Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

Cory Booker

Mon, 17 May 2021 07:01:00 -0000

He was one of the nation's top-ranked high school football recruits who decided to take his talents to Stanford University where the trajectory of his life took turn when he was cut from the team his senior year. The President of his class was tipped off by one of his professors to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, where Senator Cory Booker tells us, "when God closes one door, he sometimes opens up the side of a building."

The Senator of New Jersey is one of only a few Mayors to be elected directly to the Senate in American history, and 1 of only 11 African Americans who have served in the US Senate.

Among dozens of bills Senator Booker is on the leadership team for, he's currently championing the College Athletes Bill of Rights, legislation that would bring significant changes to the distribution of money in college sports. The positive changes for the student-athlete would create a profit-sharing model for revenue-generating sports (after scholarship deduction), provide lifetime academic scholarships, government oversight of health and safety standards, and alleviate transfer restrictions, among other changes.

To get to college sports, Senator Booker and I discuss the state of youth sports, including ways to help more niche, equipment-based sports like lacrosse, secure better funding for growth across all geographies in the US.

Senator Booker talks about the importance of unity – from the gridiron to Congress. He's a true leader with a track record of working across the aisle, keeping close relationships with his colleagues in the Senate, like Whitaker, Moran and Scott.

He tells us, "if you want extraordinary results, you must put in extraordinary effort." I can't thank Senator Booker and each of my 15 guests enough for their extraordinary work and willingness to share such fantastic wisdom with us during this Season 3 of Suiting Up Podcast.

I'm grateful for each of you, the PLL Podcasts team, and our presenting sponsors, Public.com and Outsystems. It was an honor.

Enjoy the show.

Eric LeGrand

Mon, 10 May 2021 07:01:00 -0000

10 years ago, Eric LeGrand was a top Division 1 football player at Rutgers University when he made a tackle that caused him to suffer a severe spinal cord injury, leaving him unable to move and breathe. He was paralyzed from the neck down and told he would never be able to come off a ventilator, much less walk again.

A month later he was off the ventilator, able to breathe on his own, and began physical therapy.

Eric's story is one that's gripping, motivational and aspiring. Over the last decade he's recognized his influence through sport to engage and educate audiences around the world on the preciousness of life, the value in opportunity to play sports, and how we can improve in our relationships between able-bodied and disabled people.

Think about the storied sentiment that able-bodied people share when facing adversity...that "it could be worse" often referencing people in wheelchairs or human sense impairing. These comparisons unintentionally denigrate a community of disabled people who actually get along quite well in society -- and in many cases, excel. Eric as evidence alongside 61 million adults in the US living with a disability.

Eric does a wonderful job on the show coaching me on best practices, as well as sharing resources and ways that able-bodied individuals can work with and learn from disabled individuals.

As compassionate of a storyteller and educator Eric is, he too remains motivated to work towards that first doctor's said 0% outcome of being able to walk again. When receiving the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 20th Annual ESPYS, he closed his speech announcing that he in fact will walk again.

A ferocious reader and author, Eric's written two books on leadership and overcoming adversity, dubbing one "The Tackle That Changed My Life." He's also a philanthropist and entrepreneur, recently launching his latest business, a coffee house that serves a "Daily Cup of Believe." You can order your coffee beans here: https://legrandcoffeehouse.com/

I'm excited for you to listen to my conversation with Eric LeGrand on Suiting Up Podcast, presented by Public.com and Outsystems.

Arianna Huffington

Mon, 03 May 2021 07:01:00 -0000

Her name titles one of the largest media companies in the world. She's authored 15 books, ran as an Independent candidate for Governor of California, and today is the CEO of Thrive Global. One might think with the output of a major-market city that Arianna Huffington must work around the clock...

Her advice counters that theory. She tells us, "there is no tradeoff between high performance at work and taking care of ourselves."

The viral Ted Talker and Oprah's Super Soul Sunday extraordinaire has built her companies, raised her children and extended relationships far beyond her sphere of influence because she has prioritized herself -- from improved sleep and morning routines, to abstinence from mobile devices, to dozens of daily small habits, Arianna shares how to become more present and effective.

Her new book, Your Time to Thrive is a wonderful guide to redefining our lives. On the show, we breakdown these microstep concepts:

- Tapping into gratitude

- Putting your own oxygen mask on first

- Sleep and self-reflection strategies

- Addressing burnout

- Small habits that lead to big change

- Much more

Hope you enjoy!

John Tavares

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 07:01:00 -0000

The 13x Stanley Cup Champion Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the original six clubs in the NHL, carrying with them a legacy only matched by few teams around the world. Their captain was the #1 overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft and is considered one of the best players in the world, having shattered dozens of scoring records along the way. Though more than his ability to perform on the ice, John Tavares is a singular leader with an unconventional set of skills, extreme doggedness and emotional intelligence. Accepting the role of captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs comes with a lot of pressure – internally and externally. And he's up for every bit of that challenge.

On the show we talk about JT's love for hockey, imagination he brings to the ice in practice, the importance of having a great offseason, resilience of fighting through injury, lessons learned from greats like Wayne Gretzky, and why growing up playing lacrosse had a big impact on where he is today.

The Maple Leafs are currently atop the North Division with 12 points in-hand, eyeing the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs scheduled to begin on May 11th. Tavares has been here before. When everything's on the line. He's one of very few athletes who can keep the high intensity needed to perform at the highest level, while also balancing the locker room with perspective and wisdom.

Don Garber

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 07:01:00 -0000

Through its first 5 years of existence, Major League Soccer lost roughly $250M and the 6 original owners were on the brink of folding the league. Cue first time commissioner, Don Garber -- an executive without any soccer experience, with a vision to change the industry forever. That was in 1999. Today, franchises are selling for $325M each, MLS has major media partnerships with ESPN, Fox and Univision, and national sponsorships with Adidas, AT&T, AllState, Audi and Home Depot, to name a few.

It's been a long, rough and windy road, and on the show Commissioner Garber and I discuss how he got here. From changing material rules on the pitch, to creating designated player exemptions that led to the acquisition of global superstars like David Beckham and Zlatan, to coalescing North American soccer properties to form Soccer United Marketing, to investing in ground-up stadium builds...we cover it all.

This is one of those shows...if you're a young professional or major industry executive, listening to Don Garber will provide you with tips and insights on how to build or shape your career into one that's both effective and fulfilling.

Abby Wambach

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 07:01:00 -0000

She's won at the World Cup, Olympics, in the Pros, and at the NCAA level. Few athletes in any sport have ever matched this feat. This is Abby Wambach, one of the greatest goal scorers and clutch players of all-time.

Abby is far more than what she's accomplished on the pitch. She's a best-selling author, motivational speaker and activist. Her autobiography, Forward, released in 2016, became a New York Times bestseller. And her second book, Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power and Change the Game, based on her viral commencement speech at Barnard College, was also a New York Times bestseller in 2019.

On the show we talk about how she was able to transcend sports into a new career, how she confronted her struggles with addiction, how she rediscovered love and communication in relationships with her partner (and bestselling author) Glennon Doyle, and last but not least, the lessons from the biggest moments in her athletic career that thread through each of her steps in life today.

I can't think of a better advocate for sports, gender equality, a more empathetic, confident yet humble human being, and a true leader through thick and thin. I hope you enjoy my next episode with Abby Wambach.

Paul Levesque (Triple H)

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 07:01:00 -0000

Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time, Paul Levesque – known to most as Triple H – joins us on Suiting Up. What makes his story even more compelling than a 14-time world title reign over his 30 year in-ring career? He's also the WWE's Executive Vice President of Global Talent, Strategy and Development. What he's accomplishing as a sports executive is quickly becoming what he'll be more known for. He's taking the business to new heights, and when I ask him how he's been able to do both so well for so long, he delivers no shortage of anecdotes, and cites a ton of grit, grind, sacrifice, and family support.

His wardrobe looks like Clark Kent's – pristine business suits with his elbow and knee pads underneath, ready to go.

Here’s what we cover on the pod:

1. Paul’s unique path to become a pro wrestler…her had a ton of work ethic, but no access – so he began to body build…

2. We talk about his eye for talent – how Paul has led a developmental program called NXT that’s made pro wrestling a career choice for young athletes around the world

3. His evolving training regimen. He's 51 years old and still a beast. Though he's no longer training like a bodybuilder. Rather, he focuses on function and mobility, famously doing his midnight workouts with his wife and WWE owner, Stephanie McMahon. Also, lookout for a gross and eerily comedic story about Paul tearing his bicep so he could get relief in his shoulder...

4. Lastly, we discuss the media rights business at the WWE. Paul’s been on the front line of those negotiations, with the latest announcement that the WWE is tucking it's OTT platform, the "WWE Network", into peacock for a reportedly $205M – taking their total media rights package through the entirety of their term to $705M (including the RAW and Smackdown bundles)

Enjoy the show.

Alex Rodriguez

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 07:01:00 -0000

He's one of the greatest players in baseball history. His 22-year on-field career included multiple MVP's, a World Series trophy, countless home runs, RBI's and stolen bases...yet his retirement from baseball was only the beginning. A-Rod just completed a $500M SPAC, as SLAM Corp's CEO. We're used to hearing stories about great athletes struggling to find their footing in their post-careers. Not Alex. He's been a guest judge on Shark Tank, a regular MLB commentator and analyst, investor, business owner, major financier of the Boys & Girls Clubs in the US, and what he says is the most important, a family man.

This show's packed with reflections, tips and advice to both athletes and entrepreneurs. Alex is a seasoned communicator, clearly articulating the do's and don'ts while parlaying his recommendations with anecdotes from his career. Which mind you, didn't lack controversy, and for me, is part of what's most impressive about him. His experience in crisis management, both small and large, starts with acknowledging the problem, taking ownership in it, then overcorrecting. People and brands around the world take note.

“I tried to build a certain image while I was playing,” Alex says, “and that plan failed miserably.” Now he explains, “I have more clarity.”

He began his practices as a young buck at 4:30 in the morning. He continues to take that work ethic with him through each of his endeavors today.

Jemele Hill

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:01:00 -0000

After 5 college internships and 20 years of sports reporting in Raleigh, Detroit and Orlando, Jemele Hill decided to give up her dream job as a SportsCenter anchor to start her own network. Why? Her goal is to elevate the voices of Black women, and she's trailblazing a future she would've never thought possible from the beginning.

When she took her first job as a columnist in Orlando, she was the only Black female sports columnist in North America.

Today, Jemele's a contributing writer for the Atlantic, covering mostly American politics. She hosts a weekly show with Cari Champion on VICE TV, another show with Van Lathan at the Ringer, and her bi-weekly podcast called "Jemele Hill is Unbothered" – spanning sports, politics and culture.

With her millions of followers and wall-to-wall opportunities covering politics and pop culture, she's often asked by her colleagues why she continues to cover sports. She told me “Sports is the one thing in this country that brings us together.”

I met Jemele several years ago after she reported on a Native American team in South Dakota that faced racial slurs and were expelled from the league they played in. She uncovered those truths behind the incidents. After I reached out, she connected me with one of her interviewees, Angelo Ruiz from the 7 Flames lacrosse team, and I've been closely following her career ever since.

Among many topics, Jemele and I discuss her career, the rise and threat of uncredible news across social media, her biggest stories throughout the 2020 election, a learning moment with Kobe Bryant, and the best ways athletes and sports leagues can continue to advocate in the national spotlight and throughout their local communities.

Lindsey Vonn

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:01:00 -0000

In a sport where one mistake can lead to fatality, Lindsey Vonn didn't just win the Olympics, take home 82 World Cup wins, earn 2 ESPYS for Best Female Athlete, but she's done so with dozens of bone fractures, ligament tears and reconstructive surgeries on her knee. What makes Lindsey the greatest alpine ski racer of all time? Her willingness to repeatedly put it all on the line.

Talk about risk-reward, competitive spirit, discipline, responsibility, courage and grit. Throughout the show we discuss the tactics she's used to develop her mental toughness and physical resilience. How her training and rehabilitation evolved -- remember seeing those weighted physio ball training sessions that showed her concentration and superhuman balance? As dynamic of an athlete we've seen over the last decade, Lindsey was celebrated on major network television studios and giant publications everywhere, she grew a social media audience that surpassed her sport's viewership averages, and was an igniter for greater participation for women in sports around the world.

Her career has only just begun.

Steph Curry

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 08:01:00 -0000

He's the undisputed and greatest NBA shooter of all time. Steph Curry shares the fundamentals and creative art of becoming the best player, husband, father, investor and activist he can be. His 3 NBA rings, 2 MVP's, All-Pro's and All-Stars often come from a flow state. How does he get there? Family, faith, relentless work ethic, staying even-keeled, and coming back to his core values of trust, commitment and care.

His father Dell taught him to shoot by starting from the paint. Now Steph gets buckets from the logo. I throw him questions from the free throw line and halfcourt. He doesn't hold back.

Tom Rothman

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 08:01:00 -0000

He's the Chairman of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group with 30 years of history having run both independent and major film companies, as well as television studios. With billions of dollars to his name in box office hits, Tom's financed and produced the likes of Titanic, Avatar, Jumanji, Spider-man, Life of Pi, Castaway, There's Something About Mary, Lincoln, Henry V, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, and many, many more. On the show he references Leonardo DiCaprio as the Michael Jordan of acting and Meryl Streep as the most intellectual and emotionally intelligent person he's ever come across. That's saying a lot, given he's worked on community-based projects with the last 4 US Presidents and continues to correspond with subsidiaries of Sony Pictures across 40 countries.

He's done it all.

The theatrical business has changed over the last 5 decades. From the emergence of VHS to Blockbuster, on-demand to streaming platforms, Tom's navigated the 5 major media-conglomerates to continued success. There's never been a more exciting time and evolving environment in media than today...and we talk all about it on the show.

What makes this one of my favorite interviews? Perhaps to no surprise, Tom's an incredible storyteller. Having grown up in Baltimore playing lacrosse then continuing his amateur career at Brown University, Tom still keeps a lacrosse stick in his office today. For athletes, coaches and entrepreneurs alike, we bob and weave from sports metaphors to major business decisions, making this a conversation worth sharing.

Tony Hawk

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 08:01:00 -0000

Tony Hawk’s one of the most famous people in the world. You might know of him from hitting the 900 on a half pipe during the X-Games, maybe you’ve played his videogame that’s generated over $1.5 billion in global sales, or watched his multi-lingually produced episode of The Simpsons. You might’ve heard of the guy who skated inside the White House, or visited one of his 1,000 skateparks around the world. Perhaps you’ve purchased one of his Birdhouse skateboards, or used the same version in emoji format from your apple or android keyboard. Over his career, Tony has changed and elevated an entire industry.

When I first began playing pro lacrosse, I wanted to have an impact like Tony — both as an athlete and entrepreneur. On the show, he shares moments from his journey — the hard work, failures, emotional setbacks, and high flying successes.

Thanks to our presenting sponsors, Public.com and Outsystems for their support of the pod. You can start with $10 of free stock by registering today at Public.com/suitingup. And for more info on ways you can tie your business to Outsystems like the PLL did during our Championship Series, visit Outsystems.com.

Sue Bird

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 08:01:00 -0000

Sue Bird's one of the greatest basketball players of this generation. A 4x WNBA Champion and 4x Olympic Gold Medal winner, she continues to get buckets and drop dimes at the young age of 40. Sue Bird and Tom Brady. Elite at any age. How does she do it? She shares her secrets on the show.

And congrats to Sue on her latest WNBA contract, her recent engagement to Megan Rapinoe, and her ongoing work as VP of the WNBAPA, fighting to close the gap on gender inequality, social injustice, and creating a better career environment for women in sports.

Thanks to our Presented By partners, Public.com and Outsystems for their support of the pod. You can start with $10 of free stock by registering today at Public.com/suitingup. And for more info on ways you can tie your business to Outsystems like the PLL did during our Championship Series, visit Outsystems.com.

Mark Cuban

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 08:01:00 -0000

Mark Cuban is a billionaire entrepreneur, lauded shark from the tank, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. He's gone from selling trash bags door-to-door to private shoot arounds at American Airlines Arena. How did he turn bags to swishes? We talk about that –among advice to entrepreneurs and athletes alike. Get this, 30-40% of Shark Tank deals fall through during diligence. Mark tells us why. We go deep on a big tik tok prediction for the future of sports broadcast and media. And Luka Doncic just surpassed MJ for all-time triple doubles in the NBA...he's only 21. Mark tells us why.

Season 3 is Here

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 17:04:00 -0000

After 77 shows and an 18 month sabbatical, we're dropping our next 12. The guests are insane. Though I was a bit worried and nervous about this season's guest list and remote conditions...I can tell you that there's a reason why each of these athletes, entrepreneurs and thought leaders are world-class – they're humble, hard working, compassionate, and incredible storytellers.

Episode 1 through 12 should light your hair on fire...at least it felt that way for me. Each of these women and men shared anecdotes and ideas that have either inspired my next move or have almost immediately been applied to my practices and business.

Consider subscribing to the podcast – it goes a long way. And of course, leave a review to tell me what you think. I'm very open to feedback. All I want to do is deliver a show that you love.

S/o to Public.com – our Presented By partner. By creating a whole new way to invest, Public also makes the stock market social. You can follow investors and discover publicly traded companies to invest in with any amount of money. I post a column weekly there – follow me @paulrabil.

Martellus Bennett: Creative Director & Super Bowl Champion

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 17:38:00 -0000

Martellus Bennett, a Super Bowl Champion, told me that he never really viewed himself as a football player. Rather, Marty's the co-founder and creative director of The Imagination Agency -- a multi-media platform that's focused on telling African American children stories.

On the show, we discuss crossover skills from football to entrepreneurship -- highlighting hard work, curiosity, passion, and even selfishness. We also remember the highs and lows of his NFL career -- from his support of Colin Kaepernick that led to a terrible racial response in Green Bay, to the most memorable moment of his career: when the Patriots were down 28-3 at halftime of the Super Bowl and came back to win.

Hope you enjoy the show!

Scott Galloway: Professor, Entrepreneur, and the Algebra of Happiness

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 20:53:46 -0000

I’m Paul Rabil – your host, pro athlete and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, and this is Suiting Up Podcast.

On today’s episode, I sit down with one of the most thoughtful, engaging, intelligent, and emotionally aware people that I know.

Scott Galloway’s the head professor of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business. He’s also a 9-time entrepreneur, 2-time best-selling author, public speaker, and Suiting Up Podcast repeat guest.

On the show we dissect Scott's latest bestseller, the Algebra of Happiness. And if I were you, I’d consider taking out a notepad. We discuss important items like:

- Choosing your career – not necessarily following your passion

- Being agile – first to move- Aggregating economic success

- Tactics on building wealth

- Tracking personal relevance

- Cutting out the bad stuff

- Picking the right partner

- Defining true love

- Much more

Special thanks to our show's sponsor, Harry's. Get yourself my identical Harry's trial razor kit today, by visiting harrys.com/rabil.

Enjoy the show!

Kerri Walsh Jennings: 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Volleyball Player

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 07:01:00 -0000

Welcome to an all-new season of Suiting Up Podcast. I'm your host – professional athlete and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League – Paul Rabil.

So far this season, we’ve interviewed NFL legend Jim Brown, as well as a titan in the movie business, Peter Berg. And for episode 3, we continue the momentum with one of the greatest Olympian’s ever. She's competed in every Olympic Games since Athens in 2004, and has eyes again on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as a member of Team USA volleyball -– Kerri Walsh Jennings.

On the show we talk about her genealogy in sport, her training methodologies, sports psychology, diet and more.

Beyond the court and sand, however, Kerri's impacted the game in major ways – most recently launching a professional volleyball league of her own, Platform 1440.

Hope you’re enjoying this season of Suiting Up Podcast – enjoy Kerri Walsh Jennings.

Peter Berg: Director & Filmmaker

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 07:01:00 -0000

Welcome to an all-new season of Suiting Up Podcast. I'm your host – professional athlete and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League – Paul Rabil.

Today's episode features director, producer, and Hollywood filmmaker, Peter Berg. Known for his major feature films Lone Survivor, Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, Hancock, Patriots Day, and Mile 22, Peter's also produced major TV series and Super Bowl commercials.

Peter's biggest passion away from film is boxing -- so much that he hosted me at his boxing club, Churchill Boxing, in Santa Monica for the interview.

Range of topics include:Overcoming fearTactics in meditationAchieving 10% improvementDiscovering your flow stateBest practices in managementHiring strategiesNeuroscience benefits of helping othersPower of storytellingImpact of new tech on film and culture

With over 70 shows in our first 2 years of recording Suiting Up, we've interviewed guests like Jim Brown, Bill Belichick, Venus Williams, Drew Brees, Gary Vaynerchuk and Tony Robbins – and every time, we learn a new skill, pickup an idea, or hear an unexpected backstory about how that person wielded greatness from their career.

Jim Brown: Hall of Fame NFL RB

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 10:00:00 -0000

Welcome to an all-new season of Suiting Up Podcast. I'm your host – professional athlete and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League – Paul Rabil.

Today's episode features one of the greatest athletes of all-time. Yet beyond the record-smashing, multiple MVP awards, and Super Bowl Championship, Jim Brown has impacted our human race arguably more so through his endeavors off the field – marked by his 2014 Muhammed Ali Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement award.

On the show, Jim tells me about his upbringing in sports, the tactics behind his success – from his meticulous training regimen and game day prep, to his superior intelligence, including ways he would "win the mind game".

Additionally, we discuss the impact Jim has made on society – from his charitable initiatives, to job creation programs for inner-city men and women, to his current efforts working with the incarcerated through extensive rehabilitation programs and post-incarceration job opportunities.

Among everything he has accomplished and what's left in front of him, Jim's words of wisdom throughout the show our worth keeping a notepad and pen handy.

Enjoy the show.

With over 70 shows in our first 2 years of recording Suiting Up, we've interviewed guests like Bill Belichick, Venus Williams, Drew Brees, Gary Vaynerchuk and Tony Robbins – and every time, we learn a new skill, pickup an idea, or hear an unexpected backstory about how that person wielded greatness from their career.

Rebuild, Achieve, and Succeed in 2019

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 08:05:00 -0000

Happy New Year everyone! It’s 2019, the weather’s warm on the east coast, and there’s opportunity in the air. For the avid Suiting Up Podcast listeners, you may recall me teasing a final, year-end highlight show – publishing my favorite moments from the guests of 2018. Here it is. We decided to take this to another level by synchronizing themes. On today's episode, you'll hear from folks like Steve Nash, Christian Fuchs, and Kyle Harrison on work ethic; then Jay Dyer and Mike Levine on specific working habits; then Erika Nardini and Adam Grant on soft skill and personal development; as well as true wealth and career fulfillment from Tony Robbins. I found -- with the help of my Chief of Staff, Andrew Manning -- that these moments are not only incredibly retrospective, but can provide us with a jumpstart to the new year. Let's get to work. Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

The Future of Suiting Up Podcast

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:05:00 -0000

Happy Holidays, everyone. This is the final Suiting Up Podcast episode of 2018! On the show, we’re going to cover a number of subjects and set the stage for the future of Suiting Up Podcast. This entire series is going through a reorg, restructure, with new dates and special guests. Over the last several weeks, I've spent quality time with my content and creative peers, colleagues at Cadence 13, and most importantly, listening to many of you on what you’ve liked, prefer to hear, and ideal guests moving forward. Additionally, and core to the show, I share some of my favorite end-of-year tips around reflection, goal-setting, journaling, gifting, and being present. The holidays bring a lot of excitement and connection -- but also often stress and discomfort. So, stay tuned to the second half of the show for my take. Suiting Up is a podcast that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Best wishes for a high impact 2019.

Alex Banayan: Author, The Third Door

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 08:05:00 -0000

Alex Banayan is the youngest author to ever sign with Penguin Random House. His book, The Third Door, was a 7-year project to uncover the how the most successful people in the world got to where they are today. His road to The Third Door was unique, too. He funded his quest by hacking his way into a winning methodology on famous gameshow, The Price Is Right. Alex is a critical thinker, challenger, innovator, and introspective entrepreneur. His path to authorship required him to drop out of college, self-fund his quest around the world, with an insatiable level of persistence in securing meetings and interviews of each of his subjects: Bill Gates Steven Spielberg Jessica Alba Pitbull Larry King Tim Ferriss Maya Angelo Steve Wozniack ...and many more In addition to discussing the core tenets of his book, we lean into how he and the world's most successful people enhance their states of courage, confidence, humility, and vulnerability -- each are critical attributes to personal and professional success. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Raine Group: PLL Lead Investor

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 08:05:00 -0000

Time for the finale of Creating the PLL with our final episode of the series, highlighting our lead investor and board -- the Raine Group. Founded in 2009 by Joseph Ravitch and Jeffrey Sine, The Raine Group is an integrated merchant bank advising and investing in high growth sectors of technology, media and telecom. With offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai and Mumbai, Raine’s investment portfolio includes (but is not limited to) Draft Kings, Cheddar, VICE, Nitro Circus, SoundCloud, and…the Premier Lacrosse League. Topics on the show range from a discussion on the PLL launch, our corporate strategy, financing, and the future of sport – but not just lacrosse...we discuss major sports properties like the UFC, NFL, and MLB, noting differences and similarities to our business approach in lacrosse. I think you’ll hear why having a strategic lead investor is mission critical to a company’s road to success. It’s actually more rare than it is common. Two PLL board members join me from Raine – Colin Neville and Rob Pietroforte. Enjoy the final episode of Creating the PLL. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Announcing PLL Assists: feat. Tyler Steinhardt

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 08:05:00 -0000

On this week's show, I sit down with Suiting Up Podcast guest #10 -- now the Premier Lacrosse League's Manager of Media, and founder of Shootout for Soldiers, Tyler Steinhardt. We made an important announcement today, unveiling our community initiative, called "PLL Assists". We're so grateful for the work the lacrosse community puts into the broader growth of the sport (via investments, access, support, education, etc.), and it's integral to our mission that we invest and contribute resources into the growth of these efforts. From a Nov. 19, 2018 Press Release: As the Premier Lacrosse League continues its revolutionary approach to the sport, the league is announcing the formation of its community and charitable initiative, PLL Assists. PLL Assists is seeking to change the way that sports leagues interact with their communities by building lasting relationships with meaningful programs around the country. The program will focus on three specific areas during its inaugural season in 2019: increasing access to lacrosse in underserved communities, supporting American Veterans in their transition back home, and joining the fight against cancer. Additionally, the PLL will assist its players’ respective charitable endeavors by investing with financial support and shared resources. Within each of these initiatives, PLL Assists will work with selected, established non-profit partners, to make meaningful impact to people who need it. “As professional athletes, we’re fortunate to reach millions of lacrosse enthusiasts around the world, and it’s our responsibility to positively impact and encourage change,” said Paul Rabil, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of PLL. “That’s something I’ve always strived for in my career, and firmly believe in giving back to others. From the moment we started the PLL, we knew how important building with our communities was, are are excited to work through PLL Assists to invest in social good.” Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Creating the PLL: Why We Built This

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 08:04:00 -0000

On October 22, 2018 my brother Mike and I announced the arrival of the Premier Lacrosse League. Bloomberg broke the story across digital, print, TV and radio. Additional stories followed on NBC, Cheddar, Yahoo Finance, the NYSE, Bleacher Report, Uninterrupted, The Players' Tribune, Inside Lacrosse, Lacrosse Magazine, The Lacrosse Network, and more. We flipped the lights on at PremierLacrosseLeague.com and launched our Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channels. We were live. And that week, we pressed record and shared the news on this podcast with all of you. This week, I'll continue to share more about the making of the PLL -- specifically the why and how. And interestingly enough, the timing of construction was on the same timeline of the launch of this podcast. The major difference? This show was public, and the PLL was not. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Mike Levine: CAA Head of Sports, Investor/Advisor, PLL

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 07:05:00 -0000

Through innovative marketing deals, the acquisition of elite athletes in the NFL and NBA, and a knack for forecasting new trends in sports media, Mike Levine, known within the industry as "Vino", is a pioneer, visionary, and leader in sports business. On the podcast, Vino and I discuss his rapid rise early in his career, the hard knocks and lessons he learned, and how he's led CAA into the stratosphere of best in sports talent representation and brand marketing consultation. Throughout the show we discuss the modern sports media landscape, how players have become empowered through digital and social, and why he decided to invest in the Premier Lacrosse League. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment

Creating the PLL: Mike Rabil, CEO

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 16:16:15 -0000

This week, my colleagues and I – over 140 of the worlds best professional lacrosse players – joined by my co-founder and CEO, Mike Rabil, launched the Premier Lacrosse League. In short, the PLL is a revolutionary, tour-based, professional lacrosse league – where next June through September, 6 teams comprised of the best players and coaches in the world, will set off along a full regular season, all star break, and playoffs, to compete for a Premier Lacrosse League Championship. Major part of the news? We launched with a major media rights deal with NBC Sports Group – where all of our games will be broadcasted with NBC throughout the season, being featured on both TV and digital. Exciting times…and over the next several weeks on the show, we’ll be talking about it. Here’s my first conversation with the Premier Lacrosse League co-founder and CEO, Mike Rabil. Welcome to an all-new episode of Suiting Up Podcast – this is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Rudy Cline-Thomas: Entrepreneur on Investing with NBA Players

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:05:00 -0000

The New Off-Court Play for NBA Stars Is Startup Equity…and potentially ownership in teams and leagues. Today’s guest is a friend, entrepreneur, and partner of the Athlete Tech Summit I’ve attended in San Francisco over the past two summer’s. Together, Rudy Cline-Thomas and business partner Andre Iguoadala have reinvented the modern athlete over the last decade. And let’s face it, the NBA and their athletes are not only at the forefront of sports competition and entertainment, but they’re leading trends in pop-culture, and now venture investing. After years of hard work and learning the business of sports and athlete representation, Rudy Cline-Thomas has become the source of advice and mentorship for professional athletes – especially in the NBA -- looking to break into early stage investments. His network includes some of the most successful CEO's and VC's in the valley, aside from star athletes like Andre Iguodala, Neymar, and David Beckham, to name a few. On the podcast, we discuss how he forged a whole new role inside the sports industry, Iguodala's initial challenge, which lead to his career taking off, and his advice to folks looking to work professionally in sports. After all, it’s an exciting time to be in the business of sports and media, isn’t it? Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Tony Robbins: Entrepreneur, Author, Philanthropist, & Strategist

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 07:09:00 -0000

Throughout our interview, Tony Robbins describes our path as “a lifetime of putting yourself on the line. And there’s only one way -- it’s forward.” Tony's been dubbed by national and international publications as the #1 Life & Business Strategist, he’s a multiple-time #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author, he’s an wildly successful Entrepreneur, and one the world’s greatest Philanthropists. Tony's the founder of 8 private companies that generate close to $10B in annual sales. Each of these businesses operate under the same creed: “improving the quality of life for people around the world.” On the philanthropic front, the Tony Robbins Foundation and Feeding America conjoin to feed children all over the world. Tony's on his way to – get this – feeding 1 billion people. He’s been at it for 37 years, and in 2017, Tony and his team fed 100 million homes. His passion and energy will jump through the speakers. I watched his “I Am Not Your Guru” doc that premiered on Netflix last year, and thought to myself…I’ve gotta get Tony on my podcast. Luckily, he said yes. His latest bestseller – "Unshakable" – was just release on paperback. To script the 200-page book, Tony interviewed 50 of the world’s greatest financial minds, and created a step-by-step guide on how to accelerate your path to financial freedom. And throughout our discussion, we drill down deeper on what he's dubbed, "True Wealth". Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Erika Nardini: CEO, Barstool Sports

