days Alone at Sea — What It Does to Your Mind | Chris Bertish
At 50, Chris Bertish has built his life on pushing the boundaries of human endurance. From conquering Mavericks with no sleep and borrowed gear to paddling 4,600 miles across the Atlantic solo, his story is proof that commitment, mindset, and resilience can rewrite what we think is possible.In this storytelling episode, Chris takes us inside his biggest challenges—the brutal storms, the mental bat
Why Some People Get Better With Age | Lisa Smith-Batchen, 64
Lisa Smith-Batchen has done things that are hard to even picture.She completed the Badwater Quad—running from Death Valley to Mount Whitney and back. Twice.584 miles.But what stood out to me in this conversation wasn’t just the distance.It was how she thinks about aging.Lisa believes she’s stronger now than she was when she was younger—not because she trains harder, but because she’s clearer. More
Best of 2024 Part II
🎙️ Ageless Athlete Podcast is back with Part 2 of our Best of 2024 series! In this special episode, we revisit some of the most powerful, thought-provoking, and inspiring conversations from the past year.If Part 1 was about pushing limits and redefining aging through adventure, Part 2 dives deeper into the mindset shifts, personal transformations, and philosophies that keep athletes and adventurer
How to Actually Improve in Your 50s — Not Just Maintain | Steve McClure
Steve McClure is one of Britain’s most accomplished rock climbers, and at 54, still continuing to climb at an elite level, defying the notion that performance inevitably drops with age. We dive into his unconventional training philosophy, how he balances pushing his physical limits with enjoying family life (and even the occasional late-night party), and why he believes that loving the process of
Best Of 2024 - Part I
Excited for this special look back at the most inspiring moments of 2024! Host Kush Khandelwal revisits powerful conversations with athletes and adventurers who’ve challenged limits, overcome adversity, and redefined resilience.This episode highlights some of the most moving stories and actionable lessons from climbers, surfers, runners, cyclists, and coaches. Whether you’re an athlete or simply c
The $101M Global Race to Redefine Aging
What if aging didn’t have to mean decline? What if the years ahead could be just as vibrant as your youth—if not more so? In this week’s episode of Ageless Athlete, Jamie Justice, Executive Vice President of Health at XPRIZE, reveals how she’s leading a $101 million global competition to make that vision a reality.This episode is packed with mind-expanding insights, but here’s a preview of the mos
He Crossed the Sahara. Then Faced Cancer. | Ray Zahab, 56
“During chemo, I could have stayed on the couch binge-watching Netflix. Instead, I chose to walk 500 meters, then build from there. Every step reminded me that I could still fight and get stronger.”In this episode of The Ageless Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Ray Zahab—a professional adventurer and ultra-endurance athlete who has crossed some of the world’s harshest environments, from the Sahar
Long Game: The Patterns I Didn’t Expect From Top Athletes
Over the past year, I’ve had conversations with athletes across climbing, running, surfing, and beyond.Different sports. Different personalities.But certain ideas kept showing up—often in ways I didn’t expect.This episode is a reflection on what actually stuck with me.Not as a list of tips—but as patterns that started to change how I think about training, fear, and what it means to keep going over
Why Fear Doesn’t Go Away — And How to Use It Anyway | Caroline Paul
As we step into a new year, there’s no better time to revisit this transformative conversation with Caroline Paul—firefighter, adventurer, and NYT best-selling author. In this episode, Caroline shares practical strategies to reframe fear, build confidence, and find awe in everyday life. Whether you're chasing bold resolutions or just seeking a more courageous mindset, Caroline’s wisdom will i
Why Some People Never Lose Their Spark | Wingnut, 60
Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, is the star of Endless Summer II and one of surfing’s most iconic longboarders. Wingnut takes us behind the scenes of the movie that shaped surf culture and shares timeless lessons on living a balanced, joyful, and active life.Whether you’re a surfer or simply someone seeking inspiration, this conversation is packed with practical tips and stories that will leave
The First-Ever Farallon Swim: 17 Hours in Freezing Water | Amy Gubser, 55
Amy Appelhans Gubser became the first person—man or woman—to complete the swim from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands.Nearly 30 miles. About 17 hours in the water. No wetsuit.Temperatures in the low 40s. Currents, cold, and waters known for sharks.It sounds extreme. But the way she describes it is surprisingly simple.Thirty minutes at a time. Feed, reset, keep going.In this conversati
Long Game: What You Are Getting Wrong About Protein | EC Synkowski
"When you understand nutrition isn’t about specific food choices, you stop chasing the trends"n this episode of The Ageless Athlete Podcast, I sit down with EC Synkowski, the founder of OptimizeMe Nutrition and the creator of the groundbreaking 800-Gram Challenge. EC’s no-nonsense, science-backed approach cuts through the noise of trendy diets and focuses on what really matters for longe
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