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.