When colleagues in London asked Brett Belinsky whether he was going home for Christmas, his answer was immediate: 'I am home.' That response became a personal philosophy - there are no away games, only home games.
Brett's career has crossed Johannesburg, Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong, London and Los Angeles, taking him from telecommunications entrepreneurship to senior roles across global media and entertainment. Today, he advises venture capital, private equity, family offices and media and telecoms businesses. He has also built Tongg, a fresh-to-order biltong company shipping across 48 US states.
In this episode, Brett speaks candidly about the tragedy that accelerated his decision to leave South Africa, the loneliness of living abroad, the discipline of staying connected and the mental shift required to start again. He also shares his views on leadership, AI disruption, the future of personalised media and why South Africans are unusually equipped to adapt.
This is a conversation about belonging without denial, reinvention without self-deception and learning to win wherever life puts you.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:56 The Springbok Moment That Made Him Cry
05:27 Building a Biltong Brand in America
10:41 Never Bullshit Yourself
11:41 There Are No Away Games, Only Home Games
14:06 The Army Lesson: There Is No Plan B
17:23 The Tragedy That Forced the Move 21:35 UK vs US: What Actually Changes
27:29 The Loneliest Part of Leaving
31:17 Keeping Networks Alive From Abroad
36:36 Taking Emotion Out of the Deal
38:03 AI Is Already Rewriting Media
44:38 Building a Country That Works for Everyone
47:42 The Weight of 2027
53:51 Brighton, Japan and a 1,200 Pound Bet
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/
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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/