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 05:18:21 -0000

Erika Nardini is the CEO of Barstool Sports, a hardcore New England sports fan (Go Coach Belichick...also a podcast guest), and one of the trailblazers of the internet. I'm lucky to call her a friend and mentor. Quick Erika snapshot: after changing her career trajectory out of school from legal to advertising (opting to take a $35K pay cut), she immediately became fascinated by the connections that people and brands could make online. With each creative campaign and team of workers (she talks about the value of "managing around" vs. "managing up"), she continued to climb the executive ladder, pushing branded content and internet advertising into a multi-billion dollar industry. With executive positions at MSN and Yahoo, she was then named the CMO of AOL, and in 2016 was brought over to Barstool Sports via her friends at Chernin Group. She's taken Barstool from 2 shows and 3 podcasts to one of the largest media companies in the modern era, attacking revenue at a clip that's unmatched -- featuring branded content, unique merchandise strategies, and PPV events. On the show, we discuss her road to CEO, management tips, predictions in media, and her stint as a college lacrosse net-minder. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Deepen Parikh: Partner, Courtside Ventures

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:45:00 -0000

Deepen Parikh is a partner at Courtside Ventures, co-founder of NYVC Sports, and (in his words) disillusioned Baltimore Ravens fan. Investing at the intersection of sports, fitness, media, and technology, Deepen says he "feels lucky to work in the field he's been in love with his entire life." Deepen, along with powerful backers in Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, George Pyne’s Bruin Sports Capital and British advertising company WPP, has helped the Courtside Ventures become a major firm helping several well-known entities take significant leaps. Since taking the position 2 years ago, he's made investments in over 20 early-stage companies. On the podcast, we discuss how Deepen got into venture, the principle differences between venture investing and other forms of private equity and debt, we do our best to forecast the future of broadcast media among major sports properties, and give advice to the aspiring sports business analyst. “It’s a challenge, but the game of venture is not for the faint of heart.” Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Rich Antoniello: COMPLEX Founder & CEO

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 07:05:00 -0000

Complex is a media platform and an online community that publishes the best, most diverse and most relevant voices in pop culture. It was co-founded by Rich Antoniello and Marc Ecko in 2002. Complex Networks’ stable of brands, now owned 50/50 by Verizon and Hearst, generate over 810 million videos views a month and have a combined social following of more than 194 million users. Their millennial-driven authentic voice strives to defy the stale conversations of the past, and shift the world’s attention to the movements within convergence culture. They were born in American Pop Culture – a business built on telling the stories of subcultures and communities, and have now reshaped who the faces of mainstream are. On the show, Rich Antoniello and I discuss media trends, how to build an online community, how to monetize your network, some of the darkest challenges facing an entrepreneur, where the long-tail opportunity in sports is, the sneakerhead boom during the launch of the Air Jordan’s, and why he thinks Bo Jackson is the greatest athlete of all-time. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Mick Davis: Co-Founder, Rabil Events

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 07:31:38 -0000

It’s rare to find a business partner who is selfless. A year ago, I introduced many of my listeners to my older brother Mike – who’s been a lifelong business partner – and we talked about ways we approach business, investments, and hiring good people. One of those good -- great people/hires – has evolved into my co-founder of Rabil Events – a nationwide events business that hosts both experiential and lacrosse instructional properties. Mick Davis is wise beyond his years. He’s just 27, but is jam-packed with athletic and business prowess. On the show, we discuss the business of youth sports, the race to an athletic scholarship, recreational vs. club participation, and what you should know to put yourself in the best position to reach your athletic and academic goals. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Enjoy my conversation with former Dartmouth Football player, now co-founder of Rabil Events, Mick Davis.

Jay Dyer: My Strength & Conditioning Coach

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 07:02:00 -0000

A high performing athlete requires superior skill, athleticism, and mental horsepower. On today's show, I sit down with my strength & conditioning coach of 14 years – Jay Dyer – to discuss how you can develop your physical prowess. A large cohort of people believe that athletic superiority is reserved for a specific gene pool. Rather, the appropriate mindset should be that the largest share of our strength and speed is actually nurtured over time. Jay Dyer is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and director of sports performance for MedStar Union Memorial Sports Medicine. Outside of his lacrosse S&C roles with Johns Hopkins University and Team USA, Jay’s trained Division I, II, and III athletes in football, basketball, baseball, soccer and field hockey. Included on his client roster are athletes from the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. Today, Jay and I open up about our relationship from coach to athlete – discussing what's worked, and what hasn't – as well as how you can be thinking, preparing and training to compete at your best. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Enjoy my conversation with my Strength & Conditioning Coach, Jay Dyer. Special thanks to this week's sponsors: Ziprecruiter (ziprecruiter.com/cross) & Molecule (onmolecule.com/suitingup)

Rob Pannell and the World Games

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 06:17:26 -0000

Our podcast took a 3-week break for lacrosse's biggest tournament that takes place every 4 years. I joined Team USA in Netanya, Israel for the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships. There were 46 participating countries, and on the final day, the USA held the flag high, sang our national anthem on the podium, and brought the gold back to the States. To relive the moments, drama, and fun, I asked my roommate with Team USA (he's also my New York Lizards teammate), heralded All-World attackman, and one of the best NCAA D1 players of all-time, Rob Pannell, to join me. On the show we talk about his origin story – how he found lacrosse. He was a "late-bloomer" and went grossly un-recruited through high school. RP3's as focused as any professional athlete. He works hard at his craft, training, and nutrition. We talk about it all. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Enjoy my conversation with Team USA World Champion, Rob Pannell. Special thanks to this week's sponsors Fixd (Promo code: Rabil), Away Travel (awaytravel.com/SUITINGUP promo code: SUITINGUP), Molecule (onmolecule.com/suitingup)

Regret Minimization and The World's Geniuses

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 07:05:00 -0000

There are a number of things unique about this episode: 1. It's just me. No interviewee. 2. I take some time to update you on my podcast, my life, and what you can expect over the next 14 days (hopefully, Team USA wins a gold medal!). 3. I share 2 very meaningful articles that came across my desk this week. One on regret minimization framework -- something I've personally adopted as of later -- and the second on the correlation between professional ambition/success and pain. Thanks for listening, and I welcome all of your feedback -- always. Shoot me a note over twitter: @PaulRabil. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Paul Shapiro: Author and Expert on Clean Meats

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 07:01:00 -0000

I’m often asked about my nutrition – and on the podcast, we've discussed my macronutrient intake (remember: saturated fats, carbohydrates, and proteins). Today, I bring on the expert to discuss nutrition and high performance. Here's the format: we dig into diet types, veganism, clean meat consumption, and discuss the poor farm treatment of animals. Our guest today, in addition to being among the world’s first clean meat consumers, is Paul Shapiro. Paul's a four-time TEDx speaker and long-time leader in food sustainability. He's published hundreds of articles in publications ranging from daily newspapers to academic journals, and is the latest best-selling author on the podcast! Check out Clean Meat: how growing meat without animals will revolutionize dinner and the world. Quickly: clean meat, you ask? It’s the next great scientific revolution of creating and commercializing cleaner, safer, sustainable meat – real meat – without the animals. More on this during the interview. Suiting Up is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Thanks to this week's sponsor, Molecule. Get $250 off a mattress or $30 off a sheet set

Dan Patrick: Sports TV and Radio Legend

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 07:01:00 -0000

I used to beg my Mom and Dad to subscribe to ESPN. This was in the early 90's when the premium cable show reached only 1.5M homes (compared to now where they’re in 90M+). At the time, there was this new show dedicated to sports headlines and highlights called SportsCenter – with lead anchor, Dan Patrick. Dan Patrick was to ESPN what Howard Stern is to Sirius XM – helping grow the reach of ESPN into millions of homes. However, before landing the gig, he was on the road as a Disc Jockey doing radio station top and bottom-of-the hour score callouts, while sending in his self-made highlight tapes to industry executives hoping to get an interview. After a decade and a half at ESPN, Dan left what was familiar, to begin something far more risky and new. And over the course of the next 18 months self-funding project buildout, staffing, and ops, The Dan Patrick Show became the most successful sports talk radio show on the planet. Today, Dan can be spotted calling the Super Bowl, World Series, and more as a lead host for NBC, and if you don't get enough of DP there, you can tune in to his daily sports show either through AM/FM, podcasts, or DirectTV. His journey’s been incredible – and it's only just started. In 2017, Dan decided to take what he's learned, package it up with Full Sail University, and offer the first ever Bachelors Degree in SportsCasting. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Christian Fuchs: Leicester City & Austria Soccer Captain

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 07:00:00 -0000

Christian Fuchs is a starting left back and captain for the Austria National team and Leicester City Football Club. In 2016, he helped lead the LCFC to its first ever English Premier League Title – beating out the thoroughbreds of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City. Christian and LCFC's odds of winning that year? 5,000 to 1. Put it this way, the Cleveland Browns have a 200 to 1 chance of winning the Super Bowl this year. The #16 seed in the NCAA Basketball Tournament – which, until UMBC did it this year, has never advanced past the first round – has a 5,000 to 1 chance of winning the NCAA Championship. The aforementioned basically means zero chance. Yet, Leicester City did it. Christian shares the stories of team, culture, and profound coaching that led to the infamous club championship. Christian's also an entrepreneur – we talk about his youth soccer academies, his fashion company, his latest investment into esports, and his YouTube Channel. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Special thanks to this week's sponsors Keeps, Away Travel (Promo code: Rabil), Uncharted (Promo code: Rabil), and Omaha Steaks (type RABIL in the search bar).

Alan Stein: High Performance Coach

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 07:01:00 -0000

Alan Stein Jr. is a high performance coach, consultant, speaker, and author. He’s spent 15+ years with the highest performing basketball players on the planet. And with the NBA Finals now in full-swing, I felt like there was no better time to bring in an industry expert to anecdotally talk about the habits of the greatest – from Kobe Bryant, to LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant. Additionally, he has experience working with the Nike Skills Academies, McDonald’s All-American game, Jordan Brand Classic, NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, and the CP3 Elite Guard Camp. Important to mention all of the above as he's so articulate with framing the conversation from youth to pro. On the show we discuss the soft skills of basketballs top talents – which are shared talents of industry leaders in Fortune 500 companies. Topics include: - Gathering and processing feedback - Positive empathy - Practice strategies - Leadership - Habits and fundamentals Alan’s a tremendous speaker, and he flexes that skillset on the show, packing every minute with great framework and motivation. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Kyle Harrison: Pro Lacrosse Player & Entrepreneur

Mon, 21 May 2018 07:01:00 -0000

Kyle Harrison is one of the greatest lacrosse players on the planet. He was a multiple time All-American, National Champion, Tewaaraton winner, MLL All-star and Champion. He was the first black player to win the Tewaaraton award -- where Kyle's father, Dr. Miles Harrison, played on the first all-black NCAA lacrosse team in the during the 1970's. Our interview took several shapes from start-to-finish. We discussed Kyle's relationship with his father, what it's like to be a minority player in a predominantly white sport, the legacy he's leaving with his efforts to diversify participation at all levels, and where he sees the game evolving globally and culturally. We dive into his work ethic, both as a multi-sport athlete in high school, to his learnings and captainship with the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays. Finally, we discuss his evolution as a pro lacrosse player, his increased performance and veteran leadership, to the endorsement game, event partnerships he's built, and his recent role with Charm City Youth Lacrosse -- their latest CEO. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Special thanks to this week's sponsors Keeps, Away Travel, and Saxx (Promo Code: Rabil).

Dave Meltzer: Entrepreneur, Author, Humanitarian

Mon, 14 May 2018 07:01:00 -0000

Dave Meltzer is an entrepreneur, author, humanitarian, and current CEO of Sports 1 Marketing, a global marketing agency. On this episode, we sat down and discussed his approach to business, how he bounced back from bankruptcy, and the strategies he developed to reinvent his success. Meltzer's current projects: 1. The Super Bowl 2. The Master’s 3. Pro Football Hall of Fame 4. The Unstoppable Foundation Meltzer was 2016's Variety Magazine’s “Sports Humanitarian of the Year”, he's a two-time #1 best-selling author (Connected To Goodness and Compassionate Capitalism), and has been recognized as a Top Keynote Speaker by Forbes and Entrepreneur. Most recently, Meltzer took on a producing role, is a judge, and host of Entrepreneur's original show, and #1 Digital Business show, Elevator Pitch. Since launching, they've scored over 20.8 million views. Finally Meltzer is the host of the Top 5 business podcast on iTunes, The Playbook. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Jim Scherr: Olympic Wrestler now CEO, Federation of International Lacrosse

Mon, 07 May 2018 07:01:00 -0000

Jim Scherr was a decade-long Olympic and World Champion wrestler. After his international competition years, he decided to pursue the business of sports, becoming the Executive Director of USA Wrestling, then worked his way into becoming the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). As such, Jim oversaw, operated, and led the performance of all USA Olympic sports for a 10-year span. Enter lacrosse. Today, Jim's the CEO of the Federation of International Lacrosse -- the governing body that oversees 58 internationally sanctioned countries who compete for prominence in global lacrosse competitions. And at this moment, Jim's job is mainly focused on getting lacrosse back into the Olympics. Today's episode was recorded live at this year's US Lacrosse Convention. My good friend and business leader at Inside Lacrosse, Terry Foy, set the conversation up in front of packed house at their company's annual Industry Summit (thank you, Terry). Jim and I discuss his athletic chops as an Olympic wrestler, the commonalities between sport and business, his learnings at the helm of the USOC, and predictions for lacrosse. It's May Madness in the lacrosse world. Enjoy my first ever live-recording of Suiting Up Podcast, with Jim Scherr.

Adam Grant: Organizational Psychologist

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 05:16:34 -0000

Adam Grant has been Wharton's School of Business's top-rated professor for the last six years. He’s a 3x NYT bestselling author, with a focus on how we can find motivation, meaning, and live more generous and creative lives. Adam's been recognized as one of the world's 10 most influential management thinkers, he's a Fortune 40 under 40 member, has 2 viral TED talks (we discuss them in the pod), and has recently launched his own podcast with TED, called WorkLife with Adam Grant. Adam also works, advises, and consults with organizations like Facebook, Google, The NBA, BCG, AMEX, Disney, Army, Navy, and others. Not too shabby… I first learned about Adam several years ago through his books. Many of my long-time listeners might recall interviews where I both recommend and call-out Adam's book with Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook’s COO), Option B — Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy. Just over one year ago, Adam reached out to me via email to say “Thank you for the book callout”. I was shocked — as uncertain of my place in his world of influence, as well as…how he even got my email. More-so, I was blown away by his outbound message — which was entirely unexpected, made my day, and continues to inspire me to do the same in the present moment. So, 12 months later, I reached back out to Adam's email to request if he could join me on my show. Of course, Adam made it work, and today, I’m sharing that conversation with you. I’ve spent the greater part of the last four years in sports psychology, and the last three in cognitive and interpersonal therapy — which has been hugely beneficial to my personal and professional growth. Just like those sessions, today’s episode is brought to you in one-piece – with no ads. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

David Falk: Michael Jordan's Agent

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 07:15:17 -0000

"In my business, I'm not a point guard. I'm a shooting guard. It's my job to go out and be a passionate advocate for my clients." David Falk is considered by many to be the second most powerful man in basketball -- behind David Stern. He negotiated professional sport's first $100 million dollar deal for Alonzo Mourning, and closed over $400 million dollars in free agency deals during a 6-day period. Falk's road to success in professional sports stemmed from a blue collar upbringing, where hard work and goal achievement sat at the forefront of daily rituals. His mother instilled in him to "Always shoot for the stars and never settle for anything less." On the show, we talk about what it was like to sign Michael Jordan, represent him in negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Nike, McDonalds, and Gatorade, as well as how Falk and his team restructured many of the rules in the current NBA Player Handbook, to prevent the cannibalization of player image/likeness by the NBA. If you're in (or aspire to be) the business of sports, this show will equip you with a history of player representation, packed with anecdotes from MJ's career, the small and large (quite large) deals, and the celebrations. Falk and I also dissect certain core characteristics and soft skills that businesses and agencies are looking for. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Special thanks to this week's sponsors Warby Parker, Away Travel, and Saxx (Promo Code: Rabil).

Randy Foye: NBA Star & Motivational Speaker

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 07:01:00 -0000

"If you work hard, and you continue to fight through, and you continue to push, that there's something waiting for you in the end that's really big...that you can't even imagine." Randy Foy jump started the Villanova Wildcats dynasty run we've seen these last handful of years. He was Jay Wright's first Big East Player of the Year, and his first NBA lottery pick. Today, still an active NBA player, Randy's a mentor for many of the current Villanova players, and remains closely tied with Coach Wright. Our conversation, however, goes far deeper than the chronicles of Villanova men's basketball. Randy Foye lets us in on the origins of his life. He grew up in Newark New Jersey, without his parents, and a debilitating biological disorder. His perspective, strength, perseverance, and love jump through the audio file, articulately and authentically. Very few of us -- if any -- have experienced even a fraction of what Randy has in his short 34 years thus far. But we can all be better off in modeling his work ethic, leadership, and fatherhood skills. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Special thanks to this episode's sponsors Saxx (Promo Code: Rabil), Magic, and ZipRecruiter.

Jessica Long: Paralympic Swimmer & Author

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 07:01:00 -0000

"I remember seeing all the Olympic athletes, standing in the corner as a Paralympic swimmer and thinking, 'one day, these athletes are going to know who I am'." Jessica Long is a global icon. She's a 23-time medalist, the holder of 14 world records, has won 2 ESPY awards, is soon-to-be bestselling author, and was recently named to Forbes' prestigious 30 under 30 list. I walked away from our conversation amazed by Jessica's resilience, determination, and courage. Her origin story began in Russia, where she was put up for adoption at an early age. Her American parents were her caretakers through her over 25 surgeries during her adolescent years. Then she found swimming. She's the ultimate competitor, wrapped in compassion and empathy. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Special thanks to this episode's sponsors Saxx (Promo Code: Rabil), Keeps, Magic, and Beachbody (text Rabil to 303030 for a FREE trial).

Dane Swan: Australian Football Star & Entrepreneur

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 07:01:00 -0000

"The reason why there are so few professional athletes, is they're people who can endure so much pain." Founded back in 1858 in Melbourne Australia, today there are roughly 2 million active participants playing "Footy", with sold out stadiums hosting the professional leagues, and millions of viewers worldwide. Dane Swan is one of the greatest Australian Rules Footballers in the modern era, and on the show we talk about his rise to the top, training, producing, responding to injury, and elongating your career. In the early stages of his career, Dane said, “we eat, we drink, we party hard – we're pigs.” Of course, the fans and picked up on this, commercialized it, and the lads were dubbed "the rat pack". Toward the back half of his career, he's become more focused and entrepreneurial, writing a book about his journey, starting an event business in the US called the Dane Swan Tour, created a clothing line called Ratbagg, owns a bar and tattoo shop, and makes regular TV appearances and speaking engagements. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Thanks to Away Travel and Mattress Firm for sponsoring this week's episode. To get $20 off your first Away Travel suitcase, click HERE. Also, Head to mattressfirm.com/podcast to get the play-by-play on how you can monumentally improve your sleep—today, tonight and tomorrow.

Dave Morrow: Founder/CEO Warrior Sports

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 07:01:00 -0000

"I operated under this belief that there was no such thing as a nice defenseman." A Princeton University grad, Dave Morrow was a National Champion, two-time defensive player of the year, two-time Team USA player, and two-time world champion. As decorated of an on-field resume as his, Morrow's greatest impact on the sport has been what he's created off of it. He built Warrior Sports -- now the largest sporting goods manufacturer in lacrosse -- from his dorm room his junior year in college. To fund the company, Morrow raised a seed investment from his father and college roommate, and immediately used it to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue in year one. His biggest challenge? He was a starting defender for the USA national team, playing in overtime of the world championship game, trying to defend the best player in the world (Gary Gait), with a gold medal on the line, and the future of his business -- Warrior was the team sponsor. On the show, we talk about what it's like to be a young entrepreneur drinking from the firehose, facing fear, taking on exorbitant risk, finding solutions, and executing. In 2004, New Balance acquired Warrior for an undisclosed amount. Morrow continues to operate as the company's CEO, building the hockey and soccer business, and continuing to innovate with new products and intellectual property. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Also, thanks to our sponsors, ZipRecruiter, Magic, and Mattress Firm. Try ZipRecruiter for free HERE, get a free phone consultation and priority service with Magic HERE, and head to mattressfirm.com/podcast to get the play-by-play on how you can monumentally improve your sleep today, tonight and tomorrow.

Tiki Barber: NFL RB & Entrepreneur

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 07:01:00 -0000

"At some point, your opportunity will hit. At the time when you're least expecting it. You have to be ready. You have to jump." Tiki Barber is one of the best all-purpose running backs in NFL history. He was undersized, under-recruited, and was given his first opportunity to play when the starting running back at UVA got injured. He never looked back. He grew up with his twin brother Ronde (also an NFL star and future hall-of-famer) and single mother who worked two jobs, and taught them what hard work, resiliency, and passion looked like. At UVA, Tiki studied business, and was quick to jump into media after being taken in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. Like all athletes, Tiki knew that his playing career would end, but life after football could be huge -- as long as he worked hard and took advantage of the league's platform. Quickly, Tiki became versed in media, co-hosting the Today Show and Fox & Friends, while making appearances on a dozen other major properties. While rushing and catching for almost 2,500 yards in one season, Tiki also began his entrepreneurial career, co-founding Thuzio with his UVA classmate, Rick Gerson. Tiki's well-networked, works incredibly hard, and is amazingly articulate in sharing his life story with us -- including tips to becoming a better athlete, and ways to expedite your career in entrepreneurship. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Also, thanks to our sponsors Beachbody, Bombfell, and Mattress Firm. Get $25 off your first Bombfell purchase HERE, and head to mattressfirm.com/podcast to get the play-by-play on how you can monumentally improve your sleep today, tonight and tomorrow.

