Fault Lines

Most people don’t realize how private industry, privatization, and government failures intertwine to sustain systems that trap and profit from vulnerable communities. Anne Kim, renowned journalist and policy expert, exposes the shocking networks fueling America’s ongoing poverty crisis, and how transparency and systemic change could restore trust and equity.
In this compelling conversation, you’ll uncover how a complex web of private contractors, from tax preparers to dialysis providers and criminal justice companies, exploits systemic weaknesses, often operating invisibly in plain sight.
Anne shares eye-opening insights from her book Poverty for Profit, revealing industry-by-industry breakdowns: how for-profit firms profit from low-income tax credit skimming, prison privatization, and even the administration of public health programs like Medicaid. You’ll learn why these industries flourish in a landscape plagued by systemic distrust, political manipulation, and laws designed to outsource rather than improve public services.
You'll also discover the historical roots of America’s suspicion of poverty (fueled by ingrained cultural myths of worthiness and self-made success) and how these beliefs have shaped policies that systematically stigmatize and marginalize vulnerable populations.
The episode dives into how privatization, starting from Reagan’s era and culminating in recent welfare reform, has hollowed out government capacity, which turned essential services into profit centers that often prioritize their own interests over the public good.
This isn’t just about exposing corruption; instead, Anne argues that dismantling these harmful systems requires restoring trust through competent, transparent governance and a moral reckoning with who benefits from poverty’s persistence.
She offers practical advice: fostering empathy, engaging locally, and holding leaders accountable are vital steps for anyone eager to contribute to a more equitable America. If you're concerned about the future of social safety nets, or want to understand how vested interests influence policies that impact millions, this episode is essential listening.
Anne Kim is a journalist, lawyer, and senior editor at Washington Monthly Magazine, known for her investigative reporting into systemic inequality and the privatization of public services. Her work has shed light on how entrenched industries benefit from a broken system, and how informed citizens can push for reforms rooted in fairness and accountability.
Perfect for policymakers, activists, educators, or anyone hungry for a deeper understanding of the forces shaping America’s social safety nets, and eager to explore real paths toward rebuilding trust and opportunity for all.

Bernadette Marciniak shares how a background in journalism, photography, and videography shaped her approach to storytelling, trust, and leadership.
From growing up in a family of Polish immigrants to building Solhaus Media in Los Angeles, Bernadette explains how visual storytelling can do more than create beautiful content; it can also help nonprofits, social impact organizations, and small businesses connect with audiences in a more honest and meaningful way.
We dive into the role of vulnerability in rebuilding trust, why storytelling matters in a time of misinformation and over-saturation, and how creative work can repair systems that no longer serve people well.
Bernadette also discusses her work with survivors of gender-based violence, food insecurity nonprofits, and mission-driven brands that need both strategy and visuals to move their message forward.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in journalism, nonprofit marketing, brand storytelling, creative entrepreneurship, and the future of trust in media.  Bernadette’s perspective is thoughtful, practical, and human, a necessary reminder that stories can do more than just inform. They can create change.
Listen now to hear how Solhaus Media helps organizations turn authentic storytelling into impact.

In this powerful episode, Michelle Thielen shares the remarkable story behind Yoga Faith and the lessons she learned through entrepreneurship, betrayal, forgiveness, discernment, and rebuilding trust. From a life-altering business setback to a deeply personal leadership crisis, Michelle opens up about how faith, resilience, and embodied practice helped her move forward and create a mission-driven organization rooted in purpose.
We explore the origins of Yoga Faith, why Christian spirituality and yoga can coexist, and how posture, breath, and trauma-informed movement can support healing. Michelle also shares how her work with trafficking survivors shaped her approach to trust, leadership, and community care, and why she believes healing begins with looking inward and leading by example.
If you’re interested in faith-based leadership, healing after betrayal, trauma-informed wellness, Christian yoga, entrepreneurship, or building trust in community, this conversation offers both encouragement and insight.
Listen to hear:
How Michelle turned hardship into purpose
Why discernment matters in leadership and relationships
The role of forgiveness in rebuilding trust
How Yoga Faith blends scripture, prayer, and movement
Why embodied healing matters for trauma survivors
Tune in for an honest, hopeful conversation about resilience, calling, and the power of trusting your path

In this thoughtful conversation, Richard Roman sits down with his former English professor, Shannon Gayk, to explore how medieval literature and environmental writing can speak powerfully to the climate crises of the present.
Professor Gayk is the author of Apocalyptic Ecologies. She reflects on the ways apocalyptic stories, biblical retellings, and ethical traditions from the Middle Ages offer surprising insight into how we live, grieve, care, and remain attentive in fragile times.
From the Black Death and the Little Ice Age to modern climate emergency, this episode draws striking parallels between historical catastrophe and today’s environmental uncertainty. We discuss themes of trust, deep attention, embodied care, and “making odd kin” in moments of crisis, as well as why staying with the trouble may be more meaningful than trying to escape it.
We also talk about the power of walking in nature, the importance of presence, and how ancient texts can help us reimagine responsibility toward both human and more-than-human life.
If you’re interested in climate humanities, medieval studies, religion, literature, or the ethics of care, this conversation offers a rich and moving perspective.

In this episode, we sit down with Sonia Baschez, an early-stage startup marketer and fractional CMO at Yapping as a Service (YAAS), to unpack why the best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing at all; instead, it feels like a story people want to follow. Sonia shares how her path from immigration law and architecture firms to political campaigns and startup growth shaped her approach to communication, trust, and action-driven storytelling.
We dive into the rise of “forensic fandom,” the power of building in public, and why brands that understand culture can create stronger emotional connections with their audiences.
Sonia also breaks down what separates cringe trend-hopping from smart, authentic brand participation, using examples from Nike, Wendy’s, Taylor Swift, and major viral moments in pop culture and politics.
If you’re a founder, marketer, creator, or anyone trying to turn attention into trust, this conversation is packed with practical insight on how to make your message clear, compelling, and impossible to ignore.

In this thought-provoking episode, Richard speaks with Dr. Kevin McClure about the realities of burnout, trust, and organizational care in higher education.
Drawing from his research, his book The Caring University, and years of interviewing higher ed professionals, Dr. McClure explains why so many faculty and staff feel stretched thin, and why the solution can’t just be “better individual time management.”
Instead, the conversation explores how institutions can create healthier, more sustainable workplaces by rethinking systems, leadership, employee voice, compensation, hybrid work, and the gap between stated values and lived experience.
They also unpack how the pandemic accelerated long-running issues in higher education, why trust is the foundation of healthy organizations, and what it really means for universities to act with integrity.
If you care about higher ed leadership, workplace culture, employee wellbeing, or the future of trust in organizations, this episode offers a practical and profound human perspective on what change could look like and where it’s already happening.

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.