#199 - What if the most important part of travel is the part you can’t see? I sat down with cultural intelligence educator Renae Ninneman to unpack the “iceberg” of culture—how the visible stuff like food, transit, and phrases sits on top of deeper values about identity, respect, and communication that truly shape connection. Renee takes us from a formative year teaching in South Korea to years of refugee advocacy, sharing how naming culture shock and learning CQ transformed exhaustion into empathy.
Together we break down cultural intelligence as a practical skill you can build: understand your own defaults, recognize different norms without judging, create a plan before you enter a new space, and adapt your behavior so others feel at ease. Renae offers vivid examples—from ordering pizza in Seoul to navigating indirect communication in Japan—showing how small shifts in greeting, tone, and timing open doors. We also talk about heavy but vital travel: visiting Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial and the power of paper cranes as a living wish for peace.
You’ll come away with simple, actionable ways to grow your CQ without leaving home: volunteer with local ESL programs, shop at international markets, watch K‑dramas or Bollywood films, and explore global music that connects American blues back to Mali. If you’re planning a trip or leading teams across borders, Renae’s Beyond Tourism training and assessment can help you prepare thoughtfully so every interaction builds trust rather than friction. Subscribe, share this conversation with a curious friend, and tell us: what’s one habit you’ll adapt to connect better on your next adventure?
To learn more about Renae and to receive $80 off her Individual Intercultural Training ceck out www.goingbeyondtouris.com and mention you heard her on the show. You can also follow her on Instagram @goingbeyondtourism.
Want to be a guest on the show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake
