Mindful Builder

Have you ever felt like you're burning the candle at both ends and you aren’t sure how long you can keep it up? Trust us, you're not alone. It’s easy to push ourselves too far with work and neglect our mental health. It might not seem like a huge deal in the moment but it’s a quick path to burnout.  We recently sat down with, we sat down with Kyle Zanetto, a Tasmanian building business owner,...

We’ve got a bonus episode for you today because it’s R U OK? Day. If you aren’t familiar with R U OK? Day, it’s a day dedicated to checking in on your mates and yourself. The construction industry is incredibly demanding and it’s easy for mental health to take a back seat, but days like this remind us how important it is to be there for each other – not just once a year but as an everyday priority...

Ever been frustrated by how ridiculously expensive it is to access Australian building standards? Yeah, us too. Imagine being hit with a $330 bill just to access ONE building standard—it's maddening! We recently sat down with Laura Tanova, a building surveyor with nearly two decades of experience, to dig into what’s going on here and how it impacts everyone in the industry. Spoiler alert: things c...

Today we’re joined by good friend and psychologist, Julie Mounter to discuss a topic that’s often misunderstood but incredibly powerful: mindfulness. If you’ve ever dismissed mindfulness as "woo woo" nonsense, stick around—this conversation will change your mind. Julie kicked things off by explaining that mindfulness is essentially cultivating a practice of awareness—becoming aware of your thought...

What if I told you that a home could be energy-efficient, comfortable year-round, and environmentally sound—all without breaking the bank? Well if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you already know the answer is passive houses. We’re both really passionate about passive house building, but we know there is a lot of misinformation out there, so we sat down with building physics expe...

Homes in Australia aren’t being built to a high enough standard. The building industry prioritises quantity over quality so there’s no time for care or craftsmanship. That’s why we sat down with Brian and Simon from the Sustainable Builders Alliance, an organisation dedicated to promoting high-performing, sustainable construction practices. We discuss the challenges of building a sustainable futur...

Ever walked into a home and instantly felt as if everything just clicked into place? Chances are you have an interior designer to thank! This week we sat down with Erin Fairmaid, to talk about the real magic behind well-designed spaces and why interior designers are invaluable. Because the industry isn’t regulated, the term “interior designer” can be thrown around by people without knowledge and e...

Welcome back to another episode of the Mindful Builder podcast! Today we’re joined again by our friend and expert psychologist, Julie Mounter, for a conversation about mental health and depression. Whether you’re struggling right now, or worried about someone else, we want to give you the tools you need to face it head-on. Julie starts the episode by outlining what exactly depression is. While eve...

Welcome back to another episode of The Mindful Builder podcast. We’re back with the second half of our conversation with the incredible Airboss Dan. If you haven’t listened to it yet, make sure you go back to episode 19 where we discuss Dan’s path to becoming a carpenter in Germany and how it differs from what we see in Australia. We restart the conversation talking about the unique challenges of...

This week, we had an incredible guest on our podcast, Airboss Dan, famous on Instagram for taping houses and currently working with Proclima on the technical side of things. Our chat is pretty long so we’ve split it into two episodes. In this first part, Dan shares his path to become a carpenter in his home country of Germany, and why he cares so deeply about quality craftsmanship. Hamish and I of...

Ever wake up in the morning feeling stuffy even though you left a window cracked open all night? Or maybe you’ve noticed your heating bill skyrocketing every winter, and you just can’t seem to figure out why.  We recently had a great chat with Dr. Cameron Munroe, who uncovered some remarkable, and somewhat shocking truths about why our homes might need a serious upgrade in the ventilation dep...

Today’s topic is one we’re really passionate about: high-performance homes. This term gets thrown around a lot these days, and while it’s a fantastic concept. there needs to be some context around what actually makes a home high-performance. And no, just wrapping a building doesn’t cut it. So, let's break it down. Here are some of the most important things for what we consider a high-performance h...

