Public trust doesn’t erode overnight.
It erodes quietly.
When engagement becomes episodic.
When participation is loud but not representative.
When decisions are defensible internally, but questioned publicly.
The challenge isn’t volume.
It’s legitimacy by design.
What This Podcast is About
Measuring trust beyond satisfaction
Why engagement volume is misleading
The difference between consultation and legitimacy
How representative data protects councils
Building institutional credibility over time
The Episodes
A Blueprint for Building Public Trust: Why I’m Doing This
In this Trailer for A Blueprint for Building Public Trust, Kent Waugh outlines what this podcast series, especially Season 1 will cover.
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Key Takeaway:
Public trust in local government does not collapse during major decisions. It erodes quietly in the spaces between them.
Trust Must Be Designed, Not Hoped For - Episode 1
Public trust in local government rarely collapses during major decisions. It erodes quietly, in the gaps between them. In this opening episode, Kent Waugh introduces the season’s central premise: trust is not a communications tactic, but a system that must be intentionally designed and sustained.
Key Takeaway: Trust is not built through campaigns.
It is built through systems.
Who’s the Host?
Kent Waugh works with municipalities across Canada to design community panels, survey research programs, and engagement strategies that strengthen public trust.