Steve Nash: NBA Star and Entrepreneur

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 08:01:00 -0000

"Rook...you've gotta be able to laugh at yourself." Steve Nash is one of the greatest on-floor playmakers in NBA history. He's won back-to-back MVP's, and modernized the way the 2-man game is played. Pretty amazing given his two favorite sports as an amateur were soccer and hockey. Pre-social media era, Steve's one of the few athletes that ventured into entrepreneurship and media while he was still playing. Today, he's part of the Vancouver WhiteCaps and RCD Mallorca ownership groups, he's a consultant for the Golden State Warriors, GM for the Canadian Senior National Team, and architect of the Steve Nash Foundation. On the podcast, Steve and I talk about why and how he became one of the game's greatest players, what he characteristics he looks for in the greatest competitors, and his secret sauce to success (...define "resilience"). His advice to any athlete or entrepreneur? "Declare your intention. Say it out loud and write it down. Then go for it." This is a great show. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Randy Hetrick: Navy SEAL & Founder of TRX

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 08:01:00 -0000

Randy Hetrick is a fierce competitor. He’s driven to perform at the highest level — in whatever he does. After college, he entered the Navy and joined SEAL Team One, where he had a 14-year career, ending as a Lieutenant Commander, leading a squadron at the SEAL special missions unit. On a mission in Southeast Asia, Randy took his old Jiu-jitsu belt, anchored to a backdrop, and started what we now refer to as "Suspension Training". After his time as a SEAL, he applied and got into the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he learned how to start a company, raise money, and grow. Having learned how to sew as a SEAL, to modify gear, he spent the summer of Stanford perfecting his prototypes and shortly after graduating, incorporated TRX Systems. Today, TRX is in over 40,000 gyms worldwide, and is used by all professional sports leagues and teams. Randy's a dear friend of mine. We went the distance on starting a company, managing people, dealing with failure, acknowledging "gaps", and leaning into the "gots." Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. Join the 2018 TRX Training Summit. Also, thanks to our sponsors, ZipRecruiter and Mattress Firm. Try ZipRecruiter for free HERE, and head to mattressfirm.com/podcast to get the play-by-play on how you can monumentally improve your sleep today, tonight and tomorrow.

Scott O'Neil: CEO, PHL 76ers, NJ Devils & Crystal Palace F.C.

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 08:01:00 -0000

"Have a passion for the business, have a great management team, and then search for real opportunity." Scott O'Neil is the CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (HBSE), a group that manages the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and English Premier League's Crystal Palace. Their ongoing vision is to focus on acquiring sports franchises, sports venues, and sports and entertainment properties. Scott and I talk about the state of the teams in his current portfolio, then dive deep into the operational team at HBSE, the culture they've built, and the sales metrics (or what he calls "touches") they study to improve things like season ticket sales, digital impressions, and sponsorship opportunities. I asked Scott two questions that I'm constantly working through, as well as observing others' management techniques. First, what does he look for in a qualified candidate, and second, how he balances oversight of multiple properties, strategy, and interpersonal relationships at the office. What he discloses is fascinating (hint: he's big into mindfulness and gratitude). Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Kelvin Beachum: NFL Tackle and Investor

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 08:49:46 -0000

Kelvin Beachum was born into a blue collar family in Texas. He was a studious undergrad, carrying both a graduate and master’s degree, while setting onfield records at SMU. It didn't stop there, though. Kelvin went on to deliver his collegiate commencement speech, then was drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Kelvin's been through as many depth chart challenges as injuries, but he kept his head down, and quickly became one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. Not wasting his stellar academic career, Kelvin is long on LinkedIn -- different than most athlete's choice of platform's on social media. He shares musings on portfolio companies he's been pitched to invest in, and shares his experiences from big tech conferences. Kelvin's a limited partner with Next Play Capital, a member of One Team Collective, and has a running list of charitable endeavors that include Bread for the World, World Vision, Feeding America, and STEM. Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Paul Rabil, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.

Andrew Hawkins: NFL WR and Media Mogul

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 10:42:26 -0000

Andrew Hawkins was a top slot receiver for the Cleveland Browns, having just retired in 2017 while on the roster of the New England Patriots. If you don’t know who @Hawk (twitter) is, type in his name on YouTube and watch his one-on-one highlights against NFL cornerbacks. If you’re an athlete at any level, and want to emulate great dodgers or route runners, very few do it better than Hawk. That said, his physical attributes and on-field talent are only a part of why he’s a guest on our show. More impressively, Hawk spent most of his NFL career working on his developing his business and media acumen. He received his masters from Columbia University in Sports Management, and took unpaid internships with the Detroit Lions and Uninterrupted. A grueling offseason schedule that included roundtrip flights to NYC for classes and exams (he graduated with a 4.0 gpa), gym and field workouts down in Florida, and most importantly, raising his family. He has an incredible motor. Today, he hosts ESPN’s SportsCenter show on Snapchat, runs his own podcast with All-Pro NFL lineman Joe Thomas, and heads business development with Mav Carter and LeBron James' media company, Uninterrupted. Hawk's long-term goal? General Managing an NFL team. I think he’ll be an owner one day.

Cameron Porter: MLS Forward and Entrepreneur

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:01:00 -0000

Cameron Porter was a four-year all-everything soccer player and computer science major at Princeton. He was drafted to Major League Soccer and immediately made an impact on the pitch, scoring a dramatic final-minute goal, sending his club (Montreal) into the CONCACAF Champions League Semifinals. Uniquely positioned as an top forward in the MLS, Cam also works for MLS's front office -- as a full-stack engineer. A true pro athlete and entrepreneur, Cam writes code and helps the fastest growing team sports league in the world buildout their digital, iOS, and Android platforms. I decided to upload this episode to kickoff our 2018 guest list because of two reasons: 1. Cam’s incredibly thoughtful and articulate. I learned new tactics around sports psychology (like how to dig yourself out of a funk -- or poor play), as well as how a macro trend in new media is not only impacting soccer, but the rest of the field (including lacrosse). 2. Cam’s so talented, that he’s already reached a place in his career where he’s making a decision on sport versus business – or his career after the pitch. The conversation is a buildup, where he breaks unexpected news on Suiting Up. A first for us. Podcaster's note: Cam's latest venture: www.hex.ventures

Success and Failure

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 08:01:00 -0000

When we concepted and launched the podcast, I knew it would be fun to engage with my professional peers, but underestimated the value I would receive from sitting back and listening to their expertise and tips. Every guest I've hosted has experienced a certain degree of failure, loss, or trauma, causing them to either "bottom out" or hit "reset". However with every guest and each circumstance, there's been an amazing rebound; a success that they've credited from their learnings in failure. On today's show, we highlight some of the best moments from Suiting Up Podcast guests. It's Part 3 of my Reflection Series, and it's a great one. You'll hear from: 1. Jay Williams 2. Myles Chamley-Watson 3. Matt Hasselbeck 4. Dave Pietramala Enjoy -- and take notes!

Traits of Successful Leaders

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 14:01:53 -0000

When I concepted and launched the podcast, I knew it would be fun to engage with my professional peers, but underestimated the value I would receive from sitting back and listening to their expertise and tips. Every guest I've hosted has been -- at one point or another -- a captain, coach, or seasoned senior executive. Leadership is not for the faint of heart. It's a job on top of another job. There's a commitment to setting a standard, building culture, and most importantly, working to understand, relate and improve your team. The commonality shared between leaders? Humility. By far and away. In Part 2 of my 3-Part Suiting Up Podcast Series, I'm highlighting 6 guests from 2017's class of interviewees, telling you my bottom line to their best sound bites on leadership. You'll hear from: 1. Sam Walker on the captain class 2. Dhani Jones on a leaders core characteristics 3. Jay Williams on the importance of communication 4. Bill Belichick on management, culture, and preparation 5. Mike Rabil on the importance of hiring the right people 6. Drew Brees on motivation Enjoy the show. Next week, we'll discuss Success & Failure.

Lessons in High Performance

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 08:01:00 -0000

When I concepted and launched the podcast, I knew it would be fun to engage with my professional peers, but underestimated the value I would receive from sitting back and listening to their expertise and tips. Every guest I've hosted is a world-class high performer. She or he is mechanical, methodical, thoughtful, has high emotional intelligence, and shows incredible leadership traits. That said, I've found the common denominator and shared characteristic of all -- is hard work. Top athletes, entertainers, and entrepreneurs know how to work really hard. In Part 1 of my 3-Part Suiting Up Podcast Musings, I'm going to highlight 5 guests from 2017's class of interviewees, telling you my bottom line to their best sound bites on high performance. You'll hear from: 1. Scott Galloway on Building a Career 2. DeMaurice Smith on Task and Calendar Management 3. Venus Williams on the Importance of Nutrition 4. Lyle Thompson on Training Tips 5. Gary Vaynerchuk on Fighting Unfairly Enjoy the show. And next week, we'll discuss leadership.

Ryan Holiday: Author, Marketer, Entrepreneur

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 08:01:00 -0000

When Ryan Holiday was 19 years old, he dropped out of college to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power. Next, he went on to become the director of marketing for American Apparel (where you might have seen some of the controversial campaigns he produced). Holiday then opened his own creative agency, called Brass Check, where he’s advised clients like Google and Complex, as well as prominent bestselling authors like Neil Strauss, Tony Robbins, James Altucher and Tim Ferriss (he was also Tim’s 4th ever podcast guest). Holiday's the author of six bestselling books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic and Perennial Seller. The Obstacle Is the Way has been translated into more than twenty languages and has developed a loyal following among NFL coaches like Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, world-class athletes, TV personalities, political leaders, and many more. Holiday and I sat together in our NYC recording studios to discuss life, business, sports, and the practice of stoicism. I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to “Suiting Up Podcast”, a show where I delve into the stories of some of today’s leading athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and authors, interviewing them, unpacking the psychology of their success, revealing skill sets we can uniquely adopt to improve ourselves.

