What's The Craic Podcast
94: Goran Utjesinovic - 74 Tonnes, 24 Hours, One Shovel
"He lost his father at 11, fled a civil war, and changed schools 18 times before he ever picked up a shovel for a living. Now Goran spends 24 hours every year digging trenches to save lives in construction." Goran arrived in Australia in 1998 with no flying experience, a history of being refused entry over a lung condition, and a childhood shaped by war and displacement. He spent a decade as a carpenter before moving into construction and mining, eventually building Benang, his own in-ground services business with two partners. Along the way, a throwaway challenge from a mate turned into the Big Dig, a charity event that's raised over half a million dollars and become one of the construction industry's biggest fundraising days. In this episode, we talk about: ️ Losing his father at 11, surviving a civil war, and changing schools 18 times before immigrating to Australia ✈️ Bribing a doctor to pass a medical exam, and taking his first ever flight via Moscow, Mumbai and Singapore to reach Perth Ten years as a chippy, the people who backed him early, and building Benang from the ground up How a 24 hour shovel challenge became the Big Dig, now with 36 contractors and hundreds of participants The records set along the way, including a team of 10 Irish diggers moving 100 tonnes in under three hours Stepping into the ring for charity boxing one week after digging for 24 hours straight Why the Big Dig now raises money for Mates In Construction, tackling mental health and suicide in the industry This is a conversation about survival, resilience, and turning hard beginnings into something that gives back. Whether you're in construction, into endurance challenges, or just want to hear how a shovel and a dare turned into half a million dollars for charity, this episode delivers. Now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
