As former Stanford roommates and now business partners, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni share their experience as startup founders and the complexities of being young professionals—from financial literacy, social impact, and navigating networking (ever been hit on through LinkedIn?). With exclusive access to top experts, they offer an inside look at their chaotic lives alongside career insights from their network of thought leaders. Watch The Burnouts pursue their dreams while trying to keep their lives from going up in flames. Will they burn out? We’ll find out.
How did Shelby Sapp go from selling rat poison door-to-door to becoming a 24-year-old founder making 8-figures per year? It's the same trick she uses to win arguments with her fiancé and pick the wedding venue she actually wants... In this episode, Shelby breaks down the tactics she's used that can win over anybody. Shelby Sapp is a high-ticket sales coach who teaches sales psychology to other women. She started knocking on doors at 18 selling pest control, became the top first-year rep in the entire company, and was making $300K a summer by 21 — before going all-in on remote high-ticket sales and building a training program that turns servers, nurses, and bartenders into five-figure-a-month closers. Chapters 00:00 - The Bartender Who Made $62K in Sales Her First Month 01:16 - Why You Don't Need to Be Extroverted to Sell 02:16 - From Zero Sales to Breaking the Company Record 08:07 - Top Confidence Tips 09:04 - Female-Specific Sales Tips 10:38 - The Sales Trick That Closes Deals 13:49 - Why She'll Never Take a Brand Deal 14:34 - When to Quit Your 9 to 5 16:28 - From Door Sales to High-Ticket Closing 19:22 - Why You Have to Be a Psychopath in Sales 20:14 - Using Sales Tactics in Your Relationships 29:48 - Making More Than Him 33:22 - If She Started Over at 20, What She'd Do 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/shelby.sapp 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Barbara Corcoran is the founder of the Corcoran Group, one of New York's most iconic real estate brands, and a star investor on ABC's Shark Tank for 17 seasons. From being told she was stupid in school and her ex saying she'd never succeed without him to building a 1,000-person company and selling it for $66 million, she's become one of the most trusted voices in business and a fairy godmother to hundreds of entrepreneurs. Chapters 00:00 - Her Biggest Failure Started in Childhood 00:41 - 22 Jobs By 23 and Becoming Her Own Boss 01:26 - The Boyfriend Who Loaned Her $1,000 02:18 - The Insult That Built Her Empire 04:37 - Marrying "Lucky Bill" and His Craziest Stunt 07:42 - Scaling to 1,000 People and the $66M Exit 09:18 - How She'd Rebuild With Only $1,000 Today 10:06 - Her "Queen of New York" Vision 11:22 - The 3 Traits Every Great Entrepreneur Has 14:17 - Why She Bets on People With Unhealthy Childhoods 16:52 - The Self-Tape in Her Head Until 35 19:55 - Her Best and Worst Bosses Ever 21:18 - How She Fires People (Always on Fridays at 10) 22:58 - Getting Her Shark Tank Seat Back After Being Fired 25:41 - What Makes Her Pass on a Shark Tank Deal 27:49 - Her Advice to Her 20-Year-Old Self 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/barbaracorcoran 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Michael Rubin breaks down the truth about the White Party, why relationships matter more than people realize, and how he thinks about building rooms where power, business, and culture collide. He shares how Fanatics grew into a $40 billion company, why he treats networking as a real business skill, and what most people misunderstand about success. Michael Rubin is the founder of Fanatics and one of the most connected figures in sports, business, and culture. In this conversation, he opens up about the White Party, building authentic relationships, running philanthropy like a business, and the work ethic, resilience, and mindset behind becoming a billionaire. Chapters 00:00 - Relationships Are Everything 01:25 - The Meek Mill Story That Changed His Life 05:19 - Why He Started Reform Alliance 06:09 - Running Philanthropy Like a Business 09:04 - The Truth About the White Party 12:41 - Sophia’s White Party Fall & Meeting Jay-Z 13:53 - The Only 3 Events He Throws Each Year 15:19 - How He Learns by Talking to People 17:16 - Spotting Young Talent Before Everyone Else 17:54 - Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities & Starting Young 20:10 - What His Kids Have Taught Him 21:46 - Sleeping 4.5 Hours a Night 22:30 - Recovery & Trying to Live Longer 23:19 - Weight Loss, Ozempic & Not Taking Himself Too Seriously 26:10 - If He Lost Everything, How He’d Rebuild 28:02 - The Most Important Early Business Decisions 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/michaelrubin 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Chloe Shih breaks down all the best dating tips she wishes she knew in her 20s. Learn how to flirt, which guys to date, and how to build a relationship that lasts. Chloe Shih is a creator, entrepreneur, and former tech operator who shares an honest look at modern ambition, relationships, and personal growth. She reflects on love, therapy, career pressure, and how the right partnership can reshape the way you think about success. Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:34 - What makes a relationship actually work 03:32 - The biggest lesson from couples counseling 03:55 - The “four horsemen” that predict relationship failure 06:33 - Chloe’s advice on flirting and seduction 07:22 - How she met Kevin 08:39 - The disastrous first date 11:43 - How Kevin won her over after rejection 15:37 - The Facebook prom turning point 16:43 - The 25-item partner checklist 17:22 - What was actually on Chloe’s list 18:36 - Why you should not date the person who only looks good on paper 20:09 - How a happy relationship changes your career 20:30 - Redefining ambition and “the bag” 21:45 - Success without scarcity 22:20 - Good mindset trick 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/chloe.shih https://www.instagram.com/jomo.pod 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Eyebrows built a billion-dollar brand—and Anastasia Soare explains exactly why. In this episode, you’ll learn the “golden ratio” method she used to shape brows for any face, plus the business and personal decisions that turned a Hollywood brow room into Anastasia Beverly Hills. Anastasia Soare is the founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills and the pioneer behind modern brow shaping and the eyebrows of Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and more. From leaving communist Romania with her daughter to becoming Hollywood’s “best kept secret,” she built a global beauty empire by mastering her craft, obsessing over education, and staying ahead of culture. Chapters 00:00 - Why eyebrows define the face 01:20 - The 80s tweezing mistake that started everything 02:30 - Golden ratio brows (the pencil method) 04:10 - Working at 12 in Romania + learning work ethic 06:10 - Leaving communist Romania + arriving in America 08:35 - Discovering the brow opportunity in 90s Hollywood 10:45 - Quitting with $5,000 to start her own business 12:10 - The early salon years + creating products clients demanded 13:30 - Oprah: the moment that changed everything 19:30 - Nordstrom + the live demo that sold the Brow Studio idea 21:10 - Beginner beauty advice + how to practice products 23:20 - Expanding beyond brows: contour + the kit that sold out fast 28:20 - Biggest makeup mistakes and trends (over-contour, blending, laminated brows) 29:55 - If you only have 5 minutes: the simplest routine 31:10 - Why she refused “pencil-thin” brows (and what doesn’t grow back) 34:50 - Building social early: Instagram, tutorials, and influencer community 38:10 - Working with her daughter (including firing her) + running ABH together 43:45 - Learning finances the hard way + funding growth 45:00 - What’s next: innovation, expansion, and global markets 48:20 - Advice for entrepreneurs: resilience, focus, and starting before you feel ready 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/anastasiasoare https://www.instagram.com/anastasiabeverlyhills 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Alex Cooper breaks down the business side nobody sees: how she and her husband Matt built Unwell up from a scrappy startup, how podcasting revenue really works, and what rules she learned the hard way negotiating $60M and $125M deals. Alex Cooper is the creator and host of Call Her Daddy and the co-founder of Unwell, a modern media company spanning podcasts, TV/film, live events, consumer products, and a fast-growing creative agency. Chapters 00:00 - Alex on going “full circle” and revealing the CEO side 02:00 - Building Unwell from Host to Founder 02:45 - A day in the life 05:20 - How Unwell makes money 07:15 - The video ad revolution 08:10 - Live events, merch, and consumer products as revenue engines 09:05 - Launching the Unwell creative agency 10:50 - Which division is the “cash king” (and what’s catching up fast) 13:30 - Inside mega-deals: Spotify vs Amazon 16:15 - Why distribution mattered 18:30 - Agents, fees, and who should get paid first (her “wait—no” moment) 21:10 - The hard rule: keep incentives clean (and avoid cozy backchannels) 23:00 - The biggest mistakes: trust, documentation, and walking away from millions 26:20 - Hiring top operators and building a high-standard culture 31:40 - PE, acquisitions, and what it takes to go to the next level 34:25 - Incentives for execs 35:05 - How Alex and Matt split decision-making 39:25 - Handling narratives about ambition, success, and being misunderstood 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/alexandracooper https://www.instagram.com/callherdaddy https://www.instagram.com/unwell 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Rachel Zoe breaks down how to build a standout career in fashion before you feel ready. You’ll also learn her practical frameworks for getting dressed with less stress and more impact... Rachel Zoe is a celebrity stylist, fashion entrepreneur, and pop-culture icon known for shaping red-carpet style and building a major lifestyle brand. She shares the behind-the-scenes realities of creative work, ambition, and reinvention. Chapters 00:00 Intro + the pressure of “no margin for error” 00:12 The Tommy Hilfiger break that changed everything 04:12 Huge shoots and learning on the job 05:12 The realities of styling high-profile clients 07:07 Styling for *them*, not for you 10:14 Psychology of styling 13:21 The “uniform” method 15:54 Top fashion essentials for all women 18:24 Dressing for the job you want 20:32 Photographic memory + how Rachel thinks visually 22:43 Breaking into fashion today 26:49 Relationship advice 33:57 Work-life balance 35:07 Why she joined Real Housewives 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/rachelzoe 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Sahil Bloom had everything society tells you to want: Stanford degree, private equity job, money, status — but he was miserable. Drinking seven nights a week. 40 pounds overweight. Seeing his parents once a year. In this episode, Sahil breaks down the moment that changed everything: a friend calculating he’d only see his parents 15 more times before they died. Within 45 days, he quit his high-paying job, sold his house, and moved across the country to redesign his life around what actually mattered. Now the New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Types of Wealth, Sahil shares why money only buys happiness up to a point, how to build real wealth beyond just finances, and why “nobody is thinking about you” might be the most freeing advice for your 20s. We talk about quitting safely, replacing your salary with side hustles, AI as the biggest mispriced opportunity right now, finding a mentor (yes, including Tim Cook), building leverage through content, and how to design a life you won’t regret. If you’ve ever felt successful on paper but empty in real life, this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00 The Life That Looked Perfect (But Wasn’t) 02:40 Private Equity, Status & Silent Burnout 05:55 The “15 Times Left” Wake-Up Call 09:30 Quitting a High-Paying Job in 45 Days 13:15 Redefining Wealth Beyond Money 17:05 The 5 Types of Wealth Explained 21:20 Measuring Yourself on the Wrong Scoreboard 25:10 Does Money Actually Buy Happiness? 29:00 Replacing Your Salary Before You Quit 33:10 AI as the Biggest Mispriced Opportunity 37:00 How to Find (and Earn) a Great Mentor 41:10 “Nobody Is Thinking About You” & Designing Your Life 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Rebecca Minkoff built a global fashion brand from a $3.25/hour internship, a scrappy “I ❤️ NY” tee after 9/11, and one breakout bag that women literally stopped her on the street to ask about. With no connections and no safety net, she moved to New York at 18, figured it out in real time, and turned hustle into a multi-million-dollar brand worn by celebrities and carried everywhere. In this episode, Rebecca walks through the real story behind the “Morning After” bag, what it was like losing 70% of revenue overnight during COVID, and why most founders should think twice before raising venture capital. She shares hard-earned lessons on hiring and firing, betting on yourself, building a brand in the age of social media, and navigating fame through Real Housewives. If you’ve ever wanted to start something from scratch, pivot when everything falls apart, or build a brand that lasts longer than trends — this episode is your blueprint. Chapters 00:00 From No Connections to Fashion Icon 00:18 Moving to NYC With $3.25/Hour 01:19 Intern to Founder, Starting Her Own Line 02:00 I ❤️ NY Shirt Breakthrough 03:17 Betting It All on Bags 05:43 Going All In, Quitting Styling for Good 06:11 Networking Like Cash 09:29 Building a Brand in 2025 vs. 2005 10:17 Hiring, Firing & Learning to Let Go 19:52 COVID, 70% Revenue Drop & Rebuilding the Business 31:15 Real Housewives, Brand Impact & Mental Toll 35:04 NFL, Amazon & Building Strategic Partnerships 36:55 What’s Next 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/beckyminkoff https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaminkoff 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Luis Von Ahn details the story behind Duolingo and its famous owl, how to do handle marketing in the TikTok era, hiring young talent, and using addictive habits for good. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro & The Owl 00:02:35 Unhinged Marketing 00:06:09 TikTok Era 00:08:06 Owl As the Face + Approving Risky Posts 00:10:31 Hiring New Grads and “No Assholes” 00:14:29 Making Learning Feel Delightful 00:16:57 Addictive Habit Loops 00:18:38 Expanding Beyond Languages 00:19:26 Guatemala Roots + Free Education Mission 00:23:40 AI 00:31:00 Impact 00:36:58 What's Next for Duolingo? 