Jimmy Talks Construction

by James Starbuck

Season 1

She Built a 50-Machine Civil Business. Then Everything Changed.

From a burnt-out D6 dozer to a civil construction business operating up to 50 machines and employing 70 people, Asha Russell built Sage Civil Australia through determination, relationships and years of hard work. But after years of building her business, mounting financial pressures, missed contracts, difficult weather conditions and rising operating costs brought her to one of the toughest decisions of her career. In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Asha Russell, Managing Director of Sage Civil Australia, for an honest conversation about the realities of running a construction business in Australia. She also opens up about selling personal assets to support the business, entering a small business restructure, and eventually deciding to significantly downsize her operations. They discuss: Building a civil construction business from the ground up Growing to 50 machines and 70 employees Losing major contracts and managing financial risk The impact of rising costs, wet weather and cash-flow pressure Why construction businesses are struggling in Australia Mentoring women in the civil construction industry The personal sacrifices behind running a business Why Asha ultimately decided to step away from day-to-day operations This isn't just a story about construction equipment and big projects. It's a conversation about resilience, knowing when to change direction, and what success really means when the business you've built becomes your identity. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for honest conversations with the people building, running and shaping Australia's construction industry. Connect with Asha: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecivil/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/sage-civil-australia 💼 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/asha-russell-41790170 🌐 Website: https://sagecivil.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 · E67

Oct 13, 2026

1:11:45

Why It’s So Hard to Do Business in Victorian Construction Right Now | Annie Kessel CCF

Why is it becoming so difficult to do business in Victorian construction? Annie Kessel, Executive Director of the Civil Contractors Federation Victoria, joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction for a wide-ranging conversation about the pressures facing contractors across the state — from fuel prices and rising costs to government red tape, labour shortages, housing, infrastructure and the future of the construction workforce. James and Annie discuss the reality of trying to operate a construction business in Victoria, including the impact of fuel costs, material and labour increases, delays through authorities and approvals, uncertainty around infrastructure pipelines and the challenge of getting the industry's voice heard by government. They also get into the growing skills shortage, why apprentices are often the first to disappear when the industry slows down, the number of experienced contractor owners approaching retirement and what construction needs to do to attract the next generation. Topics include: • Why construction businesses are under increasing pressure • Fuel prices and fuel tax credits • Government red tape and approval delays • Victoria's infrastructure and housing pipeline • Rising labour and material costs • How CCF represents contractors to government • The construction skills shortage • Apprenticeships and attracting the next generation • The importance of face-to-face relationships in construction • Building stronger industry communities • The future of civil construction in Victoria Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people building, operating and leading Australia's construction industry. Connect with Annie: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccf_victoria/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-kessell/?isSelfProfile=false 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cuda-Group/61577953295378/ 🌐 Website: https://www.ccfvic.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 · E66

Oct 6, 2026

1:01:09

How a 24-Year-Old Built a Construction Business From Door Knocking | Jed Coinu

Jed Coinu from CUDA Group joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about leaving school in Year 10, going straight into a carpentry apprenticeship and eventually building his own construction and maintenance business from the ground up. What started with flyers, Facebook community pages and literally walking into shopping centres asking for work has grown into CUDA Group — a business servicing shopping centres, schools, hospitals and industrial sites across a wide range of maintenance, construction and small-scale civil work. Jed talks honestly about the realities of starting young, earning trust when people question your experience, doing the jobs nobody else wants, quoting quickly, chasing work and why the hard years of an apprenticeship can shape the way you operate later in business. The boys also get into scaling a construction business, hiring the right people, knowing what roles to delegate, staying close to your strengths, work-life balance, working ridiculous hours and why there is still no shortcut to building something successful. They also discuss AI and technology in construction, where automation might actually make a difference, why blue-collar work is harder to replace and how software is already changing the way contractors quote, manage jobs and handle paperwork. Another proper conversation about construction, business, apprenticeships and the people behind the industry. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with people across construction, civil, earthmoving, trades and infrastructure. Connect with Jed: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuda_group/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-coinu-2741652b6/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cuda-Group/61577953295378/ 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 · E65

Sep 29, 2026

1:08:10

From Cancer at 15 to 10 Years in Business | Craig, EDI Tree Services

Craig from EDI Tree Services joins James on Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about building a tree business from the ground up, surviving cancer as a teenager, leaving school early and eventually finding a career he genuinely loves. What started with mowing lawns and taking on the occasional tree removal has grown into EDI Tree Services — a Mount Gambier-based operation handling residential, commercial and large-scale vegetation management work across the Limestone Coast and beyond. Craig talks honestly about the realities of running a trade business: hiring good people, competing with unqualified operators, knowing when not to grow, expensive mistakes on site, insurance claims, machinery fires and why he still wants to be out doing the work rather than sitting behind a desk. The boys also get into the future of the arboriculture industry, training standards, licensing, construction accidents, the importance of having the right people around you and some of the jobs that don't quite go to plan. Craig also shares his involvement in the Shitbox Rally, taking a $1,500 car thousands of kilometres through the Australian outback to raise money for cancer research. Another proper conversation about construction, business and the people behind the industry. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with people across construction, civil, earthmoving, trades and infrastructure. Connect with Craig: 🌐 Website: https://www.editrees.com.au/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edidevelopments/ 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 · E64

Sep 22, 2026

1:05:10

“You Have to Say Yes” — Building an Earthmoving Business From Scratch | Welsh Industries

Dylan from Welsh Industries joins Jimmy to talk about building an earthmoving and civil construction business from the ground up. From selling firewood while still at school and buying his first machine, to taking on the small jobs bigger contractors didn’t want, Dylan breaks down the journey of growing Welsh Industries into larger civil projects, plant hire and tendered work. They get into the reality of running a construction business - knowing when to say yes, quoting and variations, learning expensive lessons through tendering, moving from simple quotes to detailed proposals, managing growth, getting off the tools and building a reputation that wins work. Dylan also shares his experience working on the Longwood bushfire recovery, including the confronting process of cleaning up destroyed homes and some of the unexpected possessions they managed to recover from the rubble. In this episode: • Starting a business while still at school • Buying the first machine and finding work • Why saying “yes” helped grow Welsh Industries • Knowing when to start saying no • Quoting, variations and protecting your scope • Moving from small jobs into commercial civil construction • Tendering for bigger projects • Losing money while learning how to tender • Why proposals can outperform basic quotes • Scaling without growing too quickly • Longwood bushfire recovery and cleanup • Communication, reputation and relationships in construction If you work in civil construction, earthmoving, plant hire or run your own construction business, there’s plenty in this one. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people actually building and running Australia’s construction industry. Connect with Dylan Welsh: 🌐 Website: https://welshindustries.com.au/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WelshIndustries/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welshindustries/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-welsh-a99067123/ 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 · E63

Sep 15, 2026

1:03:50

Construction Wants Innovation for Free | Matt Garland, Nawkaw Australia

Matt Garland has seen the construction industry from both sides of the fence. In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Matt Garland from Nawkaw Australia to talk about his journey through construction, from studying construction management and working for major builders to helping establish operations in London and eventually moving from the head contractor side into the subcontracting world. In this episode: Matt Garland's journey into construction Working for Tier 1 and Tier 3 builders Establishing a construction operation in London Growing during the COVID construction period Moving from head contractor to subcontractor How Nawkaw concrete and masonry staining works Why colour matching is more complicated than it looks QA systems and managing client expectations Avoiding disputes over scope and variations Building systems that allow construction businesses to scale Technology and automation in construction BIM, GPS and modular construction The problem with construction's race to the lowest price Why innovation costs money Investing in the next generation of construction If you're a builder, subcontractor, project manager, construction business owner or anyone interested in where the Australian construction industry is heading, this is an episode worth watching. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people building Australia's construction industry. Connect with Matthew Garland: 🌐 Website: https://www.nawkawvic.com.au/ 🌐 Website: https://nawkaw.com/en-au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nawkawaus/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-garland-000004b5/ 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 · E62

Sep 8, 2026

1:03:45

737 Bricks in One Hour: Australia’s Bricklayers on the World Stage | DA Bricklaying Team Amuso

Damien and Tara from DA Bricklaying join Jimmy Talks Construction to talk about taking bricklaying from the jobsite to the world stage. Damien has represented Australia in major bricklaying competitions in Las Vegas, laying an incredible 737 bricks in just one hour. But behind the competition is a much bigger story about building a trade business, managing a crew, working alongside your partner and trying to make the numbers stack up in today’s construction industry. Damien and Tara break down how DA Bricklaying began, why a trip to compete overseas helped pull Damien back into the industry, and how they went from running a bricklaying company to developing and launching their own bricklaying tool. They also get into some of the bigger issues facing Australian trades - falling margins, competing against operators with lower overheads, skills shortages, short-form trade qualifications, licensing and whether enough value is being placed on experienced tradespeople. Plus, there are a few lessons from Las Vegas… including why going out until 3am before a bricklaying competition probably isn’t the best preparation. In this episode: • Competing against some of the world's best bricklayers • Laying 737 bricks in one hour • Building DA Bricklaying • Turning a bricklaying tool into a product business • Recalling a product after a manufacturing issue • The real cost of running a trade business • Why competing purely on price doesn't work • Running a business with your husband or wife • Australia's bricklaying skills shortage • Trade qualifications and licensing • The difference between Australian and US masonry businesses • What the next generation of Australian bricklaying needs Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people building, operating and changing Australia's construction industry. Connect with Team Amuso: 🌐 Website: https://www.dattools.com/about-us 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamamuso/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamamuso/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-amuso/ 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 · E61

