Best Coachingculture Podcasts (2025)

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Geoff Parling: High Challenge and High Support cultures 59:38

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5d ago59:38

59:38

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. What separates good coaches from great ones? Geoff Parling reveals the answer goes beyond technical expertise to something deeper – creating environments where players thrive under pressure. Having transitioned from an illustrious playing career (Newcastle, Leicester, Exeter, England, British & Irish Lions) to co…

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Sam Vesty: Inside Finals Week. Joy, Simplicity & Team Culture 1:08:07

12d ago1:08:07

1:08:07

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. What does championship preparation actually look like? Two days before the European Champions Cup final against Bordeaux, Northampton Saints head coach Sam Vesty pulls back the curtain on his approach to cultivating a winning team culture. The conversation reveals Sam's refreshingly counterintuitive leadership ph…

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Paul Galland: The Crusaders Pipeline; Shaping More than Rugby Players 1:06:12

19d ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. What does it take to build the most successful rugby talent pipeline in the world? Paul Galland, Head Academy Manager for the Crusaders, pulls back the curtain on the organization that consistently produces more All Blacks than any other in New Zealand. The secret starts with a seemingly simple philosophy: action…

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John Mitchell: How Adversity Reshapes Coaching Philosophy 1:00:55

26d ago1:00:55

1:00:55

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. What happens when a coach who's traversed the globe leading elite teams for nearly three decades opens up about his most profound lessons? John Mitchell, whose remarkable career spans from All Blacks Head Coach to his current role with England's women's national team, reveals the transformative journey that resha…

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Matt Cockbain: The Head Coach Coaches the Head. 1:03:08

1M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. A masterclass in coaching philosophy with former Wallaby forward Matt Cockbain who unpacks the delicate art and science of building championship cultures across continents. Drawing from 15 years of professional coaching experience spanning Australia, Japan, and international rugby, Cobain shares profound insights…

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Mike Ruddock: Culture, Causes, and the 2005 Welsh Legacy 1:04:18

1M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. What turns a group of talented individuals into champions? Mike Ruddock OBE—architect of Wales' historic 2005 Grand Slam—reveals it's about finding a cause worth fighting for. Ruddock takes us on a journey through the essence of team culture, from his early days coaching "super flops" Swansea to international glo…

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Scott Lawrence: Coaching Culture and Vision in USA Rugby 1:02:28

2M ago1:02:28

1:02:28

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Scott Lawrence, a pivotal figure in USA Rugby, joins us for an enlightening conversation that straddles the line between sport and data science. Drawing from his humble beginnings in the Midwest to his role as head coach and general manager, Scott shares the unique influences that have shaped his leadership style…

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Wayne Smith: Great teams are built on meaning. 1:25:49

2M ago1:25:49

1:25:49

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Wayne Smith, one of rugby's greatest strategic minds, takes us on an intimate journey through his extraordinary coaching career, revealing the cultural secrets behind multiple World Cup victories with the All Blacks and Black Ferns. Known as "The Professor" for his analytical brilliance, Smith shares how he trans…

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Ryan Martin: Burn the lesson plan. How to break through in professional coaching. 1:03:45

2M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Check Ryan’s Outstanding drills here: https://x.com/CoachRyanMartin Discover the secrets of crafting a winning team culture with our guest, Ryan Martin, a professional rugby coach with a unique background in education. Transitioning from a 17-year career as a primary school teacher to the rugby field, Ryan offers…

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Richard Cockerill: Rugby's Straightshooter. You can't pretend to be a good version of someone else. 1:08:39

2M ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Richard Cockerill cuts through the buzzwords to deliver a masterclass in building winning cultures across two decades of elite coaching. The former Leicester, Toulon, Edinburgh, England and current Georgia coach shares his refreshingly straightforward philosophy: be on time, wear the right kit, and work hard – no…

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Conrad Smith: Coachability Unleashed, The Culture-Driven Approach to Rugby. 1:16:38

