Arthur Brooks: Meaning in Midlife & Beyond

Arthur Brooks: Meaning in Midlife & Beyond

From Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

March 26, 2026 · 50 min

About this episode

Arthur Brooks discusses the search for meaning in midlife and beyond, exploring myths, neurological insights, and practical tools for fulfillment.

You’ve reached a point in life where you thought you’d feel different. You’ve checked a lot of the boxes of achievement, happiness, even success. And, still, something is missing. It is a quiet restlessness that age or achievement cannot seem to quiet. What you’re missing is meaning. Our guest today is Arthur Brooks. He is a Harvard professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness . In this conversation, we explore: The myths we tell about how to find meaning, and how they delude us.  The neurological reason why your phone is blocking purpose The 3 real keys to meaning and mattering, and finally feeling alive The arrival fallacy that explains why winning is not the same the meaning How to use a specific morning protocol to program your brain for mystery and wonder The counterintuitive reason you actually want suffering in your life If you are tired of the hustle and still feeling empty, it is time to look at the science of the soul, and learn how to bring more meaning into your life, starting with practical tools today. You can find Arthur at: Website | Instagram |  Episode Transcript Next week, we're…

People in this episode

Host: Jonathan Fields

Guest: Arthur Brooks

Topics covered

  • meaning in life
  • midlife
  • purpose
  • happiness
  • self-improvement
  • neuroscience

Keywords

  • meaning
  • midlife
  • purpose
  • happiness
  • self-improvement
  • neuroscience
  • suffering
  • morning protocol

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard

Books & works: The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness

More episodes of Good Life Project

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Good Life Project podcast page.