The Trust Moat Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Julia Stamm to unpack a critical disconnect in the modern workplace: the AI "sabotage gap." While executives race to implement AI, many employees resist, mostly because of a fundamental lack of trust and agency.
Dr. Stam introduces her "TRAP" framework (Trust, Relevance, Attention, and Potential) and explains how leaders can flip the script by focusing on Purpose, Agency, Responsibility, and Trust when introducing AI. We dive deep into why technology alone isn't the answer and why the future of innovation depends on reclaiming our human judgment.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Julia Stamm to unpack a critical We explore:
The Sabotage Gap: Why there is a massive disconnect between executive AI trust and employee reality.
The Certainty Trap: The danger of "outsourcing" critical decision-making to algorithms and losing human agency.
The PART Framework: A leadership roadmap for moving from reactive fear to proactive, human-centered tech adoption.
Europe’s AI Identity: Where Europe stands in the global race and why values-based governance is a competitive advantage.
Human Agency vs. Automation: How to maintain judgment and responsibility in an increasingly automated world.
The Trust Moat explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage — and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it. 📩 Get every episode and essay in your inbox — subscribe to The Trust Moat newsletter: https://majapbaines.substack.com/
 
Connect with Maja: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmajapbaines 
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In this episode of The Trust Moat, Ina Jovičić, co-founder and CEO of eNOugh — shares the harrowing personal story behind the eNO badge: a smart safety wearable that uses audio, video, motion, and heart-rate detection to identify danger and alert real human dispatchers in real time.
We get into why existing safety apps fail in the moments that matter, how the AI "brain" works without a single button press, and the trust decision at the core of the product — footage so private that not even the woman wearing it can access it.
This is a conversation about women's safety technology, building hardware against the odds, and why trust is the real competitive moat.
The episode is made possible by https://www.therecursive.com/, community-born tech media and relationship infrastructure connecting CEE, GCC, and DACH
 
We explore:
- The inception story: how a personal attack in London led to founding eNOugh
- The problem with current tech: why existing hardware and safety apps fail in high-stress moments
- How the eNO badge works: the AI "brain" that detects danger with zero manual input
- Privacy & trust: why the footage is encrypted and inaccessible — even to the wearer
- The hardware challenge: pitching a women's safety product to a male-dominated investor landscape
- The future of public safety: empowering women and helping law enforcement through better evidence.
 
The Trust Moat explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage — and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it.
 
📩 Get every episode and essay in your inbox — subscribe to The Trust Moat newsletter: https://majapbaines.substack.com/
 
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Cold open: 1 in 3 women will face violence
01:50 – The London incident: Ina's story of survival
03:55 – Safety in Prague vs. London: the normalization of fear
07:05 – The data: 900,000 yearly crimes and why current tech fails
11:02 – Building the team: Balkan roots and finding co-founders
14:59 – Form factor: why chest-level placement is critical for deterrence 16:20 – The "AI brain": real-time threat detection (audio, video, heart rate) 17:55 – Eliminating manual steps: why phones fail in emergencies
19:11 – Accuracy & prevention: why cameras stop 70% of attacks
24:26 – The OpenAI shift: how hardware investing changed in 2025
28:20 – Conviction: why Ina refused to go "fully B2B" for investors
30:36 – Safety certifications: working with the British Transport Police
32:14 – Privacy first: why footage is encrypted and protected
34:36 – Profit vs. cause: building when you're solving your own problem 37:32 – Joining the waitlist: how to get the eNO badge
39:00 – Global impact: future plans for India, Brazil, and beyond
42:25 – The ultimate goal: the "sisterhood nod" on the London Underground
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Follow Ina Jovičić: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ina-jovicic/
Explore eNOugh: https://www.enobadge.com/home
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Connect with Maja: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmajapbaines
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Wally Wong (founder of Scale Asia Ventures) joins the podcast to break down the rapidly evolving landscape of "Physical AI" and why the industry is currently at a critical crossroads between software "brains" and hardware "bodies." In this episode, we explore:
The Brain vs. Body Gap: Why the US leads in AI software while Asia dominates the manufacturing of robotic hardware.
The Tipping Point: What is actually holding back the mass adoption of humanoid robots in the workforce?
Global Sovereignty: How the US, China, and the EU are competing for control over the future of robotics and AI regulation.
Investment Realities: The market dynamics of Japan and Korea and why they are the current battlegrounds for automation.
Whether you're an investor, a tech enthusiast, or just curious about how robots will integrate into our daily lives, Wally provides a sobering and insightful look at the distance between the hype and the reality of Physical AI.
--- The Trust Moat Podcast explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage—and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it. --
 
