Jimmy Talks Construction

James Starbuck

Jimmy Talks Construction is an Australian construction podcast focused on real conversations with builders, contractors, tradies, and business owners across the construction industry. Each episode dives into construction business growth, civil construction, earthmoving, excavation, leadership on site, hiring subcontractors, scaling trade businesses, and the real challenges of running a construction company in Australia. From infrastructure projects and heavy machinery to cash flow, management, and lessons learned the hard way, this podcast shares honest insights from people building successful construction businesses from the ground up.

  1. 7h ago

    The Brutal Reality of Running a Building Business | Luke Said

    What does it really take to build a successful construction business in Australia? And at what point does the cost of success become too high? This week on Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Luke Said, Managing Director of Impact Build, a custom home building company specialising in bespoke homes, extensions and renovations across Victoria's Macedon Ranges. From starting out as an apprentice carpenter to running his own building company, Luke shares the lessons, mistakes and sacrifices that have shaped his career. Jimmy and Luke get into the realities of running a construction business, Australia's struggling housing market, the next generation of tradespeople, AI and automation, and the challenge of growing a company without sacrificing family life. They cover: The hard lessons of starting and growing a building businessWhy Australia's housing and construction industry is under pressureApprentices, work ethic and accountabilityAI, automation and the future of constructionBuilding a team you can actually trustThe sacrifices behind business growthWhy some of the best opportunities come during difficult times An honest, unfiltered conversation about construction, business, leadership and finding a balance between making a living and actually living. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for weekly conversations with the people building Australia's construction industry. Connect with Luke: 🌐 Website: https://www.impactbd.com.au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactbuild/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/impactbuilt/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    The Brutal Reality of Running a Building Business | Luke Said

  2. Oct 13

    She Built a 50-Machine Civil Business. Then Everything Changed.

    From a burnt-out D6 dozer to a civil construction business operating up to 50 machines and employing 70 people, Asha Russell built Sage Civil Australia through determination, relationships and years of hard work. But after years of building her business, mounting financial pressures, missed contracts, difficult weather conditions and rising operating costs brought her to one of the toughest decisions of her career. In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Asha Russell, Managing Director of Sage Civil Australia, for an honest conversation about the realities of running a construction business in Australia. She also opens up about selling personal assets to support the business, entering a small business restructure, and eventually deciding to significantly downsize her operations. They discuss: Building a civil construction business from the ground upGrowing to 50 machines and 70 employeesLosing major contracts and managing financial riskThe impact of rising costs, wet weather and cash-flow pressureWhy construction businesses are struggling in AustraliaMentoring women in the civil construction industryThe personal sacrifices behind running a businessWhy Asha ultimately decided to step away from day-to-day operationsThis isn't just a story about construction equipment and big projects. It's a conversation about resilience, knowing when to change direction, and what success really means when the business you've built becomes your identity. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for honest conversations with the people building, running and shaping Australia's construction industry. Connect with Asha: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecivil/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/sage-civil-australia 💼 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/asha-russell-41790170 🌐 Website: https://sagecivil.com.au/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    She Built a 50-Machine Civil Business. Then Everything Changed.

  3. Oct 6

    Why It’s So Hard to Do Business in Victorian Construction Right Now | Annie Kessel CCF

    Why is it becoming so difficult to do business in Victorian construction? Annie Kessel, Executive Director of the Civil Contractors Federation Victoria, joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction for a wide-ranging conversation about the pressures facing contractors across the state — from fuel prices and rising costs to government red tape, labour shortages, housing, infrastructure and the future of the construction workforce. James and Annie discuss the reality of trying to operate a construction business in Victoria, including the impact of fuel costs, material and labour increases, delays through authorities and approvals, uncertainty around infrastructure pipelines and the challenge of getting the industry's voice heard by government. They also get into the growing skills shortage, why apprentices are often the first to disappear when the industry slows down, the number of experienced contractor owners approaching retirement and what construction needs to do to attract the next generation. Topics include: • Why construction businesses are under increasing pressure • Fuel prices and fuel tax credits • Government red tape and approval delays • Victoria's infrastructure and housing pipeline • Rising labour and material costs • How CCF represents contractors to government • The construction skills shortage • Apprenticeships and attracting the next generation • The importance of face-to-face relationships in construction • Building stronger industry communities • The future of civil construction in Victoria Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people building, operating and leading Australia's construction industry. Connect with Annie: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccf_victoria/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-kessell/?isSelfProfile=false 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cuda-Group/61577953295378/ 🌐 Website: https://www.ccfvic.com.au/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    Why It’s So Hard to Do Business in Victorian Construction Right Now | Annie Kessel CCF

