Rapid Response

The race no one can win: AI’s anti-human crisis, with Aza Raskin 02.06.2026 39мин

Big Tech is moving fast on AI. But who's watching out for the rest of us? Aza Raskin, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, has spent years sounding the alarm about where the race to build powerful AI is actually taking us. He joins Rapid Response to expose the incentive structures quietly pushing Silicon Valley toward dangerous territory, and to make the case that it's not too late to change course. Raskin also unpacks the significance of Pope Leo XIV's sweeping new encyclical on AI, what China's AI priorities reveal about the global race, and why the hidden assumptions baked into AI systems may be the most underestimated risk of all. 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.

AI warfare and the race for a million-drone army, with Shield AI’s Brandon Tseng 29.05.2026 27мин

From Ukraine to the Middle East, Shield AI's autonomous drones are deployed on the frontlines. Co-founder and President Brandon Tseng joins Rapid Response to take us inside the defense tech explosion and the fierce debate over AI in modern warfare. Tseng also confronts the hard questions: how seriously should we take China's military advances, can we trust the US and its allies to wield AI responsibly, and what does it say about entrepreneurship that this former Navy SEAL finds building a company every bit as grueling as combat? 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.

Why success destroys the companies we love, with Eric Ries 26.05.2026 48мин

What if the way we think about business value, trust, and capitalism itself is fundamentally broken? Eric Ries’ The Lean Startup changed how a generation of entrepreneurs build companies. Now, Ries takes aim at some of the most sacred business assumptions today in his new book, Incorruptible. Ries joins Rapid Response to share what he witnessed firsthand in the clash between Anthropic and the US government, and why he believes the current system is failing the very people it's supposed to serve. He also brings in-the-trenches stories from Cloudflare, Novo Nordisk, and Whole Foods to make the case that courage, not capital, may be the most undervalued asset in business right now. 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.

Uber's swerve on gas prices, hotels, and a driverless future, with Andrew Macdonald 22.05.2026 33мин

Few companies are a stronger barometer of the American economy today than Uber, and few executives have a clearer view of what's coming than President and COO Andrew Macdonald. He joins Rapid Response to share what Uber's real-time data reveals about consumer behavior amid surging gas prices, and what the company's rapid expansion into hotels and hospitality really signals about its ambitions. Macdonald also confronts the uncomfortable question at the heart of Uber's autonomous vehicle push: what does the company actually owe its millions of drivers? Plus, why the rising cost of AI isn't just a tech-sector problem, and what it means for businesses of every size trying to keep up. 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.

The “invisible army” behind Amazon’s robotaxi revolution, with Zoox’s Aicha Evans 19.05.2026 27мин

Robotaxis are multiplying across American cities… But are consumers actually ready to trust them? Zoox CEO Aicha Evans joins Rapid Response to talk about the company’s strategy as an Amazon subsidiary, its intensifying rivalry with Waymo, and why a new partnership with Uber could be the key to getting autonomous rides from novelty to scale. Evans also reveals why she recruits what she calls an “invisible army of rebels” inside Zoox, and what Marie Curie and Nelson Mandela have to do with leading through uncertainty. 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.

A canceled commencement speech, and leading as an outspoken CEO 15.05.2026 28мин

Oscar-nominated producer and Arcellx CEO Rami Elghandour was supposed to deliver an address to Rutgers University engineering graduates this week. But days before the ceremony, the school canceled his appearance after student objections to his social media posts around Palestine. Elghandour joins Rapid Response to speak out about free speech on campus, the personal cost of conviction, and what it really means to lead with your values when you run a public company. He also opens up about why the recent $8 billion acquisition of Arcellx by Gilead Sciences left him surprisingly cold, and his case for kindness and empathy as a competitive advantage — despite what Elon Musk says. 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.

