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The Midlife Chrysalis
Chip Conley
53 episodes
2 days ago
The Midlife Chrysalis is a one-hour podcast hosted by Chip Conley, bestselling author of Learning to Love Midlife and founder of MEA (Modern Elder Academy). Chip and his high-profile guests – including Maria Shriver, Hoda Kotb, Elizabeth Gilbert, Michael Franti, and more – dive into raw, vulnerable conversations about the profound transitions they’ve experienced in midlife. Listeners get a rare look at how even the most successful individuals have to navigate life’s pivotal changes – and gain practical wisdom they can apply in their own lives for a more fulfilling and purposeful next chapter.
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Self-Improvement
Education
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All content for The Midlife Chrysalis is the property of Chip Conley and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
The Midlife Chrysalis is a one-hour podcast hosted by Chip Conley, bestselling author of Learning to Love Midlife and founder of MEA (Modern Elder Academy). Chip and his high-profile guests – including Maria Shriver, Hoda Kotb, Elizabeth Gilbert, Michael Franti, and more – dive into raw, vulnerable conversations about the profound transitions they’ve experienced in midlife. Listeners get a rare look at how even the most successful individuals have to navigate life’s pivotal changes – and gain practical wisdom they can apply in their own lives for a more fulfilling and purposeful next chapter.
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Self-Improvement
Education
Episodes (20/53)
The Midlife Chrysalis
Why Leadership Fails When Wisdom Walks Out

Most companies are racing toward AI, efficiency, and scale while quietly losing the one advantage that actually sustains great leadership: wisdom.


In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, we reveal why culture, lived experience, and human judgment matter more than ever. Chip draws on decades of leadership experience to explain why many organizations are losing their edge and what they can do to reclaim it.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


- Why leadership is a practice, not a personality trait

- How culture is shaped when leaders aren’t in the room

- What companies lose when institutional wisdom disappears

- The difference between knowledge workers and wisdom workers in the AI era


As technology accelerates, human skills become the real competitive edge.


👉 Watch now and discover how wisdom future-proofs leadership and culture.


Timestamps:

00:13 Leadership as a practice

02:29 Culture leaders overlook

05:18 Defining real company culture

08:57 Institutional wisdom loss

13:47 Knowledge workers vs wisdom workers

18:30 AI impact on early careers

22:22 Humanities and philosophy comeback

22:44 Wisdom at Airbnb

25:53 Informal mentors and EQ

27:57 Leading yourself first

28:18 Resources and upcoming workshop

30:12 Closing thoughts


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#LeadershipWisdom #WisdomAtWork #FutureOfLeadership #AIAndLeadership #CompanyCulture #EmotionalIntelligence #KnowledgeVsWisdom #HumanSkills #MentorshipMatters #InstitutionalWisdom #LeadershipDevelopment #WisdomWednesday #LeadershipCulture #AIImpact #ModernLeadership

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2 days ago
27 minutes 35 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
From Breakdown to Wholeness: The Hero’s Path Through Midlife with Ben Katt

Have you ever reached a point in life where what once worked… suddenly doesn’t?


In this warm conversation with Chip, Ben Katt, MEA’s faculty in residence and author of The Way Home, offers a hopeful reframe of midlife. Rather than seeing it as a breakdown, Ben invites us to see this season as a meaningful transition, one that asks us to let go of old roles and reconnect with who we truly are.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

- Why midlife often feels disorienting, even when life looks “successful” on the outside

- How releasing familiar identities creates space for deeper purpose and wholeness

- Why stillness, reflection, and meditation are essential during times of change

- How community and support help us move through transitions with more easy

If you’re feeling restless, uncertain, or quietly asking “What’s next?”, this conversation offers clarity, comfort, and a sense of direction.


👉 Watch now and explore what this chapter of your life is gently calling you toward.


Timestamps:00:35 The Hero’s Journey and The Way Home

04:49 Ben’s five-year soul journey

07:20 Achievement perfectionism and people pleasing

09:44 Meditation and inner balance

13:19 Phase 1: Leaving the familiar

15:46 Phase 2: Falling into the unknown

18:30 Dark night of the ego

20:51 Wander in the wild

23:56 Support and community

29:52 Phase 3: Rising to wholeness

33:46 Stillness and begin again

38:58 Teaching wisdom without religion

44:13 The wisdom well metaphor

47:21 Why wisdom matters now

50:28 Wisdom bumper sticker


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


Find Ben Katt at https://benkattofficial.com/


#MidlifeTransition #MidlifeCrisis #MidlifeTransformation #HeroJourney #FindingPurpose #MidlifeWisdom #LifeTransitions #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeAwakening #SecondHalfOfLife #InnerWork #MeaningInMidlife #JosephCampbell #WisdomTraditions #MidlifeChrysalis

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4 days ago
58 minutes 56 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Jeff Krasno & Schuyler Grant: What Midlife Health Really Requires

What if the wellness advice you followed for years stops working after 50?


