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The Midlife Chrysalis: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Chip Conley
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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- 2 days ago51 min
Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife You Love with Allison Aubrey
You’ve spent years building a career, caring for others, and doing what’s expected. Midlife is your chance to ask: Who am I now, and what do I want next?NPR health and science journalist Allison Aubrey joins Chip Conley to explore how to create a midlife you love. Drawing on her book, Your Turn, she shares practical ways to find more joy, care for your health, and decide what comes next.You’ll learn:How to reinvent yourself without starting overWhy slowing down helps you hear what you really wantHow to rethink retirement around what you enjoyHow the Brain Care Score can guide healthier habitsWhy finding purpose doesn’t require a big life changeWatch the full conversation for a fresh look at midlife and the possibilities ahead.Timestamps: Meet Allison Aubrey Food as Medicine The Value of Midlife Wisdom Creating a Midlife You Love The Kentucky Derby Midlife Metaphor Reinventing Yourself Through Play Finding the Courage to Change Allison’s Career Transition Menopause and Changing Priorities Rethinking Retirement The Brain Care Score Finding Purpose in Everyday Life Rediscovering Your Joyful SelfLearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/#Midlife #AllisonAubrey #ChipConley #YourTurn #MidlifeChrysalis #MidlifeReinvention #LifeAfter50 #HealthyAging #FindingPurpose #SelfDiscovery #BrainHealth #Menopause #RethinkingRetirement #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeTransitions
- 4 days ago21 min
AI Can Save You Time. Is It Costing You Your Creativity?
AI can save you hours. But are you handing over more than your workload?In this Wisdom Wednesday episode of the Midlife Chrysalis podcast, Chip Conley and Derek Gehl explore how to use AI without losing your voice, creativity, or judgment.Together, they discuss:How they use AI to save time on research and everyday workWhy polished writing can lose the personality that makes it yoursHow outsourcing your thinking can mean missing opportunities to learnWhat makes your skills and experience valuable in the AI eraA simple experiment to decide which tasks to keep doing yourselfWatch the full episode to discover where AI can help and where your human experience matters most.Timestamps: Introduction Will AI Change Everything? Use AI Without Letting It Think for You How Chip Uses AI to Save Time Is AI Making Us Less Creative? Why Human Content Still Matters What AI Misses About Human Wisdom Finding Your Place in an AI World Why Human Connection Will Matter More What You Should Never Outsource to AILearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanConnection #FutureOfWork #CriticalThinking #HumanCreativity #AIProductivity #Midlife #ChipConley #WisdomWednesday #HumanWisdom #Authenticity #CareerReinvention #LifelongLearning #MidlifeChrysalis
- 6 days ago47 min
You Have a Book in You. Here’s How to Finally Write It | Kelly Notaras
That book you’ve been meaning to write isn’t going to write itself. And according to publishing expert Kelly Notaras, you don’t need a perfect plan, a polished first chapter, or even a publisher to get started.Kelly, founder of KN Literary Arts and author of The Book You Were Born to Write, has helped nearly 3,000 authors bring their ideas to the page. In this conversation, she shares what decades in publishing have taught her about writing, creativity, and getting a book into the world.In this episode, Kelly shares:Why midlife can be a powerful time to finally write the book you’ve been carryingThe three things publishers are looking for from authors todayWhy self publishing is no longer Plan B and can actually open doors to traditional publishingHow perfectionism keeps writers stuck and why the first draft needs to be messyWhy finding the right time, space, and people to write with can transform your creative processIf there’s a book you keep telling yourself you’ll write someday, this conversation is a great place to start.Watch the full episode and discover how to stop waiting and start writing.Timestamps: Kelly’s Journey Into Publishing Leaving Traditional Publishing Working With 3,000 Authors What Publishers Look for Today Traditional vs. Self-Publishing The Best Way to Self-Publish Why Midlife Is the Perfect Time to Write How to Create Your Best Writing Inside a Writing Retreat Turning Life Experience Into a Book The Most Important Lesson Kelly Learned Don’t Just Do Something, Sit ThereLearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/#WritingABook #MidlifeWriting #BookWriting #WritingTips #AspiringAuthors #SelfPublishing #PublishingTips #CreativeWriting #WritingInMidlife #BookPublishing #KellyNotaras #KNLiteraryArts #MidlifeCreativity #FirstDraft #MidlifeChrysalis
- 1 weeks ago50 min
Stop Chasing Happiness: Find Joy in the Life You Have | Mark Coleman & Lori Schwanbeck
You can spend years chasing happiness and miss the life happening right in front of you.In this episode of The Midlife Chrysalis, Chip Conley joins mindfulness teachers Mark Coleman and Lori Schwanbeck to explore how to feel more present, connected, and fully alive in midlife.Together, they explore:How changing what you pay attention to can change your experience of lifeWhy nature makes mindfulness easier and teaches us to let goHow gratitude helps you appreciate your life, even when things are hardWhy midlife’s losses and transitions can open the door to new possibilitiesHow to quiet your inner critic and recognize your own worthWatch the full episode for simple ways to step out of your head, reconnect with the world around you, and find more joy in the life you have.Timestamps: Meet Mark and Lori Lori’s Path to Mindfulness From Punk Rock to Meditation Finding Peace in the Present How to Reframe Your Thoughts Mindfulness in a Distracted World Why Nature Helps Us Slow Down Making Meditation Easier Outdoors Why Midlife Sparks Inner Change Facing Mortality and Loss Psychedelics and New Possibilities Gratitude and Nature in Baja Making Gratitude a Daily Practice Gratitude Versus Gratification Remembering to Fully Live Making Peace with Your Inner CriticLearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/#MidlifeChrysalis #ChipConley #MarkColeman #LoriSchwanbeck #Mindfulness #Midlife #MidlifeTransition #NatureMeditation #Gratitude #MindfulLiving #LettingGo #SelfCompassion #InnerCritic #PersonalGrowth #FindingJoy
