Ageless Athlete - Longevity Insights From Adventure Sports Legends

• #82 Climbing the World’s Hardest Big Wall by Sailboat — How Living Your Values Elevates the Goal, and Why the Right Partner Makes It Possible

  Seb Berthe isn't your average elite climber. He doesn’t just send 5.14s—he sails to them. Literally. When he set his sights on the Dawn Wall—the hardest big wall climb in the world—he refused to fly, instead making three ocean crossings by sailboat, living simply and training creatively along the way.In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, we talk about:Why how you chase a goal matters as much as what the goal isHow living by your values can deepen the meaning of your accomplishmentsWhat it takes to train for a 32-pitch 5.14 big wall on a sailboatThe role of emotional partnership—Seb’s story with Soline is unforgettableHis quiet call for more sustainable choices in the outdoor worldSeb’s journey will inspire you to reflect—not just on your physical goals, but on the way you live your life.💬 Highlights + Takeaways🎯 The Dawn Wall: How Seb chose a route halfway across the world—and refused to compromise his values to get there⛵ Training at Sea: Creative strength training routines on a moving sailboat🧠 Momentum and Mindset: Lessons from ocean sailors that shaped his mental approach❤️ True Partnership: The incredible support of Soline—warming frozen toes, belaying through storms, living side-by-side on a wall for weeks🌱 Living With Less: Why Seb believes small personal choices can ripple into broader cultural shifts🔗 Links + Resources Mentioned📸 Seb Berthe on Instagram:📹 Seb Berthe on Bon Voyage in Annot, FranceCover pic credit: Alex Eggermont--- 🎯 Support this podcast and try NutrisensePersonalized health data can help us age better and feel stronger. Track your glucose 24/7 and work 1:1 with a certified dietitian to build habits that last. 👉 Get 33% off your first month at https://nutrisense.io/agelessathlete! 🚀 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 📰 Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter ! 1-2x a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #81 How a World Champion Found New Strength—And the Habits That Help Jamie Whitmore Stay Fast, Focused, and Fired Up at 49

  What happens when your life as an elite athlete is stripped away—and you’re forced to rebuild, not just your body, but your identity?In this powerful and personal episode, we sit down with Jamie Whitmore—a world-class endurance athlete whose story is less about podiums and more about persistence.Jamie was once one of the most dominant XTERRA racers in the world—winning races across continents, climbing mountains on her bike, and chasing down competitors on foot. But when life shifted, so did her focus. Today, she’s a mother of twins, a coach to high school runners, a deeply intentional athlete, and a reminder that strength comes in many forms.We talk about:What XTERRA racing actually is—and why it’s so brutally beautifulThe moment she lost her athletic identity, and how she found her way backWhy fear on a mountain bike was her way through, not away from, traumaTraining with a paralyzed leg, and what it taught her about compensation, patience, and adaptationHer daily habits: 5:00 AM wakeups, coaching teen athletes, core work, cross-training, and the power of doing less—but doing it wellWhy movement, variety, and play are the keys to longevity—and joyThe mindset shifts that came with motherhood, midlife, and physical changeAnd why being “gutsy” today looks different than it did in her 20s… but might matter even moreWhether you’re in a season of rebuilding, reinvention, or quiet consistency—Jamie’s story will help you rethink what real strength looks like.--- 🎯 Support this podcast and try NutrisensePersonalized health data can help us age better and feel stronger. Track your glucose 24/7 and work 1:1 with a certified dietitian to build habits that last. 👉 Get 33% off your first month at Nutrisense! 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 Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #80 Lexicon, Boldness, and the Long Game: Training Smarter, Climbing Harder, Peaking Late—Because Age Doesn’t Matter

