What does trust really do?

Host Richard Roman unpacks three groundbreaking studies that explore how trust operates across political systems, workplace dynamics, and everyday human connections.

From the rise of political extremism to the success (or failure) of high-performing teams, and to the surprising power of a seven-minute conversation with a stranger, this episode explores how trust shapes our beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. You’ll learn why trust isn’t just a “soft skill,” but a strategic, measurable force that influences everything from democratic participation to collaboration and empathy.

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Referenced Studies:

Dirks, K. T. (1999). The effects of interpersonal trust on work group performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(3), 445–455.

Ghazi, S. H. (2025, March 24). Can we reduce political antagonism by promoting trust? Greater Good Magazine.

Broockman, D. E., & Kalla, J. L. (2016). Durably reducing transphobia: A field experiment on door-to-door canvassing. Science, 352(6282), 220–224.

Why doesn’t trust in government rise when things improve? What if we've been measuring the wrong thing all along?

In this solo episode of Trust Be Told, host Richard Roman unpacks a groundbreaking study from 2019 that reframes political trust, not as approval or confidence, but as a willingness to accept vulnerability.

If you're a researcher, public leader, or trust-focused changemaker, this episode provides a practical framework for understanding (and measuring) trust more precisely.

Read more and subscribe on Substack: https://rjoroman.substack.com.

Referenced Study: Hamm, J. A., Smidt, C., & Mayer, R. C. (2019). Understanding the psychological nature and mechanisms of political trust. PLOS ONE, 14(5), e0215835. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215835

In this solo episode, host Richard Roman reintroduces himself and shares the story behind Trust Be Told. From his journey as a first-gen, queer policy leader to lessons learned from past guests across the first series, Richard reflects on what trust really means today and what’s ahead for the show.

Featuring reflections on: (1) Trust and leadership; (2) Higher ed and public institutions; (3) Personal identity and professional voice

Subscribe to the newsletter on Substack: https://rjoroman.substack.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjoroman

In this episode of Trust Be Told, host Richard Roman sits down with Jo Newell, leadership strategist, executive coach, and Founder of Monday Strategies and Drop The Mic, to unpack what it really takes to build and sustain trust as a leader. Jo shares powerful insights on executive presence, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importance of communication in cultivating organizational culture.

From being the first Black woman to lead the Orlando Regional Chamber to launching two impactful companies, Jo brings over 15 years of leadership experience to the table. Together, we explore how trust is earned daily, why authenticity is a game-changer in professional spaces, and how underrepresented leaders can thrive, not just survive, in executive roles.

Whether you're a manager, aspiring leader, or entrepreneur, this conversation offers actionable strategies for leading with confidence, communicating with impact, and building lasting trust in any environment.

In this week's episode, host Richard Roman sits down with Kyle Hagge, Chief of Staff to the CEO at Morning Brew Inc., to explore what it really takes to build and sustain trust in modern media and digital communities.

Kyle shares his journey from AmeriCorps and civic tech to leading community initiatives at Morning Brew and eventually stepping into his current role as Chief of Staff. Together, they discuss:

• How Morning Brew earned the trust of 4+ million subscribers

• The difference between building an audience and building a community

• How digital media companies can use transparency, consistency, and tone to strengthen credibility

• What AI means for the future of content creation and human connection

• Lessons in leadership, psychological safety, and impostor syndrome in fast-paced environments

Kyle also reflects on his work with Bridge the City, a civic engagement podcast he co-founded in Milwaukee, and why local journalism may be the key to restoring trust in American institutions.

Whether you’re leading a team, growing a brand, or navigating your career path, this episode is packed with insights on trust, leadership, and the future of media.

What does trust look like in today’s hiring process? In this week's episode, Richard Roman sits down with Michelle Magnetti, HR strategist, founder of Magneaux, and co-host of The WellNest Podcast, to explore how trust is built, broken, and restored in modern talent acquisition.

Drawing from over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and human resources, Michelle unpacks the evolution of recruiting in the age of AI, remote work, and automation. She offers candid insights on recruiter overwhelm, candidate ghosting, and how to create hiring strategies that are both human-centered and scalable.

This week, we sit down with Dr. Laurie Shanderson, CEO of Accreditation Insights, for a timely and wide-ranging conversation to unpack the misunderstood world of higher education accreditation.

As political scrutiny intensifies and debates over DEI and educational quality deepen, Dr. Shanderson offers an insider’s perspective on what accreditation really is, why it matters, and how it can be a tool, not a hurdle, for institutional improvement.

We explore everything from emerging innovations like the 90-credit bachelor’s degree to how leadership decisions shape accreditation outcomes to the dangerous misconception that rankings say more than rigorous program review ever could.

Looking for more insights? Check us out on Substack! In this episode, we sit down with higher education policy expert Ben Cecil from Third Way to unpack the many-layered challenges (and urgent opportunities)facing America’s colleges and universities today. From Title IV funding and student debt to public trust and institutional transparency, we explore what it will take to rebuild confidence in the value of a degree.

Ben brings policy insight grounded in his frontline experience working with students during COVID-19. He offers a candid view on how higher education can shift from prestige-chasing to purpose-driven outcomes. We discuss the dangers of “some college, no degree,” the limits of the current accountability framework, and what real equity looks like when institutions truly center student success.