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/duolingo 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Phoebe and Sophia detail the best lessons they have learned from the career playbooks of the most successful people in the world, from how to leverage relationships in your career to what makeup to wear. The Burnouts celebrate hitting 200,000 subscribers, and launching Phia, which has already reached one million users and raised a $35 million Series A. Thank you for watching, for subscribing, and for being part of this journey with us. Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Leveraging Relationships in Negotiating 03:12 - Screen for Niceness 05:10 - Office Culture 06:30 - What Makeup to Wear? 10:40 - Routines & Uniforms 12:06 - Future Self 12:46 - Top Goals for 2026 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Codie Sanchez breaks down why chasing fame is a losing game—and why real wealth is often built quietly through “boring” businesses most people overlook. Drawing on her background in institutional finance and small-business acquisitions, Codie explains how she spots unfair opportunities, why she exited industries like cannabis despite strong returns, and which unsexy sectors can consistently generate cash today. The conversation dives into college versus trade school, the true value of elite networks, and how parental expectations can hold young people back from building the life they actually want. Codie shares practical advice on making more money early in your career—finding your unfair advantage, helping your boss win, stacking skills, and learning to negotiate by understanding how value is really created inside a business. They also cover sales, mentorship, investing basics, and how to start learning deals without taking reckless risks. Codie closes with a candid take on investing in your health, appearance, and resilience—arguing that winning often comes down to doing hard things early and playing the game as it actually exists, not how we wish it worked. Chapters 0:00 Rich vs Famous 3:17 Overlooked Businesses & Early Investing 9:42 Why Boring Businesses Win 17:11 College, Trade School & Social Capital 26:08 Parents, Pressure & Choosing Advice 34:19 How to Make More Money Early 42:07 Sales, Skills & Standing Out at Work 50:23 Investing Basics & Learning Deals 57:41 Health, Appearance & Playing to Win 1:03:18 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up 🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/codiesanchez 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
He started a podcast in his bedroom before most people land their first job. Now, Harry Stebbings runs one of the most influential platforms in venture capital and manages a $400M fund. In this episode of The Burnouts, Harry sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to unpack what actually drives success — and why so many smart, ambitious people stay stuck. From dropping out of law school to building leverage through content, Harry shares the lessons he learned the hard way about confidence, decision-making, and playing the long game. This conversation goes far beyond startups and investing. Harry opens up about the confidence gap holding people back, why men bluff and women wait, and how likeability, storytelling, and persistence often matter more than raw intelligence. He explains how content became one of the most powerful tools in his career, why distribution now shapes opportunity, and how relationships — not resumes — drive the biggest decisions. Harry also reflects on regret, missed deals, mentorship, and the uncomfortable truth that success often comes from taking action before you feel ready. Whether you’re early in your career, thinking about building something of your own, or just feeling behind, this episode offers a rare, honest look at what actually works. Chapters 00:00 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship 00:40 – From The Social Network to Dropping Out of Law School 01:55 – Building a Fund Through Media & Network Effects 02:31 – Why Venture Capital Over Being a Founder 03:38 – Co-Founders, Breakups & Hard Personal Lessons 07:18 – What Actually Makes a Great Founder 08:55 – Gender, Confidence & Entrepreneurship 14:23 – Mentorship vs Coaching & How to Get Access 16:40 – Content as a Distribution Weapon 23:29 – Finding Your First True Fans 25:18 – Building & Managing High-Performance Teams 29:22 – Investment Mistakes & Missed Billion-Dollar Deals 31:35 – Vulnerability, Trust & People Skills 36:05 – WhatsApp, Fundraising & Relationship Scaling 37:30 – Trust, Endurance & Outworking Everyone 40:00 – Storytelling, Creativity & the Risk of AI 44:16 – Being a Great Investor When Things Go Wrong 45:02 – Final Advice: Take the First Step 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Harry Stebbings 20VC 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow . About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
One day, she was racing Daytona. The next, she was shooting for Victoria’s Secret. NASCAR driver, model, and trailblazer Toni Breidinger is living two worlds, and paying the price to stay in both. In this episode of The Burnouts, Toni sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to reveal the brutal, behind-the-scenes reality of motorsports. She opens up about being told she needed $1–2 million just to race, moving across the country at 18 with no funding, and surviving by doing Instacart by day and cold emails by night. Toni breaks down why talent isn’t enough in NASCAR, how social media literally saved her career, and what it’s like being the only woman racing NASCAR full-time—from unequal pay to brand sponsorship politics. She also shares how she navigates modeling in a male-dominated sport, why she turned down six-figure OnlyFans offers, and how she built a sustainable career when every race depends on sponsorship dollars. Whether you’re chasing a nontraditional career, building a personal brand, or betting on yourself when the odds feel stacked against you, this episode is packed with raw honesty, hard lessons, and real strategy. Chapters 00:00 – unequal pay & being the only woman in nascar 03:00 – starting racing at age 9 06:30 – realizing racing costs millions 09:00 – told she needed $1–2 million to compete 11:00 – moving cross-country at 18 13:00 – instacart by day, cold emails by night 16:00 – how social media saved her career 20:00 – brand deals, sponsorships & unequal pay 25:00 – modeling, victoria’s secret & sports illustrated 30:00 – turning down six-figure onlyfans offers 36:00 – funding races & surviving motorsports 48:00 – what’s next: the road to the cup series 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Toni Breidinger 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow. About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
He arrived in New York with $100, slept in parks, showered at the YMCA — and went on to invent the tube top, dress Studio 54, and build a billion-dollar fashion empire. In this episode of The Burnouts, fashion icon Elie Tahari joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni alongside his son and CEO Jeremey Tahari for a rare, multi-generational conversation about survival, ambition, taste, and legacy. Elie walks through his unbelievable journey: immigrating to New York alone, working as an electrician by day and selling clothes by night, sneaking into a fashion show through a back door, and accidentally creating one of the most iconic garments of the 1970s. From disco dresses to power suits, he explains how watching women on New York streets — not runways — taught him how to anticipate what they’d want next. Jeremey opens up about growing up inside the business, stepping out of his father’s shadow, and eventually taking over as CEO — while expanding the company into real estate, licensing, and global scale. Together, they unpack what it really looks like to work with family, disagree on taste, hand over control, and build something meant to last 50+ years. This episode is about the American dream in its rawest form — luck, hustle, intuition, ego checks, and building success with heart. If you’re building from scratch, navigating family dynamics at work, or trying to define success on your own terms, this one’s required listening. Chapters 00:00 – Arriving in NYC with $100 01:00 – Sleeping in parks & finding community 03:00 – From electrician to fashion hustle 04:30 – Inventing the tube top 06:30 – Sneaking into a fashion show & landing 250K orders 08:30 – Studio 54, disco & early fashion moments 11:00 – Dressing women entering the workforce 13:00 – Building a fashion empire 15:00 – Real estate, licensing & vertical integration 17:00 – Father–son dynamics in business 19:30 – Taking over as CEO 22:00 – Disagreeing on taste & generational shifts 25:00 – Persian culture, fashion & femininity 27:30 – Leadership, hiring & humility 30:00 – Legacy, luck & advice for the burnouts 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Elie Tahari Jeremey Tahari Tahari Group 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts — they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Try it now → https://www.phia.com About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond headlines to explore the real stories, breakdowns, and breakthroughs that define your 20s. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Tommy Hilfiger, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and other entrepreneurs redefining our generation. 