The Build Insite Podcast

The work doesn’t slow down, the pressure just changes.

In Part 2, we wrap up our conversation with Dale Cheesman and dive deeper into what it really takes to run a complex, multi-arm building business without burning out.
Dale opens up about managing stress across high-end residential, events, and joinery, and why investing in people, systems, and health matters more than watching the bank balance. From apprenticeship culture and leadership transparency to AI, admin efficiency, and coffee machines on site, this episode is packed with practical lessons builders can actually use.

We also explore the future of construction, rising costs, smarter pricing, the role of AI in admin and pre-construction, and how builders can stay competitive without losing their values. It’s an honest, grounded conversation about evolution, balance, and building businesses that last.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• How the right people and systems reduce pressure long-term
• Why health, mindset, and culture matter just as much as profit
• What’s changed with apprentices — and how builders should adapt
• How AI is already helping builders with pricing, admin, and decision-making
• The real challenges facing builders as projects scale and costs rise

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2
00:24 – Managing pressure across residential, events & joinery
01:53 – Systems, staff & not chasing the dollar
03:30 – Apprentices then vs now
05:03 – Scaling up & finding the next project
06:37 – Leadership visibility & team transparency
08:36 – Coffee machines, culture & site morale
11:12 – Building costs, pricing gaps & client expectations
14:18 – AI in construction: admin, pricing & decision-making
19:04 – Project management software & systems
21:19 – Health, balance & avoiding burnout
25:01 – What’s next for The Melbourne Builder
26:25 – Rapid fire questions & final advice

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery 
Guest: Dale Cheesman from The Melbourn Builder

🎧 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

Sometimes growth isn’t about chasing bigger jobs. It’s about building better systems.

In this episode, we sit down with a builder who’s done exactly that.

In Part 1 of this conversation, Dale Cheesman from The Melbourne Builder joins hosts Dean Backman and Luke Callery on the Build Insite Podcast to unpack a career that spans high-end residential builds, large-scale event spaces, and in-house joinery.

Dale walks through his journey from a tough carpentry apprenticeship to building a multi-arm construction business. He did it not by chasing dollars, but by focusing on people, process, and systems that scale. From fast-track event deadlines at the Melbourne Cup and Grand Prix to applying “sprint” thinking to residential projects, this episode is packed with real-world lessons for builders navigating growth, pressure, and changing markets.

This is an honest look at what it takes to evolve from being on the tools to running a resilient construction business, without losing quality along the way.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• How focusing on systems and people drives sustainable growth
• Why event construction teaches speed, clarity, and decision-making
• The real value of broad trade exposure early in your career
• When to step off the tools and replace yourself in the business
• How deadlines, sprints, and structure improve build quality

Chapters
00:00 – Systems over dollars
00:13 – Welcome to Build Insite
00:32 – Meet Dale Cheesman
01:19 – Starting out in carpentry
03:30 – Early business and partnerships
04:20 – Founding The Melbourne Builder
05:46 – From tools to admin and leadership
08:49 – Getting a builder’s licence young
11:36 – Replacing yourself in the business
14:00 – Defining high-end residential
15:03 – Joinery and the move into events
18:02 – Event builds, deadlines, and pressure
21:42 – Applying event speed to residential
24:54 – Market shifts in high-end resi
26:29 – Wrap-up and Part 2 preview

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery 
Guest: Dale Cheesman from The Melbourn Builder

🎧 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 theory’s one thing. Turning ideas into real outcomes? That’s where the work really begins.

In Part 2 of Episode 50, we wrap up our conversation with Luke Davies, diving deeper into his journey of writing Dream Home, building a personal brand in construction, and helping homeowners and builders think differently about how homes are designed, planned, and delivered.

Luke shares the behind-the-scenes reality of publishing a book, the frameworks that shaped it, and why clarity, orientation, and the right team matter far more than just floor plans and finishes. We also explore leadership, culture, health, and how to balance growth with family life in a demanding industry.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
• Why Luke decided to write Dream Home (and why it took years to finish)
• How personal branding builds trust across multiple businesses
• Common misconceptions homeowners have when building a dream home
• The importance of block orientation, lifestyle, and long-term comfort
• Leadership lessons on culture, delegation, and clarity in growing teams
• Rapid-fire insights on design, tools, trends, and favourite build moments

What you’ll learn:
• How publishing content can strengthen credibility in construction
• Why the planning phase sets the success of every build
• How builders, designers, and homeowners can get aligned earlier
• Practical leadership habits that support sustainable growth
• Why health, family, and mindset underpin long-term success

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2
00:30 – Writing Dream Home and building a personal brand
02:08 – The process behind the book and its frameworks
05:44 – Who the book is really written for
08:57 – Homeowner misconceptions and decision overwhelm
11:25 – Orientation, lifestyle, and building performance
12:31 – Health, family, and personal priorities
14:09 – Leadership, culture, and team development
17:30 – Rapid fire questions with Luke
19:46 – Where to find Luke and his work
20:26 – Final thoughts and wrap-up

🎧 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

Proximity matters. Who you spend time with, learn from, and build alongside can shape the direction of your business and your life.

In this episode of the Build Insite Podcast, we sit down with Luke Davies from Tasmania to unpack the idea that community isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a growth accelerator. From weekly catch-ups to industry events, Luke explains why surrounding yourself with the right people can move you forward faster than any tool or system.

Luke shares his journey from growing up on dairy farms in Tassie to becoming a builder, architect, author, and co-founder of Future Builder. We explore how early work ethic shaped his mindset, why Tasmania produces highly skilled builders, and how systemising your business can be the difference between burnout and balance.

This conversation also dives into high-performance building, healthy homes, integrated design, and why better systems lead to better outcomes. That includes benefits for clients, teams, and builders themselves.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why proximity and community can accelerate your growth as a builder
• How Luke’s early life shaped his work ethic and leadership style
• The importance of systemising your business to regain time and clarity
• Why design integration is critical to reducing waste and variations
• How healthy businesses lead to healthier homes and lifestyles

Chapters:
00:00 – Proximity is power and the value of community
01:55 – Growing up on dairy farms and building work ethic
04:40 – The decision to start a building business
06:47 – Why Tasmania produces highly skilled builders
07:31 – Community, collaboration, and sharing knowledge
09:17 – Systemisation as the turning point
12:50 – The missing link between design and construction
14:07 – Why great building can’t fix poor design
20:18 – Healthy homes and the builder’s responsibility
23:38 – The origin story of Future Builder

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

Before we roll into 2026, we are pressing pause to revisit the moments that defined 2025 on the Build Insite Podcast. The quotes, stories, and hard truths stuck with us long after the mics were switched off. These short reflections capture the ideas, lessons, and conversations that challenged thinking and sparked better discussions across the industry.

A big thank you to everyone who was part of the Build Insite journey in 2025, our guests, listeners, and partners who continue to support better conversations across the industry. Your insights, challenges, and shared experiences are what make this platform what it is. Here’s to new conversations, stronger partnerships, and building better together in 2026.

🎧 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