How to build a tech economy in an age of distrust

Jim Gibson and Brad Zumwalt, Alberta-based entrepreneurs and co-founders of Rainforest Alberta, discuss how economies innovate amid declining trust in institutions, politics, and social networks. Drawing on Calgary's experience, they argue that rebuilding trust from the ground up enables risk-taking, collaboration, and growth. The conversation examines the intersection of tech and energy, the limits of top-down industrial policy, and the role of culture and informal networks, concluding that long-term economic innovation depends more on nation-building than on fragmenting the country amid heightened political and economic uncertainty. This podcast is generously supported by Don Archibald. The Hub thanks him for his ongoing support. The Hub is Canada's fastest-growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get our latest videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Falice Chin - Host, Producer, and Editor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.