Auto Ethnographer with John Stech

The Auto Ethnographer is a deep dive into the human experience of crossing cultures—what it feels like to live, work, lead, and belong in places far from home. Hosted by global executive and cultural storyteller John Jörn Stech, the podcast explores the realities of expatriate life, intercultural communication, and the messy, meaningful process of adapting to new norms, new languages, and new ways of seeing the world.John brings more than three decades of international experience across the United States, Germany, Egypt, Russia, Vietnam, and Thailand. His career in global leadership has placed him inside boardrooms, factories, classrooms, and communities on five continents—each move reshaping his understanding of identity, trust, collaboration, and what it truly means to work across cultures. While the show began with roots in the global automotive industry, its focus has evolved. Today, The Auto Ethnographer is a culture‑first exploration of international life, featuring voices from business, education, mobility, technology, the arts, and the broader expat and repat communities.This is a podcast for anyone navigating the complexities of global work: expats building careers abroad, professionals managing intercultural teams, digital nomads learning to belong in new places, and globally curious listeners who want to understand how culture shapes human behavior. Through candid storytelling and thoughtful conversation, the show reveals how people adapt, thrive, and occasionally stumble as they bridge cultural boundaries.What You’ll Hear– Conversations with expats, repats, immigrants, and locals who live and work between cultures– Stories of adaptation, culture shock, misunderstanding, humor, and personal growth– Insights into intercultural leadership, cross‑border collaboration, and global teamwork– Reflections on identity, belonging, and the emotional realities of living overseas– Occasional automotive stories—now framed through a cultural and human lens rather than a