🔔 Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Allison Ellsworth went from oil & gas spreadsheets to building Poppi, the prebiotic soda that broke the internet, rewrote the rules on “healthy soda,” and sold to PepsiCo in a multibillion-dollar deal. In this episode of The Burnouts, Allison joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to share how a DIY apple-cider-vinegar tonic from her Texas kitchen turned into the soda of the next generation. She walks through the whole arc: farmers’ markets, Whole Foods, Shark Tank while nine months pregnant, a risky rebrand, and the TikTok storytime that quietly did $100K on Amazon overnight. Allison also gets brutally honest about working with her husband, hiring too slowly while growth rockets, and what happens to your identity when you suddenly have both a Super Bowl ad and an exit. She shares the unglamorous side of lawsuits, burnout, mom guilt, and figuring out “what’s next” when you technically never have to work again. If you’re building a consumer brand, obsessing over content, or just trying to stay ambitious without completely frying your nervous system, this episode is a masterclass in playing the long game — and still having fun. Chapters 00:00 – From Texas kid to unexpected founder 02:00 – ACV shots, health issues & the Poppi spark 04:30 – Farmers’ market hustle → Whole Foods breakthrough 06:30 – Shark Tank at 9 months pregnant 08:30 – The risky rebrand: Mother Beverage → Poppi 11:00 – Launching Poppi during COVID 13:00 – TikTok virality & selling out overnight 16:00 – Creator-first marketing & celebrity fans 19:00 – Flavor wins, flavor fails & building a real soda 22:00 – Working with your husband (and being wrong sometimes) 24:30 – Sugar, lawsuits & building in CPG 27:00 – Inside the PepsiCo acquisition 30:00 – Life after the exit & what’s next for Allison 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Allison Ellsworth Poppi 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts — they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download now and join the community of 800,000+ smarter shoppers. About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond headlines to explore the real stories, breakdowns, and breakthroughs that define your 20s. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Tommy Hilfiger, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and other entrepreneurs redefining our generation. 🔔 Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Founder and creative force Jasmin Larian Hekmat reveals the untold story of how she turned a scrappy side hobby into Cult Gaia, one of the most recognizable fashion brands of the last decade. Before the Ark Bag exploded across Instagram, Jasmin was wiring flower crowns at her kitchen table, hauling a flower cart to festivals, and giving away bags no one would buy. In this episode of The Burnouts, she tells Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni how a single product quietly snowballed into a global sensation and reshaped her entire career. Jasmin breaks down the five years before Cult Gaia “hit,” the moment the Ark Bag went from ignored to iconic, and the relentless creativity that keeps her one step ahead of imitators. She shares how she built a multimillion-dollar business without raising a cent of venture capital, how she protects the brand’s fiercely artful DNA, and why her designs are meant to stop someone in their tracks. From vase purses to playable backgammon clutches to fragrance bottles that feel like sculpture, Jasmin explains how she turns wild ideas into objects people obsess over. She also opens up about motherhood, running a 100 person team, trusting her gut when everyone says no, and staying original in an industry that copies everything. If you are building a fashion brand, dreaming up your first product, or trying to stand out in a crowded industry, this conversation will change the way you think about creativity, community, and staying power. Chapters 00:00 The Hobby That Accidentally Started Cult Gaia 02:00 The $38 Bag No One Wanted 04:00 The Viral Moment That Changed Everything 06:00 How She Built a Brand With Zero Investors 08:00 Surviving Copycats and Staying Original 10:00 Building a Team While Raising Three Kids 12:00 The Pressure Behind a “Perfect” Brand 14:00 Designing Pieces People Can’t Ignore 16:00 What Founders Get Wrong About Success 18:00 Lightning Round: Style, Risks, and Reinvention 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Jasmin Larian Hekmat 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia are the founders of Phia, a new fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download now and join the community of 800,000+ happy users. About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with top founders, creators, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond headlines to explore the real stories, breakdowns, and breakthroughs that define your twenties. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and Tommy Hilfiger. Subscribe for the inside playbook to build your dream career.
