My Inspirement

What does it actually take to build an intentional community from the ground up; and what does life really look like once you're living in one?In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn sits down with Jeff Hamaoui, co-founder of Modern Elder Academy and the visionary developer behind Baja Sage — a 26-home regenerative community in Pescadero, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Joining the conversation are two Sage residents, professor and facilitator Barbara Tint and entrepreneur Chris Harman, who share what drew them to this bold community experiment and what they've discovered on the other side.Jeff opens up about the years-long journey from concept to community — navigating local government, COVID, regenerative farming, and the deep social architecture required to turn a beautiful piece of land into a place people truly call home. His honest takeaway? Building the physical space is just the beginning. The real work is everything that comes after.You'll learn:How Baja Sage was designed around regenerative farming and intentional densityWhy co-living communities require social infrastructure, not just beautiful real estateWhat drew residents Barbara and Chris to choose community over conventional homeownershipHow COVID accelerated the dream of intentional living for so manyA simple weekly habit that turns neighbors into lifelong friendsWhy social wellness and community may add years — even decades — to your lifeWhat you need to be radically honest about before buying into or building a communityPerfect for: anyone exploring intentional communities, co-housing in Mexico, regenerative living, aging in community, or alternatives to traditional retirement living.Resources mentioned:Jeff Hamaoui’s upcoming book Friending (2027)meawisdom.com | myinspirement.orgEpisode Chapters00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to Baja Sage04:00 — Jeff’s Origin Story: From San Francisco to Baja08:00 — Designing an Intentional Community with Regenerative Farming13:00 — COVID, Doubt, and the Moment Everything Almost Fell Apart17:00 — Who Chooses the Sage Life? The Invisible Thread22:00 — Meet the Neighbors: Barbara Tint's Story28:00 — Chris Harman: A Real Estate Background Meets Community Vision34:00 — What Surprised Everyone Most About Living at Sage40:00 — Healthcare, Aging & Wraparound Care in Community45:00 — The Pink Flamingo Ritual & Building Open Communications Culture50:00 — What You Need to Know Before Saying Yes to Community LivingThis podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at Sunkissed Group and Danielle Cohn. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp.

Chip Conley on Reinventing Midlife Housing: MEA Communities, Golden Girls Co-Living & the Future of Aging WellChip Conley, founder of Modern Elder Academy (MEA) and hospitality pioneer, joins his good friend and host Danielle Cohn on the first episode of the My Inspirement Podcast to share how MEA is reimagining where and how people age — through intentional transitional learning, and experimenting with community living, co-housing models, and alternatives to traditional senior housing.With nearly 9,000 MEA alumni across 60 countries that participate in their mid-life programs, Chip unpacks the science behind the U-curve of happiness, Becca Levy's Yale research showing a positive aging mindset adds 7.5 years to your life, and why the concept of the "modern elder" is redefining what it means to thrive in your 50s, 60s, and beyond.Chip walks us through MEA's new bold housing experiments — from Baja Sage, a 26-home community built alongside a regenerative farm in Baja California Sur Mexico, to Santa Fe “Golden Girls” shared rental homes for women 45+, and tiny and fractional-owned homes on both campuses. He discusses the real challenges of community governance, how to "taste test" co-living before committing, and why building community — not just transactions in real estate — is the missing middle in retirement housing.You'll learn:Why intentional shared communities may outperform traditional retirement communities for social wellness and reducing cost of livingThe various models that MEA Homes is experimenting with from fractional seaside homes to “Golden Girls” ranch rental or tiny homes ownership modelsHow coliving and aging well intersectHow MEA is thinking about shared care in the future similar to a boutique niche hotelHow any community can weave in more intentional activities to thrive togetherPerfect for: anyone exploring more affordable lifestyle, co-living communities, aging in community, alternatives to retirement housing options, or conscious aging resources.Resources: meawisdom.com | myinspirement.orgEpisode Chapters00:00 — Chip Conley, Modern Elder Academy & the Midlife Chrysalis04:56 — How Baja Sage Community Was Created05:59 — Golden Girls Co-Housing Models Explained07:55 — Insights from the Golden Girls Housing Workshop11:00 — The Missing Middle in Retirement & Senior Housing12:03 — Building Community Over Real Estate Transactions14:03 — The Future of Senior Living & Intentional Communities16:03 — Social Wellness, Resources & Next Steps