Mindful Builder

“Most Aussie homes still don’t meet today’s energy standards.” In this episode, we sit down with Tim Forcey, a former chemical engineer turned home energy advisor who has assessed and advised in 1,000+ homes across Melbourne and Victoria. Tim is also qualified to assess homes using the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard and runs the “My Efficient Electric Home” community with 120,000+ memb...

“Stop talking to everyone like they’re in the industry. Talk to them in ways that are going to evoke emotions and what’s important to them.” In this video, we sit down with Laura De Ridder from Sorted Digital Marketing to chat about why so much of the construction marketing we see misses the mark, and what builders and tradies can do instead to attract the right clients. We cover how to get clear...

“I remember crying, driving back to Geelong because it was just too much.” In this Mindful Builder Podcast episode, Devin Grant of Performance Membranes shares the real story behind building a successful construction business and what happens when the workload finally catches up with you. We talk burnout, six-day weeks, and the lessons Devin learned after starting Granted Constructions in 2013. Th...

“We’re dumping energy to maintain comfort.” That’s how Andre Griffs from BINQ sums up what’s happening in far too many Australian homes. We crank the heater, blast the air con, and wonder why the house still feels off. Often, the culprit is simple. The windows are not performing. We sat down with Andre to unpack what’s going wrong with Australian windows, why it matters more than most people reali...

"In Germany, you’d never see a timber frame left out in the rain."  That’s just one of the eye-opening differences we uncovered with Daniel Jakobs, a master carpenter and construction engineer from Germany, on the Mindful Builder Podcast. Dan has spent over 20 years in high-performance, ecological construction, and now serves as Technical Sales Manager for pro clima® in Australia and New Zeal...

"Is natural building just for green hippie owner-builders?"  We sat down with Rachel from Natural Building Australia to tackle this question head-on. Rachel's academic background and hands-on experience reveal how natural building has evolved from 1990s counterculture to a professionalised industry attracting broader audiences. Thanks to hemp industry growth and increasing awareness of health...

A couple of years ago, we weren't sure if a podcast focused on thoughtful, evidence-based building would resonate with Australia's construction community. Turns out, builders, architects, and clients were hungry for exactly this kind of conversation - real talk about what works, what doesn't, mental health challenges, and how to navigate the shifting landscape of codes, client expectations, and ne...

"Architects design things we can't actually build." We sat down with Saxon Hall, Principal Architect at Align Architecture, to tackle the age-old tension between architects and builders. Saxon's unique perspective as a carpenter's son gives him insight into both sides of this divide. In this episode, we explore why communication breaks down between architects and builders, and more importantly, ho...

The conversation delves into the mould issues arising in bushfire zones, exploring how sealed environments contribute to the problem and the ongoing search for evidence to address these challenges. takeaways The mould issue in roof spaces began in bushfire zones. Sealing buildings to prevent embers can lead to mould problems. Cold, bushy areas are particularly susceptible to mould. There is a need...

"The message that passive house is better, just isn't reaching people."  We explore what actually happens when passive house ambitions meet the realities of Australian building sites - from the builder's perspective, the architect's challenges, and the client's concerns. Today we’re discussing what it means to design and build a passive house with Sven Maxa from Maxa Designs: the learning cur...

“I learned about discipline and resilience at a very young age, all because of this passion that I held. Those lessons have certainly translated into my adult life.” In this episode, we sit down with Sally former Matilda, now a carpenter and business owner, to explore what it’s really like to transition careers in the building and construction industry. Sally shares her story of moving from elite...

"Even if you finish the build, it's not too late to certify."   That's what Emilia Iacovino from Detail Green tells builders who've completed high-performance homes without formal Passive House certification. But should you wait that long? We sit down with Emilia, one of only five Passive House certifiers in Australia, to explore whether certification is just bureaucratic red tape or if it de...

"I decided not to be the 'too busy' dad who missed seeing his kids grow up." That was the wake-up call for David Jenyns, founder of Systemology. For too long, he was trapped working 60+ hours a week in the business he built which is a common fate for many successful entrepreneurs. If your business cannot function for a week without you, you're not a business owner; you're an employee of a business...

"I had to sell personal belongings just to make payroll."   Luke Davies isn't ashamed to admit the early struggles of his construction business. From a dairy farm in Sheffield, Tasmania, to running successful building and architecture enterprises, Luke's journey demonstrates what happens when resilience meets strategic learning. We sat down with Luke to understand how he transformed early fai...

"You're wearing a tin foil hat if you think Passive House will work in Australia."   That’s probably what Clare Perry would have heard back in 2011 when she co-founded the Australian Passive Haus Association. Fast forward to today, and while Passive House hasn't yet become mainstream, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Industry appetite has grown, more building professionals are actively...

Welcome to beer and building science chats, where we touch on some very complicated topics in the Australian construction sector. We look to bring the smartest people into these conversations to help educate everyone around healthy and durable buildings. In this engaging episode, our panel of experts dives deep into the debate between treated and standard pine battens. Join the Australian Beer and...

 ”I'm just an average carpenter and builder a lost in a world of red tape”.    Joel Griffs from Heidi Build isn't exaggerating. The modern builder's reality involves navigating compliance mazes, managing cash flow crises, and maintaining a social media presence all while trying to actually construct buildings. We sat down with Joel to understand how the builder's role has transformed and...

Becoming a father changes everything - including how you run a construction business.   Matt just welcomed his first child, while Hamish became a dad for the third time, adding a daughter to his two boys. These life changes forced a complete reassessment of priorities, work schedules, and business operations. But fatherhood isn't the only transformation happening - AI, rising costs, and trade...

"The architect designed something we can't actually build."   It wouldn’t be outlandish to believe that most builders have said this at least once, usually while staring at plans that look beautiful but ignore practical realities. We sat down with Amelia Lee from Undercover Architect to understand why architects and builders struggle to collaborate effectively, and more importantly, how to fi...

"We love the design, but it's $200,000 over budget."   Most builders have delivered this devastating news to clients who've invested months into plans they can't afford. Construction costs have surged 40.8% since 2020, fundamentally changing what's achievable within typical budgets. We sat down with Haydn Simmons from Price A Plan to understand how accurate estimating can prevent these painfu...

"The rules have changed again." Every Victorian builder has felt this frustration as legislation continues evolving. The latest changes to Victoria's building regulations are particularly significant, affecting everything from insurance requirements to dispute resolution processes. We sat down with Daniel Oldham, Principal Lawyer at Oldham Construction Lawyers, to understand what these changes act...

"The bank said no." Every builder has heard this from clients whose dreams hit financial reality.  But what if we told you there are dozens of lenders beyond the big four banks, many offering better rates and specialised products for construction projects? We sat down with Sarah Zhou from Beyond Financial, who is Matt’s mortgage broker, to understand the different options you have in financin...

Concrete is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions.   That's a staggering number when you consider how much concrete surrounds us every day. So when Daniel from Curvecrete told us his technology could reduce concrete emissions by 70%, we had to understand how. What we learned might change how you think about one of construction's most fundamental materials. Low-carbon concrete is a pra...

"I'm fine." How many times have you heard that response when you knew it wasn't true?   We've all been there - sensing something's off with a mate, colleague, or family member, but hesitating to dig deeper. What if we’re making things awkward? What if we don't know what to say? RUOK Day exists to break through exactly this hesitation and give you the perfect excuse to ask your mates how they’...

"Why is my building surveyor being so difficult?"   Almost every builder has asked this question at some point, usually when facing another compliance issue or documentation request. But what if we've been looking at this relationship all wrong? We sat down with Dave from Permit Approvals Plus to understand why building surveyors might actually be builders' best allies, not obstacles. In an i...