John Brenkus: Creator of Sports Science

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 08:01:00 -0000

“Successful people are really stubborn. They won’t take no for an answer. They keep going, and going, and going.” Want to know the science -- check that, odds -- around Ben Roethlisberger's pass that landed in the hands of Santonio Holmes with only seconds left in Super Bowl XLIII? How about the torque and bend that occurs after Alex Ovechkin hits a slap shot? Sports Science will tell you why after making contact with the ball, Giancarlo Stanton’s follow through doesn’t actually matter. I always wanted to know what it felt like to get tackled by Ray Lewis. Sports Science has it covered. John Brenkus is a producer, director, and television personality. He co-founded BASE productions, which specializes in creating television programming for channels such as ESPN, National Geographic, and Spike TV. He’s the creator of Sports Science, and currently hosts his own podcast, The Brink of Midnight. Here’s more about my fascinating friend. He attended UVA and created his own major, Film Rhetoric Communication Studies, graduating with honors in 3 years. When it all began, he told his mother he wanted to do two of the hardest things he could think of: write a novel and make a movie. He did both. He tell us that sports and science are his "two greatest passions." 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. My job is to navigate the conversation. The guests bring the originality.

Torey Pudwill: Pro Skateboarder and Entrepreneur

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 08:01:00 -0000

“Skating is about putting all of your energy into something that keeps you creative.” This week’s guest is one of the world's top skateboarders, industry entrepreneur, and social media influencer. Torey Pudwill began skating in California when he was 4 years old. At 14, he edited his first video series, "How To Go Pro", and began his trek to stardom. Since then, he's filmed 10 video parts, amassed dozens of sponsors, won X-Games medals and Street League competitions. In 2011, Pudwill won Street Skater of the Year. Professional skateboarder and entrepreneur Jeron Wilson said, "I don't think you can say anything bad about Torey. He's one of those guys that's just one of the greatest skateboarders." On the show, Pudwill and I discuss the world of skateboarding, competitions, preparation, and more. At the start of the show, Pudwill discloses, for the first time publicly, that he has narcolepsy. I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to Suiting Up Podcast, a show where I delve into the stories of some of today’s leading athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, interviewing them and unpacking the psychology of their success.

Samir Chaudry & Colin Rosenblum: How to Create Media

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 08:01:00 -0000

“Storytelling is at the core of human connection.” I’ve been working closely with Samir Chaudry and Colin Rosenblum for the better part of the last 5 years. Together, we created my youtube channel, worked through internal company marketing campaigns, ideated on new projects, and consulted on a number of others. They’re writers, directors, producers, onscreen talent, and entrepreneurs. I’m lucky to have met two guys with vast ingenuity, creativity, and work ethic. On the first half of the episode, we talk about their respective backgrounds in sports, growing up on opposite coasts, and how filmmaking unexpectedly connected them. In the back half of the show, we delve into content development, advice for creators, which platforms you should be targeting, and why audience definition is the most important piece. In today's world, your ability to sell a person, company, product or service relies on your ability to sell. To sell, you need to market. To share. To tell. This requires a strategy, or in some cases a personality, a voice, a camera, a microphone, a pen, or a keyboard. 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. My job is to navigate the conversation. The guests brings the originality. SHOW NOTES 4:10 Origin story 20:30 The Lacrosse Network 30:00 How Colin and Samir met 41:30 Storytelling 45:00 Ideas for content development 59:10 How to create content

Lyle Thompson: Lacrosse Player, Native American Activist

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 08:01:00 -0000

“The first thing I learned from my mom, and applied it to lacrosse…was passion. And I think passion is what leads to happiness.” Lyle Thompson is the all-time leading point scorer in NCAA Division 1 lacrosse history, a Tewaaraton trophy winner (our sport’s Heisman award), a pro lacrosse MVP, and NLL Champion. His legacy of success on the field will live on for generations to come. He grew up in the Onondaga Nation in New York, and was one of five children of Doloris and Jerome Thompson. Today, he and his brothers represent some of the best talent in the professional game, competing in both MLL and NLL, building large digital and social media audiences, and are bringing powerful, cultural awareness of their Native American roots to our sport. Lyle began playing lacrosse at a very early age, and on the show, we discuss how lacrosse carries spiritual and cultural experiences with the Onondaga and Native American communities. He recounts his early years playing in the backyard with his older brothers, accompanied by no net. The Thompson's couldn't afford one. All of Lyle's equipment was refurbished, yet he was the #1 High School recruit in the country...as a sophomore. On the show, Lyle shares with us his favorite workouts, how he fuels his performance, how he's changed his sleep pattern (since listening to our show, actually), and the impact of the traveling professional lacrosse circuit. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the show begins in the back third, where Lyle and I discuss his activism as a Native American professional athlete – specifically his time at the Standing Rock protests during the North Dakota Access Pipeline disputes, as well as his stance on professional sports mascots that are discriminatory the Native American communities. Suiting Up Podcast is a show where I delve into the stories of some of today’s leading athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, interviewing them and unpacking the psychology of their success.

Dhani Jones: NFL Linebacker, TV Star and Entrepreneur

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 08:01:00 -0000

"This is why, how, or what I need to do to be successful, and personally why I relate a lot of business back to the nuances of professional football." This week's Suiting Up Podcast guest is a former NFL linebacker who played 11 seasons professionally, making 2 Super Bowl appearances, college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning a National Championship, and earned All-Big 10 honors for 3 straight seasons. He's a stud. In addition to his football career, Dhani's had a massively successful television career, which he's supplemented with a career operating companies (he's owned and operated a coffee shop, ad agency, and staffing business), and more recently, investing in them. One of my all-time favorite Dhani shows was his Travel Channel series, "Dhani Tackles the Glove", as well as his VH1 show, "Ton of Cash". Today, Dhani's mirroring the success of "Shark Tank" with his own investor hosting national series hit, "Adventure Capitalists", which is regularly programmed on CNBC. I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to “Suiting Up Podcast,” a show where I delve into the stories of some of today’s leading athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, interviewing them and unpacking the psychology of their success. Enjoy the show.

Sam Walker: Author, the Captain Class

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 08:01:00 -0000

This week’s guest was a tremendous interview! Sam Walker is The Wall Street Journal's deputy editor for enterprise, the unit that oversees the paper's in-depth page-one features and investigative reporting projects. A two-time bestselling author, Walker's latest book, "The Captain Class", set out to answer one of the most hotly debated questions in sports: Who are the greatest teams of all time? He devised a formula, applied it to thousands of teams from leagues all over the world, and when he was done, trimmed the best of the best down to a list of the sixteen most dominant teams in history. With the list in hand, Walker became obsessed with another, more complicated question: What did these freak teams have in common? As Walker dug into their stories, a distinct pattern emerged: Each team had the same type of captain — a singular leader with an unconventional skill set who drove it to achieve sustained, historic greatness. So he wrote a book that delivers to us this exact formula. On today's show, we talk about his discoveries, take a deep dive with into the history of success for each captain and team he highlighted in his book, and much, much more. Walker's ability to identify these counterintuitive leadership qualities of the unconventional women and men who drove their respective team's to success is phenomenal. A must-listen show. Suiting Up is a podcast that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entertainment and business.

Hilary Knight: Team USA Hockey Player & Activist

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 07:01:00 -0000

"I knew what we were fighting for was way bigger than us...and transcended our sport." Hilary Knight is the top women's hockey player on the planet. She's a multiple-time Olympian, 7-time gold medal winner of the Ice Hockey World Championships, all-time career point scorer and 2-time National Champion at Wisconsin. She has sponsorship deals with Nike, Red Bull, Visa, GoPro, and more. She's even practiced with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, telling us "cracking a roster spot is next on the list." As impressive as she is on the ice, she's also highly marketable. However, her most impressive quality is her cumulating approach to impacting women's sports and giving back to the next generation of female athletes. In 2016, Knight and her teammates protested USA Hockey, demanding an equal compensation, accommodation, and marketing allocation to their male counterparts. They threatened to hold out of the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championships and the subsequent Olympic Games if they weren't treated equitably. Find out what happened next on this week's episode. I’m your host Paul Rabil and welcome to “Suiting Up Podcast,” a show where I delve into the stories of some of today’s leading athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, interviewing them and unpacking the psychology of their success.

Dave Pietramala: Johns Hopkins Lacrosse Head Coach

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 07:01:00 -0000

Dave Pietramala is widely regarded as the greatest defenseman in lacrosse history. As a member of the U.S. National Hall of Fame, he’s the only person to have won an NCAA national championship as both a player and coach, and the only person to be named both the NCAA player and coach of the year. Incredible. Pietramala – "Coach Petro" – recruited me to play under him at Johns Hopkins University in 2005, where we competed in three NCAA national championships, and winning two. Coach taught me how to work hard, compete, be humble, and respectful. He always harped on “the little things” – like keeping a clean locker room, hustling in between reps, being the first in line, and making eye contact. Each of these learned tactics translate into professional sports, business, and relationships. On the show, we take a drive down memory lane, revisiting learning moments and major adjustments from my freshman year in college. I was fortunate to step onto the field with one of the best senior classes our sport has ever seen, and one that completed an undefeated season, going 16-0. Coach Petro shares with us his origin story, why he chose to play at Johns Hopkins, and what the one-on-one battles were like with our sport’s greatest player, Gary Gait. In 1990, Pietramala’s coaching career began, taking his first coaching gig as an assistant coach for Gilman high school. From there, he earned a part-time collegiate assistant coaching position that paid him $3,000. To supplement his lower wage, Pietramala worked at an aluminum extrusion factory from 6am to 2pm. His subsequent coaching positions took him through the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola College, and Cornell, where he was named the NCAA Coach of the Year. In 2001, Pietramala took the head coaching position at his alma mater, where he’s helped revitalize the Hopkins program. He’s won two national championships, been to seven Final Fours, sixteen NCAA tournaments, and winner of the 2015 Big 10 conference championship. Other topics from our conversation include: - What makes a high performance competitor - The importance of feedback - Pietramala’s biggest regret - Recruiting: what Pietramala is looking for in a young lacrosse player - I teach him how to use Twitter Enjoy the show.

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

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 07:01:00 -0000

"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.

Zach Leonsis: Owner, Washington Capitals and Wizards

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 07:01:00 -0000

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.

Jay Williams: NBA, ESPN Analyst and Entrepreneur

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 07:01:00 -0000

"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.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Entrepreneur and Investor

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 07:01:00 -0000

"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.

Coco Zurita: X-Games Medalist and Philanthropist

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:00:00 -0000

“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.

Joe DeFranco: High Performance Specialist and Entrepreneur

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:01:50 -0000

"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.

Mike Rabil: Dartmouth Football Captain and Entrepreneur

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 07:00:00 -0000

"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.

Nikki and Brie Bella: WWE Wrestlers and Reality TV Stars

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 07:00:00 -0000

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.

Travis Pastrana: Motosports Champion and NitroCircus Co-Founder

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 07:00:00 -0000

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.

