Ed D'Angelis built a 450-person construction company that's been recognized six consecutive years as a Philadelphia Top Workplace. But his journey to "humanity as a strategy" started with a crisis: eight years into his business, he literally couldn't get off the floor. His body and mind shut down from relentless grinding.

That breaking point led Ed to a radical realization—in an industry built on toughness and hierarchy, the key to sustainable success is recognizing and strategizing around people's humanity. Through vulnerability, education about the brain and mindfulness, and unwavering commitment from the top, Ed transformed his company culture. The result? Better retention, more innovation, safer worksites, and a business that proves caring about people isn't soft... it's smart.

In this conversation, Ed and Clayton explore the practical application of mindfulness in one of the most demanding industries, the business case for psychological safety, and why the human mind's ability to adapt and feel makes it infinitely more powerful than AI.

TIMESTAMPS:

[0:00] Welcome and introduction to Ed D'Angelis

[1:37] What does "humanity as a strategy" mean?

[3:41] The breaking point: "I couldn't get off the floor"

[5:16] The oxygen mask principle: self-care first

[8:37] Vulnerability as a leadership tool

[9:17] Teaching construction workers about the brain

[10:33] We're not fighting lions every day

[13:11] Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset

[21:37] Why change must start at the top

[25:57] Everyday mindfulness: walking the dog

[32:17] System 1 vs. System 2 thinking

[33:47] Try focusing on your breath for 30 seconds

[39:24] The powerlifter analogy for mindfulness

[40:13] Adrenaline drains you, mindfulness fills your cup

[41:26] The business case: 3x higher addiction/suicide rates in construction

[42:35] Strategy requires practice, not wishful thinking

[46:17] The ROI: retention, innovation, and growth

[52:17] Entitlement is the mind killer

[54:17] Keep learning: the Einstein rule

[58:26] The Thomas Edison approach to failure

[1:00:17] Legacy: how you made people feel

[1:02:17] Closing thoughts

CONNECT WITH ED: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwarddeangelis/

LEARN MORE ABOUT EDA CONTRACTORS: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eda-contractors-inc./

What if the billionaires have it wrong?

In this powerful conversation, Spencer Sherman - meditation teacher, financial advisor, and founding CEO of Abacus Wealth Partners - challenges everything we've been taught about wealth, success, and the pursuit of "more."

Spencer occupies a fascinating intersection where mindfulness meets money, and his central question is revolutionary: What if enough is already here?

🎯 KEY INSIGHTS:

• Why people with tens of millions still can't enjoy their wealth

• The neuroscience behind "enough" and how it calms your nervous system

• How checking your phone 200 times a day is destroying your finances (backed by Daniel Kahneman's research)

• The "hedonic treadmill" - why first class is never enough

• From "I'm swamped" to "I'm spacious" - how one phrase change transforms your reality

• The 3-day rule that stops impulse purchases cold

• Why your brain treats social threats the same as physical ones

• How reactivity starts within us, not from external circumstances

Spencer shares practical wisdom from decades of working with wealthy clients and leading mindfulness retreats, revealing that the relationship with money is really a relationship with yourself.

This isn't about settling for less - it's about discovering that when you're not pitched forward fighting for more, you're not trying to prove anything. You just show up at ease. And that's when the best things flow to you.

Perfect for anyone struggling with:

✓ Never feeling like you have enough time, money, or success

✓ Constant comparison and the fear of missing out

✓ Reactive decisions driven by scarcity and fear

✓ The exhausting cycle of wanting "just a little bit more"

🎙️ ABOUT THE GUEST:

Spencer Sherman is a meditation teacher, financial advisor, and founding CEO of Abacus Wealth Partners. He leads retreats on mindfulness and money, and is the author of works including the Five Money Meditations and his exploration of what he calls "Money Madness."

🎙️ ABOUT THE HOST:

Clayton Platt hosts Magic in the Moment: Mindfulness in Real Time, exploring how mindfulness shows up in everyday life through conversations with practitioners, teachers, and thought leaders.

📚 CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction

01:43 - The Joseph Heller Story: "I Have Enough"

04:33 - Even Billionaires Want More

07:20 - The Basketball Player Paradox

09:20 - Declare Enough RIGHT NOW

12:03 - The Neuroscience of Enough

18:07 - Growing Up in Queens

24:33 - Two Accounts: Enough Money vs. Surplus

29:13 - From "Swamped" to "Spacious"

32:50 - Phone Checking Creates Fear (Kahneman Study)

38:20 - The Three-Day Rule

45:40 - Social Threats = Physical Threats

52:20 - Reactivity Starts Within

🔗 CONNECT WITH SPENCER SHERMAN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindfulspencer/

🔗LEARN MORE ABOUT ABACUS WEALTH: https://abacuswealth.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH MEDITATION FOR LEADERSHIP: meditation4leadership.org

What if the key to lasting change isn't pushing harder... but paying closer attention?

In this episode of Magic in the Moment, host Clayton Platt sits down with Dr. Vera Ludwig, psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center, to explore a revolutionary approach to self-regulation. Forget exhausting willpower battles, Vera's research reveals how simple awareness can automatically rewire your brain and transform your habits.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

✨ Why traditional willpower often backfires (and what to do instead) ✨ The "island revelation" that changed Vera's entire approach to productivity ✨ How mindfulness creates effortless behavior change through awareness alone ✨ The neuroscience behind flow states and authentic alignment ✨ Practical strategies for breaking compulsive patterns without shame or force ✨ Why working with your natural rhythms beats forcing yourself through the day.

From burnout to breakthrough, Vera shares her personal journey from PhD researcher grinding through willpower studies to discovering a completely different way of living... one where energy comes naturally when you're aligned with what's true to you.

1:52 - Welcome & Introducing Dr. Vera Ludwig

2:19 - How Awareness Rewires Habits Without Willpower

3:16 - Vera's Journey: From PhD Burnout to Island Flow

5:52 - The Island Revelation: Discovering Effortless Productivity

7:28 - When Pushing Yourself Stops Working

9:35 - The Mindfulness-Willpower Connection

12:15 - Listening to Your Body's Messages

17:07 - Breaking Cookie Cravings: A Real-Life Example

20:17 - Clayton's Dessert Compulsion Story

24:27 - Working With Your Natural Rhythms (Not Against Them)

26:17 - Remote Work & Honoring Your Energy Cycles

33:29 - The "Just Like Me" Meditation Study

38:06 - Heart Rate Synchrony & Human Connection

42:24 - Sexuality, Wellbeing & Breaking Taboos

47:45 - Mindful Awareness in Sexual Behaviors

54:25 - Great Sex vs. Good Sex: The Role of Presence

58:18 - Mindful Eating & Sexual Desire: The Parallel

62:35 - Where to Learn More & Connect With Vera