2M ago1:16:38

1:16:38

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Conrad Smith unpacks the anatomy of winning team culture with remarkable clarity and authenticity. Drawing from his 94 tests with the All Blacks and captaincy experience with the Hurricanes, Smith reveals how culture transcends motivational posters and becomes a living force within truly great teams. Smith's fram…

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Frans Ludeke: The Soft Skills of Really Caring and Loving People 1:07:00

3M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Frans Ludeke, legendary rugby coach with over 30 years of experience spanning South Africa to Japan, reveals the leadership principles that have defined his remarkable journey. Having transformed the Kubota Spears from a struggling second-division team to Japanese champions, Frans shares how authentic leadership …

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Glenn Delaney: The 80-20 Rule of Authentic Leadership 59:19

3M ago59:19

59:19

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Rugby has always been about far more than the scoreboard. At its heart, it's about belonging—being part of something bigger than ourselves. Few understand this better than Glenn Delaney, whose coaching journey has taken him from Nottingham to London Irish, Canterbury, the Highlanders, the Scarlets, and now Mitsub…

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James O’Connor Unfiltered: A Player’s Perspective on What Makes—or Breaks—a Good Coach and Culture 1:07:38

3M ago1:07:38

1:07:38

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Trust and connection are the cornerstones of any winning sports culture. In this engaging episode, we're joined by rugby legend James O'Connor, who reflects on his incredible journey in professional sports. With nearly two decades under his belt, James shares his unique insights on how coaching significantly shap…

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Chris Webb: Rugby Management and Leadership Insights 1:02:41

3M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Chris Webb, a luminary in high-performance sports management, shares captivating stories from his tenure in rugby, spanning World Cups with top teams like Australia and Japan. Tune in as Chris recounts his journey from rural New South Wales with aspirations of becoming a stock and station agent, to a career in ru…

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Paul Tito: Keeping things simple, and the art of confrontations. 1:20:10

4M ago1:20:10

1:20:10

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Rugby enthusiasts and culture aficionados alike, prepare for a fascinating conversation with Paul Tito, affectionately known in the rugby world as "Fish." A seasoned veteran whose career spans over 25 years, Paul shares his journey from New Plymouth Boys High School to captaining renowned teams like the New Zeala…

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Johan Ackermann: Faith-Driven Leadership and Team Unity 1:05:56

4M ago1:05:56

1:05:56

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Renowned rugby coach Johan Ackerman joins us to reveal the secret to building a successful team culture — one that emerges organically from the collective rather than being imposed from the top down. Through his experiences across the globe and his time in the police force, Johan explores how fostering a supporti…

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Kieran Crowley: Balancing Passion and Pressure in Rugby Coaching 50:02

4M ago50:02

50:02

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Kieran Crowley, a rugby legend and former All Black, joins us to unlock the secrets of building team culture across borders. Discover how Kieran's journey from New Zealand to Canada and Italy has shaped his understanding of cultural dynamics in international rugby coaching. His stories from the field provide a ri…

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Steve Hansen: Ego and Authenticity in Leadership 55:23

4M ago55:23

55:23

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. Rugby legend Steve Hansen joins us to unravel the secrets of building an unbreakable team culture. Discover how the invisible thread of shared values can bind not just sports teams but businesses and families too. Steve shares his philosophy that team priorities should always come first, offering practical insigh…

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Eddie Jones: Culture shocks. Environmental learnings from England, Australia and Japan. 48:00

5M ago48:00

48:00

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. What if the key to a thriving sports team lies not just in strategy, but in deeply understanding its cultural fabric? Join us as we sit down with the legendary coach Eddie Jones, who unpacks the essence of culture and leadership in sports. Eddie shares captivating stories from his coaching journey at Leicester, w…

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Coaching culture with Ben Herring Trailer 3:37

5M ago3:37

3:37

Questions? Text Ben Herring direct. I’m Ben Herring, and I want to welcome you to Coaching Culture with Ben Herring. If you’re looking to sharpen your coaching craft by exploring more than just drills and tactics, you’ve come to the right place. Coaching Culture is your weekly deep-dive into the often-overlooked “softer skills” of coaching—cultural…