Best Bob Safian Podcasts (2024)

1
Tracee Ellis Ross talks Pattern Beauty, advocacy, and joy with Samira Nasr 24:24

30m ago24:24

24:24

Award-winning actress and founder of Pattern Beauty Tracee Ellis Ross didn’t see Black beauty being represented well in the market – so she built a company from scratch to fix that. In this episode, she shares entrepreneurial lessons with her longtime friend Samira Nasr, who is editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar. Their conversation was recorded liv…

1
Rapid Response: Iggy Azalea on crypto’s biggest myths and mistakes 31:50

2d ago31:50

31:50

Rapper and musician Iggy Azalea wants you to know that her crypto token $MOTHER isn’t just another ‘pump and dump’ celebrity crypto play. She believes in the future of cryptocurrency and the potential for fostering a new engaged community of followers — or ‘stans’ as she calls them. Azalea sits down with Rapid Response host Bob Safian to reveal why…

1
Possible: Bill Gates on possibility, AI, and humanity 1:09:04

35m ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Reid and Aria sat down with Bill Gates to discuss his main areas of focus: climate change, energy, global health, and education—and how AI will help transform each of them. Taking a bird’s-eye view of society’s challenges, it’s easy to give in to pessimism. But as one of the most influential people in the world, Bill Gates has a unique perspective …

1
How to grow a greener energy grid, with Octopus Energy’s Greg Jackson 31:52

7d ago31:52

31:52

Octopus Energy is now the UK's top electricity supplier, and is growing its footprint in the US. CEO and founder Greg Jackson joins host Jeff Berman to discuss how Octopus is disrupting a global industry with green energy. From helping customers game out savings to building AI-powered software tools, his approach to innovation is multifaceted – and…

1
Rapid Response: Cultivate loyalty at every level, with Chewy’s Sumit Singh and former Exos CEO Sarah Robb O’Hagan 21:30

9d ago21:30

21:30

How do you cultivate loyalty, from investors to team members and, of course, customers? Business leaders have long debated this. Host Bob Safian invites two guests to weigh in with their secrets to brand and company loyalty. Chewy CEO Sumit Singh has built his pet-centric business around customer service and care. And seasoned CEO Sarah Robb O’Haga…

1
Rapid Response: Reid Hoffman on Trump's election and what's next 31:58

6d ago31:58

31:58

Following Donald Trump’s victory in this week’s US presidential election, Reid Hoffman (a major donor to Vice President Harris’ campaign) is figuring out where business, tech, and his own energy go from here. Hoffman joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to share his reaction to the election and what the outcome means for Silicon Valley, the overall…

1
Rapid fire fun: Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole + ocean educator Philippe Cousteau Jr., live from the Masters of Scale Summit 29:36

16d ago29:36

29:36

In this special 2-for-1 episode, we offer two segments of rapid-fire fun from the 2024 Masters of Scale Summit. First, Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian for a gamified session on capturing consumer attention that delivers lessons on the power of joy, building celebrity, and competing with stalwarts like McDonald’s. Then…

1
Former President Bill Clinton in conversation with Reid Hoffman 34:29

10d ago34:29

34:29

Former President Bill Clinton joined host Reid Hoffman on stage at the 2024 Masters of Scale Summit on October 24 to offer insights on what’s at stake in this election, and what could come next. Their full, unedited stage conversation is presented in this episode. Synthetic voiceover of Reid Hoffman used in this episode was produced by Respeecher w…

1
Is AI a new species? Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman thinks so 26:45

14d ago26:45

26:45

Artificial intelligence is a “new digital species,” says Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft AI’s CEO. For this episode, Mustafa joined Reid Hoffman on stage at the October 2024 Masters of Scale Summit. They discuss the risks and rewards of AI, and Mustafa explains why AI will change our experience of memory. Plus, why he thinks now is a great time to foun…

1
Rapid Response: Lessons from Gaza & Israel, with World Central Kitchen’s Erin Gore and the Builders Movement's Daniel Lubetzky 38:18

23d ago38:18

38:18

As conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, Rapid Response host Bob Safian led a discussion live on stage at the Masters of Scale Summit between two experienced leaders with close knowledge of the region. World Central Kitchen’s CEO Erin Gore has been providing food relief in Gaza and beyond, and Daniel Lubetzky leads the Builders Movemen…

