Thrive In Construction with Darren Evans

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Sustainability isn’t hard because the work is complex. It’s hard because the delivery environment adds friction. Here’s how to remove it.

Most people say sustainability is complex, but the real problem is friction.

Unclear briefs, ambiguous expectations, misaligned stakeholders, tools nobody understands, and pressure without clarity make the work feel heavier than it needs to be.

In this episode, we explore why sustainability fails when friction rises and how increasing ability (from BJ Fogg’s Behaviour Model) creates faster, calmer, and more consistent delivery.

If you want your teams to feel more capable without adding more motivation or pressure, this episode is the turning point.

Read The Sustainability Advantage for the full framework:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXMMBVZY

Follow Darren Evans on LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram.

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Drift doesn’t come from incompetence. It comes from alignment gaps that grow quietly. Here’s how to prevent them.

Drift is one of the most expensive problems in sustainability, but it almost always starts small.
 A misunderstood brief.
 A misheard decision.
 A tiny assumption nobody checks.

Good teams drift because they’re good at looking aligned, even when they’re not.

This episode reveals why drift compounds silently and how simple behavioural rituals can keep teams aligned, confident, and moving in the same direction.

Discover more in The Sustainability Advantage: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXMMBVZY

Follow for daily insights on LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram.

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The biggest risks never appear in the register. They appear in silence, fear, pride, and assumption. Here’s how to uncover and fix them.

Teams often treat risk as a spreadsheet problem, but the most dangerous risks aren’t technical.

They’re behavioural.

In this episode, Darren shares the story that changed how he thinks about risk forever and why silence, fear, and unspoken confusion derail sustainability long before any model, calculation, or risk register does.

If your projects keep slipping despite good systems and skilled teams, this episode reveals where the real risk lives and how to reduce it.

Explore these ideas in The Sustainability Advantage: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXMMBVZY

Follow Darren on LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram.

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People aren’t dishonest, they’re under social pressure. Here’s why false alignment destroys sustainability performance and how psychological safety restores it.

Most sustainability meetings aren’t full of truth — they’re full of performance.
 Teams say “I understand,” “We’re aligned,” and “We can deliver that,” even when they’re unsure, overwhelmed, or confused. Not because they’re unprofessional, but because the emotional cost of honesty is too high.

In this episode, we expose the behavioural dynamics behind false agreement and why real progress starts with designing environments where honesty is easier than silence.

Learn more in The Sustainability Advantage: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXMMBVZY

Follow Darren Evans on LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram.

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A tiny shift in trust can slow an entire project. In this episode, we explore why behaviour, not technical models, determines momentum, clarity, and collaboration in sustainability delivery.

Projects rarely fail because of technical mistakes. They fail because trust erodes quietly.

In this episode, we break down the micro-behaviours that shape project velocity, the half-second facial reactions, the subtle contradictions, and the unspoken tension that causes teams to speak less freely, challenge less openly, and collaborate less effectively.

If your projects feel heavier than they should, this conversation reveals why trust is the invisible engine behind sustainable delivery and how to repair it before it’s too late.

Read The Sustainability Advantage: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXMMBVZY

Follow for more insights on LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

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How do we make circular construction scalable and healthy homes the new normal?

In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans brings together three leading voices shaping the future of sustainable building:
- Chaline Church (540 World & Cradle to Cradle Partner)
- Oliver Novakovic (Technical & Innovation Director, Barratt Redrow)
- Paul Lynch (EcoCocon, Finland-based natural building pioneer).

Together they explore the real-world barriers and opportunities to embedding circularity, regenerative design, and healthy materials into mainstream construction. It’s a dynamic, honest, and solutions-driven conversation that cuts across design, development, manufacturing, and human health.

Key Highlights
• Cradle to Cradle Thinking – Chaline Church explains how material health, social fairness, and full circularity can transform both people and the planet.
• From Concept to Construction – Paul Lynch shares how EcoCocon builds large-scale modular homes from straw and timber — fast, healthy, and fully certified.
• Innovation at Scale – Oliver Novakovic discusses how Barratt Redrow is tackling net zero, supply chains, and real-world testing through 52 innovation projects.
• Bridging the Gap – The guests tackle the disconnect between ambition and delivery and why storytelling, trust, and collaboration are key to real change.
• Healthy Buildings = Healthy People – Why offgassing, acoustics, light, and authentic materials directly affect wellbeing, focus, and long-term health.
• Regenerative Farming & Circular Supply Chains – How straw, hemp, and bio-based materials can feed both housing and soil health, reducing carbon while improving ecosystems.
• Reframing ‘Sustainability’ – Why the word itself may be losing trust and why ‘health’, ‘quality’, and ‘legacy’ might be the language that moves people to act.

This conversation is essential for developers, architects, manufacturers, and sustainability leaders who believe the next revolution in construction won’t just be about carbon, it’ll be about people, materials, and mindset.

