The TrustMakers

Brinda Adhikari, a journalist and the co-host of the podcast "Why Should I Trust You?," joins host Drake Baer to discuss what it takes to build trust in science and public health across deep divides. She explains why curiosity can be more productive than correction, how relationships help information land, and what public health leaders can learn from listening to people whose beliefs challenge institutional expertise.

Ginny Cartwright Ziegler, Chief Marketing Officer at Pearson, joins the Edelman Trust Institute Executive Director Justin Blake to explore the power of learning in a rapidly changing world. They discuss how education can help people navigate technological change, build confidence in an AI-driven future, and prepare for the evolving workforce — as well as the role learning can play in building trust and bridging divides.

Dylan Wells, inaugural Creator Host at Washington Post Creator, the Washington Post’s new division focused on the creator economy,  joins Edelman’s Amanda Edelman to unpack the increasingly blurred line between creators and traditional media. Drawing on her move from political reporting to covering the creator economy, Dylan discusses the growing influence of creators in politics and the different standards and expectations that shape creators and journalists. They also explore what traditional media can learn from creators and what their rise could mean for the future of journalism and trust in media.

Brand strategist and creator Eugene Healy joins Jo Burford, Head of Creators for EMEA at Edelman, to explore how brands can build trust in an era of fragmented attention. Recorded at Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, they discuss insights from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Brand Growth in an Insular World, and look at why relevance now matters more than reach. Eugene also shares his thoughts on how creators have become trusted cultural intermediaries, and why brands must shift from controlling campaigns to orchestrating communities.

Michael Barbaro, journalist and host of The Daily, joins Richard Edelman, President and CEO of Edelman, to discuss trust in media at a time of growing insularity and audience fragmentation. Recorded at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the conversation explores how journalism can build trust through transparent storytelling, why local and personal relationships shape what people believe, and what media organizations and brands can learn from the rise of creator-driven content.