Duolingo’s battle for learning in an AI world, with Luis von Ahn 12.05.2026 31мин

When Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn sent an internal memo about AI last year, he didn't expect it to go viral — or to ignite a firestorm about the future of work. Now he joins Rapid Response to unpack what he got right, what he got wrong, and what the backlash taught him about the real limitations of AI. Von Ahn also reveals why he's made a deliberate pivot in 2026: chasing users, not revenue — and what that bet says about how big Duolingo can get before ads become inevitable. It's a candid reckoning with hype, growth, and the surprisingly complicated promise of technology in education. 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.

Hormuz fallout: Energy chaos is here to stay 08.05.2026 27мин

The Strait of Hormuz crisis is reshaping energy markets in real time. But what's a short-term shock and what's a lasting structural shift? Amy Harder, National Energy Correspondent for Axios, returns to Rapid Response to map the true scale of the oil disruption, why demand destruction may be closer for American consumers than most realize, and why the strait may never fully reopen the way it was. Plus, how the AI data center boom is rewriting electricity demand, what it means for nuclear and renewables, and why the collision of energy, geopolitics, and technology is forcing both leaders and everyday people to pay attention in ways they never have before. 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.

Pioneers of AI: What is agentic commerce? Stripe’s CRO of AI explains. 06.05.2026 30мин

What does a former skydiver have to say about getting started with AI? Go ahead and jump! While Maia Josebachvili doesn’t spend her free time leaping out of airplanes these days, she still is a firm believer in taking calculated risks. It's a mindset that's followed her to her role as Chief Revenue Officer of AI at Stripe, a financial services platform at the forefront of agentic commerce. On this Pioneers of AI episode, Josebachvili makes the case for AI chat-enabled shopping, examines the risks of commodification in an AI-driven future, and explains how agentic commerce can unlock new customers for merchants of every size. Check out Pioneers of AI: https://swap.fm/l/pioneersofai Visit the Rapid Response website: 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.

Mellody Hobson: When investors head for the exit, run to the fire 05.05.2026 31мин

When markets drop and chaos hits, Mellody Hobson is determined to be brave. The co-CEO of Ariel Investments and former chair of Starbucks and DreamWorks joins Rapid Response to make the case that volatility isn't something to survive but to exploit. She shares the financial lessons she lives by, including a surprising admonition against making choices based on money, and why she sees women's sports as the investment opportunity of a generation. Plus, why math has no opinion, and how that changes everything. 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.

The Messy Parts: Gary Vee on forgiveness, living fearlessly, and the reality of AI 02.05.2026 50мин

In this episode of "The Messy Parts," Gary Vaynerchuk opens up to host Maryam Banikarim about self-esteem, leadership, and what he believes is a growing crisis of “late adulthood.” Gary breaks down his philosophy on kind candor vs. radical candor, why fear is the real career killer, and how over-coddling may be delaying independence for an entire generation. If you’ve ever felt behind, afraid to pivot, or unsure of your next move in the age of AI, this episode is for you. Subscribe to The Messy Parts today: www.youtube.com/@TheMessyParts 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.

The Devil Wears Prada workplace: Toxic or timeless? 01.05.2026 40мин

As The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits theaters this weekend, Rapid Response explores the enduring business lessons inside the now 20-year-old original. Host Bob Safian is joined by two insiders who built their careers in the world the film depicts: Janice Min, CEO of The Ankler, and Sarah Ball, editor-in-chief of WSJ Magazine. Together they track how publishing, fashion and power have all shifted over the past two decades — and dig into what the original got right about ambition, success, and the bosses who shape us. Plus, shocking personal stories from the magazine industry, and why Miranda Priestly's management style wouldn't survive a week in 2026. 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.

Maria Sharapova’s centre court tricks for the boardroom 28.04.2026 28мин

Five grand slam titles. More than a decade as the world's highest-paid female athlete. But the fiercest competition Maria Sharapova describes may be the one she's navigating now. She joins Rapid Response to talk about her second act as an investor, entrepreneur, and podcaster — and what the court never prepared her for. She gets candid about the deals she's walked away from, the candy brand she built and ultimately shuttered, and what it really takes to sit across the negotiating table from Nike. 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.

