The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia

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 scripts and TikTok reach campaigns. They share what worked, what didn’t, and what they’re still learning about building a brand from scratch.They also talk about the power of a clear metaphor (“Google Flights for fashion”), the pressure of launching on the same day as a major podcast appearance, and why community has been their most valuable asset.Also: how Kris Jenner got involved...📲 Download the Phia app to start saving money: www.phia.com🕯️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER ON THE LIMITED-EDITION PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE → https://go.shopmy.us/p-18806798 ✨🕯🔍 CHAPTERS2:00 – Launching Phia the same day as Call Her Daddy6:20 – Trial Reels: our low-cost growth engine8:45 – Our best-performing hook11:15 – TikTok flops, LinkedIn wins, and why Substack matters13:10 – The hack to community-building15:00 – How we use AI to write scripts that work17:30 – The SEO agency mistake we won’t make again19:10 – The "special sauce" in a marketing hire🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia Kianni🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedInSubscribe to The Burnouts for exclusive conversations with today’s top founders and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by former Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, this isn’t just another founder podcast—it’s untold conversations and the unfiltered reality of what it takes to build your dream career in your 20s.Guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more visionaries defining the brands—and blueprints—of our time. Whether you’re dreaming big or building now, these are the conversations that will show you how it’s done (and what no one else tells you).🔔 Subscribe now to get the blueprint for building your dream career

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 it.”Eileen opens up about her post-Olympic burnout, learning to sit with stillness after injury, and the pressure of being young, female, and hyper-visible on the world stage. From negotiating brand deals at 13 to being grilled about geopolitics at 18, she reflects on the emotional toll of public scrutiny—and the freedom of learning to define success on her own terms.She also shares how fashion gave her a new language for femininity, what solo travel taught her about self-worth, and why she’ll never apologize for being “the nerd who does everyone’s homework.” Also: the difference between a high-quality man and a fragile ego.  🕯️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER ON OUR LIMITED-EDITION PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE ✨🕯️  CHAPTERS2:10 – Post-Olympic depression is real4:45 – How she accidentally went pro6:55 – Negotiating for yourself, even if you're scared10:40 – Walking Victoria’s Secret and staying true to your values13:15 – Becoming a cultural bridge—not picking a side17:35 – Why smart women scare fragile men26:00 – Glorifying suffering is not a flex28:55 – Nerd alert: physics made her a better skier35:40 – Injury, identity, and learning to rest FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniEileen Gu FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagram TikTokLinkedIn 📲 Download the Phia app to start saving money: www.phia.com Subscribe to The Burnouts for bold, raw interviews with the thinkers, athletes, and founders redefining ambition. Hosted by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni—former Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders—each episode dives into the unpolished truths of building a life and career that matters. This isn’t another founder podcast. It’s what building something in your 20s actually sounds like—unfiltered, in-progress, and a little bit chaotic.

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 rewriting financial literacy for a new generation.Vivian opens up about surviving workplace racism, being your office’s unofficial 401(k) whisperer, and building a media empire that started with one viral video—and became a New York Times bestselling book, a chart-topping podcast, and a full-time career.She also shares the real talk behind her relationship: who paid more rent, how German cockroaches accidentally fast-tracked her move-in, and why every couple should go on “dessert walks.”Also: the genius trick to automating your savings without even thinking about it.❤️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER ON THE LIMITED-EDITION PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE  ✨❤️🔍 CHAPTERS1:02 – Why dating gets harder when women get more successful4:55 – How to actually budget (no spreadsheets, no shame)8:00 – What to do with your first paycheck13:50 – Getting pushed out of Wall Street—and finding a new path18:20 – When to quit your job for your side hustle30:55 – Talking about money in relationships (without making it weird) 🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniVivian Tu🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedin 📖 Read Rich AF🎧 Listen to Networth and Chill📲 Download the Phia app to start saving money Subscribe to The Burnouts for exclusive interviews with the thinkers, founders, and creatives shaping culture and business today. As former Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni bring rare access and real curiosity to every guest—cutting through the noise to get to what actually matters. It’s not just another founder podcast. This is what building in your 20s really looks like—unscripted, in-progress, and surprisingly honest.

❤️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER ON THE LIMITED-EDITION PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE  ✨❤️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 burnout and divorce, Chriselle rebuilt her life—and helped reshape how fragrance is built, branded, and sold. She shares the story behind Missing Person (the perfume with a 250K waitlist that changed everything) and how reinvention became her real superpower. Also: the bamboo tree metaphor that will stick with you forever.📲 Download the Phia app to start saving → www.join.phia.com🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniChriselle LimPhlur🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedin 📲 Download the Phia app to start saving money while you shop today.About The BurnoutsAs former Stanford roommates turned startup founders, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni are building more than a business—they’re building a bold new conversation. The Burnouts dives into the chaos of creation, covering everything from personal reinvention and product meltdowns to friendship, finances, and fear. With top guests like Kris Jenner, Danielle Guizio, and Whitney Wolfe Herd, this is your behind-the-scenes playbook for building on your own terms.

