Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

By Paul RabilSportsBusiness
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Suiting Up with Paul Rabil episodes

  • Scott Galloway: Entrepreneur, Marketing Professor at NYU Stern, Author and YouTuber

    "You have to work your ass off. I don't know anyone very successful who doesn't have some talent -- but that's not the differentiating feature -- it's grit and working your ass off." 

    I'm often asked who I look up to in sports and business. For the latter, Scott Galloway nears the top of the list. I feel fortunate to have booked him as a guest on our show -- actually, I'm feeling somewhat bewildered, but thankful nonetheless he agreed to a sit-down. 
    Galloway's a 9-time entrepreneur, he's raised close to one $1 billion in venture capital, private equity, and hedge fund capital, he's the head of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business, a New York Times best-selling author for his new book called, "The Four: The Hidden DNA of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google", he's a YouTuber, and former rower at UCLA. 
    By accident in 2010, Galloway founded digital intelligence firm L2 Inc., which was acquired in 2017 by Gartner. In 1997, he founded Red Envelope, one of the earliest e-commerce sites, and in 1992, Galloway built Prophet, a brand and marketing consultancy firm that employs over 400 professionals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He's been elected to the World Economic Forum's "Global Leaders of Tomorrow", where he was recognized as an individual whose accomplishments have had an impact on a global level.
    Galloway's served on the board of directors of The New York Times Companies, Eddie Bauer, Gateway Computer, Urban Outfitters, and others. 
    On October 3rd, he released his first book, "The Four", which studies the impacts and advancements of four behemoths in the business world: Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google. 
    On our show, Galloway and I discuss how each business appeals to a human organ, emphasizing the psychology and utilities of each -- like why we share our status and photos on Facebook, why people trust Google search more than any other person or figure on earth, how Amazon has capitalized on thin margins and scale, and how Apple became the newest (and baddest) luxury brand.
    It doesn't stop there, sports fans. Galloway and I discuss major sports broadcasting rights. He predicts Amazon, Apple and/or Facebook will purchase the rights to the world's largest sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, and March Madness. We also talk about the impact Amazon has on sporting goods, via upward trends in e-commerce and private labeling.
    Galloway is an avid proponent of public education. He's donated $4.4 million to UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, created the Galloway Fellows Fund where he designates scholarships to students from immigrant families, and has announced gifts to both UCLA and NYU.
    If you enjoy the show as much as I did, you'll listen to it at least two times through.

    1 hr 25 min
  • Zach Leonsis: Owner, Washington Capitals and Wizards

    Zach Leonsis is the Vice President and General Manager of Monumental Sports Network (MSN), a first-of-its-kind regional network for digital, mobile and over-the-top platforms. MSN is co-owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) and NBC Sports Group.

    MSE was founded and chaired by Zach’s father, Ted Leonsis. Ted’s a co-founder of AOL and one of the most decorated and sophisticated sports and tech operators and investors on the planet. The Leonsis’ own the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, Capital One Arena, two Arena Football League teams, and controlling interest in Team Liquid – one of the most successful Esports franchises in the world. Also, they're founding members in one of the more successful private equity and venture capital groups in the US, called Revolution Growth Fund.
    I traveled down to DC to sit in Zach’s office and talk shop. We cover everything from team operations, to new media in sports, NBA free agency, defining Esports, and Ted's purchase of the Washington Capitals in 1999. There are some wonderful stories Zach shares with us, including his take on how you can secure a job in the sports industry. That bit is toward the end.
    Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entertainment and business.

    1 hr 45 min
  • Jay Williams: NBA, ESPN Analyst and Entrepreneur

    "It was the worst decision I made, but the best thing that's ever happened to me." Jason Williams is a former basketball player for the Duke University Blue Devils and Chicago Bulls. After tragically crashing his motorcycle, effectively ending his playing career, Williams transformed his life and is positioned to positively impact sports, business, and social issues more than ever. 

    While at Duke, Williams was a two-time college basketball Player of the Year, National Champion, and three-year graduate. Moreover, on senior day of his graduating junior year, Duke University retired his jersey.
    After being drafted to the Chicago Bulls with the second overall pick, things went downhill. Williams was in a devastating motorcycle accident, which led to him spending the next year on a hospital bed. Shortly thereafter, he began his battle with depression, which was compounded by the loss of his grandmother, dog, and a health scare from his mother - Jay's caretaker at the time. Cumulatively, this kicked Williams into an upswing, taking care of those who looked after him, getting his life back on track, and striving for greatness. 
    I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to Suiting Up Podcast. On this show I delve into the stories of some of today’s leading athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, interviewing them and unpacking the psychology of their success. 

