Episodes

In this episode of The EBFC Show, Adam Hoots shares why respect for people is the foundation of Lean Construction, field leadership, psychological safety, trust, construction metrics, and continuous improvement. Felipe and Adam explore how construction leaders can move beyond traditional dashboards to create environments where people perform at their best and projects become safer, more predictable, and more enjoyable.

In this episode of The EBFC Show, Ines Verdun shares her experiences about takt planning, Integrated Project Delivery, Lean Construction, production engineering, and how contracts shape production flow in construction. Ines Verdun is a civil engineer with expertise in construction management and project delivery. She holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley College of Engineering, where she was an active member of the IPD Team at Cal Construction, focusing on Integrated P...

Most construction projects run on beliefs nobody questions. Victor Ortiz breaks down 10 misconceptions that keep teams late, over budget, and stuck in blame. From treating projects as anything other than production systems to relying on schedules that only report failure, this episode challenges how construction actually operates. If you lead projects or work in the field, this conversation will change how you see control, planning, and team performance.

What if the estimates we fight so hard to defend are actually the very thing slowing us down? In this episode, Felipe sits down with Vasco Duarte --- Agile coach, author of #NoEstimates, and host of the Scrum Master Toolbox podcast --- for a candid conversation about why traditional estimation may be creating more illusion than clarity... and what to do instead. Vasco brings serious field credibility. He led initiatives at Nokia involving 500 people, 100 teams, across four continents. And he s...

In this episode filmed live at LCI Congress 2025, Tom Feliz, DataGrid’s Head of Growth, delivers a compelling case for how construction professionals can practically harness AI to eliminate waste, boost productivity, and reclaim their evenings—not by replacing workers, but by automating energy-draining administrative tasks that keep them from focusing on creative problem-solving and getting home by 5 PM. Feliz demystifies AI adoption in construction by walking through actionable applications like visual language models for document analysis, AI agents that capture and prevent repeated mistakes across projects, and automation strategies that require no coding skills—just the same people-management abilities construction professionals already possess. With insights ranging from why AI represents the biggest invention of our lifetime to a powerful story about a 30-year welding veteran who became an AI power user, this conversation combines practical implementation advice with a philosoph…

Construction veteran and AI startup founder Adalia Zhao joins Felipe on the final 2025 episode of The EBFC Show to share her bold vision: eliminate inefficiency and guesswork in construction change management. Discover how her company BuildTrace uses AI to save months of tedious work, reduce costly mistakes, and bring real-time clarity to plans, pricing, and scope. From humble beginnings to big breakthroughs, Adalia’s story is one of hustle, humility, and high-tech impact.

What happens when Lean looks good on paper but fails in practice? In this episode of The EBFC Show, host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez sits down with Lean expert and author Patrick Adams to explore the distinction between genuine continuous improvement and the all-too-common appearance trap. From global consulting insights to coaching leaders through cultural transformation, Patrick shares practical lessons, powerful stories, and fresh perspectives on Lean leadership in today's fast-changing world. Whether you’re in construction, healthcare, or education, this conversation is packed with takeaways you can apply right now.

What do hot wings and hot takes on Scrum have in common? This fiery EBFC Show episode flips the script as Felipe gets grilled by his son Noah—while battling 10 blazing sauces. From parenting parallels to project pitfalls, they tackle trust, teamwork, and truth bombs (literally 💣). It's spicy, smart, and straight from the heart.

What if the biggest barrier to Lean success isn’t the trades or the tools — but the way we think about planning itself? 🤔 In this episode of The EBFC Show, Victor Ortiz and host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez continue their deep dive into the Last Planner System®, uncovering the principles and practices that separate sticky notes on a wall from a true production control system. From flawed procurement processes to the hidden impact of variation and buffers, they reveal why most teams miss the p...

Dr. Paz Arroyo joins The EBFC Show to unpack the power of Choosing by Advantages (CBA) and why it beats traditional “pros and cons” thinking. From mega projects to family dynamics, she shares how sound decision-making builds trust, clarity, and better outcomes. Listeners will get real-world stories, research-backed insights, and simple ways to start using CBA on any project. If you're ready to stop guessing and start deciding with confidence, this episode is a must-listen.

Most construction pros have heard of Lean — but far fewer truly understand it, and even fewer are putting it into practice. In this episode of The EBFC Show, we shine a light on why Lean is often misunderstood, overlooked, or completely invisible on job sites today. Join host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez and special guest Alan Boykiw as they unpack the roots of Lean, its relevance to construction, and what it really takes to make continuous improvement more than just a buzzword.

