MEA Foundations
Answer the Call: From Achievement to Alignment
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.
As seen in:
You built the life you once dreamed of. So why does it no longer feel like yours?
From the outside, your life may still look right: a successful career, solid relationships, money in the bank. But you can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing: a sense of purpose and excitement that used to fill your days but now feels muted – or gone for good. And the strain of continuing to live by the same rules, at the same pace, in the same role is beginning to wear you down.
Intimate group of 28 people max
Tuition starting at $3,600
World-class accommodations
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.
This is your call to adventure.
Something in you already knows the next chapter can't be built the same way you built the last one. Chasing the next win, the next milestone, the next proof that you're still enough – that playbook got you here. It won't get you where you're going next.
In Answer the Call, Ben Katt helps you stop putting off the thing you know you need to deal with. Maybe it’s a job you’ve outgrown. A relationship where you need to be more honest. Or a question that keeps coming back – usually at 2 a.m., when you can’t distract yourself from it anymore.
For five days in Santa Fe, you’ll work directly with Ben, a former hospice chaplain and meditation teacher. He’s spent 20 years helping people have the conversations that matter – before they become conversations they wish they’d had sooner. He’s worked with CEOs, artists, and people from all walks of life who are facing big questions about what comes next. He’ll help you get past the easy answers and into what’s true for you.
Expect to be asked the questions you've been avoiding, in a setting built for real answers: wide-open high desert, a small group of people done pretending everything's fine, and space to hear yourself think.
By week's end, you'll leave with a Soul Project – a real commitment already in motion: a conversation you're finally having, a body of work you're finally starting, a role you're finally letting go of.
Listen to Chip and Ben Katt on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:
From Breakdown to Wholeness: The Hero’s Path Through Midlife with Ben Katt
A framework for saying yes to the call.
Most people don't fail to change because they lack willpower. They fail because no one ever gave them a map for the terrain between who they've been and who they're becoming. Ben's 5 Ps framework – refined through years of guiding people through exactly this passage – gives you one.
Premise
Everything you need is already in you. The work isn't to become someone new — it's to quiet the noise enough to hear who you've been all along.
Phases
A distillation of the hero's journey: the territory between the life you're leaving and the one you're stepping into, mapped so you know where you are.
Postures
Grace. Space. Pace. Three ways of holding yourself through the in-between — rather than forcing your way through it, as you may have done before.
Practices
Reflection, rewilding, rites of passage, and subtraction — the daily disciplines that make room for your own knowing to surface.
Project
A Soul Project: a tangible way of integrating and expressing what you've reclaimed, so the work doesn't end when the retreat does.
What you'll leave with
A clear-eyed look at your avoidance patterns
The small changes you make instead of the real ones. The "right time" you keep waiting for. The busyness you hide behind.
Real discernment
Get clarity on what's yours to carry – and what's simply an inherited expectation, an old survival strategy, or a role you outgrew years ago but never put down.
Ways to keep listening once the noise comes back
Practices for staying in conversation with yourself — so the clarity you find here doesn't disappear once you're back to emails, deadlines, and expectations.
A Soul Project already in motion
Not a journal full of ideas, but a real commitment you're building into your work, your relationships, and how you spend your days.
“Joy is happiness that’s not contingent on something else. It’s that stable sense of contentedness that you carry through, no matter what adversity you’re facing.”
– Ben Katt
Meet
Ben Katt
Advanced Mindfulness Teacher | Transformation Coach | Author of The Way Home: Discovering the Hero’s Journey to Wholeness in Midlife
Ben has spent more than 20 years with people at moments when the usual answers no longer cover it: a job or relationship ending, a loss that changes the shape of life, a goal reached without the satisfaction they expected, or a deeper question they can no longer put off.
His work brings together meditation, coaching, spiritual care, and a close-up view of what happens when people stop running from the questions that really matter.
As a hospice chaplain, Ben has sat with people and families facing illness, death, grief, and the hard reality of finite time. As founder of the WITHIN Prison Meditation Project, he’s worked with people examining the choices, stories, and identities that brought them to where they are.
Ben is the bestselling author of The Way Home and a certified advanced meditation teacher with a Master of Divinity. He previously led work at The On Being Project supporting religious and spiritual leaders engaged in social healing.
In the room, Ben is warm, candid, and unafraid of the questions people usually edit or avoid: the goal that no longer excites you, the change you cannot quite name, or the sense that you want to give the years ahead to something different. He brings spiritual depth without asking anyone to adopt a doctrine, and practical structure without pretending anyone else can hand you the answer to your life.
