Podcasts about prefab

> I almost don't read code now. My approach with Roborev is it's like my code reader. The mantra is: Roborev reads every line of code that is generated. It gets read multiple times. And so, whenever I push up a pull request, the branch gets re-reviewed. And so by the time I'm merging a pull request into a repository, the code has all been read by agents four or five times minimum. I look at the code in terms of structural detail: does it look right?— Wes McKinney (creator of pandas, POSIT)Wes, Jeremiah Lowin (Prefect), and Randy Olson (Good Eye Labs) join Hugo and his cohost Thomas Wiecki (PyMC Labs) for the premiere of Show Us Your Agent Skills, a live session where guests walk us through the exact skills, workflows, and setups they use to work with agents every day.We Discuss:* Wes McKinney on why he barely writes, or even reads, code anymore, his “software factory” of parallel agents, and RoboRev, the background reviewer that reads every line four or five times before he merges;* The shift from “vibe coding” to agentic engineering, and why verification, not reading, is the part that actually matters;* Jeremiah Lowin on years of context engineering: trickling voice memos, recorded meetings, and morning briefs into his agent's memory substrate as a true “second brain”;* Why Jeremiah picked OpenCode specifically for how deeply he can customize its memory, and what he's building with FastMCP, Prefab, and Cardboard;* Randy Olson on encoding human judgment, like Tufte's rules for data visualization, directly into agent skills, so the agents themselves perform the verification;* The “digital twin” Randy loads into his agents as a thought partner that pushes back instead of agreeing;* Skills as thin drivers, progressive disclosure, and managing context rot across extended sessions;* The rise of ephemeral, “just for me” software that agents finally make viable.Skills and workflows discussed and shown in the episode:* Wes's RoboRev background code reviewer, his “software factory” dashboard, and his agentic engineering setup built on the Superpowers skills framework;* Jeremiah's “explain” skill (which anchors every other skill he has), his voice memo memory pipeline, his FastMCP and Prefab projects, and Cardboard, his ephemeral presentation tool;* Randy's data visualization verifier skills, his digital twin thought partner prompt, his cron job reports for colleagues, and his reflect and improve skill design pattern.Check out the GitHub repo where we're starting to drop some of these skills and workflows for you to grab and try yourself.You can also find the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.You can also interact directly with the transcript here in NotebookLM: If you do so, let us know anything you find in the comments!Up next on Show Us Your Agent Skills: Hilary Mason (CEO, HiddenDoor), Bryan Bischof (Theory Ventures), Eric Ma (Research DS lead, Moderna Therapeutics), and Tomasz Tunguz (Theory Ventures). Register on lu.ma to join live, or catch the recording afterwards.

Rebuilding after the LA fires is a massive challenge. In this episode, Bronson Hill explains how prefabricated homes can be built in days and installed quickly, offering a faster and more affordable way to rebuild. He also shares how this could create new opportunities for investors.

