The Build Insite Podcast

The theory's one thing. Doing it live in front of a room full of builders? That's a whole new level. Welcome to our very first live-recorded Build Insite podcast episode.

For this special episode, Dean and Luke are joined by three powerhouse guests: Sam Hammond from Built by Hammond, Luke Davies from Davies Construction, Future Builder & Align Architecture, and Adam Antony from VEO Building. Together, they pull back the curtain on what's really driving modern building businesses forward — from pre-construction processes and team culture, to scaling without losing your mind, to the rapidly evolving world of AI in construction.

Whether you're a builder, designer, tradie, or industry professional, this conversation is packed with practical insights from three operators who are actively shaping the future of how Aussie builders run their businesses. Expect real talk about systems, software, leadership, and the mindset shifts that come with growth.

What You'll Learn
• Why pre-construction is the make-or-break phase — and how the right software changes everything
• How Sam built a high-performance team of 14 by leading with passion and matching workload to people
• Where AI is heading next, and the simple steps you can take today to start using it in your business
• Why "control freak" builders need to learn to let go in order to truly scale
• How design + build offerings can unlock new opportunities (and the lessons learned along the way)

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction & Welcome to Build Insite LIVE
00:40 – Meet the Guests: Sam, Luke & Adam
03:30 – The Evolution of Pre-Construction
05:10 – Why Builders Need a Project Management System
07:00 – How Systems Create Freedom (and Holidays!)
09:35 – Building & Keeping a High-Performance Team
12:00 – The Move into Design + Build
13:35 – AI in Construction: Where It's Headed
15:40 – Getting Started with AI as a Builder
17:45 – Adam's Take: Plain Language AI & SOPs
19:30 – Scaling Without Losing Quality
21:20 – Letting Go of Control to Grow
21:55 – Wrap Up & Part 2 Teaser

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery
Guests: Sam Hammond - Built by Hammond
Luke Davies - Davies constructions/Future builder/align architecture
Adam Antony - VEO building

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

The hardest part isn't the workout. It's putting it in your diary and actually showing up.

In Part 2 of our chat with Rusty Clark from Purpose Fitness Adelaide, we get into the practical side of building strength, energy, and resilience when you're already stretched thin running a business or grinding it out on the tools. Rusty breaks down why "I'm too busy" is the most overused excuse in the trades, and how three sessions a week can completely change the way you show up — at work, at home, and in your own head.

We also dig into the parallels between sport and business, how habits like the two-minute rule and the 3-3-3 method can make change stick, and why the way you train is often a mirror of how you operate everywhere else in your life. Whether you're a builder, a tradie, or a business owner, this episode is packed with insights you can use straight away.

What You'll Learn:
• Why "I'm too busy" is costing tradies and business owners more than they realise
• How to use the two-minute rule to actually start (and stick to) a fitness habit
• The 3-3-3 method: three workouts, three meals, three minutes of prep
• Why strength training beats more cardio for capable, resilient bodies
• How sport mindset translates directly into running a better business
• Practical nutrition, sleep, and scheduling tips for people working long hours

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:20 – Time-Blocking Training Like a Business Meeting
01:50 – The "Too Busy" Excuse and How to Beat It
02:43 – Where to Start: Diary, Strength, Sleep
03:23 – Why Your Job Isn't Your Workout
05:11 – Building Stronger, More Capable Humans
06:11 – Dialling In Nutrition for Long Days On Site
07:13 – Sleep, Recovery, and the Reverse Alarm
08:53 – Protein, Meals, and the Cheat Code to Eating Right
11:37 – Advice to a Younger Self Still on the Tools
14:55 – Sport, Business, and the Scoreboard Mindset
17:30 – Atomic Habits and Becoming the Person You Want to Be
21:17 – Life Outside the Gym
22:23 – What to Say to Someone Who Keeps Putting It Off
23:46 – The Two-Minute Rule and Removing Friction
26:01 – Is Snacking Okay?
27:55 – Showing Up as the Best Version of Yourself

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

Your job site isn't your gym. And your grind isn't your self-care. So what happens when builders burn out and have nothing outside of work to fall back on?

In this episode, host Luke Callery sits down with Rusty Clark, founder of Purpose Fitness, internationally qualified snowboard coach, former personal trainer in London, and one of Adelaide's most passionate advocates for fitness as a tool for life, not just the gym.

Rusty's story is anything but conventional. From tearing his ACL twice, opening a gym he couldn't walk into, surviving COVID shutdowns, and spending nearly a decade training elite athletes and movie stars in London, he's built Purpose Fitness on one core belief: fitness should give you access to more of life, not just a better body.

This episode isn't just about reps and routines. It's about why busy tradies and business owners need a "third space," somewhere that's not work, not family, just for you. Luke shares his own journey from total gym newbie to training 5 to 6 days a week, and why that shift changed everything as a business owner.

What you'll learn:
• Why "my job is my workout" is holding you back
• How a dedicated third space, like a gym or community, protects your mental health
• The parallels between running a fitness business and running a building business
• Why building your team is the only way to step out of your business
• The story behind 24 Hours for a Purpose, Purpose Fitness's powerful mental health fundraising event

00:00 – "That's why you still look the same"
00:16 – Introducing Rusty Clark & Purpose Fitness
01:30 – Why fitness on a Build Insite podcast?
02:00 – Rusty's journey: footy, ACLs, Canada & London
06:00 – Why he named it "Purpose"
07:30 – Opening the gym, on crutches
08:05 – COVID hits: closing the doors & going online
10:00 – Online coaching lessons: communication & accountability
13:00 – Business resilience: grit, systems & not quitting
14:30 – AI, social media & building trust as an owner-operator
16:40 – Building your team so the business can grow without you
17:55 – Luke's personal journey: burnout to 5x a week
19:30 – The "third space" and why tradies need it
22:50 – 24 Hours for a Purpose: the mental health event
25:00 – The workout stats behind the event
28:00 – Why you can't escape mental health, and how the event reflects that

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

Running a building business can look polished from the outside. But behind the finished projects, awards, and social media highlights, the reality is pressure, isolation, constant problem-solving, and learning through mistakes.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Luke Callery sits down with Emile Ellens from SV Built to unpack what building business ownership really looks like. From the lonely early years of winging it, to improving systems, using better tech, and building stronger industry relationships, this episode gives builders an honest look at what it takes to stay profitable, keep improving, and build better over time.

The conversation also dives into the future of better building — from business coaching and builder networks through to high-performance construction, Passive House thinking, and why quality should never stop at minimum code.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why running a building business can feel isolating
• How better systems help builders make faster decisions
• Why tech and admin tools can save serious time
• How builder communities can shortcut years of mistakes
• Why high-performance building starts with better thinking
• How quality control protects both the client and the builder

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:21 – The real pressure of running a building business
03:24 – Marketing, coaching, and finding support
07:24 – Inside the SV Built team and systems
09:24 – Tech, software, and going paperless
17:16 – High-performance building and the Passive House mindset
22:00 – Quality control, inspections, and industry gaps
26:13 – What’s next for SV Built

This episode is a strong reminder that better builders do not just improve what they build. They improve how they operate, how they think, and how they continue learning.

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

“I kind of just winged it.”
That’s how a lot of builders start, but not many talk about what comes after.

In this episode, Luke Callery sits down with Emile Ellens from SV Built to break down the real journey behind building a business from scratch, without the traditional pathway. From early losses to learning on the fly, this is an honest look at what it actually takes to grow in the building industry.

Emile shares how he transitioned from a steel fabrication background into building, taking on developments, learning from trades, and eventually launching SV Built. The early years were not perfect. There were missed margins, no profits, and plenty of mistakes, but those lessons became the foundation of a high-quality, award-winning building business.

This episode is a reminder that growth in construction does not come from knowing everything upfront. It comes from doing, failing, learning, and adapting on every job.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• How starting without a traditional pathway can still lead to success in building
• Why most builders lose money early and how to learn from it
• The importance of relationships with trades and clients from day one
• How mindset shifts help you move forward when problems hit on site
• Why continuous learning is one of the biggest advantages in construction

Chapters:
00:00 – Winging it in the early years
00:24 – Introduction to Emile Ellens (SV Built)
01:00 – Non-traditional pathway into building
02:29 – Getting a builder’s license without a trade background
05:36 – Lessons from failing the first license interview
06:13 – The biggest challenge: learning everything
07:02 – Problem-solving mindset on site
08:04 – The early days of SV Built
11:48 – First years in business: losses and lessons
12:22 – Margins, scheduling, and trade relationships
13:01 – Renovations vs new builds
15:09 – Awards and standout projects
16:26 – Design and construct approach explained
18:22 – What sets SV Built apart
20:07 – Building long-term client relationships

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite