The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia
by Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni
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.
Episodes
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Gloria Steinem's Unreleased Interview: Life Lessons for the Next Generation
If Gloria's vision resonates with you, the Gloria Foundation is continuing her work: gloriasfoundation.org Chapters 00:00 Growing Up When Careers Weren't an Option 01:12 Why She Went to India Instead of Getting Married 03:53 Starting Ms. Magazine 04:54 Abortion Rights Then, Now, and What to Do...
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Why Most People Lose Arguments (Sales Tricks That Made Shelby Sapp $1M/Month at 24)
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…
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Shark Tank Icon: Turning $1,000 to $1Billion! (ft. Barbara Corcoran)
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…
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What Really Happens at Billionaires' Private Parties (Michael Rubin)
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…
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Dating 101 as an Ambitious Woman: How to Seduce Anyone (ft. Chloe Shih)
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...
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Billionaire Makeup Artist Spills the Kardashians' Beauty Secrets & How Celebs get Perfect Faces
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...
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Alex Cooper: The TRUTH About Call Her Daddy and my $100M+ Media Empire
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...
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Celebrity Stylist: How To Stand Out, Style Celebrities & 10-min Morning Fashion Upgrade (Rachel Zoe)
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…
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Money Expert: Quit Your 9-5 and Get Rich the Easy Way. This is What I Did. (ft. Sahil Bloom)
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...
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Fashion Design Expert: How to Make Iconic Outfits & Make It Big in Fashion (Rebecca Minkoff)
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...
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Duolingo CEO: How to Brainwash Yourself to Success and Get Addicted to Learning. Follow these habits
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...
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The TOP Lessons from Building a $185M Business (Sophia Kianni & Phoebe Gates)
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...
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The Money Expert: 5 Businesses That Can Make You RICH (Without a 9-to-5!) ft. Codie Sanchez
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...
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$400M Investor: They're lying about how you get rich! Turn $0 into Millions (Harry Stebbings)
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...
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Meet the 25 year-old Victoria's Secret model who's NASCAR's only female driver (ft. Toni Breidinger)
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...
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Meet the 25-Year-Old Taking Over the $2B Elie Tahari Empire
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...
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Poppi Founder: How I Went from Stay-at-Home Mom to Building a $2B Healthy Soda Empire
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…
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Meet the Cult Gaia Founder Who Turned Rejection Into a $50 MILLION Brand
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…
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Meet the Oxford Student Who Built Three Multimillion-Dollar Brands by 25 (ft. Grace Beverley)
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...
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Billionaire Steve Madden Went to Prison, SUED Adidas, Sold Designer DUPES and Built a Fashion Empire
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…
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How a Stay-at-Home Mom Built the $255 Million Drybar Empire (ft. Alli Webb)
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…
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Founder of Sporty & Rich: How To Build A $50 Million Empire At 26 (Emily Oberg)
Founder, creative director, and cultural icon Emily Oberg has built one of the most recognizable lifestyle brands of our generation: Sporty & Rich. In this episode of The Burnouts, Emily Oberg sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to unpack her journey from Complex producer to fashion...
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From Homeless To Millionaire Founder: Simon Squibb Reveals How To Change Your Life Fast
From homeless teen to multi-millionaire entrepreneur, investor, and mentor to millions, Simon Squibb has lived one of the most extraordinary entrepreneurial journeys of our time. In this episode of The Burnouts, Simon Squibb sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to unpack how losing his...
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How This Billionaire Became the Healthiest Human Alive (ft. Bryan Johnson)
Welcome to the episode that might change your life (or at least your bedtime routine). Bryan Johnson made bank building Braintree Venmo. Then he walked away from it all to spend $2M a year turning his body into a science experiment. Now? He says he’s the healthiest human alive, and he’s got the...
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Founder of Nasty Gal: They're LYING About How to Get Rich. I Dropped Out and Made $350M!
Sophia Amoruso built a $350M fashion empire from her bedroom—and lost it all before rebuilding her life from the ground up. In this episode of The Burnouts, the original “Girlboss” and founder of Nasty Gal joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni for her most unfiltered conversation yet. From selling...
