#89 Survival Is Not Assured: An 82-Year-Old Alpinist on Choosing the Hardest Lines, Why Summits Are Optional, and Why You Must Look Ahead Despite All Odds

What does it take to come back after a body-breaker of an injury—not once, but sixteen times?Chris Anthony is a legendary ski athlete, filmmaker, and adventurer who has stared down more than his fair share of wipeouts, surgeries, and life-altering setbacks. But instead of fading quietly from the spotlight, Chris rebuilt. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually.In this episode, we explore what it really means to recover—not just to return to sport, but to reinvent yourself in the process.You’ll hear Chris talk about:The gruesome reality and mental toll of having 16 knee surgeriesHow he kept skiing—and pushing limits—long after most would have quitHis unforgettable days shooting for Warren Miller ski films (before GoPros and drones)His time skiing across Mongolia with the local military—and the cultural surprises that came with it (hint: fermented horse milk)What he’s building now with the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project (CYIP) to help underserved youth through outdoor educationChris’s story is a powerful reminder that aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down. It means getting smarter, tougher—and more intentional with how we heal, move, and lead.⚠️ Host's Note on NutritionIn this episode, Chris shares candid reflections on his recovery journey—including the role diet played for him, which includes red meat. While I personally follow a mostly plant-based lifestyle and believe it's possible to fuel performance without animal products, I also deeply respect the importance of honoring each guest’s lived experience.We don’t have to agree on everything to learn from one another. And I’m proud to share real, nuanced conversations—even when they reflect different paths.🔗 Links & ResourcesLearn more about Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project (CYIP) → chrisanthony.comFollow Chris on Instagram → @chrisanthonyskiWatch the Warren Miller ski films → warrenmiller.com--- 🚀 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

Last week in Part I, we began our journey with legendary alpinist Jim Donini — exploring his surprise cancer diagnosis, his early days in Yosemite, and the philosophy that has defined his career: “Getting to the top is optional. Getting back down is mandatory.”In this second part of our conversation, we turn from the mountains themselves to the human side of Jim’s story. At 82, Jim reflects on:The partnerships that shaped his greatest climbs — and what makes someone a great partner in the mountains and in lifeThe sacrifices and personal costs of chasing bold objectives, and the double-edged gift of being able to block out hardshipLessons from living and climbing in places like Pakistan and Patagonia, and how those cultures shaped his worldviewWhat it means to slow down, face illness with honesty, and still look ahead with optimismThe legacy he hopes to leave, and what “ageless” means to him todayJim speaks with the same candor and optimism that have marked his five decades in the world’s hardest ranges. His reflections on life, loss, and resilience remind us that survival is never guaranteed — but meaning can be found in how we choose our lines, both on the mountain and off.If you haven’t yet, go back and listen to Part I — it lays the foundation for everything we cover here.📌 References & Related LinksSurvival Is Not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Donini by Geoff Powter — Winner of the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA)--- 🚀 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

For more than five decades, Jim Donini has defined what it means to be an alpinist. Not by chasing the tallest mountains or summit glory, but by seeking out the hardest lines in the world’s most remote ranges — places where storms, hunger, and survival itself are never guaranteed.Now at 82, Jim is still climbing, still dreaming, and still teaching us what resilience looks like. In this first of a two-part conversation, he opens up about receiving a surprise cancer diagnosis, how he approaches adversity with the same directness he once brought to multi-week storms in the Karakoram, and why he has never lost his motivation to keep moving forward.We cover:Why the highest peaks never interested him — and why difficulty mattered more than altitudeThe philosophy of retreat: “Getting to the top is optional. Getting back down is mandatory”His early days in Yosemite and how confidence and boldness shaped his pathStories from Torre Egger, Latok I, and the Karakoram — some of the most consequential climbs in modern alpinismHow he keeps looking ahead despite health challenges and the odds of ageJim’s story is one of awe, resilience, and optimism. It’s a reminder that survival is never guaranteed — but meaning can be found in the way we choose our lines, on the mountain and off.📌 References & Related LinksSurvival Is Not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Donini by Geoff Powter — Winner of the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA)👉 Next week: Part II, where Jim reflects on partnerships, sacrifices, cultural lessons from years abroad, and what it means to live agelessly in the face of mortality.--- 🚀 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

