Best Jeff Ayers Podcasts (2025)

1
Why we keep failing to eradicate this disease, with YouTuber John Green 30:02

19h ago30:02

30:02

John Green has spent his career telling stories — through novels, YouTube videos, and educational projects like Crash Course. Now, he’s on a mission to eliminate tuberculosis: a curable disease that still kills more than a million people every year. In this episode, Green joins host Jeff Berman to talk about how we could scale solutions to this glo…

1
The one trait every leader needs today, with General Stanley McChrystal 28:34

3d ago28:34

28:34

Amid polarization, AI disruption, and eroding trust in institutions, retired four-star general, Stanley McChrystal, argues that what leaders need now more than ever, is character. Head of the business consulting firm McChrystal Group, Gen. McChrystal returns to Rapid Response to discuss his new book on the subject of character. From AI ethics and m…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Kelly Ayer 23:53

3d ago23:53

23:53

A cognitive science major, Kelly Ayer is graduating this weekend, but she won't be at Final Exercises on Grounds. She'll be in Columbia, S.C., for an NCAA softball regional. Ayer starts in center field for UVA, which is seeded No. 2 in the Columbia regional.

1
Replay: Banishing burnout, with Arianna Huffington 37:10

6d ago37:10

37:10

To scale sustainably, founders must not neglect their mental health. Arianna Huffington learned this the hard way after collapsing from burnout while leading The Huffington Post. She talked with host Reid Hoffman about how that wake-up call sparked her next venture, Thrive Global, which helps companies build cultures that prioritize well-being. Wit…

1
How this first-time founder landed a $630 million exit 30:25

8d ago30:25

30:25

When Ju Rhyu moved to South Korea for a corporate job, she noticed people unapologetically wearing hydrocolloid pimple patches on their faces — on the street, at the office, anywhere. She soon realized no one had cornered the US market yet on this skincare secret, and Hero Cosmetics was born. Rhyu joins host Jeff Berman this week to reveal the less…

1
Replay: Bill Gates is ending his foundation — here’s how it began 41:33

8d ago41:33

41:33

Bill Gates announced this week that he will shutter his philanthropic foundation in 20 years – but not before using it to give away $200 billion to fight global diseases. In this archival episode from 2019, he tells host Reid Hoffman the story of how it all started – and how he learned to scale his impact as a philanthropist. In Part 2 of this spec…

1
Musk and DOGE: Inside 100 days of chaos, with WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond 37:06

10d ago37:06

37:06

When Elon Musk stepped into the White House spotlight and brought his DOGE chainsaw, no one was better poised to cover the fallout than WIRED. The tech journalism outlet knew Musk’s playbook from the get-go, from years of covering his companies and his takeover of Twitter. WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond joins Rapid Response to tak…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Ryan Odom 40:48

11d ago40:48

40:48

Ryan Odom is back in the college town where he lived for seven years as a boy, this time as head men's basketball coach at UVA. With show host Jeff White, Odom discusses his first seven weeks on the job.

1
Disrupting healthcare job hunting, with Incredible Health’s Dr. Iman Abuzeid 31:43

15d ago31:43

31:43

Dr. Iman Abuzeid didn’t set out to disrupt the healthcare hiring system. But after she began listening more closely — especially to nurses — what she heard was an industry full of friction, delays, and burnout. Fixing that friction became the foundation for Incredible Health, a hiring marketplace now used by more than a million healthcare workers. …

1
Marc Lore wants an AI superapp to plan all your meals 26:04

17d ago26:04

26:04

In his return to Rapid Response, the billionaire entrepreneur, NBA owner, and CEO of Wonder, Marc Lore, told us he plans all his meals with AI – and he loves it. It’s just one part of his vision for transforming our relationship to food and health. His startup Wonder has already acquired Blue Apron, Grubhub and the media brand Tastemade, and he sha…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Trey McDonald 27:17

17d ago27:17

27:17

A rising senior from Chattanooga, Tenn., linebacker Trey McDonald recently was awarded the prestigious T. Rodney Crowley Jr. Memorial Scholarship. McDonald is a student in UVA's McIntire School of Commerce.

1
Replay: Frustration is your friend, with Adi Tatarko 34:36

22d ago34:36

34:36

Spring cleaning season is in full swing, and this week, we’re revisiting Reid Hoffman’s chat with Adi Tatarko, co-founder and CEO of Houzz, an online platform for home remodeling and design. In this episode recorded in 2021, Tatarko tells the story of founding Houzz with her husband after their own home renovation project turned into a nightmare. T…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Sara Ziodato 28:35

23d ago28:35

28:35

A graduate student from Trieste, Italy, Sara Ziodato is in her fourth year at UVA, where she’s become one of the top players in college tennis. She’s pursuing a master’s degree in commerce.

