The HODCAST - Building Conversations

The HODCAST
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The Hodcast is hosted by Sam La Roche and features apprentices, tradespeople, and industry professionals in meaningful conversations about learning the trade, building a career, and continuous development — on site and beyond. From early experiences to leadership insights, it’s a platform for shared learning and growth.New episodes every week.Follow now for conversations worth having. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. SEASON FINALE! Why You Struggle With The Basics (And How To Fix It) | Tyler Butt | Conversation #52

    Apr 11

    SEASON FINALE! Why You Struggle With The Basics (And How To Fix It) | Tyler Butt | Conversation #52

    Season One Finale. In this episode of The Hodcast, Sam La Roche sits down with Tyler Butt — a fast-rising entrepreneur with over 4 million followers across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. But this conversation isn’t about social media. It’s about something far more important: Why everyday life feels harder than it should. From building a brand at a young age to helping millions simplify their routines, Tyler has built his platform around one core idea: Simple systems beat motivation every time. In this episode, we explore: • Why people struggle with something as basic as feeding themselves • The hidden reasons behind overwhelm and inconsistency • How to remove decision fatigue from your day • What it takes to build something from nothing • And how small daily habits shape your entire life Practical, honest, and immediately useful. The biggest guest. The biggest conversation. The perfect way to close Season One. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 7m
  2. Are You Living a Life You Actually Chose? | Will Polston | Conversation #51

    Apr 4

    Are You Living a Life You Actually Chose? | Will Polston | Conversation #51

    Most people don’t choose their life. They inherit it. In this episode of The Hodcast, Sam La Roche sits down with Will Polston to explore why so many people feel stuck, even when they’re doing everything “right”. From identity and belief systems to high performance and burnout, this conversation goes beyond typical self-development advice and asks a harder question: Are you building a life that’s truly yours? A powerful episode on clarity, alignment, and what it really takes to change direction. Find Will at https://www.willpolston.com/ Buy his best selling book at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1781337284 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  3. Why Kindness Is the Hardest Leadership Skill | Carmel Saulbrey | Conversation #50

    Mar 28

    Why Kindness Is the Hardest Leadership Skill | Carmel Saulbrey | Conversation #50

    What happens when kindness becomes a professional standard, not just a personal choice? In Conversation 50 of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Carmel Saulbrey, Founder of The Kindness Code, shares her experience leading therapeutic children’s homes and working with young people who have experienced trauma. This is a conversation about courage, leadership and what it really takes to support people in the most challenging circumstances. We discuss • Building resilience through difficult experiences • What trauma looks like in young people • The role of kindness in leadership • Why traditional leadership models often fall short • Creating The Kindness Code training platform • How systems and culture can be reshaped through training A powerful and thought provoking conversation about people, care and the impact we leave behind. Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd Powered by Garry Staines #TheHodcast #CarmelSaulbrey #Kindness #Leadership #TraumaInformedCare #TogetherWeCan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  4. Why the Best Worker on Site Isn’t Always the Bricklayer | Timmy Mercer | Conversation #49

    Mar 22

    Why the Best Worker on Site Isn’t Always the Bricklayer | Timmy Mercer | Conversation #49

    What does it mean to take real pride in your work? In Conversation 49 of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Timmy Mercer, Hod carrier for over 4 decades, shares his experience as a hod carrier and what it means to build a reputation through consistency, discipline and graft, Hard Graft! This episode explores the value of roles that are often overlooked and the people who quietly set the standard on site. We discuss • The role of a hod carrier and why it matters • Reliability, standards and work ethic • What separates good from great on site • The identity of the working man • How construction culture is changing • Pride, reputation and long term meaning in work A grounded and powerful conversation about doing things properly and building a life through honest work. Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd Powered by Garry Staines #TheHodcast #TimmyMercer #Construction #WorkEthic #Brickwork #Leadership #TogetherWeCan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m
  5. “What It’s Like Being a Gay Bricklayer” | Patrick Whitlock | Conversation #48