In this episode, wellness pioneers Jeff Krasno, co-founder of Wanderlust, and Schuyler Grant, founder of Kula Yoga Project, share how their approach to health quietly but radically shifted in midlife, and why many popular wellness habits fall short as we age.


With decades spent in yoga, wellness festivals, and lived experience, they share what actually matters now.


They share insights on:


- Why yoga alone isn’t enough after 50

- How muscle and strength shape metabolic and brain health

- The importance of diverse movement, not extremes

- How simple habits and presence support long-term well-being


This is a grounded, honest conversation about aging well — without hype or shortcuts.


👉 Watch now and rethink what midlife wellness really requires.


Timestamps:

01:22 Skylar’s yoga studio near Ground Zero

05:54 The origins of Wanderlust

09:47 Early resistance to the festival idea

11:28 Wellness hotels and business travel

14:32 Challenges of working with a spouse

20:52 What wellness means after 50

20:52 Muscle, metabolism, and aging

26:30 Yoga versus strength training

29:43 Muscle health and brain health

31:37 Diversity of movement in midlife

34:38 Curiosity, learning, and discomfort

37:34 Habit stacking explained

40:27 Wellness and politics

45:49 Upcoming Baja workshop

49:27 Wisdom bumper stickers


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#WellnessAfter50 #MidlifeWellness #HealthyAging #StrengthAfter50 #MuscleAfter50 #AgingWell #Over50Health #MidlifeHealth #LongevityLifestyle #FunctionalFitness #WellnessPodcast #HealthyMidlife #MindBodyHealth #HabitsForHealth #LifeAfter50

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1 week ago
1 hour 1 minute 39 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Stop Starting Over: How to Build Habits That Actually Last

Why most New Year’s resolutions fail before February? In this episode of Wisdom Wednesday, we take an honest look at why good intentions fade quickly and share a simple, practical framework for building habits that last. Drawing from real-life experience, we break down how to turn good intentions into daily actions, without relying on motivation alone.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


- Why most resolutions fail

- How habit stacking makes change automatic

- The “Four Ps” that make goals stick

- Why public accountability matters

- How to build habits that last beyond January


If you’re done repeating the same resolutions every year, this episode will help you do it differently.


👉 Watch now and start the year with habits that actually stick.


Timestamps:

00:44 Morning people and Baja midnight

01:39 Why New Year’s resolutions fail

02:07 Common resolutions and lack of a plan

03:30 Habit stacking explained

05:10 Turning resolutions into daily practice

06:10 The four Ps framework

07:45 Pairing and social accountability

08:39 Passion versus accountability

09:50 Why fewer goals work better

11:03 Learning from past resolutions

11:50 Personal resolutions and alcohol

13:10 Family time as a long-term priority

14:14 Final reflections for 2025

15:02 Age, milestones, and perspective

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#NewYearsResolutions #HabitBuilding #HabitsThatStick #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeWisdom #BehaviorChange #GoalSetting #Accountability #HabitStacking #Mindfulness #SelfImprovement #Longevity #Wellbeing #LifeDesign #WisdomWednesday

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1 week ago
15 minutes 4 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Why Transitions Break Us and Heal Us | Kari Cardinale

Midlife can feel confusing, even when life looks good from the outside. Careers change, relationships shift, and the way we see ourselves starts to evolve, leaving many people feeling stuck in between what was and what’s next.


In this episode, Kari Cardinale, Chief Content Officer and partner at Modern Elder Academy, explains why these moments aren’t breakdowns but transitions, and why learning to navigate them is an essential life skill. Through her work on Transitional Intelligence, Kari shares what’s really happening during midlife change and how to move through it with greater clarity and confidence.


You’ll learn:

• Why most midlife “crises” are actually misunderstood transitions

• The three stages of change: endings, the messy middle, and new beginnings

• Why the messy middle feels so hard — and why it matters

• How rituals, community, and small “glimmers” guide what comes next

If you’re feeling stuck or sensing a shift in your life, this episode will help you understand where you are and how to move forward.


