Episode 63

February 2, 2026

Dan Harris

How a Panic Attack Sparked a Midlife Awakening | Dan Harris

How a Panic Attack Sparked a Midlife Awakening | Dan Harris

He had everything going for him, until his body shut him down on live TV.
In this episode, Dan Harris sits down with Chip Conley for a warm, honest conversation about ambition, anxiety, and what really changes in midlife.

Dan opens up about the panic attack that forced him to slow down, his years inside high-pressure newsrooms at ABC, and the quiet realization that productivity, without presence, was costing him more than it gave. What follows is not a polished mindfulness pitch, but a deeply human reflection on letting go, growing wiser, and redefining success in the second half of life.

In this conversation, you’ll hear Dan reflect on:

  • Why anxiety and ambition are often two sides of the same coin
  • How meditation helped him step out of the productivity trap—not optimize it
  • What he had to release after becoming outwardly “successful”
  • Why midlife is better understood as a chrysalis, not a crisis
  • How relationships, presence, and character shape a more meaningful future

If you’re navigating midlife, questioning old definitions of success, or simply craving a more spacious way to live, this conversation will feel like sitting down with two thoughtful friends who’ve been there.


👉 Watch now and join the conversation.

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