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.

In this episode of Trust Be Told, Reem Borrows shares her journey from corporate leadership to executive coaching, where she founded Dreem Coaching and Consulting. She emphasizes the importance of heart-centered leadership, resilience, ethical growth, and self-awareness in shaping strong and trustworthy leaders.

Reem reflects on her personal experiences as a Palestinian immigrant and how they influenced her identity, leadership style, and resilience. She highlights the dangers of stagnation in leadership, the value of balancing hard and soft skills, and the necessity of nurturing trust in organizations. The conversation also explores the power of storytelling to humanize leadership and freedom, concluding with insights from Unfollow the Leader (2026) and the responsibility of individuals to create meaningful change.

Takeaways

• Reem transitioned from corporate leadership to focus on heart-centered leadership.
• Values-driven strategies are key to fostering ethical growth.
• Personal experiences play a decisive role in shaping identity and resilience.
• Stagnation in leadership can limit innovation and growth.
• Self-awareness is essential for effective leadership and personal growth.
• Balancing hard and soft skills is critical to long-term leadership success.
• Human performance can often be optimized without additional resources.
• Trust in leadership is fragile and must be consistently nurtured and maintained.
• Storytelling can shift perspectives and resolve conflict.
• The responsibility for positive change rests with every individual leader.

Trust For Thought "I wanted to focus more on people." "Trust is incredibly fragile." "What is my responsibility?"

Keywords leadership, heart-centered leadership, resilience, identity, executive coaching, ethical growth, self-awareness, human performance, organizational trust, diversity in leadership, storytelling in leadership, personal growth

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 episode of Trust Be Told, Sara Goldrick-Rab and Richard tackle the pressing issues of inequality and affordability in higher education. Sara shares her personal journey and insights into how public trust in education has shifted over time, raising questions about accessibility and equity across colleges and universities.

The conversation highlights the vital role of community colleges, the importance of flexibility in education, and the need to prioritize student voices in shaping more equitable systems. Goldrick-Rab also advocates for a reimagined approach to higher education, one that emphasizes accessibility, lifelong learning, and student-centered reform.

Takeaways

• Higher education should be accessible to all, regardless of background.
• Affordability is a central issue that directly impacts student success.
• Public trust in higher education is declining and must be rebuilt.
• Community colleges provide essential access and opportunities for diverse learners.
• The traditional college model is not representative of today’s student realities.
• Lifelong learning should be normalized and integrated into education policy.
• Listening to student voices is critical for understanding real challenges.
• Colleges must adapt to the changing landscape of work and technology.
• Increased funding and support are needed for community colleges and alternative pathways.
• Too often, institutions prioritize research funding over the needs of their students.

Trust For Thought "This does not have to exist." "We can make college free." "We need to listen to students."

Keywords higher education, affordability, inequality in education, community colleges, trust in education, public perception, lifelong learning, education policy, student support, higher education reform, accessibility in education, student success

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 episode of Trust Be Told, Shannon Lucas shares her journey in building an innovation program at Vodafone and the challenges that come with driving organizational transformation, including burnout among change-makers. She explores the unique role of catalysts (individuals who spark and sustain change within organizations) and the importance of recognizing, supporting, and empowering them.

The discussion highlights how catalysts thrive in ambiguity, why so many transformation initiatives fail, and how organizations can design effective catalyst programs to foster innovation. Shannon also emphasizes the value of self-awareness for leaders, the importance of trust and open communication in organizations, and strategies to empower employees to adapt to change and succeed in transformation.

Takeaways

• Shannon developed an innovation program at Vodafone to drive change.
• Catalysts are essential for sparking and sustaining transformation in organizations.
• Burnout is a significant issue for leaders and change agents.
• Catalysts often operate outside of traditional hierarchies and structures.
• Self-recognition is critical for catalysts to maintain energy and clarity.
• Organizations must empower and support catalysts to enable their success.
• Trust is built through open communication and transparency.
• Catalysts are comfortable with ambiguity and risk-taking.
• Over 70% of transformation initiatives fail due to poor management and inadequate support.
• Well-designed catalyst programs can help organizations achieve success in their transformations.

Trust For Thought "Burnout creates no change at all." "70% of transformation initiatives fail." "We need to help, not just bring answers."

Keywords innovation, catalysts for change, organizational transformation, burnout in leadership, leadership and trust, technology and innovation, organizational change management, empowerment, community, transformation programs, open communication

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 episode of Trust Be Told, Anne Kim, a journalist, lawyer, and public policy expert, discusses the complexities of poverty in America and the systemic issues that perpetuate inequality. She examines how corporate interests in social services profit from public programs, the challenges low-income individuals face in accessing benefits, and the growing problem of youth disconnection from education and employment opportunities.

The conversation also underscores the pressing need for empathy, transparency, and trust in government institutions, highlighting the importance of addressing systemic failures in building a more equitable and sustainable society.

Takeaways

• Anne Kim’s dual background as a journalist and lawyer shapes her perspective on public policy.
• The earned income tax credit has unintentionally created industries that profit from low-income individuals.
• Complex government systems often exploit the poor through inefficiency and private intervention.
• Privatization of social services has enabled corporate control over welfare programs.
• Youth disconnection is a rising crisis fueled by systemic neglect.
• The term “abandonment” reflects society’s failure to protect vulnerable populations.
• Empathy and human connection are essential for rebuilding trust in institutions.
• Public misunderstanding of the role of bail bonds highlights gaps in the justice system's awareness.
• Corporate interests often outweigh individual welfare in the policymaking process.
• Rebuilding trust requires accountability, transparency, and systemic reform.

Trust For Thought

"Poverty for Profit" "We don't trust poor Americans." "Corporate poverty is a reality."

Keywords

public policy, poverty in America, corporate welfare, youth disconnection, trust in government, social services, investigative journalism, Ann Kim, economic inequality, anti-poverty programs, systemic failures, welfare reform, access to benefits

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 episode of Trust Be Told, Bernadette Marciniak shares her journey from journalism to founding Solhaus Media, a creative agency that specializes in storytelling for nonprofits and social impact organizations. The conversation explores the power of storytelling in building trust, the systemic trust challenges faced by nonprofits, and the role of media in shaping public perceptions and trust dynamics.

Bernadette also discusses the balance between authenticity and aesthetics in visual storytelling, the shifting landscape of journalism, and the growing importance of authentic communication in an oversaturated creative market. Listeners will gain insight into how creatives and storytellers can influence broader conversations about trust, leadership, and social change.

Takeaways

• Storytelling is crucial for fostering trust within society.
• Vulnerability is a critical component of building authentic trust.
• Nonprofits often face systemic trust challenges with stakeholders.
• Media can shift trust dynamics through impactful and ethical storytelling.
• The guest’s career reflects a deep-rooted passion for narrative and social impact.
• Founding Soul House Media was a natural extension of their storytelling journey.
• Leading with integrity is vital in today’s competitive creative market.
• Authenticity must not be sacrificed for aesthetics in storytelling.
• Humor and lightness can play a role in restoring trust in institutions.
• Creatives have a responsibility to utilize storytelling to drive social impact and foster trust.

Trust For Thought

"I love the idea of a survivor wealth summit." "Memes are storytelling." "I think vulnerability is a part of trust."

Keywords storytelling, brand trust, nonprofits, social impact storytelling, media and trust, creative agency, photography, journalism, authenticity in leadership, vulnerability, visual storytelling, creative entrepreneurship

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!