Podcast E2: Polar explorer Alison Levine

In this episode of the AGING with STRENGTH podcast:

• how Alison thinks about fitness changed as she’s grown into her 50s

• overcoming the hole in her heart (not a metaphor) to become an athlete

• caring for a mentally ill parent and “always being the parent” in the relationship

• her evolving thinking about taking life-threatening physical risks

• how to remain “relevant” even after achieving major global accolades

• the assholes on Mount Everest that she’s finally exposing in her one-woman show

INTRODUCTION

Alison Levine’s story is well worth the ~18 minutes of this podcast. And not just because she’s an Adventure Grand Slammer who’s had a beer (a chocolate stout, no less) named in her honor. Alison served as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, climbed the highest peak on each continent and skied to both the North and South Poles—it’s called “the Adventure Grand Slam,” and she’s one of about 20 people in the world who have achieved it.

She did all that after overcoming three heart surgeries since age 17. Which you will hear more about. We also talk about Alison’s methods for aging strong, caring for ​a bi-polar father — a retired FBI agent whom she’s bailed out of jail — and her ​NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE​:​ starring in her own one-woman show about all the dark and nasty shit that happened to her on Everest and other famous peaks.

Apparently, Mount Everest is something of a major asshole magnet.

In addition to being a five-foot-four ironlady, Alison’s also a world-class smartypants. She has an MBA from Duke University, is a Goldman Sachs survivor and spent four years teaching leadership courses at West Point.

She’s also the author of a best-selling book, “On the Edge,” which I recommend to anyone interested in excellence. Its subtitle is, “Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and other Extreme Environments.”

Thanks for listening.