The Interculturalist

How do you build cultural agility when the culture around you is changing as fast as you are? In this episode of The Interculturalist, Peter talks with Eric Davis about what it takes to adapt to a place — and to help others do the same.

The conversation starts with how getting on the road shapes cultural understanding, how tourism drives regional economies, and why “American culture” is really a patchwork of regional identities with their own rhythms, driving styles and ideas about work and leisure.

From there Eric turns to home. South Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and with the growth come congested roads, pressure on the slower pace of life that drew people in, and a quiet worry about homogenization. His case for walkability as a cultural need — not just a planning preference — is one of the most memorable stretches of the episode.

The final third is for practitioners. Eric traces how his own cultural agility grew through experience, why it’s fine to admit you don’t know, how intercultural training has come to lean on technology, and why he believes tabletop role-playing games are an incredible training ground for exploring perspective, power and privilege in a safe space.

In this episode:

• How travel shapes cultural understanding
• Regional cultural differences across the US
• Driving culture from region to region
• Cultural identity and workplace dynamics
• Pace of life and work-life balance
• Advice for newcomers to South Carolina
• Growth, traffic and walkability in the New South
• Building cultural agility through experience
• Tabletop role-playing games as cultural training

About the guest: Eric is Client Network Manager at Sirva learn more here > https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-davis-02378916/

Connect with The Interchange Institute: https://interchangeinstitute.org

What happens to your sense of self when you grow up between two languages and two countries? In this episode of The Interculturalist, Peter and Nick sit down with Annette van der Feltz to trace the line from a childhood spent abroad to a career helping people and companies land softly in unfamiliar cultures.

The conversation opens with how identity shifts with language and setting — including the small matter of what your name becomes when you cross a border. Annette shares what separates expats who thrive from those who struggle, why direct Dutch communication tends to improve working relationships rather than strain them, and why smaller companies so often skip the cultural preparation that would have saved them a failed relocation.

From there it takes a turn through pop culture: Eurovision as “the Olympics of song,” the way Scandinavian neighbors vote for each other, Céline Dion’s Swiss detour, and what K-Pop’s collectivist model reveals when set against the individualism of Western music careers.

The final third gets practical. Annette breaks down how cultural hierarchy shapes business expectations, why the Netherlands is famously flat, and the quick wins available to anyone selling into — or from — the United States. Spoiler: you can’t just copy and paste your website.

In this episode:

• How names and identity shift across languages
• Growing up abroad and the worldview it builds
• What successful expats do differently
• Dutch directness in the workplace
• Why cultural prep pays off in retention and job satisfaction
• Eurovision, voting dynamics and national pride
• K-Pop, hip hop and collectivism vs individualism in music
• Hierarchy in business: the Netherlands vs the US
• Quick wins for international business

About the guest: [Annette’s one-line bio — role, company, where to find her]

Connect with The Interculturalist: www.interchangeinstitute.org

Chapters / timestamps

00:00 Introduction and light banter
05:55 Cultural identity and name variations
08:53 Living abroad as a child
12:02 Intercultural communication insights
15:12 The impact of cultural integration
18:01 Navigating relocation challenges
20:51 The value of cultural adaptation
24:03 Dutch and American communication styles
26:50 Cultural differences in the Netherlands
29:57 Cultural awareness before you move
32:55 Eurovision and cultural identity
36:07 Eurovision voting dynamics
39:58 Music and language in Eurovision
44:01 From K-Pop to hip hop
50:09 Collectivism vs individualism in music careers
55:02 Cultural hierarchies and business
60:53 Navigating cultural differences in business
66:52 Quick wins for international business

How do our life experiences shape the way we understand and communicate with people from different cultures? And what role can storytelling play in bridging cultural divides?

In this episode of The Interculturalist, we're joined by Syed Zafar, who shares how his personal journey and life experiences have influenced his approach to intercultural communication, and why storytelling has become such an important part of that process.

We explore the power of stories to challenge assumptions, open minds, build empathy, and create meaningful connections across cultures.

Whether you're living abroad, working across cultures, or simply curious about how people see the world differently, this conversation offers an opportunity to reflect on the stories that shape us and the connections we make.

Stay curious. Keep connecting.

This week we talk with Renata Urban a language and intercultural training specialist originally from Germany but with a very varied life path that has lead her to call many places 'home'.