Discover how Target Value Delivery (TVD) can drive real results on any project size — not just billion-dollar builds. In this episode, Felipe continues the chat with Jason Brenner from Join to unpack how trust, transparency, and teamwork fuel success with TVD, even on a $6 million upgrade. Whether you're in preconstruction, the field, or leadership, this conversation offers practical insights to help your teams collaborate better and deliver more value.

Can Target Value Delivery work beyond billion-dollar builds? Absolutely. In this episode, Felipe chats with Jason Brenner, Head of Industry Strategy at Join, about how teams can scale collaboration, improve trust, and deliver high-value results — even on smaller projects. With real stories from award-winning pharma facilities and lessons on building culture, onboarding, and decision-making, this is a masterclass in making construction easier and better for everyone.

What if resistance to change wasn’t a problem, but an opportunity? In this episode of The EBFC Show, Victor Ortiz and host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez explore how embracing resistance to the Last Planner System can actually drive clarity, foster trust, and create better outcomes in construction projects. 🚧 Learn how resistance reveals gaps and creates opportunities for clarity and growth.

What happens when you grow up surrounded by Lean and Scrum principles? For Noah Engineer-Manriquez, it led to co-authoring "Scrum for Teens" and mastering the art of teamwork and productivity in school! In this special episode of The EBFC Show, Felipe Engineer-Manriquez sits down with his son Noah to explore how Scrum became his secret weapon for tackling school projects, personal goals, and everyday life.

Why is the Last Planner System often misunderstood—and how can you avoid falling into the trap of a "fake" implementation? In this insightful follow-up interview, Felipe Engineer-Manriquez and returning guest Victor Ortiz dive into the transformative potential of the Last Planner System in Lean Construction. They reveal how traditional project management inefficiencies can be resolved by treating projects as dynamic production systems, unlocking better collaboration, predictability, and efficien...

Join Felipe Engineer-Manriquez and returning guest Victor Ortiz as they explore the transformative power of the Last Planner System in construction management. Building on his insights from Season 4, Victor dives deeper into how this Lean Construction framework/method can resolve inefficiencies in traditional project management by viewing projects as dynamic production systems. This episode unpacks the practical implementation of Lean principles and the Last Planner System, showcasing how they e...

In this episode of The EBFC Show, Felipe Engineer Manriquez sits down with Emily Edelstone, a Technical Solutions Executive at Autodesk, to explore the future of construction through the lens of AI and innovative technology. Emily shares her journey from a project engineer and superintendent to her current role, highlighting the transformative power of digital tools like Autodesk's Construction Cloud, AutoSpecs, and AI-driven solutions. Listen in as they discuss the importance of continuou...

In this special bonus episode of The EBFC Show, Felipe Engineer-Manriquez speaks with Brian Winningham and Thomas LaMay about mental health and suicide awareness in construction, marking National Suicide Prevention Month. They delve into the tragic story of Alberto, a construction worker who took his own life, while exploring the heavy pressures faced in the industry. The episode highlights personal experiences and discusses actionable steps to create a safer, more supportive work environment, emphasizing the need for mental health awareness and prevention in construction.

In this episode of The EBFC Show, host Felipe Engineer Manriquez and AI expert Marcus Turner explore how AI technologies like Stanford's Storm and Claude's Artifacts are revolutionizing the construction industry. They discuss practical applications such as enhancing safety, streamlining processes, and improving permit approvals, while also addressing the impact of AI on compliance, teaching, and research. Additionally, the conversation highlights challenges like workforce displacement and the unique competitive advantages AI offers to smaller firms, providing a comprehensive look at the future of AI in construction.

Kevin L. Ball and Felipe "Scrum" through an engaging discussion about the essential leadership qualities needed for effective organizational changes and the challenges of implementing agile methodologies. Tune in to gain valuable insights and actionable advice that can transform your approach to leadership in the design and construction industry.

In this episode of the EBFC Show, host Felipe Engineer Manriquez welcomes Geoff Gosling, an industrial and product designer and one of the founders of DIRTT. Geoff shares fascinating insights into the evolving world of adaptive construction and how embracing uncertainty can lead to better project outcomes. Geoff discusses the importance of designing for change and uncertainty, drawing parallels between command and control environments and modern construction. He delves into the concept of lay...

Dig into the Theory of Constraints with Thomas LeMay in this compelling episode. Get an in-depth insight into the management tool introduced by the renowned physicist, Eliyahu M. Goldratt, which has revolutionized business strategies. Thomas kicks of...

In this episode of The EBFC show, Felipe Engineer-Manriquez and Jason Schroeder dig into the challenges that the construction industry faces due to the 'bungee effect' – poor planning leading to volatile work schedules and frequent disruptions. They ...