#71 When the Body Breaks Through: From Cold Oceans to Chemo Miles — Best of Q1 2025

In this special highlight reel, we revisit the most unforgettable moments from the past few months of Ageless Athlete. These are stories that stuck with me—narratives that challenged how I think about fear, recovery, aging, and what the human body (and spirit) can do when fully committed.

You’ll hear:

• A nurse in her 50s swimming 30 miles through 43-degree water toward the Farallon Islands—without a wetsuit.
• A son running beside his father through the fog of Alzheimer’s.
• An ultra-runner finding joy mid-chemo.
• A solo paddleboard crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Affirmations taped to walls that became lifelines.
• And reminders that fear, suffering, and setbacks are often the path itself.

If you're new here, this episode is a great introduction to what Ageless Athlete is all about. And if you're a regular, this is a chance to revisit the stories that deserve a second listen.

🧭 Featured Guests & Episode Titles

🎙️ Amy Gubser 🏊‍♀️
Into The Depths: No Wetsuit, 43 Degree Water, and 17 Hours Non-Stop to Make History With The First Swim to Shark Island

🎙️ Travis Macy 🏃‍♂️
One Mile at a Time: The Healing Power of Movement and How Adventure Can Fight Alzheimer’s

🎙️ Jamie Justice 🧬
The $101M Global Race to Redefine Aging: Jamie Justice on the Science of Longevity, and Why Aging Is an Opportunity, Not a Decline

🎙️ Ray Zahab 🏜️
Impossible To Possible: How Ray Zahab’s Adventure Mindset Helped Him Overcome Cancer and Redefine Resilience

🎙️ Chris Bertish 🌊🏄‍♂️
Chris Bertish Is All In: Paddling the Atlantic Solo, and Fear, Failure & Finding Strength in the Unknown

🎙️ Steve McClure 🧗‍♂️
Beyond Limits: Steve McClure’s Unorthodox Methods, Peak Performance at 54, What Causes Decline, and the Best Fixes for Long-Term Success

🎙️ Shawn Dollar 🌊
Beyond Two Guinness Records: How Shawn Dollar Overcame Traumatic Brain Injury—and Why You Must Advocate for Your Own Health

🎙️ Lisa Smith-Batchen 👣💧
The Peaceful Warrior: How to Break Through Self-Imposed Limits, Use Aging to Your Advantage, and How Purpose Can Transform You

🎙️ Tara Tulley 🔥🏃‍♀️
The Ultimate Comeback: At 46, Tara Tulley Transformed Her Life, Lost 130 lbs, Overcame Illness, and Conquered a 140 Mile Ultra Run

---

🎯 Support this podcast and try Nutrisense

Personalized 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