👉 Navigating Transitions online course from Modern Elder Academy offers a supportive, step-by-step way to work through change with clarity and confidence, starting March 2: https://www.meawisdom.com/navigating-transitions-online/

Timestamps:

01:20 What is transitional intelligence

03:58 The three stages of transition

06:02 Voluntary and involuntary change

08:02 Why transitions take longer than we expect

11:50 The role of ritual in midlife

15:54 The messy middle and uncertainty

17:53 Glimmers and new beginnings

21:44 Growth mindset in midlife

24:28 Kari’s personal transition story

28:37 The birth of Modern Elder Academy

31:36 Love and relationships in midlife

34:48 What truly gets better with age

37:23 Building community and belonging

42:31 Wisdom bumper sticker


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#KariCardinale #MidlifeTransitions #MidlifeChange #MessyMiddle #LifeTransitions #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeWisdom #ModernElder #TransitionalIntelligence #EmotionalIntelligence #MidlifePurpose #NewBeginnings #GrowthMindset #MidlifeJourney #InnerWork

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1 week ago
51 minutes 16 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
From Skateboarding Icon to Modern Elder: Stacy Peralta

He didn’t plan on being successful. He just followed what pulled at him and kept letting go when it stopped working. In this episode, Stacy Peralta, legendary skateboarder, filmmaker behind Dogtown and Z-Boys, and modern elder, shares how a life built on passion, curiosity, and vulnerability led him from skateboarding to filmmaking to painting, without clinging to any single identity.


Rather than chasing security or certainty, Stacy reveals why reinvention requires becoming a beginner again and why midlife may be the most powerful time to do it.


In this conversation, Stacy explores:


- Why holding onto past identities quietly blocks your future

- How embracing vulnerability and being a “kook” unlocks growth

- The difference between loving something and knowing when to let it go

- How intuition, not logic, often guides the most meaningful transitions

- Daily practices that keep creativity, curiosity, and vitality alive


👉 Watch the full episode now and discover why letting go might be the most powerful move you can make.


Timestamps:

00:58 Early life mischief and finding skateboarding

03:32 Understanding transitions and success

05:57 Realizing it was time to leave skateboarding

06:38 Becoming a beginner in filmmaking

10:46 Family influence and unconventional paths

13:16 Work ethic creativity and self reliance

15:19 Learning from surfer elders

16:59 Following what you love in midlife

18:41 Giving your gift and letting it go

20:00 Embracing vulnerability and being a kook

24:10 Facing fear of being too old

28:00 Flow challenge and skill

31:10 MEA workshops experience

34:25 Quiet rebellion and midlife dreams

37:05 Listening intuition and creating space

39:05 Letting go of control

41:23 Daily practices for vitality

42:46 Harmonizing heart and mind

43:07 The power of listening

44:51 Closing reflections and gratitude


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#StacyPeralta #MidlifeReinvention #ModernElder #PersonalReinvention #MidlifeTransition #GrowthMindset #CreativeLife #LettingGo #SecondAct #PurposeInMidlife #LifeTransitions #DogtownAndZBoys #SkateboardingLegend #BecomingABeginner #Intuition

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2 weeks ago
50 minutes 17 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
The Success Treadmill Is Real: Here’s How to Escape

In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, Chip Conley, entrepreneur, author, and founder of MEA, opens up about the quiet disappointment many high achievers feel after they’ve “made it.”


Through stories from building iconic companies, guiding Airbnb’s founders, and navigating midlife reckoning, Chip explores the success treadmill, and why chasing the next win so often leaves us unsatisfied.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:


- Why success can feel addictive but never fulfilling

- The crucial difference between happiness and joy

- How a simple gratitude practice can change how life feels day to day

- What midlife teaches us about meaning, ego, and impact


Thoughtful, honest, and deeply human, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what actually matters.


👉 Watch now and step off the success treadmill.


Timestamps:

01:00 Holiday plans and family time

01:51 MEA Film Festival vision and growth

04:28 Defining success and ambition

06:30 Happiness vs. Joy

10:03 Making gratitude intentional

11:27 Realizing the success treadmill

15:21 Ego shift at Airbnb

16:32 Getting off the treadmill sooner

16:50 Near death experience and perspective

18:30 Service as gratitude practice

19:40 Facing illness and loss

21:33 This too shall pass

21:49 Collective gratitude and closing


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#SuccessTreadmill #GratitudePractice #MidlifeWisdom #FindingMeaning #HappinessVsJoy #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeTransformation #RedefiningSuccess #LifePurpose #InnerFulfillment #ChipConley #MidlifeCrisis #SelfReflection #LifeLessons #MindfulLiving

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2 weeks ago
21 minutes 11 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
The Hidden Cost of Playing It Safe in Midlife | Dr. Margie Warrell

What if the real risk in midlife isn’t change but staying comfortable?


In this episode of Midlife Chrysalis, Chip Conley sits down with Dr. Margie Warrell, global expert on courage and bestselling author of The Courage Gap, to explore why so many smart, capable people feel stuck and how to move forward with clarity and bravery.


Drawing from her journey from a rural Australian farm to the world stage, Margie shares powerful insights on courage, reinvention, and choosing growth over safety.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


- Why comfort quietly keeps you stuck

- The hidden “timidity tax” of playing it safe

- The tension between belonging and becoming

- Why courage is a decision, not a feeling

- Simple ways to take braver action in midlife


If you’re ready to stop circling what’s familiar and start stepping into what’s possible, this conversation is for you.


🎧 Watch now and choose courage over comfort.


Timestamps:

00:05 Meet Margie Warrell

01:08 Margie’s rural upbringing

02:33 The horse story and learning courage

05:00 Traveling the world after university

06:33 Early adulthood and global moves

08:47 Trauma, healing, and transformation

09:51 Life now and current work

11:05 Why courage is difficult

13:26 Becoming versus belonging

16:40 Regret and missed chances

21:19 Courage as action, not feeling

23:42 Closing the courage gap

23:42 Reset your focus

29:10 Challenge your certainty

33:50 Take the chance

36:13 Real-life courage breakthroughs

39:05 Courage, anxiety, and connection

42:34 Wisdom bumper sticker


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#MidlifeCrisis #CourageOverComfort #PersonalGrowth #LifeTransitions #MidlifeReinvention #LeadershipMindset #SelfDevelopment #EmotionalResilience #FindingPurpose #SecondHalfOfLife #FearAndGrowth #AuthenticLiving #WomenInLeadership #BraveLiving #TheCourageGap

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2 weeks ago
52 minutes 21 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
​​Why Dating Feels Hard in Midlife (Even for Smart People) | Rachel Greenwald

Dating in midlife can feel strangely hard, even when you’ve done the work, built a full life, and know yourself better than ever. If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this still so complicated?” this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I sit down with Rachel Greenwald, Harvard MBA and veteran matchmaker who has helped guide nearly 1,000 marriages. With warmth, humor, and deep insight, Rachel reframes dating not as luck but as a learnable skill, especially in midlife.


Together, we explore:


- Why the people who make us happiest don’t always match our dating checklists

- How chemistry can fool us and what actually leads to lasting connection

- The quiet dating rules that keep smart people single

- Why love often shows up in unexpected packages

- How modern couples are redefining partnership, including living apart together


This is a hopeful, practical conversation about dating with wisdom, curiosity, and openness, not fear or frustration.

👉 Listen or watch now and discover why midlife may be your most meaningful, and romantic, chapter yet.


Timestamps:

00:46 Meet matchmaker Rachel Greenwald

03:36 From Harvard MBA to professional matchmaker

04:03 A midlife pivot that changed everything

07:29 The highs and lows of matchmaking

09:44 What is keeping people single

10:20 The most powerful question in dating

13:11 Chemistry vs compatibility & happiness

17:11 Why we repeat unfinished relationship patterns

19:46 Why dating checklists can backfire

22:39 Why men make up most matchmaking clients

25:08 Why parents hire matchmakers for young adults

28:03 Why midlife dating isn’t hopeless

35:57 The three must-haves that really matter

38:26 Living apart together and modern relationships

44:51 Inside the Santa Fe dating workshop

48:27 Wisdom bumper sticker

53:11 Final takeaways on love and dating in midlife


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#MidlifeDating #DatingAfter40 #DatingAfter50 #MidlifeRelationships #FindingLoveLaterInLife #DatingAdvice #ModernDating #RelationshipAdvice #DatingWisdom #MidlifeWomen #MidlifeMen #Matchmaking #LoveAfterDivorce #DatingOver40 #MidlifeChrysalis

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3 weeks ago
57 minutes 9 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Inside the Messy Middle: What Actually Drives Transformation in Midlife

Feeling stuck in midlife? You might be in your chrysalis, not a crisis.


In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, Chip Conley breaks down why midlife often feels confusing and heavy, and why that “messy middle” is actually the beginning of real transformation.


Chip shares:

• The three stages of every transition and where most people get stuck

• What really happens inside the messy middle

• Why men and women experience midlife so differently

• How transitional intelligence (TQ) helps you move forward with clarity

If you’re wondering whether something is wrong, or whether you’re simply evolving, this episode offers the reassurance and perspective you need.

