Stories and Secrets of Elite Athletes
Uncensored and deep conversations with extraordinary rock climbers, runners, surfers, alpinists, kayakers and skiers et al. Tap into their journey to peak performance, revealing stories, hidden strategies, and the mindset that defies aging and other limits.
Get educated and inspired to chase your own dreams. Come for the stories, leave with tools, tips, and motivation!
Recent Episodes
146
Sept. 23, 2026
He Was Dean Potter’s “Secret Weapon” — But This Was Never a Death Wish | Timmy O’Neill, 56
Dean Potter once called Timmy O’Neill his “secret weapon.” With Dean back in the spotlight through Dark Wizard, I went back to this conversation with Timmy — and realized how much of it deserves to be heard again. Timmy shares stories from their extraordinary years climbing together in Yosemite, but this conversation goes somewhere deeper: how our relationship with risk changes as we age, why Timmy fears not living more than dying, and his idea of cultivating a “life wish” — even if you’re no...
145
Sept. 16, 2026
Still Racing In her 80s — How to Train, Recover, and Stay Strong for Decades | Cherie Gruenfeld, 82
At 82, Cherie Gruenfeld is still racing IRONMAN. She’s a 14-time world champion and is considered a GOAT of the sport. Wildly, she didn’t even start running until 42 or triathlon until 48. Her lesson after four decades of training: if you want to preserve strength, power, and muscle as you age, you can’t keep training the way you did when you were younger. We talk about what Cherie does differently now and, the mindset behind performing into your 80s More about Cherie: https://cheriegruenf
143
Sept. 9, 2026
The Surprising Skill You Need To Live Past 100 - And It's Not Diet or Exercise | Allison Aubrey
Allison Aubrey has spent more than two decades reporting on health and science for NPR. But when she put herself through a longevity assessment, some of the results caught even her off guard. In this episode, we talk about what she learned from that experience, why being active and lean doesn’t necessarily mean you’re as prepared for aging as you think, and the health markers that may actually be worth paying attention to. Then we get into the bigger stuff: strength, purpose, connection, r
142
Sept. 2, 2026
You’re Going to Die - Stop Postponing Your Life | Paul Pritchard, 59
Paul Pritchard is one of the most significant figures in British climbing. He became one of Britain’s leading rock climbers and mountaineers, with major first ascents across the UK, Patagonia, Baffin Island, Yosemite, Kyrgyzstan and the Karakoram. His first ascent of the West Face of Mount Asgard in 1994 remains one of his defining achievements. He was also the first author to have won the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature twice — for Deep Play, and later, The Totem Pole. In 19
141
Aug. 26, 2026
Exercise First, Sex After — Intimacy, Aging & the Next 40 Years | Joan Price, 82
We spend a lot of time preparing our bodies for the next 30 or 40 years. Strength. Mobility. Sleep. Recovery. Longevity. But almost nobody prepares for how sex, desire, intimacy, and pleasure may change over that same stretch of time. In this conversation, I speak with Joan Price, one of the best-known voices on sex and aging, about what changes, what can actually get better, and what we should understand long before we think we need to. Joan is 82, but much of what she shares may be most use...
140
Aug. 19, 2026
You Are Losing Physical Abilities Over Time — Even If You Train Strength Today | Dan Edwardes
Ageless Athlete Newsletter. Weekly longevity insights + behind-the-scenes. No spam ever. 🚨 You can train hard, stay fit, and still lose physical abilities you are no longer asking your body to use. Dan Edwardes has spent more than two decades at the forefront of parkour as a practitioner, coach, and movement educator. His work has helped shape parkour into a global movement practice, with coach education programs delivered internationally through Parkour Generations and ADAPT. In this episode...
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One useful email a week on strength, muscle, mobility, endurance, recovery, and how to keep doing what you love as you get older. Drawn from conversations with exceptional athletes, coaches, and scientists.
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About the Host
Kush Khandelwal
Kush Khandelwal is a lifelong explorer on a mission to uncover the secrets of ageless athletes. Fueled by a childhood spent exploring the Indian Himalayas, his passion for adventure led him to embrace climbing and surfing in the United States and beyond.
Inspired by the enduring spirit of these peak performers, Kush created the Ageless Athlete podcast. Through intimate conversations, he taps into the training, recovery, and mental approaches, uncovering the secrets to lifelong athleticism. More than just a host, Kush is a relatable guide, sharing his own journey and vulnerabilities along the way.