Jimmy Talks Construction

Jimmy Talks Construction

by James Starbuck
Business
Season 2
Brian Hayden: World’s Best Operator? | Dirty Business Bonus Episode
Dirty Business Bonus Episode, live from Las Vegas. In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Brian Hayden, winner of the CAT Global Operator Challenge, to talk all things operating, heavy equipment, and what it takes to compete at the highest level. Brian breaks down how he got started in the industry from a young age, growing up in the family business at Hayden Excavating in Maine, before working his way through the local dealer event, the regional competition, and finally the global finals in Vegas. The conversation covers: How Brian got into operating What the CAT Global Operator Challenge actually involves The machines used in the competition, including excavators, loaders, and dozers The pressure of timed events, penalties, and precision Using GPS and grade control technology in the challenge Residential excavation work in Maine Machine versatility, operator skill, and what separates great operators from average ones If you’re into construction, excavation, earthmoving, heavy equipment, Caterpillar machines, operator stories, and real industry conversations, this is a fun short episode you’ll want to watch. Links: Watch the CAT Global Operator Challenge: https://www.cat.com/en_AU/campaigns/event/operator-challenge.html Follow Brian Hayden: https://www.instagram.com/brian_h01/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/
S2 · E6
May 8, 2026
17:46
Dirty Business FINALE with David Nicoll (CEO of SANY America) | Episode 5
In the grand finale of Dirty Business, live and recorded during Conexpo week in Las Vegas, Jimmy Starbuck sits down with David Nicoll, CEO of SANY America, to discuss the future of construction equipment, global manufacturing, and the rapidly evolving heavy equipment market. David shares his journey through nearly three decades at Caterpillar before joining SANY and leading the company’s expansion in North America. The conversation dives into the challenges of breaking into established equipment markets, building strong dealer networks, and delivering reliable machines and support to contractors. Recorded during ConExpo in Las Vegas, the discussion also explores SANY’s growing presence in the United States, the introduction of new machines, and the company’s long-term strategy to compete with established industry brands. Jimmy and David also talk about global supply chains, tariffs, infrastructure investment, and how emerging technologies such as AI, telematics, and automation are shaping the future of construction equipment. Topics include: David Nicoll’s career at Caterpillar and transition to SANY SANY’s expansion in North America Manufacturing equipment in the United States ConExpo and new machine launches Dealer networks and product support Tariffs and global supply chains AI and new technology in construction equipment The future of infrastructure and heavy equipment markets Connect with David: 🌐 Website: https://www.sanyamerica.com/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sanyamerica7669 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanyamerica/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-e-nicoll/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Subscribe for the full Vegas series.
S2 · E5
Mar 10, 2026
46:21
Dirty Business with Devin Dyer, Matt Stanley, Eric Jumper & Missy Scherber | Episode 4
Episode 4 of the Dirty Business podcast series was recorded live during ConExpo in Las Vegas and features a panel of construction industry leaders sharing their real experiences running businesses in the heavy civil and excavation industries. Jimmy sits down with: Devin Dyer (@dirtgearco) Matt Stanley (@mttstanley) Eric Jumper (@eric_jumper) Missy Scherber (@missyscherber) Powered by SANY (https://www.instagram.com/sanyoceania/) The group discusses the pressures of running a company, managing crews and equipment, balancing family life with business growth, and the mental challenges that come with leadership. The panel also explores branding in construction, the rise of social media in the industry, and why documenting the people behind the work matters. From starting companies with nothing to managing dozens of employees and millions of dollars in projects, this conversation highlights both the struggles and the successes behind modern construction businesses. This episode is part of the Dirty Business series filmed during ConExpo, bringing together some of the most influential voices in construction, heavy equipment, and contracting. Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Subscribe for the full Vegas series.
