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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 169

What If the Life You Built Isn’t the Life You Want?

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

Episode 166

The Hardest Leadership Lesson: Let Someone Else Be the Hero

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

Episode 163

Be Useful, Not Youthful: The Secret to Aging Well

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

Episode 160

Why Birthdays Matter More as We Get Older

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

Episode 157

You Can’t Rush Grief: Learning to Feel What We’ve Lost

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

Episode 154

Curiosity Is the Secret to a Richer Life

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

The Living Funeral: Hearing the Eulogy Before It’s Too Late

May 29, 2026

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post called “The Month I Died.” No, I don’t plan to die any...

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My 10 Favorite Interview Questions

May 28, 2026

Many employers resort to the interview process to make a decision about a candidate. This is problematic because unstructured interviews...

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From Saber to Conocer: What AI Knows – yet Humans Live

May 27, 2026

Recently, Oren and I went backroad four-wheeling in Baja. Between the topes (speed bumps) and rugged dirt roads, we got...

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The Surprise of Aging

May 26, 2026

The moment you realize time is finite,your priorities suddenly become astonishingly clear. At 35,you’ll attend a networking mixerwhere no one...

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A Memorial Day Story: Speaking to My Elder Self

May 25, 2026

Not the polished, wise elder sitting cross-legged on a mountaintop dispensing elegant aphorisms. No. My future self was more rumpled...

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Getting Older, Getting Weird

May 21, 2026

A recent New York Times article on aging and weirdness basically confirms what many of us in midlife already suspected:...

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How I Learned to Love Fiction at 65

May 20, 2026

One of the great ironies of aging is that the older we get, the more important it becomes to become...

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Do I Love or Hate the Fire Horse?

May 19, 2026

In the Chinese zodiac, the Horse represents movement, freedom, intensity, independence, passion, and volatility. Add the fire element and everything...

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The Gray Zone

May 18, 2026

Not the triumphant “I beat cancer!” bell, which I’ve now rung in both 2024 and 2026.Not the cinematic, slow-motion hospital...

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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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