
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.

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.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

Glue Guys
Ep.27
Why Great Teams Never Stay Satisfied
Shane Battier, Alex Smith, and Ravi Gupta are the hosts of Glue Guys. We cover how great leaders adapt their styles to different personalities, the importance of team culture, and why sports provide a compressed version of life's drama.
02.27.2025

Glue Guys
Ep.26
The Dark Side of Athletic Competition
Who are you competing against? Diving into personal stories and insights, Alex, Shane, and Ravi examine the evolution from external to internal motivation across different phases of life and careers. Their competitive drives are on full display, from Shane’s fear of an unknown competitor to Alex tracking his Elite 11 peers in high school. The conversation takes an introspective turn as they discuss parenting, the challenges of transitioning from pro sports to business careers, and the importance of defining what game you're really playing. The Glue Guys give an honest look into how top performers think about finding purpose beyond competition and the value of being intentional about your goals.
02.20.2025

Glue Guys
Ep.25
What Makes the Perfect Team
Join Alex, Shane, and Ravi as they dive deep into what makes great teams tick. The hosts share personal stories from their sports and business careers, discussing key elements like earned inclusion, trust, and celebrating the work. From QB rooms to startup culture, they explore how the best teams balance fun and achievement while maintaining strong bonds. The conversation touches on both championship-winning moments and underappreciated experiences, offering insights on how to build and appreciate meaningful team dynamics at any scale.
02.13.2025