S2 · E4
Mar 6, 2026
1:43:32
Dirty Business with Stephanie Dailey, Dane Cotten, Caleb Auman & Sean Coghlan | Episode 3
Dirty Business continues in Las Vegas with another construction industry roundtable hosted by Jimmy Starbuck. In Episode 3, Jimmy sits down with: Stephanie Dailey (@stephaniebuildsit) Dane Cotten (@dcexcavation) Caleb Auman (@aumanlandscapellc) Sean Coghlan (@shamrockseanj) Powered by SANY (https://www.instagram.com/sanyoceania/) Powered by Each guest brings a unique perspective from across residential construction, landscaping, and excavation. From building luxury homes and outdoor living spaces to running excavation companies, the panel discusses what it actually takes to operate successful contracting businesses while also building a presence online. Filmed during CONEXPO week in Las Vegas, the conversation dives into the reality of balancing multiple roles as modern contractors — running companies, building teams, managing projects, and increasingly creating content that represents the industry to the outside world. Topics discussed in this episode include: • The reality of running construction businesses while creating content • Social media and its impact on the construction industry • Legitimacy and credibility in the age of construction influencers • Growing contracting businesses and managing teams • Attracting the next generation into the trades Dirty Business brings together influential voices across construction for honest conversations about the challenges, opportunities, and future of the industry. No scripts. No corporate spin. Just real discussions from people building businesses every day. Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Subscribe for the full Vegas series.
S2 · E3
Mar 5, 2026
1:26:54
Dirty Business with Taylor White, EJ Herron, Zach Taylor & Tom Gardocki | Episode 2
Dirty Business continues in Las Vegas with another roundtable hosted by Jimmy Starbuck. In Episode 2, Jimmy sits down with: Taylor White – https://www.instagram.com/kwc2000/ EJ Herron – https://www.instagram.com/dig_it_digital_gps/ Zach Taylor – https://www.instagram.com/_taylorthings/ Tom Gardocki – https://www.instagram.com/the_dirt_ninja/ Powered by SANY (https://www.instagram.com/sanyoceania/) Filmed during CONEXPO week in Las Vegas, the panel dives into the real challenges contractors face — from scaling companies and building strong teams to navigating risk, reputation, and the responsibility that comes with running construction businesses. Each guest brings a different perspective from across the construction world, creating an honest conversation about what it actually takes to succeed in this industry. Topics discussed in this episode include: • The reality of running construction companies • Leadership and building strong teams • Lessons from growing businesses in construction • Reputation and credibility in the industry • Opportunities and challenges facing contractors today Dirty Business brings together some of the most influential voices in construction for unfiltered conversations about the industry. No scripts. No corporate spin. Just real discussions from people who are building businesses every day. Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Subscribe for the full Vegas series.
S2 · E2
Mar 4, 2026
1:27:40
Dirty Business with Aaron Witt, Amy Underwood, Ryan Goodfellow & Brian Dietz | Episode 1
Dirty Business, powered by SANY, launches in Las Vegas with a powerhouse construction roundtable with: Aaron Witt – https://www.instagram.com/aaronwitt/ Amy Underwood – https://www.instagram.com/the_digger_girl/ Ryan Goodfellow – https://www.instagram.com/rockstructures/ Brian Dietz – https://www.instagram.com/bob_dietz_and_sons_inc/ Powered by SANY (https://www.instagram.com/sanyoceania/) Releasing through CONEXPO week, this episode dives into the real impact of social media, leadership, growth, and building modern construction companies in today’s market. In this episode, we discuss: • How social media transformed our construction businesses • The difference between personal brand and company brand • The dark side of online exposure (and what people don’t see) • Growing too fast vs growing right • Leadership, delegation, and hiring better people than yourself • Market conditions across the US, UK, and Australia • Why people — not equipment — are the future of construction • Charging properly for transport, mobilisation, and overhead • Family businesses and balancing work with life From underground diamond mines in Canada to $60M homes in Utah, this conversation covers what’s really happening inside the construction industry. This is not a scripted panel. This is Dirty Business. If you’re a contractor, operator, business owner, or industry leader — this episode is for you. Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Subscribe for the full Vegas series.