Sep 1, 2026

1:04:59

Aaron Witt: How BuildWitt Is Changing the Construction Industry | Jimmy Talks Construction

Aaron Witt - the man behind BuildWitt and one of the biggest names in the “Dirt World” - joins Jimmy for a wide-ranging conversation about construction, business, leadership, social media and where the industry needs to go next. Aaron takes us back to working on the railroad, launching BuildWitt in 2017 and turning a passion for construction photography into a business and brand recognised across the industry. He explains why authentic content cuts through, why construction companies are struggling to attract people, and why better leadership, training and technology will be critical to moving the industry forward. Jimmy and Aaron also get into the less glamorous side of business - running out of money, making bad decisions, managing people, building trust, staying consistent when motivation disappears and learning from things that simply didn’t work. Aaron shares how Dirt World Summit grew from around 700 attendees to 1,500 and sold out six months ahead of time, why real relationships still matter more than scalable marketing tactics, and why sometimes the most valuable things in business are the things that don’t scale. They also discuss construction influencers, brand deals, authenticity, BuildWitt’s growing software ambitions and Aaron’s latest Australian trip through the Pilbara, Bowen Basin, Gladstone and Snowy Mountains. If you work in construction, run a business or are trying to build something for the long term, there’s plenty in this one. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people shaping the construction industry. Connect with Aaron Witt https://www.instagram.com/aaronwitt/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwitt BuildWitt https://buildwitt.com/ Dirt Talk Podcast https://megaphone.link/IDWOO2325207760 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 · E60

Aug 25, 2026

1:23:44

From $120 in the Bank to 100+ Employees | Angus Walker, ANA Asphalt

Angus Walker started ANA Asphalt in his early 20s with a mate, a bobcat, a couple of rollers and a plan to make some extra cash. Today, the business employs more than 100 people, runs multiple paving and profiling crews, a sizeable fleet of trucks and equipment - and is taking its next step into asphalt manufacturing. In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with Angus to unpack what actually happens between starting small and building a serious construction business. They talk about scaling too quickly, going backwards to go forwards, building the right team, the nightmare of middle management, vertical integration, why good people are worth holding onto and learning to let others solve problems better than you can. Angus also shares some of the brutal lessons along the way - including a three-night stretch that cost the business around $170,000 - and why those moments eventually forced him to stop trying to do everything himself. They also get into asphalt logistics, paving in the rain, trucking, building an asphalt plant, technology and AI in construction, incentivising staff, working from home, leadership and why staying curious has remained one of Angus’ biggest drivers. No textbook business advice. Just two construction business owners comparing notes on what it actually takes to build, scale and keep the wheels turning. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people actually building Australia’s construction industry. Connect with Angus: 🌐 Website: https://www.anaasphalts.com.au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anaasphalts/?hl=en 💼 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/ana-asphalts 💼 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/angus-walker-6a066719a 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 · E59

Aug 18, 2026

1:02:38

From 3 Cranes to 12: How Blue Dog Cranes Built a Business Differently | Samantha

Samantha from Blue Dog Cranes joins Jimmy for a conversation about building a crane business, creating a strong team culture and what it actually takes to maintain high standards as a company grows. Before cranes, Samantha worked in event management, running major e-commerce conferences and events in Australia and Las Vegas. Then, after her husband Ben saw an opportunity to do things differently in the crane industry, they went all in. They purchased a small crane business with three cranes, battled through finance issues, built their team and eventually grew Blue Dog Cranes to a 12-crane operation across two Melbourne yards. Subscribe to Jimmy Talks Construction for more conversations with the people building, running and changing the Australian construction industry. GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE CONSTRUCTION EXCHANGE: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1612879 Connect with Sam: 🌐 Website: https://bluedogcranes.com.au/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluedogcranes/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-dog-cranes/?originalSubdomain=au 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluedogcranes/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthajind/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-charlton-006ba123/ 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 · E58

Aug 11, 2026

59:54

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