info_outline
BN 134: The Escalator Approach & the Uber Test: Understanding National Mindsets
11/14/2025
BN 134: The Escalator Approach & the Uber Test: Understanding National Mindsets
Join the conversation and connect with fellow listeners in our new Telegram community - In this episode of Become Nomad, hosts Eli and Dan explore one of the most fascinating aspects of travel: understanding the national psyche. Drawing from their experiences in countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and the United States, they discuss how culture, pace, and mindset shape the way societies operate and what those differences can teach us about adapting as travelers.They also introduce two of their favorite mental models for interpreting culture: the Escalator Approach, a way to understand how societies move collectively toward progress, and the Uber Test, a quick lens for sensing how a country approaches service, efficiency, and social interaction. By the end of the conversation, Eli and Dan reflect on how these insights help them and their listeners see beyond surface impressions, recognizing the deeper mental patterns that define each place. Join them as they unpack what it truly means to understand a country not through its landmarks but through its mindset.
/episode/index/show/becomenomad/id/39033330