Isaiah Kacyvenski: NFL LB and HBS Graduate

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 07:01:00 -0000

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.

Drew Brees: NFL QB and Investor

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 07:00:00 -0000

"I want to be the best football player I can be for as long as I can be." Drew Brees is a man of football records. For starters, he's the Big Ten record-holder in virtually every passing category. Since 2006, he has more touchdowns, passing yards, and 300-yard games than any other NFL quarterback, he's eclipsed the 5,000 passing yard season-marker five times in his career, where no other NFL quarterback has achieved this more than once. He's a Super Bowl Champion, MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and the list goes on. Off the field, Brees owns dozens of franchises, including Dunkin' Donuts, Jimmy John's, Title Boxing Club, and others. He's invested in tech startups, most recently leading a $10mm seed round with a Louisiana-based food delivery startup, Waitr. His investment thesis is tight. In Episode 13, Drew and I talk about recovering from career-threatening injuries, his crossover skill sets from NFL captain and quarterback to business operator and investor, and what characteristics he looks for from founders in pitch meetings as well as rookies in the NFL. 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.

Scott Soshnick: Bloomberg Sports Business Reporter

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 07:00:00 -0000

“Athletes are crossover stars in business, fashion, media, news, you name it.” The business of sports has changed. Athletes have more leverage than ever, ownership groups and labor lawyers are restructuring their Collective Bargaining Agreements, brands are paying more in endorsement dollars, and media spends are being governed by social media influence. In Episode 12, I sit down with the head of Bloomberg Sports Business to discuss the overarching landscape. Bloomberg Media is the largest global business news platform, powered by 2,700 journalists and analysts across 120 countries. Scott Soshnick has written major breaking and news headlines for over 120 publications, and we discuss some of his favorites on the show. 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.

Paul Rabil and Tyler Steinhardt: How We Built This Podcast

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 07:00:00 -0000

"We spend hours in prep and research for each guest on our show." Last week, we published our 10th episode of Suiting Up. It's been a year since my co-creator, Tyler Steinhardt, and I first ideated a podcast theme, built a plan, and began to take our first measured steps towards execution. No matter the business, taking your concept to actionable steps is challenging. Funding the product creation cycle is risky. Going to market is rare. Acquiring customers (or in our case, listeners) is hard. In episode 11, Tyler and I invite you behind-the-scenes to talk about when, why and how we created the show, what we've learned, and the challenges that lie ahead. From founding tech-centric startups, to deploying strategic investments to leveraging social media and building a digital brand, today’s athlete, whether active or retired, is continuously redefining what it means to be a professional off the playing surface. Welcome to Suiting Up with Paul Rabil.

Drew Westervelt: MLL Attackman and Entrepreneur

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 07:00:00 -0000

One of the best goal scorers of the modern era, this 6'5 250 pound attackman has played professionally in Colorado, Maryland, Philadelphia, and New York. He won a Gold Medal at the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships, and co-founded Hex Performance, a athleisure detergent designed for the active person. As a pro lacrosse player and entrepreneur, Drew Westervelt spends close to half of his time in transit; from playing in games, to raising money for his business, testing product, and meeting with retailers. In between, Drew discovered that traditional detergent was no longer effective for cleaning our synthetic workout fabrics - so he found a solution. I love the ingenuity of athletes that crossover into business. They attack a concept much like they would their physical training or opposition's defensive schemes. Drew gives us an inside look at the ebbs and flows of entrepreneurship, and which acquired skillsets in sports have aided his entrepreneurial spirit. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Jeremy Lin: NBA Guard and Philanthropist

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 07:00:00 -0000

"I want to be real. I want to be authentic. I don't want to endorse something that I don't do myself." Many know our next guest from turning around the NBA's 2012 New York Knicks Season. Growing up in Palo Alto, he was the Northern California HS Basketball Player of the Year, graduated as a four-year starter from Harvard, and went undrafted in the NBA. Now playing for the Brooklyn Nets, Jeremy Lin, is the NBA's first player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Lin's social media audience amasses over 20 million followers, he's an investor in several startups, has a participatory stake in esports, and runs the Jeremy Lin Foundation, which loves and serves children, by providing hope, empowerment and leadership development. In this episode, Jeremy and I talk about how he prepares for games in the most traveled pro sports league on the planet, why he does business with family, as well as the media and endorsement frenzy that ensued from Linsanity. He sold more jerseys and appeared on more consecutive Sports Illustrated covers than any other NBA player not named Michael Jordan. Even the Global Language Monitor declared 'Linsanity' had met it’s criteria to be considered an English-language word. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Angela Ruggiero: USA Hockey player and Entrepreneur

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 07:00:00 -0000

"When you're challenged, you find out the most about yourself." Angela Ruggiero is one of the most decorated American Olympians of all time. She competed in four Olympics, playing defense for the women's ice hockey team. Today, she's a member of the International Olympic Committee, serving on the Executive Board as its Chairperson of the Athletes' Commission. Angela Co-Founded and is a Managing Partner of the Sports Innovation Lab, a market research and advisory firm focused on the intersection of sports and innovation. She's the exemplary modern athlete. During the episode we discuss Olympic selection, gender disparity in sports, her decision to go to Harvard Business School, and how that's positioned her well in business. Also, find out the mobile apps on her home screen, and why she strives for 9 hours of rest and still trains regularly. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Miles Chamley-Watson: Olympic Fencer and Model

Mon, 26 Jun 2017 07:00:00 -0000

Miles Chamley-Watson (MCW) was born in London in 1989. He's taken a non-traditional route to a Top 10 world ranking fencer, now Team USA member, and competitor in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. He's 6'5, 185 lbs, an African British-American, with dyed blonde hair and tattoos head-to-toe. Definitely not your stereotypical fencer. That's what makes MCW stand out to us. He's pushing an archaic sport to all new heights, leveraging mass sponsorship deals with Nike, Red Bull, GoPro, and now approaching Japanese-based brands, where fencing is considered a mainstream sport. MCW has vision. He's grown his social media presence by 10x over the past 18 months, far beyond his fencing peers (follow him on instagram @MChamleyWatson). His duality? MCW is also a model, represented by IMG Modeling Agency. He's done global campaigns and has been featured on a 300 foot Times Square Billboard. We discuss all of the aforementioned, including time management, training schedules, and the complex of winning and losing amidst promotional growth.

DeMaurice Smith: NFLPA Executive Director and Players' Inc. President

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 07:00:00 -0000

“Make sure you have the right teammates and trust them to do their job.” In 2009, DeMaurice Smith was unanimously elected as the NFL Players’ Associations Executive Director. Since then, he’s structured a new league CBA, created a $160M annual marketing division, co-founded ACE Media, and engineered the first athlete-driven accelerator, One Team Collective. Smith is empowering the modern day athlete and entrepreneur through education, new platforms, and better working conditions. Throughout our conversation, Smith dives deep into the transactional trenches of negotiations with Roger Goodell, but it’s his advice on mentorship and transformational teaching that’s most impressive. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Julie Foudy: USA Soccer Captain and Author

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 07:00:00 -0000

"Be courageous enough to stop worrying about being perfect." In this episode, we talk about leadership through adversity, playing in the moment, avoiding underselling yourself, and focusing on the significance of what you do - rather than calculating your success in wins and losses. Julie Foudy is a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup Champion and Olympic gold medalist. She played for Team USA for 17 years, registering 271 caps (on-field appearances). She captained the teams' she played for, was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and became the first female ever to be awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award. Today, Julie's a lead color commentator for men's and women's soccer on ESPN, a SportsCenter anchor, and best-selling author of her new book, Choose to Matter: Being Courageously and Fabulously YOU. She's energetic, articulate, intellectually curious, and funny. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Justin Forsett: NFL RB and Entrepreneur

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 07:00:00 -0000

“Scared money doesn’t make money.” Forsett was undersized by most NFL standards, especially for one of the most grueling positions in the league. He's disciplined, motivated, thoughtful, and intelligent. Yet these are only a few of the characteristics that helped the 5 foot 8 running back cut, duck, and spin through NFL defenses. Forsett led a dual life as an NFL running back and co-founder of Shower Pill - athletic body wipes developed for post-workout cleansing when showers aren't readily available. Now fresh off retirement, Forsett and I discuss the challenges of building a business, raising money, marketing, and product sell-through. His approach and mindset is fascinating. Notable, and former all-everything San Francisco 49er, Ronnie Lott, is his business mentor. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Venus Williams: Tennis Star and Entrepreneur

Mon, 29 May 2017 07:01:00 -0000

She’s widely regarded as one of the all-time greats in tennis. With her younger sister, Serena Williams in a best supporting role, she’s helped usher in a new era of power, athleticism and marketability to the women's professional circuit. Her duality as a successful athlete and entrepreneur can be measured by championships and sales figures, but she would tell you her greatest impact has been made through her activism for gender equality in professional sports. Venus Williams is one of the busiest people in sports business. She’s the CEO of her own athleisure company, Eleven by Venus Williams, and CEO of her commercial interior design business, VStarr Interiors (she’s also a minority owner in the Miami Dolphins). For her, it’s important to have life balance, where she’s committed to a plant-based diet, and loves to dance. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Matt Hasselbeck: NFL QB and ESPN Analyst

Mon, 22 May 2017 07:05:00 -0000

Matt Hasselbeck is the first NFL player on Twitter. Why? We’ll dig into what makes the former 41-year-old quarterback tick. Three characteristics that stood out: his intellectual curiosity, risk aggression and leadership. He was curious about Twitter, sure. However, how the BC grad got drafted to the Green Bay Packers is another story. In this episode, we’ll talk franchise tagging, contract negotiations, and specific techniques Hasselbeck uses to train his mind and body. Hasselbeck’s now a lead anchor for ESPN’s football coverage. He’s also on the advisory board for wearable tech company, Mc10 Inc. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Bill Belichick: New England Patriots Head Coach

Mon, 15 May 2017 07:01:00 -0000

“Cutting at the right time is more important than being fast.” Coach Belichick is a man of few words – and very few interviews. Actually, this may be his first podcast ever. He runs the New England Patriots like a lean startup. Belichick is at the top of an org chart that employs the fewest number of staffers of any NFL team, he invests in players’ that fit their winning culture, and focuses team efforts on compartmentalizing tasks – or how he famously puts it: “Do Your Job.” Belichick talks about why Lawrence Taylor was the best football player he’s ever seen. And when it’s all said and done, I think Belichick very well may be considered the best coach of all-time. Welcome to Suiting Up, where professional lacrosse player, operator and investor, Paul Rabil, talks to influencers within the world of sports to examine the modern duality of a professional athlete.

Preview Episode

Tue, 02 May 2017 22:12:04 -0000

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