25: Change (or Lack Thereof) in the Pandemic. Do-dodo-doo!

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Fully vaccinated, Dean and Tom jump into a discussion of changes, as well as the lack of changes, in behaviors and cultures resulting from the pandemic this past year (and thankfully, they also decline to bungee-jump naked off of a building in Queenstown New Zealand, at least for now). Plus, Dean offers some tantalizing cultural predictions. Cue the trumpets!

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

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24: Baltics, Balkans, and Shrooms? Yum! (Part 2 of 2)

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In the grand finale of their two-part shroom-inations, Dean and Tom return to the Balkans, where they find literal dividing lines in Sarajevo as well as cultural similarities & differences between Serbia and Croatia, plus a few no-nos to bear in mind when traveling between countries, and much more. We recommend that you sip some rakia (fruit brandy popular in the Balkans) while you listen and enjoy!

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

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23: Baltics, Balkans, and Shrooms? Yum! (Part 1 of 2)

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In this new episode (recorded September 2020, when it was still warm enough in the northeastern U.S. to record outdoors!), Dean and Tom repel giant squirrels while they ruminate (or perhaps shroom-inate?) on mushroom-picking in the Baltics. Plus, they dig into differences between the Baltics and the Balkans (hint: start by looking to the ends of one’s “Bal”s). Mycologists and non-mycologists alike, enjoy!

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

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Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol – Special Reissue

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Last Wednesday’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was a tragic & unprecedented example of what happens when elements of culture are manipulated by powerful political interests at the expense, in this case, of democracy. Politics, like every aspect of human activity, is profoundly determined by culture, which can be manipulated for good or bad by those with the power to do so, and last week in the U.S., fundamental elements of U.S. culture, following a harrowing historical playbook, were abused for political ends. We discuss this phenomenon of manipulating culture for political agendas in our “The Political Climate. Ahh!!” episode from October 8th 2020. In advance of the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden as president of the United States, we felt it critical to re-release this episode now. The episode description is below, and we’ll be back with new episodes starting next month. Until then, stand up for those aspects of your culture that advance democracy, wherever you are.
It’s the biggest October surprise of all! We’re dropping this episode on the same day as the previous episode because there’s no time to waste: it’s October of a presidential election year in the United States. Millions of votes have already been cast through mail-in ballots and early in-person voting, so Dean and Tom head outdoors again to explore how U.S. culture has directly affected today’s political climate. Make your voting plan TODAY at iwillvote.com.
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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:29 — 32.8MB) | Embed

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Global Holiday Gifting! Special Reissue

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Happy holidays! When you’re giving holiday gifts to friends or colleagues in other cultures, how, I ask, can you possibly have an idea whether your gift may delight or distress them? Well, I’ll tell you: By listening to and enjoying this reissue of our Gift-Giving: Tips & Taboos episode from December 13th 2018! The episode description is below, and we’ll be back soon with new episodes in 2021. Adiós 2020! Enjoy!

In 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.

Subscribe today! 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

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22: The Political Climate. Ahh!!

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It’s the biggest October surprise of all! We’re dropping this episode on the same day as the previous episode because there’s no time to waste: it’s October of a presidential election year in the United States. Millions of votes have already been cast through mail-in ballots and early in-person voting, so Dean and Tom head outdoors again to explore how U.S. culture has directly affected today’s political climate. Make your voting plan TODAY at iwillvote.com.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:29 — 32.8MB) | Embed

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21: Coronavirus. Oy.

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Dear listeners, we hope you’re doing well and staying safe in this novel coronavirus pandemic. Dean and Tom head outdoors and stay six feet apart to discuss how culture has impacted responses to this pandemic in societies around the world. Listen to Dr. Fauci, and listen to this episode. (Those are two separate statements, though maybe Dr. Fauci would also recommend this episode. Who’s to say? Oh, he is?)

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

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20: Island Hopping: U.S. Virgin Islands

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We’re back with a new “island hopping” episode that was recorded prior to community spread of COVID-19 in the United States, so please forgive any mentions of “Corona” in this episode – we’re referring to the beer! Dean and Tom are on location in the U.S. Virgin Islands to explore features and culture in St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, and to sip great rum. Plus, find out what makes driving in the USVIs different than anywhere else in the United States. In these trying times, we invite you to grab a beer, to relax on a virtual beach with us, and to enjoy.
Listen today to “island hop” with Dean and Tom! Have a cultural question or episode idea? Reach out on Twitter and Facebook (@OopsCultureShow) or by email at oopscultureshow@gmail.com.
Music: “Little Idea” – Bensound.com

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19: Which Body Part’s Itchy?

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In this episode, Dean and Tom scratch away at cultural associations related to itchy noses, itchy palms, and itchy feet around the globe – so keep that hydrocortisone handy! Plus, all-time fan-favorite segment Grammar Time makes its return, and soon-to-be all-time fan-favorite segment Recap Time makes its first appearance. And of course, our friends at Licensing pop in once again to give Dean and Tom a rough time!

Subscribe today! Itching to ask Dean and Tom about the meaning of your itchy body part in the country you’re traveling to? Reach out on Twitter and Facebook (@OopsCultureShow) or by email at oopscultureshow@gmail.com.

Music: “Little Idea” – Bensound.com

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Happy New Year! Special Reissue

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Happy New Year! As we close out 2019, we didn’t want to leave you old in the cold when it came to exploring New Year’s traditions around the world. Therefore we’re reissuing our New Year’s episode, Shoes & Argentinian Pink Underwear, from March 22nd 2018.

Dean and Tom begin reveling in New Year’s traditions (with a bowl of, yes, pink underwear) at 21:43, though feel free to begin from the start as they wade into shoe protocol in the home as well. Enjoy, and we’ll be back soon with new episodes in 2020!

Subscribe before midnight! 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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:06 — 37.8MB) | Embed

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