1
Disrupting the wedding industry, with Zola’s Shan-Lyn Ma 30:03

21d ago30:03

30:03

Shan-Lyn Ma, co-founder and co-CEO of Zola, joins host Jeff Berman to share how intrapreneurship prepared her to build a business that’s transformed the wedding industry with online tools. From weathering the Covid pandemic to scaling a better experience for millions of couples, including a focus on underserved markets, Shan’s resilience and leader…

1
Rapid Response: Ken Burns on Leonardo da Vinci, AI, and the future of storytelling 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

Leonardo da Vinci is a thoroughly modern figure, even if he lived hundreds of years ago. So says Ken Burns, the legendary documentary filmmaker on topics from the Civil War to Muhammad Ali. Burns joins Rapid Response to talk about his new, upcoming project on da Vinci and what leaders in 2024 can learn from his interdisciplinary approach. Burns als…

1
Scott Galloway: Unfiltered lessons for business and life 35:45

1M ago35:45

35:45

Scott Galloway, creator of Prof G Media and NYU business school professor, joins host Jeff Berman to answer your questions with his trademark wit and candor, offering advice on when CEOs should speak out on political issues, how to build and sustain company culture, and the secret to expanding the reach of your ideas. We also touch upon AI quite a …

1
Rapid Response: How Wikipedia will survive AI, with CEO Maryana Iskander 27:30

1M ago27:30

27:30

Wikipedia is among the top ten most-visited websites in the world, and it’s been a pillar of online knowledge for more than 20 years. The site’s parent nonprofit, Wikimedia Foundation, wants it to stay that way. CEO Maryana Iskander joins Rapid Response to discuss how Wikipedia is navigating AI-generated misinformation, why debates around truth and…

1
How Bombas pairs scaling impact and profit 32:04

1M ago32:04

32:04

David Heath and Randy Goldberg, co-founders of Bombas, join host Jeff Berman to reveal how they scaled their mission-driven apparel company. Bombas donates one item for every one sold, and has given away more than 140 million pairs of socks, underwear and shirts so far to people in need. They recount how the Shark Tank rollercoaster affected their …

1
Rapid Response: How mobile voting can save democracy, with Bradley Tusk of Tusk Ventures 26:55

1M ago26:55

26:55

As early voting begins in the US presidential election, there is a nascent movement afoot that would reshuffle future contests from local school boards to Washington DC – and it revolves around our smartphones. Venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk has invested $20 million in building what he says is a safe, secure app that would…

1
From brand savant to accidental entrepreneur, with Sophia Amoruso 32:14

2M ago32:14

32:14

From founding the viral fashion brand Nasty Gal to inspiring and living the #Girlboss movement, Sophia Amoruso’s ideas tend to catch fire quickly. She joins host Jeff Berman to share her “accidental” entrepreneurial journey – building an e-commerce brand with nearly $100 million in revenue and then starting Girlboss Media – all with no formal busin…

1
Rapid Response: A new script for the book biz and Hollywood, with The Black List’s Franklin Leonard 26:08

2M ago26:08

26:08

The Black List has reshaped Hollywood by identifying overlooked screenplays from Argo to The King’s Speech that have become commercial and artistic successes. Now, founder Franklin Leonard is opening The Black List’s successful model to the book industry. He shares what Hollywood and publishing have in common: a bottleneck in talent discovery, and …

1
Bill Gates, Brian Chesky, and more: Unheard moments from our first Summit 23:18

2M ago23:18

23:18

Leaders like Bill Gates, Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, and Pixar’s Lindsey Collins shared big ideas at the first-ever Masters of Scale Summit in 2022. In this episode, host Jeff Berman guides you through the best scale lessons shared at the event. More blockbuster insights from iconic business leaders are coming in our 2024 Masters of Scale Summit, Octobe…

1
Rapid Response: EA’s march to 1 billion gamers, with CEO Andrew Wilson 25:36

2M ago25:36

25:36

While EA’s pursuit of 1 billion users may sound ambitious at first, once you hear CEO Andrew Wilson explain the developers’ strategy to get there, the 1 billion mark starts to almost sound conservative. Wilson returns to Rapid Response to shed light on EA’s recent announcements around a community-driven app, and plans to unleash new AI tools for cr…

