2024 Conference
Join us October 25-27, 2024 in Rockport, Maine for our 2nd annual conference.
Friday, October 25
Keynote: The potential Power of Transformation in Midlife
In her keynote address, Carrie Levine will guide attendees on a reflective journey through the arc of their lives. Drawing on her extensive experience as a certified nurse midwife and functional medicine practitioner, Carrie will encourage participants to consider all experiences – physical, emotional, and spiritual – that have landed them here. By exploring the question "how can I allow this time of life to transform me?", she will inspire attendees to envision their midlife journey and identify areas of their lives deserving of attention. Carrie will emphasize the importance of moving toward authenticity as a key to navigating midlife with confidence and purpose.
Friday, October 25
5-6 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
Carrie Levine
Cocktail Party
Join us for an intimate gathering at one of Camden's most iconic hotels, the Norumbega Inn. Enjoy light fare and cash bar drinks in the hotel's cozy and elegant living room. This is an opportunity to get to know your fellow conference attendees better, relax and unwind after a full day of programming.
Friday, October 25
6:30-8:30 PM
The Norumbega
Camden, ME
Saturday, October 26
SELF-COMPASSION IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
“Amidst the constant noise of social media and the urgency of the attention economy, let self-compassion be our buffer, as we come home to ourselves."
Thekla will be speaking with acclaimed Mental Health brand strategist from YouTube, Kit Hayes.
Saturday, October 26
9-10 AM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
THEKLA BRUMDER-ROSS
Kit Hayes
Strategic Coach, ex-YouTube Mental Health Lead
WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE SOME DAY; LET’S DIE-A-LOG ABOUT IT!
Most of us are rookies when it comes to talking about the thing we have in common — that we’re ALL going to die. Laura Cleminson, death doula and founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club, will share insights and ideas on how to initiate discussions (or die-a-logues, as she likes to say!) about death, dying and end-of-life to open tender lines of communication before it’s too late.
Saturday, October 26
10-11 AM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
LAURA CLEMINSON
Death Doula, founder of The Pre-Dead Social Club
BREAK
Saturday, October 26
11-11:20 AM
Intro to Cold Dipping
What’s with the cold dipping craze?! Melissa Hall, co-founder of the local cold dipping crew, The Wicked Nippy Dippahs, shares with all of us what inspires her to take to the frigid Atlantic waters every winter, what scientific benefits cold water immersion can offer us in middle age, and a preview of what to expect this afternoon when we jump in Rockport Harbor!
Saturday, October 26
11:20-11:30 AM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
Melissa Hall
HOW TO DRESS FOR MIDDLE AGE
Too old for streetwear, too young for Coastal Grandma, and contending with the reality of a burgeoning dad or mom bod—how on earth are you supposed to dress your age when you're neither young nor old, you're just, mid? Style critic and journalist Aaron Britt will lead a fun, lighthearted discussion of our changing bodies, shifting aesthetics, and sense of style in post-pandemic Maine, where hard pants and high heels can feel like they're being kept alive on a respirator. In a lively, interactive, grab-you-by-your-lapels conversation, Kazeem will explore how style curators Kazeem Lawal and Eliza Collins-Leavitt dress throughout their lives and offer advice on connecting to your own personal style today.
Saturday, October 26
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
AARON BRITT
Kazeem Lawal
Eliza Collins-Leavitt
THE VALUE OF TRYING NEW THINGS AS WE AGE
While routines can be comforting, sometimes we crave adventure to keep things fresh. Maybe you’ve noticed a desire for more spontaneity or a nudge to step outside your comfort zone. How can we embrace those feelings? Can we learn to let go of inhibitions to tap into new sources of joy and growth? On this panel, Midlife Conference co-founder, Erin Cochran, will introduce us to two inspiring individuals who embraced novelty in midlife. After selling her successful startup, author and entrepreneur Chelsea Diehl embarked on 100 adventures across Maine and chronicled her journey in a book. We will hear from Rich Macdonald, an ornithologist and professor, who chose to celebrate his 60th birth year with 60 unique experiences. Learn what they discovered about themselves and how their journeys can inspire all of us to explore new possibilities in our own lives.
Saturday, October 26
1:15-2:15 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
CHELSEA DIEHL
RICH MACDONALD
Ornithologist, College of Atlantic professor, and founder of The Natural History Center
Erin Cochran
Co-founder, Midlife Conference
Igniting Your Turn-On
Join Pleasure Coach Kit Hayes for a fun and empowering session on rekindling your passion. We’ll explore mental, energetic, and sensual turn-ons through interactive exercises like sharing "Trinities" -- 'where each person shares one brag, one gratitude, and one desire in an effort to refocus on what you can be proud of and grateful for. You'll leave feeling inspired, energized, and ready to embrace your inner fire.
Saturday, October 26
2:15-3:00 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
Kit Hayes
Pleasure Coach and founder of Time Away
BREAK
Saturday, October 26
3:00-3:15 PM
MONEY SHAME: YOU’RE NOT ALONE
We all know money is important, so why is it so hard to talk about? Shame often lurks beneath the surface, keeping us silent about our financial struggles, goals, and dreams. This silence can lead to isolation, unhealthy habits, and hinder our ability to build financial security.
