Join host, Michael Reid, as we explore trending cultural and geopolitical topics that affect the way we do business around the world. We examine the overlap between the worlds of politics, culture, religion, trade, race, consumer marketing, ecommerce, social justice, and other topics that global business leaders need to be aware of as they take responsibility for their respective brands both on the global market and in smaller localized markets around the world.

Each week we may have guest hosts and other experts on the show. If you would like to participate or if you have a topic that you would like to see addressed, please let us know in the comments, as well.

*TODAY’S DISCUSSION*
Over the past several years, Iceland cut its work week and found greater happiness and no loss in productivity. Starting from this, this week we will discuss work-life balance in the post-pandemic environment. What trends around work-life balance and shorter workweeks have you seen in your own companies in the US and overseas offices in this post-pandemic environment? How do differences in working hours and expectations affect how you manage work internally to your company and with vendors?

In the news, we will look at an oft-overlooked ethnic slur—“Gypsy” —and learn how entomologists are renaming the Gypsy moth and Gypsy ant in a move for greater inclusion of the Romani community. Moving to gender and indigenous issues, we’ll discuss the trend of film festivals shifting from distinct best actor/actress to gender neutral awards and see an indigenous (Mapuche) woman elected to lead a group to rewrite Chile’s constitution.

Next, we’ll look at an interesting study about how mindfulness meditation translates from the collectivist countries of its origin to more individualistic countries such as the US and look to attendees to share anecdotes around how cultural contexts creates subtle or not-so-subtle differences in experiences. Then we’ll discuss recent comments about how Japanese Major League Baseball All-Star Shohei Ohtani speaking through an interpreter (rather than in English) diminishes the experience of the game. Finally, we see the FCC finalize a program to subsidize the ripping and replacement of Chinese telecom equipment from the likes of Huawei and ZTE in the US for reasons of national security.