Mindful Builder

Ever wondered how the best leaders deliver feedback that empowers their teams rather than crushes them? We had a fantastic unscripted chat with our amazing friend and psychologist, Julie where we ventured into the territory of delivering constructive feedback in the workplace.  Julie guided us through understanding the nuances of communication, how important the words are that we use, explori...

We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with Damien, a listener of ours we brought on to answer some of the questions he had around passive house building. There was so much to cover during our chat, we knew we had to break it up into two valuable episodes for you.  Last week, we got into the nitty gritty of the cost of passive house building vs traditional homes, the importance of working...

Passive houses - they’re both exciting and undeniably complex. Recently, we had the opportunity to bring Damien onto our podcast, a builder with three decades of experience who’s now facing the intricacies of passive house construction and wanting to learn more. A new listener of the podcast, he had reached out to us with a couple of questions and we thought hey, why not bring him on to interview...

This week, we had a chat with two incredible builders, Jake and Brad, about building science, sustainable housing, and the challenges we all face in our field. We start off by talking to Jake about his journey from an arts degree into a successful building career. He talked about how his education in art taught him to think outside the box, a skill invaluable in construction. He also shared a pivo...

Welcome back! This week we’re Joined by the incredible Talina Edward, an architect with a strong commitment to eco-friendly building solutions!  We started off by getting Talina to break down biophilic design, a term many may have heard but not fully understood. Talina explained that it’s all about our innate connection to nature. She explained how incorporating natural elements into our buil...

We recently sat down with our very first international guest Josh Atkins from New Zealand.  Of course one of the big things we wanted to know is how construction methods vary between New Zealand and Australia. We discuss the different challenges in climate, legislation and more, that builders face in each country. Josh shared the infamous water damage issues they faced there, and how it force...

Prefabrication can get a bad wrap in the sustainable building world but when used in the right way, it can be a powerful tool for building sustainable and affordable homes. We recently sat down with prefabrication pioneers Chris Gilbert and Kaia McCarty Smith to discuss how it can support a better building future.  Chris is the co-founder of Candour, a prefabrication company that aims to addr...

That’s the world architect Jeremy McLeod is fighting for, and he joins us today to share the how and the why behind this dream.  Jeremy is the co founder of both Breathe Architecture and Nightingale Housing, where he works to bring sustainability, community, and innovation to the forefront of the building industry.  A big focus in our conversation was the Nightingale Model. Jeremy explai...

You might remember today’s guest from all the way back in episode eight! Brad McEwan is a passionate builder, and a good friend who joins us now as a regular guest on the show. We began our conversation by touching on a pervasive issue in the construction sector: project delays. Brad shares his experience of waiting eight months for a project start, illustrating the unpredictable nature of buildin...

What is a Ventilated Cavity? In simple terms, a ventilated cavity is an air space between the cladding of a building and its structure. This space allows the building to "breathe," circulating air and carrying moisture away. This is crucial to avoid issues like mould, rot, and other moisture-related problems.  It’s a technical topic which is why we’re once again joined by Dr Cameron Munroe, w...

Can you believe it’s almost the end of the year? It feels like January was just yesterday, but also like it was years ago.  So much has happened in the world this year, both the good and the bad. This whirlwind was especially strong in the construction industry, so we want to recap 2024 in this episode as well as look forward to what 2025 will hold.  So, the construction landscape has be...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! We hope you’re having a wonderful break from work, but if you’re not, you’re not alone. Financial stress, family tensions, grief, and countless other factors can make it a difficult time for some. That’s why we’ve invited our friend and mental health expert Julie back on the podcast. Isolation might not be the cause of people’s holiday blues, but it w...

One of our biggest goals for this podcast is to push the boundaries of conventional industry practices and challenge people (including us) to look outside their bubble. That’s why we were so excited to sit down with Jasmine and Logan from the Go Company this week.  The Go Company started with a simple but brilliant idea: providing portable hygiene packs for women in trade. These packs ensure...

LINKS: Connect with us on Instagram:   @themindfulbuilderpod Connect with Hamish: Instagram:  @sanctumhomes Website:    www.yoursanctum.com.au/ Connect with Matt:  Instagram: @carlandconstructions Website:  www.carlandconstructions.com/

Is the Building Industry Broken?  Well, it's not entirely shattered, but there are definitely some big considerable cracks that need to be repaired.  Today’s guest, Scott Burchell from Comb Construction, breaks down the big issues (like rising project costs, evolving regulations, and a labour shortage) that are making it difficult to remain profitable. He shared stories from both residen...

 Safety. It’s a word that brings to mind tedious rules or intrusive safety officers, and to many in the building industry it’s seen as a chore not a choice. But safety can be the thin line between life and death, so maybe it’s time we get more engaged. In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Huber, a safety advocate and operational excellence expert, who’s on a mission to redefine how safety is perc...

Last week we shared the first half of our conversation with Sven Maxa about how we can build for a better future. It means getting the industry to prioritise healthy responsibly built homes that stand the test of both time and climate. This week’s episode is the second half of that conversation and we’re discussing how passive house standards and strong community bonds can help us achieve those go...

The world is changing, and the way we build our homes should change too. People are increasingly passionate about their health, comfort and the environment – which is where Passive Houses come in. In this episode we sit down with Sven Maxa, a building designer and Passive House advocate, to discuss how we can build for a better future. Sven shared so much good stuff in our conversation that we had...

Have you ever wondered why you feel perpetually drained, despite clocking out on time? The cause (and solution) might be the boundaries we’re too scared to set. Psychologist Julie Mounter joins us for today’s episode to talk about the different types of boundaries and how mastering them can lead to a more fulfilling life. One of the most straightforward forms of boundary is the physical kind. It’s...

It’s been a big week in the building industry and sometimes we’re not quite sure how to feel, which is why we want to break down some of the big changes we’ve noticed and what they could mean down the line! To kick things off, there's been widespread concern about the Coalition's proposal to freeze updates to the National Construction Code (NCC) for the next decade. This plan, with apparent backin...

As builders it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of building a house our clients will cherish, that the space around it becomes an afterthought. Today we’re joined by Nadia Cole from Platylobium Landscape Design to talk about landscaping and the difference it can make when building an enjoyable, and sustainable, home. So how can landscaping be sustainable, isn’t planting any plant sustaina...

Is your home still running on outdated gas energy?  Maybe the effort of switching to electric doesn’t seem worthwhile, but it definitely is. Going electric isn't just about cutting carbon emissions – it improves the comfort of your home and saves you money! What’s not to love?  This week, we took the opportunity to chat with Ben and Marcella from Goodbye Gas, getting into the gritty deta...

It's a common fate — a newly built home settling into its first winter, and already the heating bills climb sky-high. Why is it that modern construction sometimes misses the mark? Today we’re joined again by our good friend and building-science expert Cameron Munroe to break down this issue.  So, picture this: a wall that's not just a barrier but a well-crafted system designed to maximise eff...

Think your old home can’t achieve today’s high-performance standards? Think again. We're here to challenge conventions by retrofitting a typical Burbank home from the '90s into a certified Passive House. No extra frills, no new builds—just clever planning and innovative techniques. Join us as we take you on a journey that proves you don’t need to start from scratch to achieve groundbreaking energy...

Did you know Australia boasts the larges average home size anywhere in the world?  The market is full of oversized, inefficient homes that aren’t sustainable or necessary and we’re sick of it.  That’s why we sat down with Imogen from IP Architecture, who’s challenging the ‘bigger is better’ mindset and setting new standards for sustainable living. Imogen’s journey in architecture began w...