Fault Lines

In this episode, we sit down with Gal Borenstein, founder of The Borenstein Group, to unpack how trust, vulnerability, and deep industry knowledge shape successful marketing in the age of AI.
Gal shares how he built a top B2B branding agency from the ground up, why “making creativity a science” has guided his work for nearly 30 years, and how the best client relationships are built through discovery, alignment, and mutual respect.
Richard and Gal also explore the real role of AI in marketing, the difference between hype and long-term value, and why human judgment still matters more than ever. Why this works: it taps into the listener’s desire for practical insight and authority by promising a strong point of view on trust, AI, and business growth.
This conversation is especially valuable for founders, marketers, and business leaders who want to understand how to create meaningful connections, avoid vanity metrics, and build systems that produce repeatable, predictable outcomes.
Whether you’re navigating branding, B2B marketing, or the changing landscape of AI, this episode offers a thoughtful roadmap for staying relevant while staying human.
 

We sit down with Genevieve Pitturo, founder of Pajama Program, now Beyond Bedtime, to explore how self-trust, compassion, and purposeful leadership can transform lives. Genevieve shares the powerful moment that pulled her away from a fast-moving corporate career and into a mission centered on children’s well-being, emotional care, and bedtime security.
Richard and Genevieve talk about the surprising question from a six-year-old that helped shape her life’s work, the early uncertainty of leaving a successful career, and how she built trust with donors, volunteers, partners, and the children her organization serves. Genevieve also shares practical insights on leading with love, rebuilding trust in teams, and creating cultures rooted in connection rather than control.
If you’re interested in leadership, nonprofit growth, trust-building, purpose-driven work, or personal transformation, this conversation offers heartfelt lessons and real-world wisdom you can apply right away.
Listen in to hear how one act of care became a movement, why leading with love matters more than ever, and how trust begins with listening to the heart voice.

After a brief summer hiatus, Richard Roman sits down with Alex Amorosi to explore the deep connection between trust, intuition, and personal transformation. Alex shares how a winding path through yoga, Reiki, energy healing, intuitive work, and astrology led him to The Subtle Universe, a practice centered on helping people understand their own nature more clearly.
Together, they unpack what it means to be highly sensitive, how to recognize and protect your energetic boundaries, and why self-trust is often the first step toward real healing. Alex also explains how astrology can serve as a roadmap for navigating life transitions, not as a prediction of fate, but as a guide to tendencies, cycles, and the deeper patterns shaping our lives.
From learning to read the “feeling tone” of a room to helping clients find the modality that speaks to them most, this conversation offers a grounded and compassionate look at intuition, emotional awareness, and the courage it takes to listen to yourself. If you’ve ever felt called to explore your sensitivity, your purpose, or the next chapter of your life, this episode will meet you right where you are.
Listen in for a thoughtful conversation about intuition, energy healing, astrology, self-trust, and the power of honoring who you truly are.

In this personal solo episode, host Richard Roman steps away from the interview format to share the story behind the podcast and the lived experiences that shaped its mission. From growing up as a queer kid in Southern Virginia to working inside higher education, policy, and institutional leadership, Richard reflects on how trust is built, broken, and rebuilt in real life.
This episode explores the core questions driving the show:
Why do people lose faith in institutions?
What does it take to repair trust after betrayal?
How do leaders, communities, and individuals create spaces where trust can actually grow?
Richard also shares the five biggest lessons he’s learned so far from conversations with guests across education, politics, business, and advocacy:
Trust is a muscle.
Authenticity matters more than performative statements.
Trust looks different from the margins.
Control can get in the way of connection.
Self-trust is the first trust of all.
As the podcast enters a new chapter, Richard opens up about what’s staying the same, what’s evolving, and how this work is becoming a platform for bigger conversations, deeper reflection, and community dialogue.
If you care about leadership, institutional change, and the human side of trust, this episode offers a compelling mix of insight, vulnerability, and vision for what comes next.

In this episode, Richard Roman sits down with Jo Newell, founder and CEO of Monday Strategies, for a powerful conversation about trust, leadership, representation, and communication. Jo shares how she built her career across nonprofit, startup, and corporate spaces, what it means to lead with integrity, and why trust is never static. Trust must be earned, protected, and rebuilt every day.
Together, they unpack the real meaning of executive presence, the pressure of being “the first,” and the challenge of navigating imposter syndrome in leadership. Jo also explains how mentors and sponsors can shape a career, why communication is at the heart of every strong team, and how speaking with authenticity can build trust in any room.
If you care about courageous leadership, workplace culture, public speaking, or the future of inclusive leadership, this conversation offers practical insight and honest reflection.
Tune in for a masterclass in showing up with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Keywords: trust and leadership, executive presence, imposter syndrome, inclusive leadership, communication skills, workplace culture, women in leadership, public speaking, leadership development
 

We sit down with Kyle Hagge, Chief of Staff to the CEO at Morning Brew Inc., to explore how one of the most influential modern media brands builds trust, loyalty, and engagement at scale. Kyle shares his perspective on the evolution of Morning Brew, why consistency and transparency are essential to audience trust, and how the company balances human creativity with the rise of AI-generated content.
We also dig into the difference between audience and community, what young professionals often misunderstand about career growth, and why learning to focus on the highest-leverage work can transform your career trajectory. Kyle reflects on lessons from his time at Morning Brew, his work in civic media with Bridge the City, and why local news and community engagement still matter more than ever.
If you’re interested in digital media, audience building, leadership, AI in content creation, or career development, this conversation is full of practical insights and big-picture thinking.
Listen now to learn how trust, clarity, and intentionality shape the future of media and professional growth.
Keywords: Morning Brew, digital media, audience growth, community building, AI in media, trust in journalism, career growth, leadership, business news, local news, content strategy

Unlock the secret to transforming your organization through trust and leadership in this eye-opening episode with Michelle Magnetti, founder of Magneaux and wellness podcast co-host. She reveals how trust is the linchpin in recruitment, team engagement, and company culture; she shares practical strategies to rebuild and leverage trust in today's evolving workplace landscape.
Delving into her impressive 20-year background in talent acquisition and HR, Michelle highlights how recent shifts, like AI automation, remote work, and hybrid models, are reshaping how organizations attract, engage, and retain top talent. Learn why traditional hiring tactics no longer suffice and discover innovative approaches that prioritize authenticity, soft skills, and human connection instead of just resumes and keywords.
You’ll discover:
How the pandemic humanized workplace relationships, making vulnerability and authenticity essential for trust-building
The critical role of transparent communication during organizational changes and layoffs
Why nurturing leadership that’s adaptable, collaborative, and emotionally intelligent creates a resilient, high-trust culture
How to balance recruitment automation with a human-centered approach, maintaining genuine relationships with candidates and employees
The importance of personal branding and authenticity on platforms like LinkedIn for job seekers and leaders alike
Whether you’re a recruiter, HR leader, CEO, or just navigating career growth, missing out on these insights could cost you top talent, employee engagement, and organizational success. Michelle emphasizes that trust isn’t a one-time fix; instead, it’s an ongoing commitment rooted in openness, consistency, and genuine care. For anyone eager to foster a workplace where trust drives performance and happiness, this episode offers the blueprint to lead with authenticity and transform your organizational culture.
Perfect for leaders committed to humane, strategic growth or HR professionals seeking to modernize their talent strategies, this conversation is your guide to navigating the new era of trust in organizations. Dive in to gain tangible frameworks and mindset shifts that will elevate your leadership and your team’s potential.
Michelle Magnetti is the founder of Magneaux, an expert in innovative talent acquisition and organizational trust. With her rich background in HR, she helps companies implement human-centered, scalable hiring frameworks that build lasting trust and engagement. Her insights are shaped by real-world experience across high-stakes government and corporate environments, making this a must-listen for forward-thinking leaders ready to embrace change.
Don’t miss out on this essential episode. Transform your approach to trust, leadership, and talent today.
 

Richard Roman sits down with higher education leader and accreditation expert Dr. Laurie Shanderson, Founder of Accreditation Insights, to unpack one of the most misunderstood forces shaping colleges and universities today: accreditation. From the Trump administration’s latest executive order targeting accreditors to the future of quality assurance, institutional trust, and student protection, this conversation explores why accreditation matters far beyond bureaucracy.
Dr. Shanderson explains how accreditation works, why it can be a powerful tool for improvement, and how institutions can use data, transparency, and leadership to strengthen trust with students and the public.
They also discuss the future of higher education in a changing political landscape, the rise of online and for-profit programs, the role of innovation in accreditation, and what students should really look for when evaluating a degree.
If you are interested in higher education, leadership, public trust, or the future of learning, this episode offers a sharp, timely look at what quality really means.
Listen now to hear how accreditation, accountability, and trust intersect in higher education, and why the conversation matters more than ever.
 

In this episode, we focus once more on higher education policy. Ben Cecil of Third Way shares his perspective about accountability in higher education, public trust in colleges, student success, and the future impact of federal student aid. Ben explains why transparency, completion rates, and return on investment matter more than ever as institutions face growing pressure to prove their value to students, families, and taxpayers.
We explore core higher ed topics including Title IV funding, Pell Grant expansion, student debt, affordability, equity gaps, first-generation student support, and the challenge of helping students not just enroll, but graduate. Ben also shares why colleges should focus less on prestige and more on outcomes that improve economic mobility and long-term student success.
If you are interested in higher education reform, college affordability, student outcomes, education policy, or how institutions can rebuild public confidence, this episode offers a thoughtful and data-driven conversation about what needs to change in higher ed.

We sit down with Dr. Bridget Burns to explore how higher education can better serve students by redesigning institutions around trust, collaboration, and real outcomes. Bridget shares the personal experiences that shaped her commitment to higher ed, from growing up in rural Montana to discovering the transformative power of college and student leadership.
She explains how the University Innovation Alliance has helped increase low-income graduates by 43% and graduates of color by 100%, and why those gains came from building a high-trust network of campuses willing to learn from one another. The conversation also dives into predictive analytics, student success, public trust in higher ed, and why career readiness must start in the classroom, not at graduation.
If you care at all about the future of higher education, student mobility, and the leadership needed to create lasting change, this episode offers a thoughtful and practical look at what it really takes to move the sector forward.