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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.

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.

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 moreHope you enjoy!

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.

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. 

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.

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 world3. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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'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 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.

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, 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!

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!

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.

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 cultureWith 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.