What happens when a once-thriving company culture starts to slip?

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.

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/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Danielle Keller, owner and Editor-in-Chief of Peekaboo Magazine and co-host of the People of Northwest Arkansas Podcast.

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/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan Bennett sits down with Alex Andrews, Co-Owner of Storyteller Wordsmith and Founder of Change Creative Co., to talk about the courage it takes to create something new — even when you’re nervous. Alex shares her journey from designer and implementer to visionary entrepreneur, building a business that helps nonprofits tell their stories and connect through compassion and trust.

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.

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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