The Deconstruction Podcast

Only a small percentage of podcasts hit 50 episodes — and we’re celebrating Episode 50 with one of the biggest voices in Canadian construction media: Manny Neves.

We get real about the labor “shortage” narrative, what’s actually happening on job sites, why younger workers’ expectations feel disconnected from reality, and why many older tradespeople can’t afford to retire. Manny and Johny dig into the real reasons behind slow construction starts, condo quality issues, and how “money culture” is impacting pride in craftsmanship.

Then we shift to what contractors must do going into 2026: stay lean, stop getting complacent, know your numbers, and have the hard conversations with your team before overhead eats you alive. Manny also shares why he’s cautiously optimistic about 2026, plus a hint at a major TCL road trip plan.

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⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Episode 50 milestone + Manny’s “breaking news” for TCL
03:10 – “Men being men” + culture, free speech, and pushing back
08:45 – Jobtable review shoutout (Andrew Spano, electrical contractor)
09:30 – Labor reality check: shortages vs. what’s actually happening
26:00 – Construction starts, development fees, condo quality, and incentives
37:40 – Mistakes from 2025: complacency, overhead, and getting blindsided
44:00 – 2026 predictions: hard conversations, staying lean, finding opportunity
01:09:20 – Manny’s 2026 plans: TCL road trip momentum + persistence story