In this session with financial advisor Pamela Wise, we'll explore the link between money and shame. We’ll dive into the societal messages and personal experiences that can lead to feelings of shame around finances. We’ll learn practical techniques to break free from shame and build a more open and empowered relationship with money.
Saturday, October 26
3:15-4:00 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
PAMELA WISE
Financial advisor, Merrill Lynch
Afternoon Cold Dip with Wicked Nippy Dippahs
Wicked Nippy Dippahs co-founder, Melissa Hall, will lead us in a community cold dip at Rockport Harbor Beach. Pack your swimsuit and towel, and get ready for an unforgettable experience with your fellow conference attendees. (This is a free event. Newcomers to cold dipping as well as devotees of cold immersion are all welcomed and encouraged to participate.)
Saturday, October 26
4-4:30 PM
Rockport Harbor Beach
Rockport, ME
Happy Hour at Lucky Betty's
Join your fellow conference attendees at Camden's favorite watering hole and boutique bar, Lucky Betty's. Enjoy music, light fare and cash bar drinks with new and old friends.
Saturday, October 26
6-8 PM
Lucky Betty’s
Camden, ME
Late Night Live Music & Dancing
Enjoy an evening of live music, including your favorite hits spanning the 60s to the 90s, from cover band, Minivan Carpool. Taking place at Camden's newest French bistro and jazz bar, this is your chance to dance the night away with new and old friends.
Saturday, October 26
8:30-11 PM
La Cave
Camden, ME
Sunday, October 26
HOW TO BUILD A STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF
Despite all the talk about self-care, it’s hard to pin down what it really means—and what it really takes—to develop and sustain a good relationship with yourself. Coach and psychologist Carrie Contey will lead us through a series of small experiments to help us understand how being connected to your true self is one of the keys to long-term happiness.
Sunday, October 27
9:00-9:45 AM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
CARRIE CONTEY, PHD
THE ART OF GETTING UNSTUCK
There are times in life when we can get stuck on things that matter a lot, and despite our hopes and best intentions, we just can't move forward.
Amy Bonsall is a designer & coach. She's turned her 15 years of product design expertise into coaching and programs to help people move forward when they're stuck, be it on a hard decision, a life transition (midlife anyone?), or something else that matters a lot.
This session provides a container in which participants can reflect on an area of life in which they're stuck and walk away with a new perspective on how to get unstuck.
Sunday, October 27
9:45-10:45 AM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
AMY Bonsall
BREAK
Sunday, October 27
10:45-11:00 AM
COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO BETTER RELATIONSHIPS
One of the common struggles people express when seeking counseling is how hard it is to communicate effectively with the people who matter most to them. How can we achieve more harmony through effective communication, leaving each of us feeling heard and understood?
In this interactive presentation with therapist Sara Levite, she specifies the five most challenging topics people in any kind of relationship face—with friends, colleagues or partners—and gives tips on getting to the other side of these conversations. As a bonus, expect to have some laughs!
Sunday, October 27
11:00-11:45 AM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
SARA LEVITE, MS LCPC
Ask the Ages
Reflection Session facilitated by incense and the good sense of Aaron Britt and Josh Builder, co-founders of Ask the Ages
Sunday, October 27
12:30-1:00 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
AARON BRITT
Josh Builder
A MIDLIFE RESET: CAN PSYCHEDELICS OFFER NEW POTENTIAL?
In his book, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Depression, and Transcendence, Michael Pollan suggests that by middle age, "habitual thinking...is nearly absolute." Jessica Whitten, MS, LCPC and Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist, will discuss how psychedelics and similar medicines, when used responsibly and with guidance, can offer a "renovat[ion]" for our mental landscape, fostering a greater sense of openness and perspective. This session will explore what this innovative approach to psychotherapy looks like in practice, what our current options are for treatment, how this differs from traditional talk therapy, and the potential role in midlife well-being.
Sunday, October 27
1:00-2:00 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
JESSICA WHITTEN, LCPC
Panel: BUILDING A BUSINESS FOCUSED ON BUILDING COMMUNITY
Building a business supported by local communities, while cultivating sustainability for the long-term, requires a mix of tenacity and grit. It also necessitates a recognition that accommodating the particulars of a local community is a key to success. Peter Alsop, a co-founder of Tenderwild Farm in Rockport, Maine is focused on fostering the spirit of the grange in the era of the cafe through their event series. Portland-based co-founders, Mary Beth Golden and Tenaya Britton, founded held to spark meaningful connections among Maine women with events that promote personal growth and community well-being. Their stories offer glimpses of the richness - and inherent struggles, of businesses seeking community in Maine. Both ventures prioritize creating spaces where people can grow together.
Sunday, October 27
2:00-3:00 PM
Pascal Hall
Rockport, ME
Peter Alsop
Owner, Tenderwild Farm
Alissa Hessler
Host, Urban Exodus
Mary Beth Golden
& Tenaya Britton
Co-founders, held
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Questions?
Reach us at hellomidlifeconference@gmail.com or check out our FAQs to learn more.