What if the awkward moment in a meeting or the offhand comment you didn’t understand was actually a bid for connection? In this revelatory conversation, intercultural expert Charlotte Wiederkehr joins neurobiology specialist Rajkumari Neogy to explore what happens when we miss those moments and what becomes possible when we catch them with care.

Drawing from a life lived across cultures, Charlotte brings language to the invisible: the deep-rooted values, beliefs, and identity markers that shape how we build trust, express needs, and make meaning at work. Together, she and Rajkumari unpack how cultural disconnects often masquerade as interpersonal issues and how a lack of shared context can fracture even the best intentions.

From feedback and silence to power and belonging, this episode challenges us to become more than culturally competent. It invites us to become culturally resonant.

Tune in to learn:
• Why a missed “bid for connection” can erode trust
• How intercultural literacy changes the way we give and receive feedback
• What gets lost in translation and how to recover it
• Why global teams break down without psychological safety
• How to spot (and bridge) invisible trust gaps at work

This conversation will transform how you listen, lead, and respond to difference not as something to fix, but as something to honor.

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Then, Now & Tomorrow, an original podcast series by ibelong

Is it possible to feel safe at work? Neurobiology expert Rajkumari Neogy absolutely thinks so. Join us for conversations that will blow your mind as we explore what it takes to foster inclusive leadership and cultivate resonant cultures in the workplace.

Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Credits

Creative Director: Annabel Mangold

Original Music Composer: Dario Valderrama

Rajkumari's wardrobe styling courtesy of Gene Hiller (http://www.genehiller.com)

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Meet ibelong

At ibelong, we've developed a neurochemical approach that solves for workplace exclusion and conflict. We study workplace scenarios that lead to dissatisfaction and have built a framework to understand why people are feeling undervalued, and how to change it.

Learn more at http://www.ibelong.com.