Chapters 
• 00:00 – Introduction & meeting the guests
• 02:00 – How design, health, and circularity connect
• 05:00 – From Disney to Cradle to Cradle: Chaline’s journey into healthy materials
• 09:00 – Paul’s story: building natural homes in Finland & launching EcoCocon
• 13:00 – Oliver’s path from marine engineering to sustainable innovation at Barratt Redrow
• 16:00 – The business case for sustainability and scalability
• 20:00 – Straw, timber & regenerative farming: how circular construction works in practice
• 23:00 – Can circular materials meet volume demand?
• 27:00 – Cost, scalability & the JLL study on consumer demand for healthy homes
• 33:00 – Why health sells better than “sustainability”
• 37:00 – Collaboration, testing & breaking down supply chain fear
• 41:00 – Offgassing, acoustics & materials that impact wellbeing
• 46:00 – Design psychology: why interiors and materials affect healing and focus
• 51:00 – How large developers can adopt circularity step by step
• 56:00 – Lessons from regenerative farming & natural building supply chains
• 1:01:00 – Circularity, culture & how to make change stick
• 1:05:00 – The myth of “low-quality sustainable materials”
• 1:10:00 – Unlocking brownfield sites with circular thinking
• 1:15:00 – Myth-busting, mindset, and making sustainability easy
• 1:20:00 – Final reflections: collaboration over competition in building a better industry


Find us on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dDkxLWZ25nT0krYWaTiIT
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/th

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How do we close the gap between how buildings are designed and how they actually perform?
In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans talks with Luke Smith, CEO of Build Test Solutions, about his journey from architectural technologist to industry innovator—developing new tools that make it easier, faster, and more accurate to measure real building performance.

Luke explains why measurement must become mainstream if we’re serious about net zero, retrofit quality, and energy efficiency and how Build Test Solutions is helping the industry move from guesswork to evidence.

Key Highlights
• From RAF Childhood to Retrofit Pioneer – Luke’s early influences, his practical mindset, and how hands-on curiosity shaped his career in sustainability and building science.
• The Birth of Build Test Solutions – How a university PhD project became Pulse, an innovative air-tightness testing system now adopted in UK building regulations.
• Beyond Air Testing – Developing a suite of new tools for measuring heat loss, ventilation, and real-world performance across homes and non-domestic buildings.
• The Performance Gap Problem – Why most new builds and retrofits don’t meet design targets—and how measurement can help bridge the gap between theory and reality.
• Measurement in Practice – How Pulse compares to blower door tests, the benefits of speed, simplicity, and accuracy, and how it’s transforming compliance testing.
• Retrofit, Heat Pumps & Reality – How measuring heat transfer and real energy use helps optimise retrofit strategies, validate carbon savings, and right-size heating systems.
• Future Home Standard & What’s Next – Why the next decade of construction will depend on measurable proof of performance—and how smart data will empower consumers, not just developers.

This conversation is essential for construction professionals, sustainability leaders, retrofit coordinators, and anyone passionate about smarter, data-driven delivery in the built environment.

If you want to see our other insightful podcasts, click here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOHI_yaqB2U8KWbsfJDPCoYEfOh-TTnip

Find us on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dDkxLWZ25nT0krYWaTiIT
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thrive-in-construction-with-darren-evans/id1726973152
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrzqei7gttB8WB5wM6hUpw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/thrive-in-construction-podcast/
Our Website: https://darren-evans.co.uk/

Links:
Luke Smith's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lsmith88/
Build Test Solutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/build-test-solutions/
Build Test Solutions Website: https://www.buildtestsolutions.com/

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How do you design buildings where safety, sustainability, and education all come together?

In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans talks with Kevin Higgs, Development Director at Happy Days Nurseries, about creating early-years environments that prioritise safety, learning, and sustainability.

After a career in property and retail development—including nearly a decade at Tesco—Kevin joined Happy Days Nurseries to help shape spaces that support both children’s growth and environmental responsibility. From designing safe, nurturing spaces to embedding sustainability in every project, Kevin shares what it takes to build for purpose rather than profit.

Key Highlights
• From Retail to Early Years – Why Kevin left corporate development to work in education, and how purpose reshaped his career.
• Safety & Responsibility – How safeguarding and building compliance underpin every decision when designing nurseries for young children.
• Designing for Education, Not Efficiency – Balancing open, flexible learning spaces with the technical challenges of heating, cooling, and sustainability.
• Human-Centred Design – Why architects and contractors must see buildings through a child’s eyes—every corner, height, and transition matters.
• Sustainability in Practice – From “last-person-out” switches to all-electric systems and BMS controls, how small details make a big difference.
• Building Relationships – What makes great partnerships between clients, developers, and contractors—and why shared values matter as much as capability.
• Purpose & Impact – How Happy Days uses its buildings and curriculum to teach sustainability, connect generations, and shape lifelong habits.

This episode is essential for architects, developers, sustainability professionals, and anyone designing for people, not just profit. Kevin’s insights reveal how thoughtful property decisions can create healthier, safer, and more sustainable communities.

