Ageless Athlete — Healthy Aging for a Strong, Capable Life

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Fitness
**Ageless Athlete — Healthy Aging for a Strong, Capable Life**

**Ageless Athlete is a podcast about staying strong and capable for people who refuse to decline quietly.**

Conversations with top athletes, scientists, coaches, and thinkers about staying strong, active, and capable as we age. We explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health—and what actually helps us keep doing the things we love for decades.

Hosted by Kush Khandelwal — rock climber, athlete, and entrepreneur, a lifelong student of performance, and someone figuring this out in real tim

Latest Episodes:

Finding Your Place in a World That Wasn’t Built for You | Heidi Wirtz Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

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 wall climbers in Yosemite National Park—while also building a life shaped by mentorship, travel, and a deep connection to the outdoors.

But this conversation isn’t really about climbing.

It’s about something more fundamental:

👉 How do you find your place in a world that doesn’t automatically make space for you?

We talk about:

What “belonging” actually feels like—and why it’s not given
The role of mentorship (and how it changes your trajectory)
Navigating gender dynamics in male-dominated spaces
Lessons from living simply, traveling widely, and staying open
Why the unconventional path is harder—but often more meaningful

Heidi also shares stories from years spent climbing, guiding, and building community in the mountains—along with the moments that shaped how she sees the world today.

This one is about identity, community, and choosing a life that doesn’t always come with a clear roadmap.

References & Resources Mentioned:

Earth Play Retreats: Discover Heidi’s retreats
Girls Education International: Learn more
Follow Heidi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidiwirtz/

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

What Fear Is Trying to Teach You | Hazel Findlay Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

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 about fear.

In this conversation, we explore something most athletes—and most people—get wrong:

👉 The goal isn’t to eliminate fear
👉 It’s to understand what it’s trying to tell you

We talk about:

Why fear never really goes away (even at the top)
The difference between real danger and perceived threat
Why trying to “be confident” often backfires
How to stay present when everything in you wants to pull back
What changes as you get older—and why the mental side matters more

Hazel also shares stories from her own climbing career—including moments where fear showed up in unexpected ways, even after years of experience.

This isn’t just about climbing.

It’s about what happens in your mind when something matters—and you’re not sure you can do it.

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

Running for Life — Longevity, Purpose, and Redemption Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

""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 respectively, and multiple finishes at the Western States 100, where at 60, Diana was the oldest to complete the run in sub-24 hours. Diana and Tim exemplify resilience, both in their athletic pursuits and their commitment to giving back.

For the past eight years, they’ve coached a running club at San Quentin, where they’ve seen firsthand the power of running to restore hope, build community, and offer a sense of purpose to inmates. Their story is a powerful reminder of how sport can change lives, even in the most challenging environments.

Key Takeaways:

Resilience in Ultra-Running: Lessons from their ultrarunning careers, nutrition strategies, training routines, periodization, including the importance of pushing through limits.
The Power of Community: How the San Quentin running club offers support and belonging to inmates.
Giving Back: The fulfillment Diana and Tim find in using running to make a difference.

References:

San Quentin Running Club: Featured in 26.2 to Life. More info here: https://www.sanquentinmarathon.com/
Western States 100: Where Diana and Tim have competed multiple times and where Diana is the President https://www.wser.org/
The Dipsea Race: https://www.dipsea.org/

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

#34 Chasing Play — Adaptation, Purpose, and Staying Young at Heart Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

"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 episodes of the Enormocast under his belt, Chris has captured the heart of the climbing community through his relatable stories and easygoing nature. In this episode, he shares insights on how he has maintained his love for climbing and stayed connected to the sport, even as life’s responsibilities have grown.

Key Takeaways:

Staying Connected: Chris emphasizes the importance of staying connected to the climbing community, which has helped him keep his passion alive and vibrant as he’s aged.

The Power of Play: No matter your age, maintaining a playful spirit is key to staying youthful and enjoying the things you love.

Adaptability: Chris’s ability to adapt to new challenges—whether in climbing, work, or life—has been crucial to his longevity and continued success.

Chris Kalous's Enormocast: https://enormocast.com/

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

At 63, He’s Still Beating Riders Half His Age — A Lifetime of Racing and Refusing to Slow Down | Tinker Juarez Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

At 63, Tinker Juarez is still racing—and still beating athletes half his age.

He’s been competing since he was 13. From the early days of mountain biking to representing the U.S. at the Olympics, to 24-hour solo races that push the limits of endurance, Tinker has spent over five decades in motion. And somehow, he hasn’t slowed down.

But this conversation isn’t about nostalgia or past results. It’s about what it actually takes to keep showing up—year after year—with the same hunger.

We talk about:

What consistency really looks like over 50+ years
How he trains now—and what’s changed (and what hasn’t)
Competing against younger athletes without losing confidence
The role of identity, routine, and community in staying in the game
Why he still lines up at the start—and what keeps it meaningful

There’s something deeper here than fitness. Tinker’s story is about staying connected to the thing you love—and finding a way to keep going, even as the years add up.

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

How to Keep Strength and Power as You Age — Training Smarter After 50 | Eric Horst Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

What actually needs to change in your training as you get older?

Eric Horst has spent nearly five decades climbing, coaching, and studying human performance—and in his 60s, he is still climbing at an elite level. But he’s also candid about what changes with age: power starts to fade, recovery matters more, nutrition becomes increasingly important, and training mistakes can carry a bigger cost.

In this conversation, Eric explains how he has adapted his own training to keep performing as he gets older.

