From Survive to Thrive: Cancer as a Catalyst for Deeper Meaning & Purpose
Is financial aid for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to all, which is why we offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
We aim to support individuals facing financial challenges, including but not limited to members of under-represented communities. Our goal is to empower those who may face barriers in pursuing their educational and professional goals. If you're experiencing financial stress that might prevent you from attending our workshops, we encourage you to apply for assistance.
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
Discover how your cancer experience can guide you to a life of deeper purpose and meaning.
"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
You heard "no evidence of disease."
You celebrated. You exhaled.
The appointments became less frequent.
But then the questions started coming:
What do I really care about now?
How do I want to spend my time?
What kind of person do I want to become?
Cancer fundamentally rewrites your story. It strips away old identities, reshapes what you value, and forces you to confront what truly matters. Some say they wouldn't undo what it taught them.
If you completed primary cancer treatment at least one year prior to March 5th, 2026 and are ready to focus on your next chapter as a Cancer Thriver, this workshop is for you.
Just to be clear: this isn't about the power of positive thinking. This workshop is about exploring what matters most and forging an intentional approach to your next chapter.
Join Dr. Caryn Lerman and Chip Conley as they combine MEA's midlife wisdom with cutting-edge insights from psychology, philosophy, and lived experience.
Connect with others who truly understand this journey while discovering the gifts your experience has given you.
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.
“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
Chip Conley
MEA Co-Founder and Author of Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age
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 helping people navigate midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
Supported By the MEA Team
Lee 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 BioThis Workshop Is For You If…
What you'll gain
Clarity on Your Transforming Identity & Cancer Wisdom
Through exercises like Identity Mapping and your Cancer Journey Lifeline, you'll explore who you were before cancer, who you are now, and who you're becoming – while identifying the unique insights and strength your experience has given you.
Master Your Energy Audit & Create Your Intentional Life Plan
Learn to chart how you spend your time, identify what energizes versus depletes you, and build a practical roadmap for living according to your deepest values. You'll leave with clear answers to: What do I want to do more of, less of, stop doing entirely?
Navigate Difficult Conversations with Grace
Cancer affects your entire support network. You'll practice the "difficult conversations as showing love" approach – learning to communicate your evolving needs and identity shifts to caregivers, partners, and family members with intention and heart.
Connect with Fellow Cancer Thrivers
Form meaningful bonds with others who understand the complex emotions of life after cancer treatment through MEA's signature Wisdom Circles format, grounded in post-traumatic growth research and your own hero's journey.
Our 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:
Leave With Your Cancer Wisdom Translated Into Your Life's Next Chapter
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 difficult questions, but those questions can lead to your most intentional, meaningful years yet.
In four life-affirming days at our stunning Santa Fe campus, you'll transform your cancer experience from something that happened to you into wisdom that guides your path forward. You'll connect with fellow thrivers who understand this journey and leave with a clear plan for living according to what matters most.
Cancer as Catalyst with 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.
Book your spot today
From Survive to Thrive: Cancer as a Catalyst for Deeper Meaning & Purpose
Is financial aid for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to all, which is why we offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
We aim to support individuals facing financial challenges, including but not limited to members of under-represented communities. Our goal is to empower those who may face barriers in pursuing their educational and professional goals. If you're experiencing financial stress that might prevent you from attending our workshops, we encourage you to apply for assistance.
The program was spectacular. It really surpassed my expectations. I was really surprised about how the course was curated. There was such a warm intensity and personal touch to it.
I experienced MEA as a newly diagnosed multiple myeloma cancer patient, and as a result of the things I’ve learned - I’ve banished the anxiety of being a cancer victim, am in remission, and living with a newfound energy and purpose.
Just know how grateful I am for the joy fuel you all put in my rocket ship. When I want to feel loved or just need a good smile I can think of my time at MEA, which came at the perfect time to encourage me on my journey. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this workshop only for certain types of cancer survivors?
This workshop is designed for anyone who has completed primary cancer treatment at least a year from the workshop date, regardless of cancer type. The psychological and spiritual themes of identity transformation, meaning-making, and intentional living apply across different cancer experiences.
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 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. Her current research on psilocybin for healing adds cutting-edge perspective to traditional approaches.
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