What does it actually mean to trust someone, especially when the stakes are high? In this episode of Hope, Power & Healthcare, our hosts Chris Hemphill and Melissa Reilly unpack a concept that sits at the center of every decision we make. Trust. From choosing who to build with, to navigating co-founder dynamics, to evaluating whether AI outputs deserve your confidence, this conversation moves beyond surface-level advice, and into the real, often uncomfortable, work of figuring out who, and what, you can rely on. Melissa reflects on the frameworks she uses to evaluate potential opportunities, leaders, teams, and meaningful work, and why trust has become the deciding factor in where she invests her time and energy. Chris shares how trust is built “in the trenches”, and why small, real-world tests often reveal more than any interview or recommendation ever could. Our hosts bring the conversation to a technology perspective, challenging the idea that AI model outputs should always be taken at face value. From bias in healthcare algorithms, to practical ways to validate LLM responses, this episode makes a compelling case for starting from skepticism, and earning trust through validation. Whether you’re building a company, joining one, or deploying AI into real-world systems, always ask yourself. Can I trust it when it matters the most? Connect with us!Follow our LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hope-power-healthcare/?viewAsMember=true Hosts:Chris Hemphill - Chris’s 17 years in healthcare technology have spanned sales, operations, data science IC, and AI leadership. Chris couples this with a focus on health equity and serves as the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy Research Fellow for Healthcare AI. Chris’s currently leads Modular Feedback, which focuses on helping healthcare innovators find and build thoughtful AI use cases: https://modularfeedback.com Melissa Reilly - Melissa spent the last 20 years leading innovations at major payers: UnitedHealth Group(Optum Ventures), Aetna, and Evernorth/Cigna. She’s helped drive and commercialize multiple startups in AI & consumer testing, and she is now driving product and commercialization for healthcare innovators full-time. She brings industry expertise as well as a background in law, negotiation, & real estate. Her company’s name is STLTH. Production:Edited by Alyssa SchrollMusic by Chris Hemphill
