Glue Guys

NBA Draft night looks like the culmination of a lifelong dream. But behind the smiles, suits, and handshakes is a lot more stress than most fans ever see. In this episode, Shane looks back on his own draft night 25 years later — the anxiety of waiting to hear his name, the financial reality of rookie contracts, the pressure of being evaluated on “upside,” and how the modern draft has changed for y...

Paul Goldstein joins the Glue Guys to talk about coaching Stanford tennis, turning individual athletes into a team, finding glue guys in an individual sport, and what competition teaches us about confidence, sportsmanship, leadership, and life. From Kobe Bryant’s “play to learn” mindset to the problem with youth sports specialization to Stanford’s epic comeback against Wake Forest, this conversati...

What actually separates champions from everyone else? In this episode of Glue Guys, the guys discuss what people do when no one is watching — from religion and morality to craftsmanship, stewardship, team culture, company loyalty, and the standards that great teams protect.

Why do some people stay great for decades while others burn out? The guys dive into the psychology of longevity — through the lens of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Tom Brady, and their own careers in sports and business. The conversation moves from the will to prepare, to burning bright versus burning long, to why elite competitors keep going even after they’ve already accomplished everything.

What do great teams actually learn from heartbreak? The guys use Duke’s devastating loss to UConn as the starting point for a bigger conversation about pain, leadership, resilience, and what it takes to come back stronger.

Ryan Fitzpatrick joins Glue Guys for a deep dive into one of the most unique quarterback careers in NFL history. In this episode, Fitz shares stories from across his career — including life in NFL quarterback rooms, the challenges of constantly changing teams, what it takes to survive nearly two decades in the league, and the mindset required to stay ready for every opportunity.

Rex Ryan joins Glue Guys for a raw, hilarious, and honest conversation about leadership, toughness, and building winning teams. From coaching Ray Lewis and transforming NFL defenses, to why he never lied to players, Rex breaks down what really separates great teams from average ones. He shares stories about his upbringing, coaching alongside his legendary father Buddy Ryan, and why confidence and...

What does success actually mean in the NFL? With head coach firings reaching historic levels, this episode of Glue Guys examines whether teams have lost perspective — and patience. When “Super Bowl or bust” becomes the only definition of success, even stable, winning organizations start to feel broken.

In this episode of Glue Guys, the conversation starts with a 25-year reunion and expands into something much bigger: how time speeds up, relationships drift, and moments quietly pass before we realize their weight. The guys reflect on teams, reunions, mentorship, parenting, and careers — and the shared belief that we’ll get to it someday.

2025 was a great year for the Glue Guys. We had the chance to sit down with some incredible guests and hear stories we’ll be thinking about for a long time. In this special Year in Review episode, we look back on our favorite moments from the show — breaking down the conversations, lessons, and surprises that stood out most. From leadership and culture to competition and career-defining moments, t...

Philip Rivers is returning to the NFL at 44 years old — five years retired, coaching high school football, and firmly into the next chapter of his life. And yet, when the Colts called, he said yes. This week, the guys unpack why this comeback is so much more complex — and meaningful — than it looks from the outside. Alex offers a rare, insider perspective on Rivers as a competitor, leader, and pro...

Lane Kiffin's shocking move from Ole Miss to LSU ignited one of the biggest controversies in recent college football history. Should he have been allowed to coach Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff? Did the school sabotage its own chance at a national championship? And how much do trust, loyalty, and the transfer portal factor into decisions like this? In this episode, the Glue Guys go deep...

Tony Xu, co-founder and CEO of DoorDash, joins the Glue Guys for a rare deep-dive into how great teams, great leaders, and great organizations are actually built. Tony shares the real story behind DoorDash’s climb — from years of near-failure, to navigating fierce competition, to developing a culture that values humility, experimentation, and continuous improvement. What emerges is a remarkably ho...

Shane and Alex sit down with bestselling author Don Yaeger, who has spent years studying one of the most misunderstood forces in sports, business, and life: momentum. Yaeger — a 12-time New York Times bestselling author who has collaborated with legends like Coach K, John Wooden, Walter Payton, and Michael Oher — breaks down the science behind momentum: how it works, how leaders create it, and wha...

Greg Olsen joins the Glue Guys to dive deep into what it really means to compete — as a player, a coach, and a parent. Greg shares lessons from his father’s old-school New Jersey football program, coaching middle schoolers with Luke Kuechly and Jonathan Stewart, and the challenge of raising kids in today’s hyper-competitive, social-media-driven sports culture.

Ravi Gupta and Shane Battier sit down with tech visionary Bret Taylor, co-founder of Sierra AI and former CTO of Facebook, co-CEO of Salesforce, and chairman of OpenAI. Taylor shares his philosophy on career evolution, explaining why he refuses to let an "ossified version of his past self limit his future self." The conversation covers his journey from Google Maps co-creator to AI entrepreneur, in...

This week, former pro athlete and Head of Menlo School, Than Healy, joins The Glue Guys a heartfelt and insightful conversations on parenting, leadership, and resilience. Healy shares lessons from decades of working with students and parents in one of the most competitive school environments in America — and explains why failure isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. If you’re a parent, coach, or leader who...

In this episode of Glue Guys, Alex Smith, Shane Battier, and Ravi Gupta dive deep into the concept of aging - both professionally and personally. They explore how different industries favor youth over experience, the power of compounding growth versus explosive success, and finding sustainable urgency in your career. Shane shares his "Imperial Period" concept using music analogies, Alex discusses...

Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith joins Ravi Gupta for an in-depth conversation about the massive differences between high school, college, and NFL football - and how those transitions mirror the challenges of building a business. Alex reveals how he went from running just 15 plays at Utah to learning 200+ plays as an NFL rookie, the brutal reality of playing against elite defenders like Ed Reed a...

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 most winning records in history (187-32). 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 Meye...

Meta CFO Susan Li joins Glue Guys to share her incredible journey from an immigrant to becoming one of the youngest Fortune 100 CFOs. Susan discusses joining Facebook in 2008 when it had only 400 employees and was smaller than MySpace, her unique childhood experiences, and the sacrifices her parents made coming to America. She reveals insights about Meta's culture of fast learning, succession plan...

Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, hosts of the mega-hit podcast Acquired, join Glue Guys to share their incredible journey from side hobby to multi-million dollar business. They reveal how they've doubled their audience every year for 10 years through organic growth and discuss their intense research process. The duo opens up about David's leap from venture capital to full-time podcasting, their "g...

Alex Smith, Shane Battier, and Ravi Gupta dive deep into Scottie Scheffler's controversial "What's the point?" press conference before the British Open. The world's #1 golfer questioned his purpose despite dominating the sport, sparking debates about competition, family priorities, and what drives elite performers. The guys explore how Scheffler's vulnerability contrasts with the Michael Jordan me...

Shane Battier and Ravi Gupta dive deep into the art of risk-taking. They explore when to "swing big" versus playing it safe, drawing from Shane's NBA career and Ravi's venture capital experience. The duo discusses earning the right to take risks, avoiding financial and opportunity ruin, and why standing pat can sometimes be the riskiest move of all. From basketball strategy to startup decisions, t...

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr joins the Glue Guys for a conversation about leadership, mindset, and championship culture. With nine championship rings (five as a player, four as a coach), Kerr shares intimate stories about playing with Michael Jordan and coaching Steph Curry, the mental strategies that helped him overcome anxiety, and his philosophy of bringing joy to high-pressure s...