The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia

• 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, hauling a flower cart to festivals, and giving away bags no one would buy. In this episode of The Burnouts, she tells Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni how a single product quietly snowballed into a global sensation and reshaped her entire career.Jasmin breaks down the five years before Cult Gaia “hit,” the moment the Ark Bag went from ignored to iconic, and the relentless creativity that keeps her one step ahead of imitators. She shares how she built a multimillion-dollar business without raising a cent of venture capital, how she protects the brand’s fiercely artful DNA, and why her designs are meant to stop someone in their tracks.From vase purses to playable backgammon clutches to fragrance bottles that feel like sculpture, Jasmin explains how she turns wild ideas into objects people obsess over. She also opens up about motherhood, running a 100 person team, trusting her gut when everyone says no, and staying original in an industry that copies everything.If you are building a fashion brand, dreaming up your first product, or trying to stand out in a crowded industry, this conversation will change the way you think about creativity, community, and staying power.Chapters00:00 The Hobby That Accidentally Started Cult Gaia02:00 The $38 Bag No One Wanted04:00 The Viral Moment That Changed Everything06:00 How She Built a Brand With Zero Investors08:00 Surviving Copycats and Staying Original10:00 Building a Team While Raising Three Kids12:00 The Pressure Behind a “Perfect” Brand14:00 Designing Pieces People Can’t Ignore16:00 What Founders Get Wrong About Success18:00 Lightning Round: Style, Risks, and Reinvention🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniJasmin Larian Hekmat🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedIn📲 Support What We’re BuildingPhoebe and Sophia are the founders of Phia, a new fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download now and join the community of 800,000+ happy users.About The BurnoutsThe Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with 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 twenties.Past guests include Paris Hilton, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and Tommy Hilfiger.Subscribe for the inside 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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• 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 leading some of the UK’s fastest-growing female-founded companies. She breaks down the pressure of being a young woman in power and the bias female founders still face.Grace opens up about juggling multiple businesses, navigating personal grief, and the hidden cost of public success. She also speaks candidly about relationships, ambition, and the standards women are expected to meet.Whether you’re building a brand, raising capital, or figuring out how to stay ambitious without burning out, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at what it really takes for young women to succeed.Chapters00:00 – From anonymous fitness posts to Oxford02:15 – The £1 ebooks that changed her life05:20 – Building her first multimillion-dollar business08:10 – Why women must stop chasing “shiny” projects11:00 – The truth about scaling TALA & Shreddy14:30 – Fundraising bias & the questions women still get asked18:00 – Miscarriage, grief & running a company21:15 – The impossible standards for female founders24:00 – Relationships that dim ambition27:00 – Why social media punishes successful women30:00 – Building Retrograde & the creator economy33:00 – How Grace makes decisions fast36:00 – What she wishes every young woman knew about power🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniGrace Beverley🔥 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 and try it yourself.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 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.

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• How Steve Madden Went From College Dropout to Billion Dollar Fashion Mogul With Only $1,100

  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 apart, the moment he knew he had something special, and the creative philosophy that has kept his brand relevant for more than three decades.Steve also opens up about the twists and turns of his journey — including learning hard lessons during the Wolf of Wall Street years and stepping away from the company before returning more focused and energized than ever. He reflects on the loyalty of his team, the power of staying close to the customer, and why speed, instinct, and obsession with product remain his North Star.Plus: the story behind his first viral shoe, his unfiltered take on dupe culture, the trends he loves (and hates), how Gen Z made him go viral again, and the fashion advice he wishes everyone knew earlier.Whether you’re building a brand, navigating a major life pivot, or chasing a creative vision, this conversation is a masterclass in staying true to your instincts, evolving with culture, and building something that lasts.Chapters00:00 – Growing up in Queens and falling in love with shoes01:45 – Dropping out of college and learning retail03:20 – Starting Steve Madden with $1,10006:00 – Product instinct, speed to market, and early hits08:45 – Becoming a “pirate” in fashion11:00 – The Wolf of Wall Street years and the IPO14:00 – Prison, addiction, and rebuilding his life16:30 – Reinventing the Steve Madden brand18:00 – Dupe culture, controversy, and staying relevant20:00 – What he hates (and loves) in fashion today22:00 – Designing shoes women actually want23:30 – AI, TikTok, and the future of trend cycles26:00 – Lessons from failure and advice for young founders🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniSteve Madden🔥 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 Phia for free in the App Store. 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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• 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 leading one of the most recognizable service brands in the country. She talks about the explosive rise of Drybar, selling the company for hundreds of millions, and the personal challenges that followed at the height of her success.Alli opens up about losing her sense of identity after the sale, navigating grief and motherhood, and rebuilding her life through her new brand, Messy. She reflects on what the beauty world gets wrong, the lessons she learned as a female founder, and the real cost of fast growth.Whether you are building a brand, growing a service business, or figuring out the next chapter after burnout, this conversation is a powerful look at resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose again.Chapters00:00 – From stay-at-home mom to mobile blowouts02:30 – The idea that sparked Drybar05:00 – Opening the first Brentwood studio07:00 – When Drybar went viral overnight10:00 – Raising capital & navigating hypergrowth13:00 – The truth about selling a company15:30 – Alli’s personal life falls apart18:00 – Losing her identity after the exit21:00 – Rebuilding from scratch & finding purpose23:00 – Launching her new brand, Messy26:00 – Advice for founders rebuilding their lives29:00 – What Alli wishes every woman knew about success🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniAlli Webb🔥 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. Try it now 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 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.

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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 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.

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