Your best years are ahead of you.
Over 6,000+ alumni from 60 countries with 60 regional chapters around the world have attended our destination workshops and online programs to reimagine aging and create exciting and meaningful next chapters in midlife and beyond.
As seen in
Welcome to the world's first midlife wisdom school.
Our science-backed workshops and programs are designed to give you the tools, practices, and support to navigate midlife challenges and thrive in the second half of life.
Destination Workshops
MEA workshops help people in midlife find the clarity, inspiration, and fulfillment they crave. Our proven methodology was developed in collaboration with some of the world’s leading scholars and experts in midlife to help you to thrive as you navigate the challenges and opportunities that come in the second half of life.
3 types of destination workshops to choose from
Tuition starts at $3,000
Foundational
Foundational workshops introduce you to our proven MEA Method and give you evidence-based tools, practices, and support to help you navigate major life changes and find purpose and joy in midlife and beyond. Tuition starts at $3,000.
Tuition starts at $4,000
Thought Leaders
Thought Leader workshops feature respected subject matter experts sharing their knowledge and insight on the topics that matter most to us in midlife: leadership, health and longevity, relationships, purpose, and more. Tuition starts at $4,000.
Tuition starts at $5,000
Superluminaries
Superluminary workshops feature globally recognized business leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and icons sharing their wisdom and experience to help you unlock your ability to thrive in midlife and beyond. Tuition starts at $5,000.
Meet our incredible
guest faculty
Our Thought Leaders and Superluminaries include business leaders and entrepreneurs, artists and athletes, academics and spiritual seekers whose heart-inspired teachings are deeply aligned with our mission and values. We are delighted to offer our community the opportunity to learn from them in an intimate setting at one of our beautiful retreat centers in Baja and Santa Fe.
Our impressive roster of Thought Leaders and Superluminaries includes:
Elizabeth Gilbert
Author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic
Dr. Tererai Trent
Advocate for education & women’s empowerment
Michael Franti
Musician and award-winning documentarian
Maria Bello
Actor, activist, and author of Whatever… Love is Love
Arthur Brooks
Author of From Strength to Strength and The Second Mountain
Martha Beck
Author of The Way of Integrity and Finding Your Own North Star
Krista Tippett
Author and Peabody award-winning host of On Being
Michael Clinton
Author of ROAR: Into the Second Half of Your Life
Mark Nepo
Poet & Spiritual Adviser
Pico Iyer
Essayist, travel writer, and bestselling author
Karen Walrond
Author of The Radiant Rebellion
Anne Lamott
Novelist, essayist, and activist
Online programs & events
Enjoy the MEA experience in the comfort of your own home.
Our online programs, masterclasses, and other events offer a powerful introduction to our science-based teachings, tools, and practices so you can start putting them to work in your life right away.
Explore our online programs
Navigating
Midlife Transitions
A six-week program that gives you science-backed tools and practices to help you navigate the 40+ transitions we face in midlife – such as retirement, empty nesting, health issues, caregiving, and more
Cultivating
Purpose Online
An eight-week journey to help you cultivate purpose, reignite your passion and enthusiasm for life, and align your energy and attention with the things that matter most to you now.
Reframing
Retirement
A five-day bootcamp for recent or soon-to-be retirees that walks you through the process of laying the foundations for an exciting new chapter that brings you the joy, purpose, and meaning you crave.
What the heck is a
“Midlife Wisdom School”?
At MEA, we believe midlife isn't a crisis – it's a calling. Thanks to
advancements in health and quality of life, midlife now lasts decades
longer than it did a century ago. Our mission is to disrupt societal
beliefs around aging and help people in the second half of their lives
create the exciting, fulfilling, purpose-driven lives they crave.
Our “secret sauce” is the magic of our community.
People from all walks of life come to our workshops looking for tools and support and they leave with so much more: deep connections and camaraderie with other genuine, like-hearted individuals dedicated to showing up as their best selves and thriving in midlife.
Our methodology is backed by social science, proven by years of research and implementation
All of our workshops are built around our proven MEA Method, which has been designed in collaboration with academics from Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Yale, who have dedicated themselves to understanding modern midlife.
