Eudemonia means “life well lived.” I like that. Last year, I went to the inaugural Eudemonia Summit in Palm Beach because, duh, I want a life well lived. Simple concept, right?
I called up the founder, Sean Hoess, who also created Wanderlust, and said, “Hey, I want to bring some guys down.” He was cool enough to give me a Midlife Male code.
The weekend was loaded: workouts with Don Saladino, a keynote from Andrew Huberman, morning yoga, healthy food, and a crowd that was about 90% women – fit, healthy, and all in workout clothes. Not complaining.
There were also talks from Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Michael Breus, and Dr. David Rabin on topics that hit home for me at 52: sleep, longevity, anxiety, and functional health. What stood out most was how accessible everyone was. I’ve actually become friends with Breus, who’s helping me with my sleep apnea, and Rabin, whose Apollo Neuro device I now use regularly.
Now, I’ll admit, I skip most of the hardcore biohacking. I passed on Bryan Johnson’s session and tuned out of Huberman’s deep science talk until the last five minutes when he finally shared three or four things I could actually do to improve my life. That’s the stuff that matters. Not majoring in the minors. Not getting lost in the weeds.
This year, I’m going back. I’ll be moderating a panel on menopause from the male perspective—manopause, if you will—with Julius Thomas, Dr. Gregory Scott Brown, Shawn Wells, and Dr. Kwado. I’m also co-leading a three-mile morning ruck.
A few years ago I was a big name selling insurance… Now I’m a small name in the corner next to some of the biggest names in health and wellness… Don’t tell me you can’t change. Don’t tell me you can’t be a beginner again. Don’t tell me it’s too late or or you’re too old to start.
A few weeks ago, Sean and I hopped on Zoom because we’re both trying to get more middle-aged men to show up. What we’re seeing is a lot of guys either doing nothing… or trying to do everything.
And here’s the truth: walk around these festivals and most of the guys look like a mix of biohacker poster boys and Burning Man disciples. What Sean and I talked about—and what I’m all about—is mastering the middle. We’re just normal men who care about health, wellness, longevity, and sustainability. We’re solid husbands, fathers, and friends. We don’t need 30 talks in three days. We just want to stay active, stay engaged, and surround ourselves with healthy, happy, forward-thinking people.
And let’s be honest, being around beautiful, healthy women shouldn’t be a hard sell.
Eudemonia has a lot to offer: great brands, great products, and valuable knowledge we can actually use. Things that help us refine our Midlife Action Plans. There’s real value in that.
The irony? There aren’t nearly enough midlife men attending, but there are plenty speaking; guys like Rich Roll, Arthur Brooks, and Mark Hyman.
My biggest takeaway last year, and what I’m looking forward to again, is simple: being in Palm Beach with my wife. Working out. Learning. Listening. And choosing exactly what I want to do, when I want to do it.
So enjoy this week’s How I See It with Sean Hoess. He’s one of us, building something special, and I want to support it.
Use code gscheinman to save on your badge and join me at Eudemonia, November 13–16 in Palm Beach.
Watch the full “How I See It” Interview Here
On Human Flourishing:
“Eudemonia is an ancient Greek word that refers to human flourishing, or really this concept of a life well lived. It’s about finding meaning and purpose, not just about health per se. Health is a prerequisite for anything meaningful, but a truly lived life goes far beyond physical wellness.”
On The Decline of Health:
“Our health as a society is actually in decline, not improving. Metrics like life expectancy and rates of metabolic disorder and obesity are moving in the wrong direction. The opportunity to bring people together around practices that promote real health is more urgent than ever.”
On the Importance of Community:
“The most non-partisan topic you could ever discuss is good health, because it affects everyone. There’s transformative power in community to reinforce healthy habits and behaviors. You may just have a great time, meet like-minded people, and take the energy back to your own world.”
