The Christmas break is one of the only times builders get real space to think.

Sites slow down. Phones quieten. And for a brief moment, you can step back from the day-to-day and look at how your business actually runs.

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, we sit down with ScaleUp Smart to unpack the DAD Framework — Delete, Automate, Delegate — a simple, practical way for builders to reduce overload, protect margin, and set their business up better for the year ahead.

We talk through:

• Why most builders feel busy all year but still feel stuck
• Why deleting work comes before hiring or outsourcing
• What should be automated before adding people
• How to delegate properly without creating more stress
• The BOD model (Building, Operational, Day-to-Day) to decide what stays local and what can be supported offshore

This isn’t about working harder next year.

It’s about using the Christmas break to gain clarity, remove friction, and come back in January knowing exactly where your time creates the most value.

A practical episode for builders who want to build a better business — not just a busier one.

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Aaron sits down with Phil from GJ Gardner Homes Brisbane North to unpack a real construction journey — from starting an apprenticeship in 2008 to becoming a franchise owner alongside business partner Chris McNeil.

Phil shares how a strong sporting background shaped his discipline as a builder, why customer experience matters more than perfect builds, and how trust, transparency, and leadership underpin long-term success in construction. The conversation covers partnerships, franchise life, acreage building trends in Brisbane’s outer north, and the small one-percent decisions that separate average builders from great ones.

This is an honest, grounded discussion about what it really takes to build a sustainable business, earn five-star reviews, and leave a lasting reputation in the industry.

If you’re a builder, apprentice, or business owner wondering what “good” actually looks like in practice — this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Aaron continues the conversation with Phil from GJ Gardner Homes Brisbane North, diving deeper into what it takes to build a strong, sustainable building business — not just great homes.

Phil opens up about partnership dynamics with co-owner Chris McNeil, how clear roles and trust underpin their success, and why customer experience has become the backbone of their operation. From slab parties and transparent leadership to handling mistakes with compassion, this episode lays out what five-star building businesses actually do differently.

The discussion also explores acreage building trends across Brisbane’s outer north, knockdown rebuild demand, franchise life, and why builders who focus on people — clients, staff, and partners — consistently outperform those who don’t.

If you want a practical blueprint for building trust, strong partnerships, and a reputation that lasts, this episode is worth your time

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, we sit down with Dan Hanara from James Hardie to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing builders today.

Complexity.

From installation guides and design decisions to customer communication and onsite execution, modern building has never been more complicated. But according to Dan, the best builders are not the ones doing more. They are the ones simplifying better.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why most builders struggle to translate customer emotion into technical decisions

• How better education on site reduces mistakes months later

• What good supplier support actually looks like

• Why visualisation and digital tools are becoming essential in home building

• How clarity builds trust with clients, trades and teams

Dan also shares insights from his background in engineering, manufacturing and sales, and explains why being a “useful construction wingman” matters more than ever in today’s building environment.

This episode is a must listen for builders, designers, suppliers and anyone focused on lifting standards across the construction industry.

Rick’s journey into construction did not start with business plans or franchises. It started on the tools.

From roofing in Victoria to years of formwork in Queensland, Rick spent most of his career doing physically demanding site work in some of the toughest conditions construction has to offer. That time on site shaped how he sees building today — not just how homes are constructed, but where things commonly go wrong once multiple trades are moving through a job.

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Az sits down with Rick from Goop Guys Sunshine Coast to unpack how that lived, on-site experience led him into surface protection and ultimately into business ownership. Rick shares how watching avoidable damage pile up on finished homes pushed him to look for a better solution — one that protects glass, floors, sills and finishes before problems occur, not after.

The conversation dives into why Goop has become known as “liquid insurance” on site, how small scratches and shortcuts can turn into major delays and replacement costs, and why protecting surfaces properly is often cheaper than fixing them later. Rick also opens up about the realities of running a trade-based business, the challenges he faced early on, and the role strong culture and support play in long-term success.

A practical, honest discussion about quality, accountability and what it really means to care about the finished home — from someone who has spent most of his life on site.

Learn more about Goop Guys at https://www.goopguys.com.au

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Az sits down with Brent Nolan from Blunt Agency for a straight-up conversation about brand, trust, and why so many businesses overcomplicate both.

Brent shares the thinking behind helping position G.J. Gardner Homes as Australia’s most trusted builder, and why real brand strength is built from the ground up, through customer experience, internal culture, and consistency, not clever slogans.

They also unpack what happens when brands lose touch with their audience, using the Bud Light controversy as a real-world example of what not to do, and how listening to customers should always outweigh chasing noise.

If you are serious about building a brand people actually trust, not just recognise, this one is well worth your time.

For more: https://www.bluntagency.com/

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Az sits down with Kyle Bate, Founder of ModularSales.com.au and Director of ECP Constructions, to unpack why the modular construction industry needed its own dedicated marketplace.

Kyle explains how ModularSales.com.au was created from lived experience inside the modular sector, not from a boardroom or tech startup. After more than twenty years working hands on in modular construction, Kyle saw how difficult it was for buyers to understand modular options and for builders to get their work seen in one place.

The conversation explores how ModularSales.com.au helps modular builders showcase their homes, granny flats and prefabricated buildings, connect directly with buyers, and gain visibility in a growing market that is often misunderstood.

Kyle also shares why modular construction has evolved far beyond site sheds and dongas, and why platforms built by people who understand construction are becoming increasingly important as housing demand grows across Australia.

This episode is a must watch for modular builders, suppliers, and anyone interested in how off site construction is changing the way homes are delivered.

For more head to: https://modularsales.com.au/

What happens when an estimator gets so frustrated with bad systems that he decides to fix the problem himself?

In this episode, Az sits down with Jake Barry, the quiet force behind MyConstruct, one of Australia’s most practical and underrated builder management platforms.

Jake shares his journey from leaving school at 16 and teaching himself to code, to helping deliver digital systems for organisations like PJ Burns, Master Builders and Stonewood Homes. Along the way, he explains why most construction software misses the mark, how discerning builders properly test platforms, and where AI will actually add value on site and in the office.

This is a grounded conversation about solving real problems, cutting through software hype, and building tools that genuinely make construction easier.

No fluff. No buzzwords. Just a builder-minded technologist with a long-term view.

Try MyConstruct free for 30 days: https://myconstruct.com/signup