From Skateboarding Icon to Modern Elder: Stacy Peralta
From Skateboarding Icon to Modern Elder: Stacy Peralta  
Podcast: The Midlife Chrysalis
Published On: Fri Dec 26 2025
Description: He didn’t plan on being successful. He just followed what pulled at him and kept letting go when it stopped working. In this episode, Stacy Peralta, legendary skateboarder, filmmaker behind Dogtown and Z-Boys, and modern elder, shares how a life built on passion, curiosity, and vulnerability led him from skateboarding to filmmaking to painting, without clinging to any single identity. Rather than chasing security or certainty, Stacy reveals why reinvention requires becoming a beginner again and why midlife may be the most powerful time to do it.In this conversation, Stacy explores:- Why holding onto past identities quietly blocks your future- How embracing vulnerability and being a “kook” unlocks growth- The difference between loving something and knowing when to let it go- How intuition, not logic, often guides the most meaningful transitions- Daily practices that keep creativity, curiosity, and vitality alive 👉 Watch the full episode now and discover why letting go might be the most powerful move you can make. Timestamps:00:58 Early life mischief and finding skateboarding03:32 Understanding transitions and success05:57 Realizing it was time to leave skateboarding06:38 Becoming a beginner in filmmaking10:46 Family influence and unconventional paths13:16 Work ethic creativity and self reliance15:19 Learning from surfer elders16:59 Following what you love in midlife18:41 Giving your gift and letting it go20:00 Embracing vulnerability and being a kook24:10 Facing fear of being too old28:00 Flow challenge and skill31:10 MEA workshops experience34:25 Quiet rebellion and midlife dreams37:05 Listening intuition and creating space39:05 Letting go of control41:23 Daily practices for vitality42:46 Harmonizing heart and mind43:07 The power of listening44:51 Closing reflections and gratitude Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/#StacyPeralta #MidlifeReinvention #ModernElder #PersonalReinvention #MidlifeTransition #GrowthMindset #CreativeLife #LettingGo #SecondAct #PurposeInMidlife #LifeTransitions #DogtownAndZBoys #SkateboardingLegend #BecomingABeginner #Intuition