Trust Is a Behavior

Join hosts Julie and Katie Kurtz for a deep dive into why trust isn't just a feeling—it's a behavior we can practice and build. In this live edition of Empathy By Design (part of the Signals and Systems newsletter), they explore the neuroscience of trust and how it intersects with trauma-informed leadership.

 

Katie, creator of the Trust Works certification program, breaks down her TRUST acronym (Trauma-Informed Relational Upskilling and Systems Transformation) and explains why trust must be demonstrated through consistent, predictable actions—not just good intentions. The conversation covers:

• The neuroscience of trust: How our nervous systems build trust at their own pace through co-regulation and predictable behaviors
• Trust vs. trustworthiness: Why "Am I trustable?" is a better question than "Am I trustworthy?"
• DBT and polyvagal theory in practice: Moving from orientation to capacity to choice, and why emotions sometimes need to be overridden by behavior
• Conflict as opportunity: How to design systems that prepare for—not avoid—conflict and repair
• Self-trust through relationship: Why we can't develop self-trust in isolation

Whether you're leading teams, building products, or navigating relationships, this conversation offers practical frameworks for demonstrating trust through behavior—especially during times of collective stress and uncertainty.

Perfect for anyone interested in trauma-informed leadership, nervous system work, human-centered design, and building trustable systems in