In the past, I shared with you research that shows the genetic contribution to health and longevity accounts for an estimated 25% contribution. As recently as 2026, another researcher quantified heritability at 50 %, mentioning that researching human life is challenging and full of confounding factors that are difficult to pin down. My personal experience (and maybe yours too) points directly to this challenge. I have outlived my dad and my older brother by 20-plus years. In addition, my...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
One Thing to Age Better One of the most worthwhile efforts I make is cutting through the noise—the pseudo-fitness gadgets, miracle supplements and time-wasting trends. The problem is, most people don’t have the time or the patience to separate what works from what’s nonsense. So I do. At age 40, I needed medical clearance to qualify for arduous duty as a wildland firefighter. Because of my family history—my father died of a heart attack at 53—I was required to pass an exercise stress test. I...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Capacity for the Season It’s trout season—fishing season, in fact. If you haven’t been exercising throughout the winter, you may feel under the gun, tempted to compress your effort to get in shape into a short window before the season begins. That’s not optimal, but your something is better than nothing. To maximize effectiveness in a short window of time, focus on what matters most. Cardiorespiratory fitness is known as the holy grail of longevity and health span. It also delivers something...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Longevity Longevity gets a lot of buzz. Maybe people are drawn to the uncertainty—the gamble, the chance to beat the odds. I don’t know. For me, it’s enough to focus on something simpler: not losing function. Bryan Johnson, a venture capitalist and entrepreneur, has taken longevity to an extreme. He has reportedly swapped blood with his son and spends millions tracking and modifying the biological markers of aging. In doing so, Johnson has turned health into a kind of sport. Humans love...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Aging is a challenge and I enjoy writing about and sharing the (sometimes hidden) angles and agency that can change our trajectory. It’s rewarding to see the national conversation finally discuss an underlying problem that accelerates disease as well as the aging process. Sunday Night’s 60 Minutes is worth sharing and repeating. Former FDA Commissioner, David Kessler said “Over the last 40 years, the United States has been exposed to something that our biology was never intended to handle....
5 months ago • 1 min read
Update I’ve broadened the theme of my website after receiving some thoughtful feedback. Here's the gist of it. “I visited your site and left because I don’t fish. We all need help aging better—so why the narrow focus?” Fair point. Fly-fishing will remain part of my core message because it’s my why—the reason I live the training lifestyle. It is my measuring stick for how I’m aging physically, cognitively, and emotionally. But aging better is not just about fly-fishing. It’s about capacity,...
5 months ago • 4 min read
A New Beginning January is named for the Roman god Janus, depicted with two faces—one looking ahead toward new beginnings, transitions, and doorways, and the other looking back at endings. The symbolism invites us to use the wisdom of the old year to plan for a new—hopefully even better—year ahead. As we age, ideally, we wise up. With increased clarity, we begin to see our options. That is a good thing. Just as on a stream, fewer options can force us to get creative. What I offer in The...
7 months ago • 3 min read
A New Beginning January is named for the Roman god Janus, depicted with two faces—one looking ahead toward new beginnings, transitions, and doorways, and the other looking back at endings. The symbolism invites us to use the wisdom of the old year to plan for a new—hopefully even better—year ahead. As we age, ideally, we wise up. With increased clarity, we begin to see our options. That is a good thing. Just as on a stream, fewer options can force us to get creative. What I offer in The...
7 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome to December Two Roads Imagine, it is April and you have been exercising three times a week steadily since December. You ache less when you move. Your blood sugar is lower. Your blood pressure is lower. Not because of diet or deprivation but because muscle is doing what it is designed to do. You've lost a few pounds and now you know it is doable! Fitness is not hype or chimera It is real and within reach. You wake up energized. You think more clearly. Your body thanks you. Your family...
8 months ago • 3 min read