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Construction Hot Takes
Construction Hot Takes episodes
- Automation vs. A.I. in Construction: How To Navigate
In this episode, Jeff Robertson and Gregory Gorman deconstruct how construction firms could be thinking about automation and artificial intelligence in construction. We hope this brings lots of value to your construction organization!
Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes29 min - How To Achieve Your Construction Company’s Growth Targets In Months, Not Years (Strategic Planning)
In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, our hosts, Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson, break down why strategic business planning is often the first thing construction leaders ignore—and why it’s the most critical for long-term survival. From the "engineering mindset" trap to identifying actionable milestones, learn how to move past reactive decision-making and build a roadmap that survives economic shifts. Hope you enjoy this episode!
Chapters:
00:00 The "Day-to-Day" Trap: Why Leaders Avoid Strategic Planning
04:09 The Role of Third-Party Facilitators in Construction
06:33 The "Book Report" Method: Prepping the Team for Strategy
17:15 Actionable vs. In-Depth: Gradient Levels of Planning
18:50 Accountability: Ensuring the Plan Doesn't Gather Dust
Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes25 min - 3 Reasons Your CFO Hates You (And It’s Costing You Money)
If your CFO feels like the enemy… it’s probably not them.
Most business owners unknowingly create friction with finance—and it shows up in missed profits, bad decisions, and constant tension.
In this episode, we break down the 3 biggest mistakes leaders make that drive their CFO crazy—and how fixing them can unlock serious growth.
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction: The CFO-Ops Dynamic
1:39 – Forecasts as a "Contract with the Future"
6:58 – Understanding "Potential Costs" vs. Real Risks
14:21 – The Friction of "Taking Profit" Early
25:31 – Bridging the Communication Gap
31:13 – The Most Expensive Sentence a PM Can Say
35:14 – Final Thoughts: Same Team, Different Languages
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=132 min - Construction Industry HOT TAKES REACTIONS: Part 2
Everyone loved Part 1, so we are doing Part 2!
In this episode, Adam, Jeff, and Greg react to five HOT TAKES about the construction industry and decide whether they agree or disagree. You’re not going to want to miss this one. Comment with any takes you feel like deserve a reaction and dissection!
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction: The Reaction Segment Returns
0:48 – Topic 1: The Lowest Bidder Mindset
5:22 – Topic 2: Ego vs. Technology Problems
7:57 – Topic 3: Superintendents and Company Culture
11:21 – Topic 4: Project Manager Retention and Ownership
16:56 – Topic 5: The Danger of the Growth Phase
21:14 – Wrap-Up: The Importance of Shared Language
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=120 min - 3 Systems to Scale Your Construction Company (in 2026)
In this episode, Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson bring their decades of experience to lay out 3 of the top processes necessary for a construction firm to grow. We hope you enjoy this one!
Chapters:
0:00 – Scaling Preconstruction & Estimating
7:30 – Systems for Operational Performance
15:18 – The Strategic Role of the Back Office
20:33 – Comparing GC vs. Trade Contractor Scaling
31:43 – Specialization & Future GrowthCheck out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes32 min - Construction Industry HOT TAKES REACTIONS: Part 1
In this episode, Adam, Jeff, and Greg react to four HOT TAKES about the construction industry and decide whether they agree or disagree. You’re not going to want to miss this one. Comment with any takes you feel like deserve a reaction and dissection!
Chapters:
0:05 – Segment Intro: The Rules of Engagement
1:06 – Statement 1: Labor vs. Leadership
9:47 – Statement 2: Subcontractors vs. GCs in Creating Chaos
15:09 – Statement 3: Did BIM Really Fail?
17:31 – Statement 4: Safety as a Culture or a Shield
21:14 – Outro and Where to Find More
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=122 min - 3 Ways AI Can TRANSFORM Your Construction Business Today
In this episode, Jeff Robertson breaks down the three ways construction companies can leverage AI to boost productivity, eliminate data silos, and make smarter decisions on the job site.
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction: The AI Tipping Point in Construction
0:48 – Level 1: AI-Enhanced Software
2:53 – Level 2: Integration and Orchestration Layers
5:01 – Level 3: AI-Native Applications
6:45 – Conclusion: The Foundational Role of Data and ProcessesCheck out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes7 min - AI in Construction: Practical Use Cases for Every Contractor
In this episode, Jeff Robertson dives into AI in construction, breaking down adoption tiers, practical use cases, and how contractors of all sizes can leverage AI to protect margins, streamline processes, and grow their business.
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction: The Solo Podcast
4:27 – Understanding the AI Marketplace
6:52 – The Three Tiers of AI Application
12:12 – Market Adoption: Large, Mid, and Small Contractors
22:11 – Practical Use Cases & ConclusionCheck out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes34 min - State of A.I. in Construction (2026 Q1 Update)
A.I. is affecting every single facet of the construction industry. We are committing to doing a quarterly update, and this is the Q1 2026 State of A.I. update from the Construction Hot Takes podcast. Here, we talk through 5 key updates in the world of construction A.I.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro to AI Trends
04:02 – Embedded AI "Co-pilots"
07:11 – Document & Contract Intelligence
12:22 – AI-Assisted Estimating
15:51 – AI for Production Scheduling
17:06 – Financial & Invoice AutomationCheck out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes26 min - How A.I. COMPLETELY Changes the Monthly Close Process for Construction Accounting
In this episode, Gregory Gorman draws on his industry leading expertise in construction accounting especially as it has been dramatically affected by A.I., specifically how A.I. is enabling the continuous close.
Chapters:
0:00 – Intro to Market Trends
1:52 – Understanding Risk Management
3:29 – Scaling Your Operations
6:09 – Tech Integration in Construction
10:55 – Future Outlook & ClosingCheck out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/
Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultationFollow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes17 min
About Construction Hot Takes
From the publisher's feed
Hosted by Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, alongside Senior Consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, Construction Hot Takes show dives into the gritty, unfiltered realities of building a profitable construction company. With nearly 100 years of combined experience, they’ve been there—from carrying gear on job sites to leading Ascent, a consulting powerhouse that exclusively serves construction companies across North America.
Each episode is packed with insights, strategies, and insider knowledge from the industry’s top consulting firm for contractors. Discover what big national contractors know about growing a business, get actionable advice on boosting efficiency, and learn how to supercharge your project pipeline. Tune in, get inspired, and gain the knowledge to take your construction business to the next level.