

Rapid Response
WaitWhat
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 12, 2025 • 36min
Is it ‘economic Halloween’ in the US? with political economist Mark Blyth
Zoom out from continuing tariff turmoil and Trump’s recent attacks on the Fed and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and you’ll see a broader new economic order is forming. Political economist and Brown University professor Mark Blyth joins Rapid Response to reveal why outdated models still underpin much of our economic understanding, and what we still misunderstand – and underestimate – about China. Blyth also shares why the Democrats struggle to craft an engaging story about the economy, why it's so hard to predict a recession, and what Brown's recent settlement with the Trump Administration tells us about higher education's need to pivot from its reliance on federal funding. 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.

Aug 8, 2025 • 29min
Slutty Vegan on the rebound, with founder Pinky Cole
Pinky Cole, founder of the plant-based food chain Slutty Vegan, returns to Rapid Response to share the details of a brutal stretch in which she lost control of her company — and then fought to win it back. She also opens up about surviving a harrowing highway collision, the business mistakes that nearly brought everything down, the emotional and family toll of it all. It’s a raw, unfiltered look at leadership under pressure — and what it takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.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.

Aug 5, 2025 • 29min
Employers adapt to ICE raids and a workforce on edge
As the Trump Administration ramps up mass deportations, the American Business Immigration Coalition is advocating for policy reform. Rebecca Shi leads the organization made up of 1,400 current and former CEOs, trade group leaders and more, who heavily rely on an immigrant workforce. Hear how uncertainty over immigration has disrupted daily business and hit the bottom line, as well as the carve-outs and clarity that big employers like Lowe’s, Tyson Foods and others seek for the long-term.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


