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What’s More Dangerous: Free Solo Climbing or Sailing Alone Around the World — and Why the Risk Isn’t the Point

  1. What’s More Dangerous: Free Solo Climbing or Sailing Alone Around the World — and Why the Risk Isn’t the Point Kush Khandelwal 1:33:50

Which is more dangerous — the most extreme type of climbing or sailing alone around the world?

It’s a topic that sparks real debate in this episode. Alpine climbing in the Himalaya. Ice routes where one mistake can be fatal. Free soloing rock faces. Crossing the Southern Ocean alone, where rescue might be days away. Turning off your phone and removing the last layer of backup.

But this conversation doesn’t stay in the realm of adrenaline.

Jerome Rand has sailed solo around the globe — 271 days and nearly 30,000 miles at sea. He’s also thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, spending months largely alone, learning what prolonged solitude does to a person.

What emerges in this episode isn’t a contest of danger.

It’s a deeper exploration of:

  • How much risk makes something feel like a “true” adventure
  • Whether modern Technology strengthens or softens that edge
  • The psychology of immersion when there is no easy bailout
  • Why the ratio of suffering to joy might be 90/10 — and why that 10% keeps us coming back

Jerome reflects on identity, mentorship, and the subtle tension of Aging as an adventurer — when you begin to sense that the horizon you once chased might not be the only measure of a life well-lived.

🔗 Connect with Jerome Rand

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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.