Inside Artemis II and the next space race, with NASA’s Jared Isaacman 24.04.2026 29мин

Just days after the record-breaking Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman joins Rapid Response for a candid debrief on what comes next. An entrepreneur turned space chief, Isaacman gets frank about the agency's ambitions to build a permanent lunar base, put boots on Mars, and push the search for extraterrestrial life further than ever before. He also addresses the tensions and opportunities in NASA's relationships with SpaceX and Blue Origin, how looming budget cuts could force tradeoffs, and why he sees the accelerating space race with China as one of the most consequential competitions of our time. 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.

A first look at Samsung’s blueprint to win the AI era, with Mauro Porcini 21.04.2026 33мин

AI redefining how products are both built and experienced, and Samsung is reimagining its place in the tech ecosystem. As Milan Design Week gets underway, Samsung's president and chief design officer Mauro Porcini pulls back the curtain on the company’s new design manifesto, and gets candid about their rivalry with Apple, the shift from hardware to human experience, and why a brand known for engineering dominance is now betting its future on something far harder to measure: how a product makes you feel. 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.

Ford's Jim Farley on beating China, and the storm nobody sees coming 17.04.2026 28мин

With the Strait of Hormuz in crisis and gas prices surging, few executives are feeling the pressure more acutely than Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley. He joins Rapid Response to give a candid account of what the turmoil means for the auto industry, and for an iconic American brand navigating one of the most turbulent moments in its history. Farley gets frank about the China threat reshaping the global auto business, and his frustration with Ford's own ingenuity. Plus, why Ford is back in Formula One, and why Farley sees a storm gathering in the so-called "essential economy". 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.

LIV Golf’s gambit to rewrite global sports, with Scott O’Neil 14.04.2026 31мин

Scott O'Neil has run NBA and NHL franchises. Now he's betting on a golf revolution. The LIV Golf CEO joins Rapid Response to reveal what it really takes to disrupt a legacy sport, the unique pressures of answering to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and why golf may be the most underleveraged business in all of sports. Plus, inside the startup mindset Scott’s instilling his team, and what every leader can steal from the way LIV is chasing opportunity. 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.

The Guardian’s secret weapon against media’s collapse, with CEO Anna Bateson 10.04.2026 30мин

While legacy news outlets like The Washington Post stumble, The Guardian keeps growing — but how? Guardian Media Group CEO Anna Bateson joins Rapid Response to pull back the curtain on the company's unusual ownership structure and the multi-revenue model fueling its resilience. Bateson also weighs in on the threat and opportunity of AI chatbots, the Jeff Bezos effect on media, and what role she sees The Guardian playing as the future of news takes shape, even as the pressures of today demand her full attention. 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.

The “most stressed” wellness CEO, with Calm’s David Ko 07.04.2026 33мин

What does it take to lead a meditation company without finding a moment’s peace? David Ko spent years as CEO of Calm, one of the world's most recognized mental health and wellness apps, helping millions manage stress. Now he's stepping down. Ko unpacks why he made the call, what the relentless pressure of the C-suite really does to a person, and how to draw the line between the kind of stress that sharpens you and the kind that quietly breaks you down. 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.

Humanize AI before it dehumanizes us, with Dr. Rana el Kaliouby at SXSW 03.04.2026 43мин

AI is moving fast. But are we really keeping humans at the center? In this special live Rapid Response, recorded on stage at South by Southwest, host Bob Safian sits down with AI scientist, founder of Affectiva, investor at Blue Tulip, and host of Pioneers of AI, Dr. Rana el Kaliouby. Rana makes the case that human-centric AI isn't just a safety guardrail; it's the key to thriving socially, economically, and emotionally. She also cuts through the noise on the buzziest AI myths, weighs in on AI in therapy and Meta Glasses, and draws a sharp line between AI founders who are truly visionary and those who are simply opportunistic. 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.