Josh Robinson, founder of JR Hammer, is a story that turns everything you thought you knew about recycling upside down. When China slammed its doors shut to the world's recyclables in 2018, Australia's scrap industry panicked. Hundreds of tons of copper cables suddenly had nowhere to go. Most saw disaster. Josh saw opportunity.

"Working in sustainability, if you're shipping things offshore just to ship them back again, you're defeating the purpose," Josh told me, with the clarity of someone who's found his mission.

His ability to create value from what others threw away fascinated me. While everyone focused on the copper, Josh tackled the forgotten half of every cable – the PVC insulation typically sent to landfill. In an industry where recovery rates hover at a dismal 2-5%, Josh's innovations now achieve over 90%.

The journey wasn't smooth. Italian technicians installing his equipment literally fled Australia with two hours' notice when pandemic borders closed, leaving Josh barely trained on complex machinery he'd have to operate alone for months.

His persistence is changing an industry. JR Hammer has secured federal grants, pioneered Australia's first operational solar PVC recycling plant, and earned recognition that competitors can't match.

Whether you're interested in circular economy innovations, spotting market opportunities others miss, or simply curious about turning environmental problems into commercial solutions, Josh's story offers a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship that actually works.

What does it take to move to a new city with zero connections, build a thriving engineering consultancy, and eventually become a company director? In this compelling episode, Derya Horasan shares how he transformed Scientific Fire Services' Sydney office from a two-person operation to a respected team of nine professionals.

Rather than pursuing traditional networking, Derya built relationships with peers at his level who grew alongside him in their careers. His philosophy that "you're only as good as your last report" created a reputation that attracted clients without aggressive marketing.

When you listen, you will appreciate Derya's candid insights about learning to separate emotions from business decisions and the power of declining projects that don't align with company values. His creation of an engineering management structure demonstrates how leadership must evolve as companies grow.

From succession planning challenges to adapting relationship-building for younger generations, this episode offers practical insights for anyone building a sustainable industrial business based on quality, culture, and strategic relationships.

What happens when a former diesel mechanic decides to solve one of the construction industry's biggest hidden problems?

After an injury ended his original career path, and his adventures took him from Australian mines to the mountains of Kazakhstan, Ben Horstmann spotted a critical gap in how construction and mining companies manage equipment safety and compliance.

Eight years ago, he launched Consolidated Plant Services with a passionate refusal to hire any employees. Today, his team has assessed tens of thousands of pieces of equipment and is redefining industry standards across Australia. Ben’s journey from technical expert to business leader wasn't straightforward.

In this episode, Ben shares candid insights about building a category-defining business. He explains why he fired customers who didn't align with his values, how he overcame his resistance to building a team, and his unconventional approach to growth, which prioritises long-term relationships over "sugar-hit" profits.

Whether you're running an engineering firm, a technical services company, or any business where quality and reputation are paramount, Ben's insights on building a sustainable, values-driven organisation while maintaining technical excellence are invaluable. His story demonstrates how combining technical expertise with strong values and long-term thinking can create a unique and successful business model in a traditional industry.

Join us to discover how combining deep technical expertise with strong values can create a unique and successful business model in a traditional industry.