Rapid Response

Latest Episodes:

The new meaning of patriotism in business, with The Honest Company’s Carla Vernón Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Public radio vs. DOGE: NPR CEO Katherine Maher previews her testimony Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Anger, frustration & tariffs: Inside global trade disruption, with Flexport’s Ryan Petersen Mar 21, 2025

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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.

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From 'Trump bump' to 'Trump slump,' with Betterment CEO Sarah Levy Mar 18, 2025

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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/

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Connecting to a fractured audience, with Food52 CEO Erika Ayers Badan Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Nonprofits navigate Trump’s drastic funding cuts, with The Chronicle of Philanthropy CEO Stacy Palmer Mar 11, 2025

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President Trump’s dramatic cuts to U.S. government grants are destabilizing every corner of the non-profit sector, leaving organizations scrambling to adapt. Stacy Palmer, CEO of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, explores the executive order’s impact on both the public and private sector, how organizations can adjust to the unpredictable philosophy of the new administration, and what the future of giving may look like. With many historical institutions like public schools, houses of worship, and community organizations under pressure, this moment could further fracture the ties that bind Americans together.

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Can the NWSL make women’s soccer bigger than the NFL? with Commissioner Jessica Berman Mar 07, 2025

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As the National Women's Soccer League kicks off a new season, Commissioner Jessica Berman joins Rapid Response to share how the league is seizing a moment of unprecedented growth and excitement in women’s sports. Berman inherited a league in turmoil, plagued by allegations of abuse and the subsequent player revolt. After two years at the helm, Berman has not only steadied the ship, but secured historic media deals and record team valuations. Whether or not you’re a soccer fan, Jessica shares lessons sure to inspire any leader looking to spark game-changing impact.

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What the Oscars tell us about streamers, studios, and Hollywood’s future with The Ankler's Janice Min Mar 04, 2025

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The Oscars aren’t just about filmmaking — they’re a real-time look at the culture, business, and power plays shaping Hollywood and larger entertainment industry. The Ankler CEO Janice Min returns to Rapid Response to unpack the night’s biggest turning points — including how Sean Baker’s Anora proved that low-budget filmmaking can outrun major studios, why Hollywood is more afraid of political controversy than ever, and how livestreaming is factoring in the streamers wars, one Hulu glitch at a time.

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Leveraging celebrity culture to sustain an iconic brand, with The Apollo’s Michelle Ebanks Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

For over 90 years, countless iconic musicians have graced The Apollo Theatre in New York City, from James Brown and Aretha Franklin, to Drake and Bruno Mars. Today, the venue is expanding its footprint in the hopes of straddling in-person and digital engagement. The Apollo’s CEO Michelle Ebanks joins Rapid Response to explore how she’s tapping into celebrity culture, operating a historically Black institution in the midst of a DEI backlash, and more. Whether it's negotiating with Prince or proving a judgemental boardroom wrong, Michelle shares stories that illustrate the resilience and creativity we all need today.

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Egg prices, avian flu & golden yolks, with Vital Farms CEO Russell Diez-Canseco Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Feeling the impact of eggflation? Vital Farms’ CEO Russell Diez-Canseco joins Rapid Response to offer valuable context beyond the eye-popping price tags. As avian flu continues to wipe out millions of birds, many egg producers are struggling — but Vital Farms has managed to keep growing. Canseco shares how the brand’s relationship with farmers, transparency with customers, and unique business model has allowed the company to turn crisis into opportunity. He also explores why Vital Farms became a B Corp before its IPO, the company’s high-profile lawsuit with PETA, and what makes Vital Farms’ yolks so orange.

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.