Alex Smith, Shane Battier, and Ravi Gupta 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.
RSS
Spotify
Apple
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
What is the language of winning? Alex takes us behind the scenes at the line of scrimmage. Shane uses Chris Voss's tactics to negotiate. Ravi asks one of his founders, "Are you going to live today?" This episode recognizes great communicators and their strategies for bending reality to their will.
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Ramp, the financial operation platform that simplifies everything about how businesses spend money and spend their time. You can manage spend approvals, control your expenses, automate your accounting, track your vendor relationships, book your travel and delight your entire workforce with intuitive business software. Ramp enables you to focus all of your attention on what's most important. Get started now and build a more efficient team and a more profitable business whether you have five employees or 25,000. Go to ramp.com/gg to sign up for free and receive a $250 welcome bonus.
-----
This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. Ahe Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/glueguys and use the code glueguys for $350 off.
-----
Glue Guys is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Glue Guys, visit https://joincolossus.com/series/glue-guys/.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @GlueGuys_Pod | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys
(00:05:13) Handling Feedback and Negotiation Tactics
(00:09:33) Communication in Football: A Deep Dive
(00:15:52) The Complexity of Modern Offense
(00:24:31) Chatter: The Secret to Team Success
(00:35:28) Coach K's Strategy and Communication
(00:38:08) Modern NBA: Read and React
(00:41:44) Building Trust and Team Culture
(00:46:31) The Power of Storytelling in Leadership
(00:50:05) Loyalty and Trust in Teams
(00:56:57) Encouraging Bold Decisions
(01:00:43) Nicknames and Team Bonding
Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to Glue Guys, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
What do unsung heroes have in common? Alex talks about morning ‘wrestling’ practices with Urban Meyer at Utah. Shane recalls Steve Kerr flipping racks of basketballs. Ravi unpacks how to convince great founders to join forces. This episode sets the tone for three friends whose lessons, learnings, and values blur the lines between athletes, executives, and parents alike.
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Ramp, the financial operation platform that simplifies everything about how businesses spend money and spend their time. You can manage spend approvals, control your expenses, automate your accounting, track your vendor relationships, book your travel and delight your entire workforce with intuitive business software. Ramp enables you to focus all of your attention on what's most important. Get started now and build a more efficient team and a more profitable business whether you have five employees or 25,000. Go to ramp.com/gg to sign up for free and receive a $250 welcome bonus.
-----
This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. Ahe Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/glueguys and use the code glueguys for $350 off.
-----
Glue Guys is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Glue Guys, visit https://joincolossus.com/series/glue-guys/.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @GlueGuys_Pod | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys
(00:05:47) Udonis Haslem's Locker Room Influence
(00:08:09) Negotiating Contracts and Value
(00:12:22) Agent vs. Self-Negotiation
(00:16:05) The Myth of Family in Sports
(00:18:51) Pat Riley's Leadership Style
(00:25:10) Urban Meyer's Coaching Tactics
(00:37:53) The Power of Authenticity
(00:41:34) The Role of Glue Guys
(00:43:20) Instilling Leadership Qualities
(01:04:19) The Importance of Adversity
(00:01:13:51) The Value of Vulnerability
At The Helm - [Glue Guys, EP.1]
Episode 1
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 • Duration 01:28:19
What makes a great coach? Shane talks about playing college basketball under Coach K. Alex highlights his time in Kansas City with Andy Reid. Ravi gives insight into his mentorship from legendary investor Doug Leone. We kick off with themes around humility, ego, authenticity, and the dance between seriousness and silliness in leadership.
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Ramp, the financial operation platform that simplifies everything about how businesses spend money and spend their time. You can manage spend approvals, control your expenses, automate your accounting, track your vendor relationships, book your travel and delight your entire workforce with intuitive business software. Ramp enables you to focus all of your attention on what's most important. Get started now and build a more efficient team and a more profitable business whether you have five employees or 25,000. Go to ramp.com/gg to sign up for free and receive a $250 welcome bonus.
-----
This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. Ahe Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/glueguys and use the code glueguys for $350 off.
-----
Glue Guys is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Glue Guys, visit https://joincolossus.com/series/glue-guys/.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @GlueGuys_Pod | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys
(00:06:22) Lessons from Hubie Brown
(00:08:11) Leadership and Accountability
(00:09:24) The Psychology of Coaching
(00:10:27) Corporate Leadership Insights
(00:13:55) The Role of Head Coaches
(00:18:58) The Personality of Teams
(00:25:37) The Hallmarks of Great Coaches
(00:31:04) The Power of Humility and Credit
(00:35:33) The Importance of Obsession
(00:37:43) Interviewing for Head Coaches
(00:44:43) Coach K's Obsession with People
(00:48:40) Belief and Individual Needs in Coaching
(00:51:48) Embracing Uniqueness and Individual Strengths
(00:58:14) The Importance of Following the Plan
(01:02:54) Coaching Philosophies
(01:07:47) The Role of Truth and Support in Leadership
(01:22:49) Memorable Coaching Moments and Motivational Speeches
Welcome to Glue Guys!
