Coaching Culture with Ben Herring

Ben Herring
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Rugby
  • Updated Weekly

Coaching Culture with Ben Herring is your weekly deep-dive into the often-overlooked “softer skills” of coaching—cultural innovation, communication, empathy, leadership, dealing with stress, and motivation. Each episode features candid conversations with the world’s top international rugby coaches, who share the personal stories and intangible insights behind their winning cultures, and too their biggest failures and learnings from them. This is where X’s and O’s meet heart and soul, empowering coaches at every level to foster authentic connections, inspire their teams, and elevate their own coaching craft. If you believe that the real gold in rugby lies beyond the scoreboard, Coaching Culture is the podcast for you.

  1. THE NEW MASCULINITY OF COACHING Craig White

    1d ago

    THE NEW MASCULINITY OF COACHING Craig White

    Most teams don’t lose because they lack information. They lose because pressure hijacks attention, connection, and decision making. Craig White joins us to unpack a simple truth that too many coaches miss: your team feels your nervous system before they hear your message, and what you model becomes the culture. We dig into conscious leadership and the difference between regulated and dysregulated coaching. Craig breaks down the “to me, by me, through me, as me” framework, why victim language spreads fast in staff rooms, and how a grounded coach can deliver hard feedback without becoming unsafe. We also talk brotherhood and connection as the foundation for high performance, not a soft extra. When people feel safe, they challenge each other, learn faster, and play freer. From there we take it off the field. Many high achievers are visible at home but not present, chasing results because they think validation must be earned. Craig shares how to train presence like a skill, build relational fitness, set boundaries that protect family time, and use master regulators like sleep and nature to reset the nervous system. We finish with attention and intention, and why focused awareness changes outcomes in the gym, rehab, and leadership itself. If you want practical tools for coaching culture, emotional safety, and leadership under pressure, listen through and share this with a coach who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: where do you most want to be more present this week? Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 5m
  2. The Rugby Coaching Tour Every Coach Should Experience

    5d ago

    The Rugby Coaching Tour Every Coach Should Experience

    Japan has a way of exposing your coaching habits in seconds. The standards feel sharper, the respect is unmistakable, and the smallest details suddenly matter more than your favorite playbook. We’re joined by Matt Cobain to unpack why the Elite Coaches Tour of Japan is built to accelerate rugby coaching development through immersion, not theory. We dig into what coaches actually gain from stepping into Japan rugby culture: learning to lead in a different context, seeing how relationships get built before tactics, and observing environments where discipline and preparation are baked into daily life. Matt shares what changed for him while coaching in Japan, especially how working through an interpreter forces you to communicate with clarity, ditch the fluff, and deliver feedback that lands. We also talk about the real “gold” of coach education: the conversations around sessions, the debates on bus rides, and the insights you only get when you sit with other coaches and compare what you’re seeing. We cover the full rugby pathway you’ll encounter on tour, from high school and the massive university system that acts like an academy, all the way to professional clubs packed with world-class talent. Just as important, we get honest about coaching as a people business: networking, mentorship, and why the job can feel lonely without a trusted group around you. Expect practical takeaways on leadership, team culture, and building a reflective habit that asks, “Why do I do it this way?” If you want your next leap as a coach to be real and measurable, listen, share this with a coach who should be in the room, then subscribe and leave a review so more coaches can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    35 min
  3. How the Hurricanes Value Culture. Tom Kindley

    Jun 28

    How the Hurricanes Value Culture. Tom Kindley

    A 60-5 final score makes headlines, but the real story is what has to be true inside a team for that kind of performance to show up when it matters most. We’re joined by Tom Kinley, General Manager of the Hurricanes, to break down the culture systems and leadership habits that turn a talented roster into a connected, resilient, high-performing group. We dig into how Tom defines team culture as shared patterns of thinking and behavior, and why the “intangible” edge is often the difference between evenly matched sides. Tom shares the Hurricanes’ everyday standards that build belonging, including the simple practice of greeting every person in an environment of roughly 150 staff and players, plus the deliberate way leaders create accountability without turning everything into mandates. From there, we get practical about high performance: planning the week, building trust fast in a new role, and aligning everyone around the Hurricanes vision to “unite and excite” while living an “us vs us” mindset. We also talk talent development, hiring for character fit, creating optimism and license to play, and why widening the lens matters, including learning from experts outside rugby to improve communication and bring the unspoken to the surface. If you care about coaching culture, leadership, organizational culture, and building teams that perform under pressure, this one is packed with usable ideas. Subscribe, share it with a coach or leader you respect, and leave a review with the one culture habit you want to try next. Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 8m
  4. The Power of In-Person Conversations

    Jun 24

    The Power of In-Person Conversations

    Getting selection wrong isn’t only about who you pick. It’s about how you tell people. We dig into one of the most uncomfortable parts of coaching: delivering news that changes an athlete’s week, their confidence, and sometimes their future. Whether you coach school teams, club sports, or high-performance environments, we make the case that face-to-face communication still beats texts, calls, and “finding out in the meeting” because humans are wired for connection, tone, and intent. We break down the moments that matter most, especially when a player is moving down the lineup. Our simple rule: talk to them every time and do it before the team is announced. We unpack why public blindsiding is so damaging, how psychological safety shows up in a two-minute chat, and how small, respectful conversations create long-term trust. We also share a framing tool that keeps the conversation grounded: explain selection as your opinion and your responsibility, not as a so-called objective truth that invites debate. We also zoom out to stakeholder communication. Promoted players deserve in-person praise because those are relationship-building moments that stick for years, and parents often need context too. If your rationale is sound, transparent conversations tend to go better than the stories people invent in the silence. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a coach, and leave a review. What’s the best way you’ve ever received tough feedback? Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    12 min
  5. The Real Job of a Coach Isn't What You Think...John Dams

    Jun 21

    The Real Job of a Coach Isn't What You Think...John Dams

    Ever wonder why some teams click faster, learn quicker, and bounce back stronger? We unpack the real levers behind high performance—where data sharpens intuition, language creates buy-in, and framing turns meetings into movement. With performance strategist and developmental coach John Dams, we trace his path from early rugby roles to shaping elite environments, pulling out lessons any coach or leader can use tomorrow. We dig into the mindset side first: emotional intelligence as a practical coaching skill. John breaks down the four controllables—what you say, think, do, and feel—and shows how they anchor tough moments. We explore empathy as an action, not a slogan, and why journaling shifts you from first-person emotion to third-person objectivity. That shift lets you see patterns, drop unhelpful reactions, and coach the person in front of you rather than the story in your head. Then we get hands-on. We show how to build rapport by matching language and values, and why framing is the hidden superpower. Use POWER—Purpose, Agenda, Outcome—to set clear contracts for reviews, one-to-ones, and training blocks. Pair that with sticky phrasing and simple, specific language that holds under pressure. We connect the dots between meaning and action to find flow, and share how to review against stated goals instead of mood. And yes, we tackle the “spray”: when it serves the team, when it’s just venting, and how intention changes impact. Finally, we return to the engine room: the marriage of data and intuition. Treat gut feel as hypothesis, use data to validate or iterate fast, and build cycles where insight compounds over weeks, not seasons. Culture, identity, and belonging are universal; execution is local. Your job is to read the room, adapt the frame, and own the culture work instead of outsourcing it. Subscribe, share with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your best sticky phrase—we’ll read favorites on a future show. Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 11m
  6. The Hardest Transition Of My Life Nemani Nandolo

    Jun 14

    The Hardest Transition Of My Life Nemani Nandolo

    What happens when a record-setting, globe-trotting winger trades the try line for a whiteboard? We sit down with Nems to explore how he’s building the Fijian Drua development pathway with a people-first approach that still demands edge. From Leicester’s cold logic of the kicking game to the Crusaders’ obsession with nailing roles, he unpacks the methods that actually travel—and the ones that don’t. We get honest about what it takes to coach in Fiji, where players often support entire families and arrive with extraordinary talent but limited exposure to weights, nutrition, or film study. Nems shares how he teaches with video for visual learners, sets simple tactical rules that hold under pressure, and creates real-world structure by sending players to work one day a week and pushing for vocational certificates. This is development beyond drills: life skills, identity, and resilience built alongside game plans. On the field, he shows why purposeful kicking wins territory and how to coach bravery without breaking bodies. Off the field, he proves that care is a competitive advantage—knowing a player’s family, giving grace when life hits hard, and earning the right to demand more. He explains why doubling down on strengths beats chasing every weakness, and how one-on-one clarity turns raw potential into reliable performance. We also dive into retirement’s invisible toll, the value of taking time to reflect, and the simple habits—consistency and effort—that move careers forward. If you care about rugby culture, player development, and coaching that respects context, this conversation will sharpen your toolkit. Subscribe, share with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your favorite insight so we can keep raising the game together. Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 3m
  7. Coaching Your Own Kid

    Jun 10

    Coaching Your Own Kid

    Coaching kids is one thing. Coaching your own child can feel like stepping onto a field where every word carries twice the weight. I’ve been thinking about why so many coaches avoid coaching their son or daughter, even when they love the sport, and I’ve come to a simple reframe: the real question isn’t “why is my kid hard to coach?” It’s “what changes in me when the athlete is someone I love?” I walk through three shifts that quietly sabotage parent coaching. First, we stop seeing the child and start seeing the future, which turns development into pressure and makes kids feel the distance between who they are and who we wish they’d become. Second, our parent identity collides with our coach persona, and kids are incredibly sensitive to that mask. If they sense we’re performing a role instead of showing up as ourselves, resistance is often a response to inconsistency, not stubbornness. Third, love creates attachment to outcomes. When your child’s success feels personal, it’s easy to react to what a moment means instead of responding to what’s actually happening. Using a Stoic approach, I separate what we can control (effort, habits, behaviors) from what we can’t (results), and I offer a better way to measure success: enjoyment, learning, and the strength of the relationship over time. If you’ve ever felt torn between being a great coach and being the parent your child trusts, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a coach-parent you know, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking into your next practice. Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    11 min
  8. Dark Moments Build Great Players. Joe Rokocoko

    Jun 7

    Dark Moments Build Great Players. Joe Rokocoko

    Ever been told to start at zero? Joe Rokocoko has—and he calls it the sentence that rebuilt his standards, his respect, and his career. From a Fijian village to Parisian match nights, Joe opens up about the unseen work behind greatness: how culture lives like a village, why tone matters more than volume, and what it takes to make the dark zone feel like home. We go deep on the soul of French rugby—why stadiums are packed, how small towns treat game day as a family event, and what Racing 92 is doing to turn a reputation for flair into a ruthless defensive identity. Joe shares how he coaches across cultures with precision and care, adapting delivery while keeping standards high. He explains why a GPS can’t measure team spirit, and how knowing when to push two more minutes can hardwire timing, trust, and belief that last into the 81st minute. This is a masterclass in modern coaching and leadership: blending data with feel, using simple rituals to lower resistance (shoes by the bed, plans that remove friction), and anchoring everything in service. Joe’s father taught him that leadership means sharing hunger and thirst with your people. That lens shapes his approach to feedback, role clarity, and identity—ask what opponents feel when they face you, then build habits that change that perception from the inside out. If you’re a coach, leader, or player who believes sport should shape people, not just results, you’ll find tools you can use tomorrow: questions that build buy‑in, language that respects culture, and themes that light a fire on fatigue’s edge. Press play, then tell us: what’s your team’s real identity under pressure? If this resonated, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps more curious coaches find us. Send us Fan Mail Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/ For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Coaching Culture with Ben Herring is your weekly deep-dive into the often-overlooked “softer skills” of coaching—cultural innovation, communication, empathy, leadership, dealing with stress, and motivation. Each episode features candid conversations with the world’s top international rugby coaches, who share the personal stories and intangible insights behind their winning cultures, and too their biggest failures and learnings from them. This is where X’s and O’s meet heart and soul, empowering coaches at every level to foster authentic connections, inspire their teams, and elevate their own coaching craft. If you believe that the real gold in rugby lies beyond the scoreboard, Coaching Culture is the podcast for you.

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