The TrustMakers

Cultural commentator and creator Blakely Thornton joins Edelman's Brooks Miller from Cannes Lions for a no-filter conversation on the evolution of influence and why consistency, humor, and honesty are his non-negotiables. Known for his Met Gala interviews and sharp takes on brand campaigns, Blakely shares how he carved out a trusted voice in a crowded … Continue reading "Creator Blakely Thornton on Becoming the Internet's Favorite Truth Teller"

 Microsoft Consumer CMO Yusuf Mehdi and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles join Edelman's Smita Reddy from Cannes Lions to discuss how AI, authenticity, and Gen Z are reshaping brand trust. From product innovation to personal expression, they look at what it means to build influence around shared values and vibrant communities, and discuss differentiation at a … Continue reading "Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi & Olympian Jordan Chiles on Proving Authenticity in the Age of AI"

A.G. Sulzberger, Publisher of The New York Times, joins Richard Edelman at Cannes Lions for a conversation on the role of journalism in rebuilding trust. They discuss the global rise of misinformation, the decline of local news, and why independent reporting remains essential to democracy. A.G. reflects on how The Times is adapting to new … Continue reading "The New York Times' A.G. Sulzberger on the New Playbook for Modern Journalism"

Louise McEwen, CMO of McLaren Racing, joins Edelman's Jackie Cooper at Cannes Lions to discuss how her brand builds emotional connection with fans, drives cultural relevance, and balances heritage with innovation. She reflects on the importance of instilling trust through inclusive experiences and a fan-first mindset, while always honoring the brand's racing legacy.

Doug Martin, CMO of General Mills, joins Edelman's Amanda Edelman to discuss how brands can stay personal in a fragmented digital world. He shares how General Mills is shifting from mass messaging to individualized experiences and using data and empathy to meet consumers where they're at, especially in everyday moments like dinnertime. Doug emphasizes the … Continue reading "General Mills' Doug Martin on Human-Centered Brand Strategy "

Marcela “Mele” Melero, Chief Growth Officer of Dove Personal Care North America and Dove Masterbrand, joins Edelman's Smita Reddy to explore the ways brands can stay relevant in the modern age. Mele discusses how Dove is shifting power from the brand to the people by widening the definition of beauty and adapting to societal shifts, … Continue reading "Dove's Marcela Melero on Building a Brand People Believe In "

Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, joins Edelman's Justin Blake to explore the urgent challenges facing independent journalism in today's volatile information landscape. From the rise of autocracies to the flood of online misinformation and the rapid evolution of AI, Antonio discusses how media organizations can uphold integrity, adapt to disruption, and cut … Continue reading "Thomson Reuters Foundation's Antonio Zappulla on Threats Facing Journalists"

Karthik Ramanna, Professor of Business & Public Policy at University of Oxford Blavatnik School of Government, sits down with Edelman's Satyen Dayal to talk about his latest book, ‘The Age of Outrage', and how business leaders can build trust amid an era of global societal grievance.  “You build trust by actually being able to do … Continue reading "Oxford Professor Karthik Ramanna on ‘The Age of Outrage'"

Angela Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, joins Edelman's Alex Heath for a conversation on how nonprofits can be successful in today's environment and the power of partnerships. “Trust is key, partnership is currency,” says Angela.

Amy Webb, CEO of Future Today Strategy Group, sits down with Edelman's Brooks Miller to talk about her work as a quantitative futurist, the biggest threats facing institutions today, and how businesses and brands can improve their strategic foresight. “We all have agency…The future is not pre-determined and that is a good thing because it means … Continue reading "Futurist Amy Webb on Why We Need to Stop Fearing the Future"

Live from SXSW, this special episode of The TrustMakers features Mindy Barry, Global Vice President, Marketing – Mars Pet Nutrition, SHEBA® Brand, on how the popular cat food brand is turning purpose into action. Just announced, the “Reef Builders” documentary, presented by SHEBA, spotlights the inspiring stories of the people behind the Sheba Hope Grows™ program – part of one … Continue reading "Mindy Barry of Mars Pet Nutrition on Redefining Brand Purpose and Reef Restoration "

Edelman's Smita Reddy is joined by Roxy Young, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at Reddit for a conversation about what makes Reddit a trusted source of information for so many and how brands can effectively leverage the platform to reach their consumers. “Reddit is the most human place on the internet,” Roxy says. 

Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, hosts Jim VandeHei, CEO and C-Founder of Axios, and interviews him about his book, ‘Just the Good Stuff' and how the media and business leaders can build trust.  First aired in May 2024.

By 2027, most Americans will have a younger boss, yet businesses remain fixated on youth. In this episode, Chip Conley—hospitality entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of the Modern Elder Academy—joins Jackie Cooper, Global Chief Brand Officer at Edelman, to challenge outdated perceptions of aging. They discuss the power of experience in leadership, why brands must … Continue reading "The Modern Elder Academy's Chip Conley on Why Age is an Asset "

Kate Ryder, Founder and CEO of Maven, sits down with Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum. Kate talks about her first experience at Davos this week, why she founded Maven Clinic, and how transparency and clarity in health care can build trust. … Continue reading "Davos Special Part 3: Maven's Kate Ryder on Innovating Women's and Family Health"

Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999-2008, sits down with Kirsty Graham, Edelman's U.S. CEO, at the 25th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They discuss the on-the-ground reactions to President Donald Trump's inauguration, how the Covid pandemic impacted trust in institutions and information, and what … Continue reading "Davos Special Part 2: Fmr. New Zealand PM Helen Clark on How Inclusive Policies Can Help Address Grievance"

Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, CEO Editor at Semafor, sits down with Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Andrew, who has attended meetings since 2007, gives tips for navigating Davos and shares what's top of mind for business leaders at this year's meeting. … Continue reading "Davos Special Part 1: Semafor's Andrew Edgecliffe Johnson on what's on CEOs' minds at WEF"

Nora Denzel and David Kenny, former executives and current leaders of the boards of AMD and Best Buy, respectively, join Sat Dayal, Managing Director of Technology at Edelman, for a conversation on how boards can establish and develop tech oversight. The pair co-chaired the NACD's 2024 Blue Ribbon Commission on the topic. Nora and David discuss … Continue reading "Board Leaders on How to Strengthen Technology Oversight"

David Simas, the Managing Director of Research and Impact at Emerson Collective, joins Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, to discuss takeaways from the U.S. presidential elections and other elections around the world for all brand, business, and media leaders. They cover the forces at play in this year's elections, determining the … Continue reading "Research Director on 2024 Elections' Lessons in Messaging"

Dr. Marcus Collins, a clinical assistant professor of marketing at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and author of “For the Culture,” explains to Brooks Miller, Executive Vice President of Influencer Marketing at Edelman, why “vibes” helped former President Donald Trump win the 2024 U.S. presidential election. “We make decisions based off of … Continue reading "Culture Expert Explains Why Vibes Determined the U.S. Presidential Election"

Lynn Walsh, Assistant Director of Trusting News, talks with Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, about the state of trust in the media during the 2024 U.S. election cycle. She lays out how journalists can build trust through transparency, engagement, and humility and how national media organizations should focus on providing people … Continue reading "Building Trust in Election Coverage by Prioritizing the Citizens' Agenda"

In the first episode of The TrustMakers' 2024 U.S. election series, Joe Vogel, a member of Maryland's House of Delegates, talks with Amanda Edelman, COO of Edelman's Gen Z Lab, about young voters' views of government. As a member of Gen Z himself, Delegate Vogel has perspective on what matters most to America's youngest voting … Continue reading "Gen Z Politician on What's Motivating the Youngest Voters  "

Kristin Lord, CEO of IREX, and Alex Heath, Edelman's U.S. Head of Social Impact and Sustainability, discuss how global NGOs can build trust in society from the ground up by partnering with local non-profit organizations, building personal relationships, and reminding people what they have in common with one another. “You need to bring all the … Continue reading "CEO of global development NGO on grassroots trust-building"

Roy Bahat, Head of Bloomberg Beta, joins Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute to talk about why he thinks employers are the most trusted institution, based on data from the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust at Work, and how workplaces can responsibly integrate AI. “If we want an accelerated pace … Continue reading "Bloomberg Beta's Roy Bahat on Responsible AI in the Workplace  "

Almar Latour, publisher of the Wall Street Journal and CEO of Dow Jones, joins Edelman CEO Richard Edelman to discuss the release of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich who was wrongly imprisoned in Russia, the WSJ's business model, and his hopeful vision for the media writ large. “It's a great time for new ideas, to test new … Continue reading "Dow Jones' CEO Almar Latour on How Media Can Evolve to Earn Trust "

ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos sat down with Edelman CEO Richard Edelman to give a behind-the-scenes look at presidents' crises that are featured in his book, “The Situation Room.” They also discuss the evolution of media and journalists' role defending the truth, especially in this U.S. presidential election year.

The ACLU's Deputy Legal Director and Director of The Trone Center for Justice and Equality, Yasmin Cader, speaks with Edelman's Global Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer, Trisch Smith, about the latest Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Business and Racial Justice in America. Yasmin and Trisch talk about the ACLU's history and work, how to … Continue reading "ACLU's Yasmin Cader on leading with clarity amid attacks on DE&I  "

After protests and resignations at prominent universities across the U.S. last semester, all eyes are on campuses at the start of this new school year. Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier sits down with Edelman CEO Richard Edelman to discuss the importance of defining a university's values when balancing freedom of speech with safety on campus, as … Continue reading "Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier on Addressing Polarization On and Beyond Campus"

At this year's Cannes Lions Festival for Creativity, multi-national logistics company DP World won a Titanium Lion for “The Move to Minus 15,” produced in partnership with Edelman. Daniel Van Otterdijk, DP World's Group Chief Communications Officer, joins Jackie Cooper, Edelman's Chief Brand Officer, for a behind-the-scenes look at the campaign and how it helps build … Continue reading "DP World's Daniel Van Otterdijk on Forming Industry Coalitions to Accelerate Decarbonization"

To close out The TrustMakers' series on the ground at the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Scott Galloway, professor of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business and podcast host, sits down for a conversation with Edelman CEO Richard Edelman. Richard gets Scott's reactions to the new 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: … Continue reading "Professor Scott Galloway: Brands Must ‘Act Up, Not Speak Up'"

The TrustMakers is continuing our series of episodes from on-the-ground at the Cannes Lions International Festival for Creativity. Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry are hosts of “The Colin and Samir Show,” a YouTube show and podcast that breaks down the latest in the creator economy from the perspective of creators. They sit down with Edelman's … Continue reading "Creators Colin & Samir on What It Takes to Run a Creator Business"

The TrustMakers is on the ground at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival for Creativity to talk with guests about what they're up to at the festival and get their reactions to the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report on brands and politics. Astead Herndon, National Politics Reporter at the New York Times, sits down … Continue reading "New York Times' Astead Herndon on the New Political Landscape for Brands"

GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis joins Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, to discuss how businesses should engage on LGBTQ+ rights issues, the state of LGBTQ+ representation in the media, and GLAAD's evolution as an advocacy organization. “We go where culture is created to be an agent for change,” Ellis says.  If … Continue reading "GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis on Being an Agent for Change"

Axios Co-Founder and CEO Jim VandeHei joins Edelman CEO Richard Edelman for a conversation about his new book, “Just the Good Stuff,” and the state of trust in the media and business leaders. “People who run companies have a real obligation to understand that people are trusting corporate and business leadership more than ever – … Continue reading "Axios CEO Jim VandeHei on Leading with ‘Just the Good Stuff' "

Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief of Nature, joins Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, to discuss the state of trust in science. She gives insights on combatting misinformation and on the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Health. “When science comes under fire, it should be down to each one … Continue reading "Nature's Magdalena Skipper on Standing Up for Science"

Lynette Jackson, Chief Communications Officer at Siemens, sits down with Joe Kingsbury, Global Chair of Edelman Business Marketing, to discuss the value of thought leadership in building trust, especially in a B2B context. “To build trust, you need to think about the value of your content and making it accessible,” Lynette says.  If you are … Continue reading "Siemens' Lynette Jackson on Moving Content Beyond Relevance Toward Value"

 Jaclyn Ruelle, Vice President and Head of Brand at Papa Johns, joins Smita Reddy, Global Client Leader at Edelman, to discuss evolving the legacy quick-service pizza restaurant's brand to be culturally relevant to new and existing customers. “Every single day is not going to be pizza day, so how do we show up in ways … Continue reading "Papa Johns' Jaclyn Ruelle on Innovating a Beloved Food Brand"

Jordana Barish, Allegra's North American Zone Head, sits down with Justin Westcott, Edelman's Global Technology Chair, for a conversation at South by Southwest (SXSW). They discuss how the trusted health brand is helping allergy sufferers through a new tool called Allegra Airways, which launched at SXSW. “To build trust with our consumers it's all about relevance … Continue reading "Allegra's Jordana Barish on Developing a Trusted Tech Tool"

Edelman's Smita Reddy sits down with Katherine Chan, Global Head of Social Media at Duolingo, to talk about the brand's social media strategy, their latest Super Bowl ad, and viral presence on Tik Tok. “On social, you have three seconds to make an impact and in order to do that you have to get people … Continue reading "Duolingo's Katherine Chan on Making the Brand a TikTok Phenomenon"

