Life, Work, And Everything In Between! Special Reissue

Life, Work, And Everything In Between! Special Reissue

Author: Oops, Your Culture's Showing! ©2018: Dean Foster, Tom Peterson, and Torin Peterson May 28, 2026 Duration: 43:54

As we rapidly approach the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, many school schedules are preparing to slow down or take a break in the warmer months, as some work schedules do too. With this in mind, please enjoy this special reissue of our 35th episode on work-life balance in cultures around the globe, “‘Work to live’ cultures, and ‘live to work’ cultures”, from October 2022. We here at ‘Oops, Your Culture’s Showing!’ will also be taking a break from releasing episodes over the coming months, as we soak up some sun (hopefully on a beach with a cold drink in one or both hands), travel, and time with family and friends. We’ll see you out there on the beach, dear listeners – and while getting those rays, it’s a perfect time to visit/revisit our entire back catalogue of episodes!

Listening to this while eating lunch in the workplace? Fais attention (be careful!) because if you’re in France, that’s illegal. In this episode, Dean and Tom get to work contrasting how countries from France to Japan to the US value, and even legislate, work-life balance – and, bien sûr (of course!), how it’s all grounded in culture. Plus, a Grammar Time segment somehow sneaks up on all of us…est-ce possible?

(Here are the referenced NPR articles on the French lunch law and the Portuguese ‘right to disconnect’ law, from June 2022.)

***Dean’s book, “Business Beyond Borders: Stories, Tales, and Lessons Learned from Working in 100 Cultures Around the World”, IS OUT NOW – order it today! And: Subscribe to Dean’s Substack to find all of Dean’s “Culture’s Consequences” articles, CultureQuizzes, and much more!***

Have a cultural question or episode idea? Reach out on X/Twitter & Facebook (@OopsCultureShow) or by email at oopscultureshow@gmail.com.

Hosts: Dean Foster & Tom Peterson

Audio Production: Tom Peterson & Torin Peterson

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: 88

Oops, Your Culture's Showing!
Podcast Episodes
58: Gossip Gets Things Done? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Listen to this juicy rumor: In this episode, would you believe that Dean and Tom ‘spill the tea’ on the value and function of gossip and secrecy across cultures? From investigating the use of tsismis in Manila, to eyeing…
Deepest Apologies! Special Reissue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:02
While we’re sorry to possibly offend, we’re not at all sorry about reissuing our apologies-across-cultures episode, “Sorry?”, from June 2019. We hope that you enjoy it, and if you don’t, what else can we say but…sorry? W…
Back To Japan! Special Reissue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:47
Last month, Dean entered a ryokan in Japan, so this month he – and we – are re-entering the Japanese bathroom in the FIRST-EVER episode of the “Oops, Your Culture’s Showing!” podcast. Enjoy this special reissue of our Ma…
57: Cherry Blossoms And Ikigai In Japan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
Happy spring! With cherry blossoms blooming all around, Dean and Tom float into an exploration of ikigai, a concept for finding happiness and purpose in everyday life, in Japanese culture. Along the road of their discuss…
56: A Toast To Speaking Across Cultures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:23
Clink clink! Dean and Tom would just like to take a moment (actually, several moments across this episode) to toast toasting and public speaking across cultures. After toasting all night long with a tamada in Georgia, th…
55: Canada Is Not The 51st State [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
O Canada! With all the recent talk of Canada being the 51st U.S. state – it’s not, and won’t be! – Dean and Tom venture into the vast expanse of cultural differences between Canadians and U.S. Americans in this episode.…
Say The Magic Word(s)! Special Reissue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:00
Hoping a magic carpet ride whisks you away to a magical “far far away” place this week? Well, you’re in *luck*, because we’re reissuing our August 2019 episode, “Do You Believe In Magic?”, for that very reason. Enjoy bei…
54: How Not To Be The Ugly (Fill In The Country of Choice) Tourist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:02
It’s a holiday-filled time of year and a heavy travel time across cultures, dear listeners; as such, we’ve been receiving your questions about how not to be the “ugly American (or fill in your country of choice) tourist”…
53: Rehydration Salt Balls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:56
Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. listeners! In this episode, Dean and Tom thank local caregivers for helping Dean survive sudden maladies across three different continents. They also explore culture’s impact on the care he…
52: Myanmar: From A Zat Pwe To Mandalay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:15
Are Burma and Myanmar the same place? How long does a zat pwe last? Why are only foreigners allowed into a certain garage in Mandalay? In this episode, Dean and Tom travel along Myanmar’s central river, the Irrawaddy, to…