12: Gift-Giving: Tips & Taboos

12: Gift-Giving: Tips & Taboos

Author: Oops, Your Culture's Showing! ©2018: Dean Foster, Tom Peterson, and Torin Peterson December 13, 2018 Duration: 49:21

’Tis the season for giving gifts around the world, and for our final episode of 2018! This episode, Dean and Tom present you with tips for giving culturally-appropriate gifts in the U.S., Europe, and East Asia, along with plenty of taboos to avoid as well. For instance, you’ll learn how to give money to a friend on their birthday in New Orleans, whether to give someone an even or odd number of flowers in Europe, and why giving a colleague four clocks in a white box is not exactly the best idea in China (12:00, 33:30, 38:40). While we’re wrapping things up (nicely, we hope) for 2018, we’ll be back soon with even more episodes in 2019. Bonne année à tous nos amis!

Subscribe today to ensure that the gift of new episodes arrives promptly in your feed in 2019. In the meantime, have a cultural question or episode idea for Dean and Tom? Reach out on Twitter and Facebook (@OopsCultureShow) or by email at oopscultureshow@gmail.com.

Music: “Little Idea” – Bensound.com


Ever find yourself in a situation where a simple gesture or comment lands completely wrong, all because of an unspoken cultural rule you never knew existed? That’s the territory explored in Oops, Your Culture's Showing! Hosted by Dean Foster alongside Tom and Torin Peterson, this podcast digs into the hilarious and often awkward moments where cultural differences come to light. Each episode feels like a conversation with well-traveled friends who’ve been there, analyzing real-life stories of social faux pas, misunderstood traditions, and the subtle norms that govern behavior around the globe. The tone is light and comedic, rooted in personal experience rather than dry academic lecture, making the exploration of societies and places genuinely engaging. You’ll hear the hosts dissect why certain actions are perfectly polite in one context and a major blunder in another, all while laughing at their own misadventures. It’s a blend of comedy and genuine education, perfect for anyone curious about the world or preparing to navigate it. Tune in to this podcast for a reminder that we’re all constantly revealing our cultural backgrounds, often at the most unexpected moments.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 86

Oops, Your Culture's Showing!
Podcast Episodes
15: Sorry? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:02
We’re very (not) sorry to say that Dean and Tom are talking apologies across cultures, particularly in the U.K. and East Asia, in this episode. Also, Producer Torin brings in a recent New York Times article about apologe…
14: What’s In A Name? (Part 2 of 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:30
Dean and Tom are back from a hiatus to continue exploring the creation and use of names across the globe: this time, in Latin America, Germany, the Middle East, India, and New Zealand. They also honor honorifics, epitomi…
13: What’s In A Name? (Part 1 of 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:46
In this first episode of 2019, Dean and Tom apply a cultural lens to Shakespeare’s classic question: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose; by any other name would smell as sweet!” After leaving their mohel in the…
11: Sex & Not Sex [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:25
“Let’s talk about sex, ba-by”…around the world! Dean and Tom dive into cultural perceptions and behaviors around touching, nudity, and sex (sort of) in this episode, answering questions like: How many air kisses can a vi…
10: Island Hopping: Iceland & Malta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:14
Don’t despair, dear listeners! While the days may be getting shorter, Dean and Tom are back to boost your spirits in this episode as they “island hop” from incredible Iceland to majestic Malta (5:20). Along the way, they…
9: Brits & Yanks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:43
In this episode, Dean and Tom hop across the pond to explore cultural differences between the U.K. and the U.S.! The two begin with some surprisingly different customs between the two countries, like how Britons order tw…
8: Time & Tequila [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:05
Prepare for time-traveling: that is, traveling the world to see how time changes across cultures, of course! After Tom arrives “late” to the studio, Dean and Tom hurry into how time is perceived in different cultures (6:…
7: Fish Cheeks & Dining Myth Explosions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:40
This episode, Dean and Tom remain hungry for traditional foods across cultures: fish cheeks in China, black pudding and haggis in the U.K., guinea pigs in the Andes, and many more (1:45)! Next, Dean answers a listener qu…
6: Goat Eyes & Chinese Banquets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:09
Dean and Tom are back in this episode to sink their teeth into what to do, and what not to do, when presented with traditional foods across cultures: goat eyes in Kazakhstan, natas in Portugal, fried mayflies in Mexico,…
5: Elevators & Personal Space [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:25
If you’re currently approaching floor 45 in an elevator in Singapore, be ready for illegal chewing gum and used earbuds! Dean and Tom explore our cultural behaviors on a wild elevator ride (4:59), then rudely – or not –…