Harvard Business School professors Sandra Sucher and Peter Tufano and the Edelman Trust Institute's Head of Research David Bersoff discuss their new article in Harvard Business Review with Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute The piece gives guidance to business leaders on navigating contentious societal issues amid widespread polarization. “The pressure being … Continue reading "Experts on How Businesses Should Speak Out Amid Controversy"

Ad Council VP Group Campaign Director Jenn Walters joins Edelman's Global Chair of Food and Beverage Smita Reddy to take listeners inside of some of the organization's most impactful campaigns – from Smokey Bear to Love Has No Labels. She discusses what it takes for Ad Council to change hearts and minds on important societal … Continue reading "Inside Ad Council's Most Impactful Campaigns with Jenn Walters"

Bronwen Maddox, CEO of Chatham House, sits down with Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Bronwen and Justin discuss government regulation of innovations, the drop in institutional trust in the U.K., and the use of Chatham House Rule in meetings … Continue reading "Davos Special Part 3: Chatham House's Bronwen Maddox on Opportunities for Innovation Amid Geopolitical Tension"

Ina Fried, Chief Technology Correspondent at Axios, sits down with Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Ina and Justin discuss the responsibilities companies have when rolling out AI, the need for regulating new innovations, and the history of addressing … Continue reading "Davos Special Part 2: Axios' Ina Fried on Responsible Adoption of AI"

Jonathan Adashek, IBM's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications and Chief Communications Officer, sits down with Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Jonathan and Justin discuss the risks and opportunities around Artificial Intelligence and how IBM is building … Continue reading "Davos Special Part 1: IBM's Jonathan Adashek on AI Taking Center Stage at WEF Annual Meeting"

Journalist and innovator Matthew Bishop joins Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, for a conversation about the institute's annual publication, “Evolving Trust, Embracing Change,” which focuses on repairing trust in institutions and leaders amid rapid societal transformation. Matthew gives his advice for how leaders can grow trust in tumultuous times: “Be more … Continue reading "Matthew Bishop on ‘Evolving Trust, Embracing Change'"

Cheryl Gresham, Chief Marketing Officer of Verizon Value, sits down with Jackie Cooper, Edelman's Chief Brand Officer, to discuss leading marketing for a new Verizon brand, the collapse of the traditional purchase funnel and what Cheryl is looking forward to in 2024. “We've got to look left and right versus up and down with the … Continue reading "Verizon Value's Cheryl Gresham on the New Consumer Journey"

Radley Horton, a professor at Columbia University's Climate School and a member of Edelman's Independent Council of Climate Experts, joins Alex Heath, U.S. Head of Social Impact and Sustainability at Edelman for a conversation about the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Climate Change. The two explore diminishing trust in institutions to deal … Continue reading "Climate Scientist Radley Horton on Taking Climate Action"

We're looking back at some of our favorite moments from Season Two of The TrustMakers. Take a listen to hear trust-building insights from Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, CMO of DoorDash; Manu Meel, CEO of BridgeUSA; Tim Davie, Director General of the BBC; Sally Susman, EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Pfizer; C.D. Glin, President of the … Continue reading "Top Trust Tips From Season Two"

During the United Nations General Assembly meeting, The TrustMakers is featuring interviews with NGO leaders. Michelle Milford Morse, United Nations Foundation's Vice President for Girls and Women Strategy, joins Alex Heath, U.S. Head of Social Impact and Sustainability at Edelman, to discuss the urgency of building trust in women around the world. “We're going to need … Continue reading "UNGA Special: Michelle Milford Morse on Addressing ‘Problems Without Passports' at the United Nations Foundation"

During the United Nations General Assembly meeting, The TrustMakers is featuring interviews with NGO leaders. Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps, joins Alex Heath, U.S. Head of Social Impact and Sustainability at Edelman, for a conversation on leading the organization with transparency. “Trust is earned every day in every action,” Tjada says.  If you … Continue reading "UNGA Special: Mercy Corps' Tjada D'Oyen McKenna on Growing Trust in NGOs Through Transparency"

Julie Gehrki, the Vice President of Philanthropy at Walmart, joins Amanda Edelman, COO of Edelman's Gen Z Lab, to discuss how the company gives purpose to its 2.1 million employees worldwide and bridging divides in the workplace. “Building trust across lines of difference is a daily experience in our workforce, and I think that's an … Continue reading "Walmart's Julie Gehrki on Defining Purpose for Employees"