At age 49, Susan Marie Conrad paddled 1,200 miles—alone—through the remote, storm-swept waters of the Alaskan Inside Passage. Twelve years later, at 61, she went back and did it again.In this powerful conversation, Susan shares what it means to return—not just to the same wild coastline, but as a different person. We unpack what changes when you chase something bold later in life, how nature reshapes your mindset, and what happens when you open yourself up to synchronicity, generosity, and the unexpected.We also talk about the stark environmental changes she witnessed: the plastic where it didn’t belong, the shrinking glaciers, and the fragility of ecosystems many of us will never see.This episode is a meditation on endurance, improvisation, awe, and the will to keep growing—even (especially) as we age.🧭 What We Talk AboutWhat exactly is the Inside Passage—and what makes it so wild and magicalThe brutal logistics of a solo sea kayak expedition (and what people get wrong)Fear, failure, and what to do when a grizzly bear shows up 30 feet awayHow aging changed her approach to adventure—and made the second journey even deeperWhat climate change looks like from a tiny boat in a vast and fragile ecosystemWhy she mentors younger women to take on big expeditions of their ownFinding purpose through challenge, stillness, and storytelling🔗 Links & Resources📸 Susan's Instagram🌊 Susan’s Website📷 Susan's Books:📚 Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage 📷 Wildly Inside: A Visual Journey Through the Inside Passage--- 🚀 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

At 65, Judi Oyama is still lining up at the start gate — not in a “Masters” category, but shoulder-to-shoulder with athletes half, or even a quarter her age. She’s a World Champion slalom skateboarder, a Guiness record holder, a Hall of Fame inductee, and a pioneer who’s been breaking barriers since she first picked up a board in Santa Cruz in the early 1970s.Back then, women’s divisions barely existed. Prize money was unequal. Media crews left during women’s finals. Judi skated anyway — pushing through invisibility, injury, and a sport that wasn’t built to include her. Five decades later, she’s still competing, still winning, and mentoring the next generation of racers who may one day take the sport to the Olympics.In this episode, we talk about:What slalom skateboarding actually is — and why it’s so addictiveHow Judi fought for gender and racial equality in skateboardingThe longevity toolkit she’s built: CrossFit, heavy lifting, recovery, and smart nutritionWhy representation matters, and how she’s mentoring young women in the sportHow to stay competitive, joyful, and relevant in your sport for decadesHer motto: “Be badass every day” — and what it means in practiceWhether you’ve ever stepped on a skateboard or not, Judi’s story is about rewriting the limits others put on you, and replacing them with your own.- Follow Judi on Instagram - Judi in the Guiness Book of RecordsCover pic 📸 Dave Re--- 🚀 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

Physiotherapist, coach, and lifelong climber Andy McVittie is back for the final chapter of our three-part deep dive into aging well, moving well, and living without fear of injury.If you haven’t listened to Part I (The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong!) or Part II (Aging Joints & Grateful Bodies: Elbows, Fingers, Sleep, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves), I highly recommend going back. In those episodes, we tackled the myths about aging, explored upper body resilience, and broke down joint-by-joint strategies for staying strong.In Part III, we turn our attention to the often-overlooked foundation: hips, ankles, and feet.We cover:Why hips, ankles, and feet are often neglected—and why that’s a mistakeEarly warning signs your hips or ankles need attentionSimple self-tests for hip mobility and ankle strengthWhat to do if you’ve been living with old injuries or imbalancesStrategies for preventing long-term issues and keeping your lower body strong for decadesHow to return to activity after injury or time offAndy’s take on recovery tools—what’s worth your time and what’s just marketing noiseHow to structure a realistic, sustainable weekly maintenance planThe mindset shift that keeps you moving confidently for lifeThis is practical, encouraging, and packed with the kind of wisdom that comes from decades of helping real people—not just athletes—move better, heal better, and age with optimism.Resources & ReferencesAndy McVittieAndy's WebsiteAndy's InstagramThe Self-Rehabbed ClimberLevel Edges Pulley Splints: leveledges.co.ukRelevant Past Episodes (look for these titles in your podcast app)#65 The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong!#68 Aging Joints & Grateful Bodies: Elbows, Fingers, Sleep, and the Stories We Tell OurselvesTools & Resources MentionedCalf Raise App on iOS – for testing ankle strength and endurance--- 🚀 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

