The Broke Architect

The Global Architect Alliance

This podcast is about architects who are struggling with debt, have been in debt and who have overcome debt. Debt can lead to depression and despair and it's a subject that is always difficult to discuss. The Broke Architect is a podcast where we talk openly about the issues of money within the profession. Don't worry it's not all doom and gloom, we talk solutions too! If you want to talk anonymously or are able to talk with full disclosure please get in touch because this is a subject we need to talk about. Please leave feedback, a review and share to support the channel.

  1. Built Nothing. Teaching Everything!

    30 MAR

    Built Nothing. Teaching Everything!

    There’s a conversation happening in architecture about the “gap” between education and practice. But no one is going far enough. In this episode, I take a direct look at one of the most uncomfortable questions in the profession: How can you be taught to design and deliver buildings… by someone who hasn’t built one? This isn’t about criticism for the sake of it.It’s about credibility, responsibility, and the future of the profession. Because architecture isn’t just an academic pursuit. It’s a profession. And if we’re serious about improving fees, value, and recognition — we need to start by looking at how we’re educating the next generation. Why the “education vs practice” gap is bigger than we admit The rise of tutors moving straight from university into teaching Why architecture is not just an artistic discipline The real-world consequences for graduates and practices Why part-time tutors in practice often deliver the most value What a minimum standard for architectural educators could look like Why this issue feeds directly into fees, confidence, and professional value We don’t just have an education gap. We have a credibility problem. And until we address who is teaching architecture and what qualifies them to do so the profession will continue to struggle downstream. Do you think architectural educators should have a minimum number of years in practice before teaching? Or is academic expertise enough? I want to hear your perspective on this. What’s not being talked about enough in architecture right now? 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn👉 Or get in touch here: https://www.globalarchitectalliance.com/contact The Broke Architect is a weekly, straight-talking briefing on the realities of the architecture profession. No polished narratives. No safe conversations. Just honest perspectives on what’s really going on — from fees and business to culture, education, and the future of the industry.

    24 min
  2. How to run a Successful Architect's Practice

    16 MAR

    How to run a Successful Architect's Practice

    After being made redundant three times in three years, Paul Testa built a resilient practice called HEM Architects and reveals why the business model of architecture might be fundamentally broken. In this episode of The Broke Architect Podcast, I speak with Paul Testa, co-owner of HEM Architects, about the realities of building a sustainable architecture practice in the UK. After being made redundant three times in three years, Paul was pushed into starting his own practice. Fifteen years later, HEM has grown into a 15-person studio built around systems, transparency, and resilience. Paul also co-owns JAM Structures, a three-person engineering firm that generates the same profit as HEM. raising serious questions about how architecture businesses operate. We discuss open-book management, stopping free optioneering, the challenges of working in one of the UK’s poorest regions, and why running an architecture practice is still bloody tough, but worth it! A candid conversation about the business of architecture and what it really takes to survive.

    1hr 3min
  3. How the ATOM will SAVE the WORLD!

    6 FEB

    How the ATOM will SAVE the WORLD!

    Welcome to Season 5 of The Broke Architect Podcast , where we challenge convention and ask uncomfortable questions about how we design, build, and power the world around us. In this episode, Jason Boyle is joined by Dr Tim Gregory, nuclear chemist and author of Going Nuclear, for a clear-eyed conversation about energy, climate change, and the realities behind Net Zero. We’ve electrified buildings, debated gas bans, and filled landscapes with wind turbines, yet the UK hasn’t built a new nuclear reactor in over 30 years. So where is our electricity actually coming from, and is our current strategy sustainable? Why nuclear power fell out of favour in the UK Whether Net Zero is achievable without nuclear The limits of wind, solar, and energy storage The future role of gas in a low-carbon system Why symbolism often replaces systems thinking in sustainability This is a grown-up conversation about energy — not ideology. Links to Tim’s book Going Nuclear : https://www.tim-gregory.co.uk/goingnuclear

    59 min
  4. I'm ASHAMED to call myself an ARCHITECT!

    14/12/2025

    I'm ASHAMED to call myself an ARCHITECT!

    This is the FINAL show of season 4! Today on the show, we’re joined by Helen Maunder's who was on Episode 1 of season 4. Helen had hit rock bottom 12 months ago but she is a fighter and I asked her to return to complete season 4 as she has been on a journey in the past 12 months. Please listen to understand her struggles and successes in this RAW and emotional episode. Helen Maunders is the founder of Grafeso⁠, an architects' practice based in Barnet, London. Helen has been in business as a sole practice owner for 14 years and has ADHD. She is a cancer survivor and has struggled with her mental health and yet, she is still fighting. This episode is emotionally charged and Helen is very open and honest about what it is like to be an architect. We cover planning and frustrations and how to stop doing doing work for FREE! This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit, the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design. Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects. Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at info@hahnplastics.co.uk.

