The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia

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

  Global pop icon Ava Max went from a first-generation immigrant household to topping charts in over 20 countries with hits like “Sweet but Psycho,” “Kings & Queens,” and “Maybe You’re the Problem.” With over 70 billion streams and a signature fearless style, Ava is rewriting what it means to own your power in the music industry.In this episode of The Burnouts, Ava Max joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni for a raw, unfiltered conversation about her rise to stardom — from moving to LA at 14, surviving predatory industry environments, and nearly quitting music, to finding her voice, building her sound, and creating a global pop phenomenon.She opens up about the grind behind her success, the trauma and resilience that shaped her, and the inspiration behind her new album, “Don’t Click Play." Ava shares stories of losing her voice at the peak of her breakout hit, navigating fame while staying grounded, and why protecting her energy has become her top priority. Plus: what it really takes to build a lasting career in pop, the pressures of being “always on,” and her vision for a future stadium tour.Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a longtime fan, or just looking for motivation to keep going when life knocks you down, this episode is filled with lessons on persistence, self-belief, and embracing your unique voice.🎶 STREAM AVA'S ALBUM "DON'T CLICK PLAY"Chapters00:00 – The moment Ava Max walked into our studio…01:00 – From Virginia to LA: the bold move that changed everything04:00 – The brutal reality of chasing a dream at 1407:00 – Five years of rejection… and the one “yes” that changed her life09:00 – “My vocal cords exploded” — what really happened at the height of her first hit11:00 – The night the Max Cut was born (and why it changed her career)13:00 – Finding her sound: the secret to songs that empower millions16:00 – What going viral really feels like (and why it’s not always what you think)19:00 – Behind the curtain: the exhausting truth about touring22:00 – The business of pop: labels, teams, and staying in control24:00 – Why she disappeared from social media (and how she’s coming back stronger)26:00 – Stadium tour dreams and a secret creative project you haven’t heard about28:00 – How Ava Max turns doubt into fuel30:00 – “Don’t Click Play”: the album that almost never happened🔗 FOLLOW AVA MAXInstagramTikTokWebsite🔥 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 you find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app.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.

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

  Model, creator, comedian, and Forbes Top Creator—Haley Kalil has lived a thousand lives (from science labs to Sports Illustrated covers to viral comedy).In this episode of The Burnouts, Haley Kalil sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to share her rollercoaster journey: trading biomedical science for beauty pageants, paying her way through college, breaking into modeling without an agent, and then going viral overnight to build a multi-million-dollar creator career.She opens up about navigating divorce, escaping an abusive relationship, reinventing herself through comedy, and betting everything on content creation. Plus: how she made her first $50k/month off YouTube shorts, why brand deals aren’t always the answer, and the financial realities (and taxes) of being a top digital creator.Haley also gets real about the stigma of divorce, the pressure successful women face while dating, her viral “Billionaire Boyfriend” series, and what it really takes to stay authentic while scaling a $6M+ creator business.Whether you’re dreaming of a career in content, modeling, or building your own creator-led brand, this conversation is packed with lessons, raw honesty, and plenty of laughs.Chapters00:00 – From biomedical science to beauty pageants04:30 – Winning Miss Minnesota & paying for college with scholarships06:00 – Sports Illustrated open casting call via Instagram10:00 – Early modeling days & mental resilience12:00 – Viral apartment tour → pivot to content creation15:00 – Betting everything on YouTube & posting 5x a day19:00 – Hitting $50k/month in ad revenue22:00 – The viral “Billionaire Boyfriend” series24:00 – Divorce stigma, healing, and rebuilding29:00 – Going from red carpets to Oscars & Met Gala33:00 – Social media backlash & accountability37:00 – Advice for creators on finding your voice41:00 – Monetization: ad revenue vs. brand deals46:00 – Staying authentic in partnerships48:00 – The true costs of creator life (taxes, management fees)50:00 – What’s next for Haley🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniHaley Kalil🔥 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.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 reveal the real blueprint for building power in your 20s.Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more visionaries redefining the brands—and the blueprints—of our time.Subscribe now for the insider playbook to build your dream career.

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• Meet the Disney Child Star Who Exposed Hollywood and Took Back Their Power (ft. Alyson Stoner)

  From Disney Channel star to outspoken mental health advocate, Alyson Stoner has lived a life in the spotlight—and paid the price.In this episode of The Burnouts, Alyson joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to open up about the truth behind child stardom, the eating disorder that forced them to step away from Hollywood, and the box of documents that changed everything they thought they knew about their childhood.They share what it was really like growing up famous, the toxic systems that exploit young talent, and the powerful tools they use today to protect their mental health. Plus: how they’re redefining success, finding purpose beyond fame, and why they named their memoir Semi Well-Adjusted.📖 Alyson’s memoir Semi Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is out now.CHAPTERS00:00 – Growing up on Disney Channel & Missy Elliott02:15 – The moment Alyson stepped away from Hollywood05:00 – The “toddler to train wreck” pipeline of child performers06:45 – Losing childhood in the age of social media08:00 – Playing firsts on camera without living them in real life09:20 – How toxic Hollywood work environments really are10:45 – Why “exposure” doesn’t pay the bills12:00 – The hidden costs of going viral13:40 – Tools Alyson uses to shake off stress16:00 – Mind-body practices for anxiety & burnout18:30 – Why different states of mind need different mindfulness tools20:00 – Stillness vs. somatic tools for busy minds22:00 – Reading their Camp Rock diary years later24:00 – Why now was the time to write Semi Well-Adjusted25:10 – The box of documents that changed their life story27:00 – What “Semi Well-Adjusted” really means28:15 – Choosing causes and building advocacy work30:00 – Purpose as a constellation, not a North Star32:00 – Advice for navigating anxiety and depression34:45 – How to process rejection without losing yourself37:00 – Focusing on what you can control🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniAlyson Stoner🔥 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 ❤️‍🔥 Get a Free 90 Day Trial of Movement Genius:1. Go to Movement Genius2. Choose Monthly Membership3. Use code THEBURNOUTS🕯️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF THE PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE ✨🕯️

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• How a Broke Bartender Turned $50 Into a Multi-Million Dollar Brand—The Skinny Confidential

  Beauty founder, podcast queen, brand builder—Lauryn Bosstick turned a $50 blog into The Skinny Confidential empire.In this episode of The Burnouts, Lauryn joins Phoebe and Sophia in Austin, TX to talk about building a cult brand from scratch. From sleeping in her car during sorority rush to creating one of the world’s most downloaded podcasts, Lauryn shares how she built her brand brick by brick—with no investors, no shortcuts, and no selling out.She gets real about early burnout, building slowly with intention, and why executing (not overthinking) is the secret to everything. Plus: what makes someone a great podcast guest, how she evaluates brand deals, and the hilarious parenting trick she swears by (cookie water, anyone?)Also: foot spas, Think Week, and how not having an iPhone gave Phoebe character.🕯️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF THE PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE  ✨🕯️CHAPTERS00:00 – From sorority dropout to brand founder02:30 – Why she launched The Skinny Confidential05:00 – Blogging 7 days a week for 3 years (with $0)10:10 – Turning down money (and why she’s proud of it)12:30 – Lauryn’s funnel: how she vets guests + brand deals16:10 – The advice she gives every 20-something brand builder17:00 – The one hire every founder should make first20:45 – Think Week, foot spas, and strategic solitude27:00 – How she uses branding tricks to parent toddlers30:00 – Personal vs public: what Lauryn won’t post online35:00 – Resourcefulness over resumes in the age of AI38:00 – The biggest mistake most creatives make🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniLauryn Bosstick🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedIn

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• Why You’ll Never Get Rich From a Paycheck (Ft. $1B Fund Manager)

  He’s redefined how millions think about money. But what Morgan Housel says about paychecks, wealth, and regret will completely flip your idea of what it means to be “rich.”In part 2 of The Burnouts interview, Morgan Housel joins Sophia Kianni and Phoebe Gates for a conversation that unpacks the biggest money myths we’ve been sold—from why chasing a high salary will never make you wealthy to how the American Dream became a lie our generation can’t afford.They go deep on:The psychology of feeling broke even when you’re notWhy wealth is built with ownership, not incomeWhat 90-year-olds wish they did differently with moneyHow gender impacts the way we’re taught to think about risk, equity, and ambitionAnd the real reason no amount of money ever feels like enoughAlso: MrBeast vs. the media industry, what kids actually learn about money, and why comparing yourself to others is the fastest path to lifelong financial anxiety.This is the part they don’t teach in school—and the stuff most financial “experts” get wrong.💸✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF THE LIMITED-EDITION PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE ✨💸CHAPTERS00:00 – Why most people will never feel rich3:40 – Social media, comparison, and financial anxiety7:15 – What 1,000 elderly people regret about money11:10 – The American Dream is changing—fast15:00 – College, homeownership, and economic reality19:30 – Why you won’t get rich from a paycheck23:45 – The power of equity (especially for women)27:20 – Risk, regret, and knowing when to bet on yourself32:00 – Teaching kids about money (without lectures)36:40 – Are we wired to be bad with money?40:00 – Why no one tells you this about success🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniMorgan Housel🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedIn

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