Podcast
Digital Builder
Hosted by Autodesk · EN
The Digital Builder podcast is for construction professionals working on the forefront of construction. If you are looking for conversations centered on where the industry is headed, this podcast is for you!
Each episode features an interview with top construction professionals discussing themes related to connected construction and the future of the construction industry.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How the Netherlands' Largest Contractors Are Tackling Industry Challenges Together
1w ago00:28:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Arnoud van der Heijden, Project Manager Digital at BAM Netherlands, and Jelle Schweigmann, BIM Manager at Royal Heijmans, to discuss the NL5, a coalition of the five largest construction companies in the Netherlands. Together, they share how the group is tackling industry-wide challenges around digital transformation, sustainability, standardization, and emerging technologies by focusing on problems that no single company can solve alone.On this episode, we discuss:How the NL5 was formed after construction leaders realized they were facing many of the same challenges around technology adoption and digital transformationWhy collaboration gives contractors a stronger collective voice when working with technology vendors and industry partnersHow the group prioritizes initiatives by identifying common challenges across thousands of employees and multiple organizationsThe role of sustainability, standardization, and data interoperability in the future of constructionHow the NL5 helped accelerate product improvements during the industry's transition from BIM 360 to Autodesk Construction CloudWhy emerging technologies like robotics may require industry-wide collaboration to address regulatory and adoption challengesHow the group balances competition with collaboration by focusing on shared technical challenges instead of commercial interestsAdvice for organizations interested in building similar industry coalitions in their own regions or marketsDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Transcribe →Why Materials Data Matters More Than Ever in Construction
3w ago00:48:54Tap to summarizeConstruction teams collect an enormous amount of information every day, but much of that data never makes its way into decisions that improve project outcomes. This is especially true for materials and waste data, which is often scattered across paper slips, photos, spreadsheets, and disconnected systems.Recorded live at DevCon in Amsterdam, this episode of Digital Builder features Brittany Harris, CEO and Co-founder of Qualis Flow, also known as Qflow, and Marta Bouchard, Director of Sustainability Solutions at Autodesk. Together, they discuss how capturing jobsite data at the source can help teams reduce rework, improve accountability, support sustainability reporting, and create more valuable assets long after construction is complete.The conversation explores why material data so often falls through the cracks, how owners can set clearer expectations around performance and documentation, and what becomes possible when trusted project data supports digital twins, circular economy initiatives, and more informed decision-making. Brittany and Marta also discuss the practical role of AI in helping teams access and evaluate information more efficiently, while still relying on human expertise, curiosity, and judgment.Key Topics CoveredWhy materials and waste data often gets trapped in paper slips, photos, spreadsheets, and disconnected systemsHow Qflow helps teams capture jobsite data at the source and turn it into usable informationWhy better material tracking can reduce rework, improve compliance, and support invoice verificationThe growing burden of sustainability, safety, carbon, and regulatory reporting on project teamsWhy owners play a critical role in setting expectations for data, performance, sustainability, and handoverHow trusted materials data can support digital twins, adaptive reuse, circular economy efforts, and long-term asset valueDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.
