Episode 15 | Can You Trust Your Competitors?

In this episode of the TrustBuilder Podcast, Scott is joined by Brad Williams and guest Jonathan Schwab, a criminal defense attorney from Spokane, WA, to explore one of the most complex questions in relational trust: can you trust someone you compete with? They discuss how trust functions in high-stakes, adversarial environments, where competition and cooperation must coexist. The conversation highlights the importance of building trust within clear boundaries, introduces the concept of predictive trust, and examines how consistent behavior shapes decision-making. They also unpack the difference between trust and leverage, emphasizing how overusing trust for short-term gain can lead to long-term breakdowns in relationships.