Roar Into Midlife: Build Your Bold Second Act
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
Michael Clinton
Bestselling author ROAR | Former president and publishing director of Hearst Magazines | Speaker, photographer, runner
How to build an action plan for an extraordinary next chapter.
You’ve lived a full life — family, career, community. You’ve carried responsibilities, chased goals, and made good on your promises.
But lately, there’s that pulse of curiosity that keeps tapping you on the shoulder. A few what-ifs that keep resurfacing when the distractions fade. You’re proud of what you’ve built so far, and you can feel there’s still more ahead of you.
That feeling is the part of you that’s hungry for a bolder, more intentional next act.
Sidelining that restlessness doesn’t make it disappear. It just finds new ways to show up
You start making deals with yourself. After the kids are through college. After the next promotion. After you hit that number in your bank account. After things finally calm down at work.
Meanwhile, life is filled with people who did the thing you keep thinking about: the friend who launched a successful side hustle, the colleague who moved to France, the neighbor who finally wrote her book.
You catch yourself wondering what switch they flipped that you haven’t found yet.
The sticking point is having a clear, workable route from your current reality to the future you’re starting to picture.
You don't actually want to burn your life down. You want a way to widen it.
You want to fold in the adventures, passions, and projects you’ve sidelined without dropping the responsibilities and relationships you care about most.
You want something concrete: a structure that helps you name what you’re craving, spot opportunities hiding in your existing life, and turn vague “someday” ideas into real experiments and commitments.
You want practices you can take home, plus a circle of people who’ve seen you say what you want and will nudge you to keep going when the calendar and inbox try to pull you back to business as usual.
The catalyst your second act has been waiting for
You’re looking for someone who’s already done what you’re trying to do: keep a big life intact while widening it in bold, surprising directions.
Michael Clinton is that someone — longtime president and publishing director at Hearst Magazines who, in the middle of running a global media portfolio, managed to visit more than 120 countries, publish multiple books, and turn curiosity about midlife into a full-on movement through his company ROAR Forward.
His book ROAR: Into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It’s Too Late) resonates because it doesn’t ask you to torch your world – it hands you a practical method for adding new layers of purpose, adventure, and contribution to the life you already have.
This October at Rising Circle Ranch, Michael is bringing that Life Layering method into the room with you — his step-by-step blueprint, the exercises he uses to uncover opportunities hiding in plain sight, and a small, focused group of peers who will know your vision well enough to keep you honest when it’s time to act.
Bring your curiosity and join what he calls the “Reimagineers.”
Here’s what you’ll work on over three days with Michael:
Clarify your Personal Passion Blueprint
Identify the specific projects, experiences, and contributions that light you up now, then map how your skills, contacts, and resources can fuel a next chapter that actually feels like you.
Upgrade your Decision-Making Toolkit
Trade looping indecision for simple, repeatable filters that help you say yes, say no, and move a handful of key ideas out of the “maybe someday” pile and into your calendar.
Mine your Hidden Gold
Surface underused talents, forgotten interests, and past roles that still have value, then turn them into new income streams, creative outlets, or impact projects you haven’t considered yet.
Tame the 3 am Thought Spirals
Apply Michael’s 3 a.m. Clarity practices so those middle-of-the-night questions become concrete next steps instead of the same worries on repeat.
Design your Second Act Roadmap
Leave with a realistic, time-bound plan: what you’ll experiment with first, what you’ll sunset, which conversations you’ll have, and how you’ll keep adjusting as you learn.
Build your Reinvention Crew
Connect with a small circle of peers who understand your ambitions, know your commitments, and are willing to check in, challenge you, and celebrate your progress after you go home.
Do it all in New Mexico’s high desert
Immerse yourself at MEA’s Rising Circle Ranch, with small-group sessions, spacious afternoons, and evenings under big sky and stars where breakthrough conversations keep unfolding around the fire.
This Workshop
Is For You If…
Getting older is not about going quietly into that good night. It is about being passionate about life and stoking the desire to create something fulfilling for yourself and for others.
~ Michael Clinton ~
Meet
Michael Clinton
Publishing Legend | Bestselling Author | Pioneer of Reinventing Life After 50
Michael Clinton spent two decades as president and publishing director of Hearst Magazines, overseeing more than 300 print and digital titles, including Esquire, O, Oprah Magazine, and Harper’s Bazaar. He’s also served on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards, working closely with leaders across media, technology, and education.
