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:

Chapters:

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.

“I kind of just winged it.”

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:

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The industry’s moving fast, but are builders actually being given the space to keep up?

In Part 2, Luke Callery sits down again with Will Frogley, CEO of Master Builders SA, to unpack what’s really happening across the construction landscape, from industry recognition and awards to labour shortages, rising costs, and regulatory pressure.

This conversation goes deeper into the realities builders are facing today, while also highlighting the opportunities shaping the future of construction in Australia.

From record-breaking growth to ongoing challenges around workforce and supply, Will shares practical insights that matter to builders on the ground.

What you’ll learn:

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

Sometimes the biggest opportunities in construction are not on site. They are in the systems, support, and people behind the scenes.

In this episode, Luke Callery sits down with Will Frogley, CEO of Master Builders SA, to unpack what the organisation really does, and why more builders should be paying attention.

Will shares his unconventional journey from media and politics into leading one of the most influential industry bodies in Australia. From there, the conversation dives into the real value Master Builders brings to the industry, from apprenticeships and training to mental health support and business resources.

This is not just about memberships. It is about building better businesses, stronger teams, and a more sustainable industry.

What you’ll learn:

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Host: Luke Callery 

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

Every builder focuses on the build. But the way you tell the story behind it can make all the difference.

In this episode of the Build Insite Podcast, Dean Backman sits down with Michael Lack from You Do You Productions — the videographer and storyteller who has become a key part of capturing the Build Insite journey.

Michael shares his path from travelling through Vietnam documenting life with GoPros to building a creative business focused on helping builders communicate their work through content. What started as experimenting with video has turned into a powerful tool for showcasing projects, building trust with clients, and telling the real story behind construction.

The conversation dives into why storytelling matters in the building industry, how content builds credibility long before a client makes contact, and why authenticity on camera can make a builder stand out in a crowded market.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

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Host: Dean Backman 

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

Getting your builder’s licence is one thing. 

In Part 2 of Episode #53, host Dean Backman continues the conversation with Luke Said from Impact Build diving deep into the realities of insurance, licensing, contracts, cash flow, and what it truly takes to run a sustainable building business in Victoria.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the pressures builders face behind the scenes. From navigating DBU licensing and financial requirements to managing stage claims and payment structures, Luke shares honest insights into the parts of the industry that don’t often get talked about publicly.

They explore:

Beyond the business talk, this conversation gets personal, touching on health, mental clarity, mateship, and the reality of juggling ambition with relationships.

What You’ll Learn

Chapters

Hosts: Dean Backman 

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

When you surround yourself with the right people, you quickly realise how much there is still to learn.

In Part 1 of this conversation, host Dean Backman sit down with Luke Said from Impact Build to unpack the journey from green apprentice to performance-focused builder in the Macedon Ranges.

Luke shares how an unexpected start in carpentry — sparked through a local footy club connection — set the foundation for an 18-year career in building. From being “as green as it gets” to now leading a team committed to higher standards, this episode explores what really shapes a builder: work ethic, mentorship, and the willingness to think differently.

They dive into:

This is an honest conversation about growth — personally, professionally, and as an industry.

What You’ll Learn

Chapters

Hosts: Dean Backman 

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

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

In Part 2 of our chat with Jesse Raeburn (FRP Group), we dig into what it really looks like building a new company from the ground up — keeping the team lean, staying selective with projects, and using your own build as the ultimate “showroom” to win the right clients.

Jesse breaks down why FRP isn’t chasing volume, how they’re pushing best-practice building (not minimum standard), and the mindset shifts that come with family, business growth, and long nights doing admin after the kids are asleep.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Chapters

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

There’s no such thing as work-life balance when you’re building something great.

In this episode of the Build Insite Podcast, we sit down with Jesse Raeburn, former tradie, real estate agent, The Block contestant, and now co-founder of FRP Group.

We unpack:

This isn’t just a chat about building houses.

What You’ll Learn

Chapters

Jesse’s energy is contagious. His journey proves that if you’re willing to go all in, sell the car, downsize the lifestyle, knock on 100 doors, you can create opportunities most people wait around for.

If you’re a tradie thinking bigger, or a business owner questioning the grind, this one’s for you.

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery 

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

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.

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:

Chapters:

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery 

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