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$20M YouTuber Lilly Singh: How to Tell a Story That People Remember, and The #1 Top Confidence Trick
Comedian, creator, actress, author, and activist Lilly Singh has built a career on breaking barriers and rewriting the rules. In this episode of The Burnouts, Lilly Singh sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to share her journey: from growing up as the “disappointing” second daughter in…
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Rainn Wilson: Why I Reinvented Myself After “The Office”
Rainn Wilson is best known as Dwight Schrute from The Office, one of the most iconic characters in TV history. But behind the legendary role, he faced burnout, fame overload, and the realization that success alone would never make him happy. On The Burnouts Podcast, Rainn Wilson joins Phoebe…
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40 Years of Business Advice in 60 Minutes (Makeup Artist Bobbi Brown)
Makeup artist, mogul, author, hotelier—Bobbi Brown has built more than one empire (and reinvented herself along the way). In this episode of The Burnouts, Bobbi sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to talk about what it really takes to build an iconic brand, sell it for millions, and…
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Tommy Hilfiger: A.I. Will Change Fashion Forever & No One Is Ready For It
Fashion legend, entrepreneur, and cultural icon—Tommy Hilfiger has spent over four decades shaping global style, from bell-bottom jeans in upstate New York to a fashion empire sold in more than 100 countries. In this episode of The Burnouts, Tommy Hilfiger sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia...
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How a Teen Model Built a $100M Fashion Empire From Her Garage (ft. Anine Bing)
Danish-born model, blogger, and entrepreneur Anine Bing went from selling her secondhand clothes online to building one of the fastest-growing contemporary fashion houses in the world. With 40+ retail stores, a global online presence, and a signature rock-and-roll yet timeless aesthetic, Anine…
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Gary Vee: Businesses Nobody Knows About That Can Make You RICH (Without a 9-to-5!)
He got booed for saying “f*** Steve Jobs.” He built a media empire out of his dad’s liquor store. And now, Gary Vaynerchuk—better known as Gary Vee—is the brutally honest voice redefining what success really means. In this episode of The Burnouts, entrepreneur and bestselling author Gary Vee…
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“Sweet But Psycho” Singer Ava Max: The Painful Truth About the Music Industry
Global pop icon Ava Max went from a first-generation immigrant household to topping charts in over 20 countries with hits like “Sweet but Psycho,” “Kings & Queens,” and “Maybe You’re the Problem.” With over 70 billion streams and a signature fearless style, Ava is rewriting what it means to own...
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$6M Forbes Creator and Sports Illustrated Model: Avoid These Social Media Mistakes (Haley Baylee)
Model, creator, comedian, and Forbes Top Creator—Haley Kalil has lived a thousand lives (from science labs to Sports Illustrated covers to viral comedy). In this episode of The Burnouts, Haley Kalil sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to share her rollercoaster journey: trading…
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Why This Disney Child Star Exposed Hollywood and Disappeared (ft. Alyson Stoner)
From Disney Channel star to outspoken mental health advocate, Alyson Stoner has lived a life in the spotlight—and paid the price. In this episode of The Burnouts, Alyson joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to open up about the truth behind child stardom, the eating disorder that forced them to...
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How a Broke Bartender Turned $50 Into a Multi-Million Dollar Beauty Brand (The Skinny Confidential)
Beauty founder, podcast queen, brand builder—Lauryn Bosstick turned a $50 blog into The Skinny Confidential empire. In this episode of The Burnouts, Lauryn joins Phoebe and Sophia in Austin, TX to talk about building a cult brand from scratch. From sleeping in her car during sorority rush to...
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Why You’ll Never Get Rich From a Paycheck (Ft. $1B Fund Manager)
He’s redefined how millions think about money. But what Morgan Housel says about paychecks, wealth, and regret will completely flip your idea of what it means to be “rich.” In part 2 of The Burnouts interview, Morgan Housel joins Sophia Kianni and Phoebe Gates for a conversation that unpacks the...
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Avoid These Money Mistakes to Get Rich (ft. $1 Billion Fund Manager)
He didn’t go to high school. He valeted Ferraris he couldn’t afford. Now he’s one of the most trusted money minds in the world. In this episode of The Burnouts, bestselling author and VC partner Morgan Housel joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni for a conversation that will completely rewire how...
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Meet The Journalist Every Tech Billionaire is Afraid Of (Ft. Kara Swisher)
Legend. Disruptor. Tech’s sharpest critic. Kara Swisher doesn’t just cover Silicon Valley—she holds it accountable. On this episode of The Burnouts, Kara sits down with Phoebe and Sophia for an unfiltered conversation about building a career on her own terms (and never waiting her turn). From...