In this episode of DARE: The Time of Your Life, we are looking at Breaking New Ground. At an age when many people are beginning to look for the off switch, some over 50s are inspiring us by dreaming bigger than ever. Like our guest Jamie Durie. The landscape designer and TV host isn’t just 'not winding down', he’s completely upskilling and re-tooling. Join his conversation with host Jean Kittson alongside clinical psychologist and men’s mental health expert Dr Zac Seidler. About the episode – brought to you by Australian Seniors, in partnership with RSPCA. Join Jean Kittson for the seventh season of DARE: The time of your life (formerly Life’s Booming), called Better With Age. Too often ageing is painted as decline. In reality, Australians are living longer, healthier lives and reshaping what “older” looks like. This series flips the script and shows how ageing is not a dirty word but rather a time to be embraced, featuring interviews with extraordinary over 50s refusing to slip quietly into the background. Award-winning landscape designer and sustainability advocate Jamie Durie was once a performer with all-male revue group Manpower, before he realised his passion for horticulture and garden design. Now Jamie is navigating the beautiful chaos of a young family in his 50s, while revolutionising the way we build our homes in TV’s Jamie Durie’s Future House. Dr Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert. He currently holds dual roles as Global Director of Research at Movember and Associate Professor with Orygen at the University of Melbourne. Watch DARE: The Time of Your Life on YouTube Listen to DARE: The Time of Your Life on Apple Podcasts Listen to DARE: The Time of Your Life on Spotify For more information visit seniors.com.au/podcast Produced by Medium Rare Content Agency -- TRANSCRIPT: Jean Kittson: Welcome back to the podcast, DARE: the Time of Your Life, formerly Life's Booming, brought to you by Australian seniors in partnership with RSPCA. For more episodes, visit seniors.com au/podcast. Hi, I'm Jean Kittson, and this season is called Better With Age, where we are flipping the script and showing you how ageing is not a dirty word, rather it's a time to be embraced. In this episode, we are looking at Breaking New Ground. At an age when many people are beginning to look for the off switch, some over 50s are inspiring us by dreaming bigger than ever. Take our guest, Jamie Durie, the landscape designer and TV host isn't just not winding down, he's completely upskilling and retooling. From navigating the beautiful chaos of a young family in his fifties to revolutionising the way we build our homes with high tech prefab design, Jamie is living proof getting older doesn't automatically mean it's time to start downsizing. Also with us is Dr. Zac Seidler, a clinical psychologist and leading men's mental health expert. Zac is also global Director of Men's Health Research at Movember. Jamie and Zac, I'm so happy to welcome you both to the studio. Welcome. Jamie Durie: Thank you. Yeah, great to be here. Good to meet you, Zac. Zac Seidler: You too, Jamie. Can’t wait to chat. Jean Kittson: I know. Well, it's so exciting to hear what you're doing, Jamie, and you know when people are usually in their fifties, I suppose they start thinking about maybe slowing down or… never crossed your mind? Jamie Durie: Well, I think we, as men, and I'm hoping I'm not alone here, Zac. We only really start working it out in our 40s, and by the time you then reach 50, you go, Hmm, okay, now I know exactly where I wanna land and exactly what I wanna focus on. And I've got the experience behind me where I've made a few mistakes, learnt along the way, and I can apply with accuracy and shoot with a rifle – not a shotgun at your goals, if you like. Because the idea of, kind of, focusing in on the things that I think you’re most passionate about and that are most relevant in your place is, I think, distilling everything you've learned throughout your career. Jean Kittson: Yeah. It's something you come to with experience. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: And as you say, making maybe some mistakes, but then refining, fine tuning where your passion is, is this, like what you are doing now with this prefab. Is it the Prefab housing where you are also doing something called the Infinity Garden? Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: What's… tell us about this project? Jamie Durie: Well this, you know, Future House is the name of the show, and we're now at Channel Nine, which is brilliant, and we've had an amazing season. Basically it's an exploration of modern methods of construction and if we are sitting in the building crisis right now, the housing crisis, and we've got, you know, 1.2 million homes to build over the next five years – how on earth are we gonna achieve that target when we're 87,000 trades short of achieving that target with our conservative ways of building houses? Our houses need to be more energy efficient. They need to be more cost effective. They need to be more structurally sound. They need to be more resilient with increased weather attacks, you know, over the last five, 10 years, we've all seen the floods, the fires, the storms all increasing. And then how do we make it more affordable for everyday Australians so that we can all, you know, get off this renting bus and actually start to own a piece of Australia and be proud of it, but make it more affordable. So that’s what it’s really about. Prefab has come a long way. We're no longer talking about those archaic old ‘kit homes’, they're now beautifully designed, sophisticated homes, some of them, which you can buy at a hardware store at Bunnings these days. Jean Kittson: Wow. Jamie Durie: I don't know whether you've seen that or not, but it's amazing what's happening in this space and we're playing catch up and we wanted to develop a format to talk about those where we could, you know, pass on some of these learnings and create intelligent DIY design where Australians could learn from what we are learning from and help progress the solutions around solving the building crisis. Jean Kittson: Well, I can hear that you are using all your background in, you know, gardens and landscaping and building, but also a maturity that, you know, and in experience and knowledge that comes with age as you personally. And then you taking this knowledge and experience and then putting it into the community for a really important community benefit. How does that… does that make you feel good about your work? Is that what you mean by focusing more, in your 50s? Jamie Durie: Oh, for sure. This is the show I've always wanted to make. Having worked on 56 primetime shows throughout my career, which is a lot, when you only started at kind of 28. It feels like everything's come full circle because, you know, we're not just inspiring people to take up new ideas, but we're instilling them with education and awareness around how to create more sustainable homes, how to tread more lightly on the planet, how to reduce our energy costs, how to tackle the cost of living crisis and how to get more Australian families into more homes faster. Jean Kittson: That's amazing. I mean, from a person… personally, that's a lot of work, Jamie. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson:You don't feel like you should be slowing down, spending more time, you know… Jamie Durie: …weirdly Jean Kittson: …pottering around. Jamie Durie: No, weirdly, the more I dive into this, the more passionate I become and passion creates energy. You know, it just comes from somewhere. You would know this, Zac. You know, I mean, what you guys have created is astonishing and the people's lives that you've touched through the funds raised throughout Movember is absolutely mind blowing. Zac Seidler: Thanks Jamie, I appreciate that. It's been a community effort in a very similar vein, and I think Australians can really get around that type of… Jamie Durie: …Yeah… Zac Seidler: …of grassroots community building when you provide them with the right resources to do so. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: But I love the idea that, you know, I don't, I think that slowing down, that idea of becoming 50 or 60 and starting to slow down, especially because life expectancy is increasing – thank God. Jamie Durie: …Yeah… Zac Seidler: …We're moving, you know, into longer lives, hopefully healthier lives as well. The data is pretty clear that when men start to slow down, bad things happen, to be honest. Retirement is not a good vibe for lots of guys because they have not built the scaffolding around them. They often haven't spent a lot of time with their friends or family over the years because they've been in this provider protector mode for so long, that when it slows down, they go, okay, I'm gonna play golf, I guess, or something and I've never played it before. And how does this work? And who are the guys I'm gonna call? And so, I really like the idea of seeing eras of your life and the fact that as you are maturing and ageing, you are becoming more dynamic in ways and kind of getting rid of the stuff that was a waste of energy, the stress, the anxiety, the trying to do a thousand things at once that I'm probably still doing and hopefully we'll get rid of at some point. But that ability to work out where you want to spend your time and energy for, you know, the next era and then there'll be another one after. That's so important. And I think, you know, Movember has been around for over 20 years and we're now moving into the next stage. We were just this young kid on the block, you know, kind of breaking stuff and trying to work out what's the best way to show up in the charity space and really change men's lives, and it started with a practical joke. It starts with, with something that everyone… Jean Kittson: …A pun, yeah. Zac Seidler: A pun. Exactly. And it moves from that conversation starter really into thousands of programs and a billion dollars plus that we've fundraised over the years. And so many people say that men don't wanna get around this stuff. You know, it's like, oh… Typically it is women leading charity dinners and doing fundraising events and we kind of broke that mould and suggested that if you provide the right framework, something that is about banter and community and mateship and the things that matters to guys and their health. You know, health by stealth is always what we say… Jean Kittson: Yeah, health by stealth… Zac Seidler: Go around, don't hit them on the head with the thing. Jean Kittson: No, Jamie Durie: …that's right. Jean Kittson: Start in a light way with a light, you know, an idea that's fun. And then dig a bit deeper. Jamie Durie: And it's the path of least resistance, isn't it? Because I grew up watching Magnum PI. And there's a Tom Selleck in all of us, where we desperately wanted to grow that mustache, but just didn't feel like there was enough reason to, and this gives us the excuse. Jen Kittson: Yeah. Jamie Durie: To go, oh, I'm doing something good. And I'm also exploring this mustache, which could look terrible on me, but it also could look fantastic. And my Mrs might love it! Zac Seidler: I love the wives and the girlfriends who are just like, ‘make this stop!’ every year. But that is the joy of this thing. And some people find that they can grow a beautiful mustache. We had a whole campaign called Shit Mo’s Save Lives. You've got this wispy thing. It doesn't matter. Jean Kittson: It doesn't matter! Jamie Durie: Growing a mustache doesn't happen overnight. No. And so there's this constant reminder of the cause. And bringing people back, bringing people's minds back every time you look in the mirror, oh, that's why I'm doing this because I'm raising money for this cause. Zac Seidler: And we also want to get around the idea that, you know, November is one month of the year. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: We're lucky to have the pun to stand behind. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: But this is an all-year situation. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: You know, there are guys, whether it's prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and, and suicide prevention, lots of the things that we work in, they don't come and go, you know? They are a part of men's health. They're a part of our families. Our wives deal with them, our children manage this stuff. And so we wanna make this an all year round conversation, and it just gets supercharged in November. Jean Kittson: So what would you say to men who perhaps think they can just stop everything or they've had to stop everything because of health or their age or their jobs finished because of their age and they think they can go out to play golf. But then as you say, they may not have the friends around because they haven't stayed in touch with them, or that. So how do men find a new purpose? Because I think what you are doing, Jamie, is really a progression, a development of everything you've been doing in your past. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: But some men have just spent their whole lives doing one thing. And then suddenly that stops. So how do they find a new sort of purpose, or how can they build on the skills, the knowledge they have? Zac Seidler: Yeah. Jean Kittson: What, what do you say to them? Zac Seidler: I'm very keen for Jamie's thoughts, but the way that I see it, because I see a lot of men in their 50s, 60s… It's funny because lots of guys now are having their midlife crisis in their 30s, which is kind of good because they still have the time to pivot accordingly. But what happens is that, when we get into the 60s, 70s, even, even 80s –– my grandpa's 96 and still kicking; he’s around. He goes into his office every day. I have no idea what he does, but he goes to work, right? So there's a part of that purpose that comes from that, but it's about an expansion really, which is that if you are myopic and you have this singular vision of who you are, and this is all that you can do, when that thing ends, whether you are fired, made redundant, you know, you retire, whatever might take place, you know we're in shifting times at the moment, and without that foresight and without the vulnerability to go, who am I? Taking pause going, who am I? What matters to me? What are my values and how can I go about, you know, picking and choosing lots of different things to spend my time doing, whether that's family, friends, hobbies… You know, it shouldn't just come when you click pause and you go, who am I now? What am I supposed to do? Because that is going to breed catastrophe. It's terrifying for all of us. You need to work your way up to it and realise, there is, each day, a chance to kind of do a little bit more in different fields of your life, water the ground in different areas, and realise that if you are, you know, you can be a one track, you can be a one corporation man your entire life. There's nothing wrong with that. But if it comes at the cost of you never prioritising your kids or your friends or your hobbies, that's just not really what we're here for. We're here to do many different things and to expand and grow. And I always find it very interesting. There's this trope that men don't talk, they don't want to go to therapy, they don't want to discuss what's happening in their lives. And I always, whenever a guy comes in and he is a bit, you know, doesn't have all the words, he grunts a bit. He's silent most of the time. I'm like, why are we here if not to understand ourselves? Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And I think that lots of guys, when they get into those later years, they start to do that work, but it'd be lovely if they could do it a bit earlier. Jamie Durie: I didn't start my career in, you know, finding our future version of our house, you know, like what is the modern method of construction? I'd started in a very different space, where I was in Las Vegas dancing with an all male group called Manpower. You know? Jean Kittson: Dancing very well! Zac Seidler: Well, various people said, you need to talk to Jamie about this. You brought it up, not me! Jamie Durie: No, no. And, but listen, they were the greatest years of my life and, you know, I started when I was 16. I was lucky enough to meet, along my travels, and we toured 14 different countries and played to, you know, sometimes 8,000 women a night at various Zac Seidler: …and that one guy that was forced to be there! Jamie Durie: …entertainment centers… Yeah, in Sun City, in South Africa and Hong Kong and all over the place. And, I got to see a lot of the world, many, many times. Circumnavigated the globe many times before I was even 21. And I think, travel's been, you know, my greatest teacher. They say it's the university of life. And so by the time I got to sort of 23, I was like, okay, what do I really wanna do with my life? And weirdly, I met a garden designer, by the name of Paul Bengay and we got talking. Jean Kittson: Yeah. Jamie Durie: And he took me to his garden design studio and he said, ‘this is what I do,’ and I said, you design gardens for a living. This is amazing. So not only could I help heal the planet by planting more trees. But I can also do it in a creative way that would stimulate the creative side of myself. Right? So before I left Manpower, I enrolled into a horticultural course for four years, and there was that overlap effect where I was still doing shows. Still producing calendars. Jean Kittson: Yeah. Jamie Durie: …and my teachers had copies of my calendar. My horticultural teachers had copies of my calendar in their, in their staff room. And they were laughing at the fact that I was, you know, turning up to school every week, learning the names of plants – three and a half thousand of them – and, and throughout that period, you know, I didn't really graduate until I'd sort of reached, I think 30, but those last few years of my life where I was still doing shows at the Crown Casino in Melbourne and, and Las Vegas in the summer in in America… but I was going to school and studying. That's the pivot. That is… there's that overlap effect. Jean Kittson: Yeah. Overlap, yeah. Jamie Durie: Find what you are passionate about. Start seeding that idea, pushing your way into what is it that I next wanna do and move. And I think my love for the environment started way back then. And then morphed into what I'm doing today. And there's been that overlap into, okay, how are we gonna repair the planet as well? So, you know, I've overlapped the next section of my career out of horticulture and then into environmental work, you know, so I'm… Zac Seidler: It’s so, so values driven. And that's the thing, you know, you see young guys now who all want to be entrepreneurs and I end up seeing them because they're struggling to kind of reach this status that they believe they should reach in order to be successful. But it's get rich quick. And what you're describing is time, it's time, it's effort. Jamie Durie: Yeah Zac Seidler: It requires an understanding of what matters to you. And trial and error and failure and all of that stuff. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: Which eventually. That all is the making of a man, you know? Yeah, yeah. Over time and you, you did two things at once, because you've gotta make a living. You've gotta try to work out what matters to you, where you're gonna go next, and you just keep following those open doors rather than going, this has to happen now. Jamie Durie: Oh yeah. Yeah. I remember. I remember doing a Samsung campaign. I was naked. And I was, I was, I finished that campaign and then I'd, I'd literally the next, that afternoon was at Ryde horticultural college studying plants. But, you know, something had to pay the rent, right? Jean Kittson: Yeah that's right… Jamie Durie: …you kind of... Jean Kittson: … it looks like a world, world apart, but you were able to do that. Jamie Durie: …Yeah. Jean Kittson: …follow both. Do this thing you had to do… Jamie Durie: But Zac, you've pointed out something there, which I think is quite important. And I think it sits in all of us as genuine human beings and it's cause-related drive. And the advertising industry call is called this CRM: cause related marketing. But cause-related drive sits in all of us. And when we suddenly tap into something that we feel like… is supporting community, supporting the planet, supporting your fellow human being. There's a different drive inside you that kicks in. You've got it. That's what's driven you with, with your group, over the years. I've got it there. There's, so if you can tap into what is your cause-related drive, you don't really have to find the energy. Zac Seidler: Mm-hmm. Jamie Durie: It finds you… Zac Seidler: That, that is exactly how I feel. Like, lots of people roll their eyes when they ask me, are you, you know, what's your job like, what's a dream job? And I'm like, I'm in it. I'm living it. Jamie Durie: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Zac Seidler: And no one wants to hear this positivity for some reason. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: I'm like, everyone wants to complain all the time. And I'm like. No, I've, I'm having a good time. It's con–– it's nimble, it's constantly dynamic. It changes every day. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: The lives of men, the, the man that shows up in, in front of me, he changes every moment. Let alone all of the other guys around him in the same way that nature constantly adapts over time. Jamie Durie: Yeah. You know, Zac, you're underselling yourself a little bit because Movember started here in Australia. Zac Seidler: Mm-hmm. In 2003. Jamie Durie: Yeah. But now how many countries does it here? Zac Seidler: Over 20. Jamie Durie: And you've raised how much? Zac Seidler: Over a billion Australian. Jamie Durie: That is a huge impact, and those funds get distributed. How… and are you part of the decision making process around that? Zac Seidler: Yeah. Jamie Durie: Tell me, tell me about that. Zac Seidler: So, I, so I lead our research team. So we've got, you know, 20 PhDs across the globe who are asking questions around what's going on for men, what's happening when they engage with health systems; you know, what's happening for new dads? You know, how, how is the GP gonna ask questions about it? To a dad who might be experiencing postnatal depression… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …but isn't aware of it. We're looking at the manosphere in social media to make, you know, men's lives a bit easier so they don't get tricked into some of this stuff, which is… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …which is harming them. So I get to do the research. Then we've got an entire program’s team where we're going to the community, grassroots, and creating programs in local footy clubs for coaches, parents, and young guys… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …to understand the signs, spot the signs, be able to talk with one another when they're struggling. Upskill community, fundamentally, around what to look for. Because I'm sure back in your days, that idea of, like, guys getting around one another at the pub and talking about what is bothering them… Jean Kittson: Yeah, no… Zac Seidler: …what they're feeling, what matters to them, how they wanna show up in their families with their mates. It's a new conversation and we're trying to provide the language for lots of these guys to be able to have those chats. So, we build all of these different programs with community partners. You know, we are not doing this alone. We stand on the shoulders of giants, definitely. But it's just this, this humility, this Australian way kind of where we just find our way into, into grassroots organisations, in York, in the UK, we're in California, in the States, we're in Toronto. We just work out what's working there and we try and ramp it up with them, with the funds that we've raised. Jamie Durie: Yeah. So good. Jean Kittson: Mm-hmm. It is so good. Imagine that it's very regenerative too, because it sounds like there… that at any age you can sort of discover yourself. Zac Seidler: Yeah. Jean Kittson: And find your passion and find the cause that drives you. And this would, so when, when men would reach a certain age, some of them haven't had any relationships – you know, the sort of intimate relationship with their families that a mother might have and their kids. Zac Seidler: Yeah. Jean Kittson: So then they're suddenly in a grandparent role. Then they've, then they've, they've gotta relearn how to connect emotionally, I suppose. Zac Seidler: But you see that, you see, it's beautiful. And I think the, the grandparents, the grandfather's situation in this generation is really unique. Where you see a lot of kids get a bit angry because they're like, I never got this attention. But the way in which grandfathers are going, oh, I was a career man and I spent all day, every day, I missed out on bath time. I didn't get to go and, and watch, you know, him play soccer. I didn't get to do any of these things. And now they're trying to re-parent themselves in a way. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And take back those opportunities that was, you know, taken from them because they weren't purposeful, they weren't able to go, what is actually possible here, and that's also what Movember is trying to do, is open those doors and say, being a man does not mean living within these constraints that you have been sold. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: Because they are harming you. Jean Kittson: Yeah. Zac Seidler: They're fundamentally harming you. There's a reason that men die four years younger than women in Australia. That's a big gap, and it largely comes down to preventable reasons. Jamie Durie: …Yeah.. Jean Kittson: …yeah… Zac Seidler: …yeah. Jamie Durie: I'm father to three children. My first child, I had in my early 20s, and I'm a much better father now in my 50s than I was when I was 20, right. And I find very, very early on in my career, I was looking into a great speaker by the name of Anthony Robbins. We've all, we all know who Anthony, but he, there was one little nugget of wisdom that he shared with some of some of his followers, and that was the ‘wheel of life’. And within that wheel of life, you would have community, spirituality, friendship, family, career all that stuff helps the wheel go around. And if one of those pieces of pie was not, kind of, out to its extremity, the wheel doesn't roll. And so I've mentally kind of always tried to keep that check in my life. But more so these days because, it's funny, the more time you put into your kids, the more worthwhile your life feels. It's incredible what they teach you. Zac Seidler: Yeah. Jamie Durie: And I just feel like now I'm, I'm going to battle for my family every day rather than just myself. So it's a much less selfish way of life. But also we've got an enormous responsibility to raise these kids in the very best way that we possibly can and to keep bettering ourselves as parents and humans on a day-to-day basis so that that stuff spills over to them and they become great custodians of the planet and great, great movers and shakers and whatever, whatever it is they want to do. Jean Kittson: Whatever, yes. Jamie Durie: You know, and you've gotta instill that stuff to them, I think. Zac Seidler: So many people ask me to define, like, healthy manhood or masculinity. Because we're talking, we, we so often talk about toxicity and what is broken and what is wrong, and men doing bad things, which takes place. But we don't really have an aspiration. We don't have a message around what is possible. And I think that idea of being in constant sync around this notion of growth that comes in multiple ways within your life, there are all of these quadrants, there are all of these parts of yourself that it doesn't, it's not a day-to-day thing, necessarily. You know, sometimes you're gonna be working really hard and you're not gonna be able to, to be there at dinner, but what do you do to recalibrate the next day? Jean Kittson: Yeah. Zac Seidler: How do you find ways to make sure that that thing is in sync? Jamie Durie: Yeah, Zac Seidler: …because that's what drives distress in guys, and that's what they're not necessarily aware of that when some of those quadrants are falling away. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: … They are feeling less like themselves. Jamie Durie: Yes. Zac Seidler: And it drives them potentially to do some things that are, that are not in their best interest. Like if you're feeling like you're not being the best dad, lots of men start drinking more. Lots of men start pulling themselves away more because their kids start to, you know, rebel. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: When instead what is actually required is a leaning in, and that is that vulnerability that is required rather than this guilt pulling back and saying. This is not for me. Jean Kittson: …Defensiveness… Zac Seidler: Exactly. And you see that in, in a lot of guys. You see it a lot, a lot of women as well, which is this: You're feeling challenged. You're feeling like you're not living the life that you thought you were supposed to, and so you keep repelling further in the opposite direction rather than saying, maybe I'm a bit off kilter here and I should, I should recalibrate and work out what, what matters and have the conversations. And I want guys… lots of guys do this with their wives. It ends up being so much emotional burden on the women because the guys don't have deep male friendships where they can go and have these chats with other guys without feeling like a failure. Have you got guys in your life where you feel like you can, really… Jamie Durie: Oh, totally… Zac Seidler: …get into it? Jamie Durie: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. My best mate and I, ironically, we danced together back in the Vegas days. So we've been mates since, you know, I was 20 and we talk probably three times a week. He's a dental technician. Zac Seidler: How far you've both come! Jamie Durie: Yeah. Yeah. He's there making the most extraordinary little pieces of technical equipment that, you know, dentures and things for people that gives them self-esteem and pride and function and health and stuff, which is quite amazing. He's such a talented dexterous man, but he's constantly sitting in his laboratory, in his studio, you know, tinkering away. So he'll just call me in the middle of him making that stuff and I can hear that he's in the studio and I might be in a very different studio with TV, cameras rolling or whatever. But we always find ways to communicate and lean on each other when we need it most. And, and we have over the years, it's been great. Yeah. Jean Kittson: So you can be very vulnerable with him. Jamie Durie: Oh God, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Oh, he's got skeletons in that, we will take to the vault! Zac Seidler: Right. And that's what it's built, it's built on time. And energy and… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …realising that you need to invest in this stuff. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And you see that, you know, you, you get 15-, 16-year-olds whose, whose friends are everything to them. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And then they go into university. Slowly but surely they get into the workforce, they move into parenthood and it just starts to drop away. And you often see the wife is the one who is leading the social calendar. Jean Kittson: Yes, always. Zac Seidler: They're the ones who are looking after everything. They're making all of the calls. And you know, they start to believe, these men, that they actually are not capable of this stuff when, you know, they're a CEO… they're doing really complex things during the day and suddenly they can't call their friends to like arrange a beer on a Saturday night? What is that? And so I think it is, it's a muscle that needs working out… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …over time. And it needs to be prioritised. Because consistently, you look at the Harvard Longitudinal Study, which is an incredible study, started in the 30s, still going. Jamie Durie: Mm-hmm. Zac Seidler: The guys who are still alive, they're in their 90s. They had quality friendships. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: It didn't matter if they smoked, how they exercised, what their jobs were, all that stuff… Jean Kittson: Really? Zac Seidler: …it washes away. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: We are human beings who require socialising. We require to be with one another, and that's why the loneliness crisis that happens for lots of older guys, older women as well, feeling so isolated, feeling like you don't have any purpose anymore. You know, Men's Sheds, it's a group that we work really closely with. Jean Kittson: Yeah, they're great. Zac Seidler: Incredible. Jean Kittson: Yeah. Zac Seidler: Yeah. And they have, they have women coming in now. You're tinkering, you're doing something. You've got mates there. Jamie Durie: Yeah. It's great. Zac Seidler: It gives you something. We need more of that. I feel like those third spaces, those, those sheds, those community halls, they're just like evaporating. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: It's a real problem. Jean Kittson: Yeah. Well, we used to see a lot more community gardens. I don't see them so much anymore. We often talk about work-life balance, but when you were talking about the wheel or… Zac Seidler: mm-hmm. Jean Kittson: …and with all these different segments, I mean, because that's what life is. It's more complicated. It's not just life over there and work there and you try and balance it out. You've gotta feed all these different elements of your life. Jamie Durie: Yes. Zac Seidler: Because work life balance makes it seem like life is 50% and work is 50%. Jean Kittson: Yeah, it does. Zac Seidler: When in fact it's actually work should be 20, and 20 and 20. You've got all of these little things. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Yes. It is about creating balance within your life and if you, you know, anyone can do a quick equation of the various facets in your life and go, Ooh, I need to put a little bit more family time in here. Or, when was the last time I called my mum or my dad? Or, you know, when was the last time I took my kids to the park and, and played with them and, and gave them a good time? And, and so you, you gotta constantly keep a check of yourself, but also you gotta look after your own mental health so that you can be a better father for them, right? I surf every Sunday with a group of guys that age between oh, 50, 52 through to 74. Zac Seidler: Wow. Jamie Durie: In fact. Probably one of the best surfers in our group. He's had a double hip replacement. Jean Kittson: Oh I love that… Jamie Durie: …And he's a better… he's a better surfer than I am, he's awesome. Jean Kittson: …That's so great. Jamie Durie: …Oh yeah, if you can hear me now, Tones, this is a big plug for you, bro. Jean Kittson:Yeah. Jamie Durie: But I went and bought a new longboard yesterday and I was–– I couldn't wait to get out there at 7.30am with the boys just to kind of share this new longboard with them. And we had a great old time. We caught plenty of waves and then we go to breakfast together and that's what my partner Ameka calls ‘church’ for us, right. So she's like, go and have some boy time. See you at lunch. Zac Seidler: Because it's ritualised. Jamie Durie: It is, yeah. And I've been doing it, you know, 12, 15 years now and I really crave it. Zac Seidler: Yeah, because you don't have to pick up the phone and go, are we doing it this week? It's on, it's on. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Right. Oh yeah. And, and, and there's probably 30 of us altogether. Usually only 10 or 12 or even sometimes six turn up, you know? Jean Kittson:That's wonderful. Jamie Durie: But every so often they all, you know, one or two of them pop in and some of them are doctors, some of them come from the oil industry, some come from the textiles. Others are property valuers and all sorts of people. It's amazing. How many extraordinary high achieving blokes still require this – we all need church, I think. Jean Kittson: That ritual, that going, being able to gather when you want to without making an appointment… Jamie Durie: That's right. Jean Kittson: …And being together. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: I think one thing about your work, Jamie, I would say is that when we were talking before about men retiring and then going home, and then the wife taking over. Your work has always been around creating spaces around people's homes. Your own homes. Your garden and everything. So that's your domain. But for many men, they would leave work and the home is not their domain. Jamie Durie: Mm. Jean Kittson: It's like they're an alien in that environment because that's been the woman's domain and she's taking care of it. But you are, you are lucky because that's so familiar to you. And you have so much input in it. Jamie Durie: Mm. Jean Kittson: In fact, you're probably, it's probably your domain more than anything. Jamie Durie: I have a little too much input! And, so much so that, you know, we have to remind each other because Ameka loves interior design and so I've had to kinda let go a little bit and let her, you know, play with the interiors and all that, and she's done a great job. And, you know we have found a good niche in each other's careers because of that. I think you gotta, you know, make everyone feel like they're part of the end equation, you know? Jean Kittson: Yeah, Jamie Durie: yeah. Jean Kittson: Well, well, growing up, my dad was a DIY so he had a big –– he, you know, he basically built our house. You know. Nothing ever worked, but, you know, we had seven doors opening onto the loungeroom, I think. But he was as much part of the domestic life… Jamie Durie: yeah. Jean Kittson: …as, as my mother was. Zac Seidler: I just don't, I don't buy it that these rules and regulations that have been passed down by someone that we're not really aware of around what women should do and what men should do. You know, Venus and Mars, it just doesn't benefit anybody. Jean Kittson: No… Zac Seidler: …and this is the thing. There are some people who are just gonna be better at certain things. And, you know, my wife is much better with a drill than I am. Jean Kittson: That's right! Zac Seidler: Give up. Yep. Like I've, I've worked it out… Jamie Durie: Good on ya’ mate! I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna attempt it in the way that she does. I'm lefthanded. I'm probably gonna cut off a finger. I'm gonna let her have her day. Jamie Durie: Yeah. With a drill. He's gonna cut off a finger! Yeah. I like that. Jean Kittson: Okay. Hello. Jamie Durie: He really doesn't use tools. Jean Kittson: Well picked up. Zac Seidler: You got it. You got it. Live and learn! Jamie Durie: I gotta ask, Zac, you know, we, mental health of course is a huge part of our, elongating our lives, right. And I have to ask, what role does stress have in that? And also what role does the foods that we eat play into the health of our minds and our bodies? Zac Seidler: Well, I think that we went through a period, you know, early on in the 20th century where we started to split the mind and the body, and that was not a smart move. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And we are very much ricocheting back away from that and realising that everything needs to be calibrated, and they all affect one another in a cause-and-effect kind of way. That's why everyone, any psychologist worth their salt will bang on first and foremost about sleep and diet… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …and exercise. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …really. And it's funny because they're like, oh no, I just wanna talk about my feelings. And I'm like, no, if you don't get this stuff in order, there is no point in getting into the deeper stuff because this is going to create the foundations of wellbeing for you. Jamie Durie: That's right. Zac Seidler: Fundamentally, the fuel that you are putting in – and fuel comes through sleep, through exercise, through diet, and nutrition. And I think that we are at a point because of cost of living stuff, especially… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: …where everyone is, is trying to make their way and, and survive as best they can. And because of time and work and families, food just kind of drops off. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And so it becomes easier to do, you know, quickfire meals that are probably much worse for you. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: Whether it's sodium or sugar or whatever it is. And that has a fundamental effect on your sleep. It has a fundamental effect on your mood. And really the more stressed you are, the more calorie rich food you kind of end up wanting. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: Whenever you've had a tough day, you're gonna go for the chocolate because you’re like trying to manage… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Yeah. Zac Seidler: …and so trying to get ahead of that stuff. By building in… You know, I'm a very ritualised person because if I… you know, Obama and Steve Jobs, all these people, they always talk about trying to get rid of the grey in your day, which is like, Steve Jobs wore the same thing every day because he wanted to think about something else… Jean Kittson: right? Zac Seidler: …I've eaten the same breakfast and lunch pretty much every day for 20 years because I have other things to deal with and it's the best way that I'm gonna go to the shops and I'm gonna ensure that I have a nutritious meal. Because I'm doing the same thing and everyone goes, don't you get bored? Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And I go, well, I'm still alive, so no, I'm alright. Jamie Durie: Steve, I heard a Steve Jobs statement the other day and you don't often hear him, speak in this way, but he said, make food your medicine or medicine will be your food. Jean Kittson: Oh… Jamie Durie: …isn't that an awesome statement? Jean Kittson: …Clever. Jamie Durie: Yeah. And I've not heard that before. And then I started looking into some of his interviews in more detail. Do you know that none of his kids had devices? Zac Seidler: None. None. No one who owns a tech company, their kids never touch devices. Full stop. Jamie Durie: That's, that says it right there, right? Zac Seidler: Yeah. Jamie Durie: I mean, I wrote a book years ago, and it was called Outdoor Kids and it was about getting kids off TV games and devices and back out into the garden again, where I grew up. Zac Seidler: Mm-hmm. Jamie Durie: And I find that when I'm, I'm suffering stress or anxiety. I put my hands into the earth and I start weeding or planting or whatever, and suddenly within an hour or two, I'm back. I'm, I feel earthed, I feel… . Jean Kittson: …Grounded? Jamie Durie: I feel grounded and I've let go of all that stress into the earth. And there's a theory now about forest bathing. Zac Seidler: Mm-hmm. Jamie Durie: Which I'm sure you've heard about where, you know, you can go on a trip to Japan and walk through the forest for a minimum of four hours per day for two weeks, and it improves your immune system and helps fight tumors and infections and things and adds so much to your mental health that, and I think we're now just discovering the benefits that nature has, that plays within our health. Zac Seidler: Well, we're trying to create science around something that is obvious. Which is, which is the thing, we've created all of this infrastructure that is actually ruining our lives, and now we're trying to peel it back and go back to basics, which is, you know, the, back in my day, we used to play on the street and would hang around with different generations of kids and do all that stuff. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And now you know, the fog is really what you're… it descends from the phones. That's the iPads and the television. It's this notion of… Jamie Durie: yeah. Zac Seidler: …detachment from who you are and who you want to be. And we see this with young kids, the longer they spend on social media, the more they are unable to actually access their own wants and needs. Because… Jamie Durie: …they're the less functional they are when they get out into the real workplace as well. Zac Seidler: Fundamentally. It takes, so it takes so much time to relearn these things. Jamie Durie: There was a professor that wrote a book called ‘The last child in the woods’. You know, I developed this theory called the outdoor room, where you would convert your kitchen into an outdoor space, your living room, into an outdoor space, your bathroom, your bedroom, so that everything was connected to nature and you would spend more time out outdoors, being reconnected with nature through your everyday functions. Jean Kittson: Beautiful. Jamie Durie: And I used to talk about this, like, let's take the roof off our house, and then instill plants into our everyday lives. Think of your backyard like that. And that was what I used to model the outdoor room theory on. Now I want to take this to another level where we talk about, you know, health and wellbeing and fitness and how do we take exercise into the outdoors? How do we, how do we then start to, you know, control the food that goes into our children's mouths and our family's mouths, reduce pesticides and herbicides, get rid of glyphosates. What role does that play into keeping our bodies healthy enough, to be able to withstand stressful times and so forth, you know? Zac Seidler: Mm-hmm. Jamie Durie: … there been any studies within your funding groups…? Zac Seidler: …yeah… Jamie Durie: …in the past where, you've seen a direct correlation between stress and the increase of disease and poor health? Zac Seidler: Oh, yeah. It's the strongest causation you can possibly find, right. It drives cancer, it drives heart disease, it drives stroke. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: You know, fundamentally the more stressful your life is, the more cortisol you've got running through your veins. The lower your life expectancy is. Jamie Durie: Yeah. And, and I used to live off stress, like… Jean Kittson: …the adrenaline. Yeah. Jamie Durie: ... that adrenaline rush… I loved it. I loved, you know, and the, and oh, we may not get this garden done on time or, you know, or I may not get this project finished in time. Like, and so, the older I get, the more I realised, wow, this is not the goal. The goal is to minimise stress down to zero. And that's the only way we're gonna maintain strong health. Zac Seidler: And how we respond to stress…. Jamie Durie: Yes. Zac Seidler: …Like the more stress you have, the worse you are at responding to it. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And that's why you see lots of guys who are just like exploding because they just don't how to regulate that stuff because they don't have the energy. They don't have the coping mechanisms, they don't have the people to call on. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: But the more you realise what it is… There's so many guys I talk to and I, I go, do you get stressed about things? And they're like, no, I, I've never felt anxiety before. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And they're sitting there and their leg is shaking. Jean Kittson: Yeah, yeah. Zac Seidler: I'm like, they're… Jean Kittson: …can’t articulate it… Zac Seidler: They’re so detached from their own reality. Jean Kittson: …can’t articulate it… Oh, they're, detached… Zac Seidler: …exactly…Yeah. And so being able to get to the point where we realise and we're not afraid of stress because there is a certain amount of it that actually leads to better performance. You know, this effect of going into an exam, if you don't have a bit of butterflies… you know they're useful sometimes. Jean Kittson: Of course it focuses you… Zac Seidler: before a performance, it's good. But then it's called the ‘yerkes-dodson curve’, which is, it goes up, and your performance goes up, you’ve got a bit of nerves, it's pretty good for you. You hit this precipice, and the second you go past that. You suddenly can't see. You're in an exam. You can't think straight. You're in front of camera and you lose your words. Jamie Durie: Mm-hmm. Zac Seidler: That's when stress is tipped over and that's when… A little bit is good at getting you out of bed, getting you going. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: Because you're excited. You know, excitement and anxiety can go hand in hand. But there's just a little bit that is good, and then too much that really has long-term effects on you. Jamie Durie: Mm-hmm. Zac Seidler: Yeah. Jamie Durie: Mm-hmm. Jean Kittson: What do you say to men who, maybe you have lived on adrenaline and have had all this pressure and all this stress, and then suddenly it stops, and then that withdrawal from the adrenaline. How do you manage that suddenly, do people find another stress to fill it, fill up that adrenaline? What do they do when they're suddenly taken away? Is it like a void or a vacuum? Or…? Zac Seidler: It can be, it can be very difficult. You know, no doubt, Jamie, when you moved past that and you had a moment of pause and were like looking back at those years and realising how overwhelmed you probably were, and constantly going and churning your… everything kind of just becomes this, this muscle that is moving towards survival. And when you realise that you're actually not enjoying anything, that you're not in the moment at all, lots of those guys – and that often happens much later on in life because they keep going until they run out of steam. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And then there's this vacuum, there's this, this hole underneath them, and they don't have the skills to be able to pick up new things and fill that. Jamie Durie: Yep. Zac Seidler: You know, in some ways… So we want to get to the point where guys are realising, are connecting with that feeling within themselves that maybe the past 2, 3, 4 weeks have been really full on… Jamie Durie: Mm-hmm. Zac Seidler: …And having the language to be able to say to someone, I need to pause here. I need to realise, I need to recalibrate. I need to work out what's happening. Jamie Durie: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I wish someone had told me at 21 that stress was so destructive. Because I think that's something, you know, I've learned over, over time and I've watched some of my friends go into poor health, through, you know, their lack of dealing with stress. Zac Seidler: Yeah…. Jamie Durie: But Zac Seidler: We need the skills. We need the skills. At school, you should be teaching stress reduction, you know? Jamie Durie: Yeah, Jean Kittson: exactly. I have a friend who does mindfulness, part of her lessons, so she senses – she's a drama teacher of course – and you know my age, so we have the experience and we can look back and go, this stress we put on our children is just way too much. So she senses a class is really stressed. She won't do a normal lesson, she'll just relax them. Zac Seidler: Nice. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: Which is a really, you know, but that she's rare, but this is what we should be doing and… Jamie Durie: …yeah… Jean Kittson: …And I think we've got, we are at our age, we've got this… Not our age, I'm older than you, Jamie! But you know, as you get older, we've got the skills. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: We've got the experience to be able to say how, what's important in life. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: And you talking about in… in my day, we'd hug trees and it was sort of like a bit of a joke, but it was. A really beautiful thing to do. Jamie Durie: Yes. Jean Kittson: I do it outside the studio before I come in. There's some really old paper barks, you know, there, they, they must be a hundred years old. Did you notice them coming in? Jamie Durie: I know they're, they're all through this area. Yeah. Jean Kittson: They're incredible. And they're growing out of asphalt and I always give them a bit of a hug, and go, Good on you… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Jean Kittson: …I don't know how you've survived! And it just, that moment of connection with nature and you just have to value that and recognise it and thank nature for what it does, because as you say, all this technology, if you are going straight from an office back home to the telly or something… Jamie Durie: …It's incredible how well they survive, by the way, these paperbacks in these streets. Jean Kittson: …Aren’t they amazing. Jamie Durie: You're right, the pathways go right up to them, and you would think that the soils would become anaerobic, but Melaleuca quinquenervia – our paper bark tree is – is probably one of the most stoic trees in our system and our indigenous use the bark to wrap their fish and their food up and they would cook their food wrapped in the paper bark. Right? And it's got so many brilliant uses, but they've also got nitrogen fixing nodules and a whole range of survival techniques that other non-native trees don't have. So, you know, one of my pet hates is why did we, why are we planting London Plane trees, platanus hybrida, are all through our streets, which, which are, you know… Zac Seidler: …Causes us asthma… Jamie Durie: So, yeah. Causes asthma, gives us all hay fever – I get hay fever from them – when we could be planting these native trees that require zero care and they still thrive their heads off, you know. Zac Seidler: Finally, the paperback chat we all needed. Jean Kittson: Yeah. That's what we needed. Jamie Durie: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jean Kittson: If only we, you know, treated ourselves like a paper bark, if we had nitrogen nodules, you know? Jamie Durie: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Jean Kittson: I mean, if we understood ourselves, when you talk about trees and plants like this and your knowledge of them and how they, how they exist and how they, you know, how they grow. We need that knowledge about ourselves. From a very early age. Jamie Durie: That's right. Jean Kittson: So we can recognise what we need to do… Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: So that we can enjoy. And this is the thing, it's, you are not going to gain that knowledge from a standing start in your 60s. Jamie Durie: No, that's right. Zac Seidler: You need to, it needs to be a lifelong lesson of what matters to me. How am I moving through the world? How do I grow? How am I going to understand how I tick? And those things cannot come when you retire. Jamie Durie: That's right. That's right. Zac Seidler: They need, they need to come much earlier on and they need to be instilled so that we're not just churning our way, you know, to the end. Jamie Durie: You're right, it's that evolution. It's those, it's the teaching, it's the experience. It's falling down, picking yourself up again. It's making all those mistakes and then coming full circle into where we are today and, and then passing down some of those learnings, to as many people as you can. That's what it's all about. Jean Kittson: Yeah, definitely. That's our responsibility, isn't it, as we get older, is to share what we've learned. Jamie Durie: Yep. Jean Kittson: And hope that our children or grandchildren don't make the same mistakes. Jamie Durie: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Jean Kittson: So, Jamie, what would you say to someone who was maybe hitting their 50s and feeling like they're winding down or they're stuck or something, or, I mean, you just took that huge leap in your 20s to do horticulture… Jamie Durie: Yes. Jean Kittson: … While you were doing something completely different, the dancing. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Yeah. Jean Kittson: So what, what would you say to, have you got any friends who you feel are stuck or… Jamie Durie: I, yeah, I have and I say the same thing to all of them. Find something that you are passionate about. Dive into it. Learn, feed your brain. You know, make yourself get engaged in it because it will provide you with the fuel that you need to push you well into your retirement and way past that. And I don't like to use the word retirement because I'm never gonna retire. I've decided I'm just gonna keep working because I love my work. But find what it is you're passionate about and learn more and feed your brain. And it's funny, if it's benefiting other people, you will also find another way to keep energy within yourself. So don't just feed yourself. Find something that feeds other people in other communities and there's a sense of worthiness around what it is that you are doing that makes you feel good about your day and what you've learned and how you've passed it on. Jean Kittson: Just to wrap up, what would your tip be to people over 50 who feel perhaps a bit, a bit stuck? What's one habit, do you think, they could in… because we're talking about you have to do it regularly and, and institute it as a part of your everyday routines. What, is there one habit? Zac Seidler: It is funny that I very much, hopefully, look like I’m not in my 50s, but I spend a lot of time with men in their 50s and and 60s and do clinical work with them and research with them because they are hungry, and they're looking for ways to improve the rest of their lives and seek understanding about themselves. And I kind of say the same thing, which I've been talking to Jamie about, which is pick up the phone and call someone. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Yeah. There you go. Zac Seidler: Reach out. Lean out. And it doesn't need to be a mental health conversation. It doesn't need to be something that's weird and awkward. It's just like, let's go for coffee, let's go for a walk. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: Let's do this thing called life together. And when you're finding that passion, that comes through other people… I went to a dinner party when I was 18 and someone started to talk to me about masculinity. And I was like, what? What are we talking about here? And then they connected me with someone else and slowly but surely doors opened. And your life opens, and there is no end point to learning. There is no end point to interest, to passion to drive. So, yeah, I think that realising, firstly, that you are stuck does not mean failure. Understanding that you're at an inflection point and there is now heaps of opportunity and potential for doing something different. Jamie Durie: Yeah. Zac Seidler: And that is a beautiful thing that we have, which is that there is always this splay of choices in front of us. And so start choosing. Jean Kittson: Just be curious. Start choosing. Jamie Durie: Yep. Jean Kittson: Can't go wrong. You can't make a mistake. Thank you both so much. That was such a great conversation. Thank you, Jamie Durie. Jamie Durie: My pleasure. Yeah, my pleasure. Jean Kittson: Thank you, Dr Zac Seidler. Thank you very much. Zac Seidler: Thanks for having me. Jean Kittson: That was really great. Thanks for being so open. Jamie Durie: Great fun. Jean Kittson: Thank you to Jamie Durie and Dr Zac Seidler. You've been listening to DARE: The time of your life, brought to you by Australian seniors. Please leave a review and share this show with someone you know or plenty of people you know, even better. Visit seniors.com au/podcast for more episodes. I'm Jean Kittson. Thanks for listening, and remember, it's your time, so dare to make it count. Go for it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prefab is no longer just about speed. It's about building smarter systems that connect people, processes, and technology into one cohesive workflow. In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Todd Weyandt sits down with Thomas Mellendorf, process engineer at Panel Built, to break down what it really takes to optimize prefab operations. From transitioning to model-based workflows to building connected ecosystems and leveraging automation, Thomas shares a practical, systems-driven perspective grounded in real execution. They also explore the human side of innovation, why communication is often the biggest constraint, how to approach change management, and where AI is actually delivering value today. If you're looking to move beyond theory and into what actually works in prefab, this conversation delivers. You'll Learn: How to identify and optimize the weakest link in your prefab workflow What a connected ecosystem should look like from design through fabrication Where automation creates real value and where it does not Why communication is the most overlooked driver of performance How AI can free up time for higher-value, strategic thinking Meet Our Guest Thomas Mellendorf is a process engineer at Panel Built with a strong analytical background in mathematics and mechanical engineering. He brings a systems-first approach to prefab, focusing on workflow optimization, software integration, and improving how teams collaborate across the entire project lifecycle. Todd Takes: The best prefab systems come from understanding the full picture, not just your piece of it Communication may sound simple, but it is the ultimate performance multiplier AI's biggest impact is giving teams back time to think, create, and solve better problems More Resources Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Thomas' Linkedin PanelBuilt Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

