As a child of two Type-A parents, Chip Conley had his success script written for him. But deep down he knew he was destined to write his own story. 

Today, Chip is the bestselling author and thought leader at the intersection of psychology and business. Having founded the Joie de Vivre hotel chain, of which he was CEO for almost 24 years, he then sold the company and became an advisor to the founders of Airbnb, before founding the Modern Elder Academy, which he describes as the world’s first midlife wisdom school.

“I had this epiphany, which was, why do we not have midlife wisdom schools, places where people can go and reimagine and repurpose themselves in midlife, because if we're living longer, and people are often staying in the workplace longer by choice and necessity, we need places where people can do a midlife pitstop.”

In this episode, Chip talks about his life trajectory and the things that make him happy, (including the things that can make all of us happy). He also discusses what it means to be a modern elder, and how having insight changes everything.

“I don't call the midlife crisis a crisis anymore. I call it the midlife chrysalis. Because midlife for a butterfly is the chrysalis. And it is in that dark, gooey space, that the transformation happens between caterpillar and butterfly.”

On today’s podcast:

Links:

• https://chipconley.com/

Shep Gordon, legendary talent manager of multiple household names from Alice Cooper to Luther Vandross, isn’t actually passionate about music. Despite having managed Alice since 1968, what drives Shep isn’t money, but of being of service to others. 

In this part two episode of Into The Magic Shop, Shep recalls meeting the Dalai Lama for the first time: 

“We went to see his holiness, I got backstage, and I'll never forget the door opened and he walked in the room and I felt like I had taken the best shower of my life. Like I'd never been that clean ever in my whole life.”

What makes a life is caring for others, says Shep, being of service, being non-judgemental, and forgiving. That’s the source of real happiness. And the happiest people, says Shep, have a mentor. For Shep, his mentor was the pioneering chef of Nouveau Cuisine, Roger Vergé; a man Shep credits for changing his life. 

“I think everyone has something to offer to another person. And that's the message at the end of our conversation; everybody has the capacity to be a mentor. It's something you can do. And while it will take time, the joy you receive from that is extraordinarily profound.”

On today’s podcast:

Shep Gordon is a legendary talent manager (he manages Alice Cooper and has done since 1968), film agent, producer, and was the subject of Mike Myers’ directorial debut, the 2013 documentary, Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon. 

As well as managing household names such as Blondie, Eddie Pendergrast, Luther Vandross, to name but a few, the other thing to know about Shep is that he was (according to Emeril Lagasse) single-handedly responsible for creating the concept of ‘celebrity chef’. 

But, says Shep, none of this was by chance, his destiny was the result of taking action, of using a bit of knowledge and compassion where he could, to get to where he wanted to go. And considering he’s cooked for the Dalai Lama, and credits as his mentor (and the man who changed his life), renowned chef, Roger Vergé, he’s definitely gone far. 

From writing Buffalo, NY, history while high, to microdosing, to making Alice Cooper a global superstar, don’t miss Shep Gordon’s story, in his own words, on this episode of Into The Magic Shop. 

“I used to look every client in the eye and I'd say, if I do my job perfectly, I will probably kill you. Luckily for you, I'm not perfect. But I'm really good. So you will be maimed. That's the price, you're going to pay for this. You are going to be maimed. And they all laugh. But they all got maimed.”

On today’s podcast:

In 1971, Dr. Phil Zimbardo, a new professor at Stanford University, decided to do an experimental two-week study in which he put good people in bad places. This (now) infamous study is known globally as The Stanford Prison Project. 

“[We] walked them down to the basement where the prison was, and then stripped them naked and took off the blindfold. The first thing they see is themselves, we had a big mirror for this reason, and they see themselves standing helpless and naked. And [the ‘guards’] say: Welcome to Stanford Prison.” 

Volunteer students were assigned the role of either prisoner or guard - a role about which they knew nothing. The experiment didn’t last the two weeks; Phil ended it after just six days when five of the prisoners had broken down. 

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, Phil explains why this first-of-its-kind experiment was so insightful in revealing how easily intelligent participants can change their perception and mentality simply as a result of the social situation they’re in. 

To find out more, download and listen to this latest episode.

On today’s podcast:

Every single one of us has the ability to be a hero every day, says extraordinary psychologist and Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, Dr. Phil Zimbardo, who is most well known for what's been described as the Stanford Prison Experiment.

More recently, Phil has founded a nonprofit - The Heroic Imagination Project, where he works tirelessly to promote compassion in the world. 

“Simply put, a hero is someone who comes to the aid of someone else in need. It could be by giving money, but typically it's helping somebody who's been in an accident, or who has some sudden medical problem that needs to be taken to the hospital.”

