Episode 3 - Collectivist Psyche

What would it be like to do your job in a 3rd world country? Appleseed Radio gives a behind-the-scenes look at doing social marketing in the developing world, as Philip gets interviewed by his mentor and former boss, Stephen Groner.

Finally, a new episode! And it's guest hosted by our friend, Lily. In Episode 5 - Working, Not Working (17 min), we explore the following questions: - Is it a good idea to work with the person you're married to? - How has Appleseed changed our relationship?

In Episode 4, Ruth and I talk about the culture of maize in Mayan America to get at the following questions: Where have the Mayan gone? Why the heck are we in Guatemala? What can we actually change?

In Episode 3, Ruth and I explore the following questions: How do stark cultural differences play out between Guatemalans and Americans? How might understanding this one aspect of the Guatemalan collectivist psyche work for us as we go about changing behavior? And can it help us avoid being pulled over by military police?

In our first try with a new format, we touch on the most impressive thing about this country: the kindness of its people. Sure, that sounds cliché. "There are nice people everywhere!" you say, and "What about the friendly Thais, the polite Japanese, or the hospitable Texans!?" Without disputing any of that, we believe Guatemalans take the cake when it comes to showing genuine, all-around kindness to visiting Norteamericanos (and this is despite recent decades of brutal violence and civil war, initially sparked by the U.S. government). It's just been overwhelming. In this episode, we've picked just a couple examples to share from Day 1 of our trip.

In Appleseed's first radio story, we go to the remote Lost Coast of California, where three friends face hunger for the first time in their lives. The unexpected circumstances lead to insights that the team will take with them to their upcoming project in Guatemala. Photos can be seen at: http://bit.ly/lostcoastphotos