The Invincible Podcast

This is the 9th and final 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 final episode I’m joined again by my friend Dan Carter. Dan is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in rugby history, winning 112 caps for the New Zealand All Blacks and helping them win 2 World Cups.
This episode is called “Bringing them Home” and explores: the team’s build up to the climatic test match against England:
the aftermath of the controversial test match against England
the team's tour of France; including visiting WW1 sites and the grave of 1905 Originals captain Dave Gallaher
the Paris scene of 1925 and the context around the match played there against a Selection team
the team's final Test match - played against France in Toulouse
the farewell event in London hosted by the British Olympic Association
the journey back to NZ through Canada
the team's reception at home
some final notes on players we've gotten to know in the series

In this episode Dan and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:
how the Invincibles team culture holds true as a blueprint for today
the leadership style of Cliff Porter
final reflections on this mahi

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.

This is the 8th 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 8th episode I’m joined by my mate Stuart Lancaster. Stuart is one of the most highly respected coaches in the rugby world. He is currently Head Coach of Connacht in Ireland, and has previously coached European champions Leinster and the England men's national team between 2011-15.
This episode is called “Judgement Day” and provides an anatomy of the dramatic and controversial climactic Test match between England and the All Blacks played at Twickenham on 3rd January 1925.
In this episode Stuart and I dive deep into this epic match, and reflect on:
leadership in adversity
the reality and inevitably of disappointment, pain and suffering
the personal why behind high performers
different ways of 'losing'
when connection matters more than the outcome

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.