Search a title or topic

Over 20 million podcasts, powered by 

Player FM logo

Ben Gilbert And David Rosenthal Podcasts

show episodes
 
Artwork

51
ACQ2 by Acquired

Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

icon
Unsubscribe
icon
icon
Unsubscribe
icon
Monthly
 
ACQ2 is Ben and David's conversations with expert founders and investors. Acquired the stories of great companies — and ACQ2 dives deeper into the lessons we can learn from them, often with the protagonists themselves.
  continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Acquired

Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

icon
Unsubscribe
icon
icon
Unsubscribe
icon
Monthly
 
Every company has a story. Learn the playbooks that built the world’s greatest companies — and how you can apply them.
  continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Glue Guys

Glue Guys

icon
Unsubscribe
icon
icon
Unsubscribe
icon
Weekly
 
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 succe ...
  continue reading
 
Loading …
show series
 
Greg Olsen joins the Glue Guys to dive deep into what it really means to compete — as a player, a coach, and a parent.Greg shares lessons from his father’s old-school New Jersey football program, coaching middle schoolers with Luke Kuechly and Jonathan Stewart, and the challenge of raising kids in today’s hyper-competitive, social-media-driven spor…
  continue reading
 
Trader Joe's breaks every rule of modern retail. They don't do e-commerce. They don't do delivery. No sales, coupons, or loyalty programs. They only stock 4,000 SKUs versus 50,000+ at normal supermarkets. Their parking lots are famously terrible and they're constantly out of your favorite items. Shoppers brave long lines and cramped aisles while ov…
  continue reading
 
Ravi Gupta and Shane Battier sit down with tech visionary Bret Taylor, co-founder of Sierra AI and former CTO of Facebook, co-CEO of Salesforce, and chairman of OpenAI. Taylor shares his philosophy on career evolution, explaining why he refuses to let an "ossified version of his past self limit his future self." The conversation covers his journey …
  continue reading
 
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 …
  continue reading
 
Google faces the greatest innovator's dilemma in history. They invented the Transformer — the breakthrough technology powering every modern AI system from ChatGPT to Claude (and, of course, Gemini). They employed nearly all the top AI talent: Ilya Sutskever, Geoff Hinton, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei — more or less everyone who leads modern AI work…
  continue reading
 
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 Peri…
  continue reading
 
It’s finally here! Today we are releasing Acquired’s first “concert film” — the full video recording of our Radio City live show from this summer with Jamie Dimon, Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien, Barry Diller, and cameos from around the Acquired Cinematic Universe including Christina Cacioppo, Ben Clymer, and Howard Sc…
  continue reading
 
Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith joins Ravi Gupta for an in-depth conversation about the massive differences between high school, college, and NFL football - and how those transitions mirror the challenges of building a business. Alex reveals how he went from running just 15 plays at Utah to learning 200+ plays as an NFL rookie, the brutal reality…
  continue reading
 
Tobi is one of the most thoughtful people in the technology industry. He's also one of the very few people who started as a programmer -- just trying to solve his own problem -- and still runs his company as CEO today even as it approaches a $200B market cap. Tobi has done this in two big ways: first, a willingness throw away his past beliefs in th…
  continue reading
 
Teams that gel. It’s every leader’s ambition. And legendary college football coach ⁠Urban Meyer⁠’s specialty. His approach earned him 17 championship titles, 3 perfect seasons, 5x coach of the year, and one of the most winning records in history (187-32). What does it take to go from a collection of players to a winning institution? Alex and Coach …
  continue reading
 
Meta CFO Susan Li joins Glue Guys to share her incredible journey from an immigrant to becoming one of the youngest Fortune 100 CFOs. Susan discusses joining Facebook in 2008 when it had only 400 employees and was smaller than MySpace, her unique childhood experiences, and the sacrifices her parents made coming to America. She reveals insights abou…
  continue reading
 
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, hosts of the mega-hit podcast Acquired, join Glue Guys to share their incredible journey from side hobby to multi-million dollar business. They reveal how they've doubled their audience every year for 10 years through organic growth and discuss their intense research process. The duo opens up about David's leap from…
  continue reading
 
