The Break Fast Show #986

August 26, 2025 Video

In today’s show: The dragline of yesteryear reimagined for today; is this Chinese mining truck the shape of things to come? Down Under with a Caterpillar dealer; and Bobcat’s hydraulic hitch simplifies attachment changes.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: The sticker collectors

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show – the ONLY daily LiveStream built exclusively for demolition, construction, and equipment fanatics worldwide.

Breaking news. Expert views. Unmissable videos. Raw opinions. If it matters in the industry, we’re talking about it – LIVE.

Test your knowledge with the Mystery Machine, have your say in the Question of the Day, and don’t miss Mark’s Morning Monologue – a no-holds-barred take on the hottest topics.

And when the show’s done, the conversation’s just getting started. Stick around for The Craic, our legendary after-show chat!

Set your alarm. Grab your coffee. It’s time to break fast, and to break new ground.

Nine years ago today…

August 22, 2025 Accident, Video

On 22 August 2016, nine years ago today, I walked onto a UK demolition site; something I had done hundreds of times before, and have repeated hundreds of times since.

That visit took place exactly six months after the Didcot Disaster claimed the lives of four demolition workers. Safety was at the forefront of my mind, and the mind of the site supervisor that gave me my site induction.

As we walked from the site office to the vantage point from which I was intending to film the demolition operation, we spoke about the tragedy of Didcot; about the lives lost; about the bodies that still lay unrecovered.

With hindsight, that now feels like a foreshadowing. Because half an hour later, I was leaving that site in an ambulance; the victim of a freak accident.

The video below shows the aftermath (and is probably not for the squeamish). But, if you’d like to hear more about that fateful day, you can check out the audio podcast here.

The Break Fast Show #985

August 22, 2025 Video

In today’s show: We’re going inside the Liebherr telescopic handlers; preparing the next generation of operators with dozer training; behind the scenes with Yanmar; and rental fleet management, Caterpillar-style.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: Nine years ago today, I walked onto a demolition site. I left in an ambulance.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show – the ONLY daily LiveStream built exclusively for demolition, construction, and equipment fanatics worldwide.

Breaking news. Expert views. Unmissable videos. Raw opinions. If it matters in the industry, we’re talking about it – LIVE.

Test your knowledge with the Mystery Machine, have your say in the Question of the Day, and don’t miss Mark’s Morning Monologue – a no-holds-barred take on the hottest topics.

And when the show’s done, the conversation’s just getting started. Stick around for The Craic, our legendary after-show chat!

Set your alarm. Grab your coffee. It’s time to break fast, and to break new ground.

Can open, worms everywhere

August 21, 2025 General

Is that it then? Are we all just going to move on and pretend that didn’t happen? Are we OK with that?

Over the course of a month or so, a self-styled and self-appointed whistleblower made a series of serious and often lurid accusations against some within the UK demolition industry. There were accusations of wrongdoing within the industry’s corridors of power, among some of its best-known companies, and fraudulent behaviour among named individuals.

This article continues on Demolition Insider. Please use the link below to access this article.

The Break Fast Show #984

August 21, 2025 Video

In today’s show: JCB delivers for Collins Earthworks; Priestly Demolition goes shopping; we get the low-down on the full Bell range of graders; and Volvo Construction Equipment is on track.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: Shouting into the void. When all your fears and concerns are met with silence, sooner or later you too will fall silent.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show – the ONLY daily LiveStream built exclusively for demolition, construction, and equipment fanatics worldwide.

Breaking news. Expert views. Unmissable videos. Raw opinions. If it matters in the industry, we’re talking about it – LIVE.

Test your knowledge with the Mystery Machine, have your say in the Question of the Day, and don’t miss Mark’s Morning Monologue – a no-holds-barred take on the hottest topics.

And when the show’s done, the conversation’s just getting started. Stick around for The Craic, our legendary after-show chat!

Set your alarm. Grab your coffee. It’s time to break fast, and to break new ground.