1
Dr. Rana el Kaliouby wants more human-centered AI 34:17

2M ago34:17

34:17

Host Reid Hoffman has always been impressed with the way Dr. Rana el Kaliouby thinks about AI. She’s an AI scientist, co-founder of Affectiva, an investor and author who has spent decades building toward more emotionally intelligent technology. Now, she’s joining the Masters of Scale podcast family with a new show: Pioneers of AI. In this episode, …

1
Rapid Response: From Taylor Swift to the Emmys, lessons in celebrity, with The Ankler’s Janice Min 26:39

2M ago26:39

26:39

While Shōgun, Hacks, and Baby Reindeer bask in their success at The Emmys, the awards reveal deeper lessons about TV’s future. Janice Min, co-founder and CEO of The Ankler, guides us through the key storylines, from Disney to HBO to Netflix. We also dig deep on Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and what it says about the politics of celeb…

1
From Crystal Pepsi to Cool Ranch Doritos: Lessons from David Novak 32:04

2M ago32:04

32:04

David Novak, co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, joins host Jeff Berman to share lessons from scaling one of the world’s largest restaurant companies. Hear how his focus on listening, team recognition, and taking big swings helped grow a fast food empire to a $32 billion market cap. He also reveals lessons from the infamous Crystal Pepsi camp…

1
Rapid Response: 2024 is the most significant time in human history (Encore) 30:51

2M ago30:51

30:51

We are biologically wired to focus on the near-term, and that’s often a good thing. But in this moment — with global conflict, fast-evolving tech, and climate change dominating our present — we need to also prioritize long-term impacts. Futurist Ari Wallach joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to dive into our biological and business motivations ar…

1
Drybar founder Alli Webb’s messy truths 30:41

2M ago30:41

30:41

Drybar co-founder Alli Webb turned her side hustle as a hair stylist into a business concept now thriving nationwide. She talks with host Jeff Berman about scaling Drybar, launching and then selling a hair care product line, and how she thinks about franchising. Alli also reflects on getting personal in her memoir The Messy Truth, and why she’s doi…

1
Rapid Response: Will.i.am is using AI to re-make radio 29:40

3M ago29:40

29:40

While some artists complain that AI uses their music as training data, Will.i.am argues that it’s no different than Prince and Michael Jackson taking inspiration from James Brown. Will joins Rapid Response to talk about his investments in the “dawn of intelligent media,” including his new app RAiDIO.fyi — AI technology that he contends will be pre-…

1
Reddit’s Steve Huffman: Online platforms ‘can’t just sit on their hands’ 36:52

3M ago36:52

36:52

Steve Huffman, co-founder and CEO of Reddit, joins host Reid Hoffman to share scale lessons from building one of the internet’s most influential platforms. It took nearly two decades for Reddit to reach its IPO, persevering through ownership changes, swings in popular sentiment, and shifts in the site’s identity. Steve guides Reddit with a deep bel…

1
Rapid Response: How Campus won over Sam Altman & Shaq, with founder Tade Oyerinde 23:10

3M ago23:10

23:10

With student loan debt at record highs, higher education is at a crossroads. Campus is an all-online community college that’s built a business model around competitive pricing, resources for students (like giving them a laptop and paying for home internet), and compensating professors well above the national average. The start-up also achieves high…

1
Blitzscaling bourbon: How Fawn Weaver built Uncle Nearest whiskey 34:25

3M ago34:25

34:25

Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, 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. Fawn’s book Love & Whiskey is availa…

1
Rapid Response: CNN’s Van Jones on Kamala’s glow-up, AI “wetware,” Elon Musk, and more 27:12

3M ago27:12

27:12

As the Democratic National Convention gets underway, CNN’s Van Jones still can’t quite believe Vice President Harris’s glow-up from “cringe” to a Beyonce-like star. The political analyst and entrepreneur joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to discuss his new initiative, Dream Machine, which aims to make AI more accessible for multicultural communi…

1
The vital question Taskrabbit founder Leah Solivan wished she asked investors 35:28

3M ago35:28

35:28

A pioneer in the gig economy, Leah Solivan joins host Jeff Berman to share scale lessons from founding Taskrabbit. Hear how a need for dog food on a snowy night grew into a global business acquired by IKEA. She also reveals how her experience as an entrepreneur is shaping her next act as an early-stage investor. Leah has a new podcast of her own in…

1
Remembering Susan Wojcicki 41:38

3M ago41:38

41:38

We were saddened to hear of the passing of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki last Friday, following her battle with lung cancer. In honor of this iconic Silicon Valley leader, host Reid Hoffman offers a remembrance and a chance for listeners to hear the wisdom she shared in her 2020 episode. She talked with Reid about how to establish your company’…

1
Rapid Response: Wild summer travel tales from Boeing to CrowdStrike, with The Points Guy, Brian Kelly 24:51

3M ago24:51

24:51

Is this the craziest non-pandemic summer travel season ever? The Points Guy’s Brian Kelly joins Rapid Response to talk about how Boeing’s safety issues are impacting flying habits, the CrowdStrike outage and Delta’s response, Southwest’s major pivot, and more. Plus: the airline industry's best-kept secrets and insider deals right now. Subscribe to …

1
OpenAI’s Bret Taylor: Your business can’t wait until AI is perfect 34:52

4M ago34:52

34:52

Chairman of OpenAI, former co-CEO of Salesforce, and co-creator of Google Maps – those are just a few roles Bret Taylor has played in his Silicon Valley career. Reid Hoffman talks with Bret about OpenAI's world-shaping mission, why he founded Sierra and got back in the start-up game, and how business leaders should be using AI now. Synthetic voiceo…

1
Rapid Response: Menopause is having a hot moment, with Midi Health’s Joanna Strober 27:27

4M ago27:27

27:27

Women are losing sleep, falling behind at work, suffering pain, and struggling in their relationships — all because we don’t talk enough about menopause or treat its symptoms. Midi Health’s Joanna Strober founded her company to tap the vast underserved market for this area of women’s health, which is finally getting mainstream attention. Strober sh…

1
Brian Grazer: Scale your curiosity (Encore) 26:59

4M ago26:59

26:59

In our fast-paced working life, how can we make networking more impactful? In this episode (first published August 2023) the acclaimed film and television producer Brian Grazer talks with host Reid Hoffman about the value of sustained, genuine curiosity. You’ll hear how Brian founded Imagine Entertainment with his longtime creative partner, Ron How…

1
Rapid Response: How Barstool Sports’ ex-CEO cooks up attention, with Food52’s Erika Ayers Badan 31:02

4M ago31:02

31:02

Controversy, frat house culture, viral moments — when you hear ‘Barstool Sports,’ this may be what comes to mind. But former CEO Erika Ayers Badan is here to tell you that the business model that made Barstool into an online cultural juggernaut is replicable and poised to re-shape the food and lifestyle industry. Ayers Badan shares with Rapid Respo…

1
Asking questions that scale, with AG1’s Kat Cole 38:46

4M ago38:46

38:46

From traveling the world opening restaurants as a teenager to pioneering new strategies at legacy brands, Kat Cole knows the importance of asking the right questions to forge a path to scale. Host Jeff Berman dives into Cole's fascinating career, exploring how she led teams at iconic brands like Hooters and Cinnabon, applying the lessons to steerin…

1
Rapid Response: Reid Hoffman on the business impacts of Trump vs. Harris 25:40

4M ago25:40

25:40

Reid Hoffman's support for Kamala Harris and other Democrats — and distaste for former President Trump — has plunged him into headlines, in opposition to Elon Musk and others. Reid joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to take us inside Silicon Valley’s reaction to Harris’s presidential bid, why some business leaders are embracing Trump, and what th…

1
Rapid Response: What the Democrats' campaign changeup means for business, with Axios’ Alex Thompson 24:43

4M ago24:43

24:43

With Kamala Harris suddenly poised to become the Democratic presidential nominee, expectations have been turned on their head for voters, fundraisers, and the business world. Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian to share what his sources have said behind the scenes about what drove Biden’s decision-making…

