Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Conventional thought portrays aging as a time to retreat from life’s adventures—as if adventure were just a youthful indulgence.
The truth is, our later years may catalyze our most daring escapades with the right mindset. Defying societal tropes about quietude in aging, some are challenging our collective preconceptions and exploring innate questions of risk, purpose, and what it means to live fully.
My guest today is Caroline Paul, a best-selling author and adventurer who has redefined the boundaries of what’s possible in our later decades. A former firefighter, paraglider pilot, and now a gyrocopter enthusiast at 60, Caroline embodies the fusion of physical audacity and spiritual growth across the lifespan. As the author of “The Gutsy Girl” and now “Tough Broad,” she’s pioneering a revolutionary approach to embracing aging.
Caroline’s palmarès are as diverse as they are impressive, from fighting fires in San Francisco to attempting Guinness World Records and flying experimental aircraft. Through these pursuits, she’s challenged the insidious cultural messaging about aging—especially for women. Her recent wing-walking experience, strapping herself to the top of a biplane in flight, exemplifies her commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing awe-inspiring challenges at any age.
“If we shift our mindset, our later years can be a time of exploration, adventure, and joy.”
– CAROLINE PAUL
Today, we explore how embracing uncertainty and physical challenges transforms us as we age. From boogie-boarding 70-year-olds to a BASE-jumping grandmother, Caroline shares stories of older adventurers, revealing how nature builds resilience at any age. We discuss how outdoor activities boost community, novelty, purpose, and health—vital elements of healthy aging.
Our conversation spans the benefits of nature for body and mind, the ethics of risk-taking in later life, and Caroline’s evolution of perspective on adventure.
Caroline’s insights offer a compelling reframe of what it means to age with awe and wonder, while new research on aging mindsets sheds light on how our approach to getting older can dramatically impact our experience.
Her path underscores the delicate balance between embracing adventure and acknowledging the realities of aging, touching on critical aspects such as mitigating fear, cultivating awe, and gaining perspective from nature’s vantage points.
For those who prefer a visual experience, the conversation is available on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Whether you’re seeking inspiration to push beyond perceived limits or curious about the extraordinary capacities of the human spirit as we age, this conversation is a must-listen.
Peace + Plants,
Listen, Watch, & Subscribe
For 1000s of delicious, customized plant-based recipes & so much more, check out our Plantpower Meal Planner.
AG1: If there’s one product I trust to support my whole-body health, it’s AG1, and that’s why I’ve partnered with them for so long. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase exclusively at drinkAG1.com/richroll.
LMNT: Introducing LMNT Sparkling—a science-backed electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don’t. LMNT Sparkling delivers the same zero-sugar electrolyte formulation you already know and trust now in a bold 16 oz can of sparkling water. Check out all of LMNT’s tasty flavors and get a FREE Sample Pack with any drink mix purchase. Try it out at drinkLMNT.com/RICHROLL
On: Swiss engineering at it’s finest, On crafts high-performance shoes and apparel crafted for comfort and style. Tested by world-class athletes, this gear is built to go the distance, so you can go all out, outdoors. Visit on.com/richroll.
Waking Up: A new operating system for your mind, Waking Up offers an extraordinary library of mindfulness resources—meditations, courses on Stoicism, time management practices, and more. Visit wakingup.com/RICHROLL to get a FREE month, plus $30 OFF
-
- Connect with Caroline: Website| Instagram
- TED: To raise brave girls, encourage adventure
- Stanford: Trial by Fire
- Book: Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking―How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age
- Book: The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure
- Book: Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology
- Book: Fighting Fire
- Book: You Are Mighty: A Guide to Changing the World
- Book: East Wind, Rain: A Novel
- Book: A Little Tea Book: All the Essentials from Leaf to Cup
- Outside: Age Is Just a Number
- The New York Times: My Mother Got on a Bike. It Changed Her Life.
- Business Insider: A writer did everything from BASE jumping to scuba-diving with women over 50. She learned 3 things about healthy aging.
- National Geographic: Why Outdoor Adventure Is Important For Women As They Age
There are a few simple ways you can support the show and the content we strive to craft and share every single week
Subscribe & Review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, YouTube & Spotify). This helps tremendously!
Patronize Our Sponsors: Supporting the companies that support the show! For a complete list of all RRP sponsors and their respective vanity URLs and discount codes, click the ‘Sponsors’ tab in the ‘Shop’ menu.
Spread The Word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favorite episodes by posting about it on social media.
Thank The Team: I do not do this alone. Send your love to Jason Camiolo for audio engineering, production, show notes and interstitial music; with additional audio engineering by Cale Curtis and additional music by Moby; Blake Curtis & Dan Drake for video, & editing; graphics by Jessica Miranda & Daniel Solis; portraits by Davy Greenberg, Grayson Wilder & Gizelle Peters; copywriting by Ben Pryor; and theme music by Tyler Piatt, Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis.
Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
