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Rapid Response

Urgent insights from the best in business

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.

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What $150 billion in sports bets is doing to America
Journalist Danny Funt
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Journalist Danny Funt
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AI’s new tune, Davos & the need for CEO courage
Masters of Scale’s Reid Hoffman
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Masters of Scale’s Reid Hoffman
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AI music is Grammy eligible… for now
The Recording Academy’s Harvey Mason jr.
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The Recording Academy’s Harvey Mason jr.
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Anti-polarizing strategies from a purple city
OKC Mayor David Holt
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OKC Mayor David Holt
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“Nothing is simple” about massive US healthcare shifts
The New York Times’ Sarah Kliff
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The New York Times’ Sarah Kliff
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The AI agents in your wallet
MasterCard’s Michael Miebach
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MasterCard’s Michael Miebach
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The costliest wildfire, and the lessons we’re ignoring
MS NOW’s Jacob Soboroff
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MS NOW’s Jacob Soboroff
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Nuclear fusion and the new energy arms race
CFS’ Bob Mumgaard
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CFS’ Bob Mumgaard
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Business world predictions for 2026
Rapid Response’s Bob Safian
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Rapid Response’s Bob Safian
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AI in 2026: hype, whiplash, and… home robots?
Pioneers of AI’s Rana el Kaliouby
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Pioneers of AI’s Rana el Kaliouby
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Lessons of Rapid Response for 2026
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Can philanthropy rescue local journalism?
The Knight Foundation’s Maribel Pérez Wadsworth
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The Knight Foundation’s Maribel Pérez Wadsworth
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Kara Swisher takes on big tech
Journalist Kara Swisher
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Journalist Kara Swisher
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Hollywood’s AI rampage
Ankler Media’s Janice Min
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Ankler Media’s Janice Min
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Embrace the multihyphenate career
Chief’s Alison Moore
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Chief’s Alison Moore
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Labubu, FOMO, and the live shopping boom
Whatnot’s Grant LaFontaine
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Whatnot’s Grant LaFontaine
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Macy’s navigates tariffs, turbulence, and retail evolution
Macy’s CEO Tony Spring
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Macy’s CEO Tony Spring
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Rebuilding American Courage and Character
Writer Baratunde Thurston
General Stanley McChrystal
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Writer Baratunde Thurston
General Stanley McChrystal
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Can AI be the new frontier for mental health support?
TMV’s Soraya Darabi
Brown University’s Ellie Pavlick
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TMV’s Soraya Darabi
Brown University’s Ellie Pavlick
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Inside Sesame Street’s toughest year yet
Sesame Workshop’s Sherrie Westin
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Sesame Workshop’s Sherrie Westin
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What Ken Burns’ "The American Revolution" warns us about today
PBS’ Ken Burns
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PBS’ Ken Burns
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The New York Times ‘will not be cowed’
New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien
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New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien
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What really shapes our economic future
Federal Reserve’s Mary Daly
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Federal Reserve’s Mary Daly
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Airbnb’s bet on an IRL future
Airbnb’s Brian Chesky
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Airbnb’s Brian Chesky
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Do businesses still have a social responsibility?
The B Team’s Leah Seligman
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The B Team’s Leah Seligman
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Design’s dominance sparks a blockbuster IPO
Figma’s Dylan Field
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Figma’s Dylan Field
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What's next for marketing and platforms
Meta’s Alex Schultz
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Meta’s Alex Schultz
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After devastating aid cuts, Mercy Corps keeps fighting
Mercy Corps’ Tjada D’Oyen McKenna
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Mercy Corps’ Tjada D’Oyen McKenna
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How IKEA’s diversity and climate action boosted business
Ingka Group’s Jesper Brodin
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Ingka Group’s Jesper Brodin
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Historic changes across high fashion
WSJ. Magazine’s Sarah Ball
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WSJ. Magazine’s Sarah Ball
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A go-to guide for stablecoins and crypto’s future
Circle’s Jeremy Allaire
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Circle’s Jeremy Allaire
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Music biz at a crossroads
Music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy
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Music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy
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NFL returns, ESPN’s big streaming bet & more
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand
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The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand
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Grab’s rise from rideshare to superapp
Grab’s Anthony Tan
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Grab’s Anthony Tan
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Hollywood’s hottest AI partner
Runway’s Cristóbal Valenzuela
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Runway’s Cristóbal Valenzuela
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Lessons from Steve Jobs, Gap & J.Crew
Retail Icon Mickey Drexler
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Retail Icon Mickey Drexler
U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson: What a home World Cup means for US Soccer | Rapid Response
U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson: What a home World Cup means for US Soccer | Rapid Response
ESPN's Sam Borden: The Money & Politics Behind the 2026 World Cup | Rapid Response
ESPN's Sam Borden: The Money & Politics Behind the 2026 World Cup | Rapid Response
Authors Equity CEO Madeline McIntosh: Rebuilding publishing from a blank page | Rapid Response
Authors Equity CEO Madeline McIntosh: Rebuilding publishing from a blank page | Rapid Response
Eric Ries on the trap that corrupts successful companies | Rapid Response
Eric Ries on the trap that corrupts successful companies | Rapid Response
The race to make robotaxis mainstream (w/ Zoox CEO Aicha Evans) | Rapid Response
The race to make robotaxis mainstream (w/ Zoox CEO Aicha Evans) | Rapid Response
Why this commencement speech was canceled (with Arcellx CEO Rami Elghandour) | Rapid Response
Why this commencement speech was canceled (with Arcellx CEO Rami Elghandour) | Rapid Response
Duolingo’s battle for learning in an AI world (CEO Luis von Ahn) | Rapid Response
Duolingo’s battle for learning in an AI world (CEO Luis von Ahn) | Rapid Response
Strait of Hormuz fallout: Energy chaos is here to stay (with Axios' Amy Harder) | Rapid Response
Strait of Hormuz fallout: Energy chaos is here to stay (with Axios' Amy Harder) | Rapid Response