“We are past the point of return for trying to save traditional methods of building. We need to focus on what is performing now and deliver with confidence.”
— Will Frost

“We don’t just need to build faster — we need to build better. And that means solutions that are lighter, lower carbon, and actually deliver for people on the ground.” Will Frost

In this powerful and timely episode, Jackie De Burca sits down with Will Frost of Saint-Gobain Offsite Solutions to explore how modern methods of construction (MMC) – or as Will prefers, “optimised construction” – are helping address the UK’s urgent housing crisis.

With the UK government aiming to build 1.5 million homes in five years, Will explains why Category 2 panelised systems are gaining momentum over the struggling Category 1 volumetric builds – and how Saint-Gobain’s EnveoVent system is delivering results on the ground.

From solving the skills shortage, to navigating procurement hurdles, to reducing embodied carbon and embracing Future Homes Standard, this episode is packed with real-world examples, industry insights, and a human-centric approach to innovation.

When you think of the future, do you picture space—or water?

In this eye-opening episode, Jackie De Burca speaks with Peter Robbins, one of the world’s leading voices on the floating economy. From delivering fresh meals via jet skis to developing mega-scale coastal innovation projects in Korea and the US, Peter is building a blueprint for what he calls the next “mega-trend”: the floating economy.

More than a futuristic fantasy, this is a global movement gaining momentum across industries like logistics, hospitality, port infrastructure, energy, and even education. Learn how floating solutions are solving everything from workforce shortages to population crises, and how ports are being reimagined as launchpads—not limits.

Whether you're a policymaker, investor, engineer or just curious about where cities are headed, this episode dives deep into the possibilities of our water-bound future.

“We’re not just building floating solutions. We’re building the workforce, the policy awareness, and the investment appetite to support a floating future.” Peter Robbins

• The distinction between the floating economy and the blue/ocean economy

• Why nearshore logistics could transform coastal commerce

• How floating housing could solve affordability and flood resilience

• Case studies: Busan, Rotterdam, Brisbane, and beyond

• The urgent need to build a water-based workforce—starting in schools

• How the private sector, governments, and NGOs can work together to scale floating infrastructure

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Catherine Cleary, author, journalist, and the CEO & Co-founder of Pocket Forests. Having authored and co-authored 4 books and been a Restaurant Critic for the Irish Times for more than 10 years, Catherine has now turned her attention to nature, climate action and greening Ireland.

In 2020, Catherine embarked on two projects: one, to establish a social enterprise planting mini forests in community areas, and the other, to plant her own native woodland across 40 acres of land.

Pocket Forests is a social enterprise bringing nature into towns and cities around Ireland by creating pockets of native trees and shrubs within communities.

In this episode of the Constructive Voices podcast, we explore the work of Pocket Forests in the urban greening of Ireland and their role in reconnecting our communities with nature.

We also discuss Catherine’s personal journey in creating her own native woodland, The Forest Midwife documentary, and the attitudes of landowners towards planting forests.

“The forest is the root of all life; it is the womb that revives our biological instincts, that deepens our intelligence and increases our sensitivity as human beings”

Akira Miyawaki [1]

Although 80% of the country was once covered in forests,