Monday, September 9, 2024 • Duration 06:23
What do a 3-time pro-bowler, 2-time NBA champion, and a Sequoia Capital Partner have in common? Alex Smith, Shane Battier, and Ravi Gupta are a uniquely decorated trio diving deep into what makes for great teams across sports and business in their new show, Glue Guys. Every Thursday, these three close friends will talk about business, teamwork, leadership, resilience, sports, and life through their unique perspectives. They reveal insights and stories about their collegiate and professional lives and dive into their passion projects and off-field interests alongside special guests.
The Importance of Weavers - [Glue Guys, EP.56]
Thursday, October 9, 2025 • Duration 01:09:07
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 cares about building strong teams and strong humans, this one’s for you.
Aging - [Glue Guys, EP.55]
Thursday, October 2, 2025 • Duration 01:11:52
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 the challenges of staying relevant in sports media, and Ravi breaks down why consistent 20% growth beats sporadic 80% spikes. The conversation covers everything from health anxiety to maintaining authenticity as you age, choosing whose opinions matter, and balancing professional opportunities with being present for family. A honest discussion about mortality, legacy, and the wisdom that comes with getting older.
#GlueGuys #AlexSmith #ShaneBattier #RaviGupta #ProfessionalGrowth #Aging #CompoundGrowth #SustainableUrgency #ImperialPeriod #CareerAdvice
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 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.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Ramp, the financial operation platform that simplifies everything about how businesses spend money and spend their time. You can manage spend approvals, control your expenses, automate your accounting, track your vendor relationships, book your travel and delight your entire workforce with intuitive business software. Ramp enables you to focus all of your attention on what's most important. Get started now and build a more efficient team and a more profitable business, whether you have five employees or 25,000. Go to ramp.com/gg to sign up for free and receive a $250 welcome bonus.
----
Chris Webber - Building a Legacy - [Glue Guys, EP. 47]
Thursday, July 17, 2025 • Duration 27:21
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 value of a glue guy in the locker room, and more.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Ramp, the financial operation platform that simplifies everything about how businesses spend money and spend their time. You can manage spend approvals, control your expenses, automate your accounting, track your vendor relationships, book your travel and delight your entire workforce with intuitive business software. Ramp enables you to focus all of your attention on what's most important. Get started now and build a more efficient team and a more profitable business, whether you have five employees or 25,000. Go to ramp.com/gg to sign up for free and receive a $250 welcome bonus.
—-
Dawn Staley - The Championship Mindset - [Glue Guys, EP.46]
Thursday, July 10, 2025 • Duration 58:22
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 her 2024 undefeated championship team taught her new lessons about coaching, discusses the evolution of player-parent relationships in the NIL era, and explains her "dream merchant" philosophy. She also touches on her NBA coaching interviews and the importance of communication in building successful programs. A candid conversation about resilience, adaptation, and what it takes to lead at the highest level.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Ramp, the financial operation platform that simplifies everything about how businesses spend money and spend their time. You can manage spend approvals, control your expenses, automate your accounting, track your vendor relationships, book your travel and delight your entire workforce with intuitive business software. Ramp enables you to focus all of your attention on what's most important. Get started now and build a more efficient team and a more profitable business, whether you have five employees or 25,000. Go to ramp.com/gg to sign up for free and receive a $250 welcome bonus.
—-
The "Learn Fast" Philosophy Used by Elite Teams - [Glue Guys, EP.45]
Thursday, July 3, 2025 • Duration 01:01:19
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 on daily inputs drove his comeback. The conversation touches on constraints that limit pivoting in business, the importance of humility in career transitions, and why saying your goals out loud creates accountability. From the Tampa Two defense to Andy Reid's whiteboard innovations, they examine what separates leaders who evolve from those who get left behind.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Ramp, the financial operation platform that simplifies everything about how businesses spend money and spend their time. You can manage spend approvals, control your expenses, automate your accounting, track your vendor relationships, book your travel and delight your entire workforce with intuitive business software. Ramp enables you to focus all of your attention on what's most important. Get started now and build a more efficient team and a more profitable business, whether you have five employees or 25,000. Go to ramp.com/gg to sign up for free and receive a $250 welcome bonus.
—-
