Ageless Athlete - Longevity Insights From Adventure Sports Icons

""Swimming in 43-degree water with no wetsuit, knowing sharks could be nearby, pushes every cell in your body to scream for warmth and safety. But that’s where mental toughness comes in. You break it down—30 minutes at a time—pushing past the pain and fear to discover another level of yourself."🌊Amy Appelhans Gubser has achieved what many considered impossible: swimming nearly 29.7 miles over 17 grueling hours, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands—a feat that no man or woman had ever completed before.Amy faced unimaginable challenges: freezing 43-degree water, shark-infested depths, and hours upon hours of relentless swimming without a wetsuit. Her journey is not just about athletic achievement—it’s a testament to mental toughness, preparation, and the power of believing in yourself.In this episode, Amy shares what it takes to tackle one of the hardest swims in the world, the strategies she used to overcome fear and exhaustion, and the lessons she’s learned about pushing human limits.Key Takeaways:🥶 The Cold Reality: How Amy endured 43-degree water without a wetsuit and fought through the physical pain of extreme cold.🦈 Swimming with Sharks: The psychological toll of swimming in shark territory—and how she kept her focus.🔄 Adapt and Persist: The years of planning and setbacks—and how persistence and flexibility were key to her success.🐟 Unexpected Challenges: Jellyfish stings, rough currents, and nature’s surprises—how Amy handled them all.💪 Mental Toughness: How Amy pushed past fear and exhaustion to find strength she didn’t know she had.🏥 Drawing Strength from Her Work: How her role as a nurse shaped her resilience and gave her the mental tools to face this monumental challenge.Cover 📸 credit: Tom SewellIf you've enjoyed the show, please hit 5 🌟 on Spotify or Apple or wherever you can leave a rating. It helps keep the show coming to you for free! 💜🟢 Spotify🎵Apple Music▶️ YouTube📸Instagram 💧Substack Blog

"When you understand nutrition isn’t about specific food choices, you stop chasing the trends"🥗💪🏾n this episode of The Ageless Athlete Podcast, I sit down with EC Synkowski, the founder of OptimizeMe Nutrition and the creator of the groundbreaking 800-Gram Challenge. EC’s no-nonsense, science-backed approach cuts through the noise of trendy diets and focuses on what really matters for longevity, vitality, and health. Whether you’re an everyday athlete or just looking for practical ways to improve your nutrition, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Key TakeawaysThe 800-Gram Challenge: A simple framework to ensure you’re getting enough fruits and vegetables—just add 800 grams of produce to your diet daily.Longevity Starts with Basics: EC explains how whole foods, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and proper sleep drive long-term health.Protein Simplified: Most people don’t need a gram of protein per pound of body weight—EC shares a practical guideline that balances health and lifestyle.Debunking Nutrition Myths: Why potatoes, bananas, and carrots are great additions to your diet, and why you don’t need fancy “superfoods.”Supplements Are Overrated: If you’re eating a balanced diet, supplements are unnecessary for most people.Consistency Over Perfection: It’s not about being perfect but about doing the right things more often than not.Seasonal Eating Tips: How to manage nutrition during long adventures or when access to fresh produce is limited.Mental Strategies for Nutrition: Focus on what you can add, not what you have to take away, to make healthier eating more sustainable.Connect with EC SynkowskiWebsite: OptimizeMe NutritionInstagram: @OptimizeMeNutritionPodcast: The Consistency ProjectIf you've enjoyed the show, please hit 5 🌟 on Spotify or Apple or wherever you can leave a rating. It helps keep the show coming to you for free! 💜🟢 Spotify🎵Apple Music▶️ YouTube📸Instagram 💧Substack Blog

"It's not easy for me just to make it through your average day, like I almost fall over and do fall over just in my kitchen trying to make dinner. But if I'm still able to accomplish these things that are seen as goals... it enriches my life in so many different ways." 🙌🏽We're thrilled to bring back one of our most inspiring conversations for those who might have missed it the first time. Meet Wayne Willoughby—an adaptive rock climber who defied incredible odds and has climbed El Cap not once, not twice, but an unbelievable 26 times. 🧗‍♂️🏔️From battling polio and disabilities since infancy to overcoming severe injuries, Wayne's story is about resilience, creativity, and an unstoppable spirit. In this re-release, Wayne shares how he developed the grit and deep gratitude that empowered him to conquer seemingly impossible climbs. He even became the first adaptive climber to reach the summits of both El Capitan and The Diamond in under 24 hours. ⚡With his infectious and humble demeanor, Wayne will inspire you to see challenges in a new light. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or someone looking for an awe-inspiring story of perseverance, this conversation is as relevant and uplifting today as it was when we first aired it.Don't miss out on this chance to revisit a real-life superhero who, even in his 70s, is still defying limits. Buckle up for a story that will challenge your perspective on what it means to be an elite athlete and a human being.If you've enjoyed the show, please hit 5 🌟 on Spotify or Apple or wherever you can leave a rating. It helps keep the show coming to you for free! 💜🟢 Spotify🎵Apple Music▶️ YouTube📸Instagram 💧Substack Blog

In this sequel to our popular “5 Commandments” episode, we bring you five more principles for achieving longevity and fulfillment in sport and life. These lessons, drawn from the incredible lives of world-class athletes who have starred in this show, go beyond training techniques to explore mental resilience, community, and balance.Through their inspiring journeys, these athletes show us what it means to push limits, live with purpose, and give back. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, an athlete, or just someone looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom.Key Takeaways:Balance Passion with Patience:Hans Florine, El Capitan’s legendary speed climber, shares how consistency and calculated risks paved his path to greatness.Meghan Canfield, an ultra-running powerhouse who peaked in her 50s, teaches us the value of perseverance and pacing in both sport and life.Build Community:Maggie & Chuck Odette, a climbing power couple, explain how their shared love of climbing has forged deeper connections and mutual growth.David Wiens, Hall of Fame mountain biker, highlights how community and mentorship elevated his career and the sport itself.Give Back to Find Fulfillment:Gary Linden, a pioneer of big-wave surfing, shows how creating opportunities for others amplifies personal success.Katherine Hayes, an adaptive sports trailblazer, reflects on her life’s work making outdoor sports accessible for everyone.Strengthen Your Mind Daily:Hazel Findlay, one of the world’s top trad climbers, shares how mastering her mind helped her overcome fear and self-doubt on the rock.Marshall Ulrich, ultramarathon icon, talks about harnessing mental resilience to endure 3,000 miles of running across America.Pursue Balance Between Sport and Life:Jeremiah Bishop, pro mountain biker and adventurer, reveals how he balances family, career, and his passion for impossible routes.Ben Moon, climbing icon and founder of Moon Climbing, reflects on achieving his peak twice—decades apart—and creating a legacy of innovation in training.References:Hans Florine's EpisodeMeghan Canfield's EpisodeMaggie & Chuck Odette's EpisodeDavid Wiens' EpisodeGary Linden's EpisodeKatherine Hayes’ EpisodeHazel Findlay's EpisodeMarshall Ulrich's EpisodeJeremiah Bishop's EpisodeBen Moon's EpisodeIf you've enjoyed the show, please hit 5 🌟 on Spotify or Apple or wherever you can leave a rating. It helps keep the show coming to you for free! 💜🟢 Spotify🎵Apple Music▶️ YouTube📸Instagram 💧Substack Blog