Education

The Midlife Chrysalis

The Midlife Chrysalis is a one-hour podcast hosted by Chip Conley, bestselling author of Learning to Love Midlife and founder of MEA (Modern Elder Academy). Chip and his high-profile guests – including Maria Shriver, Hoda Kotb, Elizabeth Gilbert, Michael Franti, and more – dive into raw, vulnerable conversations about the profound transitions they’ve experienced in midlife.

Listeners get a rare look at how even the most successful individuals have to navigate life’s pivotal changes – and gain practical wisdom they can apply in their own lives for a more fulfilling and purposeful next chapter.

Latest Episodes:

He Spent 10 Years Filming the World’s Oldest People | Sam Green Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

What can the world’s oldest people teach us about time, aging, and being alive?

Academy Award nominated filmmaker Sam Green spent 10 years filming people who held the title of the world’s oldest living person. His documentary The Oldest Person in the World began as a curiosity but became a deeply personal exploration of mortality, connection, and how we use the time we have.

In this episode, Sam shares:

What life really looks like at 115 and what seems to matter most
The surprising traits he noticed among the world’s oldest people
How a serious illness transformed his own relationship with time
Why accepting life’s uncertainty can change how we live
His advice for staying connected, creative, and engaged as we age

This conversation isn’t about defeating aging. It’s about paying attention to the life you have while you have it.

Watch now for a fascinating perspective on longevity, mortality, and what makes a life meaningful.

Timestamps:

(05:13) The Oldest Person in the World

(08:14) Longevity vs. Mortality

(10:21) What Centenarians Have in Common

(13:20) What Life Is Like at 115

(15:12) Meeting the World’s Oldest People

(17:49) What Helps Us Live Longer

(19:36) A Life-Changing Diagnosis

(23:22) The Film Distribution Challenge

(28:02) Making a Living in Documentary Film

(30:19) Becoming a Filmmaker

(32:33) Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers

(36:01) Favorite Documentaries

(38:07) Would You Live to 115?

(39:50) The Origins of MEA

(42:14) Make Younger Friends

Check out Chip's Celebrating Life's Wisdom Oct 25-29 2026 workshop: ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/celebrate

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#SamGreen #TheOldestPersonInTheWorld #Longevity #Aging #HealthyAging #Mortality #LivingTo115 #DocumentaryFilm #DocumentaryFilmmaking #Midlife #LifeLessons #MeaningfulLife #SundanceFilmFestival #Wisdom #MEA

Why Birthdays Matter More as We Get Older Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Why do we celebrate birthdays as kids, then slowly stop celebrating ourselves as we get older?

In this episode of The Midlife Chrysalis, Chip Conley joins Derek Gehl for a conversation about birthdays, aging, and why life’s milestones deserve more attention, not less.

After decades of marking his own milestone birthdays in memorable ways, Chip shares why celebration has become even more meaningful as he’s grown older and faced his own mortality.

Key insights from the episode:

Birthdays are more than a number. They can become rituals that help us recognize where we’ve been and who we’re becoming.
Turning 50 deserves to be celebrated. Midlife is a major transition and an opportunity to consciously mark a new chapter.
Celebration doesn’t have to mean being the center of attention. It can be an experience shared with the people who matter most.
One of the gifts of aging is wisdom. Instead of focusing only on getting older, we can recognize everything we’ve learned along the way.
Life gives us more reasons to celebrate than we notice. Careers, relationships, transitions, achievements, and even unexpected milestones can all be worth honoring.

Tune in for a refreshing conversation about aging, wisdom, and why celebrating life may matter more than ever as we get older.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:25) Celebrating Life Through Milestone Birthdays

(05:10) Why We Stop Celebrating as We Age

(07:17) Why Turning 50 Deserves a Ritual

(09:11) Resistance to Celebrating Yourself

(10:26) Reframing Birthdays as Celebrations of Life

(12:14) Why Adults Stop Celebrating Birthdays

(15:11) Making Your Birthday a Gift to Others

(15:54) Celebrating the Wisdom That Comes With Age

(18:43) What Else Should We Celebrate?

(19:41) Experiment of the Week

Check out Chip's Celebrating Life's Wisdom Oct 25-29 2026 workshop: https://www.meawisdom.com/celebrate

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#ChipConley #WisdomWednesday #MidlifeWisdom #CelebrateLife #CelebratingAging #MilestoneBirthday #Turning50 #LifeAfter50 #MidlifeMilestones #PositiveAging #WisdomAndAging #BirthdayCelebration #MidlifeTransition #RitesOfPassage #AgingWithPurpose

Surfing at 87, Writing at 91: James Flaherty’s Rules for Life Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

At 91, James Flaherty isn’t slowing down. He’s still writing, creating, learning, and planning what comes next.

