Rapid Response

Latest Episodes:

Unrivaled is rewriting the business of women’s basketball Feb 24, 2026

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Women's sports are continuing to thrive. Record-breaking WNBA viewership, a flood of new brand investment, and now Unrivaled: the women's basketball league built by players, for players. Commissioner Micky Lawler joins Rapid Response to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to launch a high-stakes sports startup in the full glare of the public eye, from signing Sephora and Samsung to selling out arenas. The question is no longer whether women's sports can compete. It's how fast they can grow.

Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/

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Hailey Bieber, AI and fast launches: how e.l.f. Beauty is winning Feb 20, 2026

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Tarang Amin took the helm of e.l.f. Beauty at a pivotal moment and helped turn it from industry underdog to category disruptor, with a retail footprint spanning Sephora, Target, Dollar General, and H&M — while outperforming much of the beauty sector. Amin breaks down the unconventional moves driving that growth, from lightning-fast product cycles and hands-on AI experimentation to cultural bets like partnering with Hailey Bieber. Beyond beauty, e.l.f.’s playbook offers a sharp look at how speed and conviction fuel growth in a volatile market.

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.

Uncovering the $7 trillion reputation economy Feb 17, 2026

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Corey duBrowa spent much of his career advising some of the world’s most scrutinized leaders — from Howard Schultz at Starbucks and Marc Benioff at Salesforce to Sundar Pichai at Google. Now, as CEO of global communications firm Burson, he’s helping executives navigate a charged marketplace shaped by AI disruption, ICE activity, and nonstop reputational risk. duBrowa explains why reputation remains one of the most powerful (and most misunderstood) assets in business, and how leaders should decide whether, when, and how to speak 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.

Masters of Scale: How to save a magazine, with The Atlantic’s Nicholas Thompson Feb 13, 2026

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When Nicholas Thompson took over as CEO of The Atlantic five years ago, the iconic magazine was in financial peril. Now, it's profitable, and subscriber and revenue numbers are growing. In this episode of Masters of Scale, Thompson joins host Jeff Berman to talk about the impressive turnaround, how media companies can weather AI disruption, and lessons from the world of long-distance running.

Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/

Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/newsletter/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Super Bowl ads, Bad Bunny, and the business of cultural risk, with Autodesk’s Dara Treseder Feb 10, 2026

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The Super Bowl LX ad blitz was a big budget highwire act — from Anthropic's shot at OpenAI to Lady Gaga's homage to Mr Rogers, and Dunkin's nostalgia-fueled celeb fest. Autodesk CMO Dara Treseder returns to Rapid Response to break down what worked, what didn’t, and what the ads reveal about where marketing is headed next. Treseder unpacks the business impact of Bad Bunny’s halftime show, what it signals for the NFL and Apple, and the lessons every leader can take from the biggest stage in advertising.

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.

Your Rich BFF dishes on dopamine spending and the new money minefield, with Vivian Tu Feb 06, 2026

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Why does uncertainty make us less rational with money? And who should we trust for financial advice online? Vivian Tu, financial educator and CEO of Your Rich BFF, joins Rapid Response to break down today’s personal finance risks and opportunities, from “lifestyle inflation” and the most common money mistakes smart people make to how Gen Z is navigating 2026 volatility and a shifting job market. Tu also previews her new book Well-Endowed, weighs in on tech stock valuations and prediction markets, and shares the surprising lessons she’s taken from Rihanna.

You can find Vivian's new book, Well Endowed, here: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/wellendowed

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.

Padma Lakshmi’s secret to authentic leadership? Stop trying. Feb 03, 2026

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TV host, producer, author, and UN Goodwill Ambassador Padma Lakshmi joins Rapid Response with candid advice for business leaders on speaking out, showing courage, and staying true to themselves, particularly amid the Trump Administration’s violent immigration crackdown. A passionate voice at the intersection of food, culture, and identity, Lakshmi shares how she’s shaking up food media with her new series America’s Culinary Cup, and offers a refreshingly human take on modern work life, including why she chooses to take zoom meetings from the comfort of her own bed.

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.

Super Bowl Kickoff: What $150b in sports bets is doing to America Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

As Super Bowl LX nears, sports betting has become inseparable from the modern fan experience, even as scandals ripple through the NBA, MLB, and NCAA. Journalist Danny Funt joins Rapid Response to explore his new book, Everybody Loses, and explain how legalized gambling is transforming leagues, media, and the economics of fandom. From the dominance of FanDuel and DraftKings to the rise of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, Funt reveals who’s winning, who’s being exploited, and whether the industry is headed for a reckoning.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, you can call 1-800-662-HELP.

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.

Reid Hoffman on AI’s new tune, Davos, and the need for CEO courage Jan 27, 2026

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As global leaders disperse from the World Economic Forum, LinkedIn co-founder and tech investor Reid Hoffman joins Rapid Response to break down the biggest challenges and opportunities facing business today, from political headwinds tied to immigration and geopolitics to AI’s real-time impact on industries like music and healthcare. Hoffman also explains why fears of a tech bubble aren’t shaping his investing, what it really means to be an AI-first organization, and why this moment calls for CEOs to speak up and show courage.

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 music is Grammy eligible… for now, with Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

The Grammy Awards return next week at a pivotal moment for the music industry, one shaped by surging Latin artists, resurgent rock legends, and even charting AI acts. To unpack what will make this year’s broadcast distinctive, The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. joins Rapid Response to share how Grammy winners are chosen, how the show navigates social action and potential boycotts, and how music both reflects and influences the broader business marketplace.

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.

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