Follow Wally on: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wallyyingxiaowang/ 
Connect with Maja on:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmajapbaines
X : https://x.com/lazarevic_p?s=11 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majaperovicbaines_mbm 

In this episode of The Trust Moat, I sit down with Yash Terkiwal, the founding GTM Engineer at Clay, to explore why AI and automation won't replace humans, but rather amplify our creative and strategic potential. If you're a founder or builder trying to navigate the 'AI vs. Human' question, Yash’s insights on creativity and critical thinking are essential.
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The Trust Moat Podcast explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage—and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it.
--
This episode was filmed at SaaStanak 2026, in Šibenik, Croatia - where SaaS meets sea and sand. More about it here https://saastanak.com/ What we cover:
The GTM Engineer: Why this new role is the bridge between data systems and human strategy.
The "Job Growth" Paradox: Why Yash believes AI will net-create more jobs by removing the 'non-human' tasks.
Building a Learning Ecosystem: How Clay uses community and 'failing proudly' to empower users.
Trust as a Moat: Why human-centric value is the ultimate competitive advantage in a world of commoditized software.
Follow Yash on:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashtekriwal/
CHAPTER 1 - THE AUTOMATION PARADOX: REDEFINING WORK & THE RISE OF THE GTM ENGINEER
03:15 - The contradiction of selling automation while teaching humans 04:22 - Identifying "non-human" tasks in knowledge work
06:29 - Why human interaction remains the center of Clay’s BDR strategy 12:50 - Defining the GTM Engineer: Collapsing systems and strategy CHAPTER 2 - INSTALLING MECHANISMS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
17:42 - Why critical thinking is the most important skill in an AI world
19:21 - The "Order of Operations" for business growth
20:43 - The "Ask Why Five Times" rule for strategy
21:48 - Why strategy board games are the best business training CHAPTER 3: CLAY'S PHILOSOPHY ON LEARNING & COMMUNITY ECOSYSTEMS 28:24 - Moving beyond passive education to active ecosystems
30:17 - Content Strategy: Quick, human, and script-free
31:25 - Experiences: Creating a safe space to "fail proudly"
32:38 - Moving from "AI fear" to "AI empowerment" CHAPTER 4: PROTECTING THE TRUST MOAT AGAINST AUTONOMOUS AGENTS
44:33 - Why human relationships are the ultimate moat in a commoditized world
46:50 - Navigating the "Salesperson Fluff" problem
48:15 - Building genuine partnerships through feedback and agility
51:32 - Final Advice: Why creativity is the antidote to optimization fatigue
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aLHebA...
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🎧 Listen on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d02... Connect with Maja on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmajapbaines/
X: https://x.com/lazarevic_p?s=11
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majaperovicbaines_mbm 

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In this episode of The Trust Moat, I sit down with Tomislav Car, founder of Productive, an all-in-one agency management platform and business software, to explore the shifting landscape of the software industry.
As AI democratizes coding and "moats" built purely on software begin to evaporate, we dive into what truly creates lasting value for the SaaS companies today. Tomislav shares his journey from bootstrapping a Productive agency to navigating the complexities of scaling teams and maintaining radical transparency in the era of agentic AI.
--- The Trust Moat Podcast explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage—and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it. --
 
This episode was filmed at SaaStanak 2026, in Šibenik, Croatia - where SaaS meets sea and sand. More about it here https://saastanak.com/
What we cover: - The Bootstrapping Advantage: Why starting with a focus on productivity and financial freedom creates a resilient foundation.
- The AI Interface Shift: Moving from horizontal tools to vertical, agentic AI interfaces that solve specific problems.
- Future-Proofing Teams: How to overhaul headcount and internal structures to stay competitive as AI changes the workload.
- Trust Through Transparency: The role of radical honesty in building a team that can weather massive industry shifts.
- The "Founder Mode" Era: Lessons learned from the mobile boom and how to apply them to the current AI revolution.
Follow Tomislav on:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomislavcar/
 
 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aLHebAw2S6DC3HLyEjuKQ
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trust-moat-podcast/id1895009648
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Connect with Maja on:
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- X: https://x.com/lazarevic_p?s=11
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majaperovicbaines_mbm 

Get this straight in your inbox -- 📩 Subscribe to the Trust Moat newsletter: https://majapbaines.substack.com/
 
The fashion industry is one of the world's most opaque industries, built on broken data and the assumption that no one would ever look too closely at where our clothes actually come from. In this episode, Maja sits down with Dóra Lality, co-founder and CLO of Material Exchange, to pull back the curtain on the global supply chain. Discover how technology and the upcoming EU Digital Product Passport are forcing a radical shift from "strategic ignorance" to total transparency, and why the future of fashion depends on being data-driven rather than just "creative."
--- The Trust Moat Podcast explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage—and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it. ---
 
What we cover:
- The Myth of Sustainability: Why Dóra believes "sustainable material" doesn't actually exist and how to make better, less impactful choices.
- The Complexity of the Chain: Why a single garment often travels through seven different countries before reaching your wardrobe.
- The "Creative" Excuse: Overcoming the industry’s resistance to data and why being data-driven doesn't kill creativity.
- The Shift in Responsibility: How new legislation is moving the burden of compliance from manufacturers back to the brands.
- The 2027 Deadline: Everything you need to know about the mandatory EU Digital Product Passport and how it will change the way we shop.
- Building Trust through Data: How transparency creates a stronger relationship between suppliers, brands, and the next generation of consumers (Gen Z and Alpha).
- A Consumer’s Framework: Practical advice on how to choose brands you can actually trust beyond just the marketing labels.
Follow Dora on: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dóra-lality/
 
📹  Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HCFpH27DrQo?si=CnasvOIAQx64ydVJ 
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aLHebA...
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Connect with Maja on:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmajapbaines
- X: https://x.com/lazarevic_p?s=11

Alan Knott-Craig Jr. has published 10 books, built Africa's first mass-market social network, and invested in over 20 companies. But his most important venture might be his current one — bringing fast, affordable fiber internet to South Africa's townships for 25 cents a day. In this episode, Alan talks about what it actually takes to build in places the rest of the world has written off. Negotiating with construction mafias.
Losing everything and starting over. Choosing the right partners, focusing on the right business model, and purpose is the only thing that keeps you from giving up when the runway runs out.
 
--- The Trust Moat Podcast explores why trust is the last durable competitive advantage—and the founders, investors, and builders who understand it. --
 
What we cover:
- Why he came back to South Africa and never left
- How Fibertime works — and why 13 million homes were left behind
- Negotiating infrastructure deals in communities with no government and active gangs
- Losing everything after Mxit and rebuilding from scratch
- How to find the right business partners (and get rid of the wrong ones fast) - The ego dragon — why confidence is a superpower until it isn't
- How purpose makes the hardest decisions easy
 
Books Alan has written:
o Chasing the Internet, From Backyards to Boardrooms
o Life Lessons: How to Fail and Win o 13 Rules for Being an Entrepreneur
o Be a Hero: Live a Heroic Life
 