A former advertising executive, entrepreneur, innkeeper, and author who wrote five books in his 80s, James joins Chip Conley to share what nine decades of living have taught him about aging well and staying fully engaged with life.

In this episode, James shares:

Stay useful, not youthful. Growing older brings experience and wisdom that can be put to work for others.
Always have a reason to wake up. Purpose, goals, and new projects keep life moving forward at every age.
Never stop learning. Curiosity opens new doors and gives you opportunities to keep growing and discovering new parts of yourself.
Stay connected. Community, friendship, and being present for others become even more important as we age.
Help someone today. Small acts of kindness and service can make someone else’s life better while giving greater meaning to your own.

Watch the full episode for an inspiring perspective on longevity, purpose, and making every stage of life count.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet James Flaherty

(03:06) Writing Five Books in His 80s

(05:21) James’ Early Life and Career

(08:20) Moving to Argentina

(10:30) A 47-Year Partnership

(15:36) Caring for a Partner With Dementia

(18:37) What Gets Better With Age

(21:16) The Wisdom That Comes With Age

(23:33) James’ Longevity Recipe

(26:57) How to Find Your Purpose

(28:39) Four Pathways to Purpose

(33:45) Advice for Younger Generations

(34:39) Help Someone Today

(38:12) What James Still Wants to Do

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#HealthyAging #Longevity #Purpose #AgingWell #ActiveAging #Midlife #LifeAfter50 #PositiveAging #HealthyLongevity #PersonalGrowth #Wisdom #FindingPurpose #SuccessfulAging #JamesFlaherty #ChipConley

From Role to Soul: Who Are You Without What You Do? | Connie Zweig Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

Aging isn’t just about getting older. It’s about discovering who you are when the roles that once defined you begin to fall away.

In this episode, Chip Conley sits down with Connie Zweig, author of The Inner Work of Age, to explore the deeper psychological and spiritual work of midlife and beyond.

Connie shares what it takes to move from simply growing old to becoming an elder, including:

Moving from role to soul: Why identity built around achievement and productivity may need to loosen as we age.
Meeting your shadow: How the parts of ourselves we ignore can surface during major life transitions and shape our choices without us realizing it.
Listening to the unlived life: Why buried desires, abandoned paths, and old patterns often reappear at midlife.
Learning to let go: How releasing outdated roles, beliefs, relationships, and attachments can make space for a new stage of life.
Accepting impermanence: What Connie has learned in her 70s about mortality, control, self-reflection, and living more consciously.

This is a thoughtful conversation about aging not as decline, but as a profound inner transition.

Watch now and discover what it means to move from role to soul.

Timestamps:

(02:40) Growing and Aging Throughout Life

(08:17) Letting Go of Roles and Identities

(10:02) Moving From Doing to Being

(17:28) What Is Shadow Work?

(20:05) From Role to Soul

(23:17) The Unlived Life and Midlife Crisis

(29:14) The Inner Ageist

(31:58) The Chrysalis of Midlife

(34:41) Facing Death and Mortality

(39:37) What Rumi Can Teach Us

(43:35) Wisdom for Younger Generations

(45:40) Impermanence, Control, and Conscious Living

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#Midlife #ConsciousAging #ShadowWork #MidlifeTransformation #HealthyAging #InnerWork #CarlJung #RoleToSoul #MidlifeCrisis #PersonalGrowth #SelfReflection #AgingWell #SecondHalfOfLife #UnlivedLife #ConnieZweig

You Can’t Rush Grief: Learning to Feel What We’ve Lost Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Some losses hit harder than we ever expect, and grief doesn’t follow our timeline.

In this deeply personal episode of Midlife Chrysalis, Chip Conley opens up about the unexpected death of his beloved dog Jamie and what the experience has taught him about grief, love, and loss.

Key insights from the episode:

Grief comes in waves. It can surface as sadness, anger, exhaustion, or simply the need for space.

You can’t rush grief. Searching for meaning too quickly can keep us from actually feeling what we’ve lost.
Grief reveals what we love. The depth of our grief often reflects the depth of the connection.
Some losses go unacknowledged. Pets, relationships, careers, health, and unrealized expectations can leave grief we never fully allowed ourselves to feel.

Tune in for an honest and moving conversation about the losses we carry, the emotions we can’t control, and why there is no shortcut through grief.