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Karlie Kloss: The TRUTH About Quitting Victoria’s Secret to Build a Tech Empire
Model, investor, activist, founder—Karlie Kloss has worn a lot of hats (and a lot of couture). In this episode of The Burnouts, Karlie sits down with Phoebe and Sophia to talk about what happens when your “dream job” turns into something more. From getting scouted at 13 and walking Dior at 15, to...
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Hollywood Actress to Investor: The $10K Bet That Made Sophia Bush Millions
From teen drama star to angel investor, Sophia Bush joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni for an unfiltered conversation about building wealth, walking away from toxic systems, and making purpose profitable. In this episode of The Burnouts, Sophia reveals how a surprise $10,000 angel check into…
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Paris Hilton: How Playing DUMB Helped Me Build a BILLION Dollar Empire
Heiress, icon, mogul, mom—and the original influencer. In this episode of The Burnouts, Paris Hilton gets real with Phoebe and Sophia about turning a catchphrase into a global brand, the pain behind her activism, and why being underestimated was her greatest advantage. She opens up about creating...
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The Marketing Hacks That Got Us 200K Downloads and Kris Jenner’s Investment
200,000 downloads. A tagline that finally made people “get it.” And a few hard lessons along the way. In this episode of The Burnouts, co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni unpack the marketing experiments that helped Phia find traction—from trial reels and creator guides to AI-generated...
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This Stanford Genius Modeled for Victoria’s Secret and Won Olympic Gold (ft. Eileen Gu)
Olympic gold, Ivy League brains, supermodel looks—and still figuring it out. In this episode of The Burnouts, Olympic gold medalist, model, and Stanford student Eileen Gu joins Phoebe and Sophia for an unfiltered conversation about ambition, identity, and what happens after you’ve seemingly “made...
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Why Women Are Secretly Better at Money According to an Ex-Wall Street Trader
What if your side hustle made you a millionaire—and taught millions of women how to become one too? In this episode of The Burnouts, Vivian Tu (@Your.RichBFF) joins Phoebe and Sophia to unpack the story behind her Wall Street-to-TikTok glow-up, the money myths that hold women back, and how she’s...
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How influencer Chriselle Lim started Phlur ($150+ million fragrance empire)
What if heartbreak was the beginning of your empire? In this episode of The Burnouts, entrepreneur and creative director Chriselle Lim sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to unpack how she went from TikTok’s “rich mom” to co-owning Phlur, a $100M+ fragrance brand. From the ashes of...
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She made $2M in 2 days by building a celebrity cult favorite brand (ft. Danielle Guizio)
What if your first investment was a $400 tax refund and a tape measure? In this episode of The Burnouts, fashion founder Danielle Guizio sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to talk about turning side hustles into global brands, learning leadership the hard way, and why your iPhone might...
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She Built Bumble to $13B...Then Walked Away. Here's Why.
What if the next billion-dollar startup isn’t built by 1,000 employees—but by 30, powered by AI? In this episode of The Burnouts, Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to talk about building lean, trusting your gut, burning out, and why she…
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The 3 rules Chelsea Handler thinks you should break to make millions
What do you do when the world tells you to tone it down? If you’re Chelsea Handler, you turn up the volume—on confidence, career, and comedy. In this unapologetic and hilarious episode of The Burnouts, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni sit down with the legendary comedian and bestselling author…
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How Sara Blakely went from Fax Machine Sales to Billionaire Founder of Spanx
In this episode of The Burnouts, Sophia Kianni and Phoebe Gates sit down with entrepreneurial icon and Spanx founder Sara Blakely to talk mindset, manifestation, and the messy truth of building something from scratch. Whether you're navigating your first job, launching a startup, or still waiting...
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Recessions make millionaires: Money moves you NEED to know (ft. Mrs. Dow Jones)
Feeling lost in the chaos of the economy right now? Same. Between inflation, tariffs, and TikTok panic, it feels like we’re all one iced coffee away from a full-blown recession spiral. In this episode of The Burnouts, Sophia Kianni and Phoebe Gates call in financial dominatrix Haley Sacks — aka...
About this show
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.
Hosted by
Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni
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