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Rapid Response

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Artificial Intelligence
Trump Administration
Climate Change
Donald Trump
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Elon Musk
Leadership
China
Openai
Healthcare
Hollywood
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Netflix
Higher Education
Silicon Valley
AI Agents
Sustainability
Social Media
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Amazon

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes463Founded2 years ago
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Latest Episodes

This episode of Rapid Response first aired in 2025.

Live on stage at Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky explores what role business could and should play in building the future. He shares his candid pers... more

Prediction markets incentivize truth. Everything else incentivizes clickbait. That's the core argument Luana Lopes Lara makes for Kalshi — the prediction market platform she co-founded that has gone from $5 billion to $22 billion in valuation in unde... more

What happens when you interview an AI? Bob Safian found out, and while it didn't break out into Cantonese, it was stranger than he expected. This episode is split in two: first, a conversation with Eline van der Velden, the Dutch actress-turned-tech-... more

The second a brand like Hershey stops being culturally relevant, says its CEO Kirk Tanner, you should be worried. He joins Rapid Response to explain exactly what he's doing to make sure that never happens. Tanner also reveals why GLP-1 users are actu... more

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Recent Guests

Eline van der Velden
Founder and CEO of Particle 6; creator of AI actor Tilly Norwood
Particle 6
Episode: Meet Tilly Norwood and her creator: AI "actor," death threats, and new Hollywood
Tilly Norwood
AI actor character discussed in the episode
Particle 6
Episode: Meet Tilly Norwood and her creator: AI "actor," death threats, and new Hollywood
Kirk Tanner
CEO of the Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
Episode: Halloween meets GLP-1s: Hershey’s candy Super Bowl, with CEO Kirk Tanner
Eli Wallen
Founder and CEO
Enjin
Episode: Halloween meets GLP-1s: Hershey’s candy Super Bowl, with CEO Kirk Tanner
Tjada McKenna
CEO of Prosper Global (formerly Mercy Corps)
Prosper Global
Episode: Rebranding in a war zone, with Prosper Global (formerly Mercy Corps)
Amy Webb
Futurist, author, and CEO of Future Today Strategy Group
Future Today Strategy Group
Episode: Pioneers of AI: The deep AI shifts that will reshape our lives
Codie Sanchez
Founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking, author of Own or Be Owned
Contrarian Thinking
Episode: Stop creating businesses. Buy one instead, with Codie Sanchez
Jim VandeHei
CEO of Axios and co-author of Simplify
Axios
Episode: Let’s Kill Sh*t: Axios CEO on simplifying your work-life in the AI era
David Allemann
Co-founder and co-CEO of ON
ON
Episode: On's 16-year overnight success: Zendaya, Federer, and outrunning competition

Host

Bob Safian
Host of Rapid Response; former editor-in-chief of Fast Company; long-time interviewer on business leadership and strategy

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 91 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.

The show is described as engaging and insightful, with high production quality and practical firm-level insights.
Guests are consistently described as movers and shakers delivering valuable perspectives on leadership and change.
Listeners praise the host's curious, well-informed questioning and the concise, takeaway‑driven format.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Meet Tilly Norwood and her creator: AI "actor," death threats, and new Hollywood
Q: What are the commercial goals for Misaligned vs. this being an art project?
Misaligned remains primarily an art-project with potential commercial elements; the aim is to demystify AI and help the industry understand its capabilities and limits.
Meet Tilly Norwood and her creator: AI "actor," death threats, and new Hollywood
Q: Is there a right or wrong approach to using AI in film based on company size or stage?
Large studios want modern, consumer-friendly tools with strong controls, while SMBs can benefit from the same tech with added visibility and governance.
Meet Tilly Norwood and her creator: AI "actor," death threats, and new Hollywood
Q: How do you know you're talking to me and not an AI version of you?
A three-finger test and other verification methods can confirm human interaction; still, it's likely we'll often converse with AI versions of people in the future.
Stop creating businesses. Buy one instead, with Codie Sanchez
Q: So is it better to start your own business or buy an existing one? And are hands-on trades worth considering in an AI world?
Buying an existing business tends to offer higher odds of profitability and a clearer path to cash flow; it's important to evaluate the fit with your skills and to use due diligence tools like valuations, Scout Sites, and seller financing options to mitigate risk. For hands-on trades, the key is ownership and having a system in place rather than relying on hype, with AI serving as a tool to augment decision-making.
Rebranding in a war zone, with Prosper Global (formerly Mercy Corps)
Q: And could AI firms provide Prosper Global with a secret weapon?
There's potential for AI to improve targeting and efficiency, but we're still outlining practical partnerships and looking for ways technology can truly transform humanitarian assistance.

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 concise, high-signal conversations with today's business leaders about navigating rapid change. Episodes frequently center on AI, the future of work, branding in a fast-moving media landscape, and real-world leadership during disruption. Guests range from CEOs and founders to executives shaping strategy in tech, advertising, sports, and media, often with practical takeaways for scaling teams, managing change, and making responsible bets on technology. The format tends to be tightly focused, data-driven, and grounded in current events, with standout moments coming from candid reflections on strategy, scalability, and the human side of rapid transformation. This makes it a compelling listen for executives, marketers, and... more

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How many listeners does Rapid Response get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Rapid Response?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rapid Response:

1. Masters of Scale
2. Possible with Reid Hoffman
3. The a16z Show
4. Sources with Alex Heath
5. Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

How many episodes of Rapid Response are there?

Rapid Response launched 2 years ago and published 463 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?

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What guests have appeared on Rapid Response?

Recent guests on Rapid Response include:

1. Eline van der Velden
2. Tilly Norwood
3. Kirk Tanner
4. Eli Wallen
5. Tjada McKenna
6. Amy Webb
7. Codie Sanchez
8. Jim VandeHei

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.

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