- 1 weeks ago15 min
Dreading the Holidays? Create Traditions You Actually Enjoy
The kids have moved out. Family gatherings feel complicated. Suddenly, the holidays you used to love leave you wondering where you belong.In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, MEA founder Chip Conley joins host Derek Gehl to explore why holidays change in midlife and how new traditions can bring back a sense of connection.Discover how to:Build celebrations around people you genuinely want to spend time with.Embrace Friendsgiving without the guilt of breaking with tradition.Find friendship and a fresh start through a holiday retreat.Plan a meaningful gathering without taking on all the work.Watch now for inspiration to make this holiday season feel more connected, more joyful, and more your own.Timestamps: Introduction How Holidays Change in Midlife Loneliness and Chosen Family Choosing Friendsgiving Over Family Drama Creating a New Year’s Tradition Holiday Retreats in Santa Fe and Baja Finding Connection During the Holidays Choosing Your Friendsgiving Guests Planning Ahead for the Holidays Making Holiday Gatherings Easier Upcoming Thanksgiving WorkshopsLearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/#Midlife #Holidays #Friendsgiving #ChosenFamily #HolidayLoneliness #NewTraditions #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #HolidayStress #Connection #Thanksgiving #FamilyDynamics #HolidayRetreats #MeaningfulHolidays #MEA
- 1 weeks ago43 min
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, and making time for what matters most.In this episode of The Midlife Chrysalis, John joins Chip Conley for a warm, candid conversation about leading with heart, making tough decisions, and building a meaningful life. He shares:How to hold people accountable while treating them with care.Why strong teams say the things everyone is thinking.How to turn your experience into a coaching career in midlife.Why revisiting your priorities matters in both work and marriage.How curiosity and gratitude keep life rich at any age.Watch for practical wisdom on becoming a better leader and making more room for the people who matter to you.Timestamps: Meet John Baird Rethinking Work, Marriage, and Family Coaching Leaders at Apple Steve Jobs’ Leadership After His Return Honest Feedback and Stronger Teams Leading with Heart and Toughness Seven Habits of Tough Leadership Helping Intel Navigate Change Finding Purpose at 82 Becoming a Coach in Midlife Measuring Coaching Results Do You Need Coaching Credentials? Questions That Turn Insight into Action Curiosity, Gratitude, and Difficult ConversationsLearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/#JohnBaird #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadingWithHeart #ToughEnough #DifficultConversations #EmpatheticLeadership #SteveJobs #AppleLeadership #MidlifeReinvention #PurposefulLiving #PersonalGrowth #LifelongLearning
- 2 weeks ago47 min
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 you.Author and Omega Institute cofounder Elizabeth Lesser joins Chip Conley to explore how divorce, loss, and aging can deepen our lives without hardening our hearts. Drawing on her books Broken Open and the forthcoming Stay Open, she shares insights on how to:Find new possibilities when your old life falls apart.Question the stories that keep you apart from people you love.Make room for joy and grief at the same time.Meet your aging body with kindness and care.Stay open while holding healthy boundaries.Join Chip and Elizabeth for a heartfelt conversation about what it takes to stay soft, stay curious, and keep growing through life’s changes.Timestamps: What Is the Soul? Let Your Soul Lead in Midlife When Life Breaks You Open The Stories That Keep Us Apart How to Have Difficult Conversations How to Stay Open When Life Is Hard Finding Beauty Alongside the Pain Growing Older, Becoming More Whole What Gets Better With Age How Omega Institute Began Behind the Scenes of a Retreat Center Do No Harm, but Take No ShitLearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/Check out Chip's Celebrating Life's Wisdom Oct 25-29 2026 workshop: https://www.meawisdom.com/celebrate#ElizabethLesser #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #BrokenOpen #StayOpen #OmegaInstitute #MidlifeTransformation #HealthyAging #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalHealing #SpiritualGrowth #Relationships #GriefAndLoss #SelfCompassion #Boundaries
- 2 weeks ago27 min
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 Conley joins Derek Gehl for a deeply personal conversation about facing all three. Drawing on his upcoming book, The Art of the Reframe, Chip shares how he’s finding a way forward without pretending the pain isn’t real.You’ll discover how to:Feel the grief before trying to find the silver lining.Separate what happened from the story you tell yourself about it.Rethink the belief that a marriage ending means it failed.Find new possibilities through a simple reframing practice.Build deeper friendships by opening up about what’s really going on.Watch for an honest conversation about loss, love, and changing your perspective when you can’t change your circumstances.Timestamps: The Art of the Reframe When Life Changes All at Once Reframing Without Ignoring Grief Letting Yourself Feel Understanding Your Frame Rethinking Love and Connection Breaking Free from Feeling Stuck Routines, Rituals and New Perspectives Deeper Friendships and Honest Conversations Men, Vulnerability and Emotional Support A Simple Reframing Practice Psychedelics and Changing Perspective Learning to Let GoLearn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/The Art of the Reframe PRE-SALE: http://meawisdom.com/reframebook #ChipConley #DerekGehl #WisdomWednesday #MidlifeChrysalis #TheArtOfTheReframe #ModernElderAcademy #Reframing #MidlifeTransitions #LifeTransitions #NavigatingGrief #MarriageEnding #EmotionalResilience #FeelingStuck #ToxicPositivity #MaleVulnerability
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About 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.
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