    1hr 1min
  5. Designing PASSIVE Income

    06/12/2025

    Designing PASSIVE Income

    Today on the show, we’re joined by someone who’s been breaking boundaries since he was a teenager. At just 16, he was named the UK Young Innovator of the Year and he hasn’t slowed down since. Peter Markos is the founder of Markos Design Workshop, a RIBA Chartered Architecture Practice known for turning eco-conscious homes and luxury holiday lets into high-performing assets. His team blends architectural ambition with real-world financial returns, whether that’s bespoke rental cabins, planning-led uplift, or full architectural delivery. But Peter isn’t just a designer. He’s a developer, too. He runs a thriving serviced-accommodation business built around high-yield, design-led holiday homes. That dual perspective means every project is grounded, commercially sharp, and investor-ready. As Peter likes to say: “We design what we ourselves invest in.” Before turning 30, he’s already worked on standout projects, secured two Innovate UK grants, earned $100,000 of Airbnb backing to develop a flagship holiday unit, and raised angel investment to scale his property portfolio. And here’s something you don’t hear every day, since the age of 13, he’s consistently outperformed the global stock market. Managing money, his own and his clients’, is simply part of his DNA. Peter believes architecture should do more than look good. It should perform, financially, socially, and environmentally. And he’s only just getting started. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design. Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects. Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at info@hahnplastics.co.uk.

    1hr 5min
  6. From Architect to Brand Ambassador

    01/11/2025

    From Architect to Brand Ambassador

    My guest is recording this podcast episode with me from the Frank Lloyd Wright Affleck House, owned and operated by the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. Dory Azar is a Canadian Architect who is licensed and ran his own architectural practice for over 14 years before he closed his practice and became a brand ambassador.  Dory is Part architectural consultant, part brand ambassador and drives awareness and adoption of SpecLink through public speaking, social media engagement, and strategic client outreach. He also hosts and curates bi-weekly webinar, SpecTalk, while providing marketing and industry support across multiple internal teams. In this episode, we talk about leaving architecture, how social media has opened the door for a career change and why he has been living in a Frank Lloyd Wright House and so much more.

    1hr 4min
  7. From Architect to Brand Ambassador

    28/10/2025

    From Architect to Brand Ambassador

    My guest is recording this podcast episode with me from the Frank Lloyd Wright Affleck House, owned and operated by the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. Dory Azar is a Canadian Architect who is licensed and ran his own architectural practice for over 14 years before he closed his practice and became a brand ambassador. Dory is Part architectural consultant, part brand ambassador and drives awareness and adoption of SpecLink through public speaking, social media engagement, and strategic client outreach. He also hosts and curates bi-weekly webinar, SpecTalk, while providing marketing and industry support across multiple internal teams. In this episode, we talk about leaving architecture, how social media has opened the door for a career change and why he has been living in a Frank Lloyd Wright House and so much more. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design. Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects. Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at info@hahnplastics.co.uk.

    1hr 1min
  8. Small UK Architecture Practices

    15/09/2025

    Small UK Architecture Practices

    Welcome back to The Broke Architect Podcast, where I gather together the best bits from the lives of sole practitioners in architecture in the UK. We shine a light on the challenges and the uncomfortable realities of being an architect today. We are joined by Helen Maunders, John Kellett, ⁠Niall Hedderman⁠, Catherine Hunt and Dale Whitfield Why Stress is a silent Killer of architects How to start on Social Media We have too many architects and stagnating salaries. New business services architects can offer Asperger's and Architects I can't get PII for larger projects! Why we don't employ Part 1 students. If you’re an architect tired of low pay, undervaluation, and outdated business models, this episode is for you. 👉 Listen now, share with a colleague, and join the conversation about building a profession that values its people as much as its projects. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design. Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects. Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at info@hahnplastics.co.uk.

    34 min
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Trailers

About

This podcast is about architects who are struggling with debt, have been in debt and who have overcome debt. Debt can lead to depression and despair and it's a subject that is always difficult to discuss. The Broke Architect is a podcast where we talk openly about the issues of money within the profession. Don't worry it's not all doom and gloom, we talk solutions too! If you want to talk anonymously or are able to talk with full disclosure please get in touch because this is a subject we need to talk about. Please leave feedback, a review and share to support the channel.

Information

  • Creator
    The Global Architect Alliance
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Global Architect Alliance
  • Show Website
    The Broke Architect

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