MASTERS founder and host Winn Claybaugh started producing podcasts long before the concept was created. Since February 1995, Winn has recorded and shared profound interviews with leaders of major companies, philanthropic celebrities, and mentors from every walk of life. His earliest interviews were recorded on cassette tapes and mailed to subscribers in about a dozen countries. Today MASTERS by Winn Claybaugh is a free podcast airing on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and other podcast platforms. In February 2023, MASTERS reached a milestone with its 100th podcast and over 1 million downloads to date.
“My very first interview request went to iconic hairstylist Vidal Sassoon,” Winn says. “I figured if Vidal said yes to me, who would ever say no? Fortunately, Vidal was a generous, loving man and although I had no credentials under my belt, he said yes and gave me the opportunity. That vote of confidence gave me the courage to approach everyone else. The exciting result: a 28-year MASTERS library featuring more than 325 interviews.”
The MASTERS roster includes beauty industry luminaries like Vidal Sassoon, Robert Lobetta, Ted Gibson, Tabatha Coffee, Ruth Roche, Vivienne Mackinder, and John Paul DeJoria, along with leaders outside the industry: actors Gary Sinise and Fran Drescher, entertainer and philanthropist Marie Osmond, inspirational speaker and author Tim Storey, bestselling author and wealth/wisdom advisor Patrice Washington, TV and radio personalities Leeza Gibbons and Larry King, Olympic gold medalist Peter Vidmar, American hero and double amputee Cedric King, Paralympic champion Mike Schlappi, hearing-impaired comedian and motivational speaker Kathy Buckley, Emmy nominated actor-producer Monique Coleman, anti-bullying expert Dr. Susan Swearer, Fred Jordan Missions co-founder Willie Jordan, Homeboy Industries founder Father Gregory Boyle, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary founder Faith Maloney, former Outback Steakhouse president Ben Novello, Southwest Airlines President Emeritus Colleen Barrett, Disney animator Saul Blinkoff, Best Buy’s Senior Director of Inclusion and Diversity Eric Fulbright, Forbes “30 Under 30” social entrepreneur Seth Maxwell, and more—telling their stories and sharing their wisdom.
Winn continues to release a new MASTERS podcast every month, along with monthly “classics” from the MASTERS vault.