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Rapid Response

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Artificial Intelligence
Trump Administration
Tariffs
Donald Trump
Climate Change
Elon Musk
Openai
Leadership
China
Healthcare
Hollywood
Canva
Netflix
Higher Education
AI Agents
Sustainability
Social Media
Amazon
Mental Health
Los Angeles Wildfires

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes467Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessBusiness NewsNews

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Latest Episodes

Few companies have as much influence over AI’s trajectory as OpenAI. Reid Hoffman sits down with CFO Sarah Friar to understand the precipice of the moment we are in and the decisions that could shape what comes next for each of us.

This conversation... more

REI has been around for 88 years. Mary Beth Laughton wants to make sure it’s around for 88 more. The CEO of America’s largest consumer co-op joins Rapid Response to talk about what it actually takes to revive an iconic business — without shareholders... more

Barbara Peng spent years running one of the most recognizable brands in business media. Newly out of the CEO seat at Business Insider, she joins Rapid Response for a candid conversation about the state of journalism, the future of trust, and what lea... more

Renee Wegrzyn spent her career building the future of American science — including ARPA-H, the White House agency created to accelerate health breakthroughs. Then the Trump administration showed her the door. Wegrzyn co-founded Transfyr to tackle wha... more

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Recent Guests

Reid Hoffman
Entrepreneur and investor
Episode: Reid Hoffman and OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar on where AI goes from here
Sarah Friar
Chief Financial Officer of OpenAI
OpenAI
Episode: Reid Hoffman and OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar on where AI goes from here
Mary Beth Laughton
President and CEO of REI with previous executive roles at Nike, Athleta, and Sephora
REI
Episode: REI’s secrets to sustaining a beloved brand and touching grass
Barbara Peng
Former CEO of Business Insider with an engineering background from MIT
Business Insider
Episode: You’re a media company now. Whether you know it or not.
Renee Wegrzyn
Founding director of ARPA-H and chief innovation officer of Transfyr
Transfyr
Episode: The AI race to save American science and reshape medicine forever
Luana Lopes Lara
Co-founder, president and COO of Kalshi
Kalshi
Episode: Kalshi vs. Everyone: Co-Founder Luana Lopes Lara on the lawsuits and the long game
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

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.

REI’s secrets to sustaining a beloved brand and touching grass
Q: How did REI's support for Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary become a decision to withdraw that support?
Laughton said she was new and had to understand the situation, but concluded that some of Burgum's positions were at odds with REI's values. She publicly acknowledged the mistake and said the experience reinforced the need to listen to members.
You’re a media company now. Whether you know it or not.
Q: What do you think business leaders need to understand to operate in today's uncertainty?
Peng says leaders should focus on how quickly their organizations can absorb and adopt change, make new technologies accessible, and create a culture where people feel safe experimenting.
REI’s secrets to sustaining a beloved brand and touching grass
Q: How does REI's co-op structure work?
REI has no shareholders and operates as a private company, relying on its own profits and cash flow. Members pay a one-time $30 fee for lifetime membership and receive a 10 percent dividend on eligible purchases.
You’re a media company now. Whether you know it or not.
Q: How would you assess your tenure at BI now? Like, what would you do differently? What are you most proud of?
Peng says she refocused Business Insider on business, technology and innovation, and that choosing areas where an organization can excel is essential. She also says leaders must make difficult decisions with empathy and authenticity.
The AI race to save American science and reshape medicine forever
Q: Is the skepticism about science and published research well-founded?
Wegrzyn says science is difficult and that papers provide only a limited account of the work, including its failures and procedural details. Better records of experiments could help researchers understand mistakes and recognize useful patterns.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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?

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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How many subscribers and views does Rapid Response have?

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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. Sources with Alex Heath
4. Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth
5. The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

How many episodes of Rapid Response are there?

Rapid Response launched 2 years ago and published 467 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. Reid Hoffman
2. Sarah Friar
3. Mary Beth Laughton
4. Barbara Peng
5. Renee Wegrzyn
6. Luana Lopes Lara
7. Eline van der Velden
8. Tilly Norwood

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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