About
Alex, Shane, and Ravi are coming together to cut across the worlds of sports and business and dissect the subtle art of making others better. Glue Guys explores the qualities that make individuals become better leaders, teammates, and humans alongside a trio with those same ambitions. In each episode, you’ll hear candid conversations on themes and life lessons drawn from their own high-stakes experiences. From strategies for effective teamwork to personal stories of success, the podcast covers a broad range of topics relevant to anyone looking to make an impact in their respective fields.
Hosts
Alex Smith, Ravi Gupta, and Shane Battier
Alex is a three-time NFL Pro Bowler. Shane is a two NBA champion with the Miami Heat. Ravi Gupta is a partner at Sequoia Capital and former CFO and COO at Instacart.
Featured
Glue Guys
Ep.20
Coach K: Get On The Right Bus
Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski coached Duke University's basketball team for 42 years, and led the US men's team to three Olympic gold medals. We cover his ability to get the most out of anyone who played for him, the importance of adapting your leadership style to the team in front of you, and the idea that being worthy of winning is more important than any one result when defining success.
01.09.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.22
Arenas of American Ambition
How do you turn overlooked data into bestselling stories that change industries? Michael Lewis reveals his process for finding and telling groundbreaking narratives, from Moneyball to Flash Boys to The Big Short. He also explains how he came across Shane’s unique impact on basketball, and how Kobe Bryant secretly studied his profile “The No-Stats All-Star” to counter Shane’s tactics. Jump inside the mind of one of our favorite authors and leave with a clear (and surprisingly simple) sense of how to find extraordinary stories.
01.23.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.17
Shoot For The Stars
What does it take to be the player every championship team needs? Shane Battier’s journey from a suburban outcast to hoisting NBA championship trophies is a masterclass in discipline, adaptability, and leadership. In this episode, Shane shares the secrets behind his two NBA championships, life-changing lessons from Coach K at Duke, and the experience of playing alongside legends like LeBron James. From mastering the mental side of the game to embracing the unglamorous (but essential) art of doing the dirty work, Shane reveals how the right mindset, preparation, and selflessness can transform your team — and your life.
12.19.2024
Glue Guys
Ep.37
Why Relentless Enthusiasm Wins Games
Jim Harbaugh is the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. We cover the inspirational moments that shaped his coaching style. the significance of the blue-collar shirts he hands out to his players, and his timeless advice for building a winning culture.
05.07.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.36
Should Athletes Get Equity?
Shane Battier, Ravi Gupta and Alex Smith are the hosts of Glue Guys, an exploration of their favorite lessons from the worlds of sports and business. We cover how team dynamics change when players have ownership stakes, how to best balance individual compensation with team success, and how salary constraints have historically undervalued star players.
05.01.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.35
The Price of Risk is Lower Than You Think
Shane Battier, Ravi Gupta and Alex Smith are the hosts of Glue Guys, an exploration of their favorite lessons from the worlds of sports and business. We cover the parallels between venture capital and draft strategies, why playing it safe often leads to frustration, and how executives misjudge the complex interplay between luck and skill.
04.24.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.34
Uncovering the Human Behind the Headlines
Wright Thompson is a bestselling author and a senior writer for ESPN. We cover what happens when athletes confront their mortality, how journalists break down walls to reveal human truths, and the complex balance between career aspirations and family life.
04.17.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.33
The Man Behind The Masters
Jim "Bones" Mackay is a professional golf caddy turned commentator. We cover what makes the Masters so special, the famous rivalry between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, and why caddies share a special bond built on camaraderie and competitiveness.
04.10.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.32
Building Team Culture
Dan Quinn is the head coach of the Washington Commanders. We cover how the "360-degree feedback" concept revolutionized Dan Quinn's coaching approach, the power of co-creating standards rather than imposing rules, and why it's important to make practice competitive.
04.03.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.31
The Caddies of Life
Shane Battier, Ravi Gupta and Alex Smith are the hosts of Glue Guys, an exploration of their favorite lessons from the worlds of sports and business. We cover the importance of creating time for friends, the most memorable moments from their annual golf tournament, and why caddies are the ultimate glue guys.
03.27.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.30
Legends and Lessons: Personal Encounters with Giants
Shane Battier, Ravi Gupta and Alex Smith are the hosts of Glue Guys, an exploration of their favorite lessons from the worlds of sports and business. We cover the guys' experiences meeting larger-than-life figures, how to avoid impostor syndrome and 'play free' in the face of greatness, and why true greatness is the ability to bring people along with you.
03.20.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.29
Written Off, Chanted On
Jared Goff is a quarterback for the Detroit Lions. We cover the pressure of being a number one pick, what it felt like to be blindsided by a trade, and the effectiveness of different leadership styles he’s encountered.
03.13.2025
Glue Guys
Ep.28
Leadership, Growth, & Operational Excellence
Sheryl Sandberg is the former COO of Meta and the author of Lean In. We cover the best stories and leadership lessons from her career, how confidence manifests differently in men and women, and how to be there for others in their moments of greatest need.
03.06.2025