In its first six years from 1998 to 2004, Google built one of the greatest products of all time (and certainly the greatest business of all time) with Search. Then in its next six years from 2005 to 2011, Google built seven (!) more billion+ user products: Gmail, Maps, Drive and Docs, YouTube, Chrome, Android, and Photos — all either started from s…
  continue reading
 
Alex Smith, Shane Battier, and Ravi Gupta dive deep into Scottie Scheffler's controversial "What's the point?" press conference before the British Open. The world's #1 golfer questioned his purpose despite dominating the sport, sparking debates about competition, family priorities, and what drives elite performers. The guys explore how Scheffler's …
  continue reading
 
Is AI just better software? Or something completely different that requires a new paradigm to understand? Today we sit down with Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor, two of the best product builders in the world to tackle that question. Bret and Clay are the co-founders of the AI company Sierra. Brett's resume reads like a greatest hits of Silicon Valley: c…
  continue reading
 
Shane Battier and Ravi Gupta dive deep into the art of risk-taking. They explore when to "swing big" versus playing it safe, drawing from Shane's NBA career and Ravi's venture capital experience. The duo discusses earning the right to take risks, avoiding financial and opportunity ruin, and why standing pat can sometimes be the riskiest move of all…
  continue reading
 
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr joins the Glue Guys for a conversation about leadership, mindset, and championship culture. With nine championship rings (five as a player, four as a coach), Kerr shares intimate stories about playing with Michael Jordan and coaching Steph Curry, the mental strategies that helped him overcome anxiety, and…
  continue reading
 
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 su…
  continue reading
 
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 incr…
  continue reading
 
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…
  continue reading
 
We sit down with Jamie Dimon for a live conversation at Radio City Music Hall, covering the incredible journey from his 1998 firing at Citgroup (where he was widely expected to become CEO) to building the most powerful bank in the world. Today JPMorgan Chase is a juggernaut — the most systemically important non-governmental financial institution in…
  continue reading
 
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 build…
  continue reading
 
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…
  continue reading
 
We tell the story of the single greatest business ever created: Google search. From its origins as a Stanford research project called BackRub, Google became the front door to the internet. Today it’s an essential service for over half the world, and one that generates more profit than ANY other US company — more than Apple, Microsoft, or Berkshire …
  continue reading
 
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 pr…
  continue reading
 
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 Spec…
  continue reading
 
The Savannah Bananas have created a whole new sport. It’s baseball, but it’s not. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and incredibly entertaining. For example, if you're batting, and you step out of the batter’s box... it’s a strike. If you bunt, you’re out. If a fan catches a foul ball… you’re also out. Games are capped at two hours with no exceptions. It’…
  continue reading
 
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 e…
  continue reading
 
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 champion…
  continue reading
 
We sit down with Steve Ballmer, the legendary former Microsoft CEO and owner of the LA Clippers, for an epic conversation covering his 34 years at Microsoft. Steve listened to our Microsoft episodes and had some thoughts to share — and boy, did he deliver. Steve takes us point-by-point through the original IBM DOS deal that started everything, how …
  continue reading
 
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…
  continue reading
 
We sit down with Zach Perret, CEO of Plaid, to discuss the remarkable journey of Plaid and the broader fintech landscape over the past several years. Zach takes us blow-by-blow through journey of almost getting acquired by Visa, the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic… which quickly reversed with ZIRP tailwinds, and how Plaid navigated th…
  continue reading
 
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 ou…
  continue reading
 
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 conversati…
  continue reading
 
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 gettin…
  continue reading
 
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 sala…
  continue reading
 
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, …
  continue reading
 
What if we told you that the most important company in US healthcare was run from a farm in rural Wisconsin? And that farm contained the world’s largest subterranean auditorium, as well as Disneyland—style replicas of Hogwarts and the Emerald City? What if we told you that the person who started, runs and owns this establishment has legally ensured…
  continue reading
 
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 lif…
  continue reading
 
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 P…
  continue reading
 
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…
  continue reading
 
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 r…
  continue reading
 
Loading …
Copyright 2025 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | | Copyright
Listen to this show while you explore
Play