What people are saying
Having co-led workshops with him and extensively recommended his book, I'm a big fan of Ben Katt's wise perspective on the human journey. He's a secular saint who can translate any mystical message into a practical action plan.
Chip Conley
NY Times bestselling author and founder of MEA
Ben helped me take a deep dive into my purpose and passion and, more importantly, clarify what that actually looks like in this next chapter of life. He didn’t just ask surface-level questions – he challenged me to really reflect on who I am beyond my professional basketball career. Ben has a unique ability to blend accountability, insight, and encouragement, and I’m grateful for the clarity and growth that came from his training.
Greg Foster
NBA Coach and Former Player
While the content was exceptional, it's Ben Katt's presence that makes the magic. Ben leads with relational integrity, genuine care and personal attentiveness. If you're looking for a transformative experience, a gifted guide and companions for the journey, I'd highly recommend Ben’s offerings. It could alter the trajectory of your life or at least make you a little more whole on the journey.
Christiana Rice
Leadership Coach & Entrepreneur
Working with Ben has been life changing for me. He invites you to slow down, turn inward, and find clarity about what matters most to you. His compassion and grounded wisdom make him an extraordinary guide for the journey of life.
Kevin Viau,
Founder eDynamic Learning, MEA Alum
Words cannot express my gratitude for all of the gifts Ben generously gave all of us. Ben is a beautiful, wise soul. I was amazed over and over by his insight, love, and compassion.
Wendi Kirby
Musician, Composer, MEA Alum
Ben's knowledge, passion, and ability to translate to beginners is incredible. He is able to take potentially uncomfortable topics and discuss them with ease and compassion. He is able to take abstract concepts and make them vivid and clear through everyday analogies. Thank you!
Mike
Entrepreneur
I loved the individual attentiveness that Ben took in my development. He was clearly genuinely interested in hearing about both my successes and challenges. He exudes an enthusiasm about meditation (which sounds oxymoronic -- ha!) that's contagious.
Laura
Nonprofit Leader
Supported by the MEA team
5
5-Day Immersion
El Pescadero, Baja, Mexico
More time to reflect, rest, and reconnect.
Our five-day immersion workshops allow for a more spacious rhythm, with plenty of time to soak it all in. Daily programming is balanced with ample free time for rest, movement, journaling, or enjoying your beautiful surroundings. You’ll connect deeply with others and rediscover your own inner compass.
5
5-Day Immersive
Rising Circle Ranch, Santa Fe
A focused, energizing reset.
Our five-day intensives deliver the Answer the Call curriculum in an immersive format. The rhythm is tighter, creating a close-knit group dynamic while still leaving space to relax and enjoy the ranch. It's a rich, concentrated exploration of what's next.
4
4-Day Intensive
Rising Circle Ranch, Santa Fe
A focused, energizing reset.
Our four-day intensives deliver the Answer the Call curriculum in a compact, immersive format. The rhythm is tighter, creating a close-knit group dynamic while still leaving space to relax and enjoy the ranch. It's a rich, concentrated exploration of what's next.
The MEA Method is grounded in social science & proven by years of research and implementation.
Our workshops are built around our proven MEA Method, which has been designed in collaboration with academics from Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Yale, who have dedicated themselves to understanding modern midlife.
Together we’ve developed and refined experiential processes that combine the social science of longevity and the art of intentional living to help people in midlife curate a second adulthood that’s as joyful, deep, and meaningful as it is long.
Guided by world-class faculty who’ve walked this path themselves.
Our handpicked facilitators are highly trained professionals, who are midlifers themselves, and have been extensively trained in the MEA Method. They have navigated their own periods of reinvention and bring a wealth of experience in helping others create fulfilling next chapters.
This workshop is for you if…
Here’s what our time together will look like:
Monday:
4:00 PM: Arrival/Check-in
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Classroom Time
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: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Thursday:
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
Friday:
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: Dinner
Saturday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout/Departure
Sunday:
*Please note: All times are estimates as some activities go longer or shorter depending on the group. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Your luxury campus awaits
Baja, Mexico
El Pescadero Resort
A stunning oceanfront property offering all of the amenities of a luxury hotel with beautiful beaches perfect for swimming or surfing. Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, just a short drive from Todos Santos, the Pueblo Magico.
Is it safe to travel to Baja?
If recent news about Mexico has you second-guessing a trip, we get it. Here's what you should know.
Our campus is in Baja California Sur, a quiet stretch of the Pacific coast between Todos Santos and Cabo. Think surf breaks, organic farms, and dirt roads that lead to empty beaches. It's about as far from the headlines as you can get.