If you want to see our other insightful podcasts, click here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOHI_yaqB2U8KWbsfJDPCoYEfOh-TTnip

Find us on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dDkxLWZ25nT0krYWaTiIT
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thrive-in-construction-with-darren-evans/id1726973152
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrzqei7gttB8WB5wM6hUpw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/thrive-in-construction-podcast/
Our Website: https://darren-evans.co.uk/

Links:
Kevin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-higgs-30119590/
Happy Days Nurseries LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/happy-days-nurseries-south-west-ltd/posts/?feedView=all
Happy Days Nurseries Website: https://happydaysnurseries.com/

#Sustainability #ConstructionPodcast #ThriveInConstruction #EarlyYearsEducation #HappyDaysNurseries #BuildingDesign #NetZero #HealthyBuildings #PropertyDevelopment #BuiltEnvironment #SafetyFirst

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How do we keep moving forward in an uncertain world? And what does true leadership look like in sustainability and construction?

In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Andy Hay, Managing Director at Hollis, about leadership, adaptability, and thriving through change. From starting his career at Adidas to leading one of the UK’s most respected real-estate consultancies, Andy shares powerful lessons on agency, mindset, and the courage to keep evolving.

Key Highlights
• The Toblerone Philosophy – Why every challenge can be approached three ways: like it, change it, or deal with it—and how this mindset builds agency and resilience.
• From Adidas to Hollis – Andy’s unconventional journey across industries—from sport and finance to real estate—and what he’s learned about transferable skills and reinvention.
• Change & Adaptability – Why shifting roles and “changing lanes” is vital for both personal growth and organisational innovation.
• Leadership in Sustainability – How today’s turbulence in the net-zero and ESG space could signal maturity, not decline—and why the sector must refocus on what truly drives impact.
• Dealing with Uncertainty – Navigating market shifts, political instability, and evolving business priorities with optimism and ownership.
• Raising Standards & Taking Ownership – Why success comes from effort, consistency, and leaning in fully to your goals and responsibilities.

This conversation is a masterclass in resilient leadership, career reinvention, and finding opportunity in uncertainty, essential listening for sustainability professionals, business leaders, and anyone committed to growth in the built environment.

 #Leadership #Sustainability #ThriveInConstruction #ChangeManagement #CareerGrowth #RealEstate #Hollis #BuiltEnvironment #Resilience #NetZero #ConstructionPodcast 

If you want to see our other insightful podcasts, click here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOHI_yaqB2U8KWbsfJDPCoYEfOh-TTnip

Find us on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dDkxLWZ25nT0krYWaTiIT
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thrive-in-construction-with-darren-evans/id1726973152
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrzqei7gttB8WB5wM6hUpw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/thrive-in-construction-podcast/
Our Website: https://darren-evans.co.uk/

Links:
Andy Hay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-hay-8bb57221/
Hollis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hollis-global/
Hollis Website: https://www.hollisglobal.com/

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How can AI, emotional intelligence, and better communication transform the future of construction?

In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans sits down with Bryony Coombs, civil engineer and Director at ALICE Technologies, to explore how innovation, inclusion, and risk-taking are shaping the next generation of the built environment.

Bryony shares her journey from graduating as a civil engineer to becoming a leader in construction technology. She reflects on the challenges of entering a male-dominated industry, the importance of creating spaces for underrepresented voices, and how AI can revolutionize project planning—without replacing the people who make it all possible.

Key Highlights

• Women in Construction – Why inclusion isn’t just about representation, but about creating environments where everyone feels safe to contribute and thrive.
• Reverse Mentoring in Action – How pairing junior women with senior leaders builds empathy, understanding, and better decision-making.
• Demystifying AI in Construction – What ALICE Technologies does to optimize schedules, reduce inefficiency, and help engineers focus on problem-solving rather than admin.
• Risk, Flow & Innovation – How Bryony’s experiences in skiing and rugby taught her to balance calculated risk with creativity, mirroring the innovation construction needs to move forward.
• Emotional Intelligence & Communication – The most underrated skills in engineering—and why mastering them accelerates both careers and culture change.
• The Future of Work – Why embracing digitization and AI is not about losing jobs, but about unlocking time, creativity, and human potential.

This episode is essential for construction professionals, engineers, tech innovators, and diversity advocates who believe that progress in the built environment starts with courage, communication, and curiosity.

If you want to see our other insightful podcasts, click here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOHI_yaqB2U8KWbsfJDPCoYEfOh-TTnip

Find us on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dDkxLWZ25nT0krYWaTiIT
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thrive-in-construction-with-darren-evans/id1726973152
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrzqei7gttB8WB5wM6hUpw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/thrive-in-construction-podcast/
Our Website: https://darren-evans.co.uk/

Links:
Bryony's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryony-coombs/
ALICE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alice-technologies-inc/
ALICE Website: https://www.alicetechnologies.com/home

#ConstructionPodcast #ThriveInConstruction #WomenInConstruction #AIinConstruction #DigitalTransformation #EngineeringLeadership #ALICETechnologies #Innovation #DiversityInSTEM #BuiltEnvironment

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