  4. Sep 29

    How a 24-Year-Old Built a Construction Business From Door Knocking | Jed Coinu

    Jed Coinu from CUDA Group joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about leaving school in Year 10, going straight into a carpentry apprenticeship and eventually building his own construction and maintenance business from the ground up. What started with flyers, Facebook community pages and literally walking into shopping centres asking for work has grown into CUDA Group — a business servicing shopping centres, schools, hospitals and industrial sites across a wide range of maintenance, construction and small-scale civil work. Jed talks honestly about the realities of starting young, earning trust when people question your experience, doing the jobs nobody else wants, quoting quickly, chasing work and why the hard years of an apprenticeship can shape the way you operate later in business. The boys also get into scaling a construction business, hiring the right people, knowing what roles to delegate, staying close to your strengths, work-life balance, working ridiculous hours and why there is still no shortcut to building something successful. They also discuss AI and technology in construction, where automation might actually make a difference, why blue-collar work is harder to replace and how software is already changing the way contractors quote, manage jobs and handle paperwork. Another proper conversation about construction, business, apprenticeships and the people behind the industry. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with people across construction, civil, earthmoving, trades and infrastructure. Connect with Jed: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuda_group/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-coinu-2741652b6/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cuda-Group/61577953295378/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    How a 24-Year-Old Built a Construction Business From Door Knocking | Jed Coinu

  5. Sep 22

    From Cancer at 15 to 10 Years in Business | Craig, EDI Tree Services

    Craig from EDI Tree Services joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about building a tree business from the ground up, surviving cancer as a teenager, leaving school early and eventually finding a career he genuinely loves. What started with mowing lawns and taking on the occasional tree removal has grown into EDI Tree Services — a Mount Gambier-based operation handling residential, commercial and large-scale vegetation management work across the Limestone Coast and beyond. Craig talks honestly about the realities of running a trade business: hiring good people, competing with unqualified operators, knowing when not to grow, expensive mistakes on site, insurance claims, machinery fires and why he still wants to be out doing the work rather than sitting behind a desk. The boys also get into the future of the arboriculture industry, training standards, licensing, construction accidents, the importance of having the right people around you and some of the jobs that don't quite go to plan. Craig also shares his involvement in the Shitbox Rally, taking a $1,500 car thousands of kilometres through the Australian outback to raise money for cancer research. Another proper conversation about construction, business and the people behind the industry. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with people across construction, civil, earthmoving, trades and infrastructure. Connect with Craig: 🌐 Website: https://www.editrees.com.au/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edidevelopments/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    From Cancer at 15 to 10 Years in Business | Craig, EDI Tree Services

  6. Sep 15

    “You Have to Say Yes” — Building an Earthmoving Business From Scratch | Welsh Industries

    Dylan from Welsh Industries joins Jimmy to talk about building an earthmoving and civil construction business from the ground up. From selling firewood while still at school and buying his first machine, to taking on the small jobs bigger contractors didn’t want, Dylan breaks down the journey of growing Welsh Industries into larger civil projects, plant hire and tendered work. They get into the reality of running a construction business - knowing when to say yes, quoting and variations, learning expensive lessons through tendering, moving from simple quotes to detailed proposals, managing growth, getting off the tools and building a reputation that wins work. Dylan also shares his experience working on the Longwood bushfire recovery, including the confronting process of cleaning up destroyed homes and some of the unexpected possessions they managed to recover from the rubble. In this episode: • Starting a business while still at school • Buying the first machine and finding work • Why saying “yes” helped grow Welsh Industries • Knowing when to start saying no • Quoting, variations and protecting your scope • Moving from small jobs into commercial civil construction • Tendering for bigger projects • Losing money while learning how to tender • Why proposals can outperform basic quotes • Scaling without growing too quickly • Longwood bushfire recovery and cleanup • Communication, reputation and relationships in construction If you work in civil construction, earthmoving, plant hire or run your own construction business, there’s plenty in this one. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people actually building and running Australia’s construction industry. Connect with Dylan Welsh: 🌐 Website: https://welshindustries.com.au/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WelshIndustries/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welshindustries/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-welsh-a99067123/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    “You Have to Say Yes” — Building an Earthmoving Business From Scratch | Welsh Industries

