November 12, 2025

PM Talks S2E11: Trust

My next book, Productiveness, arrives this September. It's about the difference between doing more and doing what matters, and how we lost the ability to tell them apart. I'll send the release date the day it's set. Visit https://mikevardy.com/productiveness to learn more.This latest edition of our monthly PM Talks series dives into a topic that underpins nearly everything we do: trust. From trusting the moment you’re in to trusting the systems you build, Patrick Rhone and I explore how this single word quietly defines the way we live, work, and connect.In this conversation, we move from the personal—trusting ourselves, our instincts, and our attention—to the societal, exploring what happens when trust erodes in our institutions, technology, and even the tools meant to make life easier.Six Discussion PointsWhy trusting the moment enhances presence—and how presence strengthens trust.How trust manifests in everyday choices, like buying a car or managing a calendar.The connection between simplicity, minimalism, and building trustworthy systems.Why democracy, money, and even productivity all rest on unseen foundations of trust.The difference between a trusted system and your trusted system.How patience, presence, and attention preserve trust over time.Three Connection PointsPatrick's blog post on trustWatch The Big Short and/or Margin CallListen to Episode 596: Curiosity | PM Talks S2E3Trust isn’t static—it’s something we build, test, and sometimes rebuild. Whether you’re trying to trust your tools, your timing, or yourself, I hope this episode helps you see where trust already lives in your life—and where it might need a little reinforcement.Your inbox is a receiving dock, not a warehouse. Three moves, seconds a message, and only what needs you today is left standing. That's the promise of The 10 Second Inbox. Get it at https://mikevardy.com/10secondinbox today.

Also available on Apple Podcasts ↗