MEA Foundations
The Power of Friendship: Thriving Through Social Connection
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:
Loneliness isn’t just emotionally painful – research shows it can shorten your lifespan.
According to Harvard researchers, chronic social isolation increases the risk of early death by more than 25%.
And midlife is a time when many of us become increasingly more vulnerable to that risk.
Intimate group of 28 people max
Tuition starting at $3,500
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.
You’re being called to something deeper.
As old friends move away and life circumstances shift, we find ourselves with fewer close friendships, fewer invitations to gather, and a lingering sense that something’s missing.
We know we need deeper, more meaningful relationships — but building them in the second half of life takes more than hope. It takes intention, skill, and practice.
And that kind of work – the kind that opens us up, shifts old patterns, and fosters real trust – happens most powerfully in person.
… Because some connections simply can’t be forged through a screen.
That’s why beloved MEA co-founder Jeff Hamaoui invites you to join him in Santa Fe for a five-day workshop on how to cultivate deeply human connections that enrich your life, shield you from loneliness and isolation, and sustain your health and happiness for years to come.”
This life-changing 5-day retreat will transform how you relate to others and to yourself. You’ll gain practical tools for cultivating friendships that support your wellbeing far more than wealth, diet, or even exercise. These are the bonds that help you live longer — and feel more alive while you do.
Listen to Chip and Jeff Hamaoui on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:
Why Friendship Becomes the Most Important Skill in Midlife | Jeff Hamaoui
Meet
Jeff Hamaoui
MEA Co-Founder | Chief Innovation & Education Officer | Facilitator | Community Builder
Jeff is the creator of the MEA curriculum (on and offline) and one of MEA’s most beloved facilitators. He’s a teacher, writer, speaker and community builder who started his career as a sustainability geek in the 1990s and spent decades working globally as an investor, grant maker, and innovation consultant.
In 2017, Jeff traveled to Baja to start the next chapter of his career and soon found himself partnering with Chip Conley and Christine Sperber as a co-founder to develop MEA, the world’s first midlife wisdom school. His work at MEA unexpectedly led him to become a content expert in midlife and wellness – and building healthy connections and communities.
Jeff will show you how to cultivate intentional friendships that become your most powerful tools for health, happiness, and longevity.
Supported by his excellent friends
Jenn Maer
Brand Strategist
Jenn Maer is a designer, creative director, brand strategist, storyteller, and very, very good friend. After an early career in advertising, she spent 15 years at the renowned human-centered design firm, IDEO, before founding her own consultancy, Harmonic 55. She has helped all k ...
View BioCarolina Lasso
Author
Carolina Lasso is a speaker, teacher, and author, passionate about creating tools and transformative experiences to help individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. She is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller The Path to Flourishing and co-author of The Purpose R ...
View BioJed Tarlow
Experience Facilitator
Jed is a student of the world and the human condition. He came from a nomadic career in river exploration, conservation, and guiding to settle in Baja Sur and build a B&B to help people connect with this powerful landscape. He’s passionate about taking care of people, creat ...
View BioWhat you'll gain
A deeper understanding of your personal friending style
so you can connect with others in ways that feel natural and aligned with who you are.
Tools to deepen existing relationships
and the confidence to initiate new ones that are rooted in authenticity and reciprocity.
A snapshot of your current social ecosystem
and a personalized plan to strengthen and expand it with intention.
Real-time practice in courageous relationship-building
from making the first move to navigating vulnerability and trust.
The clarity to recognize who belongs in your inner circle
so you can invest your time and energy in the relationships that feel mutually life-enriching.
A framework you can return to long after the retreat ends
to help you nurture the relationships that will sustain your health and happiness for years to come
After 20+ years as a CEO I was burnt out and had no vision or energy for my next chapter. One week in Baja reenergized me and I emerged with an inspired vision for my 50s, 60s and beyond.
Aaron Hurst
Seattle, USA
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.
4
4-Day Intensive
Rising Circle Ranch, Santa Fe
A focused, energizing reset.
Our four-day intensives deliver the full Hero's Journey curriculum in an accelerated, immersive format. With less downtime between sessions, you’ll experience a close-knit group dynamic while still having space to relax and enjoy the ranch. It’s a rich, concentrated exploration of what’s next.
The MEA Method is backed by social science, proven by years of research & 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 all midlifers themselves and have been extensively trained in the MEA Method. They have all navigated their own periods of reinvention and bring a wealth of experience in helping others create their fulfilling next chapter.
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 that not all “classroom time” activities take place in the actual classroom.
*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 Todo Santos, the “Pueblo Magico”.
Santa Fe, USA
Rising Circle Ranch
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 Todo Santos, the “Pueblo Magico”.
Gourmet meals and snacks made from scratch
At MEA, we believe that thriving is delicious. Our delicious, made-from-scratch meals are locally sourced, organic, and prepared by our hand-picked chefs. You’ll love the abundance of incredible options to choose from each 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 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.
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 a more fulfilling and vibrant next chapter for themselves. Now it’s your turn.
Your All-Inclusive Luxury Retreat Includes:
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