The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia

Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni
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Oct 23, 2025 • 37min

Bryan Johnson: “The Biggest Lie In Hustle Culture” - How Phones Are Quietly Aging You!

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 organ scans to prove it.Hosts Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni get deep with Bryan about biohacking, founder burnout, the dirty truth about our food system, and why optimizing your sleep might be the most rebellious thing you can do as an entrepreneur.This convo gets real: blood transfusions, lonely sleep routines, and "sugar face" real.Timestamps00:00 Can we be the first generation that doesn’t die?04:12 Selling Braintree Venmo + redefining success08:05 Spending $2M/year on health10:52 The #1 fix for burnout (it’s free)14:30 Bryan’s exact food + supplement routine17:15 Should founders ever sacrifice sleep?22:00 The science behind alcohol, caffeine, and your trash sleep26:40 Sleeping alone, no phones, and other hot takes30:45 Sunlight, seed oils & the truth about sugar face34:20 How to stay healthy without becoming obsessive🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniBryan Johnson🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedin📲 Support What We’re BuildingPhoebe 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, try it out, and help us grow this community from the ground up → https://www.phia.comAbout The BurnoutsThe 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 the headlines to share the real stories, lessons, and mindsets that define your 20s.Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and other visionaries redefining the brands—and the blueprints—of our time.Subscribe now for the insider playbook to build your dream career. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Oct 16, 2025 • 52min

How Sophia Amoruso Turned a Side Hustle Into a $350M Brand (Nasty Gal)

Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal and author of Girlboss, shares her incredible journey from thrift store seller to CEO. She candidly discusses the meteoric rise and fall of her brand, detailing lessons learned through bankruptcy and recovery. Sophia emphasizes the importance of empathy in leadership and how failure can be a powerful teacher. Now, as an investor with Trust Fund, she redefines success and champions the entrepreneurial spirit, offering invaluable insights on resilience, risk, and making meaningful connections.
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17 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 44min

Meet The Psychology Major Who Became The Highest Paid Female On YouTube (Lilly Singh)

Lilly Singh, a comedian, creator, and author, transitioned from an immigrant upbringing to becoming a YouTube sensation. She shares how storytelling serves as a tool for gender equity and the inspiration behind her raunchy sex comedy, Doing It, aimed at normalizing female sexuality. Lilly discusses the challenges of authenticity in the age of algorithms, the importance of connection with her audience, and her commitment to supporting South Asian creators through her initiative, Hyphenate. She emphasizes the value of therapy, negotiating pay, and unlearning the need for likability.
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Oct 2, 2025 • 59min

Rainn Wilson Reveals Why Playing Dwight on The Office Didn’t Make Him Happy

Rainn Wilson, best known as Dwight Schrute from The Office, shares his journey from fame to fulfillment. He reveals how the success of the show didn’t bring him happiness and discusses his battles with burnout. Rainn dives into his transformation through spirituality and mental health practices, highlighting daily routines that ground him. He shares hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from The Office and emphasizes the importance of finding purpose over chasing external milestones. This candid conversation is filled with insights on success, self-acceptance, and meaningful work.
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Sep 25, 2025 • 1h 1min

How Bobbi Brown Went From Vogue Makeup Artist to Building a $160M Brand at 63

Bobbi Brown, renowned makeup artist and entrepreneur, shares her inspiring journey from a Vogue makeup artist to building a $160M beauty empire. She reveals the secrets behind launching Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, her emotional connection to makeup, and how she successfully navigated a lengthy non-compete. Bobbi candidly discusses her viral TikTok moment, the importance of a supportive partnership with her husband, and her passion for mentoring young women. Plus, her refreshing take on beauty rules that resonate through generations!
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12 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 35min

How Tommy Hilfiger Manifested a $9 Billion Fashion Empire After Going Bankrupt!

Tommy Hilfiger, a fashion designer and entrepreneur, shares his inspiring journey from a young dreamer to building a $9 billion global brand. He opens up about overcoming dyslexia, surviving bankruptcy, and his transformative billboard campaign that catapulted his brand to fame. Hilfiger discusses key collaborations with stars like Beyoncé and Zendaya, the impact of manifestation on his success, and how he views AI shaping fashion's future. He combines raw honesty with invaluable lessons on resilience, family, and creativity.
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Sep 11, 2025 • 36min

How a Teen Model Left Sweden & Built a $100M Fashion Empire From Her Garage (ft. Anine Bing)

Anine Bing, a Danish-born model and entrepreneur, transformed her life from selling secondhand clothes to launching a $100M fashion empire from her garage. She shares her early hustle, balancing motherhood while packing orders and navigating naysayers. Anine discusses her viral moments, including collaborations with Kate Moss and the influence of music on her brand. Her mission? To empower women through timeless designs and self-belief. Join her unfiltered journey from Milan to global fashion icon, filled with inspiring lessons on resilience and authenticity.
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16 snips
Sep 4, 2025 • 34min

Gary Vee: Why You’ll NEVER Be An Influencer (But You Can Still Get RICH!)

Gary Vaynerchuk, aka Gary Vee, is an entrepreneur and bestselling author known for his candid approach to success. In a lively discussion, he explains why most influencers will struggle while emphasizing that patience beats hustle. He shares insights on how his immigrant upbringing fueled his work ethic and why $100K can signify 'making it.' Gary delves into the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, the rise of live shopping, and how AI can enhance creativity—all while challenging traditional definitions of success.
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Aug 28, 2025 • 32min

Pop Star Ava Max on the Real Story Behind “Sweet But Psycho” and Why She Left The Spotlight

In this captivating discussion, global pop icon Ava Max opens up about her remarkable journey from a first-generation immigrant to a chart-topping star. She reveals the challenges of surviving a predatory music industry and nearly quitting music altogether. Ava also shares the emotional toll of touring, losing her voice at a pivotal moment, and the importance of protecting her energy. With insights about her new album 'Don't Click Play,' she emphasizes resilience, the power of originality, and the significance of empowering women in the industry.
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Aug 21, 2025 • 54min

Meet the Pre-Med Nerd Who Modeled for Sports Illustrated and Became a $6M Forbes Creator (@haleyybaylee)

Haley Kalil, a multifaceted model, creator, and comedian, shares her remarkable journey—from biomedical science to winning beauty pageants and gracing the covers of Sports Illustrated. She discusses her viral success on YouTube, financial independence after divorce, and the unique pressures successful women face in dating. Haley provides insight into monetizing content and maintaining authenticity as a top creator. Prepare for a candid conversation filled with laughter, personal growth, and lessons for aspiring creators.

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