Welcome to a special Christmas edition of A Load of BS on Sport with the two Dans. In this festive bonus episode, we reflect on the highlights of Series 1, share personal holiday stories, and look ahead to an exciting lineup for Season 2. Plus, don't miss our brand-new quiz feature, "Bigger Isn’t Always Better," where Dan answers questions about his career and more. Grab a mince pie, settle in, and join us for a bit of holiday cheer and chatter!

Show Notes:

• Dan and Dan's festive preparations
• Reflections on the incredible Series 1 guests, including Johnny Wilkinson, Sir Andrew Strauss, Geraint Thomas, Charlie Methven and Andrew Steele and more
• Sneak peek of guests lined up for Series Two, including Siya Kolisi, Richard Arnold, and possibly Gary Neville...
• Feature: "Bigger Isn’t Always Better" Quiz

Please leave a review if you like the podcast; and share with friends. Your support makes us very happy!

• Get the podcast in your inbox every week by subscribing here
• Find out more on our website
• Follow the podcast on LinkedIn
• Follow Dan R on LinkedIn
• Follow Dan R on Twitter
• Follow Dan B on LinkedIn
• Podcast music: Tamsin Waley-Cohen's Mendelssohn's violin concerto

Whether on the track or in the boardroom, 400m Olympian Andrew Steele's story proves that mental toughness and reinvention are key to success.

His ability to push through challenges and adapt shows resilience is a skill we can all carry with us, whatever the arena.

Here are my three takeaways from our conversation:

1️⃣ Resilience is a transferable skill
→ The mental toughness Andrew built as an athlete prepared him to tackle the challenges of entrepreneurship head-on.

2️⃣ Focus on the process, not just the result
→ Whether in sport or business, daily consistency and commitment are what drive success.

3️⃣ Reinvention is success
→ After athletics, Andrew co-founded DNAFit, a health-tech company that was later acquired. His journey proves success is about evolving and finding new passions, not just collecting accolades.

Andrew’s story reminds us that life’s twists shape us – it’s how we respond that defines us.

Please leave a review if you like the podcast; and share with friends. Your support makes us very happy!

• Get the podcast in your inbox every week by subscribing here
• Find out more on our website
• Follow the podcast on LinkedIn
• Follow Dan R on LinkedIn
• Follow Dan R on Twitter
• Follow Dan B on LinkedIn
• Podcast music: Tamsin Waley-Cohen's Mendelssohn's violin concerto

Today we’re joined by Chris Boyd, highly respected rugby coach with extensive experience in both New Zealand and the UK. Known for his tactical expertise and leadership, Chris shares insights into his coaching journey, including his time with the Kiwi U20s, the Hurricanes and Northampton Saints; as well as the mental side of high-performance sport. As a close mentor to Dan Biggar, their relationship adds an extra layer of depth to the conversation, offering a unique perspective on coaching, leadership, and team dynamics.

Show notes:
Continuous Improvement for Elite Players
"The very best players are gifted in one part of their game... but there's always something to work on."

• Boyd emphasises the importance of consistent self-improvement, regardless of a player's talent

Creating a Culture of Empowerment
"People that feel empowered, belong, connected are always going to want to try harder and perform better."

• Boyd fostered a culture at Saints where players felt supported and empowered, leading to better team cohesion and performance

Philosophy on Risk and Reward
Boyd’s allowed players to take risks: "The Kiwi attitude probably is a little bit more..., if we can hold on to the ball... we’re back in the game."

• He contrasts the risk-averse mindset of Northern Hemisphere teams with the more fluid, risk-taking style from New Zealand rugby

Building a Resilient Team
"You can’t grow culture, culture grows itself."

• Boyd reflects on how setbacks, such as tough defeats, can be used to build resilience and foster a team’s growth

Empathy and Connection in Leadership
"Coaching rugby is a pleasure and a privilege... life experiences teach you to be calm."

• Boyd discusses the importance of emotional intelligence, both in coaching and managing people

Developing Players Beyond Rugby
"You get used to living on big wages... but when the game stops, you can fall off the cliff."

• He warns about the challenges players face post-retirement and importance of planning for life beyond sport

The Importance of 'Why’
Boyd introduced a "Why Board" at Saints, where players would place personal photos to remind themselves of their purpose: "The last thing you saw before going out onto the pitch was why you were doing it."

• This initiative reinforced the idea that personal motivation connects with team success

Coaching Style: Balancing the Carrot and Stick
Boyd contrasts his coaching style with that of other famous coaches: "Eddie Jones wanted to keep you on your toes... with me, it was black and white."

• He believes in being clear and consistent with players, empowering them to express themselves without fear of failure

Please leave a review if you like the podcast; and share with friends. Your support makes us very happy!

• Get the podcast in your inbox every week by subscribing here
• Find out more on our website
• Follow the podcast on LinkedIn
• Follow Dan R on LinkedIn
• Follow Dan R on Twitter
• Follow Dan B on LinkedIn
• Podcast music: Tamsin Waley-Cohen's Mendelssohn's violin concerto