Power Players with Brian Sozzi

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Why AI could be the next big privacy crisis Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

Protecting your identity in the era of AI. Brittany Kaiser is a well-known data rights activist and the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower who exposed how the firm used personal data from millions of Facebook users for political targeting during elections. Since then, she has written a memoir and become the subject of the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary The Great Hack. She is currently the CEO of AlphaTON Capital. Kaiser joined the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi to discuss data protection, her biggest concerns about the rise of generative AI, and Anthropic's battle with the Trump Administration.

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How the 24 Hour Fitness Founder built a gym empire Mar 14, 2026

Show notes

Richard Simmons, Tony Horton, and Billy Blanks – you may know them as the larger-than-life faces of the fitness industry from the past 40 years. You know them in large part because they all came into your home through televised fitness classes and around the clock infomercials. One person from the fitness world you probably haven't heard of is Mark Mastrov, although his impact is no less than those public-facing names. Mastrov is now a 68-year-old fitness industry pioneer who co-founded 24 Hour Fitness in 1983 and transformed it from a single gym into a global powerhouse with over 420 clubs and 4.5 million members before selling it in 2005 for $1.6 billion. Born in Oakland, California, Mastrov identified a critical market gap—gyms weren't open 24/7—and revolutionized the fitness industry by opening up accessibility. After selling 24 Hour Fitness in 2005, Mastrov went on to gain control of Crunch Fitness and founded UFC Gym with the likes of Dana White. He even became an owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. In January 2026, Mastrov teamed up with LongRange Capital to repurchase 24 Hour Fitness and continue its rejuvenation campaign post-2020 bankruptcy. Mastrov joined the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi to discuss the future of fitness and how to build a successful business time and again.

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How Aptera's solar powered EV could change transportation Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

The past 12 months have been anything but electric for some vehicle makers. Both Tesla and Ford have seen sales struggle. Meanwhile, the Trump administration let incentives for new EVs end last year – a further blow to the industry. Enter an upstart like Aptera Motors, which is attempting to scale up production of its first solar-powered vehicle (SEV). Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi sits down with Aptera Motors Co-Founder and CEO Chris Anthony to discuss the state of the industry, the future of transportation, and how he got his start fixing pinball machines.

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The surprising truth about AI replacing software companies Mar 09, 2026

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Freshworks CEO, Dennis Woodside, breaks down the real impact of AI on software companies, jobs, and innovation. Woodside shares lessons on building and scaling companies, navigating disruption, and leading through major technology shifts. He also explains why he believes AI is a massive opportunity, not a threat.

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Inside the Sony hack: the CEO call that changed everything Mar 07, 2026

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Chairperson of Snap Inc., Michael Lynton, and Bloomberg Senior Advisor, Josh Steiner, unpack the high-stakes mistakes that shaped their careers. Lynton reflects on the decision to greenlight The Interview, the fallout from the Sony Pictures hack that followed, and what leaders can learn from failure. Together, they explore why confronting mistakes, rather than hiding from them, can be the key to stronger leadership and long-term success.

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This founder dropped out of Harvard to reinvent stock picking Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Steven Wang is looking to redefine investing for the next generation, one copy trade at a time. Wang, an entrepreneur and the Founder of dub, the first regulated copy-trading platform, sat down with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on Opening Bid Unfiltered to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, which began in elementary school, his decision to drop out of Harvard, and how he gained backing from several big names including former Meta top exec Sheryl Sandberg and Airbnb Founder Brian Chesky.

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How Masterclass built a $475M online education giant Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

Investing in education by channeling those at the very top of their field. David Rogier founded Masterclass in 2015. It’s the well-known streaming education platform founded on the mission to democratize access to world-class learning. Masterclass’s online education videos have featured everyone from acclaimed chef Gordon Ramsay to Starbucks founder Howard Schultz. Raised by his grandparents—including a Holocaust survivor grandmother who became a pediatrician—Rogier learned early that education is "the one thing people can't take away from you." Masterclass has raised about $475 million in capital to date, with its last raise in 2021. Rogier hopped on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast mic with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to share what’s next for his online education company and why. He also shares personal stories from the early days of Masterclass's growth, which offer invaluable insights for those seeking to enter the world of entrepreneurship.

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.

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Anthony Scaramucci on Trump Slump and crypto crash Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Some on Wall Street are calling it the Trump Slump. The president’s signature tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court, dealing a fresh blow to the White House. Meanwhile, the US economy slowed markedly in the fourth quarter amid the government shutdown. The administration’s continued friendliness toward the crypto industry hasn’t been enough to spark renewed buying in bitcoin in 2026, as the crypto king faces a bear market. Skybridge Capital Founder Anthony Scaramucci joined Opening Bid Unfiltered with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to share his thoughts on the Trump Slump, crypto's pullback, and how his son AJ became the winning bidder for Logan Paul’s Pokémon card!

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

The playbook behind this company's explosive growth Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Before starting his brand in 2013 with his twin brother, Alex Faherty built his business expertise in private equity at powerhouse Cerberus Capital Management. His brother developed top design skills at Ralph Lauren, pursuing his longtime passion for clothing. The brothers used their expertise to start their own business, Faherty. The family-owned brand is on a mission to create clothing that blends the relaxed comfort of beach wear with elevated urban style. Faherty now reportedly generates nine-figure annual sales and boasts 80 retail stores in addition to its online business. Alex hopped on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast mic with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to share what’s next for his company and why.

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Phoebe Gates is using AI to reinvent shopping Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Phoebe Gates. Gates — the youngest child of Microsoft (MSFT) Co-Founder Bill Gates and Philanthropist Melinda Gates — is the Founder and Co-CEO of Phia. With Phia, Gates is trying to shake up the shopping experience in the age of AI. Phia’s AI-powered shopping assistant scours the web for deals on fashionable apparel and accessories. So far, Gates has raised more than $40 million from a series of high-profile investors, including Kleiner Perkins, Kris Jenner, and Hailey Bieber. Gates shares her vision for Phia, what she has learned as an early entrepreneur, and how she applies her parents' lessons to her everyday business life.

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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