Watch the full episode now.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday

(02:10) Remembering Jamie

(07:05) How Grief Comes in Waves

(10:40) The Losses We Don’t Talk About

(11:44) Why Unexpected Loss Hits Harder

(12:54) Finding Ways to Cope With Grief

(13:55) The Danger of Spiritual Bypass

(18:53) You Can’t Force Grief

(19:16) Grief, Anger, and Boundaries

(20:30) Letting Emotions Pass Through

(22:07) An Experiment for Unprocessed Grief

(24:34) Grieving the Losses of Cancer

(26:03) Closing Thoughts

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#Grief #GriefAndLoss #CopingWithGrief #PetLoss #UnprocessedGrief #GrievingProcess #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #EmotionalHealing #SpiritualBypass #LifeAfterLoss #UnexpectedLoss #GriefJourney #MidlifeWisdom #MEA

What Happens After You Achieve Your Biggest Dream? | Paul Harris Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

What happens when the identity you've spent your entire life building suddenly disappears?

Former South African international cricketer Paul Harris reached the highest level of his sport, but retiring at just 33 forced him into an even bigger challenge: discovering who he was beyond cricket. In this powerful conversation, Paul shares the emotional reality of life after professional sports and the lessons that helped him build a meaningful second chapter.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why major life transitions often trigger an identity crisis
The hidden mental health challenges many high achievers face
The three principles that helped Paul rebuild his confidence, purpose, and career
Why the people you surround yourself with can shape your future
Why "Outwork Everybody" became the foundation of his success

Paul's journey proves that losing one identity doesn't mean losing yourself. Sometimes the end of one chapter is the beginning of a more meaningful one.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit from Paul's story.

Timestamps:

(02:46) Meet Paul Harris

(03:44) Early Life and Playing Cricket

(08:36) What is a Spinner?

(10:45) Baseball vs. Cricket

(11:22) Why Cricket Never Caught in the US

(13:15) Why He Retired At 33

(15:00) Losing His Identity After Cricket

(18:24) Life After Fame

(21:14) Starting Over At 40

(22:22) Why Retired Athletes Struggle

(27:01) Advice For Major Life Transitions

(31:30) What Midlife Means To Him

(33:35) Wisdom Bumper Sticker

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#PaulHarris #LifeAfterSuccess #IdentityCrisis #ProfessionalAthlete #LifeAfterSports #CareerTransition #FindingPurpose #SecondChapter #MentalHealth #HighPerformance #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #SuccessMindset #Cricket #MidlifeChrysalis

From Doing to Being: The Power of Presence | Teddi Dean Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is stop doing and simply be present.

In this episode, Chip Conley talks with Teddi Dean, former Bones Brigade skateboarder turned filmmaker, mindfulness teacher, and Head of Mind & Body at MEA.

Teddy shares his journey through sobriety, yoga, meditation, and decades of exploring what it means to live with greater awareness.

You’ll discover:

Why stillness can be transformative and help us reconnect with ourselves.
How 10 to 20 minutes of daily mindfulness can change how we respond to life.
Why mindfulness goes beyond meditation, from walking and surfing to ordinary daily activities.
How listening to your body and breath can lead to wiser choices.
Why paying attention makes ordinary life richer and helps us see familiar things with fresh eyes. Teddi’s hard earned wisdom is beautifully simple: Just be.

Watch the full episode for a practical and inspiring conversation about becoming more present for your own life.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Teddi Dean

(01:05) Growing Up in Skate Culture

(03:03) Joining the Bones Brigade

(05:20) Walking Away From Skateboarding

(08:57) Drinking and Life After Skateboarding

(10:04) Getting Sober at 35

(11:00) Finding Yoga and Mindfulness

(14:23) Starting a New Life in Baja

(17:10) Joining the Modern Elder Academy

(19:04) Why Midlife Needs a Wisdom School

(21:35) The Power of Silent Retreats

(26:49) Learning to Sit With Yourself

(28:39) Building a Daily Mindfulness Practice

(30:22) Creating Space Between Stimulus and Response

(32:01) Turning Everyday Activities Into Mindfulness

(35:05) What Is Embodied Prayer?

(36:30) Listening to the Wisdom of the Body

(39:06) Becoming Amazed by the Mundane

(41:18) Wisdom Bumper Sticker

(43:00) Sunday Sangha

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#TeddiDean #ChipConley #ModernElderAcademy #JustBe #PowerOfPresence #MindfulnessInMidlife #SilentRetreat #DailyMindfulness #FromDoingToBeing #MindBodyAwareness #EmbodiedPrayer #MindfulnessAndSobriety #BonesBrigade #FindingStillness #MidlifeWisdom

Curiosity Is the Secret to a Richer Life Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Happiness and purpose may not be enough for a truly rich life.

In this episode of The Midlife Chrysalis, Chip Conley joins Derek Gehl to explore psychological richness and why curiosity, new experiences, challenge, and spontaneity become especially valuable as we age.

