107. Building Trust That Lasts: How Unity and Service Can Transform Communities, Companies, and Culture with Chip Webster

Trust. It’s something we all crave, yet so many of us feel it slipping away. In today’s conversation, I sit down with Chip Webster, founder of Unity and Service and author of Unity and Service: A Pathway to Responsible Citizenship. Chip has spent decades observing how trust is built—and broken—in boardrooms, neighborhoods, and across our country. His mission is simple: rebuild unity one act of service at a time. We dive deep into the cultural shift that’s left many of us disconnected and cynical. Chip challenges us to get off the couch, engage with our neighbors, and remember that the smallest actions—like holding a door, saying hello, or volunteering locally—can begin to restore trust. Chip also shares his bold vision for mandatory national service—not military, but one year of working on community projects, side by side with people different from ourselves. He believes that when we serve, barriers come down and our humanity shines through. We also discuss: Why trust is highest in our local communities and lowest at the national level. How listening—truly listening—creates consensus, even when we disagree. The difference between microaggressions and micro-validations—and why small affirmations can heal more than we think. What it really means to be a responsible citizen in today’s America. Chip leaves us with a timeless challenge: If not now, when? If not us, who? This episode is both a wake-up call and an invitation. The point is clear—unity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when each of us decides to serve. Connect with Bill: bill@brandingpillars.com www.brandingpillars.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won Links for This Episode: Name: Chip Webster Phone: 727-618-9376 Email: chip@unityinservice.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chipwwebster Website http://unityinservice.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chip.webster.2025 Quick Episode Summary:  00:00 – Introduction: Craving trust in a divided world 02:00 – Why trust can’t be built online 05:00 – Getting off the couch: first steps toward building trust 07:00 – Small acts that matter (holding doors, saying hello) 10:00 – The loneliness epidemic and knowing our neighbors 12:00 – Culture as “the water we swim in” 15:00 – Why national service could change everything 18:00 – Dehumanization in politics and media 21:00 – Listening, compromise, and consensus building 25:00 – The role of Vistage in teaching trust and transparency 30:00 – Generational shifts: helicopter parents and entitlement 34:00 – Bridging the gap between generations 36:00 – The United States or the Un-United States? 39:00 – The CCC and WPA: lessons from the past 43:00 – Chip’s vision for modern mandatory service 45:00 – Who should read Unity and Service? 48:00 – Micro-affirmations vs. microaggressions 52:00 – What’s the point? Chip’s final message 54:00 – Closing thoughts and how to connect with Chip