Drawing from his debut book The Seven Rules of Trust, Internet entrepreneur and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales delves into why trust is essential to a well-functioning society.
He argues that the erosion of trust, spanning government, media, technology, and industry, has become a national crisis that’s destabilized personal and public life alike. Fueled by partisanship, sensationalism, and algorithms, we’re mired in an environment where division is rewarded and nuance often punished.
He says trust must be deliberately built, actively defended, and lived every day — and offers a roadmap for making that happen.
He invites everyone to start where they are and model civility in public life and online spaces, reward honesty even when it’s inconvenient, seek out perspectives that challenge their own, and demand accountability from leaders, the media, and platforms that shape public discourse.
Highlighting the human side of trust, he reminds us that people are born to connect, and that civility is not a sign of weakness but of strength. He reflects on Wikipedia’s core principle of ‘assume good faith,’ a simple idea that invites people to see the best in others instead of assuming the worst.
He also underscores that trust creates long-term benefits for companies and institutions. Those that choose fairness and transparency, even when it costs them in the short term, build reputations that endure.
Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) possess a unique neurological trait that enables them to move through life with extraordinary perception, recognizing subtle details, emotions, and connections that others might overlook. They’re exceptionally intuitive, creative, and empathetic. Yet high sensitivity isn’t a condition one acquires, it’s an innate trait affecting roughly 20% of the overall population.
In this Ready Living Podcast episode, educator and international keynote speaker Esther Bergsma unpacks the science and psychology of high sensitivity and shares insights into what it truly means to be an HSP. She is the best-selling Dutch author of The Brain of the Highly Sensitive Person: Why you shouldn’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, the Director of Hoogensitief.NL, a platform dedicated to understanding and embracing this trait (English content available), and a member of the Supervisory Board of Highly Sensitive Men.
Esther breaks down the science behind the HSP brain, explaining why high sensitivity isn’t merely about emotional depth, it’s also a powerhouse of strengths – HSPs excel in roles that require diplomacy, leadership, and creative problem-solving. She explains how HSPs can harness their abilities in a variety of personal and professional settings, and argues that highly sensitive leaders bring unparalleled value to organizations by fostering supportive, people-centered workplaces that drive success.
She also dispels the common myths that few men are HSPs and that all HSPs are introverts. In reality, there is a 50/50 gender HSP split, and around 30% of HSPs are actually extroverted.
For parents raising highly sensitive children, Esther provides important advice on creating an environment where youngsters can thrive. She stresses understanding their unique needs and recognizing the profound impact their surroundings have on their well-being.
Whether you’re looking to embrace this unique trait or simply want to understand the HSPs in your life better, Esther’s insights offer practical tools to help HSPs thrive in today’s world.
In a world often fractured by division, renowned architect Eddie Jones, founder of award-winning firm Jones Studio, offers a bold, transformative perspective of the border and challenges us to view it as a bridge between cultures, economies, and human experiences. Through architecture and a profound belief in the power of design, he illustrates how thoughtful infrastructure can reshape not just landscapes, but perceptions and lives.
Eddie’s vision for border architecture is rooted in the belief that design can transcend politics and foster shared humanity. His firm’s work on the Mariposa Land Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, exemplifies this philosophy. Inspired by “Border Lines,” a poem by poet laureate Alberto Ríos, he began the design process by embracing the cultural duality of “Ambos Nogales,” the name given to the twin cities of Nogales in Arizona and Nogales in Sorona, Mexico. Rather than defaulting to traditional symbols of division like barbed wire, the firm envisioned a port of entry where human dignity was central. They integrated open space and a garden to create a sense of welcome rather than distrust.
Beyond the symbolism, these innovations have real-world implications. Efficient and humane border design between the U.S. and Mexico plays a critical role in sustaining economic stability. Mariposa Land Port of Entry ceased being an economic choke point and became more of a passage that reflects the shared lives of those on both sides. Land Ports of Entry like Mariposa are a lifeline for the agriculture industry, particularly in Arizona, where produce shipments and labor depend on streamlined crossings. By reducing wait times and improving working conditions for thousands of migrant laborers, Jones Studio’s design enhances commerce and improves lives on both sides of the border.
Eddie firmly believes that architects are uniquely positioned to solve complex societal problems. Trained at the intersection of art and engineering, they possess a rare blend of creative and analytical thinking that enables them to tackle multifaceted challenges. He points to their built-in capacity to think across disciplines, anticipate future needs, and balance human-centered solutions with practical constraints. He argues that the profession’s objective problem-solving abilities can bring fresh, innovative solutions to policy-making, and suggests that architects run for public office.
Eddie also shares his deep love and reverence for the creative process, particularly in a time when digital tools dominate the field. He remains committed to hand-drawing his designs, a practice he finds profoundly meditative. This tactile connection allows his designs to evolve organically, with each line carrying intention and emotion.
Eddie’s work demonstrates that architecture is far more than constructing buildings—it’s about designing spaces that reflect human passion, embody shared values, and solve real-world problems.