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 be your most powerful marketing tool.Danielle opens up about recovering from surgery, walking garbage bags of orders to USPS, and getting duped on TikTok. She shares the strategy behind her $2M Black Friday breakthrough, why she still fits every sample herself, and how she built a viral fashion empire with no design experience, no car, and no connections—just a deep belief that she could figure it out.Also: negotiating in Chinatown at 13, selling out with zero ads, and what she really looks for in a résumé (hint: it’s not your school).Chapters1:10 – $400, no car, and a dream5:45 – Getting duped and going viral anyway10:12 – Negotiation school and hiring red flags13:48 – Why she still works the retail floor16:00 – Instagram as your magazine21:35 – How she got Kylie Jenner and Dua Lipa in her clothes24:18 – What she actually looks for in a hire28:55 – Advice for every girl with a side hustleFollow usPhoebe GatesSophia KianniDanielle Guizio & the Guizio brandFollow The BurnoutsInstagramTikTokLinkedinSubscribe for more raw, unfiltered convos with iconic leaders, founders, and disruptors who are building what’s next (and burning down what’s not).📲 Download the Phia app to start saving money at www.join.phia.comAbout The BurnoutsAs former Stanford roommates turned startup founders, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni are building more than a business—they’re building a bold new conversation. The Burnouts dives into the chaos of creation, covering everything from VC pitches and product meltdowns to friendship, finance, and fear. With top guests like Danielle Guizio, Kris Jenner, and Whitney Wolfe Herd, this is your behind-the-scenes playbook for building on your own terms.

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 believes AI will totally reshape how companies scale.Whitney opens up about hiring mistakes that nearly broke Bumble, the myth of hustle culture, why listening to “grown-ups in suits” set her back, and how legacy tech is holding companies hostage. She shares her evolved vision for Bumble, her personal burnout recovery, and why she now swears by smaller teams, smarter tech, and protecting your energy like it’s cash.Also: surprise-and-delight growth hacks, ego death, and what she really thinks about ROI-driven marketing.Chapters1:02 – She built Bumble. But at what cost?5:11 – Why hiring “adults in suits” backfired8:42 – Scaling smart: fewer people, better results13:08 – AI, apps, and the future of building16:30 – Burnout, ego death, and coming back stronger22:14 – Bumble’s early growth hacks (inflatable bees, anyone?)27:49 – Friendship-first is the next dating revolution30:45 – Mentorship, motherhood & knowing when to say noFollow us:Phoebe GatesSophia KianniWhitney Wolfe HerdFollow The Burnouts:InstagramLinkedinTikTokSubscribe for more raw, unfiltered convos with iconic women and disruptors who are building what’s next—and burning down what’s not.Download the Phia app to start saving money at www.join.phia.comAbout The BurnoutsAs former Stanford roommates and now business partners, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni share their experience as startup founders and the chaos of building something new—covering everything from pitching VCs to maintaining friendships, decoding financial literacy, and finding power in female-driven storytelling. With candid conversations and top guests (like Kris Jenner and Sara Blakely), The Burnouts is your go-to for smart, hilarious, and sometimes chaotic advice on how to build your career on your own terms.

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 who’s built an empire on not giving a f***. They talk through confidence myths, investor pitch chaos, stand-up breakthroughs, and why Chelsea bought her ex 35 trees. Also: why burnout might actually be your breakthrough. Chapters1:22 – were you always this confident?6:14 – how to say no (and mean it)11:02 – kids, career, and confidence clashes15:00 – real estate, financial freedom & female power21:06 – mushrooms with your landscaper & other business lessons25:45 – dating while dominating30:12 – women, work, and not shrinking yourself Follow usPhoebe GatesSophia KianniChelsea Handler Follow The BurnoutsYoutube @theburnoutspodcastInstagram @theburnoutsTikTok: @theburnoutsLinkedIn: /the-burnouts Subscribe for more bold convos with iconic women, founders, and disruptors who are burning down old systems and building what’s next.Download the Phia app to start saving money at join.phia.com About the BurnoutsAs former Stanford roommates and now business partners, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni share their experience as startup founders and the chaos of building something new—covering everything from pitching VCs to maintaining friendships, decoding financial literacy, and finding power in female-driven storytelling. With candid conversations and top guests (like Kris Jenners and Sara Blakely), The Burnouts is your go-to for smart, hilarious, and sometimes chaotic advice on how to build your career on your own terms.

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 for a sign from the universe—this one’s for you.We go deep on everything from building confidence as a woman in business, to manifesting million-dollar ideas (literally), to knowing when to quit, pivot, or fire the “genius” that’s ruining your team dynamic. Sara shares stories she’s never told before—like the exact mindset hack that led to Spanx, the real reason she sold her company, and the crazy specific sign she asked the universe for. 🔖 CHAPTERS0:00 – Why we called Sara before we even had a product2:10 – Sara’s Secret Weapon Since She Was 1614:00 – Signs from the universe (including one from Oprah)18:30 – Hiring Wrong, Firing Fast, and Learning the Hard Way29:00 – Why High Heels Haven’t Changed in 300 Years (Until Now)36:45 – Sara is paying people to buy her shoes?!?38:00 – Sara’s Wildest Hustle StoriesAbout the BurnoutsAs 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. 🔗 FOLLOW USThe BurnoutsPhoebe GatesSophia KianniSara Blakely

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Find better fashion deals while you shop. Download Phia HERE and follow Phia on Instagram!CHAPTERS00:00 – Launch day is HERE 01:12 – The Zoom roast that got our CPO hired05:40 – Pivoting the product after tough feedback10:00 – From Instagram design to full-time UX15:25 – Interning, accounting, and off-boarding your ex20:45 – Quitting jobs, joining podcasts, and saying yes fast24:00 – Real friends give real feedback26:10 – What’s next for Phia Follow the Hosts
📸 @phoebegates📸 @sophiakianni Follow The Burnouts📸 @theburnouts🎥 Subscribe on YouTube

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 @MrsDowJones — for a much-needed crash course in surviving your first economic downturn. We talk Roth IRAs, recession anxiety, index funds, investing FOMO, and why press-on nails might just be the ultimate economic indicator.Whether you’re getting your first paycheck, trying to start investing, or just wondering WTF to do with your money, this episode is for you.💸 It’s funny. It’s practical. And it might just change your financial future. 🔖 CHAPTERS0:00 – Our first economic freakout2:15 – Should we actually be scared?5:20 – The only money moves that matter right now9:45 – Haley’s worst investment ever13:00 – Roth IRAs, index funds & investing without crying17:20 – Budgeting when your paycheck hits21:10 – Renting, home buying, and financial hot takes 📚 RESOURCES Free Emergency Fund PlannerInvestment Returns Calculator3 Index Funds We LoveFree Customized Money PlanMoney Book 2.0Investing 101& more HERE! Mrs. Dow Jones Instagram & Newsletter 🔗 FOLLOW US@theburnouts@phoebegates@sophiakianni@mrsdowjones

What do you do when someone tells you no? If you’re Kris Jenner, you walk into the scheduling office with a tray of brownies and figure it out anyway. In this episode, Phoebe and Sophia sit down with the iconic woman who turned “figure it out” into her mom-ager lifestyle. They talk about early jobs, showing up before you feel ready, and what it really takes to launch something that matters. Also: why your car interior might be ruining your life.Chapters1:12 – restaurants in the sky?5:04 – business rizz 10110:01 – doing things your way (and making them work)16:45 – vintage, resale, and why clean cars matter21:20 - advice for young women + why Kris invested in PhiaMeet the Hosts 🎙️Phoebe GatesSophia KianniFollow The BurnoutsInstagramTikTokLinkedInJoin the Phia waitlist at phia.comAbout the BurnoutsAs 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.

Bluetooth tampons, fake assistants, and maxing out on LinkedIn mail credits? That’s entrepreneurship for ya. Phoebe and Sophia are best friends who turned their Stanford dorm room conversations into a business partnership. They’re here to share the good, bad, and ugly parts of founding a company together.  Chapters0:00 - welcome to The Burnouts0:36 - how we became friends2:37 - the Stanford cheating ring8:16 - Sophia’s FAKE assistant11:17 - a bluetooth tampon??17:21 - the day phia was born20:12 - the go-giver mindset and spam messaging25:40 - why we started the podcast Meet the Hosts🎙️Phoebe GatesSophia Kianni Join the Phia waitlist at phia.com About the BurnoutsAs 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. SocialsInstagramTikTokLinkedIn

Burnout is real—and building your career while figuring out who you are? Even harder. Enter The Burnouts: Join best friends Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni as they try to launch their first company and make sense of the chaos that is a career in your 20s.They’re not pretending to have all the answers—but they’re asking the people who just might. Sophia and Phoebe sit down with guests who’ve actually made it to talk candidly about careers, ambition, burnout, and everything they wish they knew sooner.Whether you’re navigating your first job, thinking about a big pivot, or just trying to survive Monday, The Burnouts is here to keep it real. New episodes every Tuesday.