Have you ever wondered why some homes seem to age gracefully while others fall apart?   Well, it's often the unseen details that make or break a house. In this episode of the Mindful Builder Podcast, we sit down with Myles Clark, a fellow podcaster, builder, and building inspector. Listen in as we explain how home inspections can save you from future headaches and ensure your home remain...

Today Hamish and Matt are joined by good friend and psychologist, Julie Mounter to explore the pervasive issue of anxiety within the building and construction industry. Statistics show that 42.9% of people aged 16 to 85 have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives, with anxiety being the most common among these conditions. It’s an important topic that is particularly prevalent i...

In this episode of the Mindful Builder podcast, we sit down with Claire Thomas from Altereco for an engaging conversation that spans career transitions, personal challenges, and the intricacies of running a sustainable building design company. Bringing Unique Skills to the Industry Claire’s journey began in the UK, studying sports science, before relocating to Australia to live with her husband Ja...

In this episode, we delve into the world of building science with Dr. Cameron Munro, an aerospace engineer turned building physics expert. We explore his journey from mechanical engineering to building science, discuss the challenges of trying to build his first Passive House, and learn about the evolving landscape of sustainable building practices in Australia. Cameron also shares insights on the...

The pre-construction phase is an incredibly important time for any project, but all too often gets rushed through. If you stow down and take the time to address key elements like budgeting, client relationships, and project feasibility you can build the foundation for a successful and seamless construction phase. We love talking about these topics by sharing the lessons we’ve learned, so today Ham...

Did you know that one in four workers in the construction field have had high symptoms of depression or anxiety? Did you know that every year 190 Australians working in the construction industry take their own lives? That’s one every second day. These statistics are scary but they’re also the reason we’re so passionate about discussing mental health in this industry. Today we’re joined by a psycho...

In today’s episode we’re joined by voice actor Sarah Aubrey to discuss her online advocacy of renewable energy and sustainable living. Throughout our conversation, Sarah shares insights into various aspects of renewable energy, including electric cars, household energy efficiency, and the influence of fossil fuel industries.   The Journey to Advocacy: Sarah's journey into the world of sustain...

Last year the federal government set a goal of building 1.2million new homes in the next five years. This doesn’t count renovations or extensions, it’s just brand-new construction projects. Breaking it down that means 180 thousand homes each year, about 60 thousand more than the current output.  It’s a huge ask considering the construction industry is already struggling to keep up with demand...

Welcome to another episode of The Mindful Builder! Get ready for an episode filled with passion and perseverance because we’re joined by the incredible Brad McEwan who opens up about his struggles with mental health as a builder. What he’s working on: We start by discussing Brad’s latest project: a hempcrete house. Hempcrete is a building material made from the core of the hemp plant mixed with li...

It’s just the two of us in today's episode and we’re discussing something that’s been on our minds lately – What makes the perfect client? We’ve dealt with so many clients in our careers and have learned to spot the signs of a good working relationship, as well as red flags that spell trouble. This episode will equip you with the tools to identify clients you’ll work well with and to build the pro...

In this episode of the podcast, we’re chatting with Greg and Beth, a father-daughter construction duo. Greg is a seasoned builder with a wealth of experience. Beth is a rising star known for her company, Beth Builds. Together, they are a powerhouse team, and they’re here today to share their journey, the challenges they've faced, and their vision for the future. Growth and Evolution of Beth Builds...

When toughness and resilience are often equated with success, it's not easy to open up and be honest about what we’re struggling with. The construction industry is demanding and high stress, which makes it a breeding ground for mental health challenges that all too often get swept under the rug.   Today we are talking about our experience with mental health struggles and how we manage it...

In a world increasingly aware of the environmental impact of human activity, sustainable living has taken center stage. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Anna Cummins, the editor-in-chief of Sanctuary Magazine, to discuss the importance and evolution of sustainable design. Sanctuary is a magazine dedicated to sustainable house design, produced by the not-for-profit Renew.  Anna began workin...