1
Which start-ups change the future? Investor Mike Maples Jr. with Reid Hoffman 35:28

4M ago35:28

35:28

Silicon Valley investor Mike Maples Jr. is known for having a ‘Midas Touch.’ Think of a tech start-up that has changed your life in the last 20 years, and he was probably helping fuel its growth. Mike talks with host Reid Hoffman about the insights he’s gathered from decades of investing, which he shares in his new national bestseller book: Pattern…

1
Rapid Response: What’s the next Barbenheimer? with The Ankler’s Janice Min 25:48

4M ago25:48

25:48

Summer’s not so hot at the movie theaters, and the same goes for streaming. Nothing’s come close to last year’s Barbie-Oppenheimer success, and Janice Min of entertainment news startup Ankler Media can’t say she’s surprised. Janice vets Hollywood’s offerings for the summer entertainment cycle, weighs in on deals from Paramount/Skydance to the astro…

1
Liquid Death’s Mike Cessario: Trust your taste 34:58

4M ago34:58

34:58

Can drinking water look cool? That was the driving question behind Liquid Death founder Mike Cessario’s big business idea. Since launching its first tallboy cans of water in 2019, Liquid Death has used humor, design and smirk-worthy marketing to grow into a beverage company valued at $1.4 billion. Mike talks with host Jeff Berman about how he built…

1
Rapid Response: Team USA’s bold plan for Paris, with US Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland 26:14

5M ago26:14

26:14

With 346 events over 17 days at this summer’s Paris Olympics, how do we zero in on the most important events, storylines, and takeaways? CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Sarah Hirshland, returns to Rapid Response to provide an insider’s guide, including a preview of Team USA’s strategy. Hirshland also talks about the latest Chinese d…

1
Ron Howard: Evolve your vision (Encore) 34:12

5M ago34:12

34:12

This week, Masters of Scale is bringing back one of our favorite episodes. It’s Reid Hoffman’s conversation with Ron Howard, the legendary director, producer, actor, and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment. In this episode, Ron shares how he manages the balance between staying true to his vision, while also embracing change. It’s a crucial topic fo…

1
Rapid Response: Why the fashion industry needs a makeover, with Imran Amed 29:52

5M ago29:52

29:52

The fashion world is at a sudden inflection point. Big luxury players are struggling, e-commerce markets are floundering, and ultra-fast players like Shein are disrupting. The Business of Fashion’s Imran Amed takes us inside the tumult, providing a framework to understand the trends and their larger economic impact. Plus: how manufacturers are adap…

1
Grammarly CEO Rahul Roy-Chowdhury: Trust, AI, and the future of work 34:04

5M ago34:04

34:04

New AI products are rapidly changing the landscape for businesses. This is especially true for the writing tool Grammarly. The $13 billion dollar software company’s CEO Rahul Roy-Chowdhury has taken the helm in the midst of a profound disruption. Host Jeff Berman talks to Rahul about how his time at Google helped prepare him for this moment, why he…

1
Rapid Response: Slutty Vegan wants to be the next Shake Shack, with founder Pinky Cole 23:25

5M ago23:25

23:25

While many plant-based food brands have struggled recently, Pinky Cole’s fast food chain Slutty Vegan keeps growing, with new restaurants across the U.S. Pinky sits down with Rapid Response host Bob Safian to explain how she’s scaling the brand despite lawsuits, social media attacks and a flurry of vegan restaurant competitor closures. Pinky also s…

1
You could start a company this weekend, w/Noah Kagan 32:23

5M ago32:23

32:23

Entrepreneur Noah Kagan wants everyone to feel empowered to start a business. That’s the core message of his new book, Million Dollar Weekend. He’s founded multiple companies worth at least a million dollars, including AppSumo. That’s his software marketplace worth more than $80 million. Noah shares lessons from his scale journey, and from the earl…

1
Rapid Response: Power moves for the planet, w/GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik 23:10

5M ago23:10

23:10

Can nuclear energy, solar and wind farms, and carbon capture scale fast enough to save the planet? GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik joins Rapid Response host Bob Safian on stage at the Climatech conference in Boston to detail how green energy is evolving in 2024. GE Vernova is a new company spun out from General Electric, and helps power around a quart…

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