
Rapid Response: The "Most Stressed" Wellness CEO, with Calm's David Ko
From The Messy Parts by with Maryam Banikarim
May 2, 2026 · 34 min
About this episode
David Ko, CEO of Calm, discusses his decision to step down and the pressures of leadership in the wellness industry.
Today we're dropping something a little different into your feed: a conversation from our friends at the Rapid Response podcast. Maryam was a guest on the show recently with host Bob Safian, but in the episode you’re about to hear, Bob sits down with David Ko, the CEO of Calm — the mental health and wellness app with more than 180 million downloads — right as he's announcing he's stepping down. Ko unpacks why he made the call, what the relentless pressure of the C-suite really does to a perso...
People in this episode
Host: Maryam Banikarim
Guest: David Ko
Topics covered
- mental health
- wellness
- C-suite pressure
- leadership
- career transitions
Keywords
- Calm
- David Ko
- mental health
- wellness app
- C-suite
- leadership pressure
- career change
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Calm
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