Better Builder Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Architect Paul joins the Better Builder podcast for our second outdoor episode of the season, sitting down on location to discuss the brutal realities of building on an island. From navigating the nightmare logistics of ferry-bound concrete trucks and winter storms to making 2,600 boat trips over the water, Paul pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to project manage a bui...

Send us Fan Mail Charlie is a 19-year-old, third-year building apprentice from Auckland who joins Brad for an honest chat about life on the tools. From a school work-experience day on a commercial site to choosing residential building over sparky or plumbing work, Charlie breaks down how the apprenticeship actually works — the training, the book work, the pay structure, and the mistakes (and injur...

Send us Fan Mail For our second outdoor episode of the Better Builder podcast, we are on location in Mangawhai with architect Tim Dorrington, founder of Dorrington Atcheson Architects. Tim sits down to share the realities of running a modern practice, his mid-century design philosophies, and how a close shorthand with local builders creates a massive competitive advantage for clients.   We dive de...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we welcome back a returning favourite to the Better Builder podcast as we sit down on location in Mangawhai with Nick Smith, founder of Smith Construction. Nick has built an incredible reputation across Greater Northland for executing complex, high-end architectural homes. In this episode, Nick pulls back the curtain on the business reality of scaling to 15 staff, the m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Andrew joins us fresh off a lecture tour in the US to discuss his incredible career and what it takes to design world-class structures. From winning a major national housing award three times early in his career to running a premium 25-person practice, Andrew pulls back the curtain on the real relationship between architects, clients, and builders.   We dive deep...

Send us Fan Mail This month on BBA, we chat with Luka Noad, a third-year building apprentice with Builders Academy NZ. After leaving school in Year 12 and cold-emailing over 50 companies to land his first role, Luka knows better than most how hard it is to break into the trades. In this episode, Luka talks about the reality of getting your first apprenticeship, what separates good apprentices from...

Send us Fan Mail This month on BBA, we chat with Adrian Ferguson, a 23-year-old building apprentice who transitioned from plumbing to high-end residential construction. Based on the North Shore and nearing qualification through Builders Academy, Adrian highlights the benefits of frequent assessments and a strong connection with his mentor to accelerate his career.   In this episode, Adrian discuss...

Send us Fan Mail How do you balance early fatherhood, a growing business, and architectural excellence? Rory Burnett, founder of RB Builds, joins us to share his journey from farm life to business owner. Beyond his own story, Rory dives into the importance of giving back to the trade. We discuss his star apprentice, Aidan, and how the support system at Builders Academy is changing the game. Learn...

Send us Fan Mail This month, we sit down with Sam Paauwe, Massey High School Building Academy Prefect, to discuss the fast track to a building career. Sam explains how the Building Academy helped him gain nearly a quarter of his apprenticeship credits by building Kāinga Ora houses. He emphasises that the academy acts as a critical support system, giving students who struggled academically a chance...

Send us Fan Mail As 2025 draws to a close, Brad is joined by Dan (Producer of Better Builder) to reflect on a landmark year. From the adrenaline of the podcast tour to the prestigious Better Builder Awards, they dive deep into the highs, the lows, and everything in between that defined the year for the community." Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok...

Send us Fan Mail This special compilation episode features the best business insights from our recent Brisbane Builder Tour, highlighting five of the city's top custom builders: Seb Toscano, Charlie Mylne, Jarryd Duffy, Matt Grieve, and Caleb Adams. Hear how leaders stress the critical importance of setting firm boundaries with clients and maintaining a 12-14% net profit margin to avoid finan...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we sit down with Jeremy Chapman, founder of JCA STUDIO, an award-winning Auckland-based practice committed to authentic and considered design. Drawing on his diverse background as a builder and furniture designer, Jeremy passionately argues that architectural plans are a graphic, artistic process that fundamentally dictates a house's final outcome. He dives into th...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Craig Moller, Director at Moller Architects, to discuss the deeper meaning behind design. With three decades of experience and a passion for crafting enduring spaces, Craig shares his wisdom on creating structures that truly "resonate" with occupants. This episode is a masterclass in architectural philosophy, emphasising the crucial connection between st...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we chat with Jeremy Brick from Studio Brick Architects, a design-led office renowned for its elegant, creative, and considered architectural solutions across all projects. Jeremy's practice is focused on delivering a comprehensive client experience, offering services from initial design through to construction observation. In this episode, Jeremy opens up about the...

Send us Fan Mail This month, we sit down with Luke Kanuta, one of the key teachers in charge of the innovative Building Academy at Massey High School. Luke talks about how they are transforming young lives through construction. The Building Academy is a unique, one-year, full-time program that creates genuine opportunities for students by having them build a three-bedroom, 100m² house on site.  Lu...

Send us Fan Mail We are revisiting a classic episode to help secure your business and cash flow in these tough economic times. We welcome back Finn Collins, a leading barrister specialising in complex construction and property disputes. He provides actionable advice on structuring contracts to ensure you get paid what you've earned. This powerful and insightful episode is a must-listen! Socia...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week on the Better Builder podcast as we sit down with Chris Tate, an Architectural Designer known for creating buildings of unique modernity and daring imagination.  Chris shares his unconventional journey and discusses his philosophy where "less is more" is the mantra and the site's beauty is the maximum priority. We revisit his career-defining first...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week on the Better Builder podcast with Dan Hawke-Mills, Co-Director of Downright Construction. Dan offers a transparent look at navigating the building world, admitting he and his partner spent the first few years "winging it" and lacked fundamental business systems. He shares how his past as a competitive bodybuilder instilled the discipline and determinat...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week on the Better Builder podcast with Joel Macreadie, Director of Macreadie Builders. Joel talks about the shock of his tough apprenticeship and the steep learning curve when he started Macreadie Builders around age 24. He reveals his leadership secrets, including leading from the front by getting on the tools, fostering team buy-in through open conversation, and th...

Send us Fan Mail  Hamish gets brutally honest about the one mistake that almost broke his business: a massive fixed-price blunder on residential renovations. Learn his blueprint for strong systems, finding the right business partners, and empowering your team to scale successfully. ⁠ Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbui...

Send us Fan Mail This month, we're joined by Jason Goertzen, a workplace apprenticeship educator at the Builders Academy. Join us as we dive into the harsh reality of what it means to be a qualified tradesman . Jason argues that your qualification is a "minimum standard, not a finish line," and reveals the critical skill needed to succeed—not hammer skills, but "learning how to...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week on the Better Builder podcast with David Stark, Founder of Stark Building. David, an award-winning builder, shares the mindset that drives his business, where his "I'll prove you wrong" attitude pushes him to work solo and make hard work look easy. He discusses the crucial role of luck in finding a good apprenticeship, the challenge of working with...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week on the Better Builder podcast with Warren Adolph, Founder of Warren Adolph Homes. With over 30 years in the industry, Warren shares the story of his incredible partnership, which began back in intermediate school, and how they built a successful, family-run business focused on quality. He speaks frankly about the immense frustration with government "help&quo...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week on the Better Builder podcast as we sit down with Marlon Cosmas, a co-director of Reside. With decades of experience in the industry, Marlon shares his honest story of how his successful London-based company "exploded" with work, becoming an "uncontrolled monster." He discusses the chaos of rapid growth and how it led him and his business part...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week on the Better Builder podcast as we sit down with Jono Duxfield, owner of JD Construction. Jono shares his story of leaving the family farm to become a builder and the lessons he learned working overseas. He opens up about the reality of being a "great builder" and the importance of relationships with clients and teams. This is a powerful episode about...