In part one of this episode of Into The Magic Shop, Phil talks about his extraordinary career, the work that he continues to do, and the reality that within all of us is the ability to be kind and compassionate, not only towards ourselves but others as well, and how each of us has the ability to live a more compassionate life. 

To find out more, download and listen today. 

On today’s podcast:

The current healthcare system is failing everyone, says practicing neurosurgeon and author of Grief Connects Us, Dr Joseph Stern (Jody). We need to reimagine how healthcare is delivered. 

Having experienced the grief of losing his sister and her husband, and seeing what the healthcare system is like as a patient: how terrified people are, how in need of help, assistance, and support they are, Jody has made it his mission to treat patients with kindness and compassion.

“I feel that the compassion part is the key part. And if you start with that, you have better care, more satisfied patients, healthier patients, happier doctors, and happier systems.”

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, Jody explains why learning to connect to emotions makes you a better doctor, why the idea of perfection among neurosurgeons is dangerous, and why grief is a universal truth and experience that we all share, no matter who you are. 

“We all need each other, we all need that support, we need that kindness. And the only way to start to change how we do things, how we treat each other, how we interact, is to have that level of kindness.”

To find out more, download and listen to Jody.

On today’s podcast:

Links:

• Joseph Stern - Grief Connects Us: A Neurosurgeon's Lessons On Love, Loss And Compassion

How can you prepare for death? While it’s hard to live every day like it’s your last, try and keep regrets to a minimum, advises Dr. BJ Miller, a palliative care physician and a leading voice reframing society's discourse on the field of death and dying. 

“When you love someone, tell them, act on it. When you want to learn something, go learn it, don't continually put things off. That sort of deferred gratification that we do in the name of discipline can catch up with us in a harsh way.”

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, BJ answers questions from the audience about how to prepare for death: from saving money for death, to wrapping your head around it’s the end of your life - but not life itself. He also discusses why compassion can make you a better caregiver, and how to get involved in the field of palliative care when you don’t have a medical background. 

“To me, design thinking is if we see illness and death as an experience, well, then we get to create for it and condition it… and your mission, your work, is to be a force in this world that helps people suffer less and love more.”

To find out more, download and listen today.

On today’s podcast:

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How do you think about death? Dr. BJ Miller is a palliative care physician who invites us to think about and discuss the end of our lives with the lens of a mindful human-centered model of care, one that embraces dying not as a medical event, but rather as a universally shared life experience. 

“By roping death into your worldview, into your frame of reality, not the opposite of your reality, not the antithesis of your life, but part of it. When you accommodate it, it becomes less frightening. And you tend to live much more richly and potently.”

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, BJ shares his backstory and why it has so strongly informed his present story. He explains why some people can die before they actually die, the power and importance of joy and compassion, the issue with the West’s focus on illness rather than wellness, and why preparing for death helps you live a fuller life.

“It's a beautiful thing to behold and it doesn't necessarily have to look like peace, but the trick is those who have done their homework, I guess the bottom line is they don't hate themselves for dying.”

To find out more, download and listen today.

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How can you be more compassionate? James Kirby is a lecturer and a clinical psychologist at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, he's also been a fellow at the Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, but more importantly, he does incredible research in the area of compassion.

“If we choose compassion, we're choosing to try to be helpful to someone, or ourselves. We're choosing to help ourselves in a way that will make things slightly easier.”

James has also recently published a book called Choose Compassion: Why It Matters and How It Works, and in this episode of Into The Magic Shop, he debunks the myth that compassion is simply a feeling and shows us how compassion is a motivational force with a physiological impact, and that it can not only shape our behavior, but it can impact our relationships with others, and ultimately change the world. He also explains how you can bring a little compassion into your everyday life. 

“Nothing is more powerful than when you have helped another person and you're reminded of it. It makes you feel so good. And when you think about those types of feelings, it can add more motivation to your future actions.”

To learn more, download and listen today.

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Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a globally registered spiritual and humanitarian who has spearheaded an unprecedented worldwide movement to create a stress-free and violence-free society. 

“Compassion needs two attendants with it all the time. One attendant is wisdom. The other attendant must be detachment. If any one of these is lacking, compassion will suffer itself. Misplaced compassion is no good.  And compassion without detachment is not [compassion].”

In this second part of the conversation with Sri Sri, he takes questions from the audience such as: how can you transition from one kind of compassion to another? Can you have spirituality in the absence of faith in a higher power? Why are breathing techniques so impactful on mindset? How can we find compassion to connect us all? And what can we teach our kids about compassion to reduce the number of shootings on school campuses?

“If we teach children how to control their anger, their aggression, begin with the little glimpses of meditation, short 1, 5, 10 minutes of meditation, you empower them, you let them have the power over their own raging emotions.”

This is a wide-ranging, truly insightful discussion, download and listen today. 

On today’s podcast: