Finding Purpose Behind The Mic - Rudy Paige and Jan Hugo

Finding Purpose Behind The Mic - Rudy Paige and Jan Hugo

What happens when the thing that defined you no longer defines you? In this episode of Winning The Away Game, Justinus Adriaanse and Flip van der Merwe sit down with rugby international and Behind The Ruck co-host Rudy Page, alongside former banking executive, helicopter pilot, and Relocated South African founder Jan Higu. From professional sport to entrepreneurship, from executive leadership to immigration, this conversation explores the uncomfortable reality of starting over. Both guests share deeply personal stories about identity, purpose, fear, reinvention, and what it takes to build something meaningful after success. If you've ever faced a major life transition, wondered what's next, or felt like you're starting from zero again, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Why losing your identity can be harder than losing your job How Rudy Page rebuilt purpose after retiring from professional rugby Lessons Jan learned from leaving corporate leadership and moving abroad Why vulnerability creates stronger communities than perfection The hidden emotional costs of immigration and reinvention How continuous learning becomes your greatest advantage in a second career Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:10 Favourite Springbok Memories 06:58 Why Rudy Retired From Rugby 08:40 Starting Behind The Ruck 10:40 Losing Purpose After Sport 14:20 Reinventing Yourself Multiple Times 16:00 Immigration, Adversity and Resilience 21:10 Learning Podcasting From Scratch 24:40 Lessons From Rugby That Still Matter 28:30 Why Jan Left Corporate Life 31:20 The Reality Of Living Abroad 36:00 Helicopters, Celebrities and Risk 39:30 Fear, Faith and Uncertainty 43:00 When Things Go Wrong Overseas 47:30 Identity After Success 53:00 Final Reflections Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/

Why Identity Can’t Come From Achievement - Pierre Spies and Daniel Ornellas

Pierre Spies and Daniel Ornellas come from completely different worlds — elite rugby and global music — but this conversation reveals how similar the pressure of identity, purpose, loss, and reinvention really is. Pierre opens up about losing his father before his Springbok breakthrough, the emotional reality of retiring from rugby, and why fame can never become your identity. Daniel shares the story behind Tree63, moving to America, touring with Taylor Swift and Camila Cabello, and why living abroad made him feel even more South African. This episode is for founders, athletes, creatives, and anyone wrestling with reinvention after success. Key Takeaways Why success often exposes identity problems instead of solving them The hidden emotional cost of elite performance How grief shaped both Pierre and Daniel’s leadership journeys Why moving overseas can deepen your connection to home The danger of tying your identity to your profession How purpose becomes clearer after public success fades Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:20 Living in Nashville and George 03:10 Favorite Springbok memories 06:55 Pierre’s nightmare Springbok debut 07:30 Losing fathers before career breakthroughs 10:00 The decision that changed Pierre’s life 11:35 Daniel’s father, rock music and radical faith 14:45 Growing up with no money and total faith 15:40 Why Daniel never wanted to be on stage 17:25 Becoming more like your parents 18:40 What death teaches you about life 20:00 Leaving South Africa for America 21:20 The problem with fear-driven emigration 23:00 Why South Africa still feels like home 26:45 Life after rugby and identity loss 28:15 From rugby career to calling 30:30 The hidden challenge of retirement 31:20 Why identity cannot come from achievement Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/

Ricky Maia and Percy Montgomery on Catamarans, Tequila and Obsession

What do catamarans, tequila, and elite rugby have in common? On the surface—nothing. But underneath, this episode reveals the mindset of people who refuse to live ordinary lives. Ricky Maia and Percy Montgomery unpack what drives obsession-level commitment—from building a boat from scratch and sailing across the Atlantic, to kicking in World Cup finals and launching a tequila brand after rugby. This is a conversation about chaos, risk, reinvention, and the kind of thinking that makes unconventional lives work. If you’ve ever felt like your path doesn’t make sense—this episode will. Chapters 00:00 Introduction  00:02 The 2007 World Cup and elite pressure  00:05 Leaving systems that no longer work  00:08 Building a catamaran from scratch  00:12 The reality behind chasing freedom  00:15 Adapting across countries and cultures  00:18 Losing money and entering the US market  00:21 Rock bottom and rebuilding through obsession  00:24 Life after rugby and launching tequila  00:28 Finding purpose in unconventional paths  00:31 Resourcefulness vs resources  00:34 Advice for young South Africans  00:37 Why doing what you love matters  00:40 AI vs community  00:42 Legacy and long-term impact Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels:  Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/

Nick Mallett & Sean Peche - The Decision That Costs Everything

What separates the leaders who sustain success from those who flame out at the top? In this episode, Springbok coach Nick Mallett and global fund manager Sean Peche strip back decades of high-performance experience to reveal the decisions, assumptions, and identity shifts that defined — and sometimes derailed — their careers. This is essential listening for founders, executives, and anyone operating in high-stakes environments where clarity disappears and the pressure to act is constant. From losing a team's confidence with one selection call, to spending 14 years marketing to the wrong market, both guests bring rare candour to questions most leaders avoid. If you've ever made a call you regretted under pressure, or held a belief that turned out to be quietly costing you, this episode will hit hard. Chapters: CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 Introduction — Decisions Without Certainty * 00:02:30 Springbok Memories — 1995 and 2019 * 00:08:00 Nick Mallett: From Player to Coach in France * 00:14:00 Sean Peche: Moving to London and Starting Ranmore * 00:20:00 The False Assumption That Cost Sean 14 Years * 00:25:00 From $50M to $2.5 Billion — The LinkedIn Turning Point * 00:30:00 Nick's Biggest Coaching Mistake: The Gary Teichmann Decision * 00:37:00 How One Selection Broke Team Trust Instantly * 00:42:00 The South African Advantage — Confronting Poverty and Building Resilience * 00:49:00 Nick Mallett's Advice for Aspiring Coaches * 00:54:00 Two Roads to a Springbok Jersey — Privilege vs. Pure Resilience * 00:58:00 Sean on Giving Back: The Run More Shoe Initiative * 01:02:00 Should You Wait Before Taking the Big Job? * 01:05:00 Getting the Odds on Your Side — Final Lessons Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/

Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe & Francisca Lombard - Winning Where You Don’t Belong

What does it take to succeed in systems that were never designed to recognise you? In this episode, Nomsebenzi "Noms" Tsotsobe, the first captain of the Springbok Women's Team, and Francisca Lombard, engineer and creator of MineGPT, share what it really looks like to build credibility, authority, and resilience in male-dominated environments. This episode is for anyone navigating career transitions, entering spaces where they feel like outsiders, or trying to build something meaningful without recognition. The core tension: doing the work long before the system is ready to acknowledge you. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or out of place—this conversation will shift how you approach your career. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:01 Proving Yourself in Unfair Systems 00:03 Nomsebenzi’s First Springbok Moment 00:07 Francisca’s Start in Mining 00:10 Loss, Cancer, and Perspective 00:14 Building Women’s Rugby From Nothing 00:18 Working Without Recognition 00:22 Moving to Canada Alone 00:26 Cultural Shock and Isolation 00:30 Fighting for Authority 00:34 Role Models and Early Influence 00:38 Building Confidence From Scratch 00:42 Finding Your Footing 00:46 Why the Struggle Continues 00:50 The Future of Women’s Rugby 00:53 AI and the Future of Work 00:57 Final Reflections Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/