Trust as a Practice: Lessons from the Experts, with Charles Feltman and Ila Edgar

Practicing Connection

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What if trust wasn’t just a feeling, but a set of skills you could build, repair, and strengthen - on purpose?

In this special episode of Practicing Connection, hosts Jessica Beckendorf and Coral Owen sit down with Charles Feltman, author of The Thin Book of Trust, and Ila Edgar, founder of Big Change Inc. and co-hosts of the Trust on Purpose podcast. Together, they explore what it really means to build, maintain, and repair trust - at work, at home, and in our communities.

Charles and Ila share the four domains of trust - Competence, Sincerity, Reliability, and Care - and explain how these domains transform trust from a fuzzy concept into something you can intentionally practice every day.

Through real-world stories and practical advice, they reveal why trust is never binary, why conversations about trust matter, and how high-trust environments unlock resilience, collaboration, and innovation.

Whether you’re a leader, a team member, or simply someone who wants stronger relationships, this episode will give you actionable tools and mindsets to help you become a masterful trust-builder.

Plus, discover personal practices for resilience and connection, and learn how to start flexing your trust “muscle” today.

Links and resources from this episode:

Trust on Purpose podcast

Ila Edgar, Big Change Inc.

Charles Feltman, Insight Coaching

The Thin Book of Trust (Third edition), by Charles Feltman

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