In the Season Two finale, host Richard Roman looks back across the conversations that (on the surface) spanned wildly different worlds: medieval literature, organizational change, intuitive coaching, higher education, trauma-informed yoga, entrepreneurship, branding, and investigative journalism. But beneath these differences, one theme kept emerging: What do we do when the systems meant to help us are the ones causing harm? What is our role within those systems?

Drawing from each guest’s story, Richard presents a narrative about trust, power, institutional design, self-leadership, and the courage required to “stay with the trouble,” borrowing Donna Haraway’s invitation to remain present with complexity rather than flee toward false hope or collapse into despair.

The episode closes with three questions for listeners to carry into the new year:

• Which system in your life is “working as designed," but not designed for you?
• Who are your "oddkin," the people who help you stay with the trouble?
• What is one small relational action you can take this week to build trust where you are?

Season Two ends with gratitude to the guests who trusted Richard with their stories and to the listeners who have journeyed through another season of this inquiry into trust. Season Three arrives in early 2026.

Stay Connected

If this episode resonated with you, here are a few ways to stay connected and go deeper:

• 📩 Substack – Read essays and reflections that expand on each episode at Trust Be Told on Substack.
• ▶️ YouTube – Watch clips, shorts, and full conversations on the Trust Be Told YouTube channel.
• 📲 Instagram – Join the conversation and see behind-the-scenes stories at @trustedpod.
• 🌐 Website – Explore resources and download The Trust Toolkit at Trusted Arc Labs.

And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast wherever you listen. Thank you for your support!

In this cross-published episode from You’ll Thank Us Later, Christine Wilson sits down with Richard for an open, clear-eyed conversation about the college application process, mainly what influences decisions, what applicants should prioritize, and how to navigate a system that often feels opaque or anxiety-inducing.

Richard shares practical insights from his experience in admissions and his ongoing doctoral research on trust in higher education. Together, they explore:

• Why Early Decision is often misunderstood
• How admissions officers actually read applications and evaluate essays
• Which extracurriculars signal authentic engagement, and which ones don’t matter nearly as much as people think
• How institutional priorities shape outcomes more than “perfect” student profiles
• Why families should stop comparing their student to everyone else
• How public and private universities differ in mission, incentives, and evaluation
• What financial aid offices are really doing behind the scenes

For parents, students, counselors, or anyone curious about how admissions decisions get made, this episode offers clarity, calm, and a more trustworthy pathway through a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming. Note: This episode was originally recorded in June 2025.

Keywords

college admissions, higher education, trust, financial aid, application strategy, essays, public vs. private universities, student success, education policy, parental guidance

Stay Connected

If this episode resonated with you, here are a few ways to stay connected and go deeper:

• 📩 Substack – Read essays and reflections that expand on each episode at Trust Be Told on Substack.
• ▶️ YouTube – Watch clips, shorts, and full conversations on the Trust Be Told YouTube channel.
• 📲 Instagram – Join the conversation and see behind-the-scenes stories at @trustedpod.
• 🌐 Website – Explore resources and download The Trust Toolkit at Trusted Arc Labs.

And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast wherever you listen. Thank you for your support!

Richard sits down with Chris Endersby and Mickey Wilson of Firestarter Collective to explore how identity, differentiation, and trust come together to build meaningful brands and empowered entrepreneurs. Chris and Mickey share the story of how their contrasting professional backgrounds, from social work, academia, and leadership (Chris), to early entrepreneurship, design, and creative direction (Mickey), merged into the Firestarter approach. Their work blends commercial strategy, psychology, deep coaching techniques, and creative expression to help founders uncover what makes their business truly original.

They discuss their signature DARE Formula (Differentiation, Authenticity, Resonance, Expression), why trust is always the invisible thread tying brand and behavior together, and how vulnerability, intuition, and clarity shape the strongest brands in B2B spaces. The conversation highlights the tension between creativity and structure, the value of disagreement, how to navigate trust deficits, and what happens when entrepreneurs stop trusting themselves.