Glue Guys

By Glue GuysSports Business

Glue Guys episodes

October 13 Why Coaching Is Harder Than It Looks - [Glue Guys, Ep. 78]
After years in professional sports, Alex Smith and Shane Battier thought they understood what it takes to be a great coach. But now, coaching their own kids has given them a whole new appreciation for the job.
In this episode of Glue Guys, Alex, Shane, and Ravi explore what great coaching can teach us about leadership, parenting, and building winning cultures. From Andy Reid's attention to detail and Coach K's obsessive preparation to Jeff Van Gundy's philosophy of trusting the plan, they discuss the hidden work behind great teams, why even the best performers need constant practice, and what leaders in business can learn from professional sports.
56 min
September 24 The Advice We Stole From Great Coaches - [Glue Guys, Ep. 77]
Alex Smith, Shane Battier, and Ravi Gupta share the sayings and pieces of advice they’ve carried with them from some of the most influential coaches, mentors, teammates, and family members in their lives.
They break down Jeff Van Gundy’s “don’t fail the plan” philosophy, why playing it safe can actually be the biggest risk, Jim Harbaugh’s advice for handling pressure, Hubie Brown’s brutally simple rule about getting paid to perform, and the mantra Alex leaned on while recovering from his devastating leg injury. They also trade lessons from Coach K, Andy Reid, Jason Williams, parents, and mentors—and discuss which sayings they’re now passing down to their own kids.
49 min
September 14 How Jon Scheyer Is Building Duke for a New Era - [Glue Guys, Ep. 76]
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer joins the Glue Guys to discuss leading one of college basketball’s most iconic programs through a new era.
Scheyer breaks down how Duke is adapting to NIL and the transfer portal, why no player is promised a starting spot, and how the program evaluates the 98% of the game when a player doesn’t have the ball. He also reflects on following Coach K, the pressure that comes with coaching at Duke, why he still thinks about the losses more than the wins, and why he chose to keep building at Duke amid interest from the NBA.
1 hr
August 21 How To Prepare Your Kids for the Future - [Glue Guys, Ep. 75]
The Glue Guys talk about raising kids in a world that looks completely different from the one that prepared them—from NIL and the transfer portal to careers, pressure, money, independence, and uncertainty. Shane reflects on watching his son enter his senior year, Ravi explains why there’s no longer a clear professional path to hand down, and the guys debate what lessons actually still hold up when the old playbook no longer applies.
1 hr 9 min
July 29 The Glue Guys Meet the Man Behind Siri - [Glue Guys, Ep. 74]
Adam Cheyer—the co-founder of Siri, a magician, entrepreneur, and former assistant coach for the Nigerian Olympic basketball team—joins the Glue Guys for one of our most wide-ranging conversations yet.
Adam explains why startups and basketball teams operate by the same principles, how he envisioned an AI assistant before the web existed, and why today’s AI is still missing its ability to get things done. We also discuss what Steve Jobs understood about magic and storytelling, the memories that ultimately give our lives meaning, and the teammates and mentors Adam feels indebted to for life. Plus, he performs two magic tricks live on the show.
1 hr 13 min
July 13 Has NIL Permanently Damaged College Sports? - [Glue Guys, Ep. 73]
Has NIL and the transfer portal destroyed what made college sports special—or are fans romanticizing a past that never truly existed?
The Glue Guys debate how money and player movement have changed college athletics, whether loyalty still matters, and why fans can still form deep connections with players who may spend only one season at a school.

1 hr 5 min
June 26 The Stress, Money & Pressure Behind NBA Draft Night - [Glue Guys, Ep. 72]
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 young players and their families. Plus, the guys discuss what it really takes to survive in the NBA after draft night ends.
58 min
June 12 Paul Goldstein on Beating Djokovic, Coaching Stanford & Building Competitors - [Glue Guys, Ep. 71]
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 conversation is a deep dive into what it really means to compete.
1 hr 28 min
May 29 What Champions Do When No One is Watching - [Glue Guys, Ep. 70]
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.
1 hr 1 min
May 19 The Real Reason Greatness Lasts - [Glue Guys, Ep. 69]
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.
1 hr

About Glue Guys

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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…