In this episode, Wendy chats with Trevor Williams of Global Atlanta about what sarcasm really reveals: your assumptions, your cultural blind spots, and the hidden “subtext” that can make or break international Relationships. Sarcasm shows up in every culture, but it doesn’t land the same way everywhere (and even varies region-to-region, as Wendy notes with the North vs. South divide in the U.S.). From language-learning humility to how global companies communicate amid trade uncertainty, this conversation is a reminder that in global business, the message isn’t just the words…it’s the context, the culture, and the intent behind them.
What you’ll learn
- Why sarcasm and humor often fail across cultures and how misunderstanding tone can quietly erode trust in global business relationships.
- How language learning and cultural humility improve communication and help leaders avoid costly assumptions when working across borders.
- How exporters are navigating today’s global trade landscape, including tariffs, uncertainty, diversification, and why globally engaged companies tend to be more resilient.
Wendy Pease is the owner and president of Rapport International, a language services company that provides high quality translation and interpretation services with a specialty in global marketing, legal, employee communications, and medical services. Throughout her career, she has worked with hundreds of companies to help them communicate across more than 200 languages and cultures.
Wendy is a frequent speaker, writer, blogger, trainer, advisor, and master networker. She’s the author of the book “The Language of Global Marketing”, the host of the “Global Marketing Show” podcast, which features experts on opportunities and challenges in increasing multilingual lead gen and revenue.
Wendy’s passionate about connecting people across languages and cultures. She lived in Mexico, Taiwan, and the Philippines where she fell in love with differing cultures and came to understand that we are all human, no matter the language we speak.