He went on to found ROAR Forward, a platform dedicated to helping people thrive in the second half of life, and wrote the bestselling ROAR: Into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It’s Too Late), which reframes aging as a stage for renewed agency, creativity, and growth. Today he speaks widely to organizations about career reinvention, longevity, and staying engaged as life gets longer.
Supported By the MEA Team
Mary Hofstedt
MEA Lead Facilitator in Santa Fe
As our Santa Fe Program Director & Facilitator Lead, Mary’s an experienced leader of mission-driven organizations and initiatives that benefit individuals and communities and strive to advance a more hopeful, caring, and connected world. As a facilitator and strategic advis ...
View BioOur Agenda at a Glance
Sunday:
4:00 PM: Check-in/Welcome
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
Monday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Tuesday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Wednesday:
7:00 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
5:30 PM: Graduation
6:00 PM: Celebration Dinner
Thursday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Checkout/Departure
Friday:
Saturday:
*Please note all times are estimates and not all “classroom activities” take place in the actual classroom. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Step into transformation in the high desert
Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.
Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs
Explore the ranch
on horseback
Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky
You’ll experience highlights like:
Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.
Your Workshop Also Includes:
Those dreams you tucked away? They’re not old stories. They’re working sketches for what comes next.
You’ve spent years making smart choices, showing up, and building a life, while the part of you that craves adventure, creativity, or a different kind of impact has been pushed to the edges of your calendar.
Four days with Michael Clinton in Santa Fe can change that.
Michael explored more than 120 countries while running a global media portfolio, wrote bestselling books in the middle of a demanding career, and built a platform that helps people design a bigger second half of life. He learned how to layer the life he wanted into the life he already had, and he’s breaking that approach down for you at Rising Circle Ranch in October.
This is your chance to move those ideas out of the “someday” column and into a real plan, with structure, support, and a landscape that invites bolder thinking.
Join the Reimagineers in Santa Fe and start building the chapter you keep dreaming about.
Book your spot today
Roar Into Midlife: Build Your Bold Second Act
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
The program was spectacular. It really surpassed my expectations. I was really surprised about how the course was curated. There was such a warm intensity and personal touch to it.
I experienced MEA as a newly diagnosed multiple myeloma cancer patient, and as a result of the things I’ve learned - I’ve banished the anxiety of being a cancer victim, am in remission, and living with a newfound energy and purpose.
Just know how grateful I am for the joy fuel you all put in my rocket ship. When I want to feel loved or just need a good smile I can think of my time at MEA, which came at the perfect time to encourage me on my journey. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is for people who’ve built successful lives but sense there’s more they want to explore. Many are accomplished professionals feeling boxed in by their roles, or carrying dreams they’ve shelved for too long. If you’re asking “what’s next?” or “is this it?”, this workshop meets you where you are.
Do I need to have a specific dream or passion in mind?
No. Some participants arrive with a clear idea they want to pursue – travel, a creative project, a career pivot. Others just know they want more but aren’t sure what that looks like yet. Michael’s Life Layering system helps you discover what excites you, even if it’s currently buried under years of responsibilities.
Is this about quitting my job or making dramatic changes?
Not at all. Life Layering isn’t about blowing up your life or choosing between your current responsibilities and your dreams. It’s about adding dimensions to the life you’ve built – whether that’s pursuing adventure, exploring creativity, or finding deeper meaning in what you’re already doing.
What if I'm worried I've waited too long?
Michael explored 120 countries while running a global media empire. He wrote his bestselling book while serving on multiple boards. The point of Life Layering is that you don’t have to wait for retirement or the “right time.” You start now, with the life you have.
What's included in the tuition?
Your tuition includes all programming, three nights of accommodations at Rising Circle Ranch, chef-prepared meals, snacks, drinks, and full access to our Santa Fe campus. The only additional costs are transportation to the venue and personal incidentals.
How do I know if I qualify for financial aid?
We offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis. If you’re experiencing financial stress that could prevent your participation, we encourage you to apply. Our goal is to make MEA accessible to those who may face financial barriers to attending.
What if I'm not sure this workshop is right for me?
Book a free call with our team. We can discuss your current situation, what you’re hoping to gain, and whether this workshop aligns with where you are in your journey.
Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors
Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett