Trust—it’s a five-letter word that makes the world go 'round. In this episode, JVN sits down with Rachel Botsman, a leading expert on trust in the modern world, to explore the role trust plays in our relationships, decisions, and even society at large. Together, they dive into why trust isn’t just a feeling but a belief, how impulsivity and unmet expectations erode it, and how to rebuild trust with ourselves and others after it’s been broken. They unpack why “trust is a confident relationship with the unknown,” how learning to navigate uncertainty strengthens our self-trust, and the practical ways to foster trust through small, consistent actions. 

Rachel Botsman is a leading expert on trust in the modern world. She has authored three highly acclaimed books—What's Mine is Yours, Who Can You Trust?, and out now, How to Trust and Be Trusted. A sought-after speaker, her TED talks have amassed over five million views. Rachel teaches at Oxford University's Saïd Business School, where she created pioneering courses on trust in the digital age. Her writings have been widely published in the media including the Financial Times, The New York Times, Guardian, Harvard Business Review, and Wired.  She also engages with over 85,000 subscribers through her weekly Rethink newsletter. Rachel has been globally recognized with awards for her pioneering work, including the Women of the Year, British Podcast Awards, Thinkers50, Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business, and named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

You can find Rachel on Instagram @rachelbotsman and on her website www.rachelbotsman.com.

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Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.

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Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.

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