Power Players with Brian Sozzi

Latest Episodes:

The truth about bubbles, FOMO, and why stock valuations defy logic Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Ever wonder about the psychology driving the economy and stock market? Why do investors embrace weak companies? Why do inventors ignore some strong companies? What triggers the start of asset price bubbles, and what causes them to end badly? Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with behavioral economist and co-author of the new book "The Winner’s Curse: Behavioral Economics Anomalies, Then & Now," Richard Thaler. Thaler has studied behavioral economics for over 40 years, winning the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work. The book explores economic puzzles found in markets, from the love of retail investors of meme stocks to the yawning popularity of cryptocurrency.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Coach's former CEO says America's future depends on immigrants. Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Before it was known as Tapestry (TPR) and an owner of the Coach and Kate Spade Brands, Coach was just Coach — maker of handbags and accessories that dominated mall racks. But like with every retailer in business for decades, Coach has stories to tell. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi sits on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with former longtime Coach CEO Lew Frankfort. Frankfort is out with a new memoir called Bag Man: The Story Behind the Improbable Rise of Coach. The book takes readers inside the history of the accessories maker founded in New York City in 1941. Frankfurt joined the company in 1979 with no background in the fashion industry. By 1985, he was the president of Coach, CEO by 1995, and then led the company’s IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in 2000. He departed Coach as CEO in January 2014, but has stayed close to the company and the broader retail industry. Frankfort shares his journey through the C-suite and the lessons he learned along the way.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why AI stocks stay sexy Oct 18, 2025

Show notes

It has been another money-making year for investors by and large. Crypto prices are near records, AI-exposed stocks continue to perform well, and Wall Street strategists have begun to come out more bullish for 2026 amid expectations for rate cuts. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with BlackRock’s chief investment and portfolio strategist for the Americas, Gargi Chaudhuri. Chaudhuri thinks investor portfolios are even riskier because of shifts in the foundational relationships between stocks and bonds. Despite more elevated valuations for stocks and expectations for slowing US economic growth, Chaudhuri still leans toward favoring growth stocks like those in the AI space. The veteran strategist also recommends having an allocation in digital assets such as crypto.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starbucks CEO reveals secret AI barista that predicts your order Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Bringing a restaurant industry icon back to a fully caffeinated status. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Starbucks (SBUX) CEO Brian Niccol from Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce event. Niccol passed his one-year mark as CEO in September, and it has been a wild ride to say the very least. The company is closing underperforming restaurants, remodeling more than 1,000, has revamped the menu to include protein-infused coffee, and is knee deep in overhauling the mobile ordering tech platform. Niccol has been forced to make tough calls on employees and is undergoing a review of the Chinese business while also navigating a challenging spending backdrop at restaurants. Niccol shares where he thinks Starbucks is in the turnaround and measures he is taking to revitalize the coffee giant.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okta’s CEO on the hidden dangers of AI agents in the workplace Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

AI development is moving at lightning-fast speeds. Agents are spreading inside companies as executives seek to increase productivity from workers and save money. However, the issue now rising to the forefront is the risks to companies from the spread of AI. Think bad actors taking control of a company’s agents to wreak havoc on customers! Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Okta (OKTA) co-founder and CEO Todd McKinnon at Salesforce’s (CRM) annual Dreamforce event in San Francisco. Okta has hit its stride after earlier post IPO missteps, and is winning new business from companies looking to protect their tech infrastructure. McKinnon shares his perspective on the AI moment, risks, and what lies ahead for Okta. He also peels back the onion on his own leadership journey.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From wildfire relief to funding food: Inside the business of GoFundMe Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

In times of need, families often rely on GoFundMe to cover expenses ranging from burial costs for a loved one to helping to rebuild a burned-down home. GoFundMe has become the go-to destination in this regard. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi discusses the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan. Cadogan spent years as a search and rescue volunteer and a top tech executive before taking on the role of GoFundMe CEO in early 2020. Since assuming the top spot, the online donation platform continues to help raise large sums of money for those in urgent need. Cadogan shares his ultimate vision for the platform, who he leans on for advice during challenging periods, and how the platform performs in 2025.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Cramer on building wealth, stock market lessons, and bold predictions Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Few have championed the need for people to invest in individual stocks like Jim Cramer. The former hedge fund manager essentially created the financial commentary world after leaving the hedge fund world. His goal since those early days: demystify the world of investing for the average investor. Cramer founded legendary business publication TheStreet.com in 1996 and went toe to toe with MarketWatch in the early 2000s to provide investing analysis to the growing masses interested in investing. He has been on TV consistently with his popular investing show, Mad Money, for over 20 years. Despite his many achievements, Cramer isn’t resting on his laurels. He is back with his 8th book on investing, How to Make Money in Any Market. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Cramer about his new book, which champions the need for people to buy stocks to build immense wealth. He also shares his views on some of the hottest stocks today, such as Nvidia (NVDA) and Oracle (ORCL). As a bonus, Cramer and Sozzi also reflect on their time working together at TheStreet, an institution in financial media where Sozzi got his start because of Cramer.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Costs of youth sports pressure on families Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

Suffice it to say, there is a lot of money floating around sports nowadays. Eye-popping contracts for star players. Opportunities for college students to earn money by doing their best in the field. Money-making opportunities from social media platforms. However, to earn these dollars, an athlete must be fostered and nurtured at a young age. The strive to be the next big thing in sports could cause parents to head down the wrong coaching path with their kids. It could also cause kids to look for shortcuts in their training. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with sportscaster and former NFL tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen shares the personal story behind his launch of Youth Inc. The digital platform provides resources to parents and youth athletes on everything from nutrition to handling the game's stress.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside Revlon's comeback after bankruptcy Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

In the world of cosmetics, few companies are as well-known as Revlon. Founded in 1932, Revlon continues to be a significant force in the ever-changing world of cosmetics. However, the company has seen its ups and downs in recent decades. The cosmetics industry has evolved into one heavily driven by celebrities like Kylie Jenner and popular names on TikTok's social platform. At the same time, Revlon’s 2016 acquisition of Elizabeth Arden saddled it with so much debt that it entered bankruptcy in 2022. The company emerged from bankruptcy in 2023 with far less debt and a more streamlined business. Enter Revlon CEO Michelle Peluso. The former CVS Health (CVS) and IBM (IBM) exec — and current Nike (NKE) board member — joined Revlon in late 2024 to take the company into its next chapter. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi sits down on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Revlon CEO Michelle Peluso to see what she is working on and the outlook for the cosmetics business.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zscaler CEO warns that AI could spark new cyberattacks Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

The talk of the past year in tech has centered on what’s coming next for AI. From digital agents to powerful new models, there has been much to discuss and a ton of change. At the same time, one would be crazy to discount the impact of AI; equally important as this is the companies working on technology to protect themselves from their creations.Enter cybersecurity player Zscaler (ZS), led by founder and CEO Jay Chaudry. Chaudry has one of the hottest tech stocks of the past five years — up close to 100% — amid strong demand for security projects. Chaudry is now doubling down on the business, spending nearly $700 million to buy Red Canary to branch out into additional defense services. The move makes perfect sense as cyber threats continue to accelerate aggressively.

Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.

Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.

Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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