Drywall prefabrication is still in its growth phase. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Kiryl Turbal to explore how drywall prefab can scale through tighter BIM workflows, better coordination, and a value stream mindset. While electrical and mechanical trades have matured in prefabrication, drywall remains an evolving space. Success depends on treating prefab operations as strategic value streams, aligning design and field teams earlier, and acknowledging the real time required for coordination. This conversation dives into BIM-to-fabrication workflows, communication gaps between modelers and foremen, the role of repetition in building maturity, and how AI and data security may influence future drywall prefab operations. If you are involved in prefabrication, drywall construction, BIM coordination, modular construction, or industrialized building strategies, this episode offers practical insight into scaling an emerging prefab trade.   You'll Learn Why drywall prefabrication requires a value stream mindset How BIM-to-fabrication workflows can improve drywall productivity Why coordination takes longer than most schedules allow The communication gaps between modelers and field crews How repetition and documented lessons drive prefab maturity Where drywall prefab stands compared to electrical and mechanical trades   Meet Our Guest Kiryl Turbal is Prefabrication Project Manager at TG McCorkney, where he focuses on drywall prefabrication and BIM-driven construction workflows. With a background in structural engineering and more than a decade in design, he brings technical rigor and process discipline to prefab operations. His work centers on improving coordination, tightening BIM-to-fabrication processes, and building scalable workflows that support drywall prefab growth.   Todd Takes Treat Prefabrication as a Value Stream, Not a Cost Center. Prefab operations should be measured by throughput and value creation, not overhead. When leadership treats drywall prefab as strategic, scale becomes possible. Coordination Always Takes Longer Than We Admit. BIM-to-fabrication workflows require time and discipline. When coordination is compressed unrealistically, friction follows. Prefab maturity requires honest scheduling. Repetition Builds Maturity. Drywall prefabrication is still evolving. Capturing lessons learned and standardizing workflows creates repeatability and long-term scale.   More Resources   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Kiryl's LinkedIn TJ McCartney's Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

