Ed: Humanity as a Strategy | 194

What this episode covers

In this inspiring episode of Behind Beautiful Things, Kevin sits down with Ed, the owner and leader of EDA Contractors, to discuss leadership, workplace mental health, and building a people-first company culture in the construction industry. Ed shares his personal journey as a hardworking entrepreneur whose relentless drive ultimately led to a mental and physical breakdown. He opens up about the lessons he learned from burnout and how those experiences transformed both his life and his business. The conversation explores EDA Contractors' commitment to a "Humanity as a Strategy" approach, where employee wellbeing, mental health awareness, and psychological safety are treated as core business priorities. Ed explains why supporting his team on multiple levels has become essential to creating a healthy work environment, improving employee engagement, and fostering long-term success. Whether you're a business owner, leader, entrepreneur, contractor, or someone interested in workplace wellness and mental health, this episode offers valuable insights into building stronger teams through empathy, trust, and human-centered leadership. Tune in to hear Ed's powerful story of resilience, recovery, and redefining success through people-first leadership. Check Out Ed’s Work: Company website: http://www.edacontractors.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/EDACONTRACTORSINC Instagram: www.instagram.com/edacontractors/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eda-contractors-inc./posts Ed's LinkedIn: Ed DeAngelis | LinkedIn   Behind Beautiful Things Website: www.sadtimespodcast.com Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373292146649249 Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Instagram: @behindbeautifulthingspodcast Learn more about Kevin’s Professional Speaking and Acting at www.kevincrispin.com Check out Kevin’s substack: https://allconviction.substack.com Get your very own “Sad Schwag”: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51/albums/253388-sad-times-podcast?ref_id=9022 Editorial note: Behind Beautiful Things is committed to sharing various stories from generous guests. The hope is to allow any number of stories to be shared to help people feel less alone and, perhaps, more empathetic. It is important to clarify that the guests’ stories, perspectives, and sentiments do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Behind Beautiful Things in any way. Please note that Behind Beautiful Things is in no way a substitute for medical or professional mental health support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.