Construction Physics' Brian Potter - why America excels at fracking but struggles with construction

"World of DaaS"

"World of DaaS"
Construction Physics' Brian Potter - why America excels at fracking but struggles with construction
Aug 12, 2025
Word of DaaS with Auren Hoffman

Brian Potter is a structural engineer and author of Construction Physics, a weekly Substack about the economics, technology, and productivity of building and infrastructure. He's also a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Progress. 

In this episode of World of DaaS, Brian and Auren discuss:

  • Why construction productivity has flatlined for decades
  • The failure of modular construction and automation barriers
  • The unprecedented innovation at Bell Labs and modern research comparisons
  • Why America dominates fracking but struggles to build 


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You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Brian Potter on X at @_brianpotter.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)