Building Trust, Navigating Change, and the Future of Work

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In this episode, Alicia and George pull back the curtain on what it really takes to maintain trust—at home, in business, and everywhere in between. Recorded just after a whirlwind trip to San Francisco for Alicia’s upcoming children’s book launch, the two share their raw impressions of a city in transition (empty hotels, shuttered malls, and the unexpected highlight: a driverless Waymo ride).

From there, the conversation dives deep into relationships and the ongoing work of building trust. Inspired by a Harvard-trained psychologist’s article on the ten conversations couples who truly trust each other have regularly—money, sex, parenting, painful past experiences, time, insecurities, mistakes, family, power struggles, and dreams—Alicia and George unpack how these topics have played out in their own marriage and startups. They discuss:

• Why trust isn’t a one-time milestone but an active, daily practice.
• How to bring up difficult conversations without making your partner shut down.
• The impact of past financial trauma on how couples handle money (including Alicia’s perspective on co-mingling funds).
• The role of time as a finite resource and how intentional choices strengthen a partnership.

Along the way, listeners get glimpses of Alicia and George’s signature humor—debating “uber-traditional” roles, drawing the line at sharing toothbrushes, and joking about their newest “baby,” Fitzgerald Grant the puppy.

The episode also branches into a thought-provoking discussion about the gig economy and the future of work. As entrepreneurs who frequently hire freelancers, they explore the tension between flexibility and security, and how AI may disrupt (or support) gig workers worldwide. Highlights include:

• What China’s 200 million gig workers reveal about the future of labor.
• Why today’s employment laws don’t protect gig workers—and what needs to change.
• How AI could replace (or transform) entire skill sets, from coding websites to managing projects.
• The importance of reskilling, saving, and planning for a career without a corporate safety net.

Finally, Alicia teases a new business idea born from her own postpartum experiences: an app that helps new parents communicate their needs more honestly during the sleepless early weeks—bridging the gap between “I’m fine” and what’s really happening.

This episode is equal parts startup insight relationship wisdom. A reminder that behind every partnership (personal or professional) is a continuous practice of communication, trust, and adaptation.

Articles Cited:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/17/harvard-psychologist-couples-who-truly-trust-each-other-talk-about-10-things.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=CNBC/magazine/Make+It

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