Follow Alan on: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanknottcraig
X - https://x.com/alanknottcraig
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aLHebAw2S6DC3HLyEjuKQ
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trust-moat-podcast/id1895009648
🎧 Listen on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d02cd7a2-e32f-4480-8914-9a26d5c3d0ff
Connect with Maja on: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmajapbaines - X: https://x.com/lazarevic_p?s=11
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majaperovicbaines_mbm
 

Gartner predicts that 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by 2027—not because the models aren't smart enough, but because the underlying memory layer isn't ready. In this episode, we sit down with Nemanja Bibic, Head of Growth at Cognee, a startup building the knowledge layer for our agentic future, to discuss the urgent need for a "hippocampus" for artificial intelligence. We dive deep into why current LLMs suffer from "AI Alzheimer’s," the technical difference between stateless and stateful versions, and why better memory—not just bigger models—is the key to reaching AGI. Inside the Episode
The "AI Alzheimer’s" Effect: Why current models struggle to retain context beyond 48 hours and act as a blank slate every time you open them.
The $7.5M Infrastructure Bet: Why founders from OpenAI and Facebook AI Research are backing the development of a "cognitive infrastructure".
Neurological vs. Cognitive Mimicry: How mimicking human reasoning and learning processes is moving AI accuracy from 60% toward 100%.
The Economics of Memory: Why the next trillion-dollar companies will be the ones building the infrastructure that allows AI to learn, doubt itself, and function without constant human supervision.
Community-Driven Intelligence: How 12,000 developers are building a persistent memory layer for the future of agentic workflows.
Prefer watching the conversation? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrustMoatPod
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:40 CHAPTER 1 - WHY YOUR AI HAS AMNESIA
00:05:15 The "48-Hour Wipe": Why LLMs lose context over time
00:08:30 Stateless vs. Stateful: The technical root of AI memory loss 00:14:22 Why "Long Context Windows" aren't a permanent fix
00:25:42 CHAPTER 2 - THE $7.5M BET ON A PROBLEM NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT
00:27:10 Why OpenAI and FAIR founders are backing memory infrastructure 00:29:45 Identifying the "infrastructure gap" in the current AI stack 00:32:15 The business risk of building on "forgetful" models
00:34:47 CHAPTER 3 - WHAT "AI MEMORY" ACTUALLY MEANS
00:36:12 Vector Databases vs. Knowledge Graphs: A breakdown
00:38:50 The role of "Ontologies" in making AI understand your business 00:40:05 Ephemeral vs. Persistent memory in agentic workflows
00:42:08 CHAPTER 4 - HOW THE HUMAN BRAIN INSPIRED A FIX FOR BROKEN AI MEMORY
00:44:10 Mimicking the Hippocampus: Building a digital long-term memory 00:46:55 How "Cognitive Mimicry" beats simple "Neurological Mimicry" 00:49:30 The "Self-Doubt" Mechanism: Teaching AI to know what it doesn't know
00:52:48 CHAPTER 5 - 12,000 DEVELOPERS WHO CHOSE TO BUILD THIS FOR FREE
00:54:20 The Open Source advantage in AI security and memory
00:58:15 Why community-driven "Maltbots" are outpacing corporate labs 01:03:40 Collaborative Intelligence: Lessons from 12k contributors
01:07:54 CHAPTER 6 - THE RACE BENEATH THE RACE: MEMORY VS MODELS
01:09:15 Commodity Models: Why intelligence is becoming a "race to zero" 01:11:05 Proprietary Data + Memory: The only defensible moat left
01:13:39 CHAPTER 7 - WHAT YOUR COMPANY SHOULD DO BEFORE LOCKING IN AN AI STACK
01:15:20 The Gartner Warning: Avoiding the 40% project failure rate 01:18:45 Evaluating your "Memory Layer" before you buy the model
01:21:10 Future-proofing your agentic infrastructure
 
Follow Nemanja Bibic on :
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nemanja-bibic-20523b87/ 
Check out Cognee: https://www.cognee.ai/
Connect with Maja on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zmajapbaines/
X: https://x.com/lazarevic_p?s=11
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/majaperovicbaines_mbm