Glue Guys

Glue Guys

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 Smith, Ravi Gupta, and Shane Battier 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.

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

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Glue Guys

Ep.19

Fidji Simo: Harnessing Inner Power

From a family of fishermen in southern France to CEO of Instacart – Fidji Simo's path breaks every convention. After becoming her family's first high school graduate and attending France's leading university, she rose to lead the Facebook app before taking the helm at Instacart. Her leadership philosophy of "strong opinions, weakly held" has helped her navigate complex decisions throughout her career. Beyond business, Fidji opens up about living with a rare genetic disease, and how it led her to embrace vulnerability. This discussion is full of strategies for ambitious leaders who want to drive change while staying true to themselves.

01.02.2025

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Glue Guys

Ep.18

The Confidence Myth

Is confidence something you're born with or something you build? Alex, Shane, and Ravi challenge the stereotype of the naturally confident leader through raw stories of their own moments of self-doubt. This conversation speaks to the surprising truth that many top athletes and business leaders experience profound insecurity, but what sets them apart is their ability to grow confidence through deliberate practice. Learn how elite performers actually build unshakeable confidence, not from some innate superpower, but through specific actions that anyone can learn.

12.26.2024

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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

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Glue Guys

Ep.16

Leading 2.1 Million People

How do you lead a team of 2.1 million people? Whether you're managing five people or fifty, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon's leadership principles apply at any scale. He joins Glue Guys to share his journey from unloading trucks at Walmart as a teenager to leading a company that makes $1.7 billion in sales daily, serving 240 million customers weekly across 10,500 stores. Doug shares leadership lessons from Sam Walton and from the weekly basketball game he’s played in for four decades. We learn about leading for the long term, being a servant leader, and leading with humility even as your influence expands.

12.12.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.15

No Days Off

What drives the most unstoppable leaders? ESPN analyst Jay Bilas takes us inside Coach K's daring early years building Duke's dynasty and shares how a profound lesson about relentlessness changed his understanding of greatness. From behind-the-scenes stories of culture-building to candid insights on today's evolving college sports landscape with NIL, he challenges listeners to examine their own pursuit of excellence. Through hard-earned wisdom as a player, coach, lawyer, and broadcaster, Bilas demonstrates how authentic leadership requires not just talent, but an unwavering commitment to making everyone around you elevate their game.

12.05.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.14

(Un)Common Sense

Can saying ‘happy birthday’ really transform team culture? Alex, Shane, and Ravi explore the power of "uncommon sense" - those simple but profound leadership practices that are rarely implemented despite their obvious impact. From Jim Harbaugh's birthday messages to every member of his team to Alex Smith's mentorship of Patrick Mahomes, the guys break down why small moments build winning cultures.

11.29.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.13

The Cost of Ego

What's the real game you're playing with your money? “Psychology of Money” author Morgan Housel joins Glue Guys to talk about the importance of running your own race. He engages Ravi, Shane, and Alex on the topic of ego and how it plays a leading role in wealth dynamics. From pro athlete salaries to the “keeping up with the Joneses” mindset to even handling your own money (spoiler: there is no universal right way), the Glue Guys let Morgan peel back the layers. Is there a perfect balance between confidence and humility? Does a mix of the two really even matter? Morgan gives his take on the real keys to happiness.

11.21.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.12

Never Waste A Crisis

What does parenting have to teach us about leadership? How can we help raise the next generation to be the best they can be? It’s a topic our hosts–parents themselves!–are endlessly curious about and this week they’re joined by psychology professor and expert in the science of motivating young people, David Yaeger. David’s "mentor mindset" approach explains why the best leaders are neither drill sergeants nor helicopter parents, but rather a coach who believes in his players too much to let them be mediocre. Whether you're raising a teen on an emotional rollercoaster, managing a TikTok-obsessed workforce, or just trying to understand why your toddler needs a philosophical debate to get her pants on, this episode is a lesson in cultivating well-adjusted ambition on any kind of team.

11.14.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.11

Demanding and Supportive

What is Ravi Gupta's story? Despite Ravi's initial discomfort, Alex and Shane go deep on his life and background. We learn about the family members who shaped him and how his career path has been anything but a straight line. Ravi reflects on how the people around him have always been "demanding and supportive" and why it's so important for him to live that way every day.

11.07.2024

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