  What does it take to climb your hardest route at 50—and then hold the rope while someone else pushes that same line even further?For Neil Gresham, that moment came on Lexicon, a bold and beautiful E11 route he developed and climbed later in life. In this conversation, Neil shares the full story—from discovering the line in the Lake District to the deep personal shift that allowed him to reach a new peak, years after he thought he’d already hit it.We also talk about what it was like to support a rare flash attempt by another world-class climber (whose recent film on Lexicon just dropped), and how that moment made Neil reflect on performance, legacy, and the long game.But this episode goes far beyond a single climb.We explore:Why Neil climbed his hardest routes after 45The nutrition and training strategies that helped him recover faster in his 50s than in his 20sWhat most athletes misunderstand about agingCoaching climbers into their 70s—including how he succeeded working with Rob MathesonThe mindset shift that helped him let go of pressure and finally enjoy the process againWhether you’re a climber or not, Neil’s story is about curiosity, adaptation, and staying sharp—mentally and physically—as the years go by.References & Resources:🎥 Lexicon: The Story of a Climb (Neil’s own film): https://vimeo.com/ondemand/e11lexicon📘 Learn more about Neil’s coaching and training programs: https://www.neilgreshamtraining.com/ --- 🎯 Support this podcast and try NutrisensePersonalized health data can help us age better and feel stronger. Track your glucose 24/7 and work 1:1 with a certified dietitian to build habits that last. 👉 Get 33% off your first month at Nutrisense! 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 Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #79 From Olympian to Freeskiing Pioneer to DJ: How One Woman Rebuilt Her Identity—and What It Reveals About Inner Strength, Transformation, and Living with Wonder

  Wendy Fisher was once one of the fastest women on skis. A U.S. Ski Team racer and 1992 Olympian, she seemed destined for a long career in elite competition. But by her early 20s, she was burned out, struggling with identity and disordered eating, and quietly unraveling inside a system that prized performance over well-being.This could’ve been the end of her story. Instead, it became the beginning of a much more human one.In this episode, Wendy shares how she walked away from ski racing and found her way into big-mountain freeskiing—becoming one of the sport’s pioneering women and starring in iconic ski films like Ski Movie and Global Storming by Matchstick Productions. We talk about her second act in life, how she stayed connected to movement and self-expression, and what she’s learned about letting go, showing up, and staying curious in her 50s.Whether you’re a lifelong athlete or just trying to stay grounded and active as you age, this episode offers perspective, honesty, and a few good powder-day metaphors.🧩 Topics We CoverThe mental toll of elite sport and perfectionismWhy Wendy left ski racing at her peakDisordered eating, burnout, and identity loss in early adulthoodHow one freeskiing contest changed everythingBecoming one of the first women featured in major ski filmsFrom athlete to coach, DJ, and community builderWhat movement looks like now — and how it feels different in midlifeLetting go of guilt, chasing joy, and embracing new chaptersParenting young athletes with honesty and humilityWhat it means to be ageless in a results-obsessed cultureWant to see Wendy ski? Start with Skiing For MyselfMore on Wendy: https://www.wendyfisher.me--- 🎯 Support this podcast and try NutrisensePersonalized health data can help us age better and feel stronger. Track your glucose 24/7 and work 1:1 with a certified dietitian to build habits that last. 👉 Get 33% off your first month at Nutrisense! 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 Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #78 When the Gear Might Not Hold: Cutting-Edge Rock Climbing at 74, Mentorship Across Generations, and Why Boldness and Growth Don’t Have an Age Limit

  What does it mean to stay bold — not in your 20s or 30s, but in your 70s? What does it take to trust your body, your judgment, and your preparation when the stakes are high — and there’s no one left to impress but yourself?In this episode of Ageless Athlete, we meet Rob Matheson, a climber who recently completed one of the UK’s most legendary and serious routes: The Bells, The Bells!, a bold sea cliff climb in North Wales known for its minimal protection and high consequence.But this episode isn’t just about climbing.It’s about what happens when we keep moving toward challenge — not recklessly, but intentionally. It’s about how our relationship to risk evolves with age. It’s about mastery, aging, and the subtle difference between quitting while you’re ahead… and knowing there’s more to uncover.We talk about: – How composure and clarity become more important than strength with age – What boldness actually looks like after 60 years of experience – The difference between perceived fear and actual danger — and why that matters – Mentorship — and how his father taught him to climb, and how he passed that on to his son – How media pressure affected his decision to try the route again, and what he learned from it – The quieter, more personal reasons we keep pushing ourselves long after we have toThis conversation begins with a difficult climb. But it expands into something much deeper — about growth, trust, identity, and what it means to stay fully alive as we age.Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, or simply someone curious about what comes after midlife, there’s something here for you.Check out Rob's fantastic Youtube channel! --- 🎯 Support this podcast and try NutrisensePersonalized health data can help us age better and feel stronger. Track your glucose 24/7 and work 1:1 with a certified dietitian to build habits that last. 👉 Get 33% off your first month at Nutrisense! 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 Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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