inSpired

On this episode of inSpired, Mike Rockefeller, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Woodline, is joined by his colleague Ben Rosen to sit down with Kevin Hochman, President & CEO of Brinker International, at its headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

Hochman traces how Chili's introduced a whole new generation to the brand, from the Triple Dipper cheese pull that went viral to the $10.99 meals, and menu hacks that kept young guests discovering more.

They explore fixing leaky roofs before chasing growth, executing a viral trend well rather than fast, the better-than-fast-food campaign, cutting nearly 30% of the menu, becoming the number one seller of margaritas, and why Chili's now offers the excitement of an upstart with the strength of a legacy brand.

A grounded look at how doing the basics right won over a new generation.

This is inSpired.

00:00 Cold open
01:57 What Kevin inherited at Chili’s
05:16 Lessons from P&G and KFC
09:57 How Chili’s won Gen Z
24:36 Majoring in major segments
43:05 Better than fast food
49:18 Holding the $10.99 line
57:34 The North of Six playbook
01:11:34 Built to win in any economy
01:22:13 What inspires Kevin

Mike Rockefeller is the Co-CIO of Woodline® Partners LP ("Woodline"), manager of the Woodline | Spire funds. All opinions expressed by Mike and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Woodline. Guests appearing on this podcast may maintain, or may have maintained, business relationships with Woodline or its affiliates. The views expressed by any guest do not constitute an endorsement or testimonial of Woodline. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Woodline fund and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Funds managed by Woodline, including the Woodline Spire℠ funds, may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this podcast. Any discussion of the past performance of any investment, sector, or market is not indicative of any future results.

www.woodlinepartners.com

Be sure to follow Mike on X/Twitter: @mikerockefeller

Be sure to follow us on X/Twitter: @inSpiredPodX

Episode Credits:
Directed by & Artwork Designed by: Brian Thompson / BT Design & Creative
Produced, Edited, and Mixed by: Dillon Mortensen Films
Music Licensed through: Epidemic Sound

On this episode of inSpired, Mike Rockefeller, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Woodline, is joined by his colleague Neetu Dhaliwal to sit down with Joe Kudla, Founder & CEO of Vuori, at its headquarters in Carlsbad, California.

Kudla traces Vuori's path from an Encinitas garage to a global brand, its fabric-first design philosophy, and the decision to build the company on free cash flow.

They explore community as a growth engine, moving into women’s apparel, the plan to reach 300 stores by 2030, expansion into China, and how merchandising discipline protects full-price selling and best-in-class margins.

A sharp look at product, brand, and financial rigor. 

 
This is inSpired.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mike Rockefeller is the Co-CIO of Woodline® Partners LP ("Woodline"), manager of the Woodline | Spire funds. All opinions expressed by Mike and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Woodline.

Guests appearing on this podcast may maintain, or may have maintained, business relationships with Woodline or its affiliates. The views expressed by any guest do not constitute an endorsement or testimonial of Woodline.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Woodline fund and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Funds managed by Woodline, including the Woodline Spire℠ funds, may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this podcast. Any discussion of the past performance of any investment, sector, or market is not indicative of any future results.

www.woodlinepartners.com

Be sure to follow us on X/Twitter: @inSpiredPodX

Episode Credits:
Directed by & Artwork Designed by: Brian Thompson / BT Design & Creative
Produced, Filmed, Edited, and Mixed by: Dillon Mortensen Films
Music Licensed through: Epidemic Sound

On this episode of inSpired, Mike Rockefeller, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Woodline, sits down with Dr. Leonard Schleifer, Co-Founder, President & CEO of Regeneron, at its headquarters in New York.

Len reflects on the 38-year journey of building Regeneron alongside co-founder Dr. George Yancopoulos, the company's deep pipeline, and the extraordinary story of treating President Trump for COVID-19.

They explore the growth runway for Eyela and Dupixent, its late-stage pipeline spanning obesity, multiple myeloma, anticoagulation, and the C5 franchise, as well as the Regeneron Genetics Center, curing genetic deafness, AI in drug discovery, and the company's disciplined M&A philosophy.

A candid take on science-first drug development and what it takes to succeed in the biotechnology industry going forward.

This is inSpired.

Recorded May 6, 2026.

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00:00  inSpired with Dr. Leonard Schleifer
01:49  Founding Regeneron in 1988
08:04  Working with Dr. George Yancopoulos
11:44  Top Moments and the EYLEA Approval
15:05  Treating President Trump for COVID
19:22  EYLEA and EYLEA HD Today
20:18  Dupixent and the Type 2 Franchise
23:20  Next Generation Immunology
29:39  Obesity: A GLP That Lowers Cholesterol
33:42  Lynozyfic in Multiple Myeloma
34:50  Factor XI Anticoagulation
39:46  The C5 Franchise
42:48  The Regeneron Genetics Center
48:06  Curing Genetic Deafness
50:03  AI in Drug Discovery
52:17  M&A Philosophy
55:47  Succession and Advice for the Next Len

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mike Rockefeller is the Co-CIO of Woodline® Partners LP ("Woodline"), manager of the Woodline | Spire funds. All opinions expressed by Mike and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Woodline.

Guests appearing on this podcast may maintain, or may have maintained, business relationships with Woodline or its affiliates. The views expressed by any guest do not constitute an endorsement or testimonial of Woodline.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Woodline fund and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Funds managed by Woodline, including the Woodline Spire℠ funds, may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this podcast. Any discussion of the past performance of any investment, sector, or market is not indicative of any future results.

www.woodlinepartners.com

Be sure to follow us on X/Twitter: @inSpiredPodX

Episode Credits:
Directed by & Artwork Designed by: Brian Thompson / BT Design & Creative
Produced, Edited, and Mixed by: Dillon Mortensen Films
Music Licensed through: Epidemic Sound

On this episode of inSpired, Mike Rockefeller, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Woodline, manager of the Woodline | Spire funds, sits down with Dave Ricks, Chair & CEO of Eli Lilly, at its headquarters in Indiana.

Ricks dives into the market for GLP-1s, a wide range of potential future applications, and upcoming pipeline drugs like retatrutide and eloralintide.

They explore obesity pricing dynamics, Lilly's direct to consumer strategy, drug compounding, and internal vs. external innovation.

A sharp, insightful look at science, strategy, and leadership from the CEO who built Eli Lilly into the most valuable healthcare company in the world.

This is inSpired.

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00:00:00  - inSpired with Dave Ricks

00:01:25  - Thriving for 150 years

00:06:50  - Obesity market size

00:10:45  - 100 million patients possible?

00:11:30  - Next generation weight loss therapies

00:15:08  - Retatrutide

00:18:28  - Orforglipron and eloralintide

00:23:48  - Brain health, immunology, and cancer

00:27:32  - Lilly Direct

00:35:55  - Price stability through innovation

00:38:45  - Innovators vs. compounders

00:42:13  - Neuroscience

00:47:38  - M&A: opening the aperture

00:53:04  - What inspires Dave Ricks?

00:57:28  - Navigating a complex healthcare landscape

01:00:39  - 10-year goals

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mike Rockefeller is the Co-CIO of Woodline® Partners LP ("Woodline"), manager of the Woodline | Spire funds. All opinions expressed by Mike and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Woodline.

Guests appearing on this podcast may maintain, or may have maintained, business relationships with Woodline or its affiliates. The views expressed by any guest do not constitute an endorsement or testimonial of Woodline.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Woodline fund and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Funds managed by Woodline, including the Woodline Spire℠ funds, may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this podcast. Any discussion of the past performance of any investment, sector, or market is not indicative of any future results.

www.woodlinepartners.com

Be sure to follow us on X/Twitter: @inSpiredPodX

Episode Credits:
Directed by: Brian Thompson / BT Design & Creative
Produced, Edited, and Mixed by: Dillon Mortensen Films
Artwork designed by: BT Design & Creative
Music Licensed through: Epidemic Sound