Automation is not hype. It is strategy. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Ivan Yrupailla to explore how automation, AI, robotics, and structured systems are reshaping prefabrication operations. As contractors push more work into controlled shop environments, success depends on more than software. It requires disciplined inventory control, defined production logic, supply chain visibility, and clear process design. Without strong operational foundations, automation simply accelerates inefficiency. This conversation dives into how prefab teams can build scalable systems that improve speed, predictability, and competitive advantage. If you are involved in prefabrication, modular construction, construction automation, robotics, or supply chain strategy, this episode delivers a forward-looking but practical perspective on what the next decade of industrialized construction may require.   You'll Learn The difference between automation and artificial intelligence in prefab Why process logic must come before robotics implementation How inventory control and supply chain visibility drive production efficiency The role first-line operators play in improving systems Why automation may become a competitive necessity in construction How robotics could reshape prefabrication production lines   Meet Our Guest Ivan Urquaya is Director of Materials and Prefabrication at Ambient Mechanical, where he oversees supply chain strategy, inventory systems, safety stock management, and production flow within prefabrication operations. His work focuses on building scalable operational systems that allow contractors to move more work into controlled environments while improving predictability and performance. With a forward-looking perspective on automation and robotics, Ivan brings a systems-driven mindset to industrialized construction.   Todd Takes Automation Is Not AI. It Is Discipline. Technology does not fix broken systems. Before implementing robotics or AI in prefabrication, teams must understand their processes, bottlenecks, and production logic. Automation scales systems. It does not correct poor ones. First-Line Operators Drive Real Improvement. The people closest to production often see inefficiencies first. Successful prefab operations create real feedback loops between leadership and shop-level teams to continuously improve workflows. The Competitive Window Is Closing. Automation in prefabrication is becoming a strategic advantage. Contractors who invest in structured operational systems will gain speed, cost, and predictability advantages. Those who delay risk falling behind as industrialized construction matures.   More Resources  Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Ivan's LinkedIn AMPAM's Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

