
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