On Holistic Living:
“For me, health is the foundation, and everything else is built on top of it. I’ve been reimagining Maslow’s pyramid so the base is really just good health. Living holistically means addressing both the body and the mind, and acknowledging that meaning and purpose are just as important.”
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On the Changing Nature of Science:
“I do not believe that biological sciences or health information are knowable in the way that math is. Science evolves constantly and is a means for getting at the truth, not the truth itself. We bring together experts who might disagree, trusting our audience to think for themselves.”
On Legacy and Purpose:
“As you grow older, you start to think about legacy, purpose, meaning, and community. What are you leaving behind? A sense of contentment and living a life well lived is equally important as physical health.”
On the Power of Dialogue:
“I believe deeply in the concept of speech, especially public, in-person dialogue, as a way to access truth. We don’t bring together a homogeneous group. We want disagreeing, science-based, respected voices. It’s about debate and discussion, not everyone thinking the same way.”
On Personal Agency:
“I believe people are smart enough to analyze information and make intelligent decisions about what is best for them. Our conference isn’t about prescribing a single approach and providing good information so attendees can find what works for them.”
On Men and Change:
“Men are generally more resistant to leaving their routine and trying new things, at least as a generalization. We think whatever routine we have works, and we’re slow to question it. Sometimes our hubris keeps us from admitting we need to change until something forces us to.”
On Mental Health:
“Balance inside our bodies and minds becomes more of a struggle as you enter midlife. There’s a huge mental health component—purpose, meaning, wisdom, and ‘What comes next?’ These are all questions that become more prominent, and they deserve as much attention as physical fitness.”
On Wellness Practices:
“I’m constantly physically active, whether that’s running, tennis, resistance training, or even yard work. Cooking is a de-stressor and mental release for me, as well as a healthy practice. Meditation is important too, though my practice is more sporadic than I’d like.”
On Using Technology for Health:
“I bought an Oura ring and have been trying to really listen to what it’s telling me. The biometric data has helped me make improvements, because when you can monitor something, it’s easier to see what you’re doing and how it affects you.”
On Time Management:
“I’m not great at strict time management or time-blocking. I’ve been lucky to be able to concentrate deeply for short periods, then switch quickly to something different. This lets me touch both the creative and analytical sides of my brain throughout the day.”
On Experiencing Events:
“As a producer, I’m most excited by observing the audience and seeing real-time reactions, excitement, and learning. You never know what kind of person you’ve attracted until you see it on their faces. The real magic often happens in the spontaneous conversations and interactions between attendees.”
On Not Being the Expert:
“I don’t hold myself out to be the expert, although I’m happy to talk and share. I see myself as a curator and a guy living in midlife, trying to do things I’m passionate about. The real experts are the people we assemble.”
On Accessibility:
“I want to find ways to make the event accessible and affordable, even if it’s not the full experience for everyone. There should be side experiences that offer real value. Scale for me means bringing health to more people.”
On Fun and Wellness:
“Being healthy can be fun. The goal is to create experiences that are entertaining in between all the serious ideas and practices. It should feel a bit like a festival.”
On the Limits of Perfection:
“There’s a wide spectrum between doing nothing and being stuck, and the extremes of obsession, like needing to do ultramarathons or have the lowest possible body fat. Success and health come in many forms and what matters is finding what truly works for you.”
On Curating Your Life:
“The people you surround yourself with and the practices you choose are all ingredients. The challenge is to build your own recipe from everything that’s out there, picking up what works for your life.”
On Personal Motivation:
“There was something about this project that really was a calling. I found I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. Sometimes you’re motivated not by money or recognition, but by the chance to create something meaningful and lasting.”
On Facing Aging:
“Aging forces you to confront change, whether it’s an injury or unexplainable weight gain. The body and biology do shift, and you realize you can’t keep doing things the same way forever. It’s important to adapt and be honest with yourself about those changes.”
In Health,
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Greg Scheinman
Founder, Midlife Male
52. Husband. Father. Entrepreneur. Coach.
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