Better Builder Podcast

Better Studios

Social Links Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcastTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudioLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcastLinktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcastBetter Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders convert higher quality projects. Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bradvisser01/?hl=enGro's SocialsGro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agencyGro's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@groagencyGro’s website https://groagency.co/ + https://www.gro.video/Disclaimer: This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this podcast. Any third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of this podcast, and no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any content contained in any third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this podcast.

  1. Jul 12

    Remote Island Builder Specialist | Matt Garlick #92

    Send us Fan Mail This week on the Better Builder podcast, we sit down with Matt Garlick, founder of Supreme Builders NZ, to talk about what it actually takes to execute high-end architectural construction in some of the most remote, awkward locations across the Bay of Islands. Originally a carpenter from Kent, UK, Matt moved to New Zealand at age 22 and has spent the last two decades cutting his teeth on complex, regional builds. In this episode, Matt pulls back the curtain on the brutal logistical challenges of island building—including the extreme management required to shuffle subcontractors back and forth via workboats with limited passenger capacity, and what happens when your concrete pump breaks down on a secluded island mid-pour. He also shares his approach to fostering a tight, hands-on crew culture, mentoring Gen-Z apprentices, and transitioning from an employee to a business owner handling complex architectural expectations. Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects.  Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl Disclaimer This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

  2. Jun 25 ·  Bonus

    What Makes A Good Apprentice | Charlie BBA #17

    Send us Fan Mail Charlie is a 19-year-old, third-year building apprentice from Auckland who joins Brad for an honest chat about life on the tools. From a school work-experience day on a commercial site to choosing residential building over sparky or plumbing work, Charlie breaks down how the apprenticeship actually works — the training, the book work, the pay structure, and the mistakes (and injuries) along the way. They talk site culture, staying motivated through winter, ignoring the "get rich quick" hype on social media, and what it takes to be a good apprentice. Plus a rapid-fire round on tools, music, festivals, and more. Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects.  Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl Disclaimer This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

  3. Jun 21

    Can Architects and Builders Be Friends? | Tim Dorrington #90

    Send us Fan Mail For our second outdoor episode of the Better Builder podcast, we are on location in Mangawhai with architect Tim Dorrington, founder of Dorrington Atcheson Architects. Tim sits down to share the realities of running a modern practice, his mid-century design philosophies, and how a close shorthand with local builders creates a massive competitive advantage for clients.   We dive deep into how early builder collaboration keeps complex, seven-figure residential projects strictly on budget, the art of reading micro-expressions to figure out how a client actually lives, and his disruptive "Pocket House" and "Basic Batch" initiatives designed to give everyday Kiwis access to premium, architectural design licenses for a fraction of the cost. Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects.  Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl Disclaimer This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

  4. Jun 14

    When a Building Business Outgrows the Builder | Nick Smith #89

    Send us Fan Mail This week, we welcome back a returning favourite to the Better Builder podcast as we sit down on location in Mangawhai with Nick Smith, founder of Smith Construction. Nick has built an incredible reputation across Greater Northland for executing complex, high-end architectural homes. In this episode, Nick pulls back the curtain on the business reality of scaling to 15 staff, the mental hurdles of stepping off the tools, and how he turned a steep, intimidating "ugly duckling" forestry site into a seven-figure architectural masterpiece. He also shares critical insights on navigating harsh coastal building environments and why early builder involvement is a game-changer for keeping projects on time and on budget Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects.  Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl Disclaimer This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

  5. Jun 7

    How New Zealand’s Top Architect Separates Himself from the Pack | Andrew Patterson #88

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Andrew joins us fresh off a lecture tour in the US to discuss his incredible career and what it takes to design world-class structures. From winning a major national housing award three times early in his career to running a premium 25-person practice, Andrew pulls back the curtain on the real relationship between architects, clients, and builders.   We dive deep into why New Zealand is an architect's ultimate playground, how Patterson Associates uses a "reverse brief" to guarantee project success, the future of AI in architecture, and why the best builders are moving away from cold emails to physically demonstrating their value. Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects.  Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl Disclaimer This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

  6. May 28

    Why the Trades Are Hard to Break Into | Luka Thomson BBA #16

    Send us Fan Mail This month on BBA, we chat with Luka Noad, a third-year building apprentice with Builders Academy NZ. After leaving school in Year 12 and cold-emailing over 50 companies to land his first role, Luka knows better than most how hard it is to break into the trades. In this episode, Luka talks about the reality of getting your first apprenticeship, what separates good apprentices from bad ones, and why he's tuning out the "escape the trades" noise on social media. Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects.  Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl Disclaimer This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

  7. Apr 30

    Plumbing Versus Building Apprenticeship | Adrian Ferguson BBA #15

    Send us Fan Mail This month on BBA, we chat with Adrian Ferguson, a 23-year-old building apprentice who transitioned from plumbing to high-end residential construction. Based on the North Shore and nearing qualification through Builders Academy, Adrian highlights the benefits of frequent assessments and a strong connection with his mentor to accelerate his career.   In this episode, Adrian discusses why his generation is choosing tangible trades over digital "crypto" dreams and the importance of an outdoor "hustle mentality". He shares insights on avoiding the "broom" stage, the value of artisan finishing work, and his strategy for hiring to cover weaknesses. We also explore navigating on-site culture, the importance of asking questions, and his long-term goal of running his own crew. Social Links  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects.  Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl Disclaimer This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

About

Social Links Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcastTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudioLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcastLinktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcastBetter Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders convert higher quality projects. Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bradvisser01/?hl=enGro's SocialsGro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agencyGro's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@groagencyGro’s website https://groagency.co/ + https://www.gro.video/Disclaimer: This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this podcast. Any third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of this podcast, and no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any content contained in any third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this podcast.

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