The U.S. State Department gives Baja California Sur a Level 2 advisory, the same rating as France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. There are no travel restrictions for U.S. citizens or government personnel anywhere in the state, and Baja California Sur is consistently ranked one of Mexico's two safest states. Flights and ground travel throughout the region are running normally with no disruptions.
Our upcoming workshops are booking as expected, and we continue to welcome guests to campus every month. Nothing has changed on the ground here.
Still have questions? We're happy to talk it through. Contact us here.
Santa Fe, USA
Rising Circle Ranch
An upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and spanning nearly 2,600 acres, with wildlife, arroyo hiking trails, ancient petroglyphs, and awe-inspiring views.
Gourmet meals and snacks made from scratch
At MEA, we believe that thriving is delicious. Our made-from-scratch meals are locally sourced, organic, and prepared by our handpicked chefs. You’ll love the abundance of incredible options to choose from at every meal – not to mention the fresh fruit smoothies.
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 terrain under the vast Southwestern sky.
You’ll experience highlights like:
Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity that 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.
More than 7,000 people from 60 countries and all walks of life have experienced the magic of MEA.
Our alumni include CEOs, artists, professional athletes, homemakers, activists, and everyone in between. They’re using what they’ve discovered to create more fulfilling, vibrant next chapters. Now it’s your turn.
Your all-inclusive luxury retreat includes:
Frequently Asked Questions
My life is pretty good. Is this workshop still for me?
Yes. Many people come because nothing is visibly wrong. They have work, relationships, security, interests, and plenty to appreciate—yet the goals that once energized them have lost some of their pull. This workshop gives that quieter feeling serious attention before another year passes on autopilot.
Do I need to be in a major transition?
No. Some people arrive after a job, relationship, or caregiving role has changed. Others are simply tired of ignoring a persistent restlessness. All of it belongs here. If you’re in the acute middle of a specific life event – such as a recent loss, health diagnosis, divorce, or job loss – our Navigating Transitions workshops may also be worth exploring.
Is this therapy?
No. It’s a workshop with a curriculum, built on the MEA Method and research from Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Yale. You’ll do structured exercises, learn frameworks, and work in small groups. Our facilitators are experienced at holding hard conversations, but they aren’t clinicians and this isn’t treatment. If you’re in acute crisis, this isn’t the right week for you.
Is this mainly about my career?
Work may be central to what brings you here, but the workshop looks at the larger life picture, work included: how you use your time, the relationships and responsibilities you carry, what you want to contribute, and what still gives you energy. You may leave thinking differently about your work. You may also find that work was never the whole question.
Is it religious or spiritual?
No doctrine attached to any of it. The curriculum is grounded in social science. There’s meditation, breathwork, and a lot of time outside, and you’re free to take what’s useful and leave the rest.
How much will I have to share?
That’s up to you. Some exercises are solo, some are in pairs, some happen in small groups of five or six. Nobody gets called on in front of all 28 people, and nothing requires you to disclose more than you want to. Most people end up sharing more than they planned, because the room makes it easy.
Who else will be there?
Around 28 people, most of them somewhere between 45 and 70, from a wide mix of careers and countries. Most come on their own. What everyone has in common is a turning point and a decision to do something deliberate about it.
I’ve never done anything like this. Will I feel out of place?
Almost everyone says some version of that on the first morning. Most arrive alone, and plenty have never done a retreat of any kind. By the second evening that feeling is usually gone, which is less about the program than about who’s in the room with you.
Can I come with my partner?
Yes, couples do come together, and plenty of people come alone while their partner stays home. Either works. You’ll each do your own work during the week.
What happens after I leave?
You go home with an experiment already in motion and a portfolio to keep working on. Most cohorts stay in touch on their own, and you’ll have access to our alumni community, which runs local chapters in more than 60 countries.
What’s included in the tuition?
Your tuition includes all programming, three nights of accommodations, chef-prepared meals, snacks, drinks, and access to MEA’s Rising Circle Ranch in Santa Fe. The only additional costs are transportation to the venue and any personal incidentals.
How do I know if I qualify for a scholarship?
MEA offers scholarships on a needs-aware basis. If cost is a barrier, we encourage you to apply. Our goal is to make this accessible to the people who would benefit most.
What if I’m not sure this is right for me?
Book a call with one of our advisors. They’re all MEA alumni who’ve been through the programs themselves, and they’ll tell you honestly if Cultivating Purpose isn’t the right fit for where you are.
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 find the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett
