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

Kush Khandelwal
  • 5.0 (88)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

For people who refuse to decline quietly. Conversations with top athletes, scientists, and thinkers who are still getting stronger, sharper, and more capable with age. What changes. What breaks. What actually works. Hosted by Kush Khandelwal — rock climber, athlete, and entrepreneur, a lifelong student of performance, and someone figuring this out in real time.

  1. Seven Things 70-Year-Old Athletes Understand That Most of Us Learn Too Late

    2d ago

    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+ athletes on what it really takes to stay strong, curious, and capable over decades. I also included one athlete in his 60s — Greg Benning — because his marginal gains system was simply too useful to leave out. We talk about: why small gains compound better than giant reinventionswhy rest is not weaknesswhy curiosity beats comforthow community supports long-term healthwhy strength training becomes foundational as we agewhat injury teaches us about resilience and identityhow purpose creates energy and vitality later in lifeFeaturing lessons and stories from Greg Benning, Doug & Joan, Jock Sutherland, Bob Babbitt, Steve Swenson, Jack Tackle, Loree Bolin, and more. Related episodes: Still Getting Faster in his 60s — The Marginal Gains System | Greg Benning, 64Winning in Their 70s — What Most Athletes Learn Too Late | Doug & Joan, 75At 77, He Still Chases Big Waves — Why Curiosity Beats Comfort as You Age | Jock SutherlandRacing Strong at 73 - Daily Rituals For Recovery, Energy, and Clarity | Bob Babbitt, 73Why Some People Stay Capable Into Their 70s — And Others Don’t | Jack Tackle, 72“You’ll Never Run Again.” At 70, Loree Bolin Reversed Her Arthritis, And Finished Her 11th IronmanStay Strong Into Your 70s — Lessons From Five Decades on the World’s Highest Mountains | Steve Swenson, 73Warm thanks to Vitalist Bay for allowing me to join and contribute to your community!  🎥 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    36 min
  2. You Start Losing Muscle After 50 — Stop Making These Mistakes | Joe Friel, 82

    May 20

    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 adjust. Joe’s approach is simple, honest, and earned—adapt early, stay consistent, and keep your identity bigger than your numbers.  We talk about  The first “rules changed” moment: getting dropped on climbs  Muscle loss—even with decades of strength work  What adaptation without ego actually looks like in real life  How to keep training for capability, not nostalgiaJoe, thank you for your time, generosity, and invaluable wisdom!  References  Fast After 50 (2nd Edition) https://joefrieltraining.com/book/fast-after-50/🎥 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    1h 25m
  3. Astronauts Call It the Overview Effect — You Need This Reset | Caroline Paul

    May 13

    Astronauts Call It the Overview Effect — You Need This Reset | Caroline Paul

    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 suddenly confronted with scale, beauty, and fragility all at once. Caroline has spent years chasing a version of that feeling closer to home, through awe, attention, and adventure. In this conversation: how to practice presence without turning your life into a self-improvement project, why awe acts like a mental reset, and how adventure — done thoughtfully — helps you move through hard seasons with more clarity and courage. Caroline’s work is a gift. Enjoy!  Why Fly: https://www.carolinepaul.com/why-fly 🎥 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    1h 10m
  4. The Discipline of Not Dying — This Survival Code Kept Him Alive for 18 Years | Ed Viesturs, 66

    May 6

    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 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 References No 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    1h 27m
  5. Still Getting Faster in his 60s — The Marginal Gains System | Greg Benning, 64

    Apr 29

    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 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    1h 20m
  6. She Won the World’s Toughest Races — Then She Rebuilt From the Inside | Amelia Boone

    Apr 22

    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 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    1h 22m
  7. Stop Waiting for the "Perfect" Season—You Pay This Price | Cedar Wright, 51

    Apr 15

    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 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 + storytelling Cedar 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 Instagram Support 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    1h 30m
  8. How to Achieve Hard Goals — Doing What Nobody Had Done Before | Amy Gubser, 56

    Apr 8

    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 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/agelessathlete Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

    1h 31m
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5
out of 5
88 Ratings

About

For people who refuse to decline quietly. Conversations with top athletes, scientists, and thinkers who are still getting stronger, sharper, and more capable with age. What changes. What breaks. What actually works. Hosted by Kush Khandelwal — rock climber, athlete, and entrepreneur, a lifelong student of performance, and someone figuring this out in real time.

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