    1 hr 27 min
  • Gary Vaynerchuk: Entrepreneur and Investor

    "The reason most entrepreneurs can't beat me is they want to compete with me in math and I beat them in coloring." Gary Vaynerchuk's a serial entrepreneur and investor. He committed to early rounds, investing in Twitter, Uber, Venmo, Tumblr, and more. Gary's the CEO and co-founder of VaynerMedia and Vaynersports; both are agencies that service Fortune 500 companies and world-class athletes around the globe.

    Gary's rise to prominence began in the late 90’s after building the Wine Library, helping his father grow the family business from $4M to $60MM in sales. Today, he’s one of the most sought after public speakers, an active venture capitalist, and four-time New York Times bestselling author.
    On this episode we dive into the state of competition in sports, how Gary manages his employees, his latest move to sports agency representation, how he trades on people with energy, what he looks for in entrepreneurs, and his hatred for Michael Jordan. Additionally, Gary gives us two major 2018 predictions for media and sports. And I almost forgot, Gary wants to own the New York Jets.
    Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entertainment and business. Navigating each conversation, I do my best to unpack how world-class performers think, compete, improve, operate, invest, train, eat and sleep.

    1 hr 2 min
  • Coco Zurita: X-Games Medalist and Philanthropist

    “Winning requires your spirit, mind, body and attitude.” Chile's Francisco "Coco" Zurita is a world-class action sports athlete. Recalling a scene from the 2017 X-Games, Coco is remembered on the vert ramp for a number of reasons: his bike is set up like a modern street rider's machine -- no brakes -- and he blasts some of the highest airs of the entire field while riding the halfpipe like a flowing set of trails. His bike control results in airs that are so stylish, he doesn't need to do tricks to capture attention. Coco told me he wins when he's having fun, saying “often the guys that smile are the ones who win.”

    Zurita's one of the most talented riders on tour, maintaining this high performance for over a decade. He's 32 and focuses on his training and nutrition, where his focus lies on plyometric workouts and periodical juicing diets. Through different improvement vehicles, Coco's won the BMX world championship, became the first rider in the world to land a triple tail-ship, has competed in more than 11 X-Games, and won Rider of the Year at the Dew Tour Series. 
    What I love about Coco is his introspection. His personal and professional growth are dedicated to embracing the uncomfortable. He calls it change – telling me that most people hate change, yet the only thing constant in life is change.
    Finally, if you’re like me and have always dreamed of adopting and speaking another language, Zurita will tell you how. His native speaking language is Spanish, but he became fluent in English in a short 9-month window. 
    Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entertainment and business. Navigating each conversation, I strive to unpack how world-class performers think, compete, improve, operate, train, eat and sleep. 

    50 min
  • Joe DeFranco: High Performance Specialist and Entrepreneur

    "The best athletes in the world train for a higher purpose, not for the money." Joe DeFranco is the founder and owner of the world-famous DeFranco’s Gym. For the past two decades, athletes from around the world have hired Joe because of his remarkable ability to improve strength, speed, power, mobility, agility and sport-specific endurance. Joe’s training techniques have been featured in and on ESPN, Spike TV, NFL Network, WWE Network, Men’s Health Magazine, Men’s Fitness Magazine and in the NY Times best-selling book, The 4-Hour Body. His resume includes NFL players from all 32 teams, MLB & NBA players, UFC fighters, Olympic athletes, MLL players, WWE superstars, and college All-Americans. 

    In 2015, Joe was inducted into the Personal Trainer Hall of Fame (an international organization) in the Trend Setter division. He is recognized as an individual who has had a significant contribution to the personal training industry, specifically by creating trends which have dramatically influenced the world of fitness.
    Joe co-created the Certified Physical Preparation Specialist (CPPS) course, DeFrancoInsider.com membership site, as well as a series of best-selling DVD’s and manuals. He also hosts the Industrial Strength Show – a top-ranked weekly podcast dedicated to training for peak performance, mindset and living your passion. 
    I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to Suiting Up Podcast, where I interview athletes, media executives, team owners, and other key stakeholders about the performance attributes acquired through the vehicle of sports.Today’s athlete, whether active or retired, is continuously redefining what it means to be a professional on and off the field. You can find more info on DeFranco's podcast, links to his social media and businesses, by visiting http://suitinguppodcast.com.

    2 hr 2 min
  • Mike Rabil: Dartmouth Football Captain and Entrepreneur

    "People build businesses, not excel spreadsheets." It's my favorite quote coming from this week's multi-talented guest: my older brother, Mike Rabil. There are many layers to how this saying can be interpreted, especially in sports. An easy translation could be "people win championships, not statistics." However, I think unpacking which type of person who wins championships should be our core focus. Mike believes the emotional intelligence of an individual has become the core ingredient to business and sports success. 

