Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to the first episode of Season 4 of The Building Talks Podcast ! This week, I’m chatting with Mick Hawes, a high-performance business coach specialising in the construction industry. As a bestselling author and former elite sports coach with Tennis Australia, Mick brings a unique perspective on achieving success in both business and life. We dive into practical strategies for boosting productivity, profitabilit...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to the final episode of the How to BE a Property Developer Series on The Building Talks Podcast ! In this wrap-up episode, Steve Chandler and I tackle the big question: What’s next? If you’ve been following along and are eager to dip your toes into property development, this episode is your guide to taking those all-important first steps. We chat about: ✅ Property development as a learned skill that requires th...
Dec 30, 2024•37 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to the penultimate episode of The Building Talks Podcast for the How to BE a Property Developer Series! This week, Steve Chandler and I explore the all-important topic of delivery in property development—breaking it down into pre-construction design, risk management, and navigating the construction phase. In this episode, we dive into: ✅ Delivery as both a design and construction process. ✅ The critical roles a...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to the final episode of The Building Talks Podcast Season 3! I’m Martin Preece , and I’m thrilled to close this season with an inspiring conversation featuring George Abraham, Managing Director of Hickory —one of Australia’s most innovative construction companies. George shares his journey from starting without industry connections to becoming a leader in the construction space. We chat about his approach to fo...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Ready to crack the code on generating revenue in property development? In this episode of The Building Talks Podcast , I’m joined once again by Steve Chandler , our resident expert for the How to BE a Property Developer Series. This time, we’re talking all things revenue—the essential part of any development project that gets cashback in your pocket after months (or even years) of hard work. Steve and I explore the cri...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to this week’s episode of The Building Talks Podcast! I’m Martin Preece , and I’m chatting with Rory Hunter, founder and CEO of Model, a pioneering build-to-rent development and investment group. Rory’s journey into property development is incredible—starting in 2005 when he bought an island in Cambodia, transformed it into a world-renowned holiday resort, and later returned to Australia to establish Model, now...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast ! I’m Martin Preece, and this is Episode 4 of our special How to BE a Property Developer Series with the insightful Steve Chandler. This time, we’re getting into the real work behind managing authority approvals and handling the people side of property development—basically, how to keep everything on track without causing any friction! Steve and I dig into the entire approvals...
Nov 18, 2024•59 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast! I’m Martin Preece , and in this episode, I’m diving into Australia’s housing crisis with the insightful and passionate Rob Pradolin. Rob’s a seasoned pro in property development, having spent years with big names like Australand (now Frasers ) and leading his own projects since he was 23. He's not only got the know-how but a deep drive to tackle the housing crisis head-o...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast, and Episode 3 of our special How to BE a Property Developer Series with me, Martin Preece, and our expert guest for all seven episodes, Steve Chandler. This week, we’re tackling feasibility studies—one of the trickiest parts of property development! Last time, we covered acquisition; now we’re diving into the ins and outs of feasibility. Steve breaks down the three essential ...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to another exciting episode of The Building Talks Podcast with me, Martin Preece! This week, I had an awesome chat with Tom Macrokanis, founder and director of Macro3D and Macrofab, a fabrication and engineering firm in Victoria. We dive into Tom’s work at Macro 3D, where he's shaking up the construction world with 3D concrete printing solutions. What's really cool about Tom? He’s not your typical con...
Oct 28, 2024•58 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to Episode 2 of our special 7-part How to BE a Property Developer Series, on The Building Talks Podcast! Throughout this season, I'll be chatting with Steve Chandler CEO of LEFTA Group and Director at the Property Development Institute. In this episode, we’re continuing our exploration of the ins and outs of property development, diving into the nitty-gritty details of Property Acquisition , and how this c...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey Legends! In this week's episode of The Building Talks Podcast , I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Nick Travers, the owner and director of Techne Architects. Nick’s firm has made a big name for itself here in Melbourne, designing some of the city’s most iconic hospitality venues. From trendy cafés to buzzing pubs and restaurants, Techni Architects is all about creating spaces that Melburnians love to hang out ...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Have you ever considered Property Development as a side-hustle, a way to build wealth or add to your retirement fund, or perhaps because your entrepreneurial sprit is itching to have a crack and Development? Well, welcome to the first episode of our special 7 part How to BE a Property Developer Series, which will run along side our usual fortnightly podcast episodes. For this 7 part series I’m thrilled to have Steve Ch...
Oct 07, 2024•25 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! In this episode of The Building Talks Podcast , I had the chance to sit down with Chris Ong, Managing Director of SYNC. Sync has made a name for itself in the modular construction space, particularly with bathroom pods, having delivered an impressive 29,000 units so far! We dove into Chris's fascinating career journey, from his early days as a Project and Contract Administrator up to his more recent leadership rol...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to this episode of The Building Talks Podcast! This week we chat with Ciara Ritchie, a young construction professional in the early stages of her career in the industry. We often hear of the challenges younger professionals face early in their career, and we all recognise the shortage of female participation (and retention) within the Construction space, so this week, Ciara provided some insights, from her pers...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to another episode of The Building Talks Podcast. This time, I had a fantastic chat with Brian Sands, a former CEO turned corporate advisor who specialises in business turnaround and growth, particularly within the construction and property sectors. Brian’s journey from labourer to CEO and now to business coach is nothing short of inspiring. We explored his transition from hands-on roles to strategic leadership...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Get ready for a cracking episode of The Building Talks Podcast! This week, I sat down with Ronan Walsh and Alan Findlater, the directors of Newbridge, for a deep dive into the world of consulting and client-side project management. Both legends in Melbourne’s construction scene, Ronan and Alan have built impressive careers since meeting back in 2008 while working at DCWC. They shared stories about their journey into th...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! We're pumped to bring you this week's episode of The Building Talks Podcast! We had a cracker of a chat with Professor Mathew Aitchison, the CEO of Building 4.0 CRC. With Australia facing a housing crisis and cost-of-living pressures, modular construction and offsite prefabrication are being talked up as potential solutions. We dive into the big issues in construction and property, breaking down the challenge...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! In this week’s episode of The Building Talks Podcast, we chat with Adrien Mamet, Managing Director of Mamet Homes and co-founder of BuildUp Australia and BuildUp Apprentice. Adrien shares his journey from a dedicated tradie to a successful luxury home builder in Queensland, addressing key issues like apprenticeships, mental health, and construction quality. Adrien provides valuable insights into the gaps in apprentices...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to this week's episode of The Building Talks Podcast! Today, we're delving into the world of YIMBYism with Jonathan O'Brien, Lead Organiser of YIMBY Melbourne. YIMBY, or "Yes In My Backyard," offers proactive solutions to Australia's housing crisis, exploring planning regulations, heritage overlays, and the "missing middle" housing concept. Jonathan discusses how increasi...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to this week's episode of The Building Talks Podcast! We’re thrilled to bring you an in-depth chat with Greg Tupicoff, General Manager of Developments at Alder Group in Brisbane. Greg’s journey from planning to property development gives him a unique perspective on how these two worlds intersect. In this episode, we dive into planning and development, focusing on Southeast Queensland where Greg is based, b...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to this week's episode of The Building Talks Podcast! Have you ever noticed how on shows like Grand Designs, whenever they start digging for basements or substructures, they always hit some unexpected snag with costs or conditions? Well, we're diving into that today! I had an amazing chat with Bobby Wang and Geordie McMillan, senior environmental specialists at Stantec, a top-notch engineering firm. W...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! Welcome to this week's episode of the Building Talks podcast! We're excited to welcome back Robert Sobyra from BuildSkills Australia. You might remember Robert from when he was with the Australian Constructors Association. Now at BuildSkills Australia, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. In this episode, we dive into BuildSkills Australia, Robert's role, and tackle hot topics in the constructi...
May 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast! Join us for a captivating conversation with Illan Samuel, founder of Samuel Property, as we delve into the dynamic world of construction and property development in Australia, specifically in Victoria. Discover valuable insights into market conditions, challenges, and opportunities in today's landscape. Key takeaways include the importance of finding opportunities, buildi...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey Legends! Welcome to another insightful episode of the Building Talks Podcast! In this edition, we're diving into the later stages of a construction career with our special guest, David Fisher. With over four decades of industry experience, David shares invaluable insights on navigating retirement age in construction. From his roots in New Zealand to wearing multiple hats in the sector, David's journey offers a wealth o...
Apr 22, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey Legends! This week's podcast episode is a real treat! I had a chat with two of the directors at St Ferrer, a mid-tier building contractor in Port Melbourne. They've got quite the story to share – from being a fit-out and refurbishment contractor to becoming a top player in cladding remediation projects. In this episode, we meet Dan Burmeister and Chris Bertacco, each with their own unique journey into the construction ...
Apr 08, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey Legends! This week, I had an awesome chat with Justin McGrath, the construction director at DeLuca Corp in Brisbane. Justin's journey to becoming Construction Director is super interesting – he started out as an Apprentice on the tools, worked his way up through different roles, and now he's killing it in his current gig. We talked about everything from the importance of apprenticeships to mastering new skills as you c...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! In this episode, I had a great chat with Jordan Skinner, who runs Moonshot Media, a cool company helping construction organisations build strong brands and ace their marketing game. We dove deep into how to make your company stand out, attract top talent, and create a killer recruitment strategy. Oh, and Jordan hosts an awesome podcast called "Crushing It in Construction" where he talks to industry bigshots e...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey Legends! This week, we took a fascinating dive into the world of property development with the one and only Steven Chandler! With over 20 years of experience in both construction and development, Steven's insights are like treasure troves - he's actively developing projects as the CEO of LEFTA Corporation whilst coaching and mentoring future Development professionals, in his role as Director of Property Development Ins...
Feb 12, 2024•2 hr 32 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text! Hey, Legends! In the latest episode of The Building Talks Podcast, we're venturing into the fascinating world of data centres, a booming asset class making waves in Australia's development landscape. To unravel the mysteries, I had the pleasure of chatting with Simon McFadden, Industry Director at Aurecon, the International Consulting Engineering firm. Simon, with his wealth of experience, shares insights into what data ce...
Jan 29, 2024•59 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast 