Designed by committee

August 20, 2025 Long Form

Permit me, if you will, to take you through my “process”. I have an idea, whether that’s for an article, a video, an audio podcast or a new segment for my daily LiveStream. I think about it for a bit and then, assuming I am happy with my idea and if I think my readers, viewers, followers and subscribers will like it too, I do it.

There are no strategy meetings or working parties. There is no research and development or focus groups. As a result, there is no friction. I can go from inception to implementation in a matter of minutes.

Now admittedly, not all of my ideas stick. Some of my ideas that appear to have legs subsequently turn out to be lame. Some ideas I expect to take flight actually crash and burn. But I trust my instincts; and if I am going to fail, I’d prefer to fail fast, and move on.

That is one of the very few joys of being a one-man band. The only person I need to explain my mistakes to is myself.

I will get onto how my no friction approach differs from that of the demolition and construction industry and the bodies and organisations that serve it in just a moment. But, before I do so, let me tell you a very quick story which illustrates that friction in action.

This article continues on Demolition Insider. Please use the link below to access this article FOR FREE.

The Brerak Fast Show #983

August 20, 2025 Video

In today’s show: Scotty knew starships. Scotty’s knows scrapers; is it a crusher? Is it a compactor? Actually, it’s both; all aboard with Takeuchi; and we’re taking a walk around the very latest Gehl skid steer.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: Designed by committee – The inefficiencies baked into demolition and construction.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show – the ONLY daily LiveStream built exclusively for demolition, construction, and equipment fanatics worldwide.

Breaking news. Expert views. Unmissable videos. Raw opinions. If it matters in the industry, we’re talking about it – LIVE.

Test your knowledge with the Mystery Machine, have your say in the Question of the Day, and don’t miss Mark’s Morning Monologue – a no-holds-barred take on the hottest topics.

And when the show’s done, the conversation’s just getting started. Stick around for The Craic, our legendary after-show chat!

Set your alarm. Grab your coffee. It’s time to break fast, and to break new ground.

What will it take?

August 19, 2025 Long Form

What will it take?

What will it take for the UK demolition industry to accept its responsibilities?

What will it take for the sector to address the accidents, fatalities and the corruption?

What will it take for the industry to quit resting on its laurels and make the positive changes required to be competitive and relevant in the 21st century?

What will it take?
You might think that the worst and most deadly accident in the industry’s living memory might prompt some self-analysis; that the loss of four lives in a single tragic incident might be a perfect excuse for some much-needed introspection.

You might also think that a nine and a half year investigation that remains ongoing might be cause for a reconsideration of both health and safety and with those that police it.

You might think all those things. But you’d be wrong.

This article continues on Demolition Insider. Please use the link below to access this article FOR FREE.

The Break Fast Show #982

August 19, 2025 Video

In today’s show: 100 autonomous XCMG machines conquer the frozen North; Epiroc takes machine autonomy to the next level; Liebherr is in the pink; and German demolition like you have never seen before.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: What will it take?

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show – the ONLY daily LiveStream built exclusively for demolition, construction, and equipment fanatics worldwide.

Breaking news. Expert views. Unmissable videos. Raw opinions. If it matters in the industry, we’re talking about it – LIVE.

Test your knowledge with the Mystery Machine, have your say in the Question of the Day, and don’t miss Mark’s Morning Monologue – a no-holds-barred take on the hottest topics.

And when the show’s done, the conversation’s just getting started. Stick around for The Craic, our legendary after-show chat!

Set your alarm. Grab your coffee. It’s time to break fast, and to break new ground.

Battered but unbowed

August 18, 2025 Long Form

If you’ve seen any of the Rocky movies, you’ve seen him. The fighter.

Not the flashy young contender, bouncing on his toes, unmarked by the scars of battle. No. This one’s been there. In the ring. In the mud. In the dust. In the cold dawns and the long nights. His face carries a reminder of every glove that laid him down, or cut him.

That fighter, my friends, is our industry. Demolition and construction. A noble old bruiser that’s been swinging for decades. An industry that’s tasted glory and hardship in equal measure. An industry that’s worn the belts, but also worn the bruises.

This article continues on Demolition Insider. Please use the link below to access this article FOR FREE.