Transcribe →Why the Best AI Initiatives Start With Problems, Not Technology
4w ago00:19:57Tap to summarizeConstruction teams have more technology options than ever, but making those tools useful in day-to-day project work is still a major challenge.In this episode of Digital Builder, recorded live at DevCon in the Netherlands, host Eric Thomas speaks with Josha van Reij, Product Manager of Data & AI at Arcadis, about how his team connects emerging technology with real project needs.Josha shares how Arcadis approaches AI, standardization, automation, and software decisions by starting with business challenges rather than tools. He explains why effective AI assistants depend on quality data, project context, and connected systems—and why project teams are more open to change when new technology solves problems they already understand.The conversation also explores how standardization can reduce rework, support better data, and create a stronger foundation for AI, as well as how Arcadis evaluates whether to buy, customize, or build software.In this episode, we discuss:Why AI and automation efforts should start with real project challenges, not technology trendsHow Arcadis builds AI assistants using connected data, project context, and internal standardsWhy standardization is essential for better data, stronger workflows, and more useful AIHow listening to project teams can reduce resistance and improve technology adoptionWhat to consider when deciding whether to buy, customize, or build softwareDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Transcribe →Practical Ways to Leverage Extended Reality in Construction
Jun 2300:35:42Tap to summarizeExtended reality (XR)—including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)—is no longer just a visualization tool. In this episode, Gary Cowan, Head of Digital Construction at Kane Group, explains how his team is using immersive technology to solve real problems across design, coordination, and field execution.Gary shares how a dense, highly prefabricated project pushed his team to adopt VR for design reviews—and how that early experiment evolved into a full XR technology stack. Today, Kane Group uses immersive tools to improve collaboration, reduce rework, and connect the model to what’s happening on site in real time.The conversation also explores what it actually feels like to step into a model, why detail and data quality matter, and how XR is changing the way teams make decisions before anything gets built.In this episode:How XR helps teams catch missed details and close the gap between design intent and field realityWhat immersive design reviews look like in practice—and why they speed up coordinationHow Kane Group connects VR (design) and AR (field) to create a continuous model-to-field feedback loopWhy XR adoption depends on workflows, data quality, and collaboration—not just the technologyGary also looks ahead at where XR is going next, including how AI could transform immersive coordination and decision-making.This episode offers a practical look at how XR is being used today—and what it could enable in the near future.Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.
Transcribe →Managing Construction in One of the Most Complex Venues in Sports
Jun 900:44:42Tap to summarizeAt Autodesk’s Digital Builder podcast, we often explore how technology is shaping construction—but this episode focuses just as much on the people and coordination behind the work.In this episode, Eric Thomas sits down with Woody Benisek-Beal, Director of Construction at The Kraft Group, to talk about what it takes to build and renovate inside Gillette Stadium while it continues to host games, concerts, and events year-round. With no downtime, every project depends on constant communication across teams to keep operations running and the fan experience intact.The conversation also touches on how The Kraft Group is evolving its use of technology—from model-based workflows to a growing digital twin—and how visualization tools are helping bridge the gap between design intent and real-world experience.This episode offers a practical look at how construction teams keep projects moving while everything else around them keeps moving too.On this episode:What it takes to manage construction in a venue that never shuts downHow teams coordinate across operations, security, and events to avoid disruptionsWhy communication is critical when balancing construction and live experiencesHow models, visualization tools, and virtual reality help align stakeholdersThe role of centralized platforms and digital twins in improving access to informationDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.
Transcribe →Why AI, MCPs and the Design and Make Marketplace Took Center Stage at DevCon 2026
May 2700:16:57Tap to summarizeAutodesk DevCon continues to bring together a global community of developers, builders, and technologists—and in 2026, the energy around what’s possible felt stronger than ever.Live from Amsterdam, Eric Thomas sits down with Ben Cochran, Vice President of Engineering at Autodesk, to break down the biggest themes and announcements from this year’s event—and what they signal for the future of design and construction workflows.They explore how DevCon has grown into a thriving ecosystem, why the developer community plays such a critical role, and how emerging technologies like agentic AI are opening up new ways for teams to connect data, streamline workflows, and make faster, more informed decisions.On this episode, we cover:The evolution of DevCon and the role of the developer communityKey announcements from DevCon 2026, including news about Autodesk Marketplace, Autodesk Assistant, and MCPsHow agentic AI is reshaping workflows and accelerating experimentationWhy the industry is moving from hesitation to active adoption of AIWhat it takes to navigate rapid change—and in Ben’s eyes, why curiosity and grit really matterDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Transcribe →What’s Next for Construction Tech?
May 1900:54:54Tap to summarizeConstruction innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum—and neither does funding that innovation. In this episode, Eric sits down with Darren Bechtel, Founder and Managing Director of Brick & Mortar Ventures, to unpack how investors think about risk, what makes construction tech actually stick in the field, and where the market may be headed next.Recorded live from San Francisco, this conversation connects the dots between founders, project teams, and capital—plus the practical realities that separate a polished demo from a solution people will use on a jobsite.We discuss:What venture capital is (and isn’t) doing in construction—and why early-stage investing is such a high-risk, high-reward gameWhy the best construction tech succeeds by solving real field problems (not just looking good in a demo)The importance of founder credibility, user-focused design, and approaching the industry with humilityAI, “vibe coding,” and the build-vs-buy tradeoffs—when DIY tools make sense and where teams should be cautiousWhat’s happening beyond software: robotics, 3D printing, prefab, and how new fabrication methods can change what’s possible to design and buildA look ahead: AI-driven preconstruction, connected jobsites, more standardization, and why automation is becoming less optional as labor constraints persistDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Transcribe →Rethinking Construction Safety from the Ground Up
May 1200:41:39Tap to summarizeConstruction safety is often treated as a compliance exercise — forms to fill out, boxes to check, and requirements to satisfy. But compliance alone doesn’t keep people safe, and it doesn’t reflect the realities of working in the field.On this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas is joined by Kaitlin Frank, CEO of eMOD, and Rob Lynch, CEO of Dome Construction, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a safety culture that works. Together, they explore why safety can’t be imposed from the top down — and what changes when ownership lives with the people doing the work.On this episode, we discuss:Why compliance-driven safety programs often fall shortCommon myths around construction safety, including “no incidents means no problems”The difference between checking a box and building real ownership in the fieldHow daily planning, visibility, and accountability shape safety outcomesThe connection between physical safety, mental health, and psychological safetyHow proactive safety approaches impact EMR, insurance costs, and business performanceDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.
Transcribe →The Eternal Beginner Problem in Construction
May 600:35:13Tap to summarizeEvery construction project starts with a set of big decisions—but for many owners, those decisions come without the benefit of repetition. Large projects like hospitals, campuses, and major developments may only happen once or twice in an entire career, yet the stakes are enormous.On this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas is joined by Andrew Zukoski, CEO of Join.Build, for a wide‑ranging conversation about pre‑construction, decision‑making, and what Andrew calls the “eternal beginner” problem. Together, they explore why owners often struggle to make high‑impact decisions, how early trust and transparency shape project outcomes, and why investing more upfront can pay dividends long after construction begins.The discussion also touches on evolving delivery models, shifting relationships between owners, designers, and builders, and why great projects are often remembered less for the buildings themselves—and more for the teams that delivered them.On this episode, we discuss:Why owners are often “eternal beginners”—and how limited reps affect cost, schedule, and risk decisionsThe role trust, transparency, and early collaboration play in setting teams up for long‑term successWhy under‑investing in pre‑construction can lead to downstream surprises on siteHow visibility and shared systems help teams stay alignedWhat’s changing in owner, architect, and contractor relationships as technology and delivery methods evolveWhy great projects are remembered for team dynamics—not just the finished buildingDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.
Transcribe →Why Construction Needs a New Kind of Leadership
Apr 1400:55:31Tap to summarizeConstruction has long prioritized getting the job done, often at the expense of the people doing the work. In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Henry Nutt III, a Preconstruction Executive at Southland Industries, to explore how leadership, empathy, and intentional people management can reshape jobsite culture—and why these shifts are critical as the industry confronts a growing mental health crisis.Drawing on nearly four decades in construction, Henry shares lessons from his own leadership journey, including why managing people requires a fundamentally different skill set than managing projects, and how trust, vulnerability, and consistency can drive stronger teams, better retention, and healthier workplaces.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Why construction has historically struggled with people management—and the cost of maintaining the status quoHow empathy and vulnerability show up in real jobsite leadership, not just policy statementsThe connection between leadership behavior, mental health, and performance in constructionWhy saying “I don’t know” can be a strength, not a liabilityWhat leaders can do to create safer, more human workplaces where people want to stayHow intentional mentorship and leadership development help rebuild trust across teamsHenry also reflects on difficult conversations, second chances, and how leaders set the tone—whether they realize it or not. The result is a candid conversation about responsibility, mindset, and what it takes to lead people well in one of the industry’s most demanding environments.
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