We cover:

Why power tends to decline with age—and how to keep training it
Why athletes over 40 may need to pay more attention to protein
How recovery and injury risk change as you get older
Why introducing new training methods too aggressively can backfire
How to balance strength, power, endurance, and climbing-specific work
What Eric changed around age 50 to support performance and longevity
Why staying in the sport matters more than hanging onto your absolute peak

Eric’s larger message is one I love: performance eventually changes, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop being an athlete.

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

He’s Spent a Lifetime Choosing Risk — What the Mountains Teach About Freedom | Thomas Huber, 58 Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

Thomas Huber has spent a lifetime in places where the outcome is never guaranteed.

As one half of the legendary Huber brothers, he’s climbed some of the hardest lines in the world—from Cerro Torre to Latok I—often in remote ranges where retreat is just as important as summiting. But what’s kept him coming back isn’t just the climbing. It’s what the mountains reveal.

In this conversation, Thomas reflects on risk—not as something to avoid, but something to understand. We talk about growing up in the shadow of his father’s accident, how that early fear shaped his relationship with the mountains, and why “success” has never meant standing on top.

Now nearing 60, he’s still pushing himself, still curious, and still willing to go into the unknown. But his perspective has evolved—toward partnership, responsibility, and a deeper sense of what it means to come back.

We also get into:

Why getting down matters more than getting to the top
How he thinks about risk after decades in the mountains
The role of fear—and how it can sharpen rather than stop you
Injuries, setbacks, and what keeps him going
What climbing around the world has taught him about people and culture
How his idea of freedom has changed over time

This conversation is how we choose to live when nothing is guaranteed.

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

What It Takes to Last 40 Years in a Demanding Sport — And What Almost Broke Him | Matt Samet Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

I’ve been reading Matt Samet’s writing since I started climbing in 2004, so this one felt a bit personal.

Matt has spent nearly four decades immersed in climbing—not just as an athlete, but as one of the sport’s most thoughtful voices. He’s written for Climbing Magazine, shaped how many of us understand the culture, and lived through the highs and lows that come with staying in something this demanding for a lifetime.

But this conversation goes well beyond climbing.

We talk about what it actually takes to last—not just physically, but mentally. About the pull of addiction, and how close it came to taking everything away. And about the slow, deliberate work of rebuilding a life with more honesty, stability, and purpose.

Along the way, Matt shares:

What keeps someone engaged in a sport for 40 years
How climbing journalism has evolved—and what stories still matter
The role of community, identity, and storytelling in shaping a life
His experience with addiction and the long road back
How he thinks about balance, health, and staying grounded today

There’s a quiet honesty to this one. Less about chasing peaks, more about what it takes to stay in the game—and to come back when you’ve nearly stepped out of it.

Follow Matt Samet on Instagram

Matt Samet's Work in Climbing Journalism:
- Climbing Magazine
Matt Samet's Book:
- Death Grip: A Climber's Escape from Benzo Madness

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

He Left Everything to Chase the World’s Biggest Waves — And Captured What No One Else Could | Fred Pompermayer Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Fred Pompermayer didn’t grow up by the ocean.
He grew up in a landlocked town in Brazil.

At 12, he sold his bicycle to buy a surfboard.
Later, he borrowed university cameras and started documenting the waves he couldn’t stop thinking about. Eventually, he left architecture school behind and moved toward a life that made very little sense on paper.

Today, Fred is one of the most respected big wave photographers in the world. His images—often taken in chaotic, dangerous conditions—have appeared on more than 50 magazine covers, and he’s won the Big Wave Awards seven times.

But this conversation is more than accolades.

It’s about what it takes to stay close to something you’re obsessed with.
To keep showing up in unpredictable environments.
To build a career not by following a plan, but by following a pull.

We talk about the early years, the risks behind the camera, and how he thinks about fear, timing, and being in the right place when everything comes together

Fred's References:
www.Fredpompermayer.com
https://www.instagram.com/fred_pompermayer/
https://morrisonhotelgallery.com/collections/sports/products/mavericks
Ambassador for:
ANETIK PERFORMANCE
FLATLINE VAN CO
VENJENZ
Part of the SANDISK EXTREME TEAM

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

“Don’t Make a Fool Out of Me” — The Moment That Changed His Life | Kris Hampton Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Sometimes it only takes one person believing in you—at exactly the right moment.

This powerful statement from Kris Hampton's probation officer had a profound impact on him, demonstrating the power of belief and accountability.
From his home amidst the Rockies in Lander, WY, musician, artist, and climber Kris, shares his remarkable journey from a tough upbringing to finding solace and purpose in climbing, all while defying odds and setting impressive climbing goals.

Connect with Kris:

Power Company Climbing: https://www.powercompanyclimbing.com/
Kris's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-company-podcast/id1447779791
Kris's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Truth-Simple-Become-Climber/dp/1734103604/
Breaking Beta Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-beta-climbing-training-podcast/id1449349393
Written in Stone Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/written-in-stone-a-climbing-history-podcast/id1527606398

Marek Health: Deeper look at your health with comprehensive bloodwork and personalized guidance. 10% off with code AGELESS at https://agelessathlete.short.gy/marek

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

Support The Show Love the show? Here’s how to support it https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

INFORMEDISH: Real life. Artificial cohost.
Movies, parenting and life's absurdities. Jason and his AI cohost Heather take sides.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Ageless Athlete — Healthy Aging for a Strong, Capable Life

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected