Ageless Athlete — Healthy Aging for a Strong, Capable Life

Latest Episodes:

Built to Move: How to Stay Strong, Mobile & Capable as You Age | Juliet Starrett Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

How do you keep your body strong, mobile, and capable as you get older?

Juliet Starrett, co-author of Built to Move and co-founder of The Ready State, has spent years working with elite athletes and translating what actually matters for the rest of us. Her message is refreshingly simple: the fundamentals—not expensive gadgets or complicated biohacks—are what give us a body that lasts.

We talk about the basic practices that matter most for healthy aging and long-term physical capability, including:

Why strength and balance become increasingly important with age
How walking and everyday movement support long-term health
Mobility practices you can actually maintain
Protein, sleep, and recovery fundamentals
Why consistency matters more than optimization
How to keep doing the activities you love for decades

Juliet's philosophy is simple: build the base first, then earn the right to optimize.

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.

He Built Big Wave Surfing — And Still Charges | Gary Linden, 74 Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

"It's not about being the star that day or catching the biggest wave. It's just, that's the one you remember and you carry all your life."
What does it take to live a life in pursuit of waves for over 6 decades? Today's guest, Gary Linden, has been doing just that - riding everything from 2-foot rollers to 50-foot behemoths around the globe since the age of 12.

Gary was one of the first true surfing nomads, traveling to remote regions and living amongst local cultures from Brazil to Japan in search of uncrowded breaks. You'll hear hilarious tales of getting hopelessly lost hiking through dense jungles, camping for months in tiny fishing villages near secluded waves, and the unbridled thrill of exploration in those wide-open days before surf forecasts.

But Gary's true legacy is as the pioneering face of modern big wave riding. Imagine swells the size of three-story buildings barreling across an oblivion of ocean - that's the canvas where Gary etched his name. Hear how an unwavering mindset of commitment allowed this slight 135-pound waterman to paddle into some of the heaviest slabs on the planet at bomboras like Todos Santos and the bone-crunching barrels of Puerto Escondido. His fearless vision led him to create the original Big Wave World Tour to crown the planet's best big wave chargers.

Now at 74 years young and still surfing frequently, Gary opens up with raw honesty about the habits, philosophies and convictions that have kept him ageless in pursuit of his one true passion - surfing. With humor and wisdom forged from decades in the lineup, he imparts insights about prioritizing what matters, overcoming setbacks, and leaving a legacy by doing what you love.

References:
Gary's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/garylinden/
Gary Linden Surfboards https://lindensurfboards.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.

This Life Nearly Killed Him. He Didn’t Leave. | Nick Martinez Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Nick Martinez didn’t just come to Yosemite to climb. He came to build a life.

From growing up in Brazil to finding his way into the Valley, he became part of a rare world—sharing space with climbers like Jim Bridwell, Dean Potter, and the Huber brothers.

Over two decades, Nick quietly took on some of the hardest and most committing big walls in Yosemite National Park.

But this story isn’t really about climbing.

It’s about what happens when everything nearly gets taken away.

After losing people close to him—and surviving a near-fatal BASE jumping accident—Nick had to decide whether to walk away… or return to the same place that nearly broke him.

He chose to go back.

In this conversation, we talk about:

Finding your way into a world where you don’t yet belong
The pull of risk—and how it changes over time
Grief, close calls, and continuing anyway
The quiet code of the Yosemite dirtbag life
Why some people keep returning to the same walls

Nick is also just a great storyteller—so there are plenty of wild moments, close calls, and glimpses into a side of Yosemite most people never see.

This one is less about performance—and more about identity, loss, and what keeps you coming back.

Nick’s Instagram

Nick extends huge thanks to:

Rigging International
BlueWater Ropes
PASOKIN
Greater Tahoe GripWorks
📸 credits to:

https://www.fredpompermayer.com
https://www.felipesh.com
https://www.edsonvandeira.com
Jenning Steger and Kyler Sparks of Patagonia.

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 Chose the Hard Road — And Built a Life Around It | Jeremiah Bishop, 50 Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

“You talk about my successes — I’ll show you my thousand failures.”

What does it actually take to stay at the top—not for a season, but for decades?

In this conversation, I sit down with Jeremiah Bishop, one of the most accomplished endurance mountain bikers in the U.S. A 16-time member of the USA Cycling National Team, Pan American Games gold medalist, and multiple-time national champion, Jeremiah has spent a lifetime choosing the harder path—on and off the bike.

But this isn’t just about wins.

It’s about the long road.

We talk about what it feels like to keep showing up year after year… how to handle failure when it becomes the norm… and what it really means to build a life around something difficult.

Jeremiah brings you into the races—the suffering, the landscapes, the quiet moments where things can go either way—and the mindset that’s allowed him to keep going long after most people burn out.

In this episode:

What separates athletes who last from those who fade
Why failure is the real training ground
The mental game behind long, multi-day races
Choosing challenge over comfort—again and again
How to build a life around something that matters

This one is about endurance in the deepest sense—not just sport, but life.

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.

5 Women Who Refused to Slow Down — How They Found Strength, Community, and Confidence Outdoors May 23, 2024

Show notes

I'm not a 70-year-old woman on the trail, I'm a free spirit dancing with gravity.” - Henrietta Stern, mountain biking icon

This week, we’re breaking the mold with not one, but FIVE remarkable guests – all powerhouse women from the San Francisco Bay Area mountain biking scene.

Meet Jessica, Jenna, Henrietta, Lisa, and Alexis – a group of community entrepreneurs, passionate riders, certified instructors, and social leaders who are changing the face of mountain biking. I was enthralled with their stories of resilience and transformation, shared with wit, joy and candor, and so will you! 🙌🏽

We uncover how they -

- Navigated cultural expectations and overcame physical setbacks to pursue their passion
- Discovered the power of female camaraderie and built a supportive community on and off the trails
- Became advocates for inclusivity, expanding access to mountain biking for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Listen for:

-The importance of finding joy in movement and connecting with nature. ��
-How to overcome fear and build confidence through proper training and supportive community.
-Tips for staying physically and mentally strong to enjoy an active lifestyle at any age.

Resources & Organizations Mentioned:

Girls Rock MTB: https://www.girlsrock-mtb.com/
MORCA (Monterey Off-Road Cycling Association): https://morcamtb.org/
Ninja MTB: https://ridelikeaninja.com/
San Jose Composite NICA Team: https://www.sanjosemtb.org/
Silicon Valley Mountain Bikers: https://www.svmtb.org/
Sea Otter Classic: https://www.seaotterclassic.com/
National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA): https://nationalmtb.org/
Fort Ord Recreation Trails (FORT) Friends: http://www.fortordfriends.org/
Little Bellas: https://littlebellas.com/
Bike Instructor Certification Program (BICP): https://www.bicp.org/
City of Santa Cruz Parks & Rec: https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation

Connect with our guests:

Jessica Tseng: Instagram: @theladiej
Jenna Graham: Instagram: @bcgraham2021
Lisa Birch: Instagram: @didsomeonesay2wheels
Alexis Morgan: Instagram: @lexibsc

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.

After a 100-Foot Fall, He Rebuilt His Life — Then Rock Climbed a 3,000-Foot Wall in a Day | Craig DeMartino, 64 May 16, 2024

Show notes

Most people never experience a literal 100-foot fall. But most of us do face a moment that changes what we think our future can be.

Craig DeMartino is a climber, coach, and adaptive athlete who rebuilt his life after a devastating accident—and later climbed a 3,000-foot wall in a single day. This episode isn’t about climbing feats for their own sake. It’s about recovery, identity, and the long, unglamorous work of becoming capable again.

In this conversation:

What it actually takes to rebuild after a life-altering injury
The mental shift from “returning” to adapting
How to set goals that restore agency, not ego
Why community matters when you’re starting over
Craig’s work helping veterans and people with disabilities experience challenge—and possibility—again

Cover Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/bearcam/?hl=en
Craig DeMartino's Website: CraigDeMartino.com, Instagram
Adaptive Adventures: The non-profit organization Craig works with, providing outdoor sports opportunities for individuals with disabilities. AdaptiveAdventures.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.

He Started with a Clothesline and Carabiners — Then Took On the World | Mohit Oberoi, 58 May 08, 2024

Show notes

They started with a clothesline and a few carabiners. No instructors. No gyms. Just cliffs outside Delhi and a willingness to figure things out.

That was the beginning for Mohit Oberoi—long before climbing had a foothold in India.

From those early, improvised days, Mo went on to build a life around movement and curiosity. Ironman triathlons. Swimming the English Channel. Ultra-runs across the Himalayas. Each time, stepping into something new—and staying long enough to get good.

But what stands out isn’t just the list. It’s the pattern.

A willingness to begin again.
To learn from scratch.
To keep going, even after setbacks.

This conversation is about what it looks like to build that kind of life—one pursuit at a time.

Welcome to the world of Mo.

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 Started Surfing in His 50s — At 59, He Took On Mavericks | Lionel Conacher, 62 May 02, 2024

Show notes

The sound it makes when it breaks… it’s terrifying.”

At 59, Lionel Conacher paddled into Mavericks—one of the most dangerous waves in the world.

He hadn’t even started surfing until his 50s.

At the age of 59 years and 8 months, Conacher became the oldest person in the world to surf Maverick's, the "Mount Everest of surfing", one of the most challenging and dangerous surf breaks in the world, located near Half Moon Bay, California.
What makes Conacher's feat truly astonishing is the fact that he didn't start surfing until his 50s, wow! Most accomplished big wave surfers start from a very young age, honing their skills over decades of experience. For Conacher to achieve this milestone at an age when most people are contemplating retirement is nothing short of extraordinary.

Tune in for:

Scene by scene account of what it takes to paddle into 30-40 foot waves, from an 'ordinary' surfer's point of view
Training to survive hold-downs 20 feet under cold water
Finding balance with a grueling career as a Wall Street banker "plan your vacations first…"?
Strategies on finding the perfect mentor / coach and community to fuel the journey
Setting audacious goals, and the dedication and joy that follows
Finally, my favorite, wear the 'Vulnerable Adult Learner' label with pride

References:
Bianca Valenti - Reknowned big wave surfer and Lionel's coach who prepared him for Mavericks Link to Website
Barbarian Days by William Finnegan: This Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir explores the author's lifelong passion for surfing and his experiences at various surf breaks around the world. Link to Book

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.

Built by Habit — Endurance, Consistency, and Respecting Limits | Matt Eggleton, 60 Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

"It's not selfish to honor your ability 💪. While I can, I have an obligation to use my gifts and make my mark 🏆. Someday I won't be able to, so I'll make the most of the time I have ⏳."

Matt Eggleton, a former US Air Force veteran and accomplished endurance athlete, challenges age stereotypes by dominating the world of mountain biking. Despite discovering the sport in his 40s, Matt's dedication and discipline have propelled him to achieve impressive results in competitive races across the country. He's a 2x winner of the Stokesville Stoopid 50 (Smart 40, Master Men 50+) category, a 4th place finisher in the 2019 National Ultra Endurance (NUE) MTB Series Masters Division, and the Overall Winner of the 2019 Tour de Gravelly Masters Division.

We cover:

Training regimens for mountain biking?
Power of habit stacking
Obligation to honor ones gifts
Safety….“Only spend on a helmet what your head’s worth” 🤩
Is yoga worthless for enduro sports? 🧘🏾

References:

Matt’s website: https://www.eggleton.net/

Matt’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt.eggleton/

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.

Transforming Fear — Courage, Curiosity, and Staying Alive to Wonder | Caroline Paul, 61 Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

"What nature asks of us when we go outside is to be strong, is to use our cognitive faculties, to be nimble, to be exhilarated, and to be brave. All of that flies in the face of what we're told about our aging ." ⛰️ 💪🏾
Caroline Paul, a true renaissance woman, has spent her life shattering stereotypes and embracing adventure.

In this episode, we journey alongside Caroline as she shares her remarkable experiences, from the remote landscapes of Siberia to the exhilarating waves of the Pacific Ocean. We discuss her latest book, "Tough Broad," and explore the transformative power of outdoor adventures for women (and men) as they age.

Takeaways:

Embrace awe 🧘‍♀️ It can lower inflammation, boost positivity.
Assess real risks 🤷‍♂️ We often blow them out of proportion.
Find accountability buddies 🫂 They add fun, community, motivation!
Expand your comfort zone 💪 Small steps upend expectations.
Seek novelty 🏔 It's key for health, happiness and longevity.

Time to ditch narratives about "frailty" and get rad! 🚀
Resources:

Caroline Paul's Website: https://carolinepaul.com/
Caroline Paul on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinembpaul/
Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking, How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age: [online or your favorite bookstore!]
The Gutsy Girl: [online or your favorite bookstore!]
Dacher Keltner's Book on Awe: [Link to purchase book]

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.

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