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

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...

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...

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 m...

“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 Sa...

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...

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...

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 leav...

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 conve...

"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 lon...

Wayne Willoughby doesn’t move through the world easily. By his own account, even making dinner can be a challenge. Balance, coordination—things most of us take for granted—aren’t a given for him. And yet, he’s climbed El Capitan in Yosemite 26 times. This is a re-release of one of the most memorable conversations from the show. Wayne has lived with the effects of polio and other physical limitatio...

This is Part II of a simple question: What do people who stay in the game for decades actually do differently? Not just in training—but in how they think, how they show up, and how they build a life around what they love. This episode pulls together lessons from conversations with athletes across climbing, running, biking, and beyond—from Hans Florine to Marshall Ulrich to Hazel Findlay. Different...

Most of us treat fear like truth. Timmy O’Neill thinks that’s a mistake. Timmy is a climber, comedian, and longtime Yosemite fixture—but this conversation isn’t about climbing. It’s about how to relate to risk without letting fear make your decisions, and why curiosity is often the better compass. Then keep your bullets, but tighten them like this:  Why fear is often misleading   How humor changes...

Heather Heynen works with people who look like they have it together. They’re disciplined. High-performing. Driven. But underneath, a lot of them are stuck—measuring their worth by what they do, not who they are. This conversation goes there. Heather is a therapist, coach, climber, and bikepacker in her 50s. She’s spent years helping people untangle the beliefs that quietly shape how they see them...

Ben Moon has been at the sharp end of climbing for over three decades. He was there when the sport was raw and undefined—pushing standards, shaping culture, and later building tools like the MoonBoard that changed how people train around the world. But what’s most interesting isn’t what he did in his 20s. It’s what happened later. Around 50, Ben found himself climbing at a level that surprised eve...

After dozens of conversations with athletes still performing in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, I started noticing something. The same patterns kept coming up. Different sports. Different personalities. Different paths. But similar ways of thinking, training, and approaching life. This episode is a distillation of those patterns. Not as rules. More as observations—things that seem to hold up over time...

In 1993, something happened in El Capitan that changed climbing forever. Lynn Hill became the first person to free climb The Nose —one of the most famous routes in the world. And then she did it again. In a single day. At the time, it wasn’t just considered difficult.  It was considered impossible. But this conversation isn’t just about that climb. It’s about what it takes to reach that level—and...

Winning once is hard. Doing it again—and again—is something else. David Wiens won the Leadville Trail 100 MTB six times in a row. He’s one of the few riders to beat Lance Armstrong at the height of his comeback. And now, approaching 60, he’s still riding, still building, still showing up. But this conversation isn’t really about winning. It’s about what lasts . We talk about:  What it takes to sta...

Who gets to belong in the outdoors? For a long time, the answer was… not everyone. Katherine Hayes Rodriguez has spent nearly 50 years changing that. What started with a small group of Vietnam veterans in Lake Tahoe grew into something much bigger—helping shape adaptive sports programs that now exist all over the world. But this isn’t just a story about programs or progress. It’s about one person...

I spend most of my time asking the questions. In this episode, I had to answer them. I joined Heather Heynen on her podcast—and for the first time, I shared more of my own story. How I found my way into the outdoors.  The injuries that forced me to rethink everything.  And the quiet shifts that changed how I see performance, aging, and what actually matters. This isn’t a polished story. It’s a loo...

Before the big waves, there were long days washing dishes. Yuri Soledade didn’t grow up in the world of elite surfing. He built his way into it—step by step—after moving from Brazil to Hawaii and chasing something that didn’t come with a clear path. Eventually, that path led him to Peahi (Jaws)—one of the most powerful waves on Earth. He’s ridden waves over 70 feet. Won the biggest wave award. And...

Most people spend their lives trying to avoid pain. Marshall Ulrich went the other way. He’s run across the United States. Multiple times. Completed more than 20 Badwater Ultramarathons. Climbed the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest. And at 73, he’s still going. But this conversation isn’t really about achievements. It’s about what happens when you stop resisting discomfort—and start listenin...

Some people visit the mountains. Others build their entire life around them. Heidi Wirtz—known to many as “Heidi Almighty”—chose the second path. She didn’t come up through a traditional system. At times, she was literally living in a tent, finding her way into climbing, into community, and into a world that doesn’t always make it easy to belong. Over time, she became one of the most respected big...

You can train your body for years. And still freeze when it matters. Hazel Findlay has spent decades climbing at the highest level—on some of the most dangerous routes in the world. She’s climbed El Capitan multiple times, pushed the limits of traditional climbing, and built a career around performing under pressure. But what makes her interesting isn’t just what she’s climbed. It’s how she thinks...

""Seeing the transformation in the inmates, from despair to determination, reminds us of the profound impact running can have on someone’s life." 🏃🏽‍♂️🙌🏽 Diana, and Tim Fitzpatrick, are accomplished ultrarunners who’ve not only achieved remarkable personal feats but also transformed lives through their work at San Quentin State Prison. They've marathon PRs of 2:37 and 2:35...

"Even as life changes, keeping a playful spirit is essential. That’s what keeps me coming back to the rock, year after year." 🤾🏻‍♂️🌟 At 53 years young, Chris Kalous has spent over three decades dedicated to rock climbing, evolving from a dirtbag climber living out of his van to a house painter, and ultimately becoming the voice behind the legendary Enormocast podcast. With nearly 300...