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 co...
Mar 11, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Anastasia Soare is responsible for how everyone from Oprah to Kim Kardashian shape their eyebrows. Soare started as a Romanian immigrant in a single room salon in Beverly Hills, and decades later, her beauty brand peaked at a valuation of about $3 billion. She joined host Jeff Berman to reveal the lessons she has learned building a global beauty empire, how listening to her daughter helped the brand leverage the influencer economy, and why she never wants to retire. Read a transcript of this epi...
Mar 06, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ti...
Mar 04, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Shantanu Narayen has weathered plenty of storms for Adobe, the iconic software company that earned more than $21 billion in revenue last year. The veteran tech leader talks with host Reid Hoffman about transforming Adobe’s creative tools like Photoshop to a cloud-based subscription, how that unlocked ways to innovate faster, and why those lessons are serving the company well in the new age of AI. Synthetic voiceover of Reid Hoffman used in this episode was produced by Respeecher with full consen...
Feb 27, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Feb 25, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cotopaxi founder Davis Smith believes business can be a force for change. He built a world-class outdoor brand around a simple but powerful motto: Do Good. In this conversation with host Jeff Berman, Smith shares the spark of inspiration that set Cotopaxi in motion, the hard-won lessons that shaped his approach to building teams, and why he chose to step away from the CEO role amid the company’s impressive growth. Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.com Subscrib...
Feb 20, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast As demand declines for EVs, and Tesla’s Elon Musk wields power in the new Trump administration, electric automaker Rivian is taking this time to adapt its business and expand its brand. Rivian’s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe joins Rapid Response to share how the company is moving beyond the luxury SUV space — introducing a raft of new challenges and opportunities. RJ explores Rivian's recent $5.8 billion partnership with Volkswagen, the ongoing risk assessment for self-driving features, and how Ri...
Feb 18, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ryan Williams thinks it should be easier to invest in real estate. He founded Cadre in 2014 to address this problem, and scaled it to impressive heights before an acquisition last year that sources say was valued at north of one billion dollars, combined. Williams talks with host Jeff Berman about how he built a powerful network of mentors to support his success, what he learned after being thrust into the spotlight because of one of his investors, and why he decided to exit his business. Read a...
Feb 13, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Super Bowl LIX had a clear winner on the field, but victory for brands was more hard-won. Sure, plenty of ad spots were star-studded, from Seal to David Beckham to Ben and Casey Affleck, but to what end? Many aimed for impact, but did they deliver? Autodesk CMO Dara Treseder offers hot takes on this year’s hits and misses from the big game’s ads. She joins host Bob Safian to break down what makes an NBDB (never been done before) moment, why so many brands adopted a “safe” approach, and what...
Feb 11, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Masters of Scale brings you a special episode of Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway featuring conversation with our show’s founding host Reid Hoffman. Together, they discuss the hype and fears around DeepSeek, why spending money on AI is a good thing and insights from Reid’s newest book: "Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future." Then, Kara and Scott discuss Meta settling with Trump for $25 million, and the White House attempt to take a page out of Elon's playbook in...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Amy Errett had a hunch that hair color was a huge potential market – especially among women who wanted an option free from harsh chemicals. She started a company focused on clean ingredients, innovative technology, and a revamped salon experience. Since founding Madison Reed in 2013, more than 5 million people have tried her products. Errett joins host Jeff Berman to discuss why company culture is so important and how getting fired kickstarted it all. Read a transcript of this episode: htt...
Feb 06, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Amid higher costs, longer wait times and waning sales, Starbucks is ready for a brand refresh. The company’s new CEO, Brian Niccol joins Rapid Response to reveal how Starbucks plans to go back to its roots and prioritize human connection in the hopes of restoring the brand’s position in US culture. Niccol also shares insights about evolving Starbucks’ business model, tackling the Chinese market, and how AI and tariffs are poised to shape the brand’s future. Visit the Rapid Response website...
Feb 04, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emma Grede is the co-founder of Good American and Safely, a founding partner of Skims, and chair of the 15 Percent Pledge. In this conversation, recorded live on stage at the Masters of Scale Summit in October of 2024, Grede shares entrepreneurial lessons with Angela Ahrendts (former SVP at Apple). Later in the episode, it’s Ahrendts’ 2024 Summit chat with Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments and former chair of DreamWorks. Hobson explains why she believes DEI efforts are worth fightin...
Jan 30, 2025•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Chinese AI developers send shockwaves through Silicon Valley, and Elon Musk spats with President Trump over AI policy, Reid Hoffman returns to Rapid Response to explore today’s AI landscape, and the secrets behind a concept he calls AI ‘Superagency’. Hoffman shares his vision for what an AI-infused workday will soon look like, how we address society’s greatest fears about technology, and more. As we enter a daunting new era — politically, socially, and technologically — Hoffman urges listener...
Jan 28, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tech titan Vinod Khosla argues that a dozen extraordinary entrepreneurs could make all the difference in combatting climate change. He spoke with host Jeff Berman live at the Masters of Scale Summit in October. Khosla shares insights as an investor and details his techno-optimist view on what the future may hold. You can find Vinod's essay "AI: Dystopia or Utopia?" here: https://www.khoslaventures.com/ai-dystopia-or-utopia/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N...
Jan 23, 2025•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast As return-to-office policies reignite the perennial debate over work-life balance, a cultural shift is underway. Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause , is leading the charge to redefine the role – and perception – of working parents. In this episode of Rapid Response, she explores how career pauses can drive personal growth, expand networks, and unlock better long-term career outcomes. As support systems for parents become increasingly strained, Neha sparks an esse...
