The TRUST Show

ChatGPT and similar tools are transforming how we interact with technology, making computer communication feel increasingly human. This echoes Alan Turing's 1950 Turing Test, which questions whether machines can exhibit behavior indistinguishable from humans. In this episode, we explore whether computers can fool us into believing they're human, whether we want them to, and the implications. I'm s...

In this episode of The Trust Show, I sit down with Stu Schlackman, author of Sales Sagas, to explore the transformative power of relationship selling. Stu breaks down his framework of the four distinct customer types and explains why recognizing these types is key for any salesperson aiming to build strong, lasting relationships. Together, we dive into how the Trust Premium principles align with r...

In this episode of The Trust Show, I’m diving into how trust and entrepreneurship are not just connected—they’re inseparable. As someone who lives and breathes trust, and also teaches entrepreneurship, I’ve seen firsthand how essential trust is to building a successful business. I’ll walk you through why trust matters at every stage, from choosing co-founders and advisors to building relationships...

In this episode, I explain why cold calls just don’t work anymore, with success rates dropping to as low as 1-3%. As scams and spam calls rise, trust has become more crucial than ever in sales. I break down the numbers and show you how focusing on building trust leads to better results and higher premiums. It’s time to shift from quantity to quality—learn how trust can transform your sales process...

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. April Minatrea, a clinical psychologist specializing in leadership dynamics, to explore the concept of "leadership injuries"—the psychological and emotional damage caused by bad leadership. Together, they discuss how poor leadership erodes employee trustfulness, diminishes engagement, and harms organizational performance. Tune in to learn how these injuries mani...

In this episode of The Trust Show, I dive into how having a hobby can actually make you more trustworthy. I share personal stories about rediscovering my love for radio-controlled airplanes and how hobbies, even intense ones, help you relax, make you more relatable, and build stronger connections with others. Whether you’re trying to unwind or build trust in your personal and professional relation...

In this episode of The Trust Show, I’m joined once again by Dr. Nanette Miner, leadership expert and founder of The Training Doctor. After our last conversation, I just had to bring Nanette back to dive deeper into a topic I’ve touched on before: our obsession with leadership. Together, we explore the question—is leadership a profession or a promotion? We talk about why we often promote the best p...

In this episode of The Trust Show, I step into some vulnerable territory by sharing anonymous reviews from my Rate My Professors page. As an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at SMU, I’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback, but today, I’m focusing on three harsh one-star reviews. I’m not here to complain, but rather to extract insights from these critiques. I explore eight key lessons a...

In this episode, we explore whether trust is based more on the effort someone puts in, the outcome of their actions, or their underlying motivation. We discuss insights from a recent survey that revealed surprising results, and dive into the complexities of trust in both personal and professional relationships. Joined by guest Dr. Nanette Miner, we introduce a fourth element—how the effort is made...

In this episode of The Trust Show, we explore how nonverbal communication—like tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language—affects our perceptions of trust. Often, we're influenced by our interpretation of these cues in other people, which can lead to misguided assumptions about the person in front of us. We'll discuss how first impressions, time, and intimacy shape trust and offer practi...

Ethics and Trust are often intertwined, one affecting the other. In May of this year, McCuistion TV aired a program about Corporate ethics. I was honored to be the host of that show. In fact, it was the first time hosting a “Perspectives Matters” program. With two guest experts, we addressed some very critical questions about corporate ethics. We contrasted ethics with the law, discussed Enron and...

In this episode, we explore the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in building trust. Discover how these motivations drive behavior and influence trustworthiness. We discuss why intrinsic motivation alone might not be enough, the power of extrinsic motivators in habit formation, and how to ensure you're motivated for the right reasons. Whether you're looking to build better habits or deepe...

In this episode, I am joined by Suzanne Smith, the founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects, to discuss the critical role of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in building trust. We delve into how companies can genuinely integrate these principles to enhance their societal and environmental impact. Suzanne shares insights on the importance of a...

In this episode, we’ll dive into the critical question: "Can We Trust Technology?" Join me and my guest, Beth Ziesenis, "Your Nerdy Best Friend," as we dissect recent high-profile tech incidents, including the $54 billion CrowdStrike bug, the AT&T cyber attack affecting 107 million subscribers, and the cyber attack that crippled Dallas' emergency services. Explore the complexities of modern so...

As I continued my Trust Premium research, I recently added more professions, such as lawyers and accountants. But I also extended the Trust Premium model, and in this episode, I will share the findings for lawyers and accountants and the extended Trust Premium model.

In this episode, we move from theory to practice. Learn how to identify the highest trust premium in your industry and discover the behaviors you need to change to attract high-trust customers. We'll also explore strategies to retain existing customers, even against competitors offering discounts. Using W. Edward Deming's wisdom, "If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't kn...

The Trust Premium framework focuses on the value customers see in trusting the salesperson or professional, making them even willing to pay a higher price or fee. So, being trusted by the customer before purchasing is essential. Not only do customers buy from people they trust, but they are willing to pay that premium. But what happens after the purchase is done? It is imperative to maintain and g...

Often, when you run your own business, you face the decision of doing something yourself or hiring someone to do it. It is not an easy decision. As a professional speaker, I face that decision on a weekly basis in different functions of my business. Over the years, I developed a three-step process to make those decisions: separate different functions, identify the alternatives for each one, and us...

Is it good to “Trust but verify?” When you verify, aren’t you showing that you don’t trust? In this episode, I will analyze this management approach. Does it really work? I found a 2004 research article that claimed that the more you verify, even in a high-trust self-managed team, the better the performance is. But I will also discuss what’s missing from that study, and will finally suggest that i...

There are many benefits to being trusted. One condition to be trusted is to be trustworthy. It’s still not a guarantee that you will be trusted, but it’s a prerequisite. So, what makes you trustworthy? Over the years, I observed 8 laws of trust, and developed my 6-component relative trust model. Instead of talking about those, today, in this episode, I will talk about the 3 principles of trustwort...

Who do you trust? In The Book of TRUST, I claimed that there are three entities you trust. You trust yourself, you trust God, and you trust other people. Trusting yourself is the one thing that determines your risk-tolerance level without having to trust anyone else. Trusting other people is what most of my work focuses on. But how about trusting God? Do we all trust God? Do we trust God to the sa...

This episode will give answers to both questions. It starts with describing the connection between reward, risk, fear, and trust, explaining why we even need trust and how it plays a role in our willingness to take risks to get rewards. Later in the episode, I will provide my own definition of trust, breaking it down into its components. This episode incorporates findings from my recent study of o...

The foundation for the Trust Premium™ concept is that we pay first and get value later, and we must trust the salesperson or professional that they will provide value. The value is no less important than the price because of a few deeply ingrained beliefs such as "You get what you paid for," "There is no such thing as a free lunch," and "If something is too good to be true, it probably is," as the...

In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep into the nuanced relationship between trust and respect. Exploring real-life scenarios and expert insights, we challenge conventional wisdom to uncover the intricate dynamics that govern our personal and professional relationships. Discover how trust and respect interact in complex ways, shaping how we connect with others, and reconsider the foundati...

I am often asked, “What is unique and different about your approach to trust?” In this episode, I cover that unique approach to understanding trust, emphasizing its relative, reciprocal, and two-sided nature. I challenge the traditional view of trust as a universal and static attribute, illustrating instead how trust is a dynamic interplay that depends not only on the trustee's actions but also on...