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.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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Glue Guys

Ep.10

The Hard Way Is The Right Way

David Senra is in pursuit of one goal: helping people learn from history's greatest entrepreneurs. In a world obsessed with quick wins and overnight success, David has spent eight years building Founders podcast and distilling decades of sage advice. In the spirit of Glue Guys, David joins us to connect the dots between sport's GOATS and business legends, and as it turns out - being slightly crazy about your craft is a universal key to success. He keys in on how crucial it is to pick the right heroes, devote your attention to one thing, and never take the easy way out. This is a conversation about focus, obsession, and the joy of finding your thing - and doing it better than anyone else.

10.31.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.9

The Authenticity Playbook

If you’re looking for a model in authentic leadership, HubSpot founder Brian Halligan is your guy. He joins the Glue Guys conversation this week to talk as much about how he grew his company into a multi-billion-dollar company, as how he’s grown as a person. From the adrenaline-pumping tale of a near-fatal snowmobile accident that dramatically altered Brian's perspective to his candid revelations about imposter syndrome and anxiety to tips on building an iconic company culture, this episode gives a look at the human side of business and leadership.

10.24.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.8

Play Free

How do you get the most out of your team? How do you get the most out of yourself? When is it a good thing to have a chip on your shoulder? Alex talks about the impact of negative coaches. Shane talks about how Coach K commits to treat everyone fairly, rather than equally and also shares a memorable quote from Pat Riley about the alchemy of teams. Our hosts realize that each of their most inspirational coaches have encouraged them to play free…and why it brought out the best in them.

10.17.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.7

Urban Meyer: Selfless Teams

Teams that gel. It’s every leader’s ambition. And legendary college football coach Urban Meyer’s specialty. His approach earned him 17 championship titles, 3 perfect seasons, 5x coach of the year, and one of the best winning records in history. What does it take to go from a collection of players to a winning institution? Alex and Coach reflect on their time together at Utah. Coach Meyer opens up about the personal toll of his obsessive pursuit of excellence. The conversation gets into the heart, mind, and soul of one the greatest coaches of all time to unpack what it takes to stay on top of your game and win as one team.

10.10.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.6

Steve Young

Steve Young joins Glue Guys and lets us in on the moments behind his legendary career. We discover how he learned to throw a football at 18 from Jim McMahon and what it taught him about latent talent. We learn about him attending law school the day after playing in the Super Bowl and how an encounter with Steven Covey changed his life. He reflects on his time around Bill Walsh and watching him harness his power of individualized empowerment. Steve offers his wisdom on the importance of agency, embracing vulnerability and creating a life of meaning.

10.03.2024

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Glue Guys

Ep.5

Fear of Failure

Being "on top" doesn't spare anyone from fear of failure. Alex recounts self-doubt despite being the number one NFL draft pick. Shane talks about feeling the pressure of being the 4th-ranked seventh-grade basketball player in the country. Ravi talks about his fears as a CFO in the early days of Instacart. Why is fear of failure such a powerful force? How can we use it to fuel us rather than hold us back? What can we learn from listening to our fears instead of trying to drown them out?

09.26.2024

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