Glue Guys

Mandell Crawley, Chief Client Officer at Morgan Stanley, shares his extraordinary journey from growing up on Chicago's west side to the C-suite of Morgan Stanley. After losing his mother at age 2 and father at 17, Mandell was raised by his grandparents who instilled values of faith, education, and resilience. Mandell discusses vulnerability as a superpower, the balance of purpose and profit, and h...

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. She shares how she ‘finds the magic’ in people while delivering incredible outcomes. Beyond business, Fidji opens up a...

In this episode of Glue Guys, NBA Hall-of-Famer Chris Webber talks about building a legacy that outlasts stats or fame. Webber opens up about the moment he realized it was bigger than basketball—and why culture, teamwork, and humility define true success. The guys talk about the feeling of getting drafted #1 overall, passing on the mantle to younger players (like Patrick Mahomes), the tangible val...

Dawn Staley joins the Glue Guys to discuss her incredible journey from North Philadelphia to becoming one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time national champion opens up about her new book, sharing insights on leadership, dealing with modern parenting challenges, and building championship teams. Coach Staley reveals how h...

The Glue Guys dive deep into Mark Zuckerberg's philosophy of "learning faster than anyone else" and how it applies beyond tech. They explore the differences between innovation in football vs. basketball, discussing how roster flexibility affects a team's ability to adapt quickly. Alex shares powerful insights from his injury recovery, revealing how setting audacious long-term goals while focusing...

ESPN's Seth Wickersham joins Glue Guys to discuss his new book "American Kings" - a deep dive into the unique world of NFL quarterbacks. From Tom Brady's self-affirmations to the Manning family's approach with Arch, Wickersham explores what makes quarterbacks different from every other position. The conversation covers quarterback parenting, the pressure of the draft process, retirement challenges...

Former NFL slot receiver David Anderson joins Alex Smith, Shane Battier, and Ravi Gupta to discuss his journey from Colorado State to six NFL seasons, and his transition into sports data analytics. Anderson shares insights on the mental toughness required to play slot receiver, the physicality of professional football, and his work with Second Spectrum revolutionizing basketball analytics. Now fou...

Former Giants QB Eli Manning joins Alex, Shane, and Ravi for an incredible conversation about fatherhood, pressure, and leadership. Eli opens up about growing up as Archie Manning's son, dealing with New York media expectations, and his approach to parenting his own kids. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from his Super Bowl runs, the emotional end to his 210-game consecutive start streak, and h...

In this episode of Glue Guys, former NFL QB Alex Smith, former NBA player Shane Battier, and venture capitalist Ravi Gupta dive into the fascinating dynamics of loyalty versus transactionalism in sports and business. They explore what it means for an athlete to identify with a single city, debate the merits of "mercenary" players who chase championships or paychecks, and discuss how loyalty impact...

ESPN journalist Pablo Torre joins Shane Battier, Alex Smith, and Ravi Gupta for a thought-provoking conversation about sports media's evolution. Pablo shares his journey from aspiring lawyer to acclaimed sports journalist, discussing how he found his authentic voice in media. The group explores the changing landscape of sports journalism, balancing serious analysis with personal passion, and the v...

The Glue Guys dive into parenthood and what it means to be a good person while raising children. They discuss whether becoming a parent brings out the best or worst in people, how they handle their kids' aspirations, and what single trait they hope their children develop. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠ here.⁠⁠ ----- This episode is...

In this candid episode of Glue Guys, Alex, Shane, and Ravi discuss the art of giving and receiving tough feedback. The trio share their most memorable "chew-out" stories from their athletic careers, debate the balance between demanding excellence and offering support, and explore how to create "productive paranoia" in their children. The conversation extends to parenting challenges, maintaining hi...

Join The Glue Guys as they sit down with legendary NFL coach Jim Harbaugh in this heartfelt conversation about leadership, family, and football philosophy. Harbaugh shares personal stories from his coaching journey, including his time with Alex Smith at the 49ers, his "Who's got it better than us?" mantra from his father, and his approach to getting the most out of his players. He reveals the mean...

In this episode of Glue Guys, the guys debate whether professional athletes should receive equity in their teams. They explore which athletes truly increase franchise value, how equity might change player motivation, and whether ownership stakes could disrupt team dynamics. The conversation delves into sports economics, comparing the NBA's max salary constraints with European soccer's open market,...

Former NFL QB Alex Smith, NBA player Shane Battier, and venture capitalist Ravi Gupta have a fascinating conversation about the NFL Draft, risk-taking in sports and business, and talent evaluation. They discuss why teams overreach for quarterbacks despite their low hit rate, the importance of being bold when you have a premier leadership position, and how executives often overestimate the risk of...

In this episode of Glue Guys, Alex, Shane, and Ravi talk with renowned sportswriter Wright Thompson about the complexities of ambition and success. Wright shares insights from his profiles of elite athletes like Jason Tatum and Michael Jordan, exploring the personal costs of excellence, the struggle to balance professional obsession with family life, and how our personal narratives shape us. The c...

Jim “Bones” Mackay has seen it all. Three-time Masters champion caddie. The man inside the ropes with Phil Mickelson for 25+ years. And now one of golf’s most respected voices. In this episode of Glue Guys, Bones joins us for an incredible deep dive into what really happens at Augusta during Masters Week — from the insane pressure players feel to Phil’s wildest shots to Tiger’s mental toughness. F...

NFL coach Dan Quinn joins the Glue Guys to share wisdom from his coaching journey. He discusses learning authenticity from mentors Nick Saban and Pete Carroll, using his Atlanta firing as an opportunity for growth, and his approach to building Washington's culture through player ownership. Quinn reveals how he creates high standards by competing in everything, celebrates "glue guys" who hold teams...

In this episode of Glue Guys, Alex, Shane, and Ravi recap their annual "Commissioners Cup" golf tournament. They discuss why creating time for male friendship becomes increasingly important yet difficult as men age. The trio shares memorable moments from the tournament, including rookie hazing and competition stories. Alex reveals a hilarious NFL rookie prank that left him purple for weeks, while...

The hosts share their most memorable encounters with legends and titans in their respective fields. Shane recounts playing golf with Tiger Woods, Alex discusses his first NFL start against Peyton Manning, and Ravi reflects on his early days working with private equity legends Henry Kravis and George Roberts. The conversation explores themes of imposter syndrome, earning respect, and the importance...

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff joins the Glue Guys to share his remarkable journey from first overall pick to Detroit's beloved franchise QB. He shares the shocking moment he learned about his trade from the Rams with no warning, and how a single phone call from Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes changed his entire outlook. Jared offers candid insights into Dan Campbell's unique leadership style,...

Alex, Shane, and Ravi sit down with former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg for an insightful conversation about leadership, women in business, and corporate culture.  The NASDAQ in aggregate is worth $30 trillion and companies that Sheryl helped build make up over 10% of it. She shares personal stories from her career journey, including her early days at Google and the economic importance of women in...

Alex, Shane, and investor Ravi discuss leadership, success, and what makes winning teams tick. The hosts explore 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. The conversation touches on candid conversations about Hall of Fame inductions, creating winning environments, and the special bo...

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 discus...

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 champions...