Better Builder Podcast
Social Links Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders convert higher quality projects. Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bradvisser01/?hl=en Gro's Socials Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@groagency Gro’s website https://groagency.co/ + https://www.gro.video/ Disclaimer: This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this podcast. Any third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of this podcast, and no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any content contained in any third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this podcast.
Episodes
This week on the Better Builder podcast we sit down with Jake Woods, founder of Calibre Homes. Jake came up as a boat builder, spent nearly two decades on superyachts, then came home and built Calibre into a respected Auckland renovation company. He gets into precision on the tools, why trust is everything, and his push to fix the apprenticeship pathway with Builders Academy.
Social Links
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This week we sit down with Jarrett Howe from Frontline Project Management, on-site at a bespoke Auckland home he built with architect Jason Bailey of Hoxha Bailey. Jarrett and his partner Ernie run a small operation that takes on big things, from one-off homes to projects worth tens of millions.
He gets into why getting the builder in early is a game-changer, how his open-book system shows clients where every dollar ...
This week we sit down with Jason Bailey of Hoxha Bailey Architects, who flew in from the Sunshine Coast for the chat. Over 30 years designing Auckland homes, Jason shares his story and the lessons behind it.
He takes us from a creative Auckland childhood and an arts degree into architecture, and the leap of starting a practice from scratch with no clients. Along the way he gets into the pros and cons of a business pa...
This week, we welcome Ben Kevey-Maiden, founder of New Wave Construction, to the Better Builder podcast as we sit down on location in St Luke's, Auckland, inside the striking little commercial building he built off the side of his family's car wash. Ben has built a reputation across Auckland for bringing complex, high-end architectural designs to life, with a craftsman's eye for detail and finish.
In this episode, Be...
This week on the Better Builder podcast, we sit down with Ben Lloyd from Lloyd Hartley Architects, on location at a small St Luke's office he designed in the corner of a busy Auckland car wash. Ben shares what it really takes to run a small architecture practice, how he guides clients through a stressful once-in-a-lifetime build, why holding firm on budget matters, and why early builder involvement is a game-changer...
Lawrence is a second-year building apprentice from Tauranga who joins Brad for an honest chat about life on the tools. He breaks down how the apprenticeship actually works: the trainer visits, the night classes, the book work, and the mistakes along the way. They cover site culture, the first-year learning curve, why he chose the trades, and what makes a good apprentice. Plus a rapid-fire round on tools, energy drin...
This week on the Better Builder podcast, we sit down with Matt Garlick, founder of Supreme Builders NZ, to talk about what it actually takes to execute high-end architectural construction in some of the most remote, awkward locations across the Bay of Islands. Originally a carpenter from Kent, UK, Matt moved to New Zealand at age 22 and has spent the last two decades cutting his teeth on complex, regional builds.
In ...
Architect Paul joins the Better Builder podcast for our second outdoor episode of the season, sitting down on location to discuss the brutal realities of building on an island. From navigating the nightmare logistics of ferry-bound concrete trucks and winter storms to making 2,600 boat trips over the water, Paul pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to project manage a build isolated from the mainland.
Socia...
Charlie is a 19-year-old, third-year building apprentice from Auckland who joins Brad for an honest chat about life on the tools. From a school work-experience day on a commercial site to choosing residential building over sparky or plumbing work, Charlie breaks down how the apprenticeship actually works — the training, the book work, the pay structure, and the mistakes (and injuries) along the way. They talk ...
For our second outdoor episode of the Better Builder podcast, we are on location in Mangawhai with architect Tim Dorrington, founder of Dorrington Atcheson Architects. Tim sits down to share the realities of running a modern practice, his mid-century design philosophies, and how a close shorthand with local builders creates a massive competitive advantage for clients.
We dive deep into how early builde...
This week, we welcome back a returning favourite to the Better Builder podcast as we sit down on location in Mangawhai with Nick Smith, founder of Smith Construction. Nick has built an incredible reputation across Greater Northland for executing complex, high-end architectural homes.
In this episode, Nick pulls back the curtain on the business reality of scaling to 15 staff, the mental hurdles of stepping off...
In this episode, Andrew joins us fresh off a lecture tour in the US to discuss his incredible career and what it takes to design world-class structures. From winning a major national housing award three times early in his career to running a premium 25-person practice, Andrew pulls back the curtain on the real relationship between architects, clients, and builders.
We dive deep into why New Zealand is an archi...
This month on BBA, we chat with Luka Noad, a third-year building apprentice with Builders Academy NZ. After leaving school in Year 12 and cold-emailing over 50 companies to land his first role, Luka knows better than most how hard it is to break into the trades.
In this episode, Luka talks about the reality of getting your first apprenticeship, what separates good apprentices from bad ones, and why he's tuning out th...
This month on BBA, we chat with Adrian Ferguson, a 23-year-old building apprentice who transitioned from plumbing to high-end residential construction. Based on the North Shore and nearing qualification through Builders Academy, Adrian highlights the benefits of frequent assessments and a strong connection with his mentor to accelerate his career.
In this episode, Adrian discusses why his generation is...
How do you balance early fatherhood, a growing business, and architectural excellence? Rory Burnett, founder of RB Builds, joins us to share his journey from farm life to business owner.
Beyond his own story, Rory dives into the importance of giving back to the trade. We discuss his star apprentice, Aidan, and how the support system at Builders Academy is changing the game. Learn why frequent six-week check-ins are t...
This month, we sit down with Sam Paauwe, Massey High School Building Academy Prefect, to discuss the fast track to a building career. Sam explains how the Building Academy helped him gain nearly a quarter of his apprenticeship credits by building Kāinga Ora houses. He emphasises that the academy acts as a critical support system, giving students who struggled academically a chance to excel in a practical field they ...
As 2025 draws to a close, Brad is joined by Dan (Producer of Better Builder) to reflect on a landmark year. From the adrenaline of the podcast tour to the prestigious Better Builder Awards, they dive deep into the highs, the lows, and everything in between that defined the year for the community."
Social Links
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast
This special compilation episode features the best business insights from our recent Brisbane Builder Tour, highlighting five of the city's top custom builders: Seb Toscano, Charlie Mylne, Jarryd Duffy, Matt Grieve, and Caleb Adams. Hear how leaders stress the critical importance of setting firm boundaries with clients and maintaining a 12-14% net profit margin to avoid financial burnout. Jarryd Duffy and Matt Griev...
This week, we sit down with Jeremy Chapman, founder of JCA STUDIO, an award-winning Auckland-based practice committed to authentic and considered design. Drawing on his diverse background as a builder and furniture designer, Jeremy passionately argues that architectural plans are a graphic, artistic process that fundamentally dictates a house's final outcome. He dives into the complexity hidden within simplicity and...
We sit down with Craig Moller, Director at Moller Architects, to discuss the deeper meaning behind design. With three decades of experience and a passion for crafting enduring spaces, Craig shares his wisdom on creating structures that truly "resonate" with occupants. This episode is a masterclass in architectural philosophy, emphasising the crucial connection between structure, design, and materiality. Don't miss C...
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