If you enjoyed this, follow the show, leave a rating, and join us next week for more Wisdom Wednesday insights.


Timestamps:

00:00 Film Festival & Holiday Mood

01:55 Crisis vs Chrysalis and the Hollywood Myth

05:15 The Three Stages of Transition

07:07 Emotions in the Messy Middle

09:33 Finding Your Through Line

11:21 Ritualizing Endings

13:16 How Men Experience Midlife

15:40 How Women Experience Midlife

15:53 Why Women Navigate Midlife Differently

19:27 Identity, Purpose, and Feeling Stuck

21:35 Chip’s Personal Midlife Story

22:42 Why Men Resist This Work


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#MidlifeChrysalis #MidlifeTransition #MidlifeCrisis #MessyMiddle #PersonalGrowthJourney #LifeTransitions #ChipConley #TransitionalIntelligence #MidlifeWisdom #SelfDiscovery #MidlifeWomen #MidlifeMen #EmotionalWellbeing #LifeReinvention #GrowthMindset

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3 weeks ago
23 minutes 22 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Michael Clinton on Life Layering: How to Build a Richer Life After 50

What if midlife became your chance to ROAR, not retire?


In this powerful conversation, bestselling author and longevity visionary Michael Clinton shares why your 40s, 50s, and beyond are actually the most exciting and opportunity-filled decades of your life. From his rise to the top of Hearst Magazines to running marathons on seven continents and earning a new degree at 67, Michael reveals how reinvention is not only possible, it’s essential.

He breaks down the ROAR framework for reimagining your future, explains why “life layering” is the antidote to midlife crisis, and dives into the emerging world of longevity science, age-positive culture, and purpose-driven living. If you’ve ever wondered what’s next, or what’s possible, this episode shows you how to build a richer, more meaningful second half of life.

Watch now and start reimagining what your future can be.


Timestamps:

00:00 Michael’s Santa Fe moment

01:31 Early life, father’s influence, love of words

05:27 A career in publishing

08:02 Midlife awakening at 39

10:50 Climbing Kilimanjaro and building an adventurous life

12:32 Returning to school at 67

15:56 The ROAR framework begins

20:00 Ageism, language shifts, modern role models

25:13 Life layering and building new identities

27:45 Preparing for post-career life

29:01 Reinvention stories and reimagineers

30:51 Relationships, editing your circle, and support systems

35:25 Growth mindset and lifelong curiosity

37:33 Longevity insights and the next book

39:18 Why longevity is having a cultural moment

44:01 Why the US is falling behind on lifespan

45:22 Rethinking work, age diversity, and longer careers

49:56 Longevity clinics and new health models

52:57 Longevity travel and residential communities

54:35 Wisdom bumper sticker


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/



#MidlifeReinvention #Longevity #PurposeAfter50 #ReimaginingAging #LifeLayering #ROARMethod #SecondHalfOfLife #HealthyAging #MidlifeAwakening #RewireNotRetire #AgingWell #LiveLongerBetter #MidlifeTransformation #ModernAging #LifelongLearning

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3 weeks ago
1 hour 2 minutes 16 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Laird Hamilton & Gabby Reece on Love, Longevity, and Aging with Power

Ever wondered why some people get stronger, wiser, and more grounded with age?


In this powerful conversation, Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece reveal why midlife is actually the most dynamic, resilient, and liberating season of life. They open up about growing up on islands, how they met, what keeps their partnership strong, and why presence, patience, and community matter more than ever. From breathwork and injury recovery to identity shifts, parenting, and purpose, they share the hard-earned wisdom that helps them stay grounded, strong, and deeply connected.


If you’re ready to see midlife as a chrysalis, not a crisis, this episode is for you. Watch now.


Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome

00:09 Childhood and Island Upbringing

05:06 How Gabby and Laird Met

09:24 Navigating Two Athletic Careers

14:26 Relationship with Your Aging Body

21:46 Breathwork and Training Philosophy

26:04 Books and Science Behind Breathwork

29:42 Midlife Crisis vs Midlife Chrysalis

37:59 What Gets Better With Age

41:51 Relationship With Risk and Mortality

45:36 Presence and Stillness

51:47 Wisdom Bumper Sticker

54:17 Closing Remarks


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/



#LairdHamilton #GabbyReece #MidlifeWisdom #MidlifeChrysalis #HealthyAging #LongevityLifestyle #BreathworkTraining #MindBodyHealth #MidlifeTransformation #AgingWell #PeakPerformance #AthleteMindset #MidlifeGrowth #ModernElder #ChipConley

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4 weeks ago
58 minutes 30 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
How Curiosity Fuels a Longer, Healthier Life

What if the secret to living longer isn’t in your genes… but in your mindset?


