Thrive In Construction with Darren Evans
'Thrive in Construction' is the only podcast that delves into the personal journeys of sustainability leaders and innovators in the construction industry across the UK. Our show differentiates by offering unscripted, passion-fueled conversations that go beyond the buzzwords to the heart of what's driving the industry forward. It's tailored for aspiring professionals, seasoned experts, and anyone with a keen interest in the sustainable evolution of construction. We're here at a time when the call for sustainable development is not just a trend, but a societal imperative, empowering listeners to build a career that contributes to a greener future.
Episodes
86 episodes
Ep. 79 The Blueprint for Zero-Carbon New Builds: Energy, Heat Pumps, and Smarter Design
The net-zero future depends on new builds designed from the start for low-carbon energy — not retrofitted later.In this episode, Mark Lufkin maps out the standard for net-zero-ready new builds: smart electric heating, embedded controls,...
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53:52
Ep. 78 Why the Construction Industry Is Losing the PR Battle and How to Win It
Despite building everything around us, construction remains misunderstood by the public and too many leaders are afraid of the spotlight.In this powerful episode, Leanne Tritton, founder of ING Media and Co-Founder of Don't Waste Buildi...
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49:40
Ep. 77 Why BIM Never Delivered What It Promised, And How To Fix It
BIM was meant to transform construction. So why did it stall?In this episode, Graham Kelly breaks down the real story behind BIM’s rollout. From poor client understanding to bloated consultancy models, learn what went wrong, what’s still wo...
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44:18
Ep. 76 Why Embodied Carbon Matters and How to Reduce It Without Sacrificing Performance
Steel and concrete make up 11% of global emissions, but we’re still designing like that doesn’t matter.Natalie Black shares how her team at Enbee is dramatically cutting embodied carbon through design, detailing, and smarter material ch...
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52:53
Ep. 75 Why Upgrading Homes Beats Building New, and What We’re Getting Wrong
Governments love talking about new builds. But what if the real climate and housing solution is already standing?In this eye-opening episode, Anne Harper makes the case for upgrading existing homes and why retrofitting is faster, cheaper...
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52:55
Ep. 74 The Science Behind Net Zero Buildings and What Engineers Must Know
Net zero isn’t just a goal, it’s a system-wide shift. In this episode, Dr. Anastasia Mylona breaks down the science behind net zero buildings and what it really takes to deliver on their promise.From carbon calculations to hu...
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56:16
Ep. 73 Only 16 Percent of Engineers Are Women, It’s Time to Shift the Balance in STEM
In this powerful episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren is joined by Alexandra Knight, Founder of Stemazing, engineer, and advocate for diversity in STEM, to explore the reality of gender bias in engineering and the urgent need for change.
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1:03:44
Ep. 72 The Excavator Pollution Problem in Cities: Why Small Machines Are a Big Climate Threat
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Mats Bredborg, Head of Customer Cluster at Volvo Construction Equipment, to expose a little-known crisis: the massive pollution caused by small diesel excavators in our cities.
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46:01
Ep. 71 “Buildings Cause 40% of Global Emissions” — Why No One Is Talking About It!
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Alice Bond, Policy Manager at the World Green Building Council, to explore the global fight for sustainability in the built environment.From structural engineering to shap...
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22:44
Ep. 70 Only 13 Staff Run 90 Train Stations: What Construction Can Learn from Copenhagen
How digital innovation is transforming construction. In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Marek Suchocki, a digital specialist and construction industry veteran, to explore how technology is reshaping the future of c...
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28:38
Ep. 69 ‘The Future Engineer Will Be a Creative Thinker, Not Just a Calculator’ – The New Role of Engineers
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren is joined by James Norman, a structural engineer, author, and educator passionate about shaping the future of the industry. James discusses his transition from working in industry to teaching, h...
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25:44
Ep. 68 What do Engineers Get Wrong About Sustainability? CIBSE President Shares Her Secrets to Leadership
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Fiona Cousins the global Chief Operating Officer for Total Design at Arup. Fiona shares her inspiring journey from being one of the few women in engineering during the 1980s to be...
