The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia

Codie Sanchez, an investor and advocate for overlooked cash-generating sectors, reveals how wealth is often built quietly through 'boring' businesses. She discusses spotting unfair opportunities, her exit from cannabis, and which unsexy industries yield profits. Codie contrasts the value of college versus trade school and offers advice on finding your unfair advantage in your career. She emphasizes the importance of sales skills and negotiating based on value, while underlining the benefits of investing in health and resilience.

Harry Stebbings, founder of 20VC and a venture investor managing over $400M, shares his journey from law school dropout to influential podcaster. He discusses the confidence gap that holds many back, emphasizing how storytelling and relationships trump raw intelligence. Harry reveals the importance of content in building opportunities and the power of visualization in boosting confidence. He also reflects on mentorship, the traits of great founders, and the need for action over perfection, making this conversation a treasure trove for aspiring entrepreneurs.

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.Chapters00:00 – unequal pay & being the only woman in nascar03:00 – starting racing at age 906:30 – realizing racing costs millions09:00 – told she needed $1–2 million to compete11:00 – moving cross-country at 1813:00 – instacart by day, cold emails by night16:00 – how social media saved her career20:00 – brand deals, sponsorships & unequal pay25:00 – modeling, victoria’s secret & sports illustrated30:00 – turning down six-figure onlyfans offers36:00 – funding races & surviving motorsports48:00 – what’s next: the road to the cup series🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniToni Breidinger🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedIn📲 Support What We’re BuildingPhoebe 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 BurnoutsThe 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.Chapters00:00 – Arriving in NYC with $10001:00 – Sleeping in parks & finding community03:00 – From electrician to fashion hustle04:30 – Inventing the tube top06:30 – Sneaking into a fashion show & landing 250K orders08:30 – Studio 54, disco & early fashion moments11:00 – Dressing women entering the workforce13:00 – Building a fashion empire15:00 – Real estate, licensing & vertical integration17:00 – Father–son dynamics in business19:30 – Taking over as CEO22:00 – Disagreeing on taste & generational shifts25:00 – Persian culture, fashion & femininity27:30 – Leadership, hiring & humility30:00 – Legacy, luck & advice for the burnouts🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniElie TahariJeremey TahariTahari Group🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedIn📲 Support What We’re BuildingPhoebe 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.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 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Allison Ellsworth, the founder of the prebiotic soda brand Poppi, transitioned from oil and gas to creating a $2 billion product from her kitchen. She shares her journey from farmers’ markets to a dramatic Shark Tank appearance at nine months pregnant. Allison discusses the power of TikTok marketing that led to overnight sales success and reflects on the challenges of co-founding with her husband. With candid insights on burnout and identity shifts post-acquisition by PepsiCo, her story is a wild ride of entrepreneurship blended with personal growth.

Jasmin Larian Hekmat, founder of Cult Gaia and mastermind behind the iconic Ark Bag, shares her inspiring journey from crafting flower crowns in her kitchen to building a $50 million fashion brand without any venture capital. She delves into her relentless creativity and unique design philosophy, explaining how she transforms wild ideas into coveted accessories. Jasmin discusses marketing strategies that turned ordinary products into viral sensations and emphasizes the importance of community engagement and originality in a competitive industry.

In this engaging discussion, Grace Beverley, a dynamic founder who built multimillion-pound brands like TALA and Shreddy before 25, shares her inspiring journey. She candidly talks about the pressures young female founders face, curating a balance between ambition and personal challenges like grief. Grace debates the biased questions women encounter from investors and highlights the hidden costs of visibility in business. Tune in for insights on managing multiple ventures and evolving in the creator economy while maintaining authenticity.

In this conversation, Steve Madden, the footwear designer and entrepreneur who transformed $1,100 into a global fashion empire, shares his inspiring journey. He discusses the pivotal moment of dropping out of college, his innovative design instincts, and the viral success of his Mary Jane shoe. Steve reflects on hard lessons during the 'Wolf of Wall Street' era and the loyalty of his team. He touches on the impact of Gen Z on his brand, his thoughts on dupe culture, and the fashion trends he both loves and loathes, offering invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Alli Webb, founder of Drybar and creator of Messy, transformed a mobile blowout idea into a $255 million beauty empire. She discusses the explosive rise of Drybar and the challenges she faced post-sale, including identity loss and personal struggles. Alli shares valuable lessons on navigating entrepreneurship and the pitfalls of rapid growth. She also reflects on her new venture, Messy, which champions natural hair, highlighting the importance of embracing imperfections and the emotional connection with her brand.

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 entrepreneur, building a multimillion-dollar business rooted in wellness, design, and timeless style, without ever taking a dollar of outside funding.Emily opens up about turning a Tumblr moodboard into a global brand, growing from $5K in savings to $40M in annual revenue, and the realities of running a company after a public breakup with her business partner. She shares what it’s really like to scale quickly, navigate burnout, and stay creatively fulfilled while leading a 40-person team.Plus: how she built Sporty & Rich without investors, why preorders fueled her early success, what she’s learned about leadership (and ego), and the importance of building a world. (not just a brand).Whether you’re dreaming of launching your own label, staying independent as a founder, or defining success on your own terms, this conversation is a masterclass in creative control, discipline, and staying true to your vision.Chapters00:00 – From retail in Canada to Complex Media02:00 – Leaving corporate life to build her own path03:00 – The Tumblr that became Sporty & Rich06:00 – Bootstrapping a brand: preorders, savings & hustle07:00 – Meeting her business partner and early growth12:00 – Going from $100K to $30M in sales14:00 – Covid and the sweatsuit boom15:00 – Scaling challenges and factory chaos17:00 – Knowing your strengths & hiring smart18:00 – Opening the first Sporty & Rich store19:00 – Expanding into wellness with Central Sport22:00 – Lessons from mistakes & customer mishaps23:00 – Facing scrutiny as a female founder27:00 – Emily’s leadership philosophy & advice for women29:00 – Sporty & Rich today: $40M in sales, still 100% owned🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniEmily Oberg🔥 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 Phia for free in the App Store.About 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.