Rephonic
Artwork for Rapid Response

Rapid Response

WaitWhat
Artificial Intelligence
Super Bowl
Taylor Swift
Autodesk
Remote Work
Regulation
J. Lo
Beyoncé
Ozempic
Wegovy
Tiktok
Star Trek
Intel
Leadership
Work Culture
Dunkin Donuts
Bud Light
Darktrace
Cybersecurity
Openai

The pace of change in our culture is unprecedented and shows no signs of slowing. So what is most important to pay attention to when striving to innovate, create, and lead? From the team behind Masters of Scale, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today's top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company, Bob Safian.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes406Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipNewsBusinessBusiness News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Rapid Response

Latest Episodes

Scott O'Neil has run NBA and NHL franchises. Now he's betting on a golf revolution. The LIV Golf CEO joins Rapid Response to reveal what it really takes to disrupt a legacy sport, the unique pressures of answering to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth f... more

While legacy news outlets like The Washington Post stumble, The Guardian keeps growing — but how? Guardian Media Group CEO Anna Bateson joins Rapid Response to pull back the curtain on the company's unusual ownership structure and the multi-revenue m... more

What does it take to lead a meditation company without finding a moment’s peace? David Ko spent years as CEO of Calm, one of the world's most recognized mental health and wellness apps, helping millions manage stress. Now he's stepping down. Ko unpac... more

AI is moving fast. But are we really keeping humans at the center? In this special live Rapid Response, recorded on stage at South by Southwest, host Bob Safian sits down with AI scientist, founder of Affectiva, investor at Blue Tulip, and host of Pi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Possible
PossibleReid Hoffman
Founders
FoundersDavid Senra
Prof G Markets
Prof G MarketsVox Media Podcast Network

Recent Guests

Anna Bateson
CEO of Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Episode: The Guardian’s secret weapon against media’s collapse, with CEO Anna Bateson
David Ko
Head of Calm health and wellness app, stepped down as CEO in 2022 to become senior advisor to the board
Calm
Episode: The “most stressed” wellness CEO, with Calm’s David Ko
Matthew Prince
CEO and co-founder of Cloudflare
Cloudflare
Episode: The internet is breaking. So what’s next? with Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince
Amy Farley
Executive editor of Fast Company
Fast Company
Episode: Most Innovative Companies 2026: Who’s in, who’s out, with Fast Company’s Amy Farley
Maryam Banikarim
Former CMO of Univision, Gannett and Hyatt; founder of The Interval and NYC Next; host of The Messy Parts
The Messy Parts; The Interval; NYC Next
Episode: The C-suite is messier than you think, with Maryam Banikarim
Hanneke Faber
CEO of Logitech
Logitech
Episode: Logitech’s CEO treats AI like a board member
Natasha Miller
Capital One business customer and CEO of Entire Productions
Entire Productions, Capital One
Episode: Rapid Recap: Iran, Anthropic vs. Pentagon, Paramount’s win, and more
Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist and author of 'The Anxious Generation'
Episode: Remarkable People: How social media is rewiring childhood, with Jonathan Haidt
Hailey Bieber
Celebrity and founder of the skincare brand Road
Road
Episode: Hailey Bieber, AI and fast launches: how e.l.f. Beauty is winning

Host

Bob Safian
Host of Rapid Response; former editor-in-chief of Fast Company; principal interviewer

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 87 ratings
  • Peer to Peer convo

    love that Bob Safian engages with guest in a curious but informed way - and his guests reflect fresh thinking in business.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LA YMCA user
    United States2 years ago
  • Engaging and Insightful Business Conversations

    Concise and insightful! Bob Safian’s informed questions, combined with his curiosity and wit, make each episode engaging. The end-of-podcast summaries are a perfect wrap-up. A must-listen for quick, valuable business insights.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goldenrust
    Canada2 years ago
  • Great podcast

    Safian delivers an interesting story and presents ideas I never thought about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mbelsky674
    United States2 years ago
  • The best!!

    An excellent, amazingly high quality show that manages to be equally entertaining and informative. Couldn’t recommend it more highly!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eagleeyes95
    United States2 years ago
  • Come for the interview, stay for the takeaways

    Bob Safian can talk to anybody. But especially with movers and shakers of the business world. Whether it’s a big time CEO, Star Trek’s executive producer, or an educational organizational leader integrating AI into their products, Bob skillfully asks the questions we want to know. If you want relevant and exciting interviews on what biz leaders are doing to navigate life here on earth, and this business machine we all wake up in everyday, this is the spot for you. Pack this podcast and unwrap th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Travdin Tuck
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently valuable leadership and strategy perspectives for executives.
Authentic, engaging dialogue that stays focused on practical insights.
Savvy, insightful interviews with top business leaders.
High-quality guests; thoughtful, informed questioning.
Concise, actionable takeaways and strong guest lineups.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Guardian’s secret weapon against media’s collapse, with CEO Anna Bateson
Q: Is there a single secret behind the Guardian's success, or a set of factors?
Anna explains there isn't a single secret, but a combination of embracing digital early, leveraging a unique ownership model that supports long-term planning, and building a strong reader revenue base alongside advertising.
The “most stressed” wellness CEO, with Calm’s David Ko
Q: What role does leadership play in mental health at work?
Ko emphasizes leadership must model vulnerability and openness, integrating mental health into the core mission rather than treating it as a peripheral benefit.
The “most stressed” wellness CEO, with Calm’s David Ko
Q: How did this transition come about for you?
Ko explains that stepping down was a thoughtful move after stepping back to see the broader impact of Calm and to focus on expanding health outcomes and a global mission beyond a single company.
Humanize AI before it dehumanizes us, with Dr. Rana el Kaliouby at SXSW
Q: What human skills should organizations prioritize to stay human-centric as AI tools proliferate?
Encourage experimentation and tool adoption while maintaining guardrails; emphasize collaboration between humans and AI, clear governance, and a culture that values transparency and responsible deployment.
Humanize AI before it dehumanizes us, with Dr. Rana el Kaliouby at SXSW
Q: What pattern separates founders building something that will matter in five years from those riding a hype cycle?
Founders who create defensible, complex solutions with a clear path to real-world impact and durable IP tend to outlast hype; questions focus on defensibility and the real, long-term value of the problem being solved.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Rapid Response

What is Rapid Response about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Rapid Response offers brisk, candid conversations with today's business leaders navigating rapid change across technology, geopolitics, branding, and organizational culture. Episodes frequently center on AI strategy, leadership during uncertainty, and real-world case stories from clients and partners, with practitioners sharing actionable takeaways on governance, talent, and transformation. The show stands out for bringing high-profile executives and thinkers—ranging from Fortune-level CEOs to policy-informed analysts—into a compact format that emphasizes practical guidance, human-centric leadership, and timely perspectives on how to lead in an AI-enabled, rapidly shifting world.

Where can I find podcast stats for Rapid Response?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Rapid Response. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Rapid Response and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Rapid Response get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Rapid Response, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Rapid Response?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Rapid Response, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Rapid Response have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Rapid Response has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Rapid Response?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rapid Response:

1. Masters of Scale
2. Possible
3. Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People
4. Founders
5. Prof G Markets

How many episodes of Rapid Response are there?

Rapid Response launched 2 years ago and published 406 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Rapid Response?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Rapid Response?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Rapid Response from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Rapid Response?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Rapid Response. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Rapid Response?

Recent guests on Rapid Response include:

1. Anna Bateson
2. David Ko
3. Matthew Prince
4. Amy Farley
5. Maryam Banikarim
6. Hanneke Faber
7. Natasha Miller
8. Jonathan Haidt

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days