Mindful Builder

"How rock bottom do you have to let me hit before you actually help me?" Brad McEwan’s words hung in the air after we wrapped, because they’re all too familiar in the building industry. In this episode, we go past the surface stuff and talk honestly about what it looks like when you’ve been carrying it all, hoping someone will notice, and then realising you’re running out of road.
From the outside, Brad looks like the guy who’s got it sorted, with business, family, and good people around him. But he shares how quickly “I’m fine” can turn into snapping at work, shutting down at home, and feeling like you’re watching yourself unravel in slow motion. If you’re a builder, tradie, or business owner who’s been pushing through stress and burnout, this conversation will hit close to home.
We chat about why grit without communication becomes isolation, and how stress shows up in your relationships, sleep, patience, and confidence. Brad talks about what actually helped, including getting the right psychological support and learning practical tools to manage anxiety and mental health in real life, not just in theory, especially in high-pressure trade work.
This episode challenges the usual definition of “tough” and offers a better way forward, with space to step back, reset, and redefine success without losing your identity.
This conversation includes mental health and suicide. If it brings anything up for you, you don’t have to sit with it alone. In Australia, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14 or at https://www.lifeline.org.au/. If you’re in immediate danger, call 000.

CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 Intro
01:09 Brad joins and heavy topic
02:28 Early anxiety and trade culture
06:21 House purchase and burnout
14:36 Depression and anger stories
22:33 Pro Clima resource plug
23:42 Getting help and couples counselling
28:55 CBT tools and coping strategies
30:45 2022 crash and new limits
32:03 Crash Changed Everything
36:43 Income Protection Lesson
38:19 Identity Crisis After Injury
39:17 Perfectionism On Site
47:15 Hempcrete Engineering Failure
55:38 2024 Break That Fell Apart
57:09 Solo Builder No Backup
59:08 Work Dries Up Fast
01:00:45 Family Pressure Hits
01:02:05 Job Starts Then Sinks
01:02:52 Grinding Solo On Site
01:03:32 Delays And Cashflow Reality
01:04:58 Burnout And No Life
01:07:26 Asking For Help
01:12:35 Therapy And Breaking Point
01:22:20 Support Network And Reset
01:28:10 Rebuilding Habits And Confidence
01:32:09 Advice On Communication
01:37:01 Closing Thoughts On Listening

Our Sponsors:
Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
SBA - https://www.thesba.com.au/
Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

In this episode, Joel (Heidi Build) hijacks the mic for an unfiltered conversation about the realities of building in Australia.
We break down why builders can feel “owned” by a client for years after a contract is signed, how viral “circus build” videos damage trust in the whole industry, and the difference between educating and selling when builders share their work on social media.
We also get practical: if you live in a typical 1990s brick veneer home (single glazing, gaps, limited insulation), we cover the first upgrades that improve comfort and indoor air quality, including draught proofing, ceiling insulation, and ducted bathroom and kitchen ventilation.
Start with draught proofing. Seal the gaps. Stop the house bleeding comfort.
You don’t have to be a tree-hugging hippie to want comfort and health. You can still love your V8s.
We finish on a solid reminder for builders. It’s okay to step back. It’s okay to realise you don’t like being the builder. It’s okay to run a smaller business. It’s okay to define success by profit, lifestyle, and sanity, not just turnover.

CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Rapid Fire Nerd Check
05:21 Money Tightness and Numbers
07:59 WIP and Builder Finance
14:30 Trades Pride and Tool Skills
16:09 How Hamish and Matt Met
21:35 Apprenticeships and Passive House Path
23:14 Cost Talk and Comparisons
24:38 Why Building Feels Expensive
27:19 Wood Fires vs Airtight Homes
37:54 Bad Builds and The Gap
41:43 Licensing Upskilling Debate
45:49 Social Media and Industry Lift
49:20 Restoration vs New Builds
51:20 First Fixes for Homes
01:02:27 Sustainability Money Traps
01:07:04 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up
01:10:00 Mindful Moment Closing
Our Sponsors:
Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

If you’ve ever wondered why Australian homes feel freezing in winter and brutal in summer, this episode makes it painfully clear. “Suppliers in Australia are still delivering single-glazed aluminium windows,” and that one sentence explains a lot about comfort, energy bills, condensation, and why so many people feel worn down inside their own homes.
We sit down with Monika Rogers from Eco Sky Windows to talk high performance windows, Passive House certified systems, and what “thermally broken” actually means. We discuss U-values, why the whole window unit matters (not just the glass), and how slimline design, hardware, and airtightness change real-world performance.
The conversation also goes beyond windows into indoor air quality and ventilation. Monika shares why she rates HRVs so highly, and the hosts describe what it felt like having 30 to 40 people in a sealed space that still felt fresh, clear, and comfortable. If you care about building better homes, this is a practical look at the details that actually move the needle.
We finish up with the realities builders and clients need to plan for: shop drawings, lead times, shipping, and cashflow. If you’ve been nervous about imported high performance windows, this episode breaks down the process and shows why organisation matters more than geography.
CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 Intro
00:36 Meet Monika and Eco Sky Windows
01:01 Thermally broken vs “thermally improved”
03:00 U-values, triple glazing, and performance comparisons
03:33 How window performance is calculated (whole unit vs glass only)
09:00 “Passive culture shock” and why Australian homes feel so cold
13:11 SIP studio build in six weeks and what that means
20:00 Architects, glass-to-wall ratios, shading, and orientation
24:49 Low-E coatings, argon gaps, and glazing science
26:25 Slimline frames, concealed hinges, and hardware choices
29:11 HRVs, fresh air, and comfort in real buildings
33:16 Ordering process, drainage details, and shop drawings
34:01 Lead times, shipping, and getting windows on site
36:42 Cashflow, progress claims, and paying before arrival
38:12 Where high performance is growing in Australia
41:52 Mindful Moment: apprenticeships are a licence to learn
43:19 How to contact Eco Sky Windows

Our Sponsors:
Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

In this episode, we sit down with Joel from Heidi Build and Andrew “Hoppo” from Hoppo Construction for a no-script, no-agenda chat.
It starts with what makes tradie creators actually work online: being approachable, having an opinion, and showing up as yourself. Joel breaks down why the polished, curated Instagram approach did nothing for him, then the one raw timber-quality rant that finally cut through.
From there, we get into the stuff people don’t always say out loud. The stigma that tradies aren’t intelligent, why that stereotype still lingers, and the moment Joel’s own brother hit him with the line: “I’m not one of your dumb tradie mates.” We talk about what that does to your confidence, especially when you come from a culture where university is seen as the only “good” path.
It also turns into a proper Mindful Builder conversation about bullying, body image, and parenting. Hamish shares what it’s like watching your kid go through it, and Joel talks about how he handles it at home by listening, asking questions, and helping his kids feel heard.
We also cover the real side of “influencing” in the trades: DeWalt vs Makita, how brand partnerships actually work when they’re not forced, why you shouldn’t monetise too early, and what happens when you say yes to something that doesn’t align.
CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 Introduction
00:18 What Makes Tradie Creators Work: Confidence and Being Approachable
01:22 Why Curated Instagram Content Failed
03:00 DeWalt vs Makita: How Tool Sponsorships Actually Work
09:33 Feeling Valued: Why DeWalt Support Helped Them Lean Into Content
11:22 Quick Tradie Eats and the Misconceptions About Tradespeople
13:12 “Tradies Are Dumb”: The Stigma and Why It Still Exists
24:10 Confidence, Bullying, and Being the Overweight Kid at School
26:25 Parenting Through Bullying: Listening, Questions, and Helping Kids Feel Heard
31:50 Team Culture and Leadership: Honesty, Vulnerability, and Check-Ins
37:00 The “Wellness Survey” Debate: Corporate Systems vs Trade Reality
45:27 Influencer Goals: Cars, GM, and Brand Partnerships That Fit Your Identity

Our Sponsors:
Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with Andrew - Hopkins Construction
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopkinsconstruction/?hl=en
Connect with Andrew
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joel_heidibuild/?hl=en

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

James Turner from JTurner Constructions didn’t plan to start a building business. A torn ACL and a forced shift into subbie life pushed him into it, and he built the company the way most builders do: decks, renos, extensions, then new homes.
Two and a bit years ago, he was ready to pull the pin. Bad estimating, people management gaps, COVID losses, and the mental load stacked up fast. A turning point came from an unexpected place: an eight-week men’s course (Rising Kings) that helped him rebuild structure through daily habits and exercise.
From there, Zara D’Cotta’s course sparked a new interest in the health of homes, and Future Builder gave him the systems and support to start moving toward Passive House and high-performance building.
This episode is a practical look at what it really takes to transition: filtering the noise, learning the fundamentals, marketing like a human, and selling health and comfort before you ever mention acronyms.
CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 Intro
01:00 Meet James Turner (J Turner Constructions)
02:20 How the business started: ACL injury, subbie shift
08:45 Exit meeting shock + the pivot into carpentry
10:10 Nearly quitting: estimating, people, COVID losses
11:30 Rising Kings: structure, habits, exercise, and the mental reset
17:50 Zara DCottas course: holistic homes and health
19:00 Kids health trigger: carpet, dust, mould, air filtration
24:00 Future Builder call: systems, assets, and direction
25:15 Discovering Passive House and high-performance building
34:25 Marketing advice: document the journey, be vulnerable
36:10 Content that works: face to camera, education, long game
39:25 Fear of failure + getting comfortable in your skin
44:05 Transition risk: don't shoot yourself in the foot
49:00 PHPP as an optimisation tool + right-sizing systems
50:20 MEGT Mindful Moment: resilience and career pivots
Our Sponsors:
Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with James:
Website: https://jturnerconstructions.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jturnerconstructions/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/