Building components in a warehouse does not automatically make you a manufacturer. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Jon Benson to explore what it truly means to transition from traditional construction to productized manufacturing in modular construction and prefabrication. As industrialized construction matures, the conversation is shifting from “offsite construction” to serialization, guardrails, and repeatable systems. Scaling prefab requires more than space and labor. It requires product discipline, standardized workflows, and the willingness to protect the system. This conversation dives into how modular construction companies can move beyond project-by-project customization and into scalable manufacturing models that protect margin, schedule, and quality. If you are involved in prefabrication, modular construction, industrialized construction, or productized building systems, this episode offers a strategic look at what real manufacturing maturity requires.   You'll Learn The difference between construction in a warehouse and true manufacturing Why serialization and productization are critical to scaling prefab How guardrails protect repeatability and profitability When to say no in order to protect standardization Why buyer maturity influences prefab adoption How product thinking reshapes modular construction strategy   Meet Our Guest Jon Benson brings more than two decades of experience in modular construction and industrialized manufacturing. With a background rooted in OEM and manufacturing environments, he has helped guide the evolution from offsite construction toward serialized, product-based building systems. His perspective centers on discipline, repeatability, and aligning operational capability with market demand to create scalable prefab strategies.   Todd Takes Prefabrication Is Not Manufacturing Until It Is Serialized. True manufacturing requires repeatability, standardization, and product discipline. Without serialization and guardrails, prefabrication remains project-based and difficult to scale. Productization Requires Saying No. Mature prefab operations protect their systems. Not every customization should be accepted. Guardrails preserve margin, schedule, and quality across projects. Buyers Matter as Much as Builders. Scaling modular construction depends on procurement alignment. When owners and contractors understand and commit to standardized systems, prefab can move from one-off solutions to scalable programs.   More Resources  Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Jon's LinkedIn TAS Energy's Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

Prefabrication does not scale by accident. It scales through leadership, systems, and alignment. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Steve Rose to explore what it really takes to grow prefabrication from a single fabrication shop into a regional operation. As owners push for faster project delivery in data centers and mission-critical construction, contractors are being asked to scale prefabrication at an accelerated pace. But scaling is not just about square footage or automation. It requires workforce development, operational discipline, and clear communication across the shop, field, and back office. This conversation unpacks how prefabrication has evolved from a contractor-driven margin strategy to an owner-driven speed-to-market mandate and what leaders must do to adapt. If you are involved in prefabrication, modular construction, electrical contracting, or industrialized construction strategy, this episode offers a seasoned perspective on scaling the right way.   You'll Learn How prefabrication has shifted from margin protection to owner-driven speed What it takes to scale from one fabrication shop to multiple regional facilities Why workforce development is central to prefab growth How to define success across shop, field, and leadership teams The role communication plays in scaling industrialized construction Why alignment matters more than automation   Meet Our Guest Steve Rose brings more than four decades of experience in the electrical trade, workforce development, and prefabrication. An early adopter of fabrication and packaging strategies, he has helped scale operations from single-shop environments to regional fabrication networks. His leadership perspective bridges field experience, shop operations, and executive strategy, offering a grounded view of what it takes to grow prefabrication sustainably and effectively.   Todd Takes Prefabrication Has Shifted from Margin Play to Market Mandate. Prefab once focused on contractor efficiency. Today, it is often driven by owners demanding faster delivery in data center and mission-critical construction. That shift raises expectations and accelerates the need for scalable fabrication systems. Scaling Prefabrication Is a Leadership Challenge. Opening additional fabrication facilities requires more than capital investment. It demands alignment across teams, clear metrics of success, disciplined systems, and leaders who understand both manufacturing and field execution. Communication Is the Most Underrated Lever. Technology alone does not drive prefab adoption. Clear communication between shop, field, and leadership teams builds trust and momentum. Industrialized construction scales when people are aligned.   More Resources  Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Steve's LinkedIn NetZero Plus Electrical Training Institute   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

Prefabrication does not fail because of technology. It fails because of systems and culture. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Jim Wallner to explore what it really takes to scale prefabrication inside an electrical contractor. Moving work into a shop is not the same as building a manufacturing operation. Scaling prefab requires systems, realistic goals, inventory discipline, and field trust. Without those foundations, even the best intentions can create resistance and friction. This conversation dives into the operational realities of industrialized construction, how to avoid forcing prefab onto crews, and why sometimes the right strategic decision is to say no. If you are involved in prefabrication, modular construction, electrical contracting, or manufacturing-based construction delivery, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective on what actually works.   You'll Learn Why forcing prefabrication creates field resistance The difference between construction thinking and manufacturing thinking How to set achievable prefab goals When not to fabricate and why that discipline matters How grassroots shop training builds long-term adoption What systems are required to scale industrialized construction   Meet Our Guest Jim Wallner began his career in sales and manufacturing before transitioning into the electrical trade at Staff Electric. He later shifted his focus toward growing and systematizing the company's fabrication operations. With experience on both the manufacturing and field sides of the business, Jim brings a practical and disciplined perspective to scaling prefabrication inside a real-world contracting environment. His approach centers on achievable goals, strong systems, and earning buy-in through results.   Todd Takes You Cannot Force Prefabrication. Prefab adoption must be earned. When leadership mandates fabrication without proving value to the field, resistance grows. Prefabrication scales when it consistently makes installation easier and more predictable. Manufacturing Thinking Requires Systems. Construction rewards speed. Manufacturing rewards discipline. Scaling prefabrication requires documentation, inventory management, realistic production planning, and repeatable workflows. Without systems, efficiency does not appear. Sometimes the Right Answer Is No. Not every project should be fabricated. Strategic discipline means knowing when prefab adds value and when it introduces unnecessary risk. Scaling prefab is about doing the right work in the shop, not simply doing more work there.  More Resources Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Jim's LinkedIn Staff Electric's Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

BIM does not fail because of software. It fails when the field does not trust it. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Max Morgan and Matt Goshon to explore how BIM, VDC, and prefabrication connect to real jobsite execution. As data center construction accelerates and modular construction strategies scale, digital workflows must translate into buildable outcomes. That requires early collaboration, clear communication, and a shared source of truth across project teams. This conversation dives into how to earn field buy-in, prove prefab value early, and align BIM, project management, and installation crews from day one. If you are working in prefabrication, modular construction, BIM, VDC, or mission-critical construction, this episode delivers practical insight into making digital construction execution real and repeatable.   You'll Learn Why field trust is critical to successful BIM and prefabrication How to prove prefab value early in a project lifecycle The importance of a shared source of truth across project teams How early collaboration reduces friction between design and installation Why standardization drives repeatability in modular construction   Meet Our Guests Max Morgan began his career as a union wireman before transitioning into BIM and VDC, bringing firsthand field experience into digital modeling and prefabrication strategy. His work focuses on connecting constructability with modeling to ensure real-world installation success. Matt Goshon brings a background in analytics and systems thinking into the prefabrication and BIM environment. His experience centers on aligning data, workflows, and field execution to create scalable and repeatable digital construction processes. Together, they operate at the intersection of BIM, VDC, and electrical prefabrication, with a strong focus on field alignment and operational trust.   Todd Takes BIM Only Works When the Field Trusts It. Advanced modeling tools are not enough. Prefabrication scales when digital teams earn credibility through accuracy, responsiveness, and constructability. Trust must be built early and consistently. Prove Value Early or Lose Momentum. First deliverables matter. When prefab packages save time and reduce rework, adoption accelerates. When they create friction, confidence drops quickly. Early wins drive long-term success. One Source of Truth Changes Everything. Disconnected systems create confusion. Alignment across BIM, prefabrication, and project management requires shared information and standardized workflows. That alignment enables repeatable outcomes across projects.   More Resources Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Matt's LinkedIn Max's LinkedIn Archkey's Website     Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

BIM is powerful. But a model that cannot be built creates downstream friction. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Jared Sutliff to explore the gap between BIM, VDC, prefabrication, and field execution. As data center construction accelerates and AI reshapes workflows, the pressure to make prefabrication repeatable and scalable is increasing. But success depends on more than modeling sophistication. It requires constructability, cultural buy-in, and early collaboration between designers, subcontractors, and field teams. This conversation dives into what it really takes to make BIM buildable and prefabrication executable at scale. If you are involved in prefabrication, modular construction, BIM, VDC, or mission-critical project delivery, this episode delivers practical insight from the front lines.   You'll Learn Why a detailed BIM model does not automatically translate to constructability How prefabrication depends on early collaboration between engineers and subcontractors The impact of data center construction on prefab workflows Why AI and automation must align with field realities How repeated modeling mistakes can scale across projects What cultural buy-in looks like when implementing prefab strategies   Meet Our Guest Jared Sutliff brings deep experience at the intersection of BIM, VDC, and electrical prefabrication. With a background in multimedia design and 3D modeling, he transitioned into construction technology and co-founded BIM Technology Management, focusing on constructability, coordination, and scalable prefab workflows. His work centers on aligning digital modeling with real-world installation, particularly in data center and mission-critical environments where repetition and precision are essential.   Todd Takes A Model Is Only Valuable If It Can Be Built. BIM and VDC continue to evolve, but digital sophistication alone does not guarantee success. Prefabrication scales when modeling decisions reflect real jobsite constraints and installation sequencing. Buildable models drive repeatable outcomes. Prefabrication Requires Cultural Buy-In. Technology adoption without field alignment creates friction. Prefab success depends on leadership support, crew involvement, and clear communication across departments. It is not a software rollout. It is an operational shift. Early Collaboration Prevents Scaled Mistakes. In repetitive environments like data centers, small coordination issues can multiply across floors and facilities. Early collaboration between engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers reduces rework and compounds efficiency.   More Resources Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Jared's LinkedIn BIMTM Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

Prefabrication works differently in highly regulated environments. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with David O'Connell to explore how prefabrication, modular construction, and industrialized strategies perform inside life sciences, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and cleanroom construction. When time to market can mean tens of millions of dollars per day, construction strategy becomes a business-critical decision. But in regulated environments, every weld, inspection, and document must meet strict compliance standards. This conversation unpacks where prefabrication truly adds value in pharma and semiconductor projects, where full modular building approaches struggle, and why regulatory alignment is often the deciding factor. If you are involved in life sciences construction, cleanroom facilities, modular construction, or industrialized project delivery, this episode delivers a grounded and practical perspective.   You'll Learn Why full building modular often struggles in life sciences construction Where prefabrication works best in pharmaceutical and cleanroom environments How regulatory inspections shape prefab strategy Why partnering with agencies having jurisdiction is critical How time to market drives construction decisions in drug manufacturing The financial impact of schedule acceleration in regulated facilities   Meet Our Guest David O'Connell brings decades of experience across semiconductor, life sciences, and pharmaceutical construction. With a background shaped by multiple generations in construction and deep experience delivering highly technical facilities, he has worked at the intersection of prefabrication, regulatory compliance, and time-critical project delivery. His perspective bridges traditional construction methods and modern industrialized strategies, particularly in cleanroom environments and drug manufacturing facilities where documentation, inspection, and compliance are paramount.   Todd Takes Prefabrication Has to Respect Regulation. In pharmaceutical and life sciences construction, compliance is non-negotiable. Prefabrication does not remove regulatory scrutiny. It demands earlier coordination and stronger documentation. Inspectors and agencies must be brought in as partners, not treated as obstacles. Not Everything Should Be Modular. Full building modular has not consistently succeeded in highly regulated environments. Prefabrication often works best in repeatable components such as utility racks, panels, and cleanroom assemblies. Industrialized construction is not all or nothing. Strategic application matters. Time to Market Changes the Equation. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, delayed production can mean millions of dollars per day. That reality shifts the conversation from cost savings to schedule certainty and risk mitigation. Prefabrication becomes a strategic lever for accelerating capacity while maintaining compliance.   More Resources   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Verista's Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

