Get ready to hang with the one and only Tom Addison from Northern California; low-key but outperforming with a lifetime of big wall ascents and a knack for crushing sport climbing up to 5.14. But hold on, there's more to Tom than just climbing—he's opened up countless first ascents across the country and fought tirelessly to preserve public lands. In today's episode, we're diving into Tom's  stories, extracting nuggets of wisdom you can apply to your own adventures. From training tricks and overcoming injuries to the joy and wisdom of building a climbing community, we cover it all. Don't miss his key takeaways on resilience, improvement at any age, and the secret to lifelong power training. Plus, he's got a wit sharper than a carabiner! Until next time, keep defying gravity and stay ageless! 🧗‍♂️✨ References: Tom’s Instagram Kush's Instagram Ageless Athlete Instagram Advocacy: Access Fund: A national organization related to climbing advocacy. It is suggested that climbers can find ways to protect climbing areas, participate in existing projects, contribute to the organization, and find resources on their website.  American Safe Climbing Association. Arranging hardware replacement work for climber safety.  Bay Area Climbing Coalition. Place to find local climbing projects that need help in Northern California Bookshelf:  Covenant for Water by Abraham Verghese (I read Cutting for Stone, loved it, so this one is next for me) Podcast Chapters: 00:19 Introduction and Welcome 00:40 Introducing Guest: Tom Addison 00:53 Tom's Climbing Achievements and Advocacy 02:04 Catching Up with Tom 02:19 Discussing Climbing Locations 06:44 Tom's Climbing Journey 08:21 Influences and Mentors 14:29 The Climbing Community 15:20 Tom's First Ascents and Advocacy 24:35 Challenges and Triumphs in Climbing 45:37 Early Career and Passion for Climbing 46:42 Transitioning to Retirement and Side Hustles 47:14 Balancing Climbing and Other Life Obligations 48:24 The Importance of a Balanced Lifestyle 50:22 Diet and Nutrition Habits 55:04 The Role of Genetics and Lifestyle in Climbing Success 57:22 The Impact of Training and Persistence 01:12:53 The Joy of Reading and Learning 01:16:00 Getting Involved in Environmental Advocacy 01:20:07 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 💧All podcast links 💧Spotify 💧Apple Music Oh yes, on social media: 💧Instagram 💧Facebook Blogroll 💧Substack Blog Comments, questions, who do you want to invite to the show?! Write to me [email protected]