Every few months, I pause to reflect on the conversations that left a mark—ones I keep thinking about long after the recording stops. This episode is a curated collection of those moments from Spring 2025.You’ll hear stories that go beyond performance. These are reflections on resilience, identity, aging, and the human drive to keep exploring what’s possible—physically and emotionally.In this episode:Sarah Thomas reflects on childhood, potential, and joy after record-breaking swims and cancer survival. 🎧 [#76 Four Times Across the English Channel: What One Impossible Swim Can Teach You About Identity, Grit, and Starting Over]Bob Becker, 80, shares what he’s learned from DNFs and brutal finishes in 100+ mile races. 🎧 [#73 Unstoppable: The 80-Year-Old Who Runs 100+ Mile Ultramarathons—and Reminds Us Why Showing Up Still Matters]Bill Ramsey introduces the “Pain Box” and how meaning comes from effort, not ease. 🎧 [#75 The Thinking Climber: What a Philosopher’s Double Life Reveals About Curiosity, Reinvention, and the Long Arc of Mastery]Bob Babbitt takes us back to the wild early days of Ironman—where athletes taped bananas to bikes and finished races on Big Macs and pure guts. 🎧 [#77 Still Racing at 73: Triathlon’s Wild Origins, Daily Rituals For Recovery, Energy, Clarity, and Why Sport Is the Real Fountain of Youth]Bianca Valenti recounts a terrifying moment that launched her into big wave surfing—and a fight for equal pay. 🎧 [#72 Bianca Valenti’s Second Act: How She Won Equal Pay, Redefined Her Sport, and Trains Her Body and Nerves for Big Waves — and for Life]Rob Matheson, age 74, recounts his bold climb of an E7 sea cliff route—and what came after. 🎧 [#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]Dean Karnazes on laying it all on the line for the world’s first marathon at the South Pole. 🎧 [#70 Dean Karnazes: Fighting Fit in His 60s, Running Ultras on Weekends, and Tracing the Marathon’s Roots in Greece]Andy McVittie, climbing physio, shares how to assess your shoulder health and why tendon care is everything. 🎧 [#65 The Movement Optimist: Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, Bulletproof Yourself! Never Late to Get Strong!]Jerry Moffatt narrates one of his proudest moments: the visionary onsight of Equinox. 🎧 [#67 Jerry Moffatt’s Revelations: Dangerous Free Soloing Before It Was Cool, The Power of Obsession, Letting Go at Your Peak, and His Surprising Key to Success]Neil Gresham, climbing coach, explains why Rob Matheson wasn’t treated any differently—and what that tells us about aging, mindset, and training. 🎧 [#80 Lexicon, Boldness, and the Long Game: Training Smarter, Climbing Harder, Peaking Late—Because Age Doesn’t Matter]Each of these clips holds its own power, but the full conversations go deeper—into mindset, identity, resilience, and what it means to keep pushing, especially as we age. If something in this episode resonates, I hope you’ll go back and give the full interview--- 🚀 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

In Part II of our deep conversation, Andy Donaldson takes us into the heart of open water swimming—where the body aches, the mind wanders, and sometimes… things go wrong.We pick up the story after his return to the sport. But this time, it's different. Andy isn’t chasing medals—he’s chasing meaning. And the path leads him through shark-infested waters, swollen throats, and swims so long and cold they push his body toward shutdown.In this episode, Andy shares:What happened during his 15-hour swim across the Molokai Channel that landed him in the hospitalThe physical and psychological cost of extreme endurance—and how he prepares for itHow he trained his mind to stay calm through chaos, pain, and fearWhy rest is one of the most underappreciated tools in elite performanceThe habits, rituals, and community that help him stay grounded—even as he takes on the world’s hardest swimsThis is a conversation about what lives on the other side of burnout—and what it means to build a second act rooted in intention, not just achievement.Whether you're an athlete, a late bloomer, or someone reevaluating what truly matters… there’s something in this episode for you.🎧 Listen now and share your thoughts with us.--- 🚀 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

What does it take to walk away from something you’ve trained for your entire life… and then find your way back — stronger, wiser, and with a whole new purpose?In this two-part conversation, we sit down with world-record-holding swimmer Andy Donaldson. But Part One isn’t about records. It’s about the reset — the season of burnout, career shifts, mental struggle, and the slow, imperfect process of coming home to yourself.Andy was once on the edge of elite swimming. Then he left the sport entirely — went to work as an accountant, burned out, and eventually found himself guiding volcano tours in Nicaragua during the pandemic. Somewhere along the way, he started swimming again —, just for himself.That path led to an unexpected win at the legendary Rottnest Channel Swim… and the beginning of one of the most astonishing comebacks in open water history.🧭 In This Episode (Part I):How burnout pulled Andy away from competitive sportWhat it's like to truly step away — and live life outside the poolHis quiet return to swimming in Perth, and why it felt different this timeThe daily practices and mindset shifts that set the foundation for performanceThe win at Rottnest that changed everythingWhat open water swimming teaches you about control, trust, and identity💬 Stay tuned for Part II next week:We dive deep into Andy’s record-breaking Oceans Seven challenge, a brutal 15-hour swim in Hawaii that nearly ended in disaster, and how he reframed suffering to find meaning, connection, and strength.--- 🚀 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

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--- 🚀 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