Elevate with Robert Glazer Alex Hutchinson On The Explorer's Gene
Oct 7, 2025
In this discussion, Alex Hutchinson, a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and author of The Explorer's Gene, dives into the thrill of exploration and its ties to human endurance. He explains how explorers are often driven by curiosity and sometimes genetic factors. Alex's journey from physics to journalism offers insight into resilience, balancing push and recovery, and the characteristics of successful risk-takers. He also shares a captivating tale about the tragic journey of Burke and Wills, highlighting what explorers teach us about perseverance.
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Science Drives Endurance Writing
- Alex combined his physics training and elite running to create a science-driven niche in endurance journalism.
- He pivoted to journalism to study human performance through rigorous science rather than anecdote.
Pandemic Reframed Endurance
- The pandemic made people see endurance skills as broadly applicable beyond sport.
- Alex observed that marathon metaphors resonated because sustained adversity mirrored real-life challenges.
Use Data To Guide Recovery
- Use devices like WHOOP to learn your body's signals and improve recovery decisions.
- Combine data with subjective feeling to know when to push and when to recover.
