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

When trust becomes your foundation, your business can weather anything — markets shift, teams evolve, and leadership transitions.

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

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/

What happens when you trade corporate comfort for entrepreneurial chaos?

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/

What happens when trust becomes the through-line of everything you build—your team, your brand, and your business partnerships?

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

What does it take to move from carrying your business alone… to building a team that’s engaged, trusted, and thriving?

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.
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• 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

What if your employees didn’t just “do their job”… but felt empowered to lead, make decisions, and act in the company’s best interest without waiting to be told?

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