In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, Chip Conley reveals the surprising research showing how a simple shift in how we think about aging can add years—yes, actual years—to our lives. From Becca Levy’s longevity findings to Carol Dweck’s growth-mindset principles, Chip breaks down why curiosity, openness, and lifelong learning may be the real fountain of youth.

You’ll learn why “I’m too old to…” is one of the most dangerous beliefs we carry, how anticipated regret can propel us into action, and why midlife is actually one of the most powerful stages for reinvention.


If you’re ready to rethink what’s possible in your next chapter, this episode will change how you see aging forever.

Tune in now and start shaping the mindset that shapes your life.

Timestamps:

00:00 Canadian spelling banter

02:56 Shifting mindset on aging

05:59 Anticipated regret as motivation

07:50 Lifelong learning and curiosity

10:09 What gets better with age

11:21 You’re not “too old” for anything

14:18 Mindset as invisible life framework

15:40 Weekly mindset assignment and closing remarksWhich of the 12 Reasons Most or Least Resonates With You? https://chipconley.com/reasons-quiz/ Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#wisdomwednesday #midlifegrowth #agingmindset #growthmindset #proaging #lifelonglearning #longevitymindset #chipconley #meaprogram #mindsetshift #curiosityasapower #midlifetransitions #positiveaging #mindsetmatters #livebetterlonger

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1 month ago
16 minutes 26 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Marianne Williamson: The Courage to Age, Evolve & Challenge Power

What if everything you’ve believed about midlife is completely outdated?


In this powerful conversation, Marianne Williamson sheds light on the truth about aging, visibility, and what it truly means to enter the second half of life with purpose. She shares raw reflections on menopause, identity shifts, modern rites of passage, and why midlife is less a crisis and more a spiritual turning point. Marianne also speaks about wisdom, reinvention, societal expectations, and how embracing your “third chapter” can unlock a deeper, more courageous version of yourself.


If you’re ready to rethink aging and step into your next chapter with clarity and confidence, watch the full episode now.


Timestamps:

00:00 Midlife awakening as unmapped territory

01:16 Aging, visibility, and grief for past identities

04:30 Rites of passage and communal transitions

08:13 Policy, culture shift, and public support

11:49 Government support for wisdom schools

13:06 Reflections on running for president

18:34 Midlife crisis vs chrysalis

19:14 Phase transition of society

21:31 Pattern recognition, memory, and wisdom

24:40 Teaching wisdom to younger generations

27:45 Family patterns, shadows, and generational conditioning

34:43 “Our deepest fear” and women’s empowerment

38:59 Cellular memory of witch burning

41:38 Sisterhood, bravery, and supporting each other

43:56 Re-inspiring midlife and visibility as women age

47:00 Presence, faith, and receiving life’s lessons

49:16 Chapter three as a crescendo

50:52 Midlife as a call to the soul

52:04 Wisdom bumper sticker


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#midlifeawakening #midlifecrisis #midlifewomen #agingwell #spiritualgrowth #womenswisdom #reinvention #mariannewilliamson #midlifetransformation #menopausejourney #mindfulnesspractice #lifepurpose #selfreinvention #modernelder #innerwisdom

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1 month ago
59 minutes 55 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Dan Buettner on Aging Smarter: The Real Secrets of Longevity

What if living to 100 is more realistic than you think?


Longevity expert Dan Buettner breaks down the real habits behind the world’s longest-living people, from food and movement to purpose, community, and stress relief. He explains why Americans age faster, what actually adds years to your life, and how simple daily choices can transform your future health.


A simple, science-backed path to your best chapter yet. Watch now.


Timestamps:

01:25 What society gets wrong about aging

04:05 Dan’s early life and big expeditions

06:33 Why anti-aging shortcuts don’t work

09:10 Proven habits for longevity

15:42 The alcohol debate and new research

18:56 Benefits of drinking moderately

21:29 Why 65 isn’t “old” anymore

25:02 What the US gets wrong about health

28:51 Processed food, inactivity, and social media

30:52 Blue Zones work in US cities

35:13 What’s happening in original Blue Zones

37:40 New insights for Dan’s next book

39:59 Dan’s divorce and midlife chrysalis

42:31 How Blue Zones became a concept

46:17 What Dan would regret not doing

48:45 Dan’s experience at MEA

51:07 Netflix series and frozen meals success

51:58 Wisdom bumper-sticker

55:19 The role of humility and aging

55:59 The need for a rite of passage at 50

56:19 Why midlife can be the best stage of life


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/



#BlueZones #Longevity #DanBuettner #HealthyAging #LiveLonger #HealthSpan #MidlifeChrysalis #AgingWell #LongevitySecrets #LiveTo100 #HealthyLiving #PurposefulLiving #HolisticHealth #LifestyleMedicine #Wellbeing

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1 month ago
1 hour 26 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Growing Whole: Why Midlife May Be the Best Time of Your Life

What if midlife is actually the start of your happiest years?


In this episode, Chip Conley and Derek Gehl break down why life often gets better after 50, from rising emotional intelligence and deeper wisdom to feeling more like your true self. Chip explains why “growing whole” matters more than “staying young,” how Carl Jung’s insights can reshape your mindset, and why a pro-aging outlook can change your health, relationships, and purpose.


If you want a fresh, hopeful take on midlife, don’t miss this conversation. Watch now.


Tune in, and take the quiz! 👇 https://chipconley.com/reasons-quiz/"The Midlife Checkup Quiz"

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday

03:12 Beauty of Santa Fe winters

03:15 Introducing Chip’s book

04:32 Growing whole as we grow older

06:31 Integrating all parts of ourselves

07:46 Stories about aging from Chip’s parents

09:18 Why Chip founded MEA

11:20 Midlife Checkup Quiz

12:07 Time affluence and midlife

14:29 Creating a pro-aging friend group

16:34 Closing thoughts


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


Which of the 12 Reasons Most or Least Resonates With You?

https://chipconley.com/reasons-quiz/ 



#MidlifeWisdom #ProAging #AgingWell #MidlifeGrowth #UCurveOfHappiness #EmotionalIntelligence #LifeAfter50 #MidlifeTransformation #HealthyAging #ChipConley #MidlifeMindset #PersonalGrowthJourney #WisdomWednesday #IdentityGrowth #MEACommunity

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1 month ago
16 minutes 59 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Don Lemon: Breaking Free, Speaking Truth, and Owning Midlife

What happens when Don Lemon gets truly unfiltered?

In this heartfelt, funny, and deeply honest conversation, Don opens up about aging with confidence, coming out in midlife, letting go of old shame, and the freedom that comes from no longer needing anyone’s approval. We talk about identity, love, sex, wisdom, and why his mantra “old people be knowing” captures the real gift of growing older.


Don also reflects on the state of media, the “prime” controversy, and how stepping away from traditional news helped him reclaim his voice and his joy. If you’re ready for truth, evolution, and a warm reminder that life after 50 can get better, tune in. Watch now.

Timestamps:

00:00 Chip’s episode opening

00:57 Don on aging and happiness

02:34 Don’s childhood and early years

03:38 Politics, Reagan, and identity

06:52 Dating while closeted

09:52 College years and social life

12:17 First gay bar experiences

16:20 Don’s coming-out story

19:47 Coming out publically in a book

21:41 Midlife chrysalis and confidence

25:10 What gets better with age

28:28 The “prime” controversy explained

34:07 State of media and independence

36:30 Politics, division, and future outlook

37:26 Don on never retiring

38:49 Possible regret 10 years from now

40:24 Don’s wisdom bumper sticker

43:543 Judy Garland and music icons

46:50 Chip’s reflections

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

Keywords:

#DonLemon #midlife #agingwell #lifeafter50 #midlifefreedom #midliferenaissance #comingoutstory #lgbtqstories #authenticitymatters #selfacceptance #personaltransformation #midlifewisdom #findingyourvoice #reinventyourlife #unfilteredconversation

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1 month ago
46 minutes 27 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Meghan Jarvis on Grief, Growth, and Finding Purpose in Midlife

Grief isn’t just an emotion, it’s energy that lives in the body until we face it.


I sit down with Meghan Jarvis, a trauma therapist and grief mentor who’s helped countless people find their way through loss. Meghan shares her own story of heartbreak, how grief and trauma intertwine, and the six simple practices she teaches to move that heavy energy through the body and back toward healing. We also talk about midlife transitions, why so many of us feel stuck, and how community can bring us back to life.


👉 Tune in for a real, hopeful conversation about what it truly means to grieve, heal, and grow.


Timestamps:

00:00 Childhood loss that led her to grief work

02:13 Uncovering long-buried trauma

06:02 What trauma teaches about safety and fear

09:29 Grief as energy moving through the body

11:07 How stored grief affects physical health

13:02 Losing her parents and lessons learned

17:29 Checking into treatment and finding purpose

19:32 The vagus nerve and how the body heals

22:19 Midlife transitions and hidden grief

24:18 Helping clients rewrite their stories

26:12 The six pillars of the Grief Mentor Method

31:11 Mindfulness, nourishment, and rituals for healing

39:13 Why midlife brings old losses back

42:21 Signs of unresolved grief

43:55 Finding meaning and joy after healing

47:43 MEA as a space for renewal

51:44 Meghan’s wisdom bumper sticker


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/


#MidlifeHealing #GriefJourney #EmotionalHealing #MeghanJarvis #LifeTransitions #MidlifeGrowth #HealingAfterLoss #MindBodyConnection #GriefSupport #TraumaRecovery #FindingPurpose #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeAwakening #MentalHealthAwareness #ChipConley

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1 month ago
1 hour 1 minute 33 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
Why Retirement Is Failing Us And What to Do Instead

What if everything you’ve believed about aging and retirement is wrong?


In this week’s Wisdom Wednesday, Chip and Derek dive into the surprising truth about aging. Why retirement often makes us less healthy, how community and purpose keep us alive longer, and why our “crystallized intelligence” actually gets stronger well into our 60s and 70s. They explore the real ingredients of a meaningful midlife, the magic of third-vault conversations, and the stories of people who’ve traded old scripts for more inspired lives.


If you’re ready to feel hopeful, energized, and a little more excited about the years ahead, watch the full episode.


Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:34 Welcome to Wisdom Wednesdays

01:43 The origins of age 65 retirement

02:59 How retirement affects lifespan

04:08 Fluid intelligence vs crystallized intelligence

06:01 What people need the most after 50

08:27 Chip’s own “mini retirement”

10:07 Rethinking the three-stage life

11:58 The litigator who became a baker

14:11 Keeping your options open

16:15 Changing habits by changing habitat

17:16 The concept of the third vault

20:12 Deeper conversations with aging

20:56 Episode wrap-up and closing remarks


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/



#midlifechrysalis #agingwell #longevitymindset #midlifetransformation #purposeafter50 #crystallizedintelligence #rethinkingretirement #healthyaging #midlifewisdom #lifepurpose #aginggracefully #lifestages #livingto100 #midlifecommunity #wisdomwednesdays

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1 month ago
22 minutes

The Midlife Chrysalis
Why Introverts Hold Hidden Strength | Susan Cain on Quiet Power

Ever wonder if slowing down might actually wake you up? In this episode, I sit down with Susan Cain, the bestselling author of Quiet and Bittersweet, to talk about the hidden strengths of introverts, the surprising beauty in melancholy, and why midlife can be the most creative and peaceful chapter of your life. We dig into what it really means to live with depth, authenticity, and joy, without the noise.


✨ Hit play and join us for a quiet conversation that might just change how you see yourself.


Timestamps:

00:18 The Quiet Life Community

01:23 Susan’s early career as a corporate lawyer

02:18 Realizing law wasn’t her path

03:25 The success of Quiet and its life-changing impact

06:09 Defining introversion and extroversion

09:43 Chip’s story: from introvert to social alchemist

11:35 Why people grow more introverted with age

13:24 Reputational confusion and being open

17:56 What is “Worktrovert”

20:17 Deeper happiness through the bittersweetness

23:05 Daily practices to balance beauty and melancholy

25:44 The power of remembering mortality

27:45 Chip’s near-death experience and slowing down

30:31 Slowing life down in midlife and releasing ambition

33:01 Leaving law and embracing a quiet, creative life

38:31 How awareness of death deepens appreciation for life

40:53 What Susan’s working on now

43:07 Liz Gilbert’s TED Talk and creative pressure

45:50 Susan’s advice for aspiring writers

49:41 Wisdom bumper sticker


Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/



#SusanCain #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #QuietLife #Introversion #Bittersweet #SelfDiscovery #MidlifeTransformation #EmotionalIntelligence #PersonalGrowth #QuietPower #LifeTransitions #MindfulLiving #AuthenticLife #CreativityAndCalm

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1 month ago
58 minutes 58 seconds

The Midlife Chrysalis
The Midlife Chrysalis is a one-hour podcast hosted by Chip Conley, bestselling author of Learning to Love Midlife and founder of MEA (Modern Elder Academy). Chip and his high-profile guests – including Maria Shriver, Hoda Kotb, Elizabeth Gilbert, Michael Franti, and more – dive into raw, vulnerable conversations about the profound transitions they’ve experienced in midlife. Listeners get a rare look at how even the most successful individuals have to navigate life’s pivotal changes – and gain practical wisdom they can apply in their own lives for a more fulfilling and purposeful next chapter.