Together we have developed and refined experiential tools and practices that combine the social science of longevity and the art of intentional living to help people in midlife curate a second half of life that’s as joyful, exciting, and meaningful as it is long.
Our MEA core curriculum is divided into three key pillars
Navigating
Transitions
For anyone who's going through midlife upheaval and looking for tools and practices to roll with the changes and step into your next chapter with confidence and joy.
Cultivating
Purpose
For anyone who’s feeling directionless or unmotivated and yearning for greater meaning and fulfillment and to align their lives with the things that matter most.
Owning
Wisdom
For anyone who wants to elevate their understanding about life, the universe, and everything and create a legacy of lasting impact.
Explore our campuses
Baja, Mexico
El Pescadero Resort
A stunning oceanfront property offering all of the luxuries and amenities of a luxury hotel with beautiful beaches perfect for swimming or surfing. Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, just a short drive from Todos Santos, the Pueblo Magico .
Santa Fe, USA
Rising Circle Ranch
An upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and spanning nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails, winding arroyos, ancient petroglyphs, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
MEA in the press
As seen in
How I See It: Chip Conley – on Near-Death Experiences and founding MEA
MIDLIFE MALE – Getting to know Chip, having him on the podcast, and spending time at the Modern Elder Academy, was one of my favorite experiences—getting out of my comfort zone and coming out better on the other side.
Bright Ideas in Travel 2024
CONDÉ NAST – The first Blue Zones Retreats were held this June at the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) in Baja California Sur and at Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo.
6 Vacations That Could Help You Live Longer and Healthier
NY Times | All-inclusive retreats around the world aim to cultivate wellness and longevity through high-tech tests, “biohacking” treatments, meditation, breath work and more.
What we get wrong about our midlives on NPR
NPR | When most people think of a midlife crisis, they picture a man in his 50s dating a younger woman and buying a sports car. But what does this depiction of midlife get wrong and who gets left behind by this narrative? What changes actually take place during our midlives?
This Is the Biggest Trend in Luxury Travel—And It May Help You Live Longer
SUNSET MAGAZINE | No longer is health simply skin deep. There’s been an industry-wide shift in what consumers expect from wellness, and that trickles down to travel. Gone are the days of a spa treatment or a simple juice cleanse detox retreat being sufficient. The new luxury is longevity.
How to Love Midlife: 12 Ways Life Gets Better with Age – Good Life Project Podcast
GOOD LIFE PROJECT | In today’s conversation, Chip walks us through 12 critical insights backed by science and stories that help you not only overcome challenges but also thrive authentically as you navigate midlife and beyond.
Get Weekly Wisdom that just might change your life
Subscribe to our free Wisdom Weekly newsletter and receive insightful articles and news related to thriving in midlife.
Meet
our alumni
Our alumni come from all professions and walks of life – from entrepreneurs, business leaders, and academics to professional athletes, artists, and activists.
Just go in with no expectations because something will happen—a transformation, an opening, or an understanding.
The campus is gorgeous—like, really gorgeous—and that alone just felt so soothing.
I felt this deeper sense of family there that was just really beautiful. The connecting that all of us did that week was so healing for me.
You get to share your gift, and when you share, it comes bouncing back at you. For me, it’s laughter—imagine what it’s like to have waves of laughter bouncing back at you.
We’re still friends. It’s our tribe, and we’re always communicating. It’s like an extension of a family, and that’s the beauty of it.
I’ve embraced the concept of a pro-aging and growth mindset—together it’s the best bridge for a contented, fulfilled, peaceful, purposeful older age.
It was a really magical week. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but my heart and soul knew that that’s where I should be.
Baja is an exquisite place with exquisite people. No one said to me, ‘What do you do?’ It’s really about who you are.
When you leave, you’ll feel transformed in some way or another.
Association for Growth and Education
Did you know that nearly half of MEA workshop attendees are scholarship recipients?
At MEA, we’re deeply committed to diversity and inclusion – and ensuring that our workshops are accessible to everyone navigating midlife, regardless of their financial situation. Through our associated nonprofit, AGE, we strive to remove barriers and help people see midlife as a time of aspiration and growth, rather than a challenge. Your support makes this possible. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the MEA Scholarship Fund to help us continue this vital work.