What tradies won't say publicly

In this episode, we sit down with Joel from Heidi Build and Andrew “Hoppo” from Hoppo Construction for a no-script, no-agenda chat. It starts with what makes tradie creators actually work online: being approachable, having an opinion, and showing up as yourself. Joel breaks down why the polished, curated Instagram approach did nothing for him, then the one raw timber-quality rant that finally cut through. From there, we get into the stuff people don’t always say out loud. The stigma that tradies aren’t intelligent, why that stereotype still lingers, and the moment Joel’s own brother hit him with the line: “I’m not one of your dumb tradie mates.” We talk about what that does to your confidence, especially when you come from a culture where university is seen as the only “good” path. It also turns into a proper Mindful Builder conversation about bullying, body image, and parenting. Hamish shares what it’s like watching your kid go through it, and Joel talks about how he handles it at home by listening, asking questions, and helping his kids feel heard. We also cover the real side of “influencing” in the trades: DeWalt vs Makita, how brand partnerships actually work when they’re not forced, why you shouldn’t monetise too early, and what happens when you say yes to something that doesn’t align. **CHAPTER MARKERS** 00:00 Introduction 00:18 What Makes Tradie Creators Work: Confidence and Being Approachable 01:22 Why Curated Instagram Content Failed 03:00 DeWalt vs Makita: How Tool Sponsorships Actually Work 09:33 Feeling Valued: Why DeWalt Support Helped Them Lean Into Content 11:22 Quick Tradie Eats and the Misconceptions About Tradespeople 13:12 “Tradies Are Dumb”: The Stigma and Why It Still Exists 24:10 Confidence, Bullying, and Being the Overweight Kid at School 26:25 Parenting Through Bullying: Listening, Questions, and Helping Kids Feel Heard 31:50 Team Culture and Leadership: Honesty, Vulnerability, and Check-Ins 37:00 The “Wellness Survey” Debate: Corporate Systems vs Trade Reality 45:27 Influencer Goals: Cars, GM, and Brand Partnerships That Fit Your Identity **Our Sponsors:** Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt **Connect with Andrew - Hopkins Construction** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopkinsconstruction/?hl=en **Connect with Andrew** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joel\_heidibuild/?hl=en **Connect with us on Instagram:** @themindfulbuilderpod **Connect with Hamish:** Instagram: @sanctumhomes Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/www.yoursanctum.com.au/ **Connect with Matt:** Instagram: @carlandconstructions Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/www.carlandconstructions.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Proclima Sponsor