From Survive to Thrive: Cancer as a Catalyst for Deeper Meaning & Purpose
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.
Caryn Lerman, PhD
Clinical Psychologist | Director, USC Norris Cancer Center | Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Psychology, USC | Psilocybin Therapy Researcher
Chip Conley
MEA Founder, Hotelier + Hospitality Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author
Your cancer experience can guide you to a life of deeper purpose and meaning.
You might have heard “no evidence of disease,” “stable,” or “we’ll just keep an eye on things.” You rang the bell, appointments spaced out, and everyone around you exhaled in relief. But you’re still trying to make sense of what just happened.
You may have returned to “normal life,” yet nothing feels normal. Your energy comes in waves. Your body feels unfamiliar. Work that once mattered seems less urgent. You catch yourself wondering who you are now.
You’re in the messy middle — grateful to be here but also scared, disoriented, and asking new questions:
Even a year or more out, you’re still in it. The worry never fully fades. Relationships keep shifting. You’re not “past it” — just in a new phase that needs as much support as treatment once did.
Listen to Chip and Caryn Lerman, PhD on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:
When Cancer Forces a Life Reset in Midlife | Caryn Lerman
Cancer fundamentally rewrites your story.
It changes how you see yourself, what you value, and how you live your life based on what matters most. If you’ve completed primary treatment, you may know the relief of hearing “no evidence of disease,” yet as oncology appointments become less frequent, you can be left with a dozen questions about how to move forward.
What do I really care about now?
How do I want to spend my time?
Who do I want to become in this next chapter?
You're expected to pick up where you left off, but you're not the same, and neither is your life – and you're navigating it largely on your own.
You still need support, tools, and community – just in a new way.
You don’t need another glossy “I beat cancer” story that skips the messy parts.
From surviving to meaning-making: use your cancer experience to rebuild your identity, relationships, and purpose in midlife.
Dr. Caryn Lerman has spent her career at the intersection of psychology, cancer care, and behavior change. A clinical psychologist and cancer specialist, she’s sat with countless patients and families as they navigate diagnosis, treatment, and the uncertain, often isolating period that follows. Caryn doesn’t just understand this work professionally—she’s lived it, supporting loved ones through cancer and other serious illnesses.
Chip Conley, NYT bestselling author and founder of MEA, is currently navigating Stage 3 prostate cancer and back in treatment. He’s living through the uncertainty, identity shifts, and wave of life-changing questions cancer brings—applying MEA’s philosophy on purpose, transitions, and meaning to his current reality, not something he’s already overcome.
Together, Caryn and Chip create a rare space where deep clinical knowledge meets lived experience, where midlife transitions intersect with life after cancer, and where no feeling is “too much” or “too messy.”
Over four days, they’ll guide you through reflective practices, guided conversations, and exercises designed to help you name and process what cancer has changed—in your body, work, relationships, and sense of self. You’ll learn to face fear and uncertainty with honesty, and begin to reimagine how you want to spend your time, energy, and love moving forward.
During your four days with Caryn & Chip at our Santa Fe ranch, you will:
Map your cancer story. Trace the before, during, and after to understand how it’s reshaped your identity, energy, and priorities – without trying to get “back to normal.”
Get honest about what fuels you and what drains you now, so you can rebuild work, routines, and commitments that fit your post-cancer reality.
Work with recurrence fear. Find steady, practical ways to live with scanxiety and uncertainty so they inform your choices without running the show.
Reclaim your body and intimacy. Acknowledge the lasting shifts — scars, fatigue, sexual changes, chemo brain — and rebuild trust in the body that’s still carrying you forward.
Reset your relationships. Use language and tools for real conversations with partners, caregivers, kids, and colleagues as you navigate shifting roles and reclaim your voice within them.
Unearth a new sense of purpose. Explore what midlife questions and cancer together have revealed about what truly matters to you, and what no longer does.
Share and be seen. In Wisdom Circles, connect with peers who instinctively understand the “messy middle,” where truth matters more than advice.
Design your next chapter. Explore where you want to focus your time, energy, love, and legacy, in ways that feel sustainable, real, and uniquely yours.
You’ll be part of an intimate group: around 24 participants connecting deeply in the beauty and stillness of the high desert, surrounded by our signature Santa Fe hospitality.
This Workshop Is For You If…
This experience welcomes anyone living with cancer's realities, whether in remission, still receiving occasional treatments, on long-term hormonal therapy, or managing it as a chronic condition. What matters most: you feel well and stable enough to travel and participate fully, and won’t require any treatments or medical support during your time with us.
“I’m thrilled to collaborate with Chip and MEA to create space to explore the existential transformations that cancer can bring and delve into the meaning-making work of MEA that has deeply benefited me.”
~ Dr. Caryn Lerman ~
Meet
Dr. Caryn Lerman
Clinical Psychologist | Cancer Research Pioneer | MEA Alumna
Caryn brings both scientific rigor and deep personal understanding to this work. She’s a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has served on numerous national advisory committees shaping the future of behavioral medicine.
As Distinguished Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at USC and former Director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, she’s published more than 400 peer-reviewed scientific articles and mentored generations of researchers advancing psychology, addiction, and cancer care.
Her groundbreaking work has included translational research on genetic influences in nicotine addiction and cancer prevention, as well as pioneering studies on the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and other psychedelics for healing and growth.
But Caryn’s approach to this workshop isn’t just professional – it’s personal.
As a proud MEA alumna, she understands the midlife journey intimately. Her passion for hiking, travel, and storytelling, along with time spent with husband Troy and spirited pups Darwin and Floki, keeps her grounded in what brings joy and connection.
