

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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 15, 2025 • 31min
Finding opportunity in volatility, with GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik
Amid tariff whiplash and the rejuggling of global trade, GE Vernova’s CEO Scott Strazik is finding a way to stay “relentlessly optimistic.” Strazik returns to Rapid Response to share how the company plans to continue its success as one of Wall Street’s top-performing stocks, despite looming supply chain disruption, and an evolving conversation about climate and the energy transition. Strazik also reflects on rising trends in wind and nuclear energy, and why staying agile matters more than ever.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.

Apr 11, 2025 • 37min
From Signalgate to wild tariff swings, with The Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson
When government officials accidentally included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military plans, all hell broke loose. The Atlantic’s CEO, Nicholas Thompson joins Rapid Response to discuss the scandal now known as “Signalgate”, revealing insider details about how the story came to be and sharing how the publication managed to capitalize on the business opportunities that sprouted. Thompson also breaks down the implications of Trump’s latest tariff turnaround and what Elon Musk’s plan to merge X with his AI company means for the future of your digital life.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.

Apr 8, 2025 • 27min
When powerful law firms don’t defend themselves against Trump, with ex-Skadden associate Rachel Cohen
Many prominent law firms have recently found themselves in President Trump’s crosshairs. Skadden Arps’ attorney Rachel Cohen encouraged the firm to fight the government’s pressure, only to have her attempts rebuffed and to be effectively forced out from the firm. Cohen joins Rapid Response to share her dramatic story, and fears about how the rule of law is changing in America. Rachel’s experience raises questions about the legal industry’s role in the checks and balances of the US system, and how leaders everywhere navigate the relationship between their business and broader society.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.

Apr 4, 2025 • 27min
Facing a blitz of government attacks, with Planned Parenthood’s Alexis McGill Johnson
Planned Parenthood is facing a new wave of existential threats, this time targeting its funding as a women’s health provider. Three years after the US Supreme Court removed the federal right to abortion, Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson returns to Rapid Response to talk about why she’s now turned to the same Court to protect her organization from an attack by South Carolina’s governor. Big funding attacks are also underway from Texas and the Trump Administration. McGill Johnson’s approach to conflict, how she motivates herself and her team, provides a telling window into leadership in duress.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.

Apr 1, 2025 • 29min
From data breach scandal to AI darling, with Snowflake’s CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy
It's been a wild few years for Snowflake, from a record-breaking IPO to a plummeting stock price to a data-breach scandal. Sridhar Ramaswamy took over in the heat of the turmoil and helped steady the ship, in part by betting big on AI. Ramaswamy returns to Rapid Response to share lessons from the company's turnaround, including insights behind high profile partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic, how Snowflake embraced China's Deepseek early, and why Ramaswamy calls Snowflake the most consequential AI-data company in the world.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.

Mar 28, 2025 • 31min
The new meaning of patriotism in business, with The Honest Company’s Carla Vernón
More than a decade after Jessica Alba co-founded The Honest Company with a mission to deliver cleaner, healthier products for families, the brand faces new challenges in a shifting consumer landscape. CEO Carla Vernón joins Rapid Response to share how she’s drawing on her experience at General Mills and Amazon to navigate shifting retail headwinds and reignite the brand. Vernón dives into the value of diversity as a business advantage, why patriotism takes on new meaning in today’s landscape, and what it really takes to lead a mission-driven company amid uncertain times.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.

Mar 25, 2025 • 32min
Public radio vs. DOGE: NPR CEO Katherine Maher previews her testimony
Tomorrow, NPR’s CEO Katherine Maher goes before a DOGE subcommittee in Congress to defend the public media outlet’s case for federal funding. Maher returns to Rapid Response for the first time since taking on the CEO role to preview her testimony, sharing how funding cuts would impact Americans’ broad access to crucial news and information, particularly in rural areas. Maher also reveals why the company has pivoted its DEI strategy, how the organization can better frame its identity as an outlet for all Americans, and more.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.

Mar 21, 2025 • 32min
Anger, frustration & tariffs: Inside global trade disruption, with Flexport’s Ryan Petersen
Trump’s tariff war is causing vast disruption across international trade. Ryan Petersen, founder and CEO of worldwide logistics and shipping platform Flexport, shares a behind-the-scenes look into how global commerce truly functions right now. Petersen also explores AI's exciting impact on common supply chain woes, why business leaders should surprisingly lean into micromanagement, and more. Whether you're a scrappy startup or well-established organization, Petersen reveals why the current trade crisis could unlock hidden opportunities.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Stripe — empowering businesses around the world to make progress.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.

Mar 18, 2025 • 27min
From 'Trump bump' to 'Trump slump,' with Betterment CEO Sarah Levy
Recent market swings are causing whiplash for everyday investors. Sarah Levy, CEO of digital investment platform Betterment returns to Rapid Response to shed light on a market in flux. Levy explores the evolving volatility of crypto, socially responsible investing, generational attitudes to finance, and more. Amid the noise around our economy, Sarah offers a clear-eyed vision to help everyone find their own unique approach to money. 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.

Mar 14, 2025 • 28min
Connecting to a fractured audience, with Food52 CEO Erika Ayers Badan
Erika Ayers Badan returns to Rapid Response with ups, downs, and lessons learned in her first year running the lifestyle brand Food52 – a big pivot from her former role as CEO of Barstool Sports. When we recorded this interview, it was not yet public that Food52 was laying off a significant number of its staff, mostly around its commerce department, and restructuring to focus on other areas, including media (as reported by AdWeek). We have invited Erika to update us about these changes. In this episode, you can hear some of her strategic priorities, like clarifying the business model, finding success on social media, and shaping the company’s voice. We also discuss Erika’s new podcast, which doesn’t focus on food, but rather – as the title “Work” suggests – office life and career.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.