The TrustBuilder Podcast

In this episode of the TrustBuilder Podcast, host Scott Linklater sits down with Brad Williams to explore the surprising role of humor in building and sometimes breaking professional trust. They discuss the thin line between using laughter to diffuse tension and crossing into disrespect, sharing personal stories on how humor leads to the authenticity required for real connection. Tune in to learn why reading the room is just as important as the punchline itself.

In this episode of the Trust Builder Podcast, the hosts discuss how culture fundamentally influences human trust instincts. They define trust as both a universal survival mechanism and a socially constructed concept that changes based on geographical location and historical era. The conversation highlights how professional success often depends on aligning personal trust values with an organization's specific cultural norms, such as transparency or arrogance. Ultimately, the hosts conclude that while AI can automate many tasks, the ability to navigate cultural nuances and build trust remains a uniquely human skill that leaders must cultivate to maintain healthy teams.

In this episode of the Trust Builder Podcast, hosts Scott Linklater, Morgan Hartanov, and Brad Williams engage in a philosophical and practical debate regarding the dual nature of trust. They begin by tackling the tension between vulnerability and strength, with Brad Williams asserting that while trust requires a risky relinquishment of control, it ultimately develops character and builds the foundation for true community.  The conversation then shifts to the balance between healthy skepticism and high-trust cultures. The hosts explore the Prisoner's Dilemma and game theory, noting that the most successful strategy for long-term cooperation is initial optimism. They warn that while verification is necessary to avoid the pitfalls of "automatic trust" in long-term relationships, skepticism must not be allowed to sour into cynicism, which can stifle growth and poison a team's environment. From the banks of the St. Joe River in Idaho to the boardroom, this episode provides a compelling look at why choosing trust is the ultimate lead-indicator for success.

Welcome back to the TrustBuilder podcast! In this episode, we investigate whether trust and accountability are friends or foes. Our hosts share data from individual assessments showing that accountability is a top three builder for earning and keeping trust because people want those around them to take ownership of their actions. We discuss how accountability can increase trust in healthy environments but may decrease it in toxic cultures where it is used as a weapon rather than a tool for growth. The conversation highlights the Standards, Training, Inspection, and Response model as a framework for fair leadership. We explore the necessity of consequences and why self accountability is the foundation for any high performing team. By the end of this session, you will understand why clear communication and consistent follow through are not just management tasks but essential acts of respect that bridge the trust gap.

Welcome back to the TrustBuilder podcast! This episode, "The Trust Gap Between Leaders and Teams" addresses the critical disconnect in trust that often exists between organizational leadership and the employees they lead. We analyze how this gap, frequently caused by poor transparency, inconsistent communication, and a lack of psychological safety, directly impacts performance, morale, and turnover. Listen as we provide leaders with practical, actionable strategies for bridging this divide, emphasizing radical transparency, empathetic listening, and consistent accountability. Discover why successfully closing this trust gap is the single most powerful way to accelerate business performance and ensure organizational resilience.

Welcome back to the TrustBuilder Podcast, where we wrestle with the critical intersection of trust and modern organizational life. In this episode, hosts Brad Williams, Scott Linklater, and Morgan Hartanov dive deep into a hot-button issue: Can technology help or hurt building trust? The discussion tackles the burning question: Does remote work make it harder to trust each other? We explore how limited interactions in remote settings can lead to suspicion and the erosion of trust, offering a cautionary tale and discussing the power of intentional on-sites. We also explore whether leaders are outsourcing trust to systems (like CRM, AI, and apps) and the critical difference between the convenience of technology and the vital, human need for authentic connection. If you’re a leader, a remote worker, or just curious about how trust functions in the digital age, this raw, unscripted conversation is for you.

Welcome back to The TrustBuilder Podcast, where hosts Scott and Brad, along with special guest Morgan Hartanov, tackle the tough questions surrounding trust and team dynamics. In this critical Episode 5, we dive into the question: "When Teams Stop Talking... Is It a Trust Issue?" We explore how silence can be misread and when a lack of communication signals a deeper problem within the team or relationship. The conversation covers: The difference between comfortable silence (a sign of strong trust) and ominous silence (an indicator of a breakdown). Why leaders should treat silence like a warning light on a dashboard - a signal that something needs to be addressed. The connection between cooperative trust and the need for teams to engage in conflict and repair to become truly robust. If you are a leader, consultant, or team member looking to understand and resolve critical communication breakdowns, this episode will give you the tools to open the dialogue and diagnose the root cause of the quiet.

In this episode of the Trustbuilder Podcast, hosts Scott and Brad dive into a couple of difficult questions surrounding the foundation of trust. They tackle the core question: Is trust earned, given, or assumed? The discussion explores the critical role personality plays in how individuals build or withhold trust. The hosts share their insights on how different personality types (Action, Insight, and Connection) can influence trust-building dynamics, offering a specific story of how one person's attempt to build trust was met with the opposite reaction due to a misunderstanding of the other person's personality. The second difficult question posed is: Should leaders give trust freely, or should they make people earn it? Drawing from their own leadership experience and concepts from Game Theory (like the Prisoner's Dilemma and the idea of initial optimism), Scott and Brad explore the idea that trust operates on a gradient, not a binary scale. They conclude that starting with a degree of optimism and cooperation is the most effective way to foster a high-trust environment. Join Scott and Brad as they look for answers to these difficult questions and help listeners explore their own relationship with trust.

In this thought-provoking episode of the TrustBuilder Podcast, hosts Brad Williams and Scott Linklater tackle one of the most critical and challenging questions about trust: Is it possible to rebuild it once it's been broken? They dive into the complexities of repairing relationships, exploring whether every breach of trust should be forgiven and if a simple "I'm sorry" is enough to heal the damage. They share insights and research showing that true rebuilding requires sincere acknowledgement, changed behavior, and a commitment to understanding the other person's perspective. This episode offers a deep and honest look at how to move forward from betrayal and build a stronger foundation than ever before.

In this episode of the Trust Builder podcast, hosts Scott and Brad discuss the complexities of transparency in leadership. They address the hard question: "When does transparency stop building trust and start eroding confidence?". The hosts explore how oversharing can sometimes be a lazy or selfish act and can actually erode confidence. They also differentiate between privacy and secrecy, and warn against using radical transparency as a way to avoid accountability.

Welcome to the very first episode of The TrustBuilder Podcast! Join hosts Scott and Brad as they introduce a new series dedicated to tackling the "hard questions" about trust in teams, organizations, and everyday life. In this introductory episode, they share their backgrounds, explain why trust is a critical topic, and preview some of the challenging discussions to come, including whether it's possible to rebuild trust after it's been broken.