Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

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.

Transcribed - Published: 17 May 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 May 2021

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!

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 12 April 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 15 March 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 March 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 15 February 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 February 2021

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. 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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 February 2021

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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 January 2021

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!

Transcribed - Published: 31 July 2019

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!

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2019

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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 July 2019

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.

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2019

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2019

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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2019

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.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2018

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

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 21 August 2018

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)

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2018

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)

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2018

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

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2018

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).

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2018

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).

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2018

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.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2018

"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).

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2018

"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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2018

"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).

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2018

"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.

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2018