48: Antarctica, Climate, Culture…And Lots Of Penguins

48: Antarctica, Climate, Culture…And Lots Of Penguins

Author: Oops, Your Culture's Showing! ©2018: Dean Foster, Tom Peterson, and Torin Peterson April 25, 2024 Duration: 31:43

Earth Day 2024 was this past Monday April 22nd! In honor of our one and only Earth, Dean brings Tom (and us) along with him on his recent excursion to Antarctica in this episode, where he walked among thousands of non-tap-dancing penguins and giant calving glaciers on the warmest day ever recorded there to-date. Specifically, Dean details his conversations on his Antarctic journey with global climate leader Christiana Figueres on how cultural “DNA” underlies the US-American case, the Asian case, and the Latin American case for addressing climate change. As Dean writes in his July 2023 Substack article about this: “To ignore culture’s role in how we advocate for climate and the environment ensures a protracted struggle, even with all the best science, and the best negotiations. However, when we understand culture, and leverage that understanding in the strategic service of global goals, like climate, we accelerate the success we need to have. When it comes to climate, in the limited time we have left, we cannot afford to overlook or ignore the cultural advantage.”

***Subscribe to Dean’s Substack here to read the whole July 2023 article titled “Climate & Culture”, plus check out Dean’s “Culture’s Consequences” articles, CultureQuizzes, and much much more!***

Have a cultural question or episode idea? Reach out on X/Twitter & 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: en-us Episodes: 87

Oops, Your Culture's Showing!
Podcast Episodes
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 –…
4: Taxis & Malaysian Smiles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:10
In this episode, Dean and Tom share taxi adventures and delve into what to do, and not do, when in the backseat, or maybe the front seat, in India, Australia, and Japan – all while they swat away malarial mosquitos and s…
3: Shoes & Argentinian Pink Underwear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:06
Please scrape that gunk off your shoe before entering this episode! Dean and Tom explore shoe protocol in the home as well as New Year’s traditions across various cultures, leading them – of course – to find their hands…
2: Tea & Magnetic Pole Flips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:16
This episode, Dean and Tom navigate the cultural dos and don’ts of drinking tea in Morocco, Japan, the U.K., and Argentina – not to mention coffee in Ethiopia, beer in China, and whiskey in Korea! And without even gettin…
1: Shaving & Japanese Toilets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:47
World cultures expert Dean Foster and longtime friend Tom Peterson dive into bathroom habits around the world in this episode, with the act of shaving and, yes, using the toilet. Join them as they dissect the features an…
0: Teaser [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23
Wake up! Dean and Tom are here to tell you what to expect from their new podcast, “Oops, Your Culture’s Showing!” Subscribe now! Have a cultural question or episode idea for Dean and Tom? Reach them on Twitter and Facebo…