Sustainable Builders Yak
For Australian construction professionals building high-performing, sustainable homes and homeowners looking to create their own sustainable, high-performing home.
Episodes
69 episodes
Ep #63 Bridging the Gap: Overcoming Australia's Home Performance Crisis with Ben Walsham
In this episode, Ben Walsham from Arkata shares his journey from studying as an architect to becoming a certified energy assessor, and how witnessing underperforming, single-glazed luxury developments drove him to step away from traditional vol...
Bonus Episode: Scaling Your Building Business with Kyle & Luke from Future Builder
In this episode, Kyle and Luke from Future Builder share how their platform is helping builders scale their businesses through structured systems, training, and community support.They dive into the fundamentals of running a profitable co...
Ep #62 Closing the Loop: Solving Construction's Plastic Waste Problem with RecycleAll
In this episode, Damien Collins from RecycleAll and NeverStop Construction shares his journey from plumber to eco entrepreneur, and how building some of Melbourne's most celebrated sustainable projects — including the prototype for the Nighting...
Bonus Episode: Iain from Keystone Construction on Better Clients & Smarter Builds
In this Rethink bonus episode, Iain from Keystone Construction shares his unique journey into building—from a background in biology and environmental engineering to delivering innovative, sustainable homes.He discusses the challenges of ...
Ep #61 Building Better: Matt Carland on Sustainability, Mindset & Industry Change
In this episode, Matt Carland from Carland Construction shares his journey from aspiring surgeon to builder, and how it led him to focus on sustainable, high-performance homes.The conversation explores key challenges in the construction ...
Bonus Episode: A Passion to Learn with Matt from MS Constructions
In this Rethink bonus episode, Matt from MS Constructions shares a real, on-the-ground perspective—from financing challenges and valuation gaps to the growing divide in builder knowledge.He explores the frustration of delivering high-per...
Ep #60 Building Science & The Air We Breathe: A Deep Dive with Sean Maxwell
In this episode, Sean Maxwell from ATMA (Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association) breaks down the essential intersection of building science, air tightness, and occupant health.He dismantles the industry myth that "houses need ...
Bonus Episode: What’s Broken in the Building Industry? With Matt from Pache Construction
What’s really holding the building industry back?In this Rethink bonus episode, Matt from Pache Construction shares an honest, on-the-ground perspective—from rising training costs and limited access to education, to the ongoing challenge...
Ep #59 How to Build a Profitable Construction Business | Alex Campbell
Episode Description Alex Campbell, director of Tallwood Custom Built Homes shares his journey from a two-way radio room to becoming one of Western Australia’s most awarded builders. In this ...
Ep #58 Sustainable Timber Cladding with Andrew Smith (Weathertex)
Episode Description Simon Clark and Brian Guinan sit down with Andrew Smith from Weathertex to explore carbon-negative timber cladding and sustainable manufacturing. From their unique fibre-processing method to innovative product ran...
Ep #57 Real Construction Insights with Build Insite & the Sustainable Builders Alliance
Episode DescriptionWhat happens when experienced builders speak openly about the industry? In this episode Brian & Simon sit down with Dean Backman and Luke Callery of Build Insite bringing real insight from real p...
Ep #56 Cathy Inglis on the Future of Brick, Blocks & Masonry in Australian Construction
Episode DescriptionCathy Inglis, industry expert in masonry and brickwork, joins Brian Guinan and Simon Clark from SBA to explore the future of brick, block, and masonry in Australian construction. She discusses innovative constru...
Ep #55 Melissa Neighbour: Smart Planning & Sustainable Housing Incentives
Episode DescriptionMelissa Neighbour, Founder and Principal Director of Sky Planning, takes us inside Australian council planning and residential development. She explains how state policies, council approvals, and incentive-based...
Ep #54 Building Better Homes: John Bowen on 130 Years of Innovation at Bowens
Episode DescriptionJohn, Managing Director of Bowens, shares the story of a family-owned business founded in 1894 and his leadership journey since becoming Managing Director in 2005. We discuss how Bowens has ...
Ep #53 The Future of Housing Affordability and Supply with HIA's Simon Croft
Episode Description: In this episode, we sit down with Simon Croft, Chief Executive of Industry and Policy at the Housing Industry Association (HIA), to explore the current state of Australia's housing market. Simon shares his...
Ep #52 Electrifying Australia with Saul Griffith: How Tradespeople and Policy Can Lead the Clean Energy Revolution
In this episode: We sit down with Saul Griffith to explore his journey from metallurgy to MIT, Silicon Valley, and now leading work in policy, engineering, and sustainability. Saul shares insights on electrification, zero-emis...
Ep #51 Bamboo for a Sustainable Future: Building, Growing, and Innovating -With Jennifer Snyders
In this episode, Jennifer Snyders, President of the Bamboo Society of Australia, shares her journey from indifference to advocacy for bamboo in sustainable construction, environmental restoration, and carbon reduction. Born into a bamboo...
Ep. #50 EV Fires: Is Your Electric Vehicle A Fire Risk? - With Emma Sutcliffe
In this episode, Simon Clark and Brian Guinan chat with Emma Sutcliffe, Director of EV Firesafe, about the realities of electric vehicle (EV) fire safety. Emma shares how losing her plug-in hybrid in a 2018 bu...
Ep #49 Ventilation, Air Quality & Energy Efficiency in High-Performance Homes – With Joel Seagren
In Episode 49 of The Sustainable Builders Yak, we’re joined by Joel Seagren, National Mechanical Ventilation Engineer at Fantech, to unpack the critical (and often overlooked) role of ventilation in high-performance ho...
Ep #48 How Builders Can Better Qualify Clients and Win Back Time
How many hours have you wasted quoting jobs that never go ahead?In this episode of The Sustainable Builders Yak, we’re joined by Richard Armstrong, a former Melbourne renovation builder who turned over a decade of hard-ea...
Ep #47 – From The Block to Building Better: Jesse Raeburn on Real Estate, Resilience & Sustainable Homes
In this episode, we’re joined by Jesse Raeburn, a former Block contestant, and real estate agent turned builder, who is now creating high-performance, sustainable homes in Melbourne.Jesse shares his journey from starting as...
Ep #46 How Better Building Wraps Work - and Why They Matter
The Australian construction industry is recognizing the importance of weather resistant and vapour permeable building wraps. A correctly applied building wrap goes a long way to creating a resilient home protecting the building structure from w...
Ep #45 Jeremy McLeod: From Small Town to Nation-Leading Architect
Jeremy McLeod a ground-breaking Architect the entire built environment community can learn from.We talk all things sustainable architect and sustainable construction.This episode is brough to you by
Ep #44 Herald Sun Journalist on Why Sustainability Is a Must-Have for Homeowners
A conversation with Nathan Mawby, Property Journalist from the Herald Sun and Realestate.com where we discuss consumer trends with property sustainability.This episode...
Ep #43 - The Truth About High-Performance Construction - Once You See It You Can’t Unsee It!
Meet Dave Hurley - a sharp, detail-driven carpenter who’s raising the bar on what it means to build better. In this episode, we unpack what separates true high-performance construction from the rest. We explore the build...