    Mar 15

    “What It’s Like Being a Gay Bricklayer” | Patrick Whitlock | Conversation #48

    What does it mean to design a life you can actually live? In this episode of The Hodcast, Patrick Whitlock sits down with Sam La Roche to talk about his journey as a bricklayer, trainer, father and gay man working in construction. For years Patrick felt he had to hide a part of himself in order to fit into the culture of building sites. In this conversation he reflects on the pressure that creates and what happens when someone finally decides to stop living a life that only feels manageable. We discuss • Construction culture and mental health • The experience of being a gay bricklayer • The emotional cost of hiding identity • Career pressure and overcompensating • Redesigning life to align with who you really are • What psychological safety on site should look like A thoughtful and deeply human conversation about identity, courage and building a life that actually fits. Hosted by Sam La Roche Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd Powered by Garry Staines #TheHodcast #PatrickWhitlock #ConstructionCulture #MentalHealth #Brickwork #TogetherWeCan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m
  6. How Bricks Are Made and Why Quality Matters | Max McClean and Marc van Rijn | Conversation #47

    Mar 10

    How Bricks Are Made and Why Quality Matters | Max McClean and Marc van Rijn | Conversation #47

    How much do you really know about the bricks around you? In Conversation 47 of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Max McClean of Camtech Building Products Ltd and Marc van Rijn of Caprice Baksteen share the story behind one of the most important materials in construction. From sourcing clay in the rivers of the Netherlands to producing bricks at incredible scale, this episode explores the craft, engineering and tradition behind high quality brickmaking. We discuss • The origin of the clay used in premium bricks • The scale of modern brick production • Why Caprice Baksteen bricks are known for quality • The relationship between manufacturers and bricklayers • The future of brickwork in construction A fascinating conversation for anyone interested in how buildings are truly made. Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd Powered by Garry Staines #TheHodcast #Brickmaking #Brickwork #ConstructionIndustry #CapriceBaksteen #Camtech #TogetherWeCan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  7. How We Help SEN Students Thrive at Work | Michelle Belsey | Conversation #46

    Mar 3

    How We Help SEN Students Thrive at Work | Michelle Belsey | Conversation #46

    How do we genuinely prepare students with special educational needs for the workplace? In this episode of The Hodcast, Michelle Belsey, Careers Curriculum Lead and Teacher at Castledon School Academy Trust, joins Sam La Roche for one of the most uplifting conversations we have had. Michelle works directly with students with special educational needs, building confidence, employability skills and real world readiness. This is not about theory. It is about practical integration and long term opportunity. We explore • Supporting SEN students into meaningful employment • Building confidence and independence • What inclusive workplaces actually look like • How employers can integrate diverse needs successfully • The difference between token diversity and true inclusion • Why some of the most overlooked students can become incredible employees This episode is about unlocking potential, widening opportunity and redefining what success looks like. If you care about education, leadership, inclusion or the future workforce, this conversation will resonate. Hosted by Sam La Roche Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd Powered by Garry Staines #TheHodcast #MichelleBelsey #SEN #SpecialEducationalNeeds #WorkplaceInclusion #Education #Diversity #TogetherWeCan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  8. He Started a Combat Sports Brand at 20 | Naud Van Rijn | Conversation #45

    Feb 24

    He Started a Combat Sports Brand at 20 | Naud Van Rijn | Conversation #45

    What does it take to start building a serious business at 20 years old? In Conversation 45 of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Naud Van Rijn shares his journey from passion for combat sports to founding Capra Core, a performance focused combat sports brand. We discuss • The discipline martial arts builds • Starting a company at a young age • Building identity through sport • Leadership and responsibility early in life • Why mindset matters more than age A grounded conversation about youth, ambition and creating something that reflects who you are. Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd Powered by Garry Staines Buy Capra Core apparel at www.capracore.com #TheHodcast #NaudVanRijn #CapraCore #YoungEntrepreneur #CombatSports #Mindset #TogetherWeCan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
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The Hodcast is hosted by Sam La Roche and features apprentices, tradespeople, and industry professionals in meaningful conversations about learning the trade, building a career, and continuous development — on site and beyond. From early experiences to leadership insights, it’s a platform for shared learning and growth.New episodes every week.Follow now for conversations worth having. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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