Founder and author Grace Beverley built a multimillion-dollar portfolio of brands—TALA, Shreddy, and The Productivity Method—before turning 25. In this episode of The Burnouts, Grace joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to share how she went from posting anonymous fitness content at Oxford to leading some of the UK’s fastest-growing female-founded companies. She breaks down the pressure of being a young woman in power and the bias female founders still face. Grace opens up about juggling multiple businesses, navigating personal grief, and the hidden cost of public success. She also speaks candidly about relationships, ambition, and the standards women are expected to meet. Whether you’re building a brand, raising capital, or figuring out how to stay ambitious without burning out, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at what it really takes for young women to succeed. Chapters 00:00 – From anonymous fitness posts to Oxford 02:15 – The £1 ebooks that changed her life 05:20 – Building her first multimillion-dollar business 08:10 – Why women must stop chasing “shiny” projects 11:00 – The truth about scaling TALA & Shreddy 14:30 – Fundraising bias & the questions women still get asked 18:00 – Miscarriage, grief & running a company 21:15 – The impossible standards for female founders 24:00 – Relationships that dim ambition 27:00 – Why social media punishes successful women 30:00 – Building Retrograde & the creator economy 33:00 – How Grace makes decisions fast 36:00 – What she wishes every young woman knew about power 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Grace Beverley 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts — they’re the founders of Phia, a new fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and try it yourself. About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond headlines to explore the real stories, breakdowns, and breakthroughs that define your 20s. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Tommy Hilfiger, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and other entrepreneurs redefining our generation. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
In this episode of The Burnouts, Steve sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to share the true story of how he went from a college dropout selling shoes in Queens to building one of the most influential footwear companies in the world. He talks about the early instincts that set him apart, the moment he knew he had something special, and the creative philosophy that has kept his brand relevant for more than three decades. Steve also opens up about the twists and turns of his journey — including learning hard lessons during the Wolf of Wall Street years and stepping away from the company before returning more focused and energized than ever. He reflects on the loyalty of his team, the power of staying close to the customer, and why speed, instinct, and obsession with product remain his North Star. Plus: the story behind his first viral shoe, his unfiltered take on dupe culture, the trends he loves (and hates), how Gen Z made him go viral again, and the fashion advice he wishes everyone knew earlier. Whether you’re building a brand, navigating a major life pivot, or chasing a creative vision, this conversation is a masterclass in staying true to your instincts, evolving with culture, and building something that lasts. Chapters 00:00 – Growing up in Queens and falling in love with shoes 01:45 – Dropping out of college and learning retail 03:20 – Starting Steve Madden with $1,100 06:00 – Product instinct, speed to market, and early hits 08:45 – Becoming a “pirate” in fashion 11:00 – The Wolf of Wall Street years and the IPO 14:00 – Prison, addiction, and rebuilding his life 16:30 – Reinventing the Steve Madden brand 18:00 – Dupe culture, controversy, and staying relevant 20:00 – What he hates (and loves) in fashion today 22:00 – Designing shoes women actually want 23:30 – AI, TikTok, and the future of trend cycles 26:00 – Lessons from failure and advice for young founders 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Steve Madden 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts — they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download Phia for free in the App Store.
Founder, author, and beauty trailblazer Alli Webb built Drybar from a simple blowout idea into a $255M beauty empire that transformed the industry. In this episode of The Burnouts, Alli sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to share how she went from doing hair in her living room to leading one of the most recognizable service brands in the country. She talks about the explosive rise of Drybar, selling the company for hundreds of millions, and the personal challenges that followed at the height of her success. Alli opens up about losing her sense of identity after the sale, navigating grief and motherhood, and rebuilding her life through her new brand, Messy. She reflects on what the beauty world gets wrong, the lessons she learned as a female founder, and the real cost of fast growth. Whether you are building a brand, growing a service business, or figuring out the next chapter after burnout, this conversation is a powerful look at resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose again. Chapters 00:00 – From stay-at-home mom to mobile blowouts 02:30 – The idea that sparked Drybar 05:00 – Opening the first Brentwood studio 07:00 – When Drybar went viral overnight 10:00 – Raising capital & navigating hypergrowth 13:00 – The truth about selling a company 15:30 – Alli’s personal life falls apart 18:00 – Losing her identity after the exit 21:00 – Rebuilding from scratch & finding purpose 23:00 – Launching her new brand, Messy 26:00 – Advice for founders rebuilding their lives 29:00 – What Alli wishes every woman knew about success 🔗 FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Alli Webb 🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts — they’re the founders of Phia, a new fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Try it now for free in the App Store . About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond headlines to explore the real stories, breakdowns, and breakthroughs that define your 20s. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Tommy Hilfiger, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss and other entrepreneurs redefining our generation. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.
Apple Podcasts rankings supplied by Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed July 31, 2026.
Apple and Apple Podcasts are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
