Best Sophia Mins Podcasts (2024)

1
How Bombas pairs scaling impact and profit 32:04

19m ago32:04

32:04

David Heath and Randy Goldberg, co-founders of Bombas, join host Jeff Berman to reveal how they scaled their mission-driven apparel company. Bombas donates one item for every one sold, and has given away more than 140 million pairs of socks, underwear and shirts so far to people in need. They recount how the Shark Tank rollercoaster affected their …

1
Rapid Response: How mobile voting can save democracy, with Bradley Tusk of Tusk Ventures 26:55

2d ago26:55

26:55

As early voting begins in the US presidential election, there is a nascent movement afoot that would reshuffle future contests from local school boards to Washington DC – and it revolves around our smartphones. Venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk has invested $20 million in building what he says is a safe, secure app that would…

1
From brand savant to accidental entrepreneur, with Sophia Amoruso 32:14

6d ago32:14

32:14

From founding the viral fashion brand Nasty Gal to inspiring and living the #Girlboss movement, Sophia Amoruso’s ideas tend to catch fire quickly. She joins host Jeff Berman to share her “accidental” entrepreneurial journey – building an e-commerce brand with nearly $100 million in revenue and then starting Girlboss Media – all with no formal busin…

1
Rapid Response: A new script for the book biz and Hollywood, with The Black List’s Franklin Leonard 26:08

9d ago26:08

26:08

The Black List has reshaped Hollywood by identifying overlooked screenplays from Argo to The King’s Speech that have become commercial and artistic successes. Now, founder Franklin Leonard is opening The Black List’s successful model to the book industry. He shares what Hollywood and publishing have in common: a bottleneck in talent discovery, and …

1
Bill Gates, Brian Chesky, and more: Unheard moments from our first Summit 23:18

13d ago23:18

23:18

Leaders like Bill Gates, Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, and Pixar’s Lindsey Collins shared big ideas at the first-ever Masters of Scale Summit in 2022. In this episode, host Jeff Berman guides you through the best scale lessons shared at the event. More blockbuster insights from iconic business leaders are coming in our 2024 Masters of Scale Summit, Octobe…

1
Rapid Response: EA’s march to 1 billion gamers, with CEO Andrew Wilson 25:36

15d ago25:36

25:36

While EA’s pursuit of 1 billion users may sound ambitious at first, once you hear CEO Andrew Wilson explain the developers’ strategy to get there, the 1 billion mark starts to almost sound conservative. Wilson returns to Rapid Response to shed light on EA’s recent announcements around a community-driven app, and plans to unleash new AI tools for cr…

1
Dr. Rana el Kaliouby wants more human-centered AI 34:17

20d ago34:17

34:17

Host Reid Hoffman has always been impressed with the way Dr. Rana el Kaliouby thinks about AI. She’s an AI scientist, co-founder of Affectiva, an investor and author who has spent decades building toward more emotionally intelligent technology. Now, she’s joining the Masters of Scale podcast family with a new show: Pioneers of AI. In this episode, …

1
Rapid Response: From Taylor Swift to the Emmys, lessons in celebrity, with The Ankler’s Janice Min 26:39

23d ago26:39

26:39

While Shōgun, Hacks, and Baby Reindeer bask in their success at The Emmys, the awards reveal deeper lessons about TV’s future. Janice Min, co-founder and CEO of The Ankler, guides us through the key storylines, from Disney to HBO to Netflix. We also dig deep on Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and what it says about the politics of celeb…

1
From Crystal Pepsi to Cool Ranch Doritos: Lessons from David Novak 32:04

28d ago32:04

32:04

David Novak, co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, joins host Jeff Berman to share lessons from scaling one of the world’s largest restaurant companies. Hear how his focus on listening, team recognition, and taking big swings helped grow a fast food empire to a $32 billion market cap. He also reveals lessons from the infamous Crystal Pepsi camp…

1
Rapid Response: 2024 is the most significant time in human history (Encore) 30:51

1M ago30:51

30:51

We are biologically wired to focus on the near-term, and that’s often a good thing. But in this moment — with global conflict, fast-evolving tech, and climate change dominating our present — we need to also prioritize long-term impacts. Futurist Ari Wallach joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to dive into our biological and business motivations ar…

