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The Midlife Chrysalis

The Midlife Chrysalis

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

Oct 2, 2026 · 35m

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About this episode

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. To his surprise, his sense of contentment began to grow. Rauch is a journalist and the author of The Happiness Curve, The Constitution of Knowledge, and Cross Purposes. He joins Chip Conley to explore what his personal experience and research reveal about getting older, and why the future looks more troubling for younger adults. In this conversation: Why achievement does not always bring the happiness we expect Why life satisfaction often rises after 50, even through setbacks Why young adults’ loss of hope concerns Rauch Why…