What if success is not about working harder, but about mastering your mind?

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Aaron Ng sits down with Dr Yannick Van Heirden, mindset and performance specialist and founder of Impaktr, for one of the most practical and honest conversations we have had on leadership, discipline and sustainable success.

Yannick shares his personal journey from being directionless and self-sabotaging to completing a PhD and coaching high-performing leaders across Australia. Together, they unpack why so many builders and business owners feel constantly behind, stressed, and burnt out and what actually needs to change.

This episode dives into:

• Why your mind can be your greatest asset or your worst enemy
• The biggest leadership trap builders fall into without realising
• How behaviour change beats motivation every time
• Why taking care of your body is non-negotiable for business performance
• Practical habits builders can use immediately to regain control of their time and energy
• Why success is self-mastery, not a finish line
• How combat sports like jiu-jitsu build resilience for business and life

This is not theory. It is practical, grounded advice for builders, tradies and leaders who want to perform at a high level without sacrificing their health, family or sanity.

If you feel busy but not effective, motivated but exhausted, or successful but stretched, this conversation will hit home.

For More:

Peak Performance Quiz: https://peak-performance.scoreapp.com/

Yannick's meditation session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBXK71dxsZc&t=7s

3 steps to peak performance: https://youtu.be/P1bylWWDjps

#TheGoodBuilder #ConstructionLeadership #BuilderLife #MindsetMatters #HighPerformance #BuilderWellbeing #SustainableSuccess #LeadershipDevelopment #MentalFitness #EntrepreneurMindset

What makes a good builder isn’t just the quality of the home. It’s the values behind it.

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Aaron Ng sits down with Jimmy Gray, founder of Penelope Homes and 2025 Master Builders Queensland Rising Star, for a deeply honest conversation about building homes, building teams and building a life that actually works.

Jimmy shares the story behind the Penelope Homes name, why his first dog still defines his brand, and how family, trust and authenticity shape everything he does as a builder. From starting out as a chippy to running a growing custom home business, this episode pulls back the curtain on the realities young builders face and the lessons that matter most.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Why Penelope Homes was named after Jimmy’s dog and what that says about values
• The transition from carpenter to builder and the mistakes that nearly cost him early
• Pricing, cashflow and the hard lessons no one warns young builders about
• How automation and systems transformed communication and client trust
• Why team culture matters more than growth
• The importance of builder networks and sharing knowledge, not guarding it
• What success looks like when family and work are both priorities
• Jimmy’s simple but powerful definition of what makes a good builder

This episode is practical, emotional and real. It’s for builders who care about their craft, their people and the legacy they are creating, not just the next job.

If you are building a business, a team or a family alongside your work, this one will hit home.

What if the construction industry had a place where builders, trades, suppliers and professional services could actually find people they trust?

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Az Ng sits down with Renae Ng, the creator of the Good Builder Community Directory, to unpack why the directory exists, who it is built for, and how it is already changing the way the industry connects.

They cover:

• Why the directory is not just another listing site
• How trust and reputation are built through community, not algorithms
• The real value of visibility, backlinks and industry credibility
• How builders, trades and suppliers can use the directory to create real opportunities
• The bigger vision behind The Good Builder and restoring positivity in construction

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the thinking, intention and long-term vision behind one of The Good Builder’s most important initiatives — and why early adopters are already seeing value.

If you believe the industry works better when good people work together, this episode is for you. 

Welcome to Headline Tuesday on The Good Builder Podcast.

In this episode, we break down four major stories shaping the construction industry right now — the ones worth keeping your finger on the pulse of as we head into 2026.

We cover:

• Why reputation is now a legal asset

Construction lawyer Damon from Odyssey Legal explains how builders are increasingly being targeted by false or misleading online claims — and what to do if it happens to you.

For more: https://www.odysseylegal.com.au/ 

• From tents to turnkey housing

Why Australia may need to rethink disaster recovery housing, and how permanent, compliant modular homes could shorten the path from disaster to dignity.

• Bradfield City officially moves into delivery

What this NSW Government-backed mega project signals about the future of large-scale precinct delivery, planning reform, and state-led housing supply.

• The quiet site change that can make a massive difference

How something as simple as what your team wears on site can open conversations, reduce stigma, and potentially save lives — featuring TradeMutt and TIACS.

For more:
https://trademutt.com/

https://www.tiacs.org/
Support Line 0488 846 988

This episode is about risk, responsibility, leadership, and people, from legal protection and housing delivery to mental health on site.

If you want to understand where the industry is heading, and what you can control right now, this one is worth a listen.

#news #thegoodbuilder

In this solo episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Aaron breaks down three practical platforms every builder should be seriously considering in 2026 — not to chase more leads, but to attract better, more qualified clients.

Most marketing conversations focus on impressions, clicks and volume. This episode flips that thinking on its head and looks at what really matters at the front end of a building business: buyer readiness, feasibility, transparency and qualification.

Aaron shares real-world experience from his time working with national builders and growing building brands, and explains how these tools help:

• Filter demand instead of flooding your inbox
• Qualify clients before they waste your time (or theirs)
• Improve customer experience before the first meeting
• Reduce risk long before a contract is signed

The episode covers:

• Why too many leads can actually hurt your business
• How live chat can act as a real-time qualification engine
• Fast pricing and feasibility tools that set clear expectations early
• A bonus platform that protects builders after the client says yes

If you are building homes in 2026 and want fewer tyre-kickers, cleaner processes and better outcomes, this is a must-listen.

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Az sits down with Phil Barrett, former General Manager of Regional Victoria at Metricon, for a rare and deeply insightful conversation on leadership at scale.

Phil spent decades helping grow one of Australia’s largest building businesses, overseeing thousands of homes, hundreds of staff, and multiple regional markets. But this episode isn’t about volume for volume’s sake, it’s about how that growth was achieved.

From succession planning and developing future leaders, to making unpopular decisions for the long-term health of the business, Phil shares the realities of leadership that rarely get spoken about.

At one point, he references a quote from The Sopranos that perfectly captures the role of a leader — smiling on the outside while carrying the weight internally. It’s a moment that sets the tone for a conversation grounded in humility, responsibility, and people-first thinking.

This episode covers:

• What real leadership looks like inside large building organisations
• Why succession planning is critical (and often ignored)
• How to scale without burning out your people or your culture
• The responsibility leaders carry for teams, trades, and customers
• What truly separates good builders and good leaders from the rest

If you’re a builder, business owner, or leader navigating growth, pressure, and legacy....this is a conversation worth your time.

Burnout is everywhere in construction.

Early starts. Long days. Constant pressure. And a quiet belief that if you are exhausted, you must be doing something right.

To kick off 2026, Az is joined by the first guest of the year, leadership coach and 1000 Feet Deep founder Dan Urquhart — setting the tone to get you off on the right foot for the year ahead.

This is not a motivation talk. It is a practical conversation about why driven builders burn out, how leadership style and personality play a bigger role than workload, and what actually needs to change if you want to build a business that lasts.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why burnout is not just about working too hard

• The difference between stopping work and actually resting

• How personality types (DISC) burn out in different ways

• Why great leaders often struggle the most

• The warning signs builders ignore until it is too late

• How poor systems, Groundhog Day problems and time chaos drain energy

• Why self-awareness is the foundation of leadership and culture

• Practical ways builders can reset and set themselves up properly for 2026

Dan also shares lessons from his own building journey, the near-breaking point that forced change, and why learning to manage time, energy and leadership is no longer optional.

If you want 2026 to be a better year — not just a busier one — this episode sets the foundation.

2026 is shaping up to be another challenging year for home builders — but not everything is out of your control.

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, we break down the five things Australian home builders can actually control in 2026, regardless of market conditions.

From cashflow discipline and documentation, through to reputation, mental health, and the smart use of tools and technology, this is a practical, no-fluff conversation about running a stronger, safer building business.

No predictions.

No fear-based headlines.

Just clear thinking, real examples, and the fundamentals that keep good builders standing when the market tightens.

#cashflow #mentalhealth #construction #thegoodbuilder

In this second episode of The Good Builder Podcast for 2026, we share a major milestone for the community with the official launch of the Good Builder Community Directory.

This episode unpacks what the Directory really is and why we built it.

More than a list of businesses, the Directory is a curated ecosystem designed to connect builders, trades, suppliers and the professional services that support construction. It is about visibility, reputation and long-term relationships inside a trusted industry environment.

We talk through:

• Why trust and alignment matter more than ever in construction
• Who the Directory is for and how it supports good businesses
• What members receive beyond a standard listing
• Why early involvement matters as the platform continues to grow

We also cover the key headlines from the week at The Good Builder, including:

• What recent first home buyer deposit schemes are really doing to affordability and builder feasibility
• The human impact of recent bushfires and why rebuilding requires care, empathy and long-term thinking
• The suburbs and regions experts believe are positioned for sustainable long-term growth

This episode sets the tone for 2026: deeper conversations, stronger connections and a continued focus on lifting standards across the construction industry.

2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for the Australian construction industry.

In this opening episode for the year, we talk about what is really happening on the ground for builders, trades and suppliers, beyond the headlines. Yes, the industry has faced pressure. But there is also momentum, clarity and opportunity for those willing to adapt.

We unpack why the old ways of operating are being challenged, why reputation and relationships matter more than ever, and why builders are rethinking how they choose who they work with.

We also introduce the next phase of The Good Builder, including the launch of the Good Builder Directory, a practical tool designed to reduce risk, highlight trusted operators and strengthen connections across the industry.

You can get involved in the community directory here: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/

This episode is about starting the year with intention.

Not noise.

Not fear.

But focus.

If you are a builder, supplier or trade looking to set your business up properly for 2026, this conversation is for you.

#TheGoodBuilder #ConstructionIndustry #HomeBuilders #BuildingBusiness #AustralianConstruction #TradesAndSuppliers #ConstructionPodcast #BuilderLife #IndustryLeadership