The Business of Trust

Trusting Life with Lama Karma Chötso

WATCH VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjQgOXO50qM SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Business of Trust, I sit down with Lama Karma Chötso to explore a question that feels both simple and impossibly deep: What does it actually mean to trust life? I first met Lama years ago when she was leading the Open Awareness Buddhist Center Sangha in Miami. I remember asking her—very seriously—if she was enlightened. She laughed and said, “Oh my gosh, no. That takes like 10 lifetimes.” That mix of wisdom and humility is exactly what you’ll hear in this conversation. Lama began studying in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in 1982 and later completed a traditional three-year, three-month meditation retreat in seclusion. But what makes this conversation powerful isn’t philosophy—it’s how practical her perspective becomes when applied to business, uncertainty, and the emotional reality of entrepreneurship. This episode felt personal for me. I share openly about a season of uncertainty I went through in December—when things felt like they were falling apart relationally and professionally. And instead of trying to fix it, Lama challenged me to look at uncertainty differently. What if groundlessness is liberating? What You’ll Learn: 1. The difference between hope and trust—and why confusing the two creates anxiety 2. Why trust must come after examination, not blind belief 3. How entrepreneurs get trapped manipulating outcomes instead of dancing with change 4. What resilience actually feels like when you stop resisting uncertainty 5. Why uncertainty isn’t the same as suffering 6. How to work with triggers by shifting into awareness instead of reaction 7. The difference between confusion and clarity—and how to move between them in real time 8. Why creativity expands when you relax your grip on control This conversation is especially relevant for coaches and consultants navigating change—whether in your business, your identity, or your leadership. Because maybe the goal isn’t to eliminate uncertainty. Maybe the goal is to become steady in the middle of it. Connect with Lama Karma Chötso: Instagram: @LamaKC Website: LamaKC.com Music: Search “Lama KC – No Hopes No Fears” on Spotify & YouTube

Trusting Yourself When There’s No Clear Plan with Lyssa DeHart

WATCH VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa-SKjXNtiY SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Business of Trust, I sit down with Lyssa DeHart to explore a kind of trust we rarely talk about in business: self-trust—especially when there’s no clear plan. Lyssa is a master certified coach, former clinical social worker, and author who has worked with more than 10,000 coaches and leaders around the world. But her path into coaching didn’t come from certainty or a perfectly mapped strategy. It came from burnout, transition, and the courage to take the next right step without knowing where it would lead. We rewind to 2013, when Lyssa shut down her therapy practice after years of working in trauma and PTSD. It was only after stepping away that she realized how deeply exhausted she was—and how much space she needed to rethink not just her work, but her identity. In our conversation, we talk about: 1. Why burnout often hides behind competence and success 2. The difference between helping people becomefunctionalversus helping themthrive 3. What changes when you move from a fixing mindset to a partnering one 4. Why you don’t need a full plan—just the willingness to take the next step 5. How trust is built long before money ever changes hands 6. The pivotal moment when changes to the ICF credentialing exam reshaped her entire business 7. Why every skill and experience you bring with you—even the unexpected ones—can become a real advantage 8. What it means to stay relevant as a coach in a world where AI is rapidly evolving This episode is an honest look at what it really takes to grow a service-based business when certainty isn’t available—and why trusting yourself might be the most important strategy of all. Connect with Lyssa: 1. Website:https://lyssadehart.com/ [https://lyssadehart.com/] 2. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssadehart/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssadehart/] 3. Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/2GOw0n3oNk7vkCCxK8dk8T [https://open.spotify.com/show/2GOw0n3oNk7vkCCxK8dk8T]

Turning the Art of Improv into the Serious Business of Trust with David Suarez

WATCH VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIUFzYS3dB8 SHOW NOTES In today’s episode, I sit down with David Suarez, founder of Interactive Training Solutions… this conversation is a masterclass on what real networking actually looks like. I met David at a DisruptHR event here in Miami. He was the MC, the organizer, and the final speaker—and he completely owned the room. Funny, sharp, relaxed, and deeply human. After watching him, I knew I had to bring him on the podcast. David has built a highly successful corporate training and executive coaching firm using improvisation as a core tool—but what really stood out to me wasn’t improv. It was his mindset around trust, relationships, and human connection. What You’ll Learn: 1. How a business plan that started as an MBA assignment became the business of his life 2. How talking to one intern (while ignoring all the “important people”) led to his most successful client 3. What it really means to treat your network as sacred 4. How to build trust without pitching, forcing, or “working the room” Connect with David: 1. Website:interactivetrainingsolutions.com [http://interactivetrainingsolutions.com] 2. LinkedIn:David Suarez, MBA

What Coaches Must Bring to the Table When AI Has All the Answers with Brian Gorman

WATCH VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVk9S5jajX4 SHOW NOTES In this episode of The Business of Trust, I sit down with Brian Gorman—leadership and transformation coach, founder of TransformingLives.coach, host of the Conversations Podcast, and author of his new book "Leading into the Age of Wisdom." Brian has spent decades helping organizations navigate change, he brings a level of perspective that feels especially relevant right now. What stood out to me in this conversation is how clearly he names what many of us are sensing but haven’t fully articulated yet: intelligence is being commoditized—but wisdom is not. We talk about why this moment isn’t an evolutionary shift, but a revolutionary one—on the scale of the Industrial Revolution—and why coaches, consultants, and trusted advisors have a critical role to play if we’re willing to bring our whole selves to the work What You’ll Learn: 1. The difference between intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom, and why that distinction matters more than ever 2. How organizations are stuck in outdated Industrial Age rituals (like time-based work) that no longer serve us 3. Why engagement is so low in most organizations—and what happens when wisdom is captured from the frontline, not just the C-suite 4. The role of energy, nervous system regulation, and belonging in creativity and leadership 5. How coaches can use AI as a tool without outsourcing their responsibility or integrity Connect with Brian: Website: transforminglives.coach [https://transforminglives.coach/] LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangorman07030/]

Saving Face: Preserve Dignity and Build Trust with Maya Hu-Chan

WATCH VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3qtEQrs104 SHOW NOTES In this episode of The Business Of Trust, I sit down with Maya Hu-Chan, a global leadership consultant, internationally recognized speaker, and bestselling author. Maya walks us through her journey from growing up in Taiwan and studying journalism, to moving to the U.S. for graduate school, to working directly with Marshall Goldsmith. You’ll hear how those experiences shaped the way she built her own firm and why her long-term success has everything to do with relationships, referrals, reputation, and staying relevant. We also dive deep into the core idea behind her book: “Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust,” not as a cultural nicety, but as a practical, universal way to build relationships that last. What You’ll Learn: * Maya’s origin story and how she found her niche * The three pillars of a thriving consulting practice * What “saving face” really means * The ‘relationship bank account’ * Navigating marketing with integrity * Her advice for new coaches and consultants Connect with Maya: * Book: Saving Face: How to Preserve Dignity and Build Trust * Website: mayahuchan.com * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/maipie88 * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayahuchan She truly welcomes feedback — your likes, comments, and reactions mean a lot.