Episode 85: Last week, ProPublica reported that Justice Clarence Thomas has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Republican mega donor Harlan Crow.  The day after the report, Thomas described Crow and his wife, Kathy, as "among our dearest friends," and said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues that "this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how this news further erodes the trust many Americans have with the highest levels of government and what steps can be taken to help solve this crisis of confidence. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Here's why the Supreme Court must adopt clear ethical guidelines, by Richard Kyte Clarence Thomas’ billionaire buddy has a vast collection of Hitler paintings, Nazi memorabilia, by Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone No. 300! Arenado joins milestone homer club, by John Denton, MLB About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 84: What first looked like a pandemic blip for our nation’s colleges has turned into a crisis. According to a recent story by Collin Binkley of The Associated Press, undergraduate college enrollment dropped 8% from 2019 to 2022, with declines even after returning to in-person classes. In fact, the enrollment drop rate since 2018 is the steepest on record. Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss which students are a good fit for higher education and why an increasing number are looking at other options after high school. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Valparaiso intends to sell Georgia O’Keeffe painting to fix dorms, by Kalia Richardson, The New York Times Is college worth it? Voters are split, by Monica Potts, FiveThirtyEight About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 83: At its core, "woke" is a term that refers to being aware of social injustices and inequalities, particularly related to gender, race and ethnicity. The word originated in African American Vernacular English in the 1940s, but it gained renewed popularity in the 2010s as a term used to describe a heightened awareness and understanding of systemic racism and social justice issues. However, the term has also become a source of controversy and debate, with some criticizing it for being overused and losing its original meaning, while others embrace it as a powerful tool for promoting social change. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how this movement has affected society and how our focus on the culture wars often drowns out more important issues facing Americans. About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 82: It was at this time three years ago when all of us learned a lot more about pandemics. As the coronavirus surged across the world, many felt overwhelmed with the avalanche of information about the virus. Each day, news reports showed an escalation of cases and more deaths. We know a lot more about COVID today. And because of vaccines and previous infections, most people are much better protected. Although it can still be a deadly disease, it’s no longer affecting how most of us live our lives. Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the effectiveness of the messaging in the early days of the pandemic, why COVID further divided people and how leadership matters in times of a crisis. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Pandemic 3 years later: Has the COVID-19 virus won?, by Carla K. Johnson, The Associated Press A quarter of Americans distrust CDC recommendations, survey finds, Alexander Tin, CBS News Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic, by Laura Ungar and Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press Study: Parents admit to lying about child’s COVID status, by Angie Leventis, The Chicago Tribune About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 81: If, as some people believe, there has never been a better time to be living in America, why do so many people — especially young people — feel so depressed about their lives and their futures. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss this dichotomy and how catastrophizing plays a role in the lack of optimism many people feel about their lives. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Confident adults were likely accepted, loved as children, Rick Kyte Why are young liberals so depressed?, by Matt Yglesias, Slow Boring We’re missing a key driver of teen anxiety, by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 80: America is aging, and that is putting the spotlight again on how much we spend on Medicare and Social Security, two popular programs that are not in great fiscal shape.  Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss possible fixes, along with what actually seems to be stopping us from addressing this problem. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: 7 changes Americans are willing to make to fix Social Security — including one with "overwhelming bipartisan support," by Lorie Konish, CNBC 5 fixes that could help save Medicare, by Jackie Stewart, Kiplinger