The journey from oil and gas to solid plastering might sound like a leap, but for Luke, it’s the story of finding passion, creativity, and purpose in building something of his own.

In this episode, we’re live from the Adelaide studio with Hosts, Dean Backman & Luke Callery and guest Luke Perovic, the man behind Adelaide Plastering Solutions. Luke shares how he turned a trade he’d never heard of into a thriving business, why communication and trust matter more than markups, and what it really takes to grow a small team without losing quality.

From learning his craft to leading crews on complex rendering projects, Luke’s story is all about hard work, smart decisions, and knowing your numbers.

What You’ll Learn

Chapters

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

The theory is one thing. Making it work on site is where it gets real. In Part 2, we get practical about airtightness, apprentices, software, and the habits that help builders and families thrive.

Hosts Luke Callery and Dean Backman sit down again with Chris Cahill (Primebuilt Constructions) and Timothy Greenham (Emerald Building Services), live from Circa Studio at Bowens Port Melbourne. From blower door “aha” moments to the culture that transforms apprentices into leaders, this episode is full of lessons you can take straight to site.

We also explore the realities of switching to all-in-one software (WunderBuild), how being your own client changes design decisions, and where the industry is heading with code changes and shifting demand. Plus, we look at the boundaries and routines that help business owners stay healthy, both on and off the tools.

What you’ll learn

Chapters

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The theory is one thing. Making it work on site is where it gets real. In this builder’s panel, we dive into the journeys, wins, and hard lessons shaping how great homes actually get delivered.

Live from Circa Studio at Bowens Port Melbourne, hosts Luke Callery and Dean Backman sit down with Chris Cahill (Primebuilt Constructions) and Timothy Greenham (Emerald Building Services). From carpentry beginnings to leading teams, they unpack culture, communication, and the decisions that keep projects moving. You’ll hear how a “Focus 30” check-in builds buy-in, why renovations still sharpen a builder’s edge, and what it takes to navigate a tougher market without losing momentum.

Tim shares his Passive House lens, along with a personal reason for chasing healthier homes, plus the story behind a Scandinavian-style subdivision he’s building for his own family. Chris lifts the lid on a 40-metre hallway rural residence with stables and a painstaking 12-sided ceiling over a pool. He also explains how clarity, pre-cons, and honest client education keep complexity under control. It’s practical, candid, and full of on-site wisdom.

What you’ll learn

Chapters

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery

In this episode, Dean Backman & Luke Callery sit down with John Bowen (Managing Director, Bowens) to unpack what keeps a 131-year business alive—culture, disciplined basics, and smart bets on innovation. Recorded live at CIRCA Studio, Bowens Port Melbourne, John talks about starting in Victoria’s early-90s downturn, rebuilding crumbling yards into modern builder hubs, and why Bowens stays laser-focused on pros: stock depth, rapid delivery, and solutions that actually save days on site. They dig into long-tenured teams, the Bowens Expo, and new hands-on spaces for high-performance building.

What you’ll learn

How to scale without losing the soul: the habits that keep teams for decades

The real meaning of “best at the basics” (and why it beats shiny new things)

Practical ways suppliers can accelerate your day: stock, systems, and a yes-mindset

A builder-first approach to innovation: selection centres, expos, and training

What’s coming for high-performance building—and how Bowens plans to help

How private, purposeful growth keeps the focus on builders (not retail volume)

Chapters

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Dean Backman & Luke Callery continue with Mitch Emery (Align Architect) to move from pre-construction into delivery — contracts, documentation, council realities, and the on-site coordination that keeps projects on track.

What you’ll learn

Planning permits & council realities

Keeping budget aligned with design intent

Documentation that reduces RFIs & variations

Choosing contracts & defining scope clearly

On-site coordination, RFIs & information flow

Handover, defects & client experience

00:00 – Intro & Part 1 recap

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Dean Backman & Luke Callery sit down with Mitch Emery (Align Architect) to open the hood on how architects and builders can work tighter— from the first client brief through concept, documentation, permits and pre-construction.

What you’ll learn

How Mitch approaches the early brief, concept design and client onboarding

Why engaging the builder early saves time, rework and budget

Documentation standards that reduce RFIs, variations and on-site friction

How to balance design intent with cost (smart value-engineering)

Planning permits, council realities and setting expectations with clients

Practical advice for builders and homeowners to keep projects on track

00:00 – Intro & welcome (Dean & Luke)

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Founders’ stories aren’t just about “starting a business”—they’re about building something that lasts.

In this episode of the Build Insite Podcast, we sit down with Jesse & B'ashae from J Vella Builders to unpack the real journey behind a growing building company—how they split responsibilities on site vs operations, the systems that keep projects moving, and what it takes to lead a team while keeping clients informed and happy.

What you’ll learn

How founders split roles (on-site vs back-office) without stepping on each other’s toes

Early lessons that shaped quality, culture, and client communication

The systems and workflows that reduce chaos and keep projects on schedule

Pricing, estimating, and margin thinking as you scale

Marketing that actually wins work (referrals, brand, and being present online)

What’s next for the business and where they’re placing their bets

00:00 – Intro & guest welcome

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The theory's one thing. Making it work on site? That's where it gets interesting.

In part two with Ben Walsham from Arkata, we get into the nitty-gritty of energy-efficient building—the stuff that separates good intentions from homes that actually perform. Ben walks us through a high-performance passive solar project in cold climate conditions, breaking down the real challenges: slab insulation that works, achieving proper airtightness, and delivering thermal comfort that homeowners can feel.

What you'll get from this episode:

Perfect for builders, architects, and anyone who wants homes that perform as well as they look.

Chapters:

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

In this episode of the Build Insite podcast, Luke and Dean sit down with Ben Walsham, founder of Arkata, an energy efficiency consultancy specialising in residential projects.

Ben shares his journey from architecture to energy consulting, revealing why early engagement in the building process is crucial for long-term project success. The conversation explores the impact of seven-star NatHERS ratings, whole-of-home assessments, and how the NCC 2022 updates are reshaping the industry.

You’ll also hear Ben’s perspective on:

Packed with practical advice and forward-thinking strategies, this episode is a must-listen for builders, designers, and homeowners who want to stay ahead of the curve in sustainable construction.

Chapters:

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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