  7. Sep 8

    Construction Wants Innovation for Free | Matt Garland, Nawkaw Australia

    Matt Garland has seen the construction industry from both sides of the fence. In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Matt Garland from Nawkaw Australia to talk about his journey through construction, from studying construction management and working for major builders to helping establish operations in London and eventually moving from the head contractor side into the subcontracting world. In this episode: Matt Garland's journey into constructionWorking for Tier 1 and Tier 3 buildersEstablishing a construction operation in LondonGrowing during the COVID construction periodMoving from head contractor to subcontractorHow Nawkaw concrete and masonry staining worksWhy colour matching is more complicated than it looksQA systems and managing client expectationsAvoiding disputes over scope and variationsBuilding systems that allow construction businesses to scaleTechnology and automation in constructionBIM, GPS and modular constructionThe problem with construction's race to the lowest priceWhy innovation costs moneyInvesting in the next generation of construction If you're a builder, subcontractor, project manager, construction business owner or anyone interested in where the Australian construction industry is heading, this is an episode worth watching. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people building Australia's construction industry. Connect with Matthew Garland: 🌐 Website: https://www.nawkawvic.com.au/ 🌐 Website: https://nawkaw.com/en-au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nawkawaus/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-garland-000004b5/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    Construction Wants Innovation for Free | Matt Garland, Nawkaw Australia

  8. Sep 1

    737 Bricks in One Hour: Australia’s Bricklayers on the World Stage | DA Bricklaying Team Amuso

    Damien and Tara from DA Bricklaying join Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about taking bricklaying from the jobsite to the world stage. Damien has represented Australia in major bricklaying competitions in Las Vegas, laying an incredible 737 bricks in just one hour. But behind the competition is a much bigger story about building a trade business, managing a crew, working alongside your partner and trying to make the numbers stack up in today’s construction industry. Damien and Tara break down how DA Bricklaying began, why a trip to compete overseas helped pull Damien back into the industry, and how they went from running a bricklaying company to developing and launching their own bricklaying tool. They also get into some of the bigger issues facing Australian trades - falling margins, competing against operators with lower overheads, skills shortages, short-form trade qualifications, licensing and whether enough value is being placed on experienced tradespeople. Plus, there are a few lessons from Las Vegas… including why going out until 3am before a bricklaying competition probably isn’t the best preparation. In this episode: • Competing against some of the world's best bricklayers • Laying 737 bricks in one hour • Building DA Bricklaying • Turning a bricklaying tool into a product business • Recalling a product after a manufacturing issue • The real cost of running a trade business • Why competing purely on price doesn't work • Running a business with your husband or wife • Australia's bricklaying skills shortage • Trade qualifications and licensing • The difference between Australian and US masonry businesses • What the next generation of Australian bricklaying needs Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people building, operating and changing Australia's construction industry. Connect with Team Amuso: 🌐 Website: https://www.dattools.com/about-us 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamamuso/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamamuso/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-amuso/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com

    737 Bricks in One Hour: Australia’s Bricklayers on the World Stage | DA Bricklaying Team Amuso
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About

Jimmy Talks Construction is an Australian construction podcast focused on real conversations with builders, contractors, tradies, and business owners across the construction industry. Each episode dives into construction business growth, civil construction, earthmoving, excavation, leadership on site, hiring subcontractors, scaling trade businesses, and the real challenges of running a construction company in Australia. From infrastructure projects and heavy machinery to cash flow, management, and lessons learned the hard way, this podcast shares honest insights from people building successful construction businesses from the ground up.

Information

  • Creator
    James Starbuck
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © James Starbuck 2025
  • Show Website
    Jimmy Talks Construction

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