1
From warzones to boardrooms: José Andrés on leadership learned in the kitchen 32:50

24d ago32:50

32:50

As the founder of World Central Kitchen, renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés has truly mastered the art of leading through crisis. José returns to Rapid Response to share insights from his new book, Change the Recipe — a candid collection of personal stories that doubles as a playbook for navigating uncertainty, breaking rules, and leading w…

1
Why happier vets mean healthier pets, with Modern Animal CEO Steven Eidelman 34:46

29d ago34:46

34:46

As CEO and co-founder of Modern Animal, Steven Eidelman is challenging the status quo of veterinary care — an industry long overdue for innovation. In this episode, Eidelman unpacks how Modern Animal is rebuilding the system to better serve vets, pet owners, and their furry companions. With about 600 employees and a rapidly expanding footprint, it’…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Wesley Ng 22:24

1M ago22:24

22:24

Only the second head coach in the history of UVA's rowing program, Wesley Ng is in his first year on Grounds. He came to Virginia after leading the program at the University of Pennsylvania for eight seasons.

1
Finding opportunity in volatility, with GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik 30:37

1M ago30:37

30:37

Amid tariff whiplash and the rejuggling of global trade, GE Vernova’s CEO Scott Strazik is finding a way to stay “relentlessly optimistic.” Strazik returns to Rapid Response to share how the company plans to continue its success as one of Wall Street’s top-performing stocks, despite looming supply chain disruption, and an evolving conversation abou…

1
The business case for wellness, with Wellhub CEO Cesar Carvalho 31:00

1M ago31:00

31:00

Wellness is no longer just an employee perk — it’s an imperative business strategy. Cesar Carvalho, co-founder and CEO of Wellhub (formerly Gympass), joins host Jeff Berman to make that case and share his vision for the B2B platform providing wellness services and gym access to people worldwide via their employers. Hear why he quit his consulting j…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Amanda Sambach 18:25

1M ago18:25

18:25

From her first year on Grounds, Amanda Sambach has starred for the UVA women's golf team. Now a senior, she's looking to add an exclamation point to her illustrious college career in the ACC and NCAA championships this spring.

1
When powerful law firms don’t defend themselves against Trump, with ex-Skadden associate Rachel Cohen 27:11

1M ago27:11

27:11

Many prominent law firms have recently found themselves in President Trump’s crosshairs. Skadden Arps’ attorney, Rachel Cohen, encouraged the firm to fight the government’s pressure, only to have her attempts rebuffed and to be effectively forced out from the firm. Cohen joins Rapid Response to share her dramatic story, and fears about how the rule…

1
How Reid Hoffman’s new company will create cancer cures 30:13

1M ago30:13

30:13

Reid Hoffman shares the inside story this week of his bold new venture to disrupt cancer drug development: Manas AI. He chats with Jeff Berman to reflect on why he co-founded the company, the lessons he’s using to scale it, and what advice he has for fellow entrepreneurs and investors about how to make the most of AI in any industry. Rapid Response…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Dylan Dietrich 25:51

1M ago25:51

25:51

A native of Zurich, Switzerland, Dylan Dietrich was ACC Freshman of the Year for 2023-24, and he's continued to shine for the UVA men's tennis team as a sophomore.

1
From data breach scandal to AI darling, with Snowflake’s CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy 28:39

1M ago28:39

28:39

It's been a wild few years for Snowflake, from a record-breaking IPO to a plummeting stock price to a data-breach scandal. Sridhar Ramaswamy took over in the heat of the turmoil and helped steady the ship, in part by betting big on AI. Ramaswamy returns to Rapid Response to share lessons from the company's turnaround, including insights behind high…

1
Climate change ‘codeswitching’ for business, with Planet FWD’s Julia Collins 36:58

2M ago36:58

36:58

Serial entrepreneur Julia Collins is tackling climate change with her latest venture, Planet FWD. It’s a B2B platform helping brands make their supply chains better for the environment – and their bottom lines. Julia joins host Jeff Berman to share lessons learned from her earlier endeavors in the food industry, which involved a failed unicorn, piz…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Matthew Nunes 23:37

2M ago23:37

23:37

The ACC Freshman of the Year in 2022, UVA goalkeeper Matthew Nunes is nearing the end of his distinguished college lacrosse career. With 603 career saves, Nunes ranks No. 2 all-time at Virginia, behind only Tillman Johnson (700).