Chip Conley
MEA Co-Founder | Author of bestselling books including The Midlife Manifesto, Learning to Love Midlife, and Wisdom @ Work
A three-time TED speaker, 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 serving as a "modern elder" to young Airbnb founders, Chip has been a disruptor and thought leader on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of work.
In recent years, Chip has faced Stage 3 prostate cancer, undergoing surgeries, radiation, and hormone therapy. He's currently back in treatment and navigating the physical, emotional, and spiritual realities of living with cancer in real time, including the uncertainty, the identity shifts, and the profound questions about how to live fully in the midst of it all.
Inspired by his intergenerational mentoring experience at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary success, Chip founded MEA. He has since dedicated his midlife years to reframing aging and helping people navigate it with purpose and possibility.
Supported By the MEA Team
Daniel 'DL' Landes
Experience Facilitator
Before joining MEA, Daniel “DL” Landes spent decades as a restauranteur, author, and publisher. As the owner of multiple restaurants in Denver, CO – and then a hostel in Mexico – he dedicated himself to creating environments where people could work out their humanity whil ...
View BioLee Johnson
Head of Land, Livestock, and Mindfulness in Santa Fe
Lee likes to say that he’s as ordinary as dirt but as complex as soil. A former Course Director for the Colorado Outward Bound School and Certified Holistic Management Teacher, he has managed ranches in Nebraska and Tennessee as well as several ranches here in New Mexico. As ...
View BioOur Agenda at a Glance
Sunday:
4:00 PM: Arrival/Check-in
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
Monday:
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: Free 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: Free Time
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: Graduation
6:30 PM: Celebration Dinner
Thursday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout/Departure
Friday:
Saturday:
Step into transformation in the high desert
Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.
Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs
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.
Your Workshop Includes:
You’ve survived something that changed everything. Now it’s time to discover what comes next.
Cancer stripped away certainties, but it also revealed strengths you didn’t know you had. It forced hard questions, and those questions can lead to some of your most intentional, meaningful years.
In four life-affirming days at our Santa Fe campus, you’ll begin to turn your cancer experience from something that happened to you into wisdom that actively guides your choices. You’ll connect with fellow thrivers who understand this journey and leave with a grounded, personal plan for living in alignment with what matters most.
Dr. Caryn Lerman and Chip Conley will help you:
Your cancer experience taught you that life is precious.
Now learn how to live like you know it.
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances."
~ Viktor Frankl ~
Book your spot today
From Survive to Thrive: Cancer as a Catalyst for Deeper Meaning & Purpose
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this workshop only for certain types of cancer survivors?
This workshop is designed for anyone living with a history of cancer, regardless of cancer type. We welcome people at various stages – whether you’re in remission, still receiving treatments like radiation, on long-term hormonal therapy, or living with cancer as a chronic disease. What matters most is that you feel well and stable enough to travel and participate in four immersive days. We can’t provide medical care on-site, so we ask that you’re not severely immunocompromised or requiring active medical support.
What if I'm worried the workshop will be too emotional or overwhelming?
“Both Caryn and Chip acknowledge that this workshop will be especially emotional—cancer touches every dimension of life. That’s exactly why we’ve designed it with care and intention. You’ll have opportunities to share in intimate settings with people who truly understand, balanced with solo reflection time and the healing power of being on the ranch. There’s no pressure to share more than you’re comfortable with, and the entire experience is held in a container of safety and compassion.”
What if I'm not sure I'm "ready" to call myself a thriver?
That’s exactly why this workshop exists. Many participants arrive uncertain about their relationship with the word “thriver” or unsure what their next chapter looks like. The workshop provides a safe space to explore these questions without pressure to reach specific conclusions or adopt particular identities.
How is this different from cancer support groups or medical follow-up care?
While support groups focus on ongoing challenges and medical care addresses physical health, this workshop explores the existential and philosophical questions that emerge after treatment. It’s not therapy or medical advice, but rather a space for meaning-making, identity exploration, and intentional life planning using MEA’s proven frameworks.
What if I'm dealing with ongoing side effects or fear of recurrence?
The workshop acknowledges that “survivor” doesn’t mean returning to your pre-cancer self. Dr. Lerman’s approach honors the ongoing impact of cancer while focusing on growth, wisdom, and intentional living within that reality. However, this is not a medical program and doesn’t address active treatment concerns.
Can my partner or caregiver attend?
This particular workshop is designed specifically for cancer survivors, as the experience requires focused attention on your personal journey. However, the curriculum includes reflection on caregiver relationships and how to have meaningful conversations with loved ones about your evolving identity and needs.
What makes Dr. Caryn Lerman qualified to lead this work?
Dr. Lerman combines four decades of cancer research with a deep understanding of psychology and human transformation. As Director of USC Norris Cancer Center, she’s published over 400 scientific articles, but as an MEA alumna, she also brings personal wisdom about midlife transitions and meaning-making. She also brings personal understanding as a cancer caregiver, having supported a loved one through cancer. This dual perspective as both a leading cancer researcher and someone who’s witnessed cancer’s impact on the people she loves, allows her to hold space for the full complexity of this experience.
What about Chip's role and experience with this topic?
Beyond his expertise as MEA’s co-founder, Chip brings authentic personal understanding to this workshop. Currently navigating his own cancer treatment over the last few years, he offers firsthand insight into the identity shifts, relationship dynamics, and meaning-making process that define the journey from survival to thriving. His dual perspective as both midlife expert and cancer patient creates a unique depth of understanding for workshop participants.
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