1
Drybar founder Alli Webb’s messy truths 30:41

1M ago30:41

30:41

Drybar co-founder Alli Webb turned her side hustle as a hair stylist into a business concept now thriving nationwide. She talks with host Jeff Berman about scaling Drybar, launching and then selling a hair care product line, and how she thinks about franchising. Alli also reflects on getting personal in her memoir The Messy Truth, and why she’s doi…

1
Rapid Response: Will.i.am is using AI to re-make radio 29:40

1M ago29:40

29:40

While some artists complain that AI uses their music as training data, Will.i.am argues that it’s no different than Prince and Michael Jackson taking inspiration from James Brown. Will joins Rapid Response to talk about his investments in the “dawn of intelligent media,” including his new app RAiDIO.fyi — AI technology that he contends will be pre-…

1
Reddit’s Steve Huffman: Online platforms ‘can’t just sit on their hands’ 36:52

1M ago36:52

36:52

Steve Huffman, co-founder and CEO of Reddit, joins host Reid Hoffman to share scale lessons from building one of the internet’s most influential platforms. It took nearly two decades for Reddit to reach its IPO, persevering through ownership changes, swings in popular sentiment, and shifts in the site’s identity. Steve guides Reddit with a deep bel…

1
Rapid Response: How Campus won over Sam Altman & Shaq, with founder Tade Oyerinde 23:10

1M ago23:10

23:10

With student loan debt at record highs, higher education is at a crossroads. Campus is an all-online community college that’s built a business model around competitive pricing, resources for students (like giving them a laptop and paying for home internet), and compensating professors well above the national average. The start-up also achieves high…

1
Blitzscaling bourbon: How Fawn Weaver built Uncle Nearest whiskey 34:25

2M ago34:25

34:25

Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, joins host Jeff Berman to share scale lessons from building one of the fastest-growing spirit brands in history. Hear how a photo in the newspaper inspired Fawn to uncover a forgotten legacy, break into the whiskey business, and craft a billion-dollar brand. Fawn’s book Love & Whiskey is availa…

1
Rapid Response: CNN’s Van Jones on Kamala’s glow-up, AI “wetware,” Elon Musk, and more 27:12

2M ago27:12

27:12

As the Democratic National Convention gets underway, CNN’s Van Jones still can’t quite believe Vice President Harris’s glow-up from “cringe” to a Beyonce-like star. The political analyst and entrepreneur joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to discuss his new initiative, Dream Machine, which aims to make AI more accessible for multicultural communi…

1
The vital question Taskrabbit founder Leah Solivan wished she asked investors 35:28

2M ago35:28

35:28

A pioneer in the gig economy, Leah Solivan joins host Jeff Berman to share scale lessons from founding Taskrabbit. Hear how a need for dog food on a snowy night grew into a global business acquired by IKEA. She also reveals how her experience as an entrepreneur is shaping her next act as an early-stage investor. Leah has a new podcast of her own in…

1
Remembering Susan Wojcicki 41:38

2M ago41:38

41:38

We were saddened to hear of the passing of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki last Friday, following her battle with lung cancer. In honor of this iconic Silicon Valley leader, host Reid Hoffman offers a remembrance and a chance for listeners to hear the wisdom she shared in her 2020 episode. She talked with Reid about how to establish your company’…

1
Rapid Response: Wild summer travel tales from Boeing to CrowdStrike, with The Points Guy, Brian Kelly 24:51

2M ago24:51

24:51

Is this the craziest non-pandemic summer travel season ever? The Points Guy’s Brian Kelly joins Rapid Response to talk about how Boeing’s safety issues are impacting flying habits, the CrowdStrike outage and Delta’s response, Southwest’s major pivot, and more. Plus: the airline industry's best-kept secrets and insider deals right now. Subscribe to …

1
OpenAI’s Bret Taylor: Your business can’t wait until AI is perfect 34:52

2M ago34:52

34:52

Chairman of OpenAI, former co-CEO of Salesforce, and co-creator of Google Maps – those are just a few roles Bret Taylor has played in his Silicon Valley career. Reid Hoffman talks with Bret about OpenAI's world-shaping mission, why he founded Sierra and got back in the start-up game, and how business leaders should be using AI now. Synthetic voiceo…

1
Rapid Response: Menopause is having a hot moment, with Midi Health’s Joanna Strober 27:27

2M ago27:27

27:27

Women are losing sleep, falling behind at work, suffering pain, and struggling in their relationships — all because we don’t talk enough about menopause or treat its symptoms. Midi Health’s Joanna Strober founded her company to tap the vast underserved market for this area of women’s health, which is finally getting mainstream attention. Strober sh…

1
Brian Grazer: Scale your curiosity (Encore) 26:59

2M ago26:59

26:59

In our fast-paced working life, how can we make networking more impactful? In this episode (first published August 2023) the acclaimed film and television producer Brian Grazer talks with host Reid Hoffman about the value of sustained, genuine curiosity. You’ll hear how Brian founded Imagine Entertainment with his longtime creative partner, Ron How…

1
Rapid Response: How Barstool Sports’ ex-CEO cooks up attention, with Food52’s Erika Ayers Badan 31:02

2M ago31:02

31:02

Controversy, frat house culture, viral moments — when you hear ‘Barstool Sports,’ this may be what comes to mind. But former CEO Erika Ayers Badan is here to tell you that the business model that made Barstool into an online cultural juggernaut is replicable and poised to re-shape the food and lifestyle industry. Ayers Badan shares with Rapid Respo…

1
Asking questions that scale, with AG1’s Kat Cole 38:46

3M ago38:46

38:46

From traveling the world opening restaurants as a teenager to pioneering new strategies at legacy brands, Kat Cole knows the importance of asking the right questions to forge a path to scale. Host Jeff Berman dives into Cole's fascinating career, exploring how she led teams at iconic brands like Hooters and Cinnabon, applying the lessons to steerin…

1
Rapid Response: Reid Hoffman on the business impacts of Trump vs. Harris 25:40

3M ago25:40

25:40

Reid Hoffman's support for Kamala Harris and other Democrats — and distaste for former President Trump — has plunged him into headlines, in opposition to Elon Musk and others. Reid joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to take us inside Silicon Valley’s reaction to Harris’s presidential bid, why some business leaders are embracing Trump, and what th…

1
Rapid Response: What the Democrats' campaign changeup means for business, with Axios’ Alex Thompson 24:43

3M ago24:43

24:43

With Kamala Harris suddenly poised to become the Democratic presidential nominee, expectations have been turned on their head for voters, fundraisers, and the business world. Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to share what his sources have said behind the scenes about what drove Biden’s decision-making…

1
Which start-ups change the future? Investor Mike Maples Jr. with Reid Hoffman 35:28

3M ago35:28

35:28

Silicon Valley investor Mike Maples Jr. is known for having a ‘Midas Touch.’ Think of a tech start-up that has changed your life in the last 20 years, and he was probably helping fuel its growth. Mike talks with host Reid Hoffman about the insights he’s gathered from decades of investing, which he shares in his new national bestseller book: Pattern…

1
Rapid Response: What’s the next Barbenheimer? with The Ankler’s Janice Min 25:48

3M ago25:48

25:48

Summer’s not so hot at the movie theaters, and the same goes for streaming. Nothing’s come close to last year’s Barbie-Oppenheimer success, and Janice Min of entertainment news startup Ankler Media can’t say she’s surprised. Janice vets Hollywood’s offerings for the summer entertainment cycle, weighs in on deals from Paramount/Skydance to the astro…

1
Liquid Death’s Mike Cessario: Trust your taste 34:58

3M ago34:58

34:58

Can drinking water look cool? That was the driving question behind Liquid Death founder Mike Cessario’s big business idea. Since launching its first tallboy cans of water in 2019, Liquid Death has used humor, design and smirk-worthy marketing to grow into a beverage company valued at $1.4 billion. Mike talks with host Jeff Berman about how he built…

1
Rapid Response: Team USA’s bold plan for Paris, with US Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland 26:14

3M ago26:14

26:14

With 346 events over 17 days at this summer’s Paris Olympics, how do we zero in on the most important events, storylines, and takeaways? CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Sarah Hirshland, returns to Rapid Response to provide an insider’s guide, including a preview of Team USA’s strategy. Hirshland also talks about the latest Chinese d…

1
Ron Howard: Evolve your vision (Encore) 34:12

3M ago34:12

34:12

This week, Masters of Scale is bringing back one of our favorite episodes. It’s Reid Hoffman’s conversation with Ron Howard, the legendary director, producer, actor, and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment. In this episode, Ron shares how he manages the balance between staying true to his vision, while also embracing change. It’s a crucial topic fo…

1
Rapid Response: Why the fashion industry needs a makeover, with Imran Amed 29:52

3M ago29:52

29:52

The fashion world is at a sudden inflection point. Big luxury players are struggling, e-commerce markets are floundering, and ultra-fast players like Shein are disrupting. The Business of Fashion’s Imran Amed takes us inside the tumult, providing a framework to understand the trends and their larger economic impact. Plus: how manufacturers are adap…

1
Grammarly CEO Rahul Roy-Chowdhury: Trust, AI, and the future of work 34:04

4M ago34:04

34:04

New AI products are rapidly changing the landscape for businesses. This is especially true for the writing tool Grammarly. The $13 billion dollar software company’s CEO Rahul Roy-Chowdhury has taken the helm in the midst of a profound disruption. Host Jeff Berman talks to Rahul about how his time at Google helped prepare him for this moment, why he…

1
Rapid Response: Slutty Vegan wants to be the next Shake Shack, with founder Pinky Cole 23:25

4M ago23:25

23:25

While many plant-based food brands have struggled recently, Pinky Cole’s fast food chain Slutty Vegan keeps growing, with new restaurants across the U.S. Pinky sits down with Rapid Response host Bob Safian to explain how she’s scaling the brand despite lawsuits, social media attacks and a flurry of vegan restaurant competitor closures. Pinky also s…

1
You could start a company this weekend, w/Noah Kagan 32:23

4M ago32:23

32:23

Entrepreneur Noah Kagan wants everyone to feel empowered to start a business. That’s the core message of his new book, Million Dollar Weekend. He’s founded multiple companies worth at least a million dollars, including AppSumo. That’s his software marketplace worth more than $80 million. Noah shares lessons from his scale journey, and from the earl…

1
Rapid Response: Power moves for the planet, w/GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik 23:10

4M ago23:10

23:10

Can nuclear energy, solar and wind farms, and carbon capture scale fast enough to save the planet? GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian on stage at the Climatech conference in Boston to detail how green energy is evolving in 2024. GE Vernova is a new company spun out from General Electric, and helps power around a quart…

1
Don’t stop learning: How Cornerstone kept scaling, w/Adam Miller 33:00

4M ago33:00

33:00

Founded at the dawn of the dot-com era, entrepreneur Adam Miller’s original concept for Cornerstone was a kind of Netflix for adult education: training courses through CD-ROMs. Migrating to online offerings for major corporate clients, Adam steered the company through tough times that included an encounter with a loan shark, markets collapsing, and…

1
Rapid Response: Taking over when tragedy strikes, w/Guild's Bijal Shah 23:45

4M ago23:45

23:45

After Guild’s founding CEO suffered a stroke at the age of just 34, Bijal Shah was tapped to take the helm. Shah joins Rapid Response to share the story behind the emotional leadership change, and how she wrestled with the immense responsibility of shepherding a company out of crisis. Shah also discusses how Taylor Swift inspires her leadership, an…

1
Tinker your way to scale: James Dyson 29:56

4M ago29:56

29:56

James Dyson's journey to building a global invention enterprise began with a simple goal: to build a better vacuum. After 5,000+ prototypes and years of precise tinkering, his innovative bagless vacuum was ready. But none of the big brand names wanted it. So he started the Dyson company, betting that customers would be swayed by new technology, bet…

1
Rapid Response: Crypto’s new chapter, w/Crypto Council for Innovation’s Sheila Warren 25:05

4M ago25:05

25:05

For anyone skeptical about crypto hype, Sheila Warren explains why it is here to stay, and what you might be overlooking. As CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, Warren joins Rapid Response to take us inside today’s crypto resurgence, in which 1 out of 5 Americans hold crypto in some fashion. Warren shares the story behind Congress’ recent bip…

1
Bonus: Angela Duckworth’s “No Stupid Questions” Podcast 39:13

4M ago39:13

39:13

Masters of Scale guest, psychologist, and “Grit” author Angela Duckworth also hosts the podcast “No Stupid Questions.” With her co-host, entrepreneur and executive Mike Maughn, she takes up questions on deep issues like purpose and productivity. In this episode called “Do You Need a Routine?” Angela and Mike share notes from their personal lives, c…

1
QuestBridge: Scaling College Access with Ana Rowena Mallari 34:35

4M ago34:35

34:35

Imagine all the highly motivated, high-achieving students who can excel at the most challenging colleges but lack the financial resources to attend. Matching this type of talent with full funding from top-tier schools is the mission of QuestBridge. CEO Ana Rowena Mallari recounts the organization’s 30-year scale journey, during which the program ha…

1
Rapid Response: Robinhood confronts a GameStop sequel, w/CEO Vlad Tenev 24:46

5M ago24:46

24:46

How will the return of meme stocks like GameStop and day trading influencers like Roaring Kitty alter the fintech landscape? Robinhood’s co-founder and CEO Vlad Tenev, who was a lightning rod for controversy when meme stocks first surged in 2021, joins Rapid Response to explain what’s the same and what’s different this time around. Tenev also share…

1
Meet “Reid-ish”: The Story of Cloning Reid Hoffman’s Voice 32:42

5M ago32:42

32:42

Masters of Scale goes under the hood of powerful AI in audio, unveiling a full vocal clone for founding host Reid Hoffman. Our CEO Jeff Berman, the Masters of Scale staff, and Reid himself tell the story of creating a synthetic voice we call “Reid-ish.” The company Respeecher is behind the technology, and its CEO Alex Serdiuk walks us through the s…

1
Rapid Response: What campus protests mean for business, w/Ken Frazier and Ken Chenault 30:25

5M ago30:25

30:25

Amid college campus protests over Palestine and Israel, stark US political divides, and legal challenges to diversity initiatives, business leaders face new pressure on whether to speak out and take action on issues of our time. Ken Frazier, former CEO of Merck, and Ken Chenault, former CEO of American Express, offer their unfiltered advice, as boa…

1
Grit-scaling with Angela Duckworth 33:22

5M ago33:22

33:22

Success looks different for everybody. But author and psychologist Angela Duckworth has found that whether we achieve success, or even seek it, may hinge on a characteristic that she calls “grit.” Angela’s 2016 bestseller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance quickly became a must-read for business leaders. On Masters of Scale she describes h…

1
Rapid Response: Airbnb reimagined (Part 1), w/CEO Brian Chesky 32:40

5M ago32:40

32:40

As Rapid Response begins a twice-weekly cadence, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky returns to reveal how the company’s new Icons initiative points toward a surprising new chapter ahead. Host Bob Safian gets Chesky to open up about the mental struggles of being a high-profile CEO, plus the inside story behind Airbnb’s recent ad campaign targeti…

1
Trendspotting with Ron Shaich: Panera, Cava, and Beyond 27:40

5M ago27:40

27:40

Some business leaders have a seemingly psychic ability to spot trends, and take them mainstream at just the right moment. Ron Shaich is one of those. As a pioneering force behind fast-casual dining, Shaich saw that a growing number of Americans craved higher quality food in a relaxed yet speedy setting. His first major company, Au Bon Pain, paved t…

1
Rapid Response: Caitlin Clark and the new WNBA, w/Commissioner Cathy Engelbert 22:10

5M ago22:10

22:10

We’ve reached a radical inflection point in the growth of women’s sports, particularly the WNBA. As college stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese enter the league, fans are clamoring for tickets and on social media, generating unprecedented excitement and business potential. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian …

1
Local veggies, national scale: Sweetgreen co-founders 36:36

5M ago36:36

36:36

What started with three college friends looking for a healthy lunch in D.C. grew into Sweetgreen, a fast-growing restaurant business focused on salads and grain bowls. From a tiny 500-square-foot storefront to more than 220 locations nationwide, the Sweetgreen journey includes booking The Strokes for a "salad festival," adopting cutting-edge techno…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Sophia Mins Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide