In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, I sit down with Jim Robinson, CEO, founder, speaker, and coach with 41 years of business experience. Jim shares the powerful moment that changed everything: realizing he needed a business coach when he thought he had all the answers.

What You'll Learn:

✅ The difference between empathy and sympathyand why it matters

✅ How to validate employees individually while building team alignment 

✅ Why making every team member a trainer transforms your business 

✅ The exact framework for developing trust in one-on-one and group settings 

✅ How to lead teams of 5 to 500+ with the same core principles

Learn more about how TrustBuilt helps business owners build trust-driven teams: https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

⏱️ Chapters:

01:26 - The Realization That Changed Everything

02:02 - From Business Owner to Accredited Business Coach

03:33 - What is Leading with Empathy? (Not Sympathy)

04:00 - Empathy in the Workplace: Putting Yourself in Their Shoes

05:12 - The Power of Emotional Connection with Your Team

05:41 - Empathy vs. Sympathy: The Well Analogy

06:24 - Why You Shouldn't Anchor Bad Behaviors

07:40 - The First Two Weeks: Intentional Onboarding

08:09 - How Quick Trust Develops When You Show Up with Empathy

09:00 - The Danger of Over-Tasking New Hires

10:06 - Creating Purpose & Clarity for Your Team

11:17 - Why Small Businesses Fail: The Team Development Gap

12:55 - The Mentor Myth: Why You Need the Right Guide

15:32 - How to Validate Team Members & Get Their Input

17:17 - Why Business Owners Struggle to Let Go

19:21 - The Bottleneck Problem: When Everything Runs Through You

21:00 - Stop Micromanaging & Start Leading

22:27 - How to Develop Leaders Within Your Team

23:52 - What Happens When You Don't Develop Your People

26:03 - Leading Teams of 5 to 500: The Same Principles Apply

27:41 - The Greatest Success: When Your Team Speaks in Your Tone

28:09 - Validate Individually, Recognize Publicly

29:02 - The Magic Number for Direct Reports & Team Size

29:34 - What Happens When Your Team Feels Heard & Validated

31:14 - Turning Introverts Into Confident Trainers

32:15 - Jim's Monthly Regional Team Meetings: What He Asks

33:04 - The Textbook on Purpose in Organizations

33:31 - How to Connect with Jim Robinson & CGP Construction

Connect With Jim

📧 Email: jim@cgpconstruction.com

🌐 Website: www.cgpconstruction.com

📚 Upcoming Book: "Lead with Empathy" (Co-authored with Chris Voss)

#TrustBuiltPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessCoaching #TeamBuilding #Empathy #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #LeadWithEmpathy #ScaleYourBusiness #BusinessFreedom #TrustInBusiness #ChrisVoss #TeamDevelopment #CEOInsights

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Stella Rodda, founder of Zenith Coffee Company, a mobile coffee business built on one bold premise: coffee that's actually good for your body.

Together, Alan and Stella dig into what it really means to build a team you can trust, why hiring for personality beats hiring for a résumé, and how systems and vulnerability can coexist in a tiny mobile workspace. Alan also unpacks the three pillars of trust — clarity, connection, and consistency — and how Stella is already applying them without even realizing it.

👉 If you're a business owner who's doing everything yourself and wondering how to step back without things falling apart, this episode is for you.

Learn more about how TrustBuilt helps business owners build trust-driven teams: trustbuiltsolutions.com

⏱️ Chapters

0:30 – Welcome & Intro: What Is Zenith Coffee Company?

2:25 – The Concept: Coffee That's Actually Good for Your Body

3:16 – How She Funded It 

8:27 – Alan's Three Buckets

11:27 – The Trust Challenge: Handing Your Business Off to Other People

13:04 – Understanding Your Behavioral Style as a Leader

15:47 – Why Most Hiring Posts Attract the Wrong People

21:46 – How Zenith Got 150 Applications in 4 Hours

24:11 – Monthly Meetings, Feedback Loops & Leaning Into Strengths

26:59 – The Three Pillars of Trust: Clarity, Connection & Consistency

28:55 – Why Recognition Can Backfire (and How to Get It Right)

33:24 – The Missing Piece in Most Onboarding Processes

37:30 – Employee Engagement: Communicating Constraints to Your Team

41:29 – How Stella's Team Solves Problems Together

44:13 – Exit Planning, Business Value & Reducing Owner Dependence

47:26 – Where to Find Zenith Coffee Co

Connect with Stella & Zenith Coffee 

🌐 https://www.zenithcoffeeco.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-rodda-a9a440204/

They have a leadership alignment problem.

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan sits down with Marc Ensign, founder of LoudMouse, to unpack what a Fractional CMO actually does, why most marketing agencies fail businesses, and how misalignment between sales and marketing quietly destroys trust and revenue.

If you’re spending money on marketing but unsure what’s working—or frustrated by silos between departments—this episode will help you regain clarity, control, and confidence.

👉To learn more about how to build a business that runs without you subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast

⏱️Chapters

01:00 – What Is a Fractional CMO? (And Why Small Businesses Need One)

04:35 – From Broadway to Business: Marketing Is About Being Heard

08:20 – Why Most Marketing Agencies Work in Silos

11:20 – Sales vs. Marketing

16:04 – The Metrics That Actually Matter

22:22 – Marketing KPIs Every Service Business Should Measure

28:34 – Client Retention & Trust

31:44 – Why Busy Marketing Doesn’t Equal Growth

33:18 – Free Marketing Resources & How to Use AI

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Connect with Marc & LoudMouse

🌐 https://loudmouse.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcensign/

More than you think.

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan sits down with Luke Gromer, founder of RYG Athletics, and operator of Nike Sports Camps across multiple states. What starts as a conversation about youth sports quickly becomes a masterclass on building trust, creating engagement, and developing culture that actually lasts.

If you're a business owner trying to build a team that performs without you micromanaging every move, this episode will hit home.

If you want your business to grow beyond you, this conversation is required listening.

👉To learn more about how to build a business that runs without you subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast

⏱️ Chapters

05:00 – The Leadership Tension Every Owner Faces

11:00 – The Foundation of Every High-Performance Culture

15:00 – When You Lose the Locker Room (Or the Team at Work)

24:30 – Scaling Trust: How to Build a Culture Across Multiple Locations

28:00 – The “Secret Sauce”: Connection + Competence = Trust

31:00 – Recognition as a Leadership Tool 

36:00 – Creating Memorable Moments That Build Loyalty

44:00 – How to Design an Experience People Want to Come Back To

46:30 – The Legacy Question: What Will Your Team Say About You?

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Connect with Luke Gromer

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-gromer/

While Solomon leads a nonprofit, the leadership lessons apply directly to business owners who want stronger teams, deeper buy-in, and a culture that doesn’t collapse without them.

⏱️Chapters 

02:00 — Understanding Your “Customer”

04:20 — The Hidden Cost of Mistrust in Leadership

08:10 — Trauma, Behavior, and Why Rules Alone Don’t Work

11:15 — “You Don’t Become Homeless When You Run Out of Money”

14:45 — Building Trust Before Enforcing Accountability

17:00 — The ‘Pennies in the Cup’ Approach to Leadership

19:15 — Purpose Drives Engagement 

22:40 — Compassionate Accountability That Actually Works

26:40 — Leadership as Gardening, Not Controlling

30:30 — Horizontal Accountability vs. Top-Down Control

34:15 — Recognition, Care, and Why It’s Free but Rare

38:25 — What Business Owners Can Learn from Nonprofit Leadership

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Connect with Solomon & New Beginnings NWA

💻 https://newbeginningsnwa.org/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan Bennett sits down with Amanda Horn to unpack how self-awareness, trust, and emotional regulation directly impact leadership, decision-making, and long-term business sustainability.

Amanda shares her powerful personal journey and introduces her GRACE Toolkit, a practical framework leaders can use to interrupt destructive patterns, rebuild self-trust, and lead with steadiness instead of burnout.

This conversation is for business owners who feel stretched thin, stuck in reaction mode, and ready to regain control—without hustling harder.

⏱️Chapters

02:15 – The Moment Everything Breaks: Rock Bottom, Wake-Up Calls & Leadership Growth

05:40 – The GRACE Toolkit: A Framework for Breaking Self-Sabotage

09:50 – Self-Sabotage at Work: Rationalization, Perfectionism, and Control

14:10 – Why Leaders Struggle to Trust Themselves (and How to Rebuild It)

18:00 – Perfectionism vs. Progress: Why ‘Good Enough’ Builds Better Businesses

23:45 – One Step at a Time: Creating Real Change Without Overhauling Your Life

29:40 – Morning Habits, Mental Nutrition, and Leadership Energy

35:30 – Emotional Intelligence Is a Perishable Skill (And How to Protect It)

41:00 – Helping Leaders Who Don’t Know They’re Stuck Yet

Connect with Amanda Horn

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-thiebaud-horn/

💻 https://www.beewellyoga.com/reiki-yoga-appts

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan Bennett is back with therapists and business owners Beth Tellez and Stacey Bankston to unpack one of the most misunderstood leadership challenges business owners face: vulnerability, accountability, and trust inside growing teams.

They explore why many owners believe they have a healthy culture—yet still face high turnover, disengaged employees, and a business that can’t run without them. This conversation bridges therapy, leadership, and business ownership to show how trust is built (or broken) in real time—and why it directly impacts scalability, retention, and exit value.

If you’re tired of carrying everything yourself and wondering why your team won’t fully step up, this episode is for you.

👉To learn more about how to build a business that runs without you subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast 

—

⏱️Chapters

02:10 — The Hidden Trust Problem in Owner-Dependent Businesses

05:28 — How Childhood Conditioning Shapes Leadership Behavior

08:58 — Accountability Without Fear: Reframing Leadership Responsibility

12:01 — Why Business Owners React Defensively to Accountability

16:15 — Psychological Safety: The Missing Link in Team Performance

21:00 — Designing a Team Model That Attracts the Right People

25:14 — Alignment vs. Misalignment in Partnerships & Teams

32:17 — Scarcity vs. Insecurity: What’s Really Driving Control Issues

37:21 — Kinship-Based Leadership & Why It Scales Better

—

Connect with Beth & Stacey

🌐 https://www.creativenwa.com/

In this episode, Alan Bennett sits down with Kjartan Kennedy, co-founder of Causeway Studios, to unpack how trust, clarity, and intentional leadership allowed his team to:

-Operate fully remote

-Eliminate burnout in a high-pressure industry

-Launch a major product in one year (instead of 3–5)

-Build a culture that doesn’t depend on the founder to survive

This is a must-watch conversation for business owners who are tired of carrying everything themselves and want to build a team that truly shows up.

⏱️Chapters

03:10 – From Passion to Business: Building a Studio That Lasts

11:58 – The Burnout Trap Most Business Owners Fall Into

14:10 – The 4-Day Workweek: Less Time, Better Results

17:32 – Remote Teams, Real Accountability (Without Micromanaging)

21:26 – Trust as a Leadership System, Not a Vibe

27:44 – Shipping Faster by Building Trust First

31:02 – Recognition, Purpose, and Why Teams Need to See Impact

38:10 – Conflict, Feedback, and Healthy Disagreement

47:30 – One Piece of Advice Every Business Owner Needs to Hear

—

Connect with Kjartan Kennedy & Causeway Studios

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kjartankennedy/

🌐 https://www.causewaystudios.com/

—

Feeling stuck carrying everything yourself?

TrustBuilt helps business owners build teams they can trust—so the business runs with them, not because of them.

👉 Learn more at https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan Bennett sits down with Cari Kaufman of Storyteller Wordsmith for a candid, unscripted conversation about purpose, identity, and what happens when successful businesses start to feel misaligned. 

This episode dives deep into why purpose and accountability are the gateway to trust, how personal life changes inevitably shape business direction, and why building a business that can evolve is critical for retention, leadership clarity, and sustainable growth. 

If you’re exhausted from carrying everything yourself and wondering how to get your team bought in again, this conversation will hit home.

👉 Looking to build a business that runs without you? Visit https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

---

⏱️ Chapters

02:10 – The moment “purpose” changed the conversation

03:30 – Feeling trapped by your own brand

04:30 – Established businesses hit this wall more than startups

05:45 – Alan’s personal pivot: when life demanded change

07:05 – Freedom is why most people start businesses (but lose it)

08:20 – Work-life balance isn’t real — harmony is

09:35 – Building a sellable business makes it easier to run

12:45 – Purpose + accountability = the gateway to trust

14:05 – Why teams disengage when purpose is unclear

16:20 – Purpose isn’t always about the product

17:30 – “My purpose is to make money” (and why that’s not enough)

20:10 – The danger of choosing a path just because you’re good at it

22:00 – When purpose becomes a trap instead of a guide

23:40 – Purpose as the front door to everything else

25:00 – Communicating purpose so people actually buy in

26:20 – Credentials don’t build trust — stories do

28:10 – How trust changes decision-making and leadership ease

29:30 – External trust matters too (vendors, partners, advisors)

31:00 – What most owners miss about their suppliers and advisors

33:10 – Trust as a force multiplier in business

35:20 – Final thoughts: purpose is the starting point

---

Connect With Cari 

🌐 https://www.storytellerwordsmith.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/carikaufman/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, former police chief, SWAT commander, executive coach, and leadership trainer Tim Keck breaks down what crisis leadership teaches us about building engaged, reliable teams in everyday business. 

Tim shares unbelievable real-world stories — including the moment he put his life in the hands of his team — to illustrate what trust really means. And more importantly, how business owners can build that level of confidence, discipline, and buy-in inside their own culture.

If you’re a leader who’s tired of carrying everything yourself, this conversation will help you breathe again. You’ll walk away with simple tools to lower stress, increase employee engagement, and create a culture that scales because people are aligned, accountable, and trusted.

👉 Want a team that can run the business without you? Learn more at https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — The Rule of Responsibility: Why You Can’t Do Everyone’s Job

00:20 — Meet Tim Keck: Police Chief, SWAT Commander & Leadership Coach

01:49 — What Crisis Teaches About Leadership

03:07 — The Team-Building Exercise That Hit the New York Times

04:12 — Stress vs. Crisis: Why Leaders Misread Their Own Bodies

06:24 — How Stress Sabotages Decision-Making (and What to Do Instead)

07:55 — Tactical Breathing: A Tool Every Leader Should Learn

10:15 — Emotional Intelligence: The Four Skills Every Owner Needs

14:18 — Why Most Leaders Mislabel Their Emotions

17:12 — Managing Conflict Without Escalation

20:14 — The Hidden Cost of Wanting to “Win the Argument”

21:05 — How Your Emotions Affect Your Team (Read the Room)

25:11 — Why High-Performing Teams Need Someone “Watching Their Six”

26:44 — SWAT-Level Trust: Doing Your Job So Others Can Do Theirs

34:07 — What Business Owners Can Learn from Real-Life Training

37:41 — Purpose, Clarity, and Why Most Teams Row in Different Directions

41:30 — The Story: Putting His Life in His Team’s Hands

45:18 — Final Lessons on Trust, Vulnerability, and Leadership Freedom

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Connect with Tim

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/timkeck/

🌐 https://www.safehavensecuritygroup.com/

🌐 https://www.gobulletproof.com/

In this conversation with longtime entrepreneur and EOS implementer Calvin Smith, we dig into what really holds business owners back: fear, control, burnout, and the belief that “no one will ever care as much as I do.” Calvin shares lessons from 20+ years of entrepreneurship — the wins, the mistakes, the dumb tax — and how leaders can finally break the cycle of doing everything themselves.

We talk about building trust, creating alignment, getting honest about your own limitations, and how systems and processes (done right) actually create freedom rather than restrict it. If you’re tired of carrying the whole business on your back, this episode shows a better path forward.

👉 Want a team that’s engaged, accountable, and capable of running the day-to-day?

Visit https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

---

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — Why Trust Starts With the Leader

01:00 — Corporate vs. Entrepreneurship Mindset

02:30 — The Passion Problem: Why Entrepreneurs Burn Out

03:45 — Defining Your Personal “Why” Before You Build Your Business

05:10 — When Your Team’s Why Doesn’t Match Yours

06:40 — The Power of Vulnerable Leadership (A Story That Changed Everything)

08:00 — Why Trust Backfires When You Hold Too Tightly

10:45 — Culture Reality Check: Are You Living What You Say You Value?

12:05 — Hiring People Who Actually Care About the Work

14:10 — The 90-Day Culture Pulse: Keeping Your Team Aligned

17:00 — Commitment, Discipline, and Trusting Yourself First

18:40 — How Your Personal Life Mirrors Your Business Performance

23:00 — Letting Go as You Scale: Why Leaders Must Evolve

33:00 — Systems & Processes: Why They Create Freedom (Not Rigidity)

41:00 — The Horror Story of an Owner-Dependent Business

45:00 — How to Help Employees See That Their Work Matters

48:00 — The Books That Changed Calvin’s Leadership Journey

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Connect with Calvin

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-smith/

🌐 https://calvinsmith.co/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan sits down with Eliz Greene, stress researcher, author, and resilience expert, to unpack why so many small business owners feel constant pressure and what that stress is really doing to their teams.

Together, Alan and Eliz break down the science behind stress, why your brain shuts down under pressure, and simple, practical steps to regain control, reduce cortisol, and make better decisions. 

If you’re a business owner drowning in responsibility, struggling with turnover, or trying to build a team that truly steps up, this conversation offers a roadmap to relief.

👉 Want a team that runs the business with you — not one that drains you? Learn more at https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

⏱️ Chapters

01:10 – Eliz Greene’s Backstory: A Life-Changing Heart Attack

02:52 – Parenting Twins & Early Lessons in Stress

06:05 – What Stress Really Is (and Why It Builds Up)

07:40 – The Physical Side of Stress: Cortisol & Health Risks

08:58 – Recognizing Your Body’s Stress Signals

11:04 – Why We Crave Control (and Why It Backfires)

12:52 – A Simple System: What Can I Control? What’s Possible?

15:30 – How to Physically Reduce Stress in the Moment

17:49 – Making the Unpredictable More Predictable

19:48 – Leaders Letting Go: Discipline vs. Rigidity

24:02 – The Power of Feeling Seen and Valued at Work

29:27 – Stress, Turnover, and Why People Really Quit

42:34 – Eliz’s One Message to Every Leader

—

Connect with Eliz

🌐https://elizgreene.com/

💻https://www.linkedin.com/in/theelizgreene/

—

Chief People Officer Steve Blair knows firsthand what it takes to rebuild trust, re-engage employees, and restore a sense of ownership in fast-growing organizations.

In this episode, Steve joins host Alan Bennett to talk about:

• The real cost of culture drift and disengagement

• Why employee surveys—when done right—can be the most powerful trust-building tool in your organization

• How to identify culture creators, keepers, and consumers (and what to do when the ratio gets out of balance)

• How vulnerability and consistency are the two key ingredients of authentic leadership

Whether you’re leading a team of 10 or 100, this episode offers a clear path to creating a culture where people want to stay, contribute, and grow.

👉 Ready to build a team that runs with you, not just for you?

Visit https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/ to learn more about building systems and teams that scale through trust.

⏱️ Chapters

 02:00 – Rebuilding Culture After It’s Been Lost

03:30 – The Real Cost of Turnover and Disengagement

06:00 – How Growth Changes Culture (and How to Keep It Healthy)

08:00 – Culture Creators, Keepers, and Consumers

11:00 – How to Spot and Support Culture Keepers

13:00 – The Simple Framework to Measure Engagement and Trust

14:00 – W.A.L.A. Method: Wonder, Ask, Listen, Act

18:00 – The Flywheel That Builds Organizational Trust

20:00 – What Trust Really Means: Consistency + Vulnerability

22:00 – Creating Safe Feedback Loops That Build Engagement

25:00 – The Role of Recognition and Care in Employee Growth

30:00 – Giving Feedback That Builds Instead of Breaks

34:00 – The Power of “Buy-In Based” Feedback

38:00 – Coaching the What vs. the How

40:00 – Using Assessments Responsibly to Strengthen Teams

44:00 – Steve’s Top 3 Books on Leadership and Growth

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Connect with Steve

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairsteve/

🌐 https://www.fulcrumcollective.com/

Danielle shares her journey of reviving a beloved community magazine and how storytelling has become her way of building trust, connection, and compassion across Northwest Arkansas.

If you’ve ever felt burnt out or unsure how to reconnect your team—or your business—to its purpose, this conversation will remind you why authentic stories matter.

👉 Learn how TrustBuilt helps business owners build teams that run without them: https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

⏱️ Chapters

1:00 – Meet Danielle Keller & the Return of Peekaboo Magazine

3:00 – The Origin Story of Peekaboo and Its Legacy

5:00 – From Burnout to Balance: What Sparked Danielle’s Entrepreneurial Leap

7:00 – The Power of Connection in Community Media

9:00 – Why Trust Starts with Empathy and Compassion

12:00 – How Vulnerability Builds Trust and Belonging

15:00 – The Challenges of Reviving a Legacy Brand

18:00 – Pricing, Partnership, and Rebuilding Advertiser Trust

20:00 – The Emotional Side of Print: Why People Smell Magazines

24:00 – Nostalgia, Tangibility, and the Need for Connection

26:00 – How Storytelling Strengthens Communities and Teams

29:00 – Giving Families a Voice Through Peekaboo

32:00 – Vulnerability: The Fastest Way to Build Trust

34:00 – Representation and Why Every Story Matters

36:00 – How Small-Town Roots Shape Great Storytellers

40:00 – Purpose and Vocation: Living Out Your Calling

45:00 – The Art of Being Present as a Leader and Podcaster

48:00 – Where to Find Peekaboo Magazine and People of NWA

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Connect with Danielle & Peekaboo

🌐 https://peekaboomagazine.com/

🌐 https://podcast.peopleofnwa.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielles-keller/

They explore the emotional intelligence behind effective leadership, how clarity and connection shape culture, and why partnerships thrive on understanding and self-awareness. Whether you’re leading a small team or dreaming up a new idea, this episode will remind you that progress doesn’t require perfection — just the willingness to start.

👉 Learn more about building trust-driven businesses at https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

​​⏱️ Chapters

01:30 — From accidental designer to entrepreneur

03:00 — Launching Change Creative Co. for nonprofits

04:40 — Learning to lead: from implementer to visionary

06:00 — The moment she decided to “just start”

07:15 — First client success: when purpose meets opportunity

08:40 — How trust starts with shared passion and compassion

10:30 — Resourcefulness vs. selflessness in leadership

12:30 — Dreaming up a creative coalition for good

14:20 — How theater shaped emotional intelligence

17:00 — Translating emotional awareness into better client work

19:00 — Connection, empathy, and listening as leadership tools

21:30 — Building clarity before branding: why alignment matters

25:00 — The power (and pitfalls) of business partnerships

27:00 — How trust supports conflict and friction in teams

30:00 — Why connection matters more than clarity in marketing

34:00 — Advice for new marketers: do it scared, serve with trust

36:00 — Where to find Alex and Change Creative Co.

—

Connect with Alex

🌐https://www.storytellerwordsmith.com/

🌐https://www.changecreativeco.com/

💻https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-andrews-65993b158/

leadership growth, building trust, small business culture, nonprofit branding, team connection, business partnerships, leadership freedom

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Stacie Jacob, Chief Strategist at Solterra Strategies, to explore how trust drives long-term success in business, leadership, and life. From her roots in rural Nebraska to leading PR and marketing for wine country brands, Stacie shares powerful lessons on building loyal teams, managing transitions, and creating a legacy that lasts.

Together, they dig into how emotional connection fuels engagement, why transparency matters more than perfection, and how clarity, consistency, and communication turn clients into lifelong partners.

👉 Whether you lead a small team or run a legacy brand, this episode will help you see trust as the ultimate competitive advantage.

Learn more about how TrustBuilt helps business owners build trust-driven teams: trustbuiltsolutions.com

⏱️ Chapters

 1:00 – Meet Stacie Jacob: From PR to Wine Country Leadership

2:15 – What Moving to Paso Robles Taught Her About Roots and Growth

3:30 – Midwest Work Ethic and the Power of Small-Town Values

5:40 – How 4-H and Public Speaking Built Her Storytelling Skills

8:00 – The Link Between Commitment, Connection, and Trust

9:00 – The Importance of Doing What You Say You’ll Do

10:30 – How Leaders Build Trust Through Transparency

12:00 – Building Culture in Wine Country: Passion and Purpose

14:30 – Storytelling That Differentiates Brands

15:30 – Building Trust with Clients (and Quick Wins That Matter)

18:20 – How Introverts and Extroverts Build Trust Differently

19:00 – What “Legacy” Really Means (and Why It Changes)

22:00 – Handling Ownership Transitions and Team Fear

24:00 – The Role of Communication During Change

26:00 – Culture Alignment and Knowing When to Let Go

27:00 – The Four C’s of Trust: Clarity, Commitment, Connection, Consistency

28:00 – The 80/20 Rule of Trust and Innovation

29:00 – Why Stacie Reads Articles, Not Books (and Who She Follows)

31:00 – Emotional Intelligence, Wine, and Building Human-Centered Brands

32:30 – Final Thoughts: How Trust Shapes Legacy

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Connect with Stacie Jacob & Solterra Strategies

🌐 https://solterrastrategies.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacie-jacob-802b98/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Dustin Murphy, founder of Pitch Retail, to talk about how he went from working for corporate giants like Walmart, PepsiCo, and Disney to leading a small but mighty team that helps suppliers break into Walmart the right way.

Dustin shares how he turned career uncertainty into ownership, the lessons he learned about trust and communication from his business partner, and what it really takes to build a growing team that doesn’t burn out. 

From hiring and delegation to leadership maturity and client trust, this conversation is packed with insight for business owners who are scaling fast and trying to stay sane.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your people engaged while your business grows—or how to build a partnership that doesn’t implode—this one’s for you.

👉 Learn more about building a trust-driven, engaged team: trustbuiltsolutions.com

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – The Question Every Leader Should Ask Their Team

00:30 – Introducing Dustin Murphy & Pitch Retail 

01:00 – What Pitch Retail Actually Does

02:00 – Growing Up in a Walmart Family

03:40 – From Intern to Industry Expert

05:00 – Climbing the Corporate Ladder (Rubbermaid, PepsiCo, Disney)

06:00 – The Leap: Leaving Corporate for Entrepreneurship

08:00 – Taking Control of Your Own Exit

09:30 – Buying Out the Business: How Pitch Retail Began

11:00 – Getting Clients and Building Early Trust

13:00 – From Scrappy to Structured: Learning to Lead a Team

14:00 – Why Partnerships Work (When They’re Built on Trust)

16:00 – Learning to Communicate Like a Mature Leader

18:00 – Growing Pains: When to Hire and How to Scale

20:00 – Removing Bottlenecks and Empowering Employees

22:00 – Letting Go: From Doer to Leader

24:00 – The 80/20 Rule and What Really Moves the Needle

25:00 – How Reflection Fuels Growth

27:00 – Lessons from Working with Walmart

29:00 – The “Hug of Death” and Managing Growth Wisely

32:00 – Defining Real Success: It’s About Sell-Through

34:00 – Be Careful What You Ask For (Alan’s Catering Story)

35:00 – Who Pitch Retail Serves and How They Help

36:30 – How to Connect with Dustin Murphy

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Connect with Dustin Murphy

🌐 https://www.pitchretailsales.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-m-84828470/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Windy Elstermeier, CEO of Pivotal Solutions and founder of Jane Wick, to talk about the power of connection, compassion, and trust in leadership.

From her days leading teams at Walmart to launching a women-led gun range bag brand, Windy shares how learning to serve first, build meaningful relationships, and trust others (and yourself) can completely transform how you lead and grow.

You’ll hear:

✅ How authentic connection fuels both team engagement and customer loyalty

✅ The difference between facilitating and leading through storytelling

✅ What it takes to build partnerships rooted in mutual trust

✅ How serving others first can multiply business opportunities

✅ Why compassion is the hidden superpower in every strong culture

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from doing it all yourself to building through people, this conversation is for you.

👉 Learn more about building a business that runs on trust (not stress): www.trustbuiltsolutions.com

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Spotting a Gap: How Jane Wick Was Born

01:00 – From Training to Keynotes: Building Confidence on Stage

04:00 – The Role of Trust—In Yourself and Your Audience

07:00 – Connection and Compassion: The Core of Leadership

10:00 – Turning Speaking into Service: Adding Real Value

14:00 – Storytelling, Authenticity, and Lessons Learned

19:00 – Building Jane Wick: Trusting Partners Across Borders

28:00 – Community, Reciprocity, and the Power of Connection

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Connect with Windy

🌐 https://pivotalsolutions.co/

🌐 https://janewick.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/windy-elstermeier/

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team engagement, building trust, leadership compassion, small business growth, culture that scales

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Steve Toth of Crestline Leaders to explore the foundations of team building, culture, and engagement.

Steve shares his journey from scrappy solopreneur to leading teams inside Fortune 500 companies and startups, and what he’s learned about:

• Why purpose and vision matter for keeping teams aligned.
• 
  
• How personal values shape company culture (and why that attracts A-players).
• 
  
• The link between accountability, trust, and employee engagement.
• 
  
• What happens when leaders stop delegating and start abdicating—and how to fix it.
• 
  
• Why a flourishing team is the real key to scaling any business.
• 
  

If you’re tired of carrying your business on your shoulders and want a team that buys in, sticks around, and thrives—this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply right now.

👉 Ready to build a team you can trust? Learn more at https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Why maximizing value also maximizes employee happiness

01:00 How Alan & Steve met at a family business event

02:30 Steve’s entrepreneurial beginnings: lawn mowing & Volkswagens

07:00 Lessons learned from W-2 roles and building trust through relationships

09:20 From solopreneur to team builder: why “just me” doesn’t scale

13:20 The People & Culture Model: why culture is the foundation

15:20 Flipping over rocks: uncovering hidden issues in organizations

20:00 Vision: how clarity drives team alignment

23:00 Building sticky, authentic values that attract A-players

26:00 Purpose as the driver of passion and culture

29:00 Why accountability is “purpose’s first cousin”

30:30 How purpose + accountability fuel employee engagement

33:10 Prioritization, scaling, and the “triangle model”

36:00 Enterprise value: why engaged teams grow business value

42:00 The tipping point of trust: what happens when it clicks

45:00 Where to connect with Steve Toth

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Connect With Steve Toth

🌐 https://www.crestlineleaders.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-real-steve-toth/

team engagement, building trust at work, company culture, employee retention, small business leadership

That’s the culture Jonathan Brooks has built at Warehouse on Wheels, where his team scaled from 2 locations to 37,000 trailers in just a few years.

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett talks with Jonathan about how he shifted from a CFO mindset to a culture-first leader—and why employee engagement is the true engine behind growth.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why he gives every new hire The Ultimate Expectation letter to empower ownership from day one.

✅ How Gallup’s Q12 framework measures engagement and drives action.

✅ Why Extreme Ownership training became the backbone of their leadership culture.

✅ The role of learning & development in retaining top talent.

✅ How trust, empowerment, and equity create buy-in at every level.

If you’re a business owner looking to scale without burning out—or want your employees engaged like owners instead of clock-punchers—this conversation will change how you think about team building.

🎙️ Subscribe for more real-world stories of building businesses that run without the owner 👉 www.youtube.com/@trustbuiltpodcast

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Why trust matters in leadership

01:00 – Jonathan Brooks’ career path from CFO to CEO

04:00 – Building culture with Gallup Q12 surveys

06:00 – Learning emotional intelligence as a leader

08:00 – Launching a learning & development department

10:00 – The Ultimate Expectation: empowering employees from day one

12:00 – Hiring for attitude vs. aptitude

16:00 – Ritz-Carlton service at the Hampton Inn price

18:00 – Scaling through acquisitions & greenfield markets

20:00 – Onboarding with Extreme Ownership

23:00 – Field training exercises for leadership development

26:00 – Equity & rewards that drive buy-in

30:00 – Scaling easier with systems of trust

33:40 – Local market CEOs & agility at scale

35:20 – Trust + culture = engaged employees & loyal customers

37:00 – Succession planning & running without the owner

42:00 – Owner dependence kills deals (and how to avoid it)

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Connect With Jonathan & Warehouse on Wheels

🌐 https://wowtrailers.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnbrooksiv/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to build your team, encourage employee engagement, & ensure your business can run without you?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett interviews Steven Schmitt of Willow Financial, about building a trust-driven business that thrives even when the owner steps away.

Steven shares his real-world experience of going from sleepless nights as a solo founder to creating a team and systems that allow his firm to grow without constant oversight. From how to trust your team, to creating business systems that work, to succession planning and exit strategies, this episode is packed with insights for business owners who want freedom from the daily grind.

Whether you’re looking to scale your company, prepare it for sale, or simply take a real vacation without everything falling apart—this conversation will give you practical strategies to build a self-sufficient, owner-independent business.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on how to build a business that runs without you.

📌 Chapters:

00:00 – Radical Trust: Why Willow Shares a Company Inbox

02:42 – From Solo Founder to Building a Scalable Firm

05:22 – Creating “Light Bulb” Moments for Clients

09:41 – Sleepless Nights and Entrepreneur Pressure

11:26 – Hiring Your First Team Member (and Lessons Learned)

13:05 – Planning for Succession & Exit Strategy

15:02 – Building Trust with Clients and Teams

17:17 – Why Transparency Builds Business Value

21:27 – Onboarding Clients with Clarity

23:24 – Helping Owners Face Estate & Succession Planning

27:21 – What the “Right Client” Looks Like

29:31 – Passion, Purpose & Trust Beyond Yourself

31:17 – What Steven Would Do Differently

32:10 – How Willow Uses AI as a Business Thought Partner

34:53 – How to Connect with Steven

Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

business that runs without you | how to trust your team | business systems and processes | succession planning small business | owner independent business

Jessica Crum, founder of Silverlake Design Studio, shares her incredible journey from the high-pressure world of Los Angeles fashion to building a thriving marketing agency in Arkansas.

In this inspiring conversation Jessica opens up about career pivots, the real struggles behind entrepreneurship, building a mission-driven brand, and stepping away from hustle culture to create a sustainable, impact-driven business.

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🔗 Connect with Jessica & Silverlake Design Studio

🌐 https://silverlakestudio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-crum/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Windy Elstermeier to talk about the courage, risk, and strategies it takes to step out of a steady paycheck and create a business that can thrive on its own.

Windy spent 17 years at Walmart before making the leap into entrepreneurship. She shares the hard lessons she learned—like managing cash flow, setting up systems, and facing the reality of risk—as well as the wins of scaling, hiring, and eventually selling her first business.

If you’re a business owner dreaming of freedom, or if you’re stuck in the grind and wondering if your company could ever run without you, this episode will give you practical tools and inspiration.

🎙️ Subscribe for more stories of entrepreneurs building trust-driven, self-sufficient businesses.

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Leaving Corporate After 17 Years at Walmart

02:14 – The Spouse Conversation: Getting Buy-In at Home

04:50 – Doing the Due Diligence: Numbers, Franchises & P&Ls

06:22 – Taking the Leap: Fear, Excitement, and Risk

08:45 – The Obstacle of Cash Flow and Bookkeeping Mistakes

11:26 – Adjusting from Paychecks to Revenue Fluctuations

13:17 – Lessons on Hiring and Managing Crews

15:27 – Why Every Day as an Entrepreneur Involves Risk

16:14 – Big Wins: Family in the Business & Hitting Sales Goals

19:12 – Selling the Painting Company & Discovering Consulting

22:34 – Finding Passion in Solving Business Problems

23:55 – Launching Jane Wick: Spotting a Market Gap for Women

28:09 – Pitch Competitions, Mentors, and Validating Ideas

33:00 – The Importance of Multiple Mentors in Business Growth

36:10 – Preparing for Investors & Writing the Next Book

38:06 – Advice to Her Younger Self About Entrepreneurship

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🔗 Connect with Windy & discover Jane Wick

🌐 https://janewick.com/

🌐 https://pivotalsolutions.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/windy-elstermeier/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

leaving corporate for entrepreneurship | build a business that runs without you | how to start a small business after corporate | risk and trust in business | scaling and selling a business

Deme Yuan, co-founder and COO of Freight Relay, shares her unlikely path from nonprofit leadership to revolutionizing long-haul trucking. In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett explores how Deme's passion for social equity fuels innovation in an industry ripe for disruption. 

This is a story of mission-driven entrepreneurship, family partnership, and grit.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Why Not All Feedback Is Equal

01:00 – Meet Deme Yuan & the Freight Relay Mission

03:00 – From Social Work to Startups: Deme’s Unexpected Journey

05:45 – A Book That Sparked a Business Idea

08:00 – Angel Funding, India, and Building a Dev Team from Scratch

10:00 – Startup Accelerator Life & First Traction

12:00 – Bentonville, AR: A Logistics Hub in Disguise

13:00 – Pivoting During the Pandemic

14:00 – Winning Federal Grants (SBIR, DOE, USDA, NSF)

16:00 – How a Nonprofit Background Prepared Her for Startup Life

17:00 – Starting a Business with Your Spouse: The Real Talk

20:00 – Changing Her Mindset Around Business & Impact

21:00 – The Role of Mentorship & Discernment

25:00 – Serving Truckers, Communities & a Bigger Mission

31:00 – Work-Life Balance for Drivers: What Equity Looks Like

34:00 – Busting the Myths of Small Business Ownership

37:00 – The Cost of “Letting Off the Gas” as a Founder

39:00 – Sustainability vs. Hustle: Building for the Long Game

40:30 – A Letter to Her Younger Self (Wise Words!)

42:40 – Where to Find Deme & Freight Relay Online

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🔗 Connect with Deme Yuan

🌐 https://freightrelay.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demeyuan/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan sits down with Sam Russell, co-founder of the thriving breakfast spot The Buttered Biscuit. What started as his wife’s idea has grown into a purpose-driven business with 200+ employees and 10,000 guests served weekly. Sam shares how culture, consistency, and care have powered their growth—not just in biscuits, but in impact.

From training future doctors in the kitchen to creating second chances for the underestimated, Sam opens up about the kind of leadership that builds trust and changes lives.

⏱️Chapters:

01:16 – From Corporate to Biscuits: How It All Started

02:00 – The Real Founder Behind Buttered Biscuit

04:01 – Building Through Community Connection

05:03 – Food, Trust & the Power of the Table

07:10 – Consistency in Business and Biscuits

08:25 – The Five Core Values Driving the Company

11:00 – Culture as a Living, Breathing System

13:04 – Hiring for Flourishing, Not Just Filling Roles

15:04 – Recognizing Employees & Building Confidence

19:03 – Systems That Support Human-Centered Leadership

22:28 – Avoiding the “Dish Pit Trap” as a Business Owner

25:51 – Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Refill Point

26:18 – Project Biscuit: Serving the Underestimated

30:30 – Confidence, Second Chances & Accountability

34:32 – A Real Story of Redemption and Career Growth

36:09 – Accountability as Empowerment

37:41 – Why Mastery Builds Confidence (and Opportunity)

42:02 – Final Thoughts on Leadership & Listening

44:00 – Book Recommendations for Leaders & Families

46:52 – Locations, Catering, and What’s Next

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🔗 Connect with Sam Russell & The Buttered Biscuit 

🌐 https://thebutteredbiscuit.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebutteredbiscuit/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smjrussell/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

We explore the emotional weight of leadership, why trust is so hard to come by (and so valuable when you earn it), and how founders can create lasting impact through clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Whether you're a startup founder, scaling CEO, or just feeling the pressure of leading people and making payroll, this episode offers real-world insights for building a business that works—and a leadership style that earns trust.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Trust is Broken… So Now What?

01:15 – Ben’s Unusual Path: Counselor Turned CEO Coach

03:10 – How Therapy Training Enhances Coaching

05:00 – Coaching vs. Consulting: What’s the Difference?

07:00 – Finding Your Voice and Style as a Leader

09:15 – Trust Starts with Competence and Confidence

12:00 – Startup Scars and Founder Wisdom

15:00 – The Hidden Weight Founders Carry

17:30 – How to Build Trust Through Shared Perspective

20:00 – Teaching Your Kids (and Team) Compassion

22:30 – Clarity: The Antidote to Ambiguity

25:00 – When Emotion Shows Up in the Boardroom

28:00 – Knowing When to Lead with Space vs. Direction

30:00 – Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

33:00 – Coaching Leaders Through Conflict

36:00 – The Power of Preparing for Hard Conversations

39:00 – Layering EQ into Business Strategy

41:15 – Why Every Leader Needs to Script Hope

42:30 – Ben’s Top Book Picks for Leaders

44:00 – Why Building Trust Is Your Business Advantage

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🔗 Connect with Ben Cashion

🌐 https://www.cornerstoneco.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cashion-5703a5b8/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

From hiring the right people to maximizing the ROI of content, Bryan shares the mindsets and systems that make Go Rogue Studio thrive. 

If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or leader who wants to grow your influence while reclaiming your time, this conversation is for you.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Why empathy matters in content creation

 02:13 – Bryan’s origin story & Go Rogue Studio overview

 04:00 – Why video builds trust and connection faster

 06:20 – That one trade show moment that changed everything

 08:00 – Helping clients get comfortable on camera

 10:30 – How to think beyond the script: Serve the person, not the lens

 13:20 – From podcast to content engine: Why structure matters

 14:45 – Using content for onboarding, training & team clarity

 16:20 – Don’t just make content—maximize it

 18:00 – Cajun cooking, gumbo, and getting more from what you already have

 20:00 – Creating content with strategy, empathy, and the end in mind

 22:00 – Scaling the team: hiring for will, not just skill

 24:00 – The “Buy Back Your Time” mindset shift

 26:00 – Hiring mistakes, attitude over aptitude, and building culture

 30:00 – Coaching, winning moments, and chasing clarity

 34:00 – What if everything goes right? A mindset shift for leaders

 37:00 – People-first processes and strengths-based leadership

 40:00 – Clients as friends: the power of trust-driven business

 43:00 – Pricing conversations and value alignment

 48:00 – Final thoughts on trust, growth, and meaningful work

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🔗 Connect with Bryan Fittin

🌐 https://goroguestudio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fittin/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

Coach and leadership expert Bryan Yates joins The TrustBuilt Podcast to challenge the hustle mindset and explore what it really takes to build a self-sustaining business. Bryan unpacks the hidden leadership habits that cause burnout—and how to break free.

Whether you're looking to exit your business, build a stronger team, or stop white-knuckling your way through entrepreneurship, this episode offers clarity, courage, and practical tools to lead differently.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Why You’ll Never Exit Without Empowering Others

00:22 – Meet Bryan Yates: From Athlete to Leadership Coach

01:15 – Grit vs. Flow: Redefining What It Means to Push Through

04:46 – The Grind Trap: Why Business Owners Burn Out

08:35 – Building Mental Fitness to Push Past Resistance

13:41 – What Your Body Language Reveals About Your Mindset

15:39 – The Role of Self-Awareness in Great Leadership

22:13 – Motivation & Intentions: What Drives Your Actions?

30:33 – When It’s Time for a Team Member to Move On

32:16 – Clarity, Impact, and Why Your Vision Matters

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🔗 Connect with Bryan Yates

🌐 https://locomotivcoaching.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanyates/

📰 Sign up for Bryan's newsletter: Shift Happens

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

Justin Gallo of 360 Consulting joins the show to break down how to build sales systems that don’t just boost revenue they boost valuation. 

Whether you’re thinking about selling in 3 years or freeing up your time in 3 months, this conversation is packed with practical advice on reducing owner-dependency, increasing predictability, and building trust with your team and your buyers.

🚨 Spoiler alert: A fancy sales strategy doesn’t mean a thing if it only lives in your head.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – The Baseball Card Theory of Sales

01:05 – Meet Justin Gallo & the 360 Consulting Origin Story

02:15 – Why Most Sales Stories Fail (and How to Fix Yours)

05:35 – Why "Done-for-You" Sales Consulting Actually Works

08:10 – The Problem with One-Size-Fits-All Sales Strategies

10:20 – What Is a Fractional VP of Sales?

13:00 – Why Sales and Marketing Must Stop Competing

17:05 – The 4 Pillars of a Scalable Sales Operation

22:00 – How Clarity Creates Sales Momentum

26:30 – The Danger of Owner-Dependent Sales

30:00 – From Chaos to Predictability: Building Your Sales Dashboard

33:00 – Why Predictability = Freedom

36:00 – The Hidden Costs of Poor Discovery

39:15 – Qualifying Leads the Right Way

42:00 – Why Some Reps Struggle to Close (and How to Coach Them)

44:00 – How to Build a Sales Culture That Scales Without You

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🔗 Connect with Justin Gallo

✉️ justin@360consultingdfw.com

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

Whether you're in healthcare or just tired of doing everything yourself, this episode offers powerful lessons in delegation, emotional intelligence, and building a business that lasts.

📌 Subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast for more insights from top business leaders, exit strategists, and entrepreneurs who’ve built self-sustaining businesses. 

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Holly Skinner & Her Entrepreneurial Roots

01:00 – Spotting a Business Opportunity in Healthcare

02:30 – Bridging the Gap Between Care and Admin

05:00 – Starting the Business While Working Full-Time

06:30 – Quitting the Day Job: The Leap to Full-Time

08:00 – Building Confidence & Betting on Herself

09:30 – Growing Through Trust & Referrals

10:30 – COVID’s Surprising Role in Her Growth

11:00 – Building a Team With Complementary Skills

13:00 – Why She Hires for Fit, Not Just Credentials

15:00 – Navigating Obstacles with Emotional Intelligence

18:00 – Trust as a Foundation for Team and Client Success

21:00 – Separating Feedback from Personal Identity

24:00 – Embracing Authenticity Through a Rebrand

25:00 – Building Support for Clinicians Who Can’t Yet Afford Full Services

27:00 – What She’d Tell Herself Before Starting Out

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🔗 Connect with Holly

🌐 https://www.hollyskinner.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollygiblin/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

CFO Turner Tomlinson joins Alan Bennett to share how Carbon Chicken is turning poultry litter into a high-performing soil amendment that’s not just natural—it’s revolutionary. 

From startup stories to soil science, this episode is a must-watch for entrepreneurs and eco-innovators alike.

📌 Subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast for more insights from top business leaders, exit strategists, and entrepreneurs who’ve built self-sustaining businesses. 

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Meet Turner Tomlinson, CFO at Carbon Chicken

02:12 – What is Carbon Chicken and how does it work?

05:40 – What’s biochar and why it matters

08:33 – The problem with chicken litter

12:00 – Ancient origins: Terra Preta and Amazonian farming techniques

15:22 – Building the founding team and defining roles

19:15 – From spreadsheets to seed funding

23:00 – Trust, startup culture, and hiring philosophy

27:12 – Mindset, motivation, and perseverance in entrepreneurship

30:00 – Advice for aspiring founders

31:30 – Where to learn more about Carbon Chicken

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🔗 Connect with Turner & Carbon Chicken

🌐 https://carbonchicken.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnerjtomlinson/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

📌 Subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast for more insights from top business leaders, exit strategists, and entrepreneurs who’ve built self-sustaining businesses. 

Licensed Clinical Social Workers Beth and Stacey didn’t set out to become business owners—but when their careers intersected at a group practice, they discovered a shared vision for what therapy could be: compassionate, connected, and deeply human.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Beth & Stacey: From social work to entrepreneurship

02:00 – Why therapists aren’t taught to run a business

04:00 – Learning the hard way: Google, grit, and 2 AM calls

06:30 – Building a practice rooted in connection and culture

09:00 – Creating a clinic that feels safe—for clients and clinicians

11:00 – Trust, teamwork, and finding the right business partner

14:00 – Structuring the business for clarity and protection

17:00 – Boundaries, autonomy, and honoring the contractor model

20:00 – Work rhythms, admin systems, and burnout prevention

23:00 – Bringing holistic care back into the counseling center

26:00 – Self-awareness, therapy, and emotional sustainability

29:00 – Why social workers make scrappy, strategic business owners

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🔗 Connect with Beth & Stacey

🌐 https://www.creativenwa.com/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

📌 Subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast for more insights from top business leaders, exit strategists, and entrepreneurs who’ve built self-sustaining businesses. 

In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan Bennett sits down with Courtney, co-founder of Underbrush, a cozy and community-focused indie bookstore in Rogers, Arkansas. 

From launching her first business nine months out of college to creating a thriving space during a pandemic, Courtney shares her unconventional journey into entrepreneurship, the heart behind her business, and why passion and compassion—not just profit—drive long-term success.

⏱️Chapters

[02:20] – How Underbrush Bookstore began

[05:45] – Building community through books

[08:50] – The role of authenticity

[13:50] – Book clubs that welcome disagreement

[15:25] – Why Courtney chose entrepreneurship

[19:20] – Passion, resilience & hard days

[23:00] – Redefining retail as a third space

[27:05] – Competing with Amazon & evolving tech

[30:50] – Niching down for customer loyalty

[33:05] – Collaboration over competition

[36:25] – Real-world advice for new entrepreneurs

[39:15] – Sharing struggles builds community

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🔗 Connect with Courtney & Underbrush Books

🌐 https://underbrushbooks.com/

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-ulrich-smith-211683107/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan sits down with Gabe from Plainview Beef to unpack the business behind the beef. From launching a regenerative farming operation to building a vertically integrated brand, Gabe shares how Plainview was designed from day one with clarity, scalability, and trust at the center.

📌 Subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast for more insights from top business leaders, exit strategists, and entrepreneurs who’ve built self-sustaining businesses.

⏱️ Chapters

[00:00] – Intro & Gabe’s Unconventional Path to Ranching

[01:30] – From Global Ventures to U.S. Startup

[04:00] – Starting Plainview: Mission Meets Market Gap

[06:30] – Building a Transparent, Health-Driven Brand

[09:00] – What Makes Their Beef (and Business) Different

[11:30] – Using Tech & Data to Monitor Cattle Health

[14:00] – Regenerative Agriculture as a Strategic Edge

[16:00] – Branding, Marketing & Direct-to-Consumer Growth

[18:00] – Scaling the Right Way (Without Losing Integrity)

[21:00] – Building a Trust-Driven Team

[24:00] – Where to Buy + Final Thoughts on Purpose-Driven Business

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🔗 Connect with Gabe & Plainview Beef

🌐 https://www.plainviewbeef.com/

👉 https://www.instagram.com/plainviewbeef

👉 https://www.facebook.com/PLAINVIEW.BEEF.C0

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company? 

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan 

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

⏰ Chapters

[01:45] Learning by Doing: Investment, Renovation, and Self-Education

[04:20] Finding His Niche: Commercial Development with a Creative Twist

[06:30] Building Trust with Tenants and Partners

[10:30] When Compassion and the Math Clash

[13:15] Why Vision-Aligned Teams Win

[15:50] Casting Vision Without the Sales BS

[18:30] Growing a Business with Purpose

📌 Subscribe to The TrustBuilt Podcast if you're ready for more insights from top business leaders, exit strategists, and entrepreneurs who’ve built self-sustaining businesses.

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🔗 Connect with Cameron Clark

🌐 https://cjc-development.com/

💼 LinkedIn: Cameron Clark

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#businessgrowth #businesstipsforsmallbusinessowners #entrepreneurship #exitstrategies #businesstips #entrepreneur #smallbusiness

In this episode, host Alan Bennett sits down with Brad, a former pastor-turned-marketing strategist, to unpack the surprising overlap between ministry and business—and why clarity is the most underrated business advantage.

⏱️ Chapters:

[00:35] From Ministry to Marketing -Brad’s Story

[03:30] Why Character Still Wins in Business

[08:45] When Things Go Wrong: The Refund Story

[13:35] Why Clarity Always Wins

[17:00] Fixing the Real Problem in Your Sales Process

[22:30] Earning Trust Without Pitching

[27:00] Farming, Fishing & Hunting: Understanding Your Marketing Mix

[33:00] What to Do When You Attract the Wrong Clients

[36:00] Raising Prices Without Losing Loyalty

[45:00] The Messy Process of Getting Clear

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib

Brad’s Diagnostic Tool: “Clarity First Diagnostic” — reach out via https://clarityalwayswins.com/ 

✅ Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to:

👍 Like

🔔 Subscribe

💬 Drop a comment—what part hit home for you?

#TrustBuiltPodcast #MarketingClarity #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #StoryBrand #LeadershipDevelopment #ClarityAlwaysWins #SmallBusinessSupport

This episode is for you! 

In this episode, Alan sits down with Brad Alexander—former pastor turned marketing strategist—to explore what it really takes to build a business from scratch when your back's against the wall.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Brad’s First Hustle: The Mint Toothpick Story

00:26 – Meet Brad Alexander + How Entrepreneurship Found Him

03:00 – From Ministry to Marketing: A Risky Career Pivot

09:53 – Building a Business with No Safety Net

15:10 – The Deadline That Changed Everything

20:04 – Brad’s First Big Win (and What Made It Work)

25:17 – The Power of Mentorship and Community

29:10 – Innovation, Value, and Doing Work You Actually Like

34:35 – Real Talk: Misconceptions About Entrepreneurship

39:11 – What Brad Would Tell His Younger Self

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🔗 Connect with Brad Alexander

🌐 https://clarityalwayswins.com/

💼 LinkedIn: Brad Alexander

📧 Book a no-pressure clarity call via the site

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Connect With Alan

🌐 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/

In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with entrepreneur and leadership expert Stan Zylowski, co-founder of Movista.

We talk...

[00:00] Stan's Origin Story & Early Hustle

[20:00] Leadership, Feedback, and Company Culture

[38:00] Execution Over Ideas & Communicating Value

[44:00] Serial Entrepreneurship & Finding Your Role

[51:00] Final Lessons on Trust, Culture, and Growth

🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned:

Learn more about TrustBuilt and the TrustBuilt Podcast: https://trustbuilt.solutions/podcast

Take the Free Business Freedom Assessment: https://businessgrowth-alanbennett.scoreapp.com

Learn more about Movista: https://www.movista.com

#businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #businesstips

In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with entrepreneur Russ to talk about how business owners can finally break free from daily operational chaos.

We talk...

✅ What owner dependency looks like (and how to recognize it early)

✅ Why building trust in your team is non-negotiable for growth

✅ The hidden costs of being the bottleneck

✅ Real examples of delegation and scalable systems in action

✅ How business freedom leads to higher company value

✅ Transition planning tips for long-term success

Resources and Links Mentioned:

🔥 Download the FREE Guide:https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/resources

🎯 Learn More About TrustBuilt: https://trustbuilt.solutions

📖 Recommended Read: The 8 Key Drivers of Company Value (Available on request via TrustBuilt)

#businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #businesstips

In this episode of The TrustBuilt podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Jason Robinson, co-founder of IntegraTech, to discuss his journey from corporate IT to entrepreneurship.

He opens up about the challenges of running a service-based business, the importance of trust and relationships, and how he’s building a company culture that aligns with his values.

📌 Resources & Links Mentioned:

Jason Robinson’s Company: IntegraTech

Book: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

Learn more about Strength Assessments for Teams: Gallup StrengthsFinder

🔗 How to Connect with Jason:

Website: https://integritech.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinsonjas/

In this episode, we sit down with Roxanne Martino to discuss the power of hiring based on core values. Beyond technical skills, finding team members who align with your company’s mission and culture leads to stronger collaboration, better retention, and a thriving workplace. 

Key Topics Covered:

✅ The importance of hiring for values alignment, not just skills

✅ How to craft interview questions that reveal a candidate’s core values

✅ The role of trust and communication in workplace culture

✅ Practical strategies for fostering a positive, high-performing team

✅ The long-term benefits of prioritizing culture in business growth

📌 Resources & Links Mentioned:

Gallup StrengthsFinder – Discover and develop your team’s strengths

The Pros of Positive Work Culture – Related blog post on how culture impacts the bottom line

Building a Team That Embodies Your Values – Nurture email on hiring beyond the resume

Thinking Outside the Financial Box: Three Ways to Measure Success – Free resource for redefining business success

In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Cari Kaufman, founder of Storyteller Wordsmith, to unpack how storytelling, authenticity, and trust can transform a small business’s marketing strategy. 

👇 CHAPTERS:

 00:00 - Welcome & Introducing Cari Kaufman

 00:12 - The Story Behind "Storyteller Wordsmith"

 01:52 - What Is Copywriting (and Why It Matters)?

 03:00 - What Most Business Owners Miss About Marketing

 05:00 - Storytelling as Business Therapy

 07:04 - Why Connection to Your 'Why' Changes Everything

 10:22 - Helping Business Owners Overcome Fear

 13:25 - Defining a Unique Marketing Message

 16:00 - Building Custom Marketing Strategies

 18:52 - Compassion, Connection & Competency in Business

 21:00 - The Launch Phase: From Vision to Visibility

 23:20 - Why Analytics + Storytelling = Smart Marketing

 26:44 - Preventing Stagnation with Content Ecosystems

 30:20 - Understanding Business Owner Personality Types

 33:20 - Building Trust Across Styles (Visionaries vs. Analysts)

 37:50 - When Cari Says "No" (and Why That Builds Trust)

 41:40 - How Cari Defines a "Touchdown" Win

 44:50 - Final Takeaway: Great Marketing Honors Your Story

✅ Connect with Cari Kaufman:

 Website: https://storytellerwordsmith.com

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carikaufman

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ Entrepreneurship is a mindset, not just a business model. 

✅ You don’t need a perfect plan—just the courage to start. .

✅ Your business should solve a real problem. 

✅ Scaling a small business requires innovation. 

✅ Great businesses don’t just serve customers; they build communities. 

✅ Authenticity builds trust. 

✅ A business must evolve to survive. 

Resources & Links Mentioned:

📌 Hillfolk (https://hillfolk.com/) – Bea’s craft store and creative community

 📌 Hillfolk Craft Kits at Walmart (Launching soon!)

 📌 The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni – A must-read on hiring the right people

 📌 The E-Myth by Michael Gerber – Understanding why small businesses fail and how to build a scalable system

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, John Shrewsbury, co-founder of Gen Wealth Financial Advisors, shares his journey from working out of the trunk of his car to building a financial firm managing nearly $1 billion in assets.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ Vision isn’t optional.

✅ The businesses that fail aren’t the ones with bad ideas.

✅ Small, strategic changes (not massive reinvention) drive lasting success. 

✅ Hiring the right team is the secret to scaling. 

✅ Change isn’t just necessary—it’s survival. 

✅ Leading a business means balancing vision and execution. 

✅ The best advice John ever received: "Sometimes you have to go slow to go fast." 

Resources & Links Mentioned:

📌 Gen Wealth Financial Advisors

 📌 The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni

 📌 The E-Myth by Michael Gerber

🎧 Subscribe to never miss an episode!

If you’re a banking professional, entrepreneur, or business owner looking to scale effectively, this episode is packed with real-world strategies on leadership, problem-solving, and process improvement.

Key Topics Covered:

✅ How Amy transitioned from a banking executive to a successful entrepreneur.

✅ The challenges banks face with mergers & acquisitions and efficiency.

✅ Why community banks struggle with operations—and how to fix it.

✅ The power of mentorship and how accountability groups shape business growth.

✅ Lessons learned from taking risks and betting on yourself.

✅ How data science is changing the way banks operate.

✅ The importance of core values, flexibility, and workplace culture.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

🌐 Bank Strategic Solutions Website: https://bankstrategic.com/

💼 Connect with Amy Pierce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-pierce-gnaadvisors/

Key Topics Covered:

✅ How football prepared Brett for the challenges of business ownership.

✅ The importance of mindset in overcoming setbacks.

✅ Why entrepreneurs must learn to block out negativity and keep moving forward.

✅ The power of mentorship and accountability in building a business.

✅ How to create a positive team culture and develop strong leadership skills.

✅ The reality of taking the leap into entrepreneurship—and why Brett wishes he had done it sooner.

✅ How innovation and adaptability keep businesses relevant.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

🏈 Follow Brett Goode’s Business Journey: https://www.mosquitosquad.com/north-west-arkansas/

📢 Connect with Brett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-goode-a37bb569/]

📖 Recommended Reads on Leadership & Mindset:

📖 The Score Takes Care of Itself – Bill Walsh

(Lessons from an NFL coach on leadership, building a winning culture, and staying focused on the long game.)

📖 Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

(How taking full responsibility for your team and decisions leads to lasting success in business and leadership.)

Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days in the Army to creating innovative business solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This episode is packed with wisdom on risk-taking, self-discipline, and building a business that thrives in challenging markets.

Scott’s journey highlights the importance of adaptability, self-awareness, and leveraging unique skills to create a thriving business.

His candid recounting of setbacks and triumphs offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in competitive markets.

Michael shares how his company addresses the critical shortage of anesthesia providers in rural and urban healthcare, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and his vision for innovation in healthcare staffing.

Key Topics Covered:

• Michael’s career path from CRNA to entrepreneur.
• The origins of CRNA Locum Jobs and its role in healthcare staffing.
• Challenges of transitioning from employee to business owner.
• The critical demand for CRNAs and its impact on rural healthcare.
• How company culture and values drive success.
• Insights on adapting to change and fostering innovation in healthcare.

Jonathan shares his journey from healthcare to entrepreneurship, his pioneering work in precision farming, and how drones are transforming the agricultural industry with safer, more sustainable practices.

How to Connect with Jonathan Cottingham and Southern Drone Ops:

Website: SouthernDroneOps.com (Contact form and resources available)

YouTube: @SouthernDroneOps

Facebook: Southern Drone Ops

Instagram & TikTok: Search for "Southern Drone Ops" to see videos and updates.

• The Power of Delegation: Learn how Jason overcame the challenge of letting go of control to focus on the big picture.

• The Role of Mentorship: Why having mentors who push you out of your comfort zone is essential for personal and professional growth.

• Innovating for the Future: Insights into how Jason approaches internal and external innovation to keep his businesses competitive.

Website: JasonGarvin.com 

Threads: @JasonAGarvin

LinkedIn: Jason A. Garvin