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Rapid Response

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Artificial Intelligence
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Taylor Swift
Autodesk
Remote Work
Regulation
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Star Trek
Intel
Leadership
Work Culture
Dunkin Donuts
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Meta

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 weeklyEpisodes374Founded2 years ago
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EntrepreneurshipBusiness NewsBusinessNews

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Artwork for Rapid Response

Latest Episodes

How should leaders prepare for AI’s accelerating impact on work and everyday life? AI scientist, entrepreneur, and Pioneers of AI host Dr. Rana El Kaliouby returns to Rapid Response to share her predictions for the year ahead — from physical AI enter... more

This year delivered whiplash: geopolitics, tariffs, and technology all shifting at once. And heading into 2026, the disruption isn’t easing up. In this special episode, host Bob Safian distills five hard-won lessons from Rapid Response this year on h... more

When the U.S. government cut funding for local news stations, the Knight Foundation moved quickly to help stabilize a rapidly eroding industry. President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth joins Rapid Response to unpack the evolving roles of philanthrop... more

Can ChatGPT dethrone Gemini? Is Tim Cook capable of leading Apple into the next wave of AI? As 2025 winds down, journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher joins Rapid Response to cut through the noise and decode what’s really happening across OpenAI, M... more

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Recent Guests

Grant LaFontaine
Co-founder and CEO of Whatnot
Whatnot
Episode: Labubu, FOMO, and the live shopping boom, with Whatnot’s Grant LaFontaine
Tony Spring
CEO of Macy's Inc.
Macy's Inc.
Episode: Beyond the Parade: Macy’s navigates tariffs, turbulence and retail evolution
Ellie Pavlick
Director of ARIA Institute at Brown University, focused on AI and mental health
Brown University
Episode: AI: The new frontier for mental health support?
Soraya Darabi
Lead Partner at TMV, known for investing in mental health startups
TMV
Episode: AI: The new frontier for mental health support?
Ken Burns
Legendary documentarian known for his historical documentaries
PBS
Episode: What Ken Burns’ The American Revolution warns us about today
Ryan Petersen
CEO of Flexport
Flexport
Episode: Branding truths and tariff myths, with Autodesk’s Dara Treseder & Flexport’s Ryan Petersen
Mary Daly
President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Episode: What really shapes our economic future, with Federal Reserve of San Francisco CEO Mary Daly
Leah Seligmann
CEO of The B Team, a network advocating for responsible business practices founded by Sir Richard Branson
The B Team
Episode: Do businesses still have a social responsibility? with The B Team’s Leah Seligmann
Dylan Field
Co-founder and CEO of Figma, a collaborative design platform
Figma
Episode: Design’s dominance sparks a blockbuster IPO, with Figma's Dylan Field

Host

Bob Safian
Host of Rapid Response and former editor-in-chief of Fast Company. He engages business leaders in discussions about navigating real-time challenges in an ever-changing environment.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 85 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 Statesa year 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
    Canadaa year 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.

Listeners appreciate the engaging and insightful interviews that Bob Safian conducts, noting his ability to ask relevant questions that lead to meaningful dialogues.
The content is frequently described as concise, valuable, and thought-provoking, appealing to busy professionals seeking quick insights.
Many listeners commend the blend of high-quality guests and Bob's extensive domain knowledge, which results in a rich exploration of timely business issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can philanthropy rescue local journalism?
Q: How do you maintain impartiality in such a charged political environment?
Consistency in supporting local journalism and not engaging in political debates is crucial for maintaining integrity.
Can philanthropy rescue local journalism?
Q: What does it mean for philanthropy to move at the speed of news?
Philanthropy has often been slow and process-laden but must adapt to act quickly in response to pressing needs in local journalism.
Rebuilding American courage and character, with General Stanley McChrystal and Baratunde Thurston
Q: How do you see the current use of military forces within American cities?
I think it's unfortunate and a big mistake; it erodes the distinction between military and civilian roles and could foster resentment towards the military.
Rebuilding American courage and character, with General Stanley McChrystal and Baratunde Thurston
Q: What have you found works when we recognize that we haven't lived up to our character?
To recover, you need self-awareness and accountability; reflecting on your actions and striving to do better is key.
Beyond the Parade: Macy’s navigates tariffs, turbulence and retail evolution
Q: What's at stake for Macy's right now?
The challenge is to convert naysayers into believers, acknowledging constructive criticism while promoting advocacy for the brand.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Rapid Response

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

Conversations within the episodes focus on the dynamic nature of business and innovation in a rapidly changing environment, with emphasis on how leaders adapt to challenges such as technological advancements, shifting consumer behavior, and social issues. Notable topics include the intersection of AI and business, the importance of human connection in an increasingly digital world, and the incorporation of ethical considerations in decision-making. The podcast is distinctive for its blend of business insights with broader societal reflections, all presented in a concise format that prioritizes actionable takeaways for listeners. Guests include high-profile figures from various industries, enabling a diverse array of perspectives.

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?

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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. Crucible Moments
4. Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People
5. The a16z Show

How many episodes of Rapid Response are there?

Rapid Response launched 2 years ago and published 374 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. Grant LaFontaine
2. Tony Spring
3. Ellie Pavlick
4. Soraya Darabi
5. Ken Burns
6. Ryan Petersen
7. Mary Daly
8. Leah Seligmann

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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