Construction is one of the largest industries in the world, yet the way we talk about it has not evolved at the same pace as the technology reshaping it.

In this episode, we turn the microphones around on Owen and Martin, the founders of Bricks & Bytes. Owen is a quantity surveyor by background and Martin a structural engineer, both having run their own construction businesses before building one of the most recognised media platforms in construction tech. They share why they started the podcast, what they saw missing in the industry conversation, and how their experience on real projects shapes the way they approach media.

We get into why many construction events feel disconnected from project reality, the tension between niche tech audiences and boots-on-the-ground professionals, and whether AI and robotics are moving toward real adoption or just another hype cycle.

In this episode of the Off Site podcast, Jason and Carlos are joined by Andrew Chapman, CEO of the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA), to discuss the changing landscape of major project delivery in Queensland as the state prepares for a significant decade of infrastructure investment ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

The conversation explores the broader pressures facing the construction industry, including workforce capacity, delivery timelines, productivity, and the role of long-term planning in supporting sustainable growth. It also touches on how major events can act as catalysts for infrastructure investment, and the importance of ensuring these projects deliver lasting value beyond fixed deadlines.

A wide-ranging discussion offering context and perspective on what it takes to deliver major infrastructure programs at scale, and what the coming years may mean for Queensland’s construction and engineering sectors.

In this episode, Jason and Carlos sit down with Martin Roby, Head of Planning at Volker Fitzpatrick and Volker Stevan. Martin brings decades of experience from major UK contractors, including Balfour Beatty and BAM, and has earned deep respect across the industry.

The conversation takes an unexpectedly philosophical turn as Martin challenges some fundamental assumptions about how construction projects actually work. Using everything from sat-nav analogies to stories about Friday nights in the pub 30 years ago, he unpacks why the industry might be making things harder for itself than necessary.

There's a fascinating discussion about what's changed in construction culture over the past few decades and what that means for how teams operate today. Martin also shares some provocative thoughts about where the real problems lie, and they're probably not where you think.

If you've ever wondered why construction projects sometimes feel more complicated than they need to be, this conversation might just reframe how you think about delivery.

Timestamps:

01:40 - Establishing the core challenge

04:09 - Understanding project navigation through analogy

18:45 - Cultural shifts in construction over three decades

34:19 - The natural tendency to react rather than prepare