    Mike's senior to me by 23 months. We did everything together growing up, are best friends, and business partners today. We started our professional relationship by opening a franchise gym together in 2008. That gym, called Snap Fitness, turned into a portfolio of 7, followed by the development of our own concept, a hybrid spin, TRX and group training business called TurnStyle Cycle. Along the way, we won and lost, learned valuable lessons, made relationships with new operators and business partners, built new properties, and began our own venture investment portfolio company, Rabil Ventures.
    This is by far and away my most personal and intimate interview yet. The former Dartmouth football lineman, all-Ivy League captain, now multiple-time entrepreneur, investor, and most importantly, operator, has a lot of wisdom to embark on us.
    I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to Suiting Up Podcast, where I interview athletes, media executives, team owners, and other key stakeholders about the duality of the modern professional athlete. From player startup investing appetite, NewCos, social media influencing, creative marketing and digital strategy, today’s athlete, whether active or retired, is continuously redefining what it means to be a professional on and off the field.

    1 hr 27 min
  • Nikki and Brie Bella: WWE Wrestlers and Reality TV Stars

    Nikki and Brie Bella are the next Kardashians. They're professional wrestlers in the WWE, massive social media influencers, women’s inclusion and health activists, and co-founders of Birdee Bee, a women's health clothing line. From a stat-staggering standpoint, the Bella's represent the largest aggregate social media following of any female athlete or sister duo in professional sports. Throughout the show, I look to unpack how they’ve built their audience, what platforms they’re investing in, how they curate differently on each, and how Total Divas and Total Bella's on E! Network has impacted their career.

    When their first WWE tryout didn’t meet their expectations (they weren't given the chance to wrestle), as former college soccer standouts, they plead to executives to give them a chance in the ring. They earned that contract and since their entrance into the WWE, the women’s division has blossomed, with main events at PPV’s, and its own Women's Championship Division.
    The Bella Twins are gearing up for Season 6 of Total Divas and Season 2 of their second reality TV show on E!, Total Bella's – which premiers on September 6th. We’ll have all their links, social media handles, and show notes on www.suitinguppodcast.com.
    I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to Suiting Up, where I interview athletes, media executives, team owners, and other key stakeholders about the duality of the modern professional athlete, their startup investing appetite, other strategic investments, NewCos, social media influencing, creative marketing and digital strategy. Today’s athlete, whether active or retired, is continuously redefining what it means to be a professional on and off the field, or in this case, the ring.

    54 min
  • Travis Pastrana: Motosports Champion and NitroCircus Co-Founder

    He's a motorsports competitor and stunt performer, winning championships and X Games gold medals in major events like supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, and rally racing. Never a challenge too daring, Travis Pastrana also competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing and the Global RallyCross Championship for Subaru Rally Team USA, where he strung together a number of Top 10 finishes.

    Pastrana's a household name in sports. He's amassed over 10 million followers across his social media platforms. Yet even more impressive than the wins and social influence, Pastrana co-founded Nitro Circus, which in 2013 merged with the Raine Group, and is considered a billion dollar sports franchise, according to Forbes.
    Talk about the modern athlete. Pastrana is the best in the world, creates premium content, launched an event circuit, hired employees, raised money, and is now taking his sport to all new heights.
    In this episode, we’ll talk about “the flow state” of action sports athletes, how they put their lives on the line, and how Travis is a man of "commitment to the task". Pastrana lets us into his world of fitness and nutrition, injury recovery (there has been a lot), and how to start a sports league. 

    1 hr 24 min
  • Isaiah Kacyvenski: NFL LB and HBS Graduate

    When he was 9, he set a goal for himself to play in the NFL. He hung up a sign in his room that read, “let no one outwork you today." After 9 successful seasons in the NFL, Isaiah Kacyvenski entered into his second career, entrepreneurship.

    Isaiah earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and is now the Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Sports Innovation Lab. Previously, he was one of the first employees to join early stage startup, Mc10 Inc., a cutting-edge conformal electronics company, as their Global Head of Business Development. He’s an investor in, and advisor to, several companies in technology, sports, biotech, consumer, media and sports medicine.
    "Working hard, and aligning that work ethic with your passion is an unbelievable thing." Isaiah grew up in poverty. He struggled to find his identity, especially with a volatile parental upbringing. During some of his teen years, he was homeless. An incredible success story, Isaiah’s both a fascinating and inspiring individual.
    Welcome to Suiting Up Podcast, where I interview athletes, media executives, team owners, and other key stakeholders about the duality of the modern professional athlete, their startup investing appetite, other strategic investments, NewCos, social media influencing, creative marketing and digital strategy. Today’s athlete, whether active or retired, is continuously redefining what it means to be a professional on and off the field.

    57 min

About Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

From the publisher's feed

As a pro athlete and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, Paul splits his time between the field and office. Maybe the real life Jackie Moon? Esquire referred to him as "the man some might call the greatest lacrosse player of all time" and Bloomberg calls the PLL "a new way of thinking about sports."