To Build is Human

To Build Is Human is a podcast from TonicDM where co-founders Reg Prentice and Deb Johnston talk with architects, engineers, and technologists about how work actually gets built—through data, process, communication, and people.

Each episode is grounded in real practice: messy handoffs, disconnected systems, outdated documentation, and the cultural friction of change. You’ll hear practical playbooks for making project information trustworthy, reducing duplicate effort, deploying AI responsibly, and preserving institutional knowledge—without interrupting creativity.

Season 1 highlights AI readiness in the real world—not hype. It’s a tour of the foundations that make modern AEC work: clean data, reliable processes, and human-centered change management. Across six conversations, you’ll hear how leaders are replacing brittle spreadsheets, modernizing document and knowledge systems, connecting design data to business systems, and setting governance so AI and automation can actually deliver value.