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44:09
Ep. 67 ‘We’re Sitting on a Giant Thermal Battery’ – Karen Spenley Talks Ground Source Heat Pumps
The UK’s untapped thermal battery and ground source heat pumps could transform sustainable heating and cooling for the future. In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Karen Spenley, the UK Country Manager for Celsius En...
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29:44
Ep. 66 You Have a Teaspoon of Plastic in Your Brain – Here's How It Got There
It may sound unbelievable, but this week we’re diving into the shocking reality that you could have a teaspoon of plastic in your brain at any given moment. In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Chaline Church to expl...
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30:50
Ep. 65 28% of Materials Reused in a Real Estate Project: Ground-breaking Construction Sustainability
Tina Paillet is a leader in sustainable real estate and circular economy practices. In this insightful conversation on the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Tina shares her unique journey from studying architecture to founding a groundbreaking bu...
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27:32
Ep. 64 ‘There’s No Such Thing as Waste – Just Resources Waiting to Be Reused’ | What Is A Circular Economy
Sustainability expert and architect Duncan Baker-Brown discusses innovative approaches to sustainable construction and the circular economy on this episode of the Thrive In Construction podcast. Duncan shares insights from his groundbreaking pr...
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33:39
Ep. 63 Passivhaus vs Standard Homes: The Hidden Health Benefits Explained
Discover how Passivhaus is reshaping the standard of affordable housing in the UK and why it's more achievable than many think. In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren sits down with Emma Osmunden, a trailblazer in sustain...
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22:02
Ep. 62 40% of the UK’s Carbon Emissions Come from Construction – Here’s How To Fix It
How to Tackle Greenwashing in Construction with Charlie Martin. In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Charlie Martin, co-founder of The Responsible Edge podcast and a leading voice in sustainable marketing within the ...
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29:18
Ep. 61 "We Built a House in 7 Days - and It’s Made of Straw!" | Modular Construction Explained
In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, we dive deep into the future of sustainable construction with Paul Lynch from EcoCocon - a company leading the charge in modular, bio-based building solutions using straw wall panels.
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26:43
Ep. 60 Inside the Timber Roadmap: How the UK Plans to Build Better, Faster and Greener
In this episode of the Thrive in Construction podcast, Darren is joined by Andrew Carpenter to explore how timber construction can play a vital role in helping the UK achieve its Net Zero targets by 2050. Andrew is Secretary for the UK Governme...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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44:55
Ep. 59 The Silent Killer: Why Air Quality Matters in Your Home and Workplace
In this week's episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren is joined by Simon Jones, Air Quality expert. Together, they explore the long-term impact of air pollution, particularly how poor indoor air quality can affect our health, from hidden che...
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Season 1
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55:51
Ep. 58 Most People Get Leadership Wrong – Here’s What Actually Makes a Great Leader
This week Darren sits down with Stephen Shedletzky, leadership expert and author of Speak Up Culture, to uncover the essential qualities of great leaders, how to foster a culture of open communication, and why decisiveness, compassion, and conf...
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58:27
Ep. 57 “Sustainability in Construction Starts with People” – Why Diversity is the Key to Innovation
Women in construction sustainability: breaking barriers. In this episode of the Thrive in Construction podcast, Darren sits down with Rebecca Heald, a passionate advocate for women in leadership and sustainable practices within the construction...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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54:34
Ep. 56 Part 2 of 2: We’re Throwing Money Down the Drain!” How Wastewater Heat Recovery Saves Energy & Costs
How Wastewater Heat Recovery Can Revolutionise Energy Efficiency in Homes & Buildings. Want to slash energy costs and improve sustainability in construction? In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Cameron Loggenber...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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18:39
Ep. 55 Part 1 of 2 - How to Slash Your Energy Bills with Waste Water Recovery
How waste water heat recovery can save you thousands! In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Cameron Loggenberg, Technical Manager at ShowerSave, to discuss the game-changing benefits of waste water heat recovery.<...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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21:16