EPISODE · Apr 17, 2026 · 30 MIN

The Trust Recession

from More In Common · host More In Common Podcast

It started with a debate about pie. It went somewhere much bigger. This week Keith and Gerren get into trust — where it went, why it's so hard to rebuild, and what we're actually asking of each other when we say we want to repair it. From the neuroscience of why distrust is a physiological response to the very real question of whether political fractures can ever fully heal, this one covers a lot of ground without pretending any of it is simple. Also: only 20% of Americans trust the federal government right now. The most trusted institution? Your employer. We leave that one right there. Next week they're coming back for identity and what it has to do with all of this. Stay tuned. Key Topics: The neuroscience of distrust and why it isn't a choice, Dunbar's number and the social architecture of trust, in-group vs. out-group conflict, what accountability actually requires, and the Edelman Trust Barometer's most uncomfortable finding. Resources Mentioned: 📊 Pew Research — Public Trust in Government → https://www.pewresearch.org 📊 Edelman Trust Barometer → https://www.edelman.com/trust 📚 Dunbar's Number → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number Find Us: 🌐 https://www.moreincommonent.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/moreincommonent 🐦 https://twitter.com/MoreInCommonent 📘 https://www.facebook.com/moreincommonpod   Like what you heard? Leave us a comment in your podcast app — it genuinely helps more people find the show. See you next week.