Jan 21, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast We often hear stories of transformational mentors from the iconic business leaders on our show. In this episode, we’ve curated a handful of our favorite stories about how mentors make a difference. Hear from music industry legend Jimmy Iovine, entrepreneur Alexa von Tobel, pro athlete Alex Rodriguez, and others. Baby2Baby Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.com Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://ma...
Jan 16, 2025•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wildfires have forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate their homes in the Los Angeles area, and killed at least 24 people. In what will likely be the most costly disaster in U.S. history, thousands of homes and businesses have been lost. In a special edition of Rapid Response, host Bob Safian and show producers share on-the-ground perspectives from entrepreneurs who have been directly impacted. A couple who ran a small bakery in Altadena, Pain Beurre, share the story of losing their business...
Jan 14, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast After using an Oura Ring helped him through a stressful transition, Tom Hale decided he wanted to help the health tracker reach new heights. Tom has led the company in a chapter of impressive growth since becoming CEO in 2022. In this episode, he sits down with host Jeff Berman to reveal how he translated lessons from his time leading software companies to innovate features, build partnerships, and more than double the number of Oura Rings sold. Read a transcript of this episode: https://m...
Jan 09, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Entering 2025, AI is poised to continue disrupting, redefining and supercharging the business world. AI expert and Pioneers of AI host, Rana El Kaliouby, joins Rapid Response to share five bold AI predictions for the year ahead – from technological advancements to societal impact to investing. Whether you’re looking for AI to further enhance your work, portfolio, or personal productivity, Rana’s insights are the ideal primer for harnessing all the opportunity and potential at your disposal this ...
Jan 07, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast ‘Fresh Starts’ are a powerful tool for making change. So to kick off 2025, Katy Milkman stops by to give us science-backed strategies for reaching our goals. Milkman is a behavioral scientist, Wharton professor, and bestselling author of How to Change . In this episode, she sits down with host Jeff Berman to share proven ways to carry the momentum of positive change in our personal and professional lives beyond January. Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.com Subscrib...
Jan 02, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this special holiday replay, we share another standout conversation from 2024 featuring Impossible Foods’ Peter McGuinness. This year, sustainability initiatives rolled back across industries and meat alternatives struggled more than ever before on sales. McGuinness tells host Bob Safian where plant-based brands made big missteps, and why the industry’s marketing should evolve – potentially away from climate change messaging. McGuinness also shares how Impossible leverages retail ...
Dec 31, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, we’re revisiting a stellar episode from 2024 with Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Fawn joins host Jeff Berman to share scale lessons from building one of the fastest-growing spirit brands in history. Hear how a photo in the newspaper inspired Fawn to uncover a forgotten legacy, break into the whiskey business, and craft a billion-dollar brand. Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.com Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter:...
Dec 26, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this special holiday replay, we share a standout conversation of 2024 featuring ex-CEO of Barstool and current head of Food52, Erika Ayers Badan. She shares with Rapid Response why she made a dramatic career pivot — taking over Food52 — and why running Barstool was like “a heart attack every day.” She also explores lessons around cultivating a community of fans, and why, as a leader, “no” is often a better answer than “yes.” Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidrespon...
Dec 24, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dungeons & Dragons, the tabletop role-playing game, turns 50 this year. As a lifelong lover of the game, host Reid Hoffman asked fellow D&D player and Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks to join him for a conversation about the entrepreneurial lessons they each learned from the game, how Hasbro is scaling the legacy brand to new heights, and the ways technology is unlocking new levels of creative and business opportunities. Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.com Subscribe to th...
Dec 19, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’ve rounded up the most definitive business lessons of 2024, as heard on Rapid Response. Drawn from standout guests like will.i.am, Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, Salesforce’s Marc Benioff, and more, these moments not only offer takeaways from tech to entertainment, they provide a roadmap for challenges ahead in 2025. Our curated collection of insights in leadership and creative problem-solving is drawn from a half-dozen of our favorite conversations, with lasting lessons to navigate uncertainty and d...
Dec 17, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute, Amy Webb helps global companies and governments see what comes next. She’s an expert in strategic forecasting, NYU business school professor, and popular author and speaker on tech and trends. She sat down with host Jeff Berman to share her insights on how every business can better prepare for the future. Check out Amy Webb's latest tech trends report to go deeper on the topics discussed in this episode. Subscribe to the Masters of Scale week...
Dec 12, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Millions of users have joined social media platform Bluesky in recent weeks, as an alternative to Elon Musk's X. It’s sparking new opportunities and challenges for Bluesky's tiny 20-person team, and COO Rose Wang joins Rapid Response to discuss a major shift underway in social media. As dissatisfaction with the big platforms grows, she explains why the open network of Bluesky isn't just X by another name, nor a liberal refuge, but instead part of a new decentralized social web that prioritizes c...
Dec 10, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lauren Wang, founder of The Flex Company, is transforming the menstrual product industry with bold innovations and a tendency to break taboos. Driven by her own health needs and a staggering lack of progress in menstrual care, she spent years developing Flex Co’s unique menstrual disc and menstrual cups. She shares challenges, including scaling an unknown product via traditional retail outlets, and the leap to embrace authentic marketing as a means to build community. It’s often taken relentless...
Dec 05, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast With the help of co-founder Mark Cuban, Cost Plus Drugs CEO Alex Oshmyansky is radically re-engineering the pharma marketplace and dramatically cutting the price for many prescription drugs. Oshmyansky joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to share his amazing journey — from struggling as an immigrant in primary school to starting college at age 13, how medical practice led to entrepreneurship, plus reimagining his original plan on advice from the legendary incubator Y Combinator. Oshmyansky expl...
Dec 03, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