The Accidental Empire: Marmol Radziner on Preservation, Prefab, and Fighting the Tyranny of the Nimby. Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner discuss the 36-year evolution of their design-build firm, tracing its roots in a student co-op to becoming a leader in modern residential architecture, restoration, and the urgent need for sustainable urban density in Los Angeles. The conversation features Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner, co-founders of Marmol Radziner, detailing the firm’s history, their design philosophy, and their views on the current state of preservation and sustainability in LA. Origin Story and The Return to Modernism: The co-founders met as students at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, living in “The Ark,” a condemned co-op. This environment of free rein to alter the building foreshadowed their later design-build approach. They founded their firm in 1989 during the “dying days of postmodernism,” quickly committing to the modernist ideal of clarity, reduction, and the connection between design and craft (Bauhaus). They attribute the firm’s early success to aligning with the eventual return to California modernism, driven by its rich history in the region. Milestone Projects and Preservation: The first major flag-planting project was the Gutentag Studio (a small, pure concrete block and cedar studio), followed by the new Ward Residence. Their watershed moment in preservation was the Kaufmann House restoration (1993) in Palm Springs. At the time, there was virtually no industry for modern restoration, forcing the firm to develop the roadmap for approaching these aging buildings. They view restorations as “classrooms” that inform their new work, maintaining a healthy split of one-third restoration and two-thirds new construction. Preservation Today: The Fetish vs. Functionality: Marmol and Radziner argue they are often at odds with the preservation community because they believe historic properties must evolve to remain functional and relevant, cautioning against a “fetish” that prevents necessary change. They criticize the current situation where every modern building is deemed “sacred,” citing the contentious, successful fight to demolish the Barry Building on San Vicente as an example of overreach where the building’s significance did not rise to the level requiring preservation. The Problem of Scale (“McModerns”) and Efficiency: They express concern over the proliferation of “McModerns” and elephantine houses, driven by high property values and the pressure to “max out the buildable area” on a site. They emphasize that their modern perspective is less about style and more about the fundamental importance of connection—internal open plans and connecting the home to the landscape and exterior rhythm of nature (a concept that is lost when properties are overbuilt). Sustainability and the Nimby Problem: While California leads the country in robust, fire-resilient, and energy-efficient building codes (which have been a success), they gave the state’s housing policy an “F.” Leo Marmol asserted that the greenest thing the city can do is densify and allow more housing in the urban core, calling out the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mentality as the primary political failure that forces sprawl and long commutes. The Return to Prefabrication (Prefab 2.0): Marmol Radziner initially experimented with prefab from 2004–2012 but stopped after the 2008 crash. They are now returning to prefabrication—Prefab 2.0—as a response to the current “crisis of construction costs” and the need for quick, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions, particularly for fire rebuilds in Altadena and the Palisades. Design-Build Practice Scale: The firm combines Architecture, Construction Services (design-build), Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design under one roof. They support their construction services with their own dedicated cabinet shop and metal shop in El Segundo, allowing for control over craft and execution. Fire Resilience and Landscape: The fires are affecting landscape rules, particularly regarding Zone Zero (the 0–5 feet immediately surrounding the building). They argue against the extreme position of “no planting” in Zone Zero, believing the right, well-irrigated planting can help against embers, which they identify as the biggest culprit in mass fires, more so than direct flame. Home hardening (sealing every vulnerability) is considered the single most important factor, with modern energy codes being an accidental but highly effective form of fire hardening.

Prefabrication is no longer a technology conversation. It is an owner conversation. In this episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt sits down with Emily Mills Marineau to explore how owners evaluate prefab, modular construction, and offsite strategies through the lens of risk-adjusted return. The biggest misconception in prefabrication is that the value is simply cost savings. In reality, owners prioritize certainty, schedule predictability, and reduced variability across the project lifecycle. This conversation unpacks what it takes for prefabrication to move from curiosity to confidence and why the first prefab project inside any organization carries disproportionate weight. If you care about prefabrication, modular construction, owner strategy, risk management, or construction innovation, this episode offers an executive-level perspective on what truly drives adoption.   You'll Learn Why owners prioritize certainty over lowest cost in prefabrication How risk-adjusted return shapes modular construction decisions Why first prefab projects must be executed with precision The hidden impact of labor shortages on offsite construction Why documenting lessons learned is critical for scaling prefab   Meet Our Guest Emily Mills Marineau brings a strategic owner-side perspective to prefabrication and industrialized construction. With a background that includes M&A experience at Apple and leadership roles within construction innovation, she focuses on how procurement models, contracts, and risk frameworks influence prefab adoption. Her work centers on aligning executive leadership, project teams, and delivery partners around scalable prefabrication strategies that prioritize certainty, quality, and long-term performance.   Todd Takes Owners Do Not Want Cheaper. They Want Certainty. The true value of prefabrication and modular construction is not lowest cost. It is reduced variability, schedule confidence, and predictable execution. When we frame prefab around savings alone, we undersell its strategic value. The First Prefab Project Cannot Fail. Initial prefab projects shape long-term perception. If the first effort struggles, adoption stalls. Strong planning, aligned partnerships, and realistic expectations are essential for building internal confidence. Labor and Documentation Are the Quiet Barriers. Technology is advancing quickly. Workforce shortages and inconsistent knowledge capture are not. If prefabrication is going to scale across healthcare, multifamily, and commercial construction, the industry must improve both labor strategy and institutional learning.   More Resources   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Emily's LinkedIn Juno's Website   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website  

Prefabrication has moved beyond proof of concept. In this kickoff episode of Prefab, Unfiltered, recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, Todd Weyandt explores what it really means to enter the execution era of prefab. The debate is no longer about whether prefabrication or modular construction works. It's about scale, repeatability, and partnership. From data centers driving massive MEP prefabrication growth to owners rethinking procurement and risk models, the industry is shifting from experimentation to operational maturity. In this episode, we unpack: Why data centers are accelerating prefab adoption How scale changes the economics of modular construction What true construction partnership actually looks like Why culture and contracts may be the next barriers to innovation If you care about prefabrication, offsite construction, BIM-to-fabrication workflows, or the future of construction innovation, this conversation sets the tone for what comes next. The execution era has begun. MEET OUR GUEST Amy Marks is a leading voice in prefabrication and industrialized construction, with more than a decade of experience advancing offsite construction, modular strategies, and large-scale MEP prefabrication. She has played a significant role in helping owners, contractors, and manufacturers move beyond transactional project delivery and toward scalable, repeatable partnership models. Her work has been especially influential in mission-critical sectors such as data centers, where standardization and scale are reshaping how projects are delivered. Amy focuses not only on components and assemblies, but also on the culture, procurement models, contracts, and executive alignment required to make prefabrication successful at scale.   Todd Takes Prefabrication Has Entered the Execution Era For years, the industry focused on proving that prefabrication works. That debate is over. Prefab works. Modular construction works. Offsite strategies work. The real question now is whether we can execute consistently and at scale. Can we repeat results across projects? Can we move from isolated success stories to operational maturity? The future of prefabrication is no longer about experimentation. It is about discipline, ecosystem alignment, and getting better with every project. Prefab is no longer experimental. It is professional. Partnership Is a Business Model, Not a Buzzword The construction industry talks about partnership often, especially in prefabrication and modular construction. But there is a difference between transactional vendors and true partners. If five companies are bidding every project, that is procurement. It is not partnership. Real partnership involves shared risk, shared reward, executive-level communication, transparency when challenges arise, and a long-term commitment to scale together. In data center construction and other high-volume sectors, partnership is becoming structural, not optional. When both sides are fully invested, prefabrication scales. Scale Changes Everything Scale is the unlock for industrialized construction. When companies move beyond living project to project, they gain the breathing room to invest in systems, standardization, workforce development, and repeatable prefab workflows. Data centers are currently driving that scale, especially across MEP prefabrication and modular assemblies. The lessons being learned in data center construction today will influence healthcare, semiconductor, commercial, and even housing in the years ahead. Scale creates maturity. Maturity creates repeatability. Repeatability drives the future of prefabrication.   More Resources  Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn Amy's LinkedIn Compass Datacenters   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website

Prefab, Unfiltered | The Execution Era Begins (Series Preview) Prefabrication is entering its execution era. Recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication, this special Bridging the Gap series explores what's actually working in prefab, modular construction, and offsite construction and what still needs to change to scale successfully. In Prefab, Unfiltered, host Todd Weyandt sits down with owners, VDC leaders, fabrication experts, and construction executives to discuss the real state of prefabrication today. These candid conversations dive into: How owners evaluate prefab and modular strategies Where BIM and VDC workflows break down between model and manufacturing Closing the gap between shop and field execution Standardization, repeatability, and scaling prefab programs Aligning construction leadership around offsite construction strategy This series moves beyond theory and buzzwords. It focuses on execution from digital coordination to fabrication planning to jobsite integration. If you care about prefabrication, modular construction, BIM, VDC, or the future of construction innovation, this series delivers real-world insight from leaders operating at the front lines. The execution era has begun.

LAPD’s West Valley Division gets honored today — a shout-out to the officers and staff serving the Valley. Dean Sharp, “The House Whisperer” (custom home designer and host of HOME on KFI AM 640 — Saturdays 6–8am, Sundays 9am–noon) joins Conway for Romancing Your Home on Valentine’s Day weekend: the most unusual homeowner requests, “open door dumps,” and easy ways to level up your home’s romance factor. More with Dean on pre-fab/manufactured homes — why they can save a shocking amount of materials, how well-built they’ve become, and why ADUs are exploding across SoCal. And a sad local loss: Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, has passed away. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it really take to build homes that are beautiful, efficient, resilient, and responsible?In this special 100th episode of Home Green Homes, Izumi Tanaka welcomes Steve Glenn, founder and CEO of Plant Prefab, for an in-depth conversation that weaves together architecture, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and climate action.Steve traces his path from an early love of architecture to founding LivingHomes and later Plant Prefab—companies created to challenge the waste, inefficiency, and environmental impact of conventional construction. He explains what truly sets Plant Prefab apart: customized architectural design, a purpose-built factory capable of both panelized and modular construction, and a mission-driven commitment as a certified B Corp and public benefit corporation.The conversation also dives into Plant Prefab's work supporting communities rebuilding after devastating Southern California wildfires, and why prefab construction can offer faster, more predictable, and often more cost-effective rebuilding solutions.Along the way, Steve addresses common misconceptions about prefab homes, shares what homeowners should prioritize when designing for climate resilience, and reflects on leadership, scaling a values-driven company, and what he hopes the future of housing can become.This episode is especially relevant for homeowners, home dwellers, architects, builders, developers, and anyone curious about how housing can be part of the climate solution.Key Takeaways / Listener HighlightsPrefab ≠ mobile homes: Plant Prefab homes are legally and structurally equivalent to site-built homes and cannot be excluded from zoning, financing, or insurance.Energy matters most: Over a home's lifetime, operational energy use has a bigger climate impact than materials—efficiency and solar should be top priorities.Time is money: Faster, parallel construction can significantly reduce carrying costs, rent, and uncertainty—especially important in rebuild scenarios.Design and sustainability go together: High-quality architecture and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive.Rebuilding after disaster is an opportunity: Prefab can help communities recover faster while building more resilient, future-ready homes.Mission-driven businesses face real challenges: Scaling sustainably takes persistence, patience, and long-term vision—but the impact compounds over time.Chapters00:00 Personal Impact and Vision for the Future

In this episode, I speak with Brian Yetter, a prefabrication manager, about the growing importance of prefabrication in the construction industry. We discuss the challenges and successes of implementing prefab, the significance of communication and collaboration among teams, and how technology is leveraged to improve processes. Brian shares insights on building a culture of innovation and the importance of motivating the next generation of workers in the industry.Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app. REQUEST FROM TODD, YOUR HOST: This is a one-way medium. I share this interview with you but I don't have an easy way for you to share your thoughts and ideas about the show. I'm announcing a my new Keepin' The Lights On newsletter. I will summarize episodes, provide insight into future episodes, and of course share a new restaurant idea. Click the Subscribe button and let's start the conversation. https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=ShowNotes&utm_campaign=2026+Podcast&utm_id=PodcastPanduit&utm_content=068+Brian+YetterTo reach Brian Yetter on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-yetter-a6b1802b4/Learn more about Hatzel and Buehler Prefabrication: https://www.hatzelandbuehler.com/prefabrication/YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/2RsDFMx64hoTo get a hold of us here at Keepin' The Lights On, please email: podcast@graybar.com

A year ago, the deadly Eaton wildfire spread through Southern California, destroying more than 9,000 buildings in its path. Among them was the family home of Grammy-nominated artist Aloe Blacc and about 6,000 others just in Altadena. When it came time to rebuild, Blacc worked with LiveLarge Home, a California-based company that makes factory-built, single-family homes designed to survive wildfires. Prefab homes can shorten construction timelines and prioritize structural resilience. Blacc was able to wake up just five months after beginning the project to a new home in Altadena. 

