MEA Co-Founder and Chief Innovation & Education Officer Jeff Hamaoui presents…

Human Connections for Life:

Find Your People

Mar 30 - Apr 4, 2026 in Baja, Mexico

Led by: Jeff Hamaoui, Jenn Maer, Carolina Lasso, Jed Tarlow

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.

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 Baja 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.

More than Friendship or a Cure for Loneliness – It’s a Practice for Life

Here’s what people who have joined Jeff for this five-day in-person experience have to say.

What You'll Walk Away With

(Besides new friends)

By the end of your five days with Jeff and the MEA faculty, you’ll walk away with:

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

The tools you’ll gain won’t just deepen your friendships in your personal life. They’ll help you foster more genuine relationships at work with your colleagues and clients – and cultivate the kind of trust, collaboration, and social capital that helps you grow and succeed.

Meet your faculty

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.

Dedicated changemaker: Has worked with governments and Fortune 500 companies to seed ideas that might make the world a little better.
Midlife visionary: Plays a key role in shaping MEA’s content, philosophy, and teaching style and has become an expert in midlife thriving in the process
Beloved facilitator: Has led workshops with dozens of guest faculty and hundreds of people in midlife who are seeking purpose and another life path.

Jeff will show you how to cultivate intentional friendships that become your most powerful tools for health, happiness, and longevity.

Jenn Maer

Designer | Creative Director | Brand Strategist | Storyteller

Jenn 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 kinds of clients navigate challenges with grace, including Nike, Microsoft, Marriott, Apple, Genentech Roche, and more.

Jenn is at her happiest when she's creating stories and ideas that bypass the brain's radar and go straight to the heart. Speaking of which, she also created and teaches IDEO U's Storytelling for Impact course, where you can learn to do the same.

Jenn holds a BA from Smith College, and an MFA from the school of hard knocks. After 20+ years in the Bay Area, she now lives in Asheville, NC with her wife and two very odd but lovable dogs.

Carolina Lasso

Author | Teacher| Speaker

Carolina 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 Reset, founder of Plenari and the creator of the PlenaMente podcast.

With an MBA from New York University, her career includes leading teams at Google, American Express, Telemundo/ZGS, and the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute. Today, Carolina blends her business acumen with deep expertise in personal development as a certified leadership, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and resilience teacher, and as a renowned Purpose Mentor.

She finds joy in oil painting, visiting her native Colombia, and exploring new places around the world.

This workshop is for you if...

Your calendar is packed with work commitments, but you’re lacking other kinds of meaningful social connections that fill your cup.

Screen fatigue has set in, and you long for real-world relationships with the depth and presence that truly sustains your spirit.

You're curious about the science showing that friendship can be more important for your longevity than diet or exercise.

You have lots of casual acquaintances but can't seem to turn those "we should catch up sometime" texts into actual connections.

You're ready to move beyond surface-level chitchat and create the kind of vulnerability that builds genuine bonds.

You've realized that friendship doesn’t "just happen" anymore, and you're ready to approach it with the same intention you bring to other important areas of your life.

Meet your MEA facilitators

Our trailblazing facilitators guide transformative journeys across our Santa Fe high desert sanctuary and Baja beach haven. From sunrise mountain hikes and meditations to collaborative experiences – each experience is designed to inspire growth, connection, and lasting change.

Jed 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, creating enriching conversations, and chasing another dreamy wave.

Do this powerful work on our awe-inspiring beachside campus in Baja

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”.

Beach walks
Poolside lounging
Warm ocean waves
Fire pits
Magical sunsets

Don't wait for "someday" to invest in the relationships that will sustain you.

We all know how it goes – life gets busy, and suddenly those "let's catch up soon" messages sit unanswered for months.

If you've been feeling that tug for deeper connection, join Jeff and the MEA team in Baja. Over five days together, we'll explore friendship as a skill you can practice and develop – not just something that happens by chance. Because the relationships that can make you happier and extend your life shouldn’t be left to luck.

Join us to cultivate and deepen the relationships that will enrich your next chapter.

People come for the workshops,
but they stay for the community

This is truly MEA’s “secret sauce” and something you can only experience in person: the powerful connections you will make, not only with your fellow participants and the incredible MEA faculty, but also the deeper sense of connection you will feel to your own inner self and the natural world around you.

Research into aging shows that your relationships play a HUGE role in your health and wellbeing later in life. At MEA, you will make deep and lasting connections and become part of a larger community that will make your life richer and more meaningful.

Many of our alumni cohorts have stayed in close touch for years after their workshop and we have a growing number of local alumni chapters all over the world. It’s a joy for us to see them continuing to offer each other community, friendship, and support as they create thriving midlives for themselves. So if you have been feeling at all disconnected or isolated on your journey, we would love to have you join us!

Have we mentioned the food?

The MEA experience is designed in part by Chip Conley, a world-renowned boutique hotelier, which means the food is amazing.

All of the ingredients are locally sourced, organic, and made from scratch in our kitchens by hand-picked chefs. The delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners will leave you feeling nourished inside and out – not to mention the blended drinks made with fresh fruit and other top-shelf ingredients.

Each retreat center has multiple kitchens that always have snacks and beverages available. At MEA, we believe that thriving is delicious!

Your Workshop Includes

5 days and nights of lodging at our boutique luxury retreat center in Baja or Santa Fe with all of your meals, snacks, drinks and other amenities included
Daily sessions and experiential activities to help you connect with your inner self, envision your desired experience, and release what no longer serves you
Meditation covering a range of practices to soothe your nervous system and help you cultivate greater mindfulness and presence in the moment.

Movement to get the energy flowing and build your strength and agility as you chart your course forward to the life you want to live.
Incredible bonding experiences with the most amazing humans you’ll ever meet.
Three delicious, chef-prepared meals plus snacks throughout the day prepared from scratch with the freshest local ingredients.
Festive gatherings to cultivate connection and celebrate the joy and beauty of life.

Tuition starts at

$3,000

Ready to start your journey?