S2 · E1
Mar 3, 2026
1:27:36
Season 1
He Shut Down His Business. Then Started Again | Max Eagles
Max Eagles, owner of X1 Plumbing, joins Jimmy Talks Construction to share how his first plumbing business failed—and what he changed before starting again. In this episode, Max and James discuss: The difference between being a good plumber and running a profitable plumbing business Quoting a $40,000 job when the next price was approximately $70,000 The apprentice mistake that flooded an entire basement Why verbal warnings were not enough during a Fair Work claim The risks of operating as a sole trader Calculating charge-out rates, overheads, efficiency and profit margins Whether taking lower-priced work is better than leaving employees at home Losing money on a job to protect an important client relationship Moving from residential maintenance into larger commercial plumbing work Rebuilding after failure and launching X1 Plumbing Hiring, leadership and maintaining company culture while growing Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for honest conversations with the people building Australia’s construction industry. Connect with Max: 🌐 Website: https://www.x1plumb.com.au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/x1plumb/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/X1-Plumb-61568419870480/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/x1-plumb-pty-ltd/?originalSubdomain=au 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-eagles-5248822a8/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com
S1 · E54
Jul 14, 2026
1:17:14
Kapitol Group Founder Andrew Deveson: From $0 to $1.5B Builder in 8 Years
In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Andrew Deveson, co-founder and director of Kapitol Group, for one of the biggest conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Andrew shares the full story behind Kapitol Group’s rise — from starting with zero employees, zero revenue, and putting everything on the line, to building one of Australia’s most talked-about construction companies with 550 full-time staff and a projected $1.5 billion in turnover. This conversation goes deep into what actually separates high-performing construction businesses from the rest: customer obsession, losing tenders the right way, managing variations, fixing productivity, dealing with COVID and inflation, controlling waste, building better systems, using data properly, and why AI could completely change the future of construction. Andrew also breaks down the early days of Kapitol, their first $160,000 job, the discipline required to survive during the construction inflation period, why training became mandatory across the business, and why productivity may be the biggest challenge facing the entire industry. This is a must-watch for builders, subcontractors, construction business owners, project managers, engineers, developers, and anyone interested in how a construction company can scale fast without losing sight of quality, culture and execution. Connect with Andrew: 🌐 Website: https://www.kapitol.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kapitolconstruction/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kapitol-groupau/posts/?feedView=all 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-deveson-a76995147/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJjjId5sDGMdo-h3jceq8g Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com
S1 · E53
Jun 30, 2026
1:18:17
From $600 to 18 Machines: Rhys Cooper’s Story | Cooper Civil
In Episode 52 of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Rhys Cooper, Managing Director of Cooper Civil, a southeast Queensland civil excavation business known for GPS excavation, Cat Next Gen gear, late-model machines and high-quality operators. Rhys shares his story from growing up in New Zealand, working in forestry, travelling across Australia operating machinery, spending years in the mines, and eventually starting Cooper Civil with almost nothing behind him. From buying his first excavator to growing into a fleet of machines, Rhys opens up about the highs, lows, pressure and reality of building a civil construction business. This episode gets into the real side of excavation and plant hire: wet hire versus contract work, GPS systems, tilt rotators, Cat gear, pricing pressure, operator quality, tough markets, the Queensland pipeline, and why growing bigger does not always mean making more money. Jimmy and Rhys also talk honestly about success, reputation, mental health, vulnerability in construction, working with good clients, and what young operators need to understand if they want to build a proper career in the industry. If you are in civil construction, excavation, plant hire, GPS machine control, earthmoving, or you are trying to grow a construction business, this episode is packed with real-world lessons. Connect with Rhys: 🌐 Website: https://www.coopercivil.com.au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coopercivil/?hl=en 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rhys-cooper-688430164?originalSubdomain=au 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coopercivil.com.au/ Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com
S1 · E52
Jun 23, 2026
1:01:14
The Construction Margin Trap Killing Builders | Garath Vella
In Episode 51 of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Garath Vella from Lorden Vella to talk about the real business of building: margins, risk, hiring, subbies, COVID, cash flow, and what it actually takes to start and grow a construction company in Melbourne. Garath shares his path from plumbing, site supervision and project management into co-founding Lorden Vella during one of the most unstable periods the construction industry has seen. He opens up about starting with no work lined up, navigating COVID, dealing with shut-down businesses, and building a company from the ground up. This episode digs into why builders take on work at low or even negative margins, how subcontractor pricing changed after COVID, why relationships matter more than contracts alone, and why culture, communication and good people can make or break a construction business. They also cover hiring in construction, why resumes don’t always tell the full story, the difference between site-based and tertiary-trained project managers, education and childcare projects, apartment work, government work, and the pressure builders face when the market gets tight. If you’re a builder, subcontractor, project manager, site manager, developer, apprentice, or anyone trying to understand the commercial construction industry, this episode is packed with honest lessons from inside the game. Connect with Garath: 🌐 Website: https://lordenvella.com.au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lordenvella/?hl=en 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lordenvella/?originalSubdomain=au Connect with Jimmy: 🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/ Sponsorships + Guest Enquiries: louis@lj-media.com Send in Business Problems: jimmytalksconstruction@gmail.com
S1 · E51
Jun 16, 2026
1:19:02
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