This is the 7th episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold, and sheds light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 7th episode I’m joined by my friend Kane Williamson. Kane is statistically both New Zealand's greatest cricket captain, and also its greatest ever batsman.

This episode is called “The Code” and explores the team’s build up to the climatic test match against England:

• fatigue after test against Wales
• poignant visit on days off
• 3 games in 3 days ... but keep playing strongly
• meeting the King
• 4 days leave ... where players free range
• Christmas together in Deal, on the Kent coast

In this episode Kane and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• the role of ego
• creating lifelong experiences beyond the game
• revisiting Process vs Outcome
• what a truly inclusive culture looks like
• whether a culture code needs to be written down
• the hidden cost of being away from family for long periods

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

This is the 6th episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold, and sheds light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 6th episode I’m joined by my mate Ian Mitchell. Mitch is a proud Welshman, and the Head of Performance Psychology at Newcastle United, who play in the Premier League. He has previously been the lead sports psych for both the Wales and England men's national football teams. Prior to that Mitch was an academic for a number of years, as well as working with Swansea City in the Premier League.

This episode is called “Redemption” and explores the team’s navigation of the first two test matches - against Ireland and then Wales, including:

• the wider social context of their visit to Ireland
• the rest and recover focused build up of the team to the test against Ireland
• the players desire to strongly engage in the communities they visited
• the test match against ireland at Lansdowne Road, Dublin
• how the team commemorated Remembrance Day on 11 November 1924
• key matches against Cambridge and Oxford universities
• the drama and consequences of Cliff Porter not being selected for the test against Wales
• the 'redemption' test match against Wales - the only team to have beaten the 1905 'Original' All Blacks team

In this episode Mitch and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• how engaging with local communities helped build the All Blacks resilience
• Welsh identity expressed through its rugby
• the Invincibles' anti-burnout measures
• the relationship between Process and Outcome
• delivering your full Identity in the biggest games

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

This is the 5th episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold, and sheds light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 5th episode I’m joined by my friend Pippa Grange. Pippa is a world class performance psychologist and culture coach. She has an amazing CV which includes working as the England men's football team's Sports Psych under Gareth Southgate, and publishing her bestseller "Fear-less".

This episode is called “Momentum” and explores the team’s finding of its on and off field identity as the tour progresses, including:

• shifting external perceptions and expectations of the team
• a close call against Newport - but also an example of deep composure under pressure
• incursions by outsiders into the locker room
• a highly emotive context of playing Leicester on the anniversary of the death of 1905 Originals All Blacks captain Dave Gallaher (at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917)
• the team building momentum, and finding pockets of flow, in the north of England 

In this episode Pippa and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• healthy team cultures
• Cliff Porter's leadership strengths
• profiling some players past trauma and the power of this experience on their wellbeing
• the concepts of momentum and flow

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

This is the 4th episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold & and shed light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 4th episode I’m joined by my friend – Kieran Read. Kieran is a former New Zealand All Blacks rugby player who earned 127 Test caps, was an integral member of their 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup victories, and captained the All Blacks 52 times. Since retiring from professional rugby, Kieran has established a highly respected leadership development practice.

This episode is called “The Intervention” and traces the first few weeks of the tour - that heavily shaped what was to come.

This episode includes the story of:

• weak early tour form
• external pessimism
• weak internal standards
• the captain & player leadership group formulating a new 'culture code'
• a player only intervention meeting
• the re-setting of standards

In this episode Kieran and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• the power of player ownership
• the echoing down the decades / whakapapa of the Invincibles influence
• the power of aligning key leaders & giving them a common language
• managing external media and fan noise (along the spectrum of complete doom to wild optimism)

The visual version of this episode, including images of players and events mentioned, is available on YouTube here: XXX

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

This is the 3rd episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership. It is about storytelling and learnings – not scrums and lineouts.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold & and shed light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 3rd episode I’m joined by my friend – Wayne Smith.  Smithy is a former All Black who earned 17 caps in the 1980s before transitioning into one of rugby’s most successful and respected coaches. He played a pivotal role as assistant coach in guiding the All Blacks to Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015, and later guided the NZ women’s rugby team – the Black Ferns - to their 2022 World Cup victory. .

This episode is called “The Voyage” and traces the 'forming' stage of this team during their 39 day boat voyage from Wellington, New Zealand to Plymouth, England.

This episode includes the story of:

•  a new captain ... without a plan
• creation of a Player Leadership Group
• developing an innovative daily ritual
• a deep story of the team value of "caring"
• sacrifice in action by the new captain

In this episode Wayne and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• the power of team Identity
• the importance of connecting talent to the shirt they wear
• the power of tracking team values back in time
• player empowerment as a coaching philosophy
• the power of rituals
• the benefits of big picture framing in high performance pursuits

The visual version of this episode, including images of players and events mentioned, is available on YouTube here: XXX

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

This is the 2nd episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as 'The Invincibles'.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership. It is about storytelling and learnings – not scrums and lineouts.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who both helps navigate the events that unfold, and shed light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 2nd episode I’m joined by my friend and colleague – Luke Donald. Luke is a professional golfer, former world no.1 player and 2-time European Ryder Cup campaign – including Bethpage, New York this year . 

This episode is called “Born into Chaos” and explores the team’s very challenging beginnings before departing for the United Kingdom, including:

• allegations of racism
• rumours of a World War One contentious objector in the team
• political interference around team selection
• poor form in pre tour matches
• being written off by an iconic former player
• last minute change of captain

In this episode Luke and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• the importance of a team’s sense of its unique Identity
• connecting people to something greater than themselves
• deep focus on controllables
• challenging negative beliefs through facts and data
• dealing with chaos and negativity
• the leader prioritising (1) a legitimate Plan to compete; and (2) Team Cohesion

The visual version of this episode, including images of players and events mentioned, is available on YouTube here.

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

In this first episode I’m joined by my friend and partner on this project, Dan Carter. Dan is one of the greatest rugby players of all time, and a wise and humble man. In this episode we:

• Set out our intent to break from ‘recency bias’ and learn from the past
• Discuss how our collaboration came about
• Reveal Dan’s family connection to the Invincibles
• Get into why it matters to retain a connection with the past
• Discuss the Māori concept of whakapapa and how it can power an identity story
• Provide a sketch of 3 players who we will follow through the series
• Preview the timeless lessons that will emerge as the series unfolds

The visual version of this episode, including images of players and events mentioned, is available on YouTube here.

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

An introduction to the podcast.