1
Public radio vs. DOGE: NPR CEO Katherine Maher previews her testimony 31:33

2M ago31:33

31:33

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, particu…

1
Live from SXSW: Mike and Kass Lazerow’s ‘messy’ path to success 37:59

2M ago37:59

37:59

Serial entrepreneurs and investors Mike and Kass Lazerow are best known for co-founding Buddy Media, the social media marketing platform that sold to Salesforce for $745 million. Host Jeff Berman joined the Lazerows on stage at the 2025 SXSW conference to discuss their extraordinary career journey as co-founders and spouses. They’ve distilled their…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Tyler Neville 25:48

2M ago25:48

25:48

After graduating from Harvard last spring, tight end Tyler Neville, who grew up in Williamsburg, returned to his home state and transferred to UVA. Neville put up strong numbers for the Cavaliers last season—37 catches for 394 yards and two TDs—and hopes to make an NFL roster this year.

1
From 'Trump bump' to 'Trump slump,' with Betterment CEO Sarah Levy 27:28

2M ago27:28

27:28

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, Sara…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Aimee Canny 22:33

2M ago22:33

22:33

A junior from South Africa, Aimee Canny is a two-time Olympian and one of the many stars on the UVA women's swimming & diving team, which is seeking its fifth consecutive NCAA title.

1
Solving start-up puzzles, with Vanta CEO Christina Cacioppo 32:09

2M ago32:09

32:09

Compliance and security might not be the flashiest parts of running a business, but that’s exactly where the CEO and founder of Vanta saw a $2.5 billion opportunity. Christina Cacioppo joins host Jeff Berman to share lessons from hyperscaling her trust management platform. Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.com Subscribe to t…

1
Nonprofits navigate Trump’s drastic funding cuts, with The Chronicle of Philanthropy CEO Stacy Palmer 27:37

2M ago27:37

27:37

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…

1
How Anastasia Soare built a beauty brand worth billions 31:07

2M ago31:07

31:07

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 em…

1
What the Oscars tell us about streamers, studios, and Hollywood’s future with The Ankler's Janice Min 26:56

2M ago26:56

26:56

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 studi…

1
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen on leveraging AI 30:39

3M ago30:39

30:39

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 a…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Aidan Teel 24:53

3M ago24:53

24:53

This marks the fifth consecutive season that UVA's baseball roster has included at least one Teel. First came Kyle, now a rising star in the White Sox organization, and then his brother, Aidan, who's starting in center field for Virginia this year.

1
Egg prices, avian flu & golden yolks, with Vital Farms CEO Russell Diez-Canseco 29:04

3M ago29:04

29:04

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, tra…

1
A more compassionate capitalism, with Cotopaxi’s Davis Smith 30:36

3M ago30:36

30:36

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 t…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Ben James 28:15

3M ago28:15

28:15

One of the United States' most promising young golfers, Ben James is in his third year at the University of Virginia, where he's twice been named a first-team All-American.

1
Can Rivian avoid the EV speed bumps? with founder and CEO RJ Scaringe 31:33

3M ago31:33

31:33

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 …

1
Building a network of mentors, with Cadre’s Ryan Williams 30:27

3M ago30:27

30:27

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 suppo…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Terry Heffernan 30:18

3M ago30:18

30:18

In his third year on head coach Tony Elliott's staff at Virginia, Terry Heffernan oversees an offensive line that since the end of last season has added four transfers who have 101 college starts among them.

1
From Nike to Bud Light to Tubi: Lessons from the Super Bowl 2025 ads, with Autodesk's Dara Treseder 28:44

3M ago28:44

28:44

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. S…

1
Pivot: Reid Hoffman joins Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway to go deep on AI news 1:01:35

3M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

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 A…

1
Disrupting the hair color business, with Madison Reed CEO Amy Errett 31:19

3M ago31:19

31:19

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 …

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Sarah Coon 22:18

3M ago22:18

22:18

Coming off a season that ended with the second NCAA tournament appearance in program history, the UVA softball team is looking to reach new heights this spring. The Cavaliers' leaders include senior Sarah Coon, who has started 153 games for head coach Joanna Hardin.

1
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is here to put the brand back on top 30:07

3M ago30:07

30:07

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 Starbuc…

1
Emma Grede, Mellody Hobson & Angela Ahrendts on inclusive leadership 36:03

4M ago36:03

36:03

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 c…

1
Wahoo Central Podcast With Justin Speros 29:26

4M ago29:26

29:26

In Episode 395, UVA football's director of recruiting, Justin Speros, joins to show to discuss the class of transfers that joined the program this month.

1
Reid Hoffman on AI ‘Superagency’ 26:27

4M ago26:27

26:27

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 soc…

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Jeff Ayers Podcasts

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