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Stop Playing It Safe — Here’s What It Costs | Cedar Wright, 51

  1. Stop Playing It Safe — Here’s What It Costs | Cedar Wright, 51 Kush Khandelwal 1:29:44

What happens when the moment that changes your life doesn’t come from the “dangerous” thing… but from an ordinary day at home?

Cedar Wright has spent decades in the vertical world—professional climber, storyteller, and filmmaker whose adventures helped bring climbing culture to a wider audience. But in this conversation, the sharpest lesson isn’t about climbing at all. It’s about how quickly capability can disappear—and how “next year” is never guaranteed. 

In this episode

  •  The freak accident that broke Cedar’s neck—and the Clarity it forced 
  •  Why “playing it safe” can still cost you the life you want 
  •  The difference between reckless risk and chosen risk (and how to live with consequence) 
  •  Watching a friend lose the ability to climb—and what it taught Cedar about urgency 
  •  Staying hungry at 51: identity, edge, and how to keep moving forward without pretending you’re invincible 
  •  Cedar’s “fetal attempt at immortality”: leaving something behind that outlasts him 

Cedar’s films + storytelling

Cedar talks about using small cameras, self-shooting, and editing to tell stories that go beyond climbing—and how the “Sufferfest” films resonated with people because they were about having a big-hearted adventure close to home. 

Follow Cedar on Instagram

Support Cedar’s Dirtbag Fund!

Cedar founded The Dirtbag Fund to give small grants to young climbers who are scrapping by, contributing to adventure culture, and pushing their craft forward. Cedar describes it as a big part of the Legacy he wants to leave behind—and a way to keep the door open for the next generation.

How to give back: (and yes—Cedar notes it’s tax deductible, and even $1 helps). Go to  https://www.thedirtbagfund.com/

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Kush Khandelwal Host, Ageless Athlete Podcast

I’m Kush Khandelwal, host of the Ageless Athlete Podcast. While I come from a background as a lifelong rock climber and outdoor athlete, my work is really about something much broader: how we can all stay active, vibrant, and engaged as we age.

On the podcast, I interview world-class athletes, explorers, and health experts—but the lessons go far beyond sports. Together we explore how to keep our bodies strong, our minds sharp, and our spirits resilient—whether that means walking pain-free, picking up a new hobby at 60, or simply finding more joy in everyday life.

With almost 90 episodes, I’ve had conversations with Olympians, scientists, and ageless adventurers who prove that life after 50 can be just as bold and rewarding as any other stage. My mission is to share practical insights and inspiring stories that help all of us, athlete or not, embrace the second half of life with curiosity, confidence, and energy.