Glue Guys

Latest Episodes:

Mandell Crawley - From Chicago's West Side to Morgan Stanley's C-Suite - [Glue Guys, EP.48] Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

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 how trust enabled his non-linear career path. A powerful conversation about authenticity, gratitude despite adversity, and the importance of staying true to yourself while climbing the corporate ladder.

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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.

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Fidji Simo: Meta, Instacart, & OpenAI journey [Glue Guys Classic] Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

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.

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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.

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Chris Webber - Building a Legacy - [Glue Guys, EP. 47] Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

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.

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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.

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Dawn Staley - The Championship Mindset - [Glue Guys, EP.46] Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

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.

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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.

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The "Learn Fast" Philosophy Used by Elite Teams - [Glue Guys, EP.45] Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

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.

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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.

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Seth Wickersham - Inside the Elite Quarterback Mind - [Glue Guys, EP.44] Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

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, and why the position attracts such intense scrutiny. Alex Smith shares personal insights about his own career struggles, while the group discusses Sean Payton's algorithm for evaluating QB prospects and the evolution from field generals to spread offense products who've never called a play in a huddle

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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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.

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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.

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys

(00:02:17) The Duality of Quarterback Parenting

(00:03:16) Caleb Williams and the Draft Process

(00:04:45) The Role of the Quarterback Dad

(00:10:17) Tom Brady's Competitive Spirit

(00:15:39) The Journey of a Quarterback

(00:31:24) Navigating Doubt and Religion in Sports

(00:32:07) The Loneliness of Retirement

(00:33:06) Empathy for Retired Legends

(00:35:05) The Unique Pressure on Quarterbacks

(00:36:34) The Evolution of the Quarterback Role

(00:37:37) The Intensity of Professional Sports

(00:39:18) The Obsession with Young Talent

(00:40:50) The Manning Family's Approach to Football

(00:47:44) The Changing Nature of Quarterbacking

(00:49:15) The Complexity of Evaluating Quarterbacks

(00:52:04) The Importance of Simplicity in Greatness

(00:54:40) The Role of Failure in Success

(00:58:31) The Value of Support Systems

David Anderson - From NFL Slot Receiver to Sports Data Revolutionary - [Glue Guys, EP.43] Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

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 founder of Breakaway Data, Anderson advocates for athlete data ownership rights, explaining why players should control their own performance metrics. The conversation covers the intersection of sports and technology, the importance of team chemistry, and what it means to be a "glue guy" in professional sports and business.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Glue Guys is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Glue Guys, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://joincolossus.com/series/glue-guys/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys

(00:01:58) The Life of an NFL Slot Receiver

(00:02:38) High School and College Football Journey

(00:04:16) Transition to Professional Football

(00:05:38) The Reality of NFL Life

(00:17:05) Friendship and Pool Parties

(00:19:15) From NFL to Data Analytics

(00:24:07) Revolutionizing Sports with Data

(00:3629) The Value of Data in Sports

(00:37:09) Ownership of Player Data

(00:39:40) Impact of Data on Athletic Performance

(00:45:54) Data Collection and Legal Challenges

(00:56:01) Mental Health and Data Privacy

(00:59:02) Lessons from Sports to Business

(01:07:00) The Role of Glue Guys

Eli Manning - Pressure, Leadership & Showing Up - [Glue Guys, EP.41] Jun 14, 2025

Show notes

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 how he's thriving in retirement. The discussion covers youth sports pressures, sibling dynamics with Peyton and Cooper, working with a sports psychologist (which had to be kept secret!), and his transition to media. Plus, hilarious family stories and insights into what made him one of the NFL's most dependable quarterbacks.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠ here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

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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.

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Glue Guys is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Glue Guys, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://joincolossus.com/series/glue-guys/⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys
(00:01:28) Introducing Eli Manning: A Football Legend
(00:02:46) Why Pressure Is a Privilege
(00:08:17) The Joy Factor: Why Fun Drives Longevity
(00:12:38) Archie Manning's Retirement Decision
(00:17:40) Early Specialization vs. Playing Multiple Sports
(00:21:49) Facing the New York Media Storm
(00:28:17) Finding Your Own Game
(00:30:05) Mentorship and Working with Sports Psychologists
(00:32:21) The Loneliness of the Starting Quarterback
(00:37:19) Super Bowl Success and a Championship Mindset
(00:39:43) Leadership Style and Locker Room Dynamics
(00:42:35) The End of 210 Consecutive Starts
(00:46:32) Family Bonds and Post-Career Life
(00:52:31) The Art of Storytelling and Roasting
(00:54:46) Legacy Through Dependability

The Mercenary Dilemma - [Glue Guys, EP.42] Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

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 impacts team dynamics. The conversation extends to how business leaders handle similar challenges with talent management, when to prioritize talent over team cohesion, and the delicate balance between loyalty to mission versus loyalty to individuals.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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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.

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Glue Guys is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Glue Guys, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://joincolossus.com/series/glue-guys/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys

(00:02:34) The Mercenary Debate

(00:03:01) Chasing Championships vs. Chasing Money

(00:13:38) The Homegrown vs. Mercenary Teams

(00:26:17) Loyalty in Business and Sports

(00:39:18) Team Dynamics and Individual Roles

(00:42:34) The Downside of Transactional Hires

(00:44:27) The Importance of Timing in Hiring Decisions

(00:47:28) The Role of Talent and Scarcity in Hiring

(00:55:23) The Concept of Crucible Moments

(01:01:44) The Challenge of Managing High-Talent Individuals

(01:09:58) The Reality of CEO Compensation

Pablo Torre - Finding Your Voice in Sports Media - [Glue Guys, EP.40] May 29, 2025

Show notes

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 value of curiosity as a driving force. Pablo also reveals insights from his podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out" and reflects on mentorship in an ever-changing industry.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠⁠ here.⁠⁠⁠

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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.

—-

Glue Guys is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Glue Guys, visit⁠⁠⁠ https://joincolossus.com/series/glue-guys/⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Glue Guys

(00:06:58) Curiosity as a North Star

(00:10:43) Finding Your Voice

(00:17:51) Embracing Authenticity

(00:22:07) The Journey to Self-Acceptance

(00:32:13) The Future of Sports Media

(00:35:23) Exploring Niche Markets and Algorithms

(00:44:55) Mentorship and Career Reflections

(00:45:04) The Evolution of Sports Journalism