Professors, In Rooms, Getting Coffee Justin Winzenburg and Stephen Jones

Stephen and Justin dive into the topic of intercultural competence and the intercultural development continuum. They explore the complexities of understanding and experiencing different cultures, highlighting the role of constructivism in shaping our knowledge and frameworks. They challenge simplistic approaches to culture in international relations, emphasizing the need for nuance and understanding of cultural factors in conflicts. The hosts also discuss the stages of intercultural development, including denial, polarization minimization, acceptance, and adaptation. They also reflect on the importance of empathy in relating to others' experiences. They touch on the fear and polarization that can arise when interacting with different cultural groups and the ethics of cultural differences. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of adaptation and the difference between assimilation and acknowledging one's insider-outsider status in intercultural interactions. Throughout the episode, the hosts share their personal reflections and experiences, including their own projects, such as a book about a woman's experience with war in Ukraine. Tune in to this enlightening episode of Professors, in Rooms, Getting Coffee for a deep dive into intercultural competence.Become a supporter and find supporting materials at patreon.com/profsinrooms

In this episode, we discuss the difference between culture and worldview. Stephen explains how culture goes beyond differences in thinking and includes everything ranging from our sometimes wordless embodied experiences to our deepest assumptions about what the universe is and means. We talk about how cultural values frameworks help us to see the differences between cultures by posing important questions, and Stephen talks about how approaches to intercultural communication that look the same on the surface can actually differ significantly, depending on whether a traits-based or process-oriented dyanamic approach to culture is used. 
We talk about the role of navigation in the development of the concepts of time, and how the approaches used at Greenwich reflect assumptions about what it means to know and research something. And, Stephen shares a just-for-fun project he was working on with his son.   
Timestamped Overview
[00:02:19] New Keyboard Sparks Home Music Collaboration
[00:08:32] The Fascinating Connection Between Time and Navigation
[00:17:41] Inadequate Culture Definitions: Oversimplifying the Complex
[00:20:57] The Embodied Experience of Culture: Understanding Beyond Words
[00:26:12] Uncovering Cultural Differences: It's More Than Worldview
[00:30:14] Analyzing Humanity's Intrinsic Nature: Three Options
[00:32:48] The complexities of cultural research and approach
[00:36:51] Understanding Culture: Individualism, Collectivism, and Identity
[00:39:31] Cultural Frameworks and Our View of Death
[00:42:21] Intercultural Communication: A Process, Not Product
Bonus
Patrons can find more, including a beta version of a transcript, at our Patreon page.
 

In this episode Justin and Stephen review the history of the culture concept and how evolutionary interpretations of cultures eventually were replaced by more helpful values-based approaches to intercultural relations. They also reflect on the importance of recognizing good faith actors when their are different interpretations of text or events. Justin asks about the relevance of Stephen's study for missiology. 
The hosts also talk about the struggles of being present for their kids while balancing important tasks, homesickness (Heimweh), and perceptions about the US church from a distance. Tune in to join the conversation!
Timestamped Overview
[00:04:16] "New exhibit showcases breathtakingly bright artwork"[00:05:28] "Homesickness After 20 Months Abroad"[00:12:34] "Refreshing Encounter with US Ministry Leaders Abroad"[00:16:44] Parenting and Master's program regrets[00:23:03] "The relatively recent and messy concept of culture"[00:24:27] "The flawed idea of cultural evolution"[00:26:33] The Evolution of Culture: From Race to Values[00:31:27] "Revamping Literature Review: Conference Insights & Resources"[00:39:49] "Recognizing Good Faith Interpretations: Importance and Benefits"[00:41:34] "Assuming Best Intent: The Key to Intercultural Relations"
Books referenced
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Surrender by Bono 

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The SAGE Encyclopedia of Intercultural Competence by Janet M. Bennett(English Edition)

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The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Competence by Darla K. Deardorff (English Edition)

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Intercultural Communication: A Reader: A Reader: Fortieth Anniversary Edition by Samovar and Porter, et al. (English Edition) 

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An Introduction to Intercultural Communication by Condon and Yousef

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Bonuses

Find us on Patreon
Patrons can find the beta version of the Transcript on Patreon

Counterfactual analysis was a new idea for Justin in this episode - Stephen explains how he used that approach to consider what might have happened if international relations actors had been able to excercise interculturally competent adaptive frameshifting. Justin asks Stephen how far the implications of his project carry, and Stephen discusses the limits of research programs like this.
The guys also talk about highlights, lowlights, and insights for the week. Justin reflects on the time of the year and Stephen considers the ways in which a 1,000 piece puzzle reflects his own experience of the last several months. 
Patreon subscribers now have access to the dissertation itself, as well as to the beta transcript for this episode. Want to join? Check it out at https://patreon.com/profsinrooms
The beta transcript for this episode can also be found at our Patreon page.
 

*Transcript now available (beta)* Justin and Stephen launch into a conversation about Stephen's dissertation dealing with the question of whether and how cultural differences matter in international relations.
They discuss how even though the question seemed obvious, that the literature in the field was missing conversations about culture in the way that intercultural relations scholars approach the idea. Justin asks Stephen about why he had to go outside of the political science field to find evidences of culture to bring back in to his research. This is the first episode of a series on Culture and International Relations, and we hope you find it enjoyable and interesting.
Justin and Stephen also discuss coffee, having fun, social anxiety, and the Crown Honor's banquet. 
Justin rethinks Romans (Patreon content)
Find more at our patreon page: patreon.com/profsinrooms
A beta version of the transcript is available at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/s3-ep-21-79323709
 

In their introductory conversation, Justin and Stephen discuss the insight that led to the creation the Advent Special (Episode 19) Lament. Then, Professor and Filmmaker* Jonathan Vinson joins to conclude the conversation about beauty. Justin asks about the sometimes disappointing quality of Christian film and music. 
Jonathan shares about theme in storytelling, and the ways in which Christian arts can end up undercutting their message by frontloading it and undercutting the story. Justin suggests that even attempts to write overt worship music can lose the message through jargonization.
Stephen asks whether the underlying issue is a lack of commitment to the art of storytelling, or whether the problem stems from a too-quick-resolution resulting from an inability to sit with tension, pain, and suffering.  Jonathan considers how technical abilities, theological shortcomings, and philosophical hang-ups all contribute to reduced quality in Christian art, and suggests that narrative epistemology may provide a way to sit in the tension and maintain a prophetic voice. 
In their highlights, lowlights, and insights, Justin and Stephen also discuss gracious and generous critique in scholarship, missing family over the holidays, the end of the semester, the feeling of February-forever, and Hope. 
Jonathan Vinson is a photographer, filmmaker, and assistant professor from Crown College. He has a Masters of Theological Studies from Bethel University and a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and TV Production from Asbury University.
Jonathan's Film Paradise Strong: Surviving California's Deadliest Wildfire is available for streaming from Amazon*.
Recommended resources:

Episode 19 (Season 3): An Advent Lament
Stephen and Justin discuss "Brutal Honesty," Persistent Flaws, and Christian Community on Patreon (tier 2+ subscriber content)
The Poetics of Evil: Toward an Aesthetic Theodicy by Philip Tallon on Amazon* 
The Gospels as Stories: A Narrative Approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John by Jeannine K. Brown on Amazon*
Bible Project video on hope  

*We may earn a commission on sales made through our links to Amazon through the affiliate program there. The commission helps us and does not affect the authors' earnings.