Prefabrication only reaches its full potential when it's treated as a system, not a shortcut. In this episode of Bridging the Gap, we explore what it really takes to scale prefab beyond one-off projects and into a repeatable delivery model. The discussion dives into how standardization can unlock flexibility, why prefab strategy must be defined early, and how digital tools like BIM, automation, and emerging AI capabilities can enable more predictable outcomes. We also unpack one of the biggest challenges facing industrialized construction today: owning and managing data across the full lifecycle. If you're thinking about prefab as a long-term strategy—not just a construction tactic—this episode offers a grounded, practical perspective. You'll Learn: What “systematizing prefab” means beyond standardizing components Why repeatability is the key to scaling prefab successfully How early decisions shape prefab outcomes downstream Where digital tools truly add value in prefab workflows Why data ownership and lifecycle continuity remain major gaps How standardization can support customization rather than limit it   MEET OUR GUEST Our guest is a leader working at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and industrialized construction. With a background spanning marketing, IT, systems engineering, and modular delivery, he brings a unique perspective on how prefabrication can improve speed, quality, and predictability—especially in highly standardized environments like healthcare. His work focuses on building the process infrastructure required to make prefab repeatable, scalable, and digitally connected. TODD TAKES Prefab Only Scales When You Stop Treating It Like a Project Prefab falls short when it's approached as a one-off solution instead of an operating model. The real breakthroughs happen when organizations step back and think in terms of delivery strategy, repeatability, and long-term systems. When prefab becomes infrastructure rather than an experiment, speed, predictability, and quality follow. Standardization Doesn't Kill Flexibility, It Enables It There's a persistent myth that standardization leads to cookie-cutter outcomes. In reality, a strong standardized foundation creates more flexibility, not less. When the core system is consistent, teams can adapt interiors, workflows, and use cases to real-world needs without reinventing the wheel every time. Digital Tools Matter, But Ownership Matters More Construction has no shortage of powerful digital tools. The real gap is ownership and continuity of data across the lifecycle. Without clear responsibility for the digital thread from design through manufacturing and operations, handoffs break down and value gets lost. Technology enables scale, but systems thinking makes it sustainable.   More Resources  Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Bridging the Gap Website Bridging the Gap LinkedIn Bridging the Gap Instagram Bridging the Gap YouTube Todd's LinkedIn   Thank you to our sponsors! Graitec North America Graitec North America LinkedIn Autodesk's Website   Other Relevant Links: Grant Geiger's LinkedIn EIR Healthcare Website

Australia's housing shortage isn't slowing down—but tiny homes and prefab construction might be the circuit breaker. With faster build times, lower costs, and reduced labour pressure, prefab housing is emerging as a serious alternative to traditional builds. Plus teachers make great real estate agents. ► Website:  https://aussierealestatepodcast.lovable.app/ ► Record A Message:  https://www.speakpipe.com/realestateradio ► Subscribe here to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/user-xyelbri7gupo ► INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/therealestatepodcast/?hl=en  ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070592715418 ► Email:  myrealestatepodcast@gmail.com    The latest real estate news, trends and predictions for Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. We include home buying tips, commercial real estate, property market analysis and real estate investment strategies. Including real estate trends, finance and real estate agents and brokers. Plus real estate law and regulations, and real estate development insights. And real estate investing for first home buyers, real estate market reports and real estate negotiation skills. We include Hobart, Darwin, Hervey Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong, Geelong, Townsville, Cairns, Ballarat, Bendigo, Launceston, Mackay, Rockhampton, Coffs Harbour. #PropertyInvestment #RealEstateInvesting #FirstTimeInvestor #PropertyManagement #RentalYields #CapitalGrowth #RealEstateFinance #InvestorAdvice #PropertyPortfolio #RealEstateStrategies  #sydneyproperty #Melbourneproperty #brisbaneproperty #perthproperty  #adelaideproperty #canberraproperty #PerthRealEstate #hobartproperty  #RealEstate  #RealEstateNews #MortgageTips #PropertyMarket #FinanceAustralia #BrisbaneInvesting   #RealEstateDevelopment #adelaide #PerthRealEstate #FirstHomeBuyer #AustralianProperty #AustralianRealEstate #PropertyMarketUpdate #MortgageAustralia #FinanceTips #HousingAffordability #RealEstateTrends #AussieProperty  #MortgageRates #HomeLoans  #PropertyMarket #MortgageTips #InterestRates  #BrisbaneProperty #QLDRealEstate #PropertyInvestment #AustralianHousingMarket #AdelaideProperty #AdelaideRealEstate #InvestInAdelaide #SouthAustraliaProperty #AustralianRealEstate #HousingTrends#MelbourneHousing #MelbourneInvestment  #MelbourneMarket  #PropertyInvestment #RealEstateTips #WealthBuilding #InvestmentStrategy #HomeBuying #AustralianProperty #RealEstateAdvice #SmartInvesting #UnitPricesPerth   #SydneyProperty #SydneyRealEstate #SydneyAuctions #PropertyMarketUpdate #RealEstateNews #AustralianProperty #PropertyInvesting #AuctionResults #HousingMarket2025 #RealEstateAustralia #PropertyTrends #NSWProperty #HomeBuyersAustralia  

Let me start with a disclaimer—this isn't a political editorial. It's a conversation about ideas. Lessons from business, design, culture, and philosophy that might help us grow—individually and collectively. And if you disagree, email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. I welcome the debate. As this year closes, I'm feeling a mix of frustration and optimism. This moment feels chaotic—as does most of life lately—which is why I often end the show with, “rise above the chaos.” We can't eliminate it, but we can manage what's within our control. The Stoics told us that long ago: focus on what you can control, release what you can't, act with virtue, and let obstacles sharpen resilience. This essay is about taking back even a small amount of control through the work we do and the spaces we shape. The Problem with Trend-Driven Design This year, phrases and hashtags flew faster than ever—Quiet Luxury, Brat Green, Fridgescaping, Millennial Grey. Much like the “big, beautiful bill” language we've all heard tossed around in political discourse, design's buzzwords can distract from what actually matters. They generate attention, not meaning. They look good on social media, not necessarily in the lived experience of a home, workplace, or public square. So instead of centering our design conversations around fleeting edits, let's pivot toward the global innovations that are transforming the built world in ways that truly matter. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Real Innovation Worth Talking About Across the globe, designers, architects, and researchers are developing ideas that transcend buzz. These are the concepts with longevity—the ones shaping smart, resilient, human-centered spaces: Biophilic Design, rooted in the work of Edward O. Wilson, Erich Fromm, and Japanese shinrin-yoku, continues to reframe our relationship with nature. Net-Zero Architecture, pioneered in Canada, Germany, and Australia, redefines building performance through projects like Seattle's Bullitt Center and Colorado's RMI Innovation Center. Smart Homes and Invisible Tech, building on early Asian innovation, hiding circuitry and functionality behind seamless design powered by Apple, Google, and Amazon ecosystems. Prefab and Modular Construction, originally exemplified by structures like the Crystal Palace and the Sydney Opera House, now reimagined by firms such as Plant Prefab. Passive House Design, born in Germany but rapidly shaping U.S. projects in California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest. And the list goes on: Self-Healing Concrete by Hendrik Marius Jonkers Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry Bët-bi Museum in Senegal by Mariam Issoufou Powerhouse Parramatta in Australia Pujiang Viewing Platform in China by MVRDV Landscape and biophilic approaches—Wabi-Sabi gardening, edimental gardens, climate-adaptive landscapes, and indoor biophilia—are redefining how we engage with natural systems in daily life. Even infrastructure has become a site of innovation: CopenHill/Amager Bakke, Denmark's waste-to-energy plant with a ski slope Urban Sequoias by SOM—skyscrapers designed as carbon sinks 3D-printed timber in Germany, Finland, and France This is the work that deserves our attention—not the color of the week on TikTok. Rethinking the Shelter Space For years I described architecture as a language, design as a dialect, and landscape as the narrative. Mies van der Rohe famously introduced the concept of architecture as language. It caught on, and then the bandwagon effect took over. But today, the metaphor feels insufficient—especially for the shelter space, where people spend their lives, raise families, work, heal, and age. The shelter space isn't like a retail store or restaurant, where design is often intended for those who pass through briefly while the people who labor there navigate the leftover space. The shelter space must serve those who inhabit it deeply and continuously. And that shifts the conversation. Design begins with the usual questions—purpose, function, users, goals, budget. But these questions don't define design. They only outline it. There is no universal purpose of architecture or design, no single philosophy, no singular “right” answer. The shelter space varies as widely as the people living within it. So instead of treating architecture and design as technical processes, we should approach them philosophically. A Philosophical Framework for Design Stoicism offers clarity: Accept that budget overruns and changes will occur. Respect the expertise of the designer you hired. Invest in authenticity rather than dupes. Create environments that support health—clean air, clean water, noise reduction, resilience. Utilitarianism reminds us that choices have consequences. If the design decisions you make are based on influencer content instead of expertise, the result is no surprise. And now, a new framework is emerging that could transform our shared spaces entirely. Sensorial Urbanism: Designing the City We Actually Feel One of the most compelling movements emerging globally is Sensorial Urbanism—a shift from focusing on how the city looks to how it feels. It's neuroscience, phenomenology, and inclusive design rolled into a multi-sensory toolkit. Five Key Sensory Principles Soundscaping Water features masking traffic. Acoustic pavilions. Designed sound gardens. Paris' Le Cylindre Sonore. Soundscape parks in Barcelona and Berlin. Smellscaping Native flowers, herbs, and aromatic trees restoring identity—especially critical after disasters like wildfires. Kate McLean's smellwalks map a city's olfactory signature. Tactile Design Materials that invite touch and respond to temperature—stone, wood, water—connecting inhabitants to place. Visual Quietness Reducing signage and visual clutter, as seen in Drachten, Netherlands, creates calmer, more intuitive environments. Multisensory Inclusivity Design that accommodates neurodiversity, PTSD, aging, and accessibility through tactile paving, sound buffers, and scent markers. Why It Matters Because cities didn't always feel this overwhelming. Because design wasn't always rushed. Because quality of life shouldn't be compromised for aesthetics. Sensorial Urbanism reconnects us with spaces that are restorative, intuitive, and emotionally resonant. A city is not just a picture—it is an experience. The Takeaway for 2026 Rising Above the Chaos: Lessons from 2025 for a Smarter 2026 HED (3-sentence summary): As 2025 closes, the design and architecture world has experienced unprecedented chaos and rapid trend cycles. In this episode, Soundman reflects on lessons from business, culture, and global innovation, emphasizing resilience, purposeful design, and human-centered spaces. From Stoic philosophy to sensorial urbanism, this conversation offers guidance for navigating the next year with clarity and intentionality. DEK (Expanded description): Twenty twenty-five tested the design industry's patience, creativity, and adaptability. In this reflective episode, we explore the pitfalls of trend-driven design, the enduring value of service, and the innovations shaping architecture globally — from net-zero buildings to multisensory urbanism. With examples ranging from TimberTech decking to Pacific Sales' trade programs, we examine how designers can reclaim control, prioritize meaningful work, and create spaces that heal, inspire, and endure. A philosophical lens, practical insights, and actionable guidance make this a must-listen for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Outline of Show Topics: Introduction & Context Reflection on the chaotic year of 2025 in design and architecture. Disclaimer: this is a philosophical conversation, not a political editorial. Invitation for audience engagement via email. Trends vs. Meaningful Design Critique of buzzwords like “quiet luxury” and “millennial gray bookshelf wealth.” Emphasis on global innovation over social media-driven trends. The gap between American design influence and international innovation. Global Innovations in Architecture & Design Biophilic design and its philosophical roots. Net-zero buildings: Bullitt Center (Seattle), RMI Innovation Center (Colorado). Smart homes, modular construction, and passive house adoption in the U.S. vs. abroad. Focus on Service & Professional Support Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home: Pro Rewards program and exceptional service. TimberTech: innovation in sustainable synthetic decking. Importance of performance, durability, and client-focused solutions. Philosophical Approach to Design Architecture as experience, not just a visual language. Stoicism, utilitarianism, and mindfulness applied to design. Sensorial urbanism: engaging all five senses in public and private spaces. Emerging Global Examples of Innovation Self-healing concrete (Henrik Marius Junkers), Copenhill (Denmark). 3D printed timber in Germany, Finland, France. Climate-adaptive landscapes, Wabi-sabi gardening, inclusive urban design. Moving Beyond Social Media Trends Rejecting influencer-driven design priorities. Returning to performance, resilience, and quality of life. Practical guidance for designers in all regions, including overlooked U.S. markets. Closing Reflections & New Year Outlook Encouragement to rise above chaos and focus on what can be controlled. Goals for 2026: intentional, human-centered, and innovative design. Call to action: share, subscribe, and engage with Convo by Design. Sponsor Mentions & Callouts Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home TimberTech Design Hardware If you enjoyed this long-form essay, share it with a friend. Subscribe to Convo By Design, follow @convoxdesign on Instagram, and send your thoughts to ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Thank you to TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, and Design Hardware for supporting over 650 episodes and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of it's kind!

Jump into the future with prefab green homes—how can investors simultaneously slash costs and accelerate sales by 2025? Discover the secret.See full article: https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/prefab-green-homes-cut-costs-speed-sales/Check out the Cyber Month 2025 Year-End Sale Now! https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/cybermonth2025/—Ready to kill the rat race?Listen, if you're sick of watching other people get rich while you keep grinding for scraps, this is your wake-up call.Right now, everyday people, not Wall Street, not billionaires, not trust-fund babies, are buying property, collecting rent, and stacking cash while you're stuck refreshing your bank app.You can keep working for money, or you can make money work for you.This free ⁠"Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing in 2025" will show you exactly how to start, even if you're broke, busy, or scared to death of losing a dime.It's short. It's simple. It's real.Go grab your copy right now before you talk yourself out of it. Start learning how real Americans are building wealth while everyone else keeps punching the clock.Download now: https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/freeguide/—Helping you learn how to achieve financial freedom through real estate investing. https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/

Black Friday shopping is here, in fact, the early birds already have a head start. Activists are heading to the Home Depot in Torrance - not for Black Friday - but for anti-ICE protests. The key to wildfire rebuilding may be houses that are built in a factory. Plus, more from Morning Edition. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com

Discover how Canadian developers are securing $1M to $100M in government grants for affordable housing and real estate projects. Chelsey Fawcett, President of OREIO and founder of Grant Solutions Canada, shares insider strategies, funding tips, and real-world examples to help you unlock major opportunities in the housing market.

Prefab architect Rame Hruska, co-founder of Intexture Architects and Aura Dwellings and Hospitality, joins host Curtis Lawson to demystify ADUs and modular homes — what they are, how they're built, and why they're reshaping construction timelines and quality standards. Rame breaks down inspections (state vs. city), MEP coordination, WUI fire-zone and coastal windstorm requirements, and how factory precision cuts waste and boosts consistency. Learn how Intexture integrates design and manufacturing to deliver high-end modular ADUs and custom homes efficiently. A must-listen for builders, designers, and architects exploring off-site innovation.

In this episode of the Investor Fuel Podcast, host Michelle Kesil interviews Todd Johnson, a leader in the manufacturing and development of steel engineered homes. Todd discusses the advantages of steel construction over traditional methods, the operational dynamics of his business, and the future goals for scaling. He emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships and the challenges faced in the industry, while also highlighting the innovative solutions his company offers.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

The way we build homes hasn't changed much in decades—and that's an issue. Gaetan Royer, CEO of Massive Canada, joins this episode of the REAL TIME podcast to explain how new technologies, such as prefab modular housing, can help address  Canada's housing crisis by improving the efficiency of home building.From how it saves builders and homebuyers money, to the benefits to the environment, communities, and jobs, host Shaun Majumder gets the low-down on everything prefab housing.

In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with Alexander Purvis, Senior Welding & Automation Engineer at Novarc Technologies, about pairing TipTIG with a spool welding robot (SWR) to boost pipe-shop speed, consistency, and operator safety.Key Topics Covered:Learning curve & training: 1–1.5 hours to get comfortable for hands-on folks; standard onboarding is one week for three operators (3:1 trainer ratio).Fit-up tolerance: Built to handle real-shop conditions (nominal 3/32" root opening; workable from ~1/16" to heavy 1/8") without demanding “perfect” hi-lo.Low-maintenance mechanics: Air-powered manipulator (no hydraulics; sealed bearings) to cut downtime.Assist vs autonomy: AI reads variable root opening/hi-lo in real time and switches among seven root-save levels to keep the root on track.Process flexibility: Dual-torch MIG option (short-circuit root → flux-core fill/cap) and a TipTIG hot-wire TIG package for stainless/critical work.Where it fits: Prefab spools for mechanical contractors, expanding into oil & gas and nuclear work.Safety & ergonomics: Operate 4–5 ft from the arc, reduce fume exposure (especially on stainless/hex-chrome), and ditch the “bent-over all day” posture.Operator buy-in: Find a shop “champion,” then let them own the cell and rack up reps.Throughput story: One SWR operator reportedly laid ~158 in/day, edging five manual welders combined (~148–150 in).See it yourself: Demo-on-demand videos and an in-person Customer Experience Center (Houston).Memorable Quotes:“We don't expect a perfect fit up… the system accommodates that variance.”“Set it on a tack, press start, and the operator can walk away.”“He out-welded five manual operators,158 inches in a day.”Learn more about the SWR from Novarc TechnologiesWebsite - https://www.novarctech.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/novarctech/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/novarctech X - https://x.com/novarctech LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/novarc-technologies-inc- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChc6v5nXWaUU5g9eakabdNw Connect with Beau WigingtonInstagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington E-Mail : beauw@weld.com

In this episode, Cherise is joined by Matt Wittman, AIA, LEED AP from Wittman Estes in Seattle, Washington. They discuss the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab home in Whidbey Island, Washington. You can see the project here as you listen along.Nestled into the landscape of Whidbey Island, the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab is a bold experiment in small-scale, sustainable living. Organized around four modular components—for living, sleep/study, energy, and outdoor dining—the design is meant to be reconfigured and replicated in any setting, from remote rural lots to dense urban neighborhoods.If you enjoy this episode, visit arcat.com/podcast for more. If you're a frequent listener of Detailed, you might enjoy similar content at Gābl Media. Mentioned in this episode:Social Channel Pre-rollPromotes the YouTube channel, ARACTemy, and social handle.

Guest: Paul Binotto, Director of Modular B.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life In A Prefab Box: Carney's Canadian DreamBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radio-baloney-the-richie-baloney-show--4036781/support.

This week is the close of a wildly popular exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington DC called Capital Brutalism, the history of DC's best Modernist buildings.  With us is Executive Director Aileen Fuchs and head curator Angela Person.  Heading to California, we'll hear what happened to a couple who went all-in on prefab, which is great, but then their prefab company went belly up, which is not.  Later on, special musical guest Madeleine Peyroux dances us to the end of love. 

What does it take to modernize a trade-heavy business in today's digital construction landscape? In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Todd Weyandt sits down with Andrew Goodwin, President of Professional Piping Systems, to explore how he's reimagining the industrial piping world through smart leadership, lean processes, and real-time problem solving. From overcoming early challenges to creating a people-first culture, Andrew dives into the practical side of construction innovation. Whether it's navigating the labor shortage, adapting to digital workflows, or staying ahead of safety and scheduling—this episode delivers insights you can use now.

  The Green Impact Report Quick take: LEED Fellow Bonny Gray reveals how she built the world's largest cistern under a parking garage, battles "LEED-like" terminology that's undermining green building credibility, and why prefabricated construction might be the key to scaling sustainability. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Bonita Tice Gray, AIA LEED AP BD+C, is Director of Sustainability and Quality at Method Architecture and a 2022 LEED Fellow—the green building industry's most prestigious professional designation.  Selected as one of only 20 distinguished green building professionals worldwide, Bonny has made exceptional contributions to sustainability in Texas over her decade-plus career. Her achievements include administering diverse LEED and Austin Energy Green Building projects, serving as Author/Liaison for SXSW Eco from 2013-2016, and leading as USGBC Central Texas Co-Chair. She created the LEEDv4 Green Associate Professionals class and authored the Texas Green School Symposium.  Starting her journey in Iowa farm country with a coal-heated 1916 home, Bonny discovered her passion for architecture walking through the beautiful red brick Architecture Hall at University of Nebraska—where she was one of only two women in her graduating class.

If one of Canada's biggest developers gets his way, it might not be long until every new house on your block is assembled in three days like a giant Lego set. For over a decade, news publishers have basically built their business models around generating traffic on Google Search. Turns out, this may have been shortsighted.

IntroductionToday we welcome Joe Purtle, who is here to talk to us about concrete forms. Joe has been in construction for well over two decades, and he's currently the COO of Doka, which specializes in forming and shoring. Eddie shares a bit about his experience in construction back in the 2x4 and plywood days. He shares how cool it's been to see the complexity of forms increase over time and to see how those forms have become woven into BIM software.We discuss how designers and other stakeholders view concrete forms. Joe explains that the placement of concrete drives the schedule on many large projects. And the placement of concrete is largely dependent on the completion of formwork. Cycling of formwork and big dadgum messesEddie asks Joe to explain the cycling (reuse) of forms on large projects. Doka's job is to understand the complicated aspects of forming and pouring and how these complexities can affect a schedule. We discuss the benefits of modular approaches and cycling of forms. Joe discusses the importance of knowledgeable planning and the unfortunate results when things to wrong and a form gets trapped. It's what the bros and their Georgia buddies would call a “dadgum mess.”Joe shares about how he has seen companies process decisions related to renting vs. buying. He also discusses sustainability issues and equipment that measures temperature and pressure to optimize the curing process. We get into the optimization of pouring and the incorporation of reusable sensors that give designers and project managers the ability to know things they would have previously not known without expensive, messy tests. Prefab of formworkEddie asks Joe to share about prefab work such as cast-in-place parking garages. Joe explains that Doka can build and ship complete beam forms that are pretty much ready to plug and play when they arrive at the job site. They have CNC machines that can put curves into forms with highly detailed specs when the customer wants it.   Tyler connects these abilities to the overall increase in complexity of structures. Joe shares about the pride we've discussed in previous episodes that comes with seeing a really cool building and being able to say you had something to do with that. BIM ModelingEddie asks Joe to explain how Doka's work integrates with the BIM process. He explains that they're already working within Revit and Tekla but that they are quickly extending their integration even further. We discuss how AI is streamline design. Then there are the AI features that simply increase the team's everyday operations. Joe shares some thoughts about “real BIM” vs. “Hollywood BIM” and how these differences affect scheduling. Eddie shares some thoughts from a designer's perspective as well as thoughts about storing huge form components that are not easy to move. We spend some time discussing the design rules being used to form AI and how significantly this process will likely change design work in the future. Then we discuss the role that human insight and finesse play in this process. Megaphone Message Joe's message to the industry is this: The industry needs to come together and stop working in silos. The sooner we can create true collaboration through the available technologies, the sooner we'll progress to a future we can't even imagine at this point. Find Joe on LinkedIn Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Prefab housing is getting a lot of attention as a way to solve the housing crisis. But so far, it hasn't caught on in a big way. So what would it take to transform housing construction into something closer to the auto industry?

In this sixth episode of The Reimagine Edit (TRE) series of the Passive House Podcast, host Zack Semke shares selected clips of insights from Carmel Pratt (Massive Passive AMA); Graham Irwin and Silas Patlove (Duck Curve Friday AMA); Lloyd Alter (Sufficiency First AMA); Sara Kudra, Bev Craig, Rainger Pinney, Kristof Irwin, and Alexander Gard-Murray (BuildingEnergy Boston Recap); Ilka Cassidy and Greg Leskien (PH Panelization AMA); and Andrew Peel (Passive House Modeling AMA). The Reimagine Edit is a special series of the Passive House Podcast that shares curated insights from our Experts-In-Residence at the Reimagine Buildings Collective, our membership community of building professionals stepping up to tackle climate change. Learn more about the Reimagine Buildings Collective at https://www.reimaginebuildings.comThank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

Prefabricated houses are nothing new to Australia. More than 50 years ago, they were recommended to solve our housing crisis. 

Does innovation always mean groundbreaking new tech, or can it also mean simple, steady improvements to the way you work? Live from Advancing Prefab 2025, Todd Weyandt sits down with Jason Van Nest to talk about the importance of standardization in prefab construction, the balance between innovation and practical solutions, and the necessity of stakeholder buy-in for successful standards. Looking to the future, Jason emphasizes the need for configured solutions in construction and the power of collaboration to drive change in the industry. Main takeaways:

Is prefabrication all about efficiency, or is it also revolutionizing the way we build? In this episode, Todd Weyandt sits down with Michael Quillen, a seasoned expert in electrical prefab to explore the changing landscape of workforce development, automation, and the future of modular construction. Michael shares his journey from being a 17-year-old apprentice to becoming a leader in prefab design, emphasizing the importance of engaging young talent and breaking industry stigmas. He reveals how his team's innovative approach—focusing on field collaboration, hiring forward-thinking professionals, and embracing automation—has revolutionized efficiency in construction. Key takeaways include:

How can the construction industry break free from traditional constraints and truly innovate? In this episode, live from Advancing Prefab 2025, Harriet Ingham of Holmes Solutions joins Todd Weyandt to explore how offsite construction and AI-driven workflows are changing the game.   Key takeaways:

In another episode of Bridging the Gap live from Advancing Prefab 2025, Todd Weyandt sits down with Jenny Kronish, insurance industry professional and former athlete, to discuss how team dynamics shape success in construction. Drawing from her athletic background, Jenny shares how skills like collaboration, communication, and role awareness translate into building stronger, more resilient teams in the AEC industry. She also dives into:

Are prefab ADUs the key to unlocking new streams of real estate income? In this episode of The Rich Somers Report, Rich sits down with Andrew Greer to discuss how investors are using prefabricated accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to maximize their properties, scale rental income, and build long-term wealth.Rich and Andrew dive into:How prefab ADUs can be installed quickly and generate high cash flowWhy ADUs are one of the best solutions for affordable housing and rental demandThe step-by-step process of adding an ADU to your propertyHow to finance and permit ADUs, plus key zoning laws to knowWhy California's ADU-friendly policies are creating massive opportunities for investorsAndrew shares real-world case studies and strategies from his own projects, breaking down how investors can leverage ADUs for long-term passive income and portfolio growth. Whether you're a seasoned investor or looking to maximize the value of your property, this episode provides actionable insights to help you get started.For limited investment opportunities with Somers Capital: www.somerscapital.com/invest. Ready to take your investing to the next level? Join our Boutique Hotel Mastermind Community. Join a free strategy call with our team: www.hotelinvesting.com. If you're committed to scaling your personal brand and achieving 7-figure success, it's time to level up with the 7 Figure Creator Mastermind Community. Book your exclusive intro call today at www.the7figurecreator.com and gain access to the strategies that will accelerate your growth.

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, live from Advancing Prefab 2025, Todd sits down with Dr. Andrew Rener to discuss the evolution of prefabrication in construction, the misconceptions that hold the industry back, and the shifts needed to drive true collaboration. From breaking away from outdated procurement cycles to fostering real partnerships between owners and contractors, Andrew shares how technology, mindset shifts, and better communication can revolutionize project outcomes. Plus, this conversation dives into the genius simplicity of a single question that could transform industry relationships.

In this episode, straight from Advancing Prefabrication 2025, Todd welcomes back Amy Marks, the Queen of Prefab, for an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of industrialized construction. Amy shares how prefabrication is becoming the norm, the critical role of strategic partnerships, and why culture fit is key to success in the industry.