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Rapid Response

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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 weeklyEpisodes420Founded2 years ago
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BusinessBusiness NewsEntrepreneurshipNews

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Latest Episodes

What if the way we think about business value, trust, and capitalism itself is fundamentally broken? Eric Ries’ The Lean Startup changed how a generation of entrepreneurs build companies. Now, Reis takes aim at some of the most sacred business assump... more

Few companies are a stronger barometer of the American economy today than Uber, and few executives have a clearer view of what's coming than President and COO Andrew Macdonald. He joins Rapid Response to share what Uber's real-time data reveals about... more

Robotaxis are multiplying across American cities… But are consumers actually ready to trust them? Zoox CEO Aicha Evans joins Rapid Response to talk about the company’s strategy as an Amazon subsidiary, its intensifying rivalry with Waymo, and why a n... more

Oscar-nominated producer and Arcellx CEO Rami Elghandour was supposed to deliver an address to Rutgers University engineering graduates this week. But days before the ceremony, the school canceled his appearance after student objections to his social... more

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Recent Guests

Rami Elghandour
CEO of Arcellx, Oscar-nominated documentary film producer
Arcellx, biotechnology
Episode: A canceled commencement speech, and leading as an outspoken CEO
Luis von Ahn
CEO and co-founder of Duolingo
Duolingo
Episode: Duolingo’s battle for learning in an AI world, with Luis von Ahn
Amy Harder
National Energy Correspondent for Axios
Axios
Episode: Hormuz fallout: Energy chaos is here to stay
Mellody Hobson
co-CEO of Ariel Investments; board member at JPMorgan; former chair of Starbucks and DreamWorks
Ariel Investments; JPMorgan; Starbucks; DreamWorks
Episode: Mellody Hobson: When investors head for the exit, run to the fire
Gary Vaynerchuk
Entrepreneur, author, investor, founder of VaynerMedia
VaynerMedia
Episode: The Messy Parts: Gary Vee on forgiveness, living fearlessly, and the reality of AI
Maria Sharapova
Tennis champion, investor, entrepreneur; host of Pretty Tough
Pretty Tough; Former professional athlete
Episode: Maria Sharapova’s centre court tricks for the boardroom
Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator, entrepreneur and former SpaceX/Shift4 founder
NASA
Episode: Inside Artemis II and the next space race, with NASA’s Jared Isaacman
Mauro Porcini
President and Chief Design Officer at Samsung
Samsung
Episode: A first look at Samsung’s blueprint to win the AI era, with Mauro Porcini
Jean-Marie Monietti
CEO and co‑founder of CoinShares
CoinShares
Episode: Ford's Jim Farley on beating China, and the storm nobody sees coming

Host

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

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 88 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.

Hormuz fallout: Energy chaos is here to stay
Q: Can you explain why prices might stay elevated for a year or more even if the Strait reopens today?
She explains that the oil market functions like a tanker; restarting supply and restoring demand takes time, and even with reopening, there is lag in prices coming down due to production, logistics, and the time needed for demand to respond.
Hormuz fallout: Energy chaos is here to stay
Q: How do you stay on top of it? What are your days like?
Amy describes juggling the two fast-moving worlds of the Iran conflict and the AI data-center boom, negotiating daily updates from multiple sources, and constantly reassessing near-term risks while watching longer-term shifts in energy demand and policy.
Duolingo’s battle for learning in an AI world, with Luis von Ahn
Q: What is the rationale behind prioritizing user growth in 2026 over revenue growth?
The team believes that by accelerating learning for more people, Duolingo can build a stronger, longer-term business, as the product itself becomes more capable and valuable over time.
Duolingo’s battle for learning in an AI world, with Luis von Ahn
Q: Why did you push back on the memo about AI usage and layoffs?
I believed internally that AI would make our employees more productive, and I did not intend to imply layoffs; the external reaction showed a gap in communication that needed to be addressed.
A canceled commencement speech, and leading as an outspoken CEO
Q: What role does kindness play in leadership, especially in charged debates?
He asserts kindness as essential, arguing that empathy and openness can coexist with candid leadership and that this approach attracts partners and teams even when facing controversy.

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?

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What are the audience demographics for Rapid Response?

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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. Business Breakdowns
3. The David Rubenstein Show
4. Odd Lots
5. The McKinsey Podcast

How many episodes of Rapid Response are there?

Rapid Response launched 2 years ago and published 420 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.

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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. Rami Elghandour
2. Luis von Ahn
3. Amy Harder
4. Mellody Hobson
5. Gary Vaynerchuk
6. Maria Sharapova
7. Jared Isaacman
8. Mauro Porcini

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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