The Midlife Chrysalis

How to Lead with Heart and Still Make Tough Calls | John Baird

The hardest conversations are often the ones that help us grow. John Baird has spent 30 years coaching leaders at Apple. At 82, he’s still coaching, trying new things, a

Will Life Break You Open or Close You Off? | Elizabeth Lesser

After everything you’ve been through, keeping your heart open can feel like a lot to ask. But there’s still room for connection, beauty, and a life that feels more like y

When Everything Hits at Once: The Art of the Reframe

“Stay positive” can feel hollow when cancer returns, someone you love dies, and your marriage is ending. In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, MEA founder and author Chip Co

He Built the Green Building Movement. Then His Life Fell Apart | David Gottfried

You can build a successful life and still reach a point where you need to rebuild yourself. In this episode, Chip Conley sits down with David Gottfried, co-founder of th

Are You in Love With the Past or Trapped by It? | Juan Pablo Di Pace

Your first love can stay with you for decades. So can the story you keep telling yourself about it. Actor and filmmaker Juan Pablo Di Pace joins Chip Conley for a person

MEA Film Fest: Come for the Movies, Stay for the Connections

Watch a great film, then share dinner with the person who made it. That’s the spirit of the MEA Film Fest, where stories on screen spark conversations and connections in

From Nike CEO to Starting Over at 65: John Donahoe’s Reinvention

After decades at the top, John Donahoe found himself starting over at 65. John has led eBay, ServiceNow, and Nike. But some of his most important lessons came from burno

When the Life You Built Is No Longer Enough | Caroline Myss

Midlife can feel like the life you built suddenly stops fitting. Caroline Myss believes there’s a deeper reason: this is when the soul begins asking something different o

What If the Life You Built Isn’t the Life You Want?

You’ve built a life that looks successful. Yet the things you worked so hard for may no longer be what you want next. In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, MEA founder Chip

He Died 11 Years Ago. Their Relationship Never Ended. | Lucy Kalanithi

Eleven years after losing her husband, the pain has changed. The love hasn’t. Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, physician and widow of Paul Kalanithi, author of When Breath Becomes Ai

Why Life Can Get Harder and Happier After 50 | Jonathan Rauch

Jonathan Rauch had reached the top of his career, yet each year he felt less satisfied. Then came the loss of his parents, his job, and a startup he had tried to build. T

The Hardest Leadership Lesson: Let Someone Else Be the Hero

Being the person who saves the day feels good. But letting someone else do it can make you a better leader. MEA founder Chip Conley joins Derek Gehl to talk about one of

What Changes When You Finally Let Go of Control? | Thomas DeLong

Success can look impressive on a résumé and still leave you wondering who you really are. At 76, Harvard Business School professor and former Morgan Stanley executive Th

Let Life Lead: A Different Way to Navigate Midlife | Nic Askew

Sometimes the most powerful way forward begins by doing less. Filmmaker Nic Askew has spent more than two decades capturing what happens when people stop performing and

Be Useful, Not Youthful: The Secret to Aging Well

At some point in midlife, achievement stops being enough. The titles matter less, the phone may stop ringing, and the question becomes: where does your value come from no

Can Your Beliefs Actually Change How You Age? | Shawn Achor

We’re taught to expect decline as we get older. But the science tells a far more hopeful story. In this episode, bestselling author and positive psychology expert Shawn

He Spent 10 Years Filming the World’s Oldest People | Sam Green

What can the world’s oldest people teach us about time, aging, and being alive? Academy Award nominated filmmaker Sam Green spent 10 years filming people who held the ti

Why Birthdays Matter More as We Get Older

Why do we celebrate birthdays as kids, then slowly stop celebrating ourselves as we get older? In this episode of The Midlife Chrysalis, Chip Conley joins Derek Gehl for

Surfing at 87, Writing at 91: James Flaherty’s Rules for Life

At 91, James Flaherty isn’t slowing down. He’s still writing, creating, learning, and planning what comes next. A former advertising executive, entrepreneur, innkeeper,

From Role to Soul: Who Are You Without What You Do? | Connie Zweig

Aging isn’t just about getting older. It’s about discovering who you are when the roles that once defined you begin to fall away. In this episode, Chip Conley sits down