Rapid Response

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Aug 1, 2025 • 27min

Inside the hidden, high-stakes world of government contracts

The Trump Administration is boldly rewriting the landscape of government contracts in the name of speed, efficiency, and its agendas — even if it means breaking a few things along the way. GovExec’s Editor-in-Chief Frank Konkel joins Rapid Response to take listeners inside the recent government contracting tumult, shares trends on where power and money are moving, and how tech firms — and particularly in AI — are putting newfound pressure on legacy providers. So, is Trump actually succeeding in making the government function more like a business? Konkel weighs in, and explores how the redefined relationship between the public and private sector could alter US progress for years to come. Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 33min

Blocking AI crawlers to save the internet, with Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince

Cloudflare recently made headlines with breakthrough technology that stops AI companies from scraping online content with impunity. That’s major impact, since the company is involved in more than 20 percent of all online traffic. Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince joins Rapid Response to share how the new tools are poised to dramatically impact AI firms, publishers, and the future of the internet. Prince also takes listeners inside the state of cyberwarfare in the age of AI, and why Trump’s immigration policy could erode US business dominance for years to come.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 25, 2025 • 32min

AI will break the career ladder; that’s good news, with LinkedIn’s Aneesh Raman

As AI evolves, the world of work is getting even better for the most creative, curious, and growth-minded employees. So says LinkedIn’s Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, Aneesh Raman. Raman joins Rapid Response with intriguing, urgent insights on why the career ladder is disappearing – and how AI will help transform it into more of a climbing wall, with a unique path for each of us. Hear which parts of the workforce Raman sees as most affected by AI, and why he remains “radically pro-human” as the very nature of work dramatically shifts. Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 22, 2025 • 29min

From Colbert to Trump’s WSJ lawsuit, Axios’ Sara Fischer on media turmoil

It’s been one of the most consequential weeks ever in the media business, from CBS’ Stephen Colbert cancellation, and Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, to Congress clawing back more than $1 billion in funding from PBS and NPR. Axios’ Media Correspondent Sara Fischer joins Rapid Response to cut through the conspiracy theories and unpack what it all means from here.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 18, 2025 • 25min

Record ticket sales and big brand energy, with Golden State Valkyries President Jess Smith

Ahead of the WNBA All-Star Game, Rapid Response welcomes Golden State Valkyries’ President Jess Smith. She shares how the team has quickly built a brand identity in its first year — breaking season ticket records, surpassing expectations on and off the court, and setting a template for future expansion teams. We dig into the business impact of Caitlin-mania, how sports is a reflection of wider trends in society, and critical lessons learned in a career that spans Major League Baseball, the NHL, Major League Soccer, the NWS – and now the WNBA.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 15, 2025 • 38min

Trump’s chilling effect on big business, with Harvard Business Review’s Adi Ignatius

After 16 years as Editor-in-Chief of Harvard Business Review, Adi Ignatius is handing the role over to a new leader, and he joins Rapid Response for a more-than-an-exit interview. A longtime friend and colleague of host Bob Safian, Ignatius shares some of the most critical lessons he’s learned in decades of covering business and leadership, as well as dissecting the most hot button issues today — from Elon Musk’s conflicting priorities, to AI’s impact on media, and what Americans most misunderstand about China. Plus, Ignatius takes us inside Harvard’s response to Trump’s attacks, and why such stories are leaving business leaders in fear of speaking out against the government.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 11, 2025 • 29min

Becoming the go-to app for natural disaster tracking, with Watch Duty’s John Mills

During January’s unprecedented wildfires in LA, Watch Duty – a digital platform providing real-time fire data – became the go-to app for tracking the disaster in real time. It’s credited with saving countless lives and redefining the way we monitor natural disasters. Watch Duty’s founder & CEO John Mills joins Rapid Response six months on from the LA fires to share how his small nonprofit responded in the heat of crisis and became a trusted source – even for government agencies. As wildfire season rages on and Texas recovers from devastating floods, Watch Duty’s story underscores both our growing vulnerability to natural disasters driven by climate change and the power of community-based solutions to keep us safe and connected when it matters most.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 8, 2025 • 27min

PBS fights for its future, with President & CEO Paula Kerger

PBS President & CEO Paula Kerger joins Rapid Response to take us inside the organization’s financial reality if federal funding is stripped, and how she’s battling to protect iconic programming — from Frontline to Sesame Street. Kerger shares the role of corporate philanthropy in PBS’ future, its relationship with streamers like Netflix, and how she handles allegations of public media bias. Whether or not you're an avid Nova or Ken Burns viewer, PBS' challenge captures critical lessons about focus, mission, and the need to evolve or die trying.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jul 1, 2025 • 30min

Canva’s $35B design biz is quietly taking over the workplace, with co-founder & COO Cliff Obrecht

For over a decade, Canva has made design and publishing more accessible than ever. Now, the company is wrestling with how to harness AI while staying true to its mission of empowering individual creators. Co-founder and COO Cliff Obrecht joins Rapid Response to reveal how Canva is navigating this shift—and why the stakes are so high when it comes to AI-adoptation in the creative industry. He opens up about leading the company alongside his wife and co-founder Melanie Perkins, their decision to give away $100 million to causes in Malawi, and what it means to scale without compromising values. Obrecht also shares Canva’s role in the future of technology and how marketing could define the business’s next chapter.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jun 29, 2025 • 53min

Remarkable People: How America got stuck, with Yoni Applebaum

In a recent installment of Remarkable People, Yoni Applebaum joins host Guy Kawasaki to reveal the ways in which America's declining mobility is transforming our social fabric and political landscape. Drawing from his unique background as both historian and journalist, Applebaum examines the intersection of housing policy, community dynamics, and democratic resilience, offering fresh perspectives on how to reinvigorate the American dream.Listen to Remarkable People here: **https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827**Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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