#39: Building Sustainable Communities for a New World with Edward Zaydelman

In this episode, Frank Lawton speaks with Edward Zaydelman — community builder, retreat center consultant, and core member of the nonprofit Leap Forward. Edward shares his personal journey from New York nightlife and Burning Man to building intentional communities in Costa Rica. He recounts the rise and fall of his first eco-retreat center and the profound lessons learned about sustainability — not just ecological, but emotional, relational, and spiritual.

The conversation dives deep into the invisible structures that make or break communities — values alignment, communication, integrity, and psychological safety. Edward emphasizes the importance of slowing down, rewiring the human mind, and doing inner work in tandem with outer change. Drawing from his work at Leap Forward, he illustrates how authentic growth emerges in community, not isolation. Together, they explore how our world is at a tipping point — and how small groups of committed people can lay the groundwork for a wiser, more integrated future.

Find more of Ed’s work at:
Live The Possibility — his Substack newsletter exploring practical tools and wisdom for building eco-villages, retreat centers, and new models of living: www.livethepossibility.news

Leap Forward — a nonprofit community focused on rewiring the human mind, cultivating integrity, and evolving collective consciousness through deep inner and interpersonal work: www.leapforward.us

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