215. The New Media Landscape: Trust, Transparency, and Transformation

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart

Communicating, Influence, Career Skills, Career, Business, Education, Leadership, Careers, Communication, Career Growth, Public Speaking, Language Learning, Improv

4.7 • 711 Ratings

🗓️ 10 July 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For your communication to be credible, you can’t just say it — you have to do it.

Want people to believe what you say? According to Richard Edelman, the words you choose only get you halfway there. To build real trust, he says, you have to practice what you preach.

“Action builds trust,” says Edelman. “If you don't do something, you can't talk about it.” As the president and CEO of Edelman, a leading global communications marketing firm, Edelman is widely recognized for his thought leadership in marketing and PR, especially on issues related to corporate trust, brand reputation, and social responsibility. His annual Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a sobering reality: "Two-thirds of people believe leaders lie to them now, business leaders, government leaders, even journalists." For people and organizations that want to rebuild trust, whether in a one-on-one relationship or with a customer base of millions, Edelman’s advice is simple: "Decide, do, communicate."

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Edelman and host Matt Abrahams explore strategies for winning trust when traditional authority no longer guarantees it. In an age of skepticism, Edelman's insights show that sustainable trust comes not from perfect messaging, but from consistently aligning your actions with your words.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(03:06) - The Evolution of Trust
(04:17) - Rebuilding Trust After a Breach
(05:10) - Leaders as Influencers
(06:22) - New Media Ecosystems
(08:06) - The Role of AI in Communication
(09:26) - Key Qualities for Future Leaders
(10:26) - The Final Three Questions
(17:57) - Conclusion

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, Matt here. As we start the second half of 2025, I wanted to take a moment to share some things I am super excited about for the show and our Think Fast Talk Smart community. First, we have some amazing influential guests coming up like Dan Harris, Peter Sagal, and Chenaya Boumecay. Second, we've curated several topic-focused playlists like managing speaking anxiety and spontaneous
0:22.8	speaking, among others. Check them out at faster smarter.io slash playlists. Also, you will notice an
0:30.4	additional ad or two in our episodes. We're in the process of expanding our team and building out
0:35.4	our community hub. This requires additional resources.
0:39.1	We truly appreciate your support and look forward to further helping you deepen and broaden
0:44.0	your communication and career skills. Please do follow us, rate and review the show,
0:49.3	and share us with your friends, family, and colleagues. Thank you for listening and for your support.
0:59.5	One of the fundamental truths about trust is it's about open, transparent communication.
1:08.3	My name is Matt Abrams, and I teach strategic communication at Stanford Graduate
1:13.3	School of Business. Welcome to Think Fast, Talk Smart, the podcast. Today I look forward to speaking
1:20.3	with Richard Edelman. Richard is the president and CEO of Edelman, a leading global
1:25.5	communications marketing firm.
1:33.4	Richard is widely recognized for his thought leadership in marketing and PR, and he focuses on issues related to corporate trust, brand reputation, and social responsibility.
1:39.1	Edelman produces the highly regarded annual Edelman Trust Barometer, which surveys trust and credibility in various
1:46.4	institutions globally, providing key insights for all of us. Welcome, Richard. I am so thrilled that
1:53.9	our mutual friend David Demarest introduced us together. Thanks for being here.
1:58.8	I'd be here. Let's take a quick break for a message from our sponsors.
2:02.6	By supporting them, you help support the show.
2:06.0	Hi, Matt here. We spend years developing skills, gaining experience, and working hard.
2:11.4	But when it comes to advancing, making a career change, or negotiating a better salary,
2:16.3	many of us hesitate because we lack a clear
2:18.9	strategy and accountability. And that's where today's sponsor, Strawberry.me, career coaching, comes in.
	...

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