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Chip Conley

A three-time TED speaker on the big stage, Chip Conley is one of the world’s leading experts at the intersection of business innovation, psychology and spirituality.

As one of the creators of the boutique hotel movement and the “modern elder” to the young Airbnb founders, Chip’s been a disruptor and expert on entrepreneurship and business leadership. He’s a globally-recognized thought leader on the future of work and the competitive advantages of a multi-generational workplace.

Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a “modern elder” at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary success, Chip founded MEA and has since dedicated his midlife years to reframing the concept of aging and supporting people in navigating midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

Listen to Chip and Chip Conley on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:

Episode 70

Why Midlife Friendships Stop Working & How to Fix Them

Listen to Chip and Chip Conley on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:

Episode 67

What Great Mentors Do Differently in Midlife

Listen to Chip and Chip Conley on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:

Episode 64

Stuck at 50? How to Make a Midlife Career Change Without Starting Over

Listen to Chip and Chip Conley on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:

Episode 61

Why Rituals Matter More Than Routines in Midlife

Listen to Chip and Chip Conley on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:

Episode 58

Midlife Isn’t Falling Apart – It’s a Transformation

Listen to Chip and Chip Conley on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:

Episode 55

Could Golden Girls–Style Living Be the Future of Midlife Housing?

Live Sessions

Purpose and Value of Intergenerational Collaboration

Chip Conley & Soledad O'Brien

October 4, 2022 12:30 PM PT 03:30 PM ET

Enjoy an intimate talk with Chip and Soledad on evolving purpose, individual impact, and the value of intergenerational collaboration in the workforce. Soledad also discusses her f...

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Optimize Longevity with the “Blue Zones” Founder

Chip Conley & Dan Buettner

January 18, 2023 1:30 PM PT 04:30 PM ET

Enjoy a powerful experience with two of today’s most inspired thought leaders as they share a free-flowing conversation to explore what it means to be healthy in our body, mi...

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The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life

Chip Conley & Dr. Mark Hyman

March 30, 2023 8:30 AM PT 11:30 AM ET

Dr. Mark Hyman and Chip Conley explore the power of longevity. Learn how to make better choices to reverse disease, slow aging, and create a roadmap for a healthier life. Explore t...

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New Frontiers of the Enneagram

Chip Conley & Russ Hudson

April 11, 2023 11:00 AM PT 02:00 PM ET

Chip and Russ explain the Enneagram, including the nine personality types. They also explore the Enneagram as a tool for self-awareness and for recognizing many of the assumptions ...

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Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World

Chip Conley & Bruce Feiler

May 3, 2023 1:30 PM PT 04:30 PM ET

Are you at the threshold of a new phase in your life, ready to rediscover (and redefine) how you will continue to work and find purpose in the next chapter of life? If so, we have ...

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Life in Five Senses

Chip Conley & Gretchen Rubin

May 31, 2023 12:00 PM PT 03:00 PM ET

Chip and Gretchen explore the essence of happiness and how it evolves as we age. They share simple yet powerful techniques to infuse positive change into your life, amplify your jo...

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The Song of Significance

Chip Conley & Seth Godin

August 15, 2023 1:00 PM PT 04:00 PM ET

If you’ve ever wondered how to restore humanness into the workplace or lead your teams and communities to connect and care more while creating more meaningful work, this is the MEA...

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Life Begins at 50

Chip Conley & Meredith Oppenheim

October 3, 2023 9:00 AM PT 12:00 PM ET

We’re celebrating the glorious age of 50—proud, wise, joyous, and boldly beautiful. No midlife clichés here. No over-the-hill Hallmark cards. We’re finally giving the Big 5-0 the l...

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Ask Me Anything with Chip Conley

Chip Conley

January 30, 2024 12:00 PM PT 03:00 PM ET

Expect an unplugged conversation with MEA founder and NYT bestselling author Chip Conley as he will devote an hour to answering all your questions. Ask anything about his latest bo...

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Wisdom Well Blog

What’s Your Midlife Archetype?

February 23, 2026

Last year, we launched our MEA Midlife Pathfinder Quiz which has proven so popular that NPR’s “Morning Edition” recently profiled...

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The Essential Difference Between Feeling a Lack of Spirit and a Lack of Soul

February 20, 2026

There’s a meaningful difference between being dispirited and being soulless — and midlife often confuses the two. To be dispirited...

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Loneliness Is Surging in Midlife

February 19, 2026

Middle-aged adults — people in their 40s and 50s — were the most likely to report loneliness, surpassing older cohorts....

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4 Exercise Metrics That You Should Track Regularly

February 18, 2026

1. Sit-to-Rise Test (SRT)This deceptively simple test asks you to sit down on the floor and then rise back up...

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Falling Upward, Together — One More Time with Richard Rohr

February 17, 2026

I’ve written about him before — about how Falling Upward reframed midlife not as a crisis, but as an invitation....

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The Most Important Leadership Quality as You Age

February 16, 2026

Having started a company based upon the word “joy” (Joie de Vivre Hospitality), I’ve always been drawn to the difference...

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Harold, We Barely Knew Thee

February 13, 2026

For many of us, “Harold and Maude” isn’t just a movie — it’s a rite of passage. It introduced an...

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My Top 10 Midlife Crisis Movies or TV Series

February 12, 2026

It’s part of the reason we’re offering our 3rd annual MEA Film Fest in December in Santa Fe. But, I...

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Four Key Roles Elders Offer Their Organizations

February 11, 2026

If you’re curious about how to groom your wisdom to be a “modern elder,” join me Feb 26-March 1 in...

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Midlife Compass

Midlife as Mythic Quest: Finding the Meaning in Your Life’s Journey

August 14, 2025

“The problem in middle life, when the body has reached its climax of power and begins to decline, is to...

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Rest…is the conversation between …

February 14, 2025

Rest…is the conversation between what we love to do and how we love to be.  David Whyte  In the midst...

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From Imposter to Explorer

December 1, 2024

Do you ever feel like an impostor? We’ve all been there – despite decades of lived experience, it can be all...

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Today is a Gift

November 24, 2024

When was the last time you really thought about *everything* you have to be grateful for?  Not just the big...

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Cultivating Resilience in Stressful Times

October 13, 2024

When you’re dealing with unimaginable challenges, cultivating resilience may seem like an impossible thing to do.  Some might say the...

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Watch Out for These 8 Decision Traps

October 9, 2024

During our core workshops, we often warn participants about eight common “decision traps” that can keep us stuck in limiting...

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Time for a Change? Here’s How to Tell

September 18, 2024

The first step towards initiating significant change in your life is recognizing the signs that reveal the need for a...

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4 Ways Gratitude Helps You Live Longer

September 2, 2024

Does the phrase “have an attitude of gratitude” make you want to roll your eyes?  If so, we get it…...

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Evolving From Success to Significance

September 1, 2024

“I want to make a difference.” We hear this all the time from our workshop alumni who are making the...

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