You’ll discover:

Why psychological richness matters as we get older and how curiosity keeps us engaged with life.
The question that can reshape your next decade: What will you regret not learning, doing, or investing in 10 years from now?
Why becoming a beginner again matters, from learning a new skill to pursuing a passion you’ve neglected.
Why spontaneity and stepping beyond routine enrich our lives and open us to experiences we might otherwise miss.

Watch the full episode and choose one thing you’re ready to finally do.

Timestamps:

(00:02) Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday

(02:23) What Is a Psychologically Rich Life?

(05:58) Creating More Psychological Richness

(10:33) Reinventing Yourself in Midlife

(12:04) What Will You Regret in 10 Years?

(14:33) Is the Door Really Closed?

(16:04) Why We Regret What We Don’t Do

(17:48) Ways to Enrich Your Life

(20:24) Pilgrimages and New Experiences

(21:40) Curiosity and Leaving Your Comfort Zone

(22:08) The Power of Spontaneity

(24:01) This Week’s Challenge24:50 Make Your Commitment Public

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#PsychologicallyRichLife #PsychologicalRichness #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #MidlifeReinvention #Curiosity #HealthyAging #LifelongLearning #GrowthMindset #MidlifePurpose #LifeAfter50 #LivingWithoutRegret #NewExperiences #MidlifeTransformation #Longevity

We’re Living Longer. Why Isn’t Society Ready? | David Sinclair Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

The longevity revolution isn’t coming. We’re already living it, and we’re not ready.

In this episode, David Sinclair of the International Longevity Centre joins Chip Conley to explore what longer lives mean for all of us and why society needs to catch up with a future that’s already here.

In this conversation:

Why the real longevity challenge isn’t living to 100, but adapting to longer lives today
Why prevention needs to play a much bigger role in how we approach health and aging
How longer lives are changing the way we think about work, money, retirement, and our communities
Why purpose, connection, and staying engaged matter as much as staying healthy
How the wisdom we accumulate over a lifetime can be shared with the next generation

Watch the full episode for a fresh perspective on longevity and what it will take to make our longer lives healthier, more purposeful, and more connected.

Timestamps:

(03:13) Why Society Isn’t Ready for Longer Lives

(04:47) Why We Keep Ignoring the Aging Crisis

(07:13) What Governments Must Do About Longevity

(10:14) Why Prevention Should Come First

(12:01) Building Cities for Longer, Healthier Lives

(15:48) The Economics of an Aging Population

(18:09) Rethinking Life for the 100 Year Age

(20:39) Can Human Lifespan Keep Increasing?

(26:13) Living Longer Isn’t Enough

(27:18) Why Purpose Matters as We Age

(31:21) David Sinclair on the Other David Sinclair

(34:53) Who Is Getting Longevity Policy Right?

(37:53) The Responsibility to Pass on Wisdom

(41:04) The Business Opportunity of Longevity

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#DavidSinclair #InternationalLongevityCentre #Longevity #AgingSociety #HealthyAging #LongevityEconomy #AgingPopulation #FutureOfAging #PurposefulAging #100YearLife #LongevityPolicy #FutureOfRetirement #PreventiveHealth #AgeFriendlyCities #LifelongLearning

From Achievement to Fulfillment: Building Your Life 3.0 | Seth Streeter Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Success can look impressive on the outside and still leave you feeling like something is missing.Seth Streeter, co-founder of Mission Wealth, spent decades building a successful career while constantly pushing himself to achieve more. But after personal crisis, health struggles, and a major identity shift, he began questioning what success was really for.

In this episode, Seth shares his journey from achievement to Life 3.0, a new chapter centered on fulfillment, purpose, and what truly makes us come alive.

Key insights include:

Achievement can become an identity. When worth is tied to productivity and success, stepping away can be harder than expected.
Redefining success changes what matters. A fulfilling life requires looking beyond money, status, and conventional measures of achievement.
Transformation requires letting go. Moving forward often means releasing old roles, habits, and ideas about who we need to be.
Your values reveal what’s missing. Identifying what matters most can expose the gap between the life you’re living and the life you want.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about redefining success, finding what makes you come alive, and creating a more fulfilling next chapter.

Timestamps:

(04:04) Seth’s origin story

(09:12) The cost of relentless achievement

(09:51) Building Mission Wealth

(12:31) When life fell apart

(15:39) Finding a new way forward

(19:50) Wealth vs. fulfillment

(23:16) Leaving the company he built

(27:12) Finding purpose in Life 3.0

(29:30) What keeps people stuck in Life 2.0

(32:45) What makes you come alive?