Untapped Wisdom: How Philosophy Changes Your Life
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.
Chip Conley
MEA Founder, Hotelier + Hospitality Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author
Eric Weiner
New York Times Bestselling Author NPR Veteran & Acclaimed Storyteller Philosopher of Everyday Life
Rediscover Awe, Find Meaning, and Live More Consciously in 3 Powerful Days with Eric Weiner
You’ve followed the map of success. Now you’re wondering about the terrain of meaning.
You’ve optimized your routines, met your goals, and done the things a “successful” person is supposed to do.
But in quiet moments, a different kind of question emerges:
Is this the life I want to be living, or just the one I’ve built by default?
If you've felt the itch to think more deeply, to break from the reactive grind, and to realign with the beauty and mystery of life, this workshop is your invitation.
Escape to an immersive space to think clearly, feel deeply, and reconnect with a sense of meaning you may have misplaced along the way.
This is not a retreat to escape life. It's a return to what makes life truly worth living.
Led by New York Times bestselling author and philosopher Eric Weiner and MEA founder Chip Conley, this 3-day immersive experience offers you space to:
You don’t need to be a philosopher. You just need to be curious.
Join a small group of thoughtful seekers for meaningful conversation, soul-stirring insight, and real tools for daily living.
Meet
Eric Weiner
Bestselling Author | Former NPR Correspondent | Modern Philosopher of Everyday Life
Eric helps curious souls make sense of life through timeless wisdom and worldly insight.
His bestselling books – The Geography of Bliss, The Geography of Genius, and The Socrates Express – blend travel, humor, and ancient thought into playful but profound lessons for everyday living. His latest, Ben & Me, explores Benjamin Franklin’s blueprint for a meaningful life.
A gifted storyteller and guide, Eric makes abstract ideas accessible, funny, and deeply human.
"A mystery is not a puzzle waiting to be solved, but rather something for which there is no human solution. Mystery's offspring is not frustration but awe…" – Eric Weiner
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 steward of our four-square mile regenera ...
View BioThis Workshop Is For You If…
What you'll gain
Reclaim your sense of wonder
Learn to ask life’s big questions with humility, curiosity, and courage.
Navigate setbacks with wisdom
Adopt timeless tools for facing challenges with grace and perspective.
See beauty where others miss it
Discover new depth in the ordinary and delight in life’s simplest pleasures.
Live with greater intention
Walk through the world more consciously, listening deeply and acting with kindness.
Clarify what truly matters to you
Align your energy, time, and attention with your deeper values.
Our Agenda at a Glance
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
4:00 PM: Arrival / Check-In
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
9:00 PM: Free Time
Friday:
7:30 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
6:30 PM: Dinner
Saturday:
7:30 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
6:30 PM: Dinner, Dessert & Graduation
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Sunday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout / Departure
*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.
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:
Stop Consuming. Start Reflecting.
You’ve gathered knowledge. You’ve checked the boxes. But information isn’t transformation.
If your days feel full but your spirit feels thin, it’s time to pause. This is your opportunity to reclaim depth, curiosity, and a practical way to live more consciously.
In three immersive days at MEA’s Santa Fe campus, you’ll step away from the noise and walk into a rare space for philosophical reflection—without the ivory tower. You’ll leave not just inspired, but equipped with a clearer lens for living and tools to apply immediately.
In this workshop, you will:
This is not a retreat. It’s a reorientation.
If you're ready to think differently, live more consciously, and connect with what truly matters – this is where it begins.
Book your spot today
Untapped Wisdom: How Philosophy Changes Your Life
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.
Even as he makes complicated ideas accessible, Eric dispels the myth that there is a singular ‘recipe’ for things like happiness or genius.
~ Tamara Hale, PhD
Mr. Weiner is blessed with this gift. He is a prober and questioner, a big-hearted humanist who will always take a colorful, contradictory reality over some unfounded certainty.
~ The Wall Street Journal Review
Whether tracing the coordinates of happiness, charting the topography of human genius, or seeking divine whispers in far-flung rituals, Weiner invites us to think more curiously, and live more deliberately.
~ Reader’s House
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this different from a traditional philosophy class?
This isn’t about memorizing ancient texts or debating abstract theories. It’s about living philosophy. Eric brings timeless wisdom down to earth, showing how ideas from thinkers like Epictetus and Confucius can help you navigate real-life challenges, find meaning, and live more intentionally in today’s noisy world.
Do I need any background in philosophy to attend?
Not at all. This experience is designed for thoughtful people, not academics. Whether you’re brand new to philosophy or have long been “philosophy curious,” you’ll find the content engaging, accessible, and relevant to your life
What if I’m not in a major life transition right now?
You don’t need to be at a turning point to benefit. This workshop is about sharpening your inner compass – so whether you’re navigating life changes, feeling stuck, or simply hoping for deeper insight and clarity, you’ll leave with practical tools to guide your next steps.
How is this different from other MEA workshops?
While all MEA experiences blend wisdom, connection, and transformation, this workshop focuses specifically on philosophical thinking as a daily practice. It’s ideal for those drawn to deep questions, meaningful conversations, and timeless tools for living with more presence, perspective, and joy.
What’s included in the workshop fee?
Your tuition covers everything once you arrive:
- 3 nights of luxury accommodations at MEA’s Santa Fe campus
- Chef-prepared meals, snacks, and beverages
- Daily sessions with Eric, Chip, and the MEA team
- Equine-assisted learning and mindfulness activities
- All materials, guided movement, and unforgettable group experiences
The only additional costs are your travel to Santa Fe and any personal purchases.
Will we be sitting in a classroom all day?
Not at all. While there are rich conversations and guided learning sessions, we intentionally balance mind, body, and spirit. You’ll also enjoy time outdoors, movement practices, and quiet moments of reflection – all designed to deepen your experience and ground what you learn.
Is this workshop right for me if I’m not spiritual?
Absolutely. This isn’t about dogma or belief systems. It’s about cultivating wisdom, curiosity, and presence – universal human qualities that transcend labels. Whether you’re spiritual-but-not-religious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, you’ll find space for your own path here.
What’s the group like? Who attends these retreats?
Our participants are thoughtful, curious people from all walks of midlife – executives, artists, educators, entrepreneurs, lifelong learners. Many are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, seeking greater meaning, clarity, and connection. What they share is a willingness to go deep, show up fully, and explore what truly matters.