The CADDle Call

Hosted by ZenTek Consultants

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Episodes

239

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

Computer-Aided Design & Drafting meets humor and practicality, with a touch of business acumen thrown in for fun. Jim and Rocco, owners of ZenTek Consultants, the premiere U.S. technology consulting firm for the architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries discuss the fascinating world of CADD with some humor and honesty. Join them, and their industry-expert guests for CADD- focused tech and biz discussions. Learn more at https://zentekconsultants.net/. Warm Duck Shuffle by arnebhus | https://soundcloud.com/arnebhus

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 20, 2026Episode 736 min

What's New in Civil 3D 2027?

In this episode of The CADDle Call Podcast, we sit down with Tim Yarris - Senior Product Manager for Civil 3D at Autodesk - to break down everything you need to know about the 2027 release. From AI-powered design tools to brand-new civil engineering features, Tim walks us through what his team has built to make your workflow faster and smarter.We dig into Autodesk's exciting Technology Previews, including the daylight feature line and the AI-enabled Autodesk Assistant, and discuss what "Technology Preview" actually means for everyday users. We also explore how Autodesk is thoughtfully integrating AI directly into design products, productivity upgrades across the AEC Collection, and what's new in AutoCAD 2027.Whether you're a Civil 3D power user, an AEC professional, or just curious about where Autodesk is headed, this episode is packed with insight straight from the source.

May 6, 2026Episode 635 min

Autodesk ReCap Pro 2027: Game-Changing Features You Need to Know

In this episode of the CADDle Call Podcast, we sit down with Ramesh Sridharan - Director of Reality Solutions for ABI at Autodesk - to break down everything new in Autodesk ReCap Pro 2027.We explore how reality capture is evolving in the AEC industry and what the latest ReCap release means for professionals working in BIM, construction, and civil design workflows.Whether you're a contractor, engineer, designer, or BIM manager, this episode will help you understand how to leverage reality capture tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration.If you're looking to stay ahead in construction technology, digital twins, and laser scanning workflows—this is a must-listen.

April 22, 2026Episode 531 min

Construction Site Safety with SiteDocs

Construction sites are among the most demanding and dangerous work environments on the planet and keeping everyone safe takes more than good intentions. In this episode of the CADDle Call podcast, we sit down with Adrian Salcedo, a member of the Safety Committee for the Associated Builders and Contractors of New Jersey, to talk all things construction site safety.We'll dig into why safety documentation matters far beyond regulatory compliance, and how software tools like SiteDocs are helping both field crews and office staff streamline the process without slowing down the work. From ease of use in the field to customization across wildly different project types, Adrian brings real-world experience and practical insight to the conversation.Whether you're managing a rural highway project or a high-rise in the middle of a major city, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how the right systems, combined with solid training and smart planning, can make every job site safer for everyone on it.

March 25, 2026Episode 446 min

Geotechnical Workflows in Civil 3D & ArcGIS

Geotechnical and subsurface work has long been one of the most challenging areas for civil engineers working in tools like Civil 3D, but that's changing fast. In this episode of the CADDle Call podcast, we talk with Michael Davidson from Esri and Devrez Karabacak, head of the GeoDin product team, to explore how these platforms are making underground data management and subsurface analysis more accessible for design professionals.Together, they cover how ArcGIS and GeoDin connect with Civil 3D to help engineers tackle the underground challenges that so often blow up budgets when reality hits in the field - including the core features of both platforms, real-world workflow integration, and where civil-GIS collaboration is headed next.Whether you're a site designer, survey professional, or civil engineer curious about geotechnical workflows, this episode gives you a practical look at the tools reshaping how the industry handles what's beneath the surface.

February 25, 2026Episode 333 min

AUGI in 2026: Growth, Community & Innovation in AEC

In this episode of the CADDle Call Podcast, Eric DeLeon, President of AUGI, shares what’s new for 2026 - including updates to the AUGI community, AUGIWORLD magazine, the podcast, and AUGI CON.If you’re in the AEC industry this is your inside look at where the industry’s leading user community is headed next.

February 10, 2026Episode 222 min

AEC Tech Resources That Actually Help

In this episode of The CADDle Call Podcast, Jim and Rocco break down the free construction and AEC technology resources ZenTek Consultants has built to help firms work smarter, not harder.They explore ZenTek’s Resource Center, industry blog, software tips & tricks, training events, and extensive YouTube library, all designed to help construction, engineering, and design-build teams improve workflows without adding more software or cost.If you’re looking to strengthen CAD management, estimating, project management, or overall construction technology adoption, this episode highlights where to find practical, real-world guidance that supports better decision-making and long-term growth.Perfect for owners, executives, and operations leaders in construction and AEC firms who want clarity, efficiency, and better use of the tools they already have.Check out all the Resources at https://zentekconsultants.net/ and click on "Resource Center".

January 21, 2026Episode 123 min

AI Can’t Be Trusted - Risks of AI in Construction & AEC

We're kicking off Season 7 with a hot topic! In this episode of The CADDle Call Podcast, Jim and Rocco discuss why blindly trusting AI tools like ChatGPT, Grok, and Copilot is creating real risks in the construction and AEC industries. From biased data and paid results to the lack of accountability and human oversight, they explain why AI should be treated as a tool, and not a decision-maker, when project cost, safety, and schedules are on the line.

December 17, 2025Episode 2432 min

Autodesk Assistant and AI

As we wrap up Season 6 of The CADDle Call Podcast, we are joined by Tim Yarris, Senior Product Manager for Civil 3D at Autodesk, to discuss how Autodesk Assistant and AI are shaping real-world CAD and BIM workflows. We break down what Autodesk Assistant can do today, how AI fits directly inside tools like Civil 3D, and why these features are designed to support engineers, not replace them. A practical, no-hype conversation on AI’s role in modern design.

December 3, 2025Episode 2356 min

Controlling Health Safety and Compliance in Construction

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Harvey from SiteDocs to reveal how construction teams are ditching paper, reducing risk, and staying audit-ready with smarter Health, Safety & Compliance (HSC) workflows.From custom digital forms to real-time dashboards and field-to-office connectivity, learn how SiteDocs helps contractors stay on top of safety documentation, before it becomes a liability.If your jobsite struggles with overdue forms, outdated processes, or inconsistent reporting, this episode shows how to fix it fast.Tune in to learn:How SiteDocs streamlines safety paperworkWhy real-time reporting transforms decision-makingScalable tools for contractors of any size

November 19, 2025Episode 2232 min

Aging Out the Construction Workforce

Discover why the construction industry is facing one of the most significant workforce challenges in decades. In this episode of The CADDle Call podcast, we sit down with Steve Hathaway, founder of Construction Software Solutions, to discuss why skilled workers are retiring faster than companies can replace them, how technology and AI can help fill the gap, and what construction firms can do right now to build resilience for the next decade. Packed with practical insights on workforce planning, digital tools, and industry-wide trends, this episode is a must-listen for contractors, project managers, and construction leaders looking to navigate the future of labor in the built environment.