The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia

• 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 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.

  --------  

  36:31
• The 3 rules this Hollywood comedian thinks you should break to make millions (ft. Chelsea Handler)

  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.

  --------  

  36:34
• How Sara Blakely went from fax machine sales to Forbes billionaire

  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

  --------  

  41:07
• Why we dropped out of Stanford to build this app (ft. the Phia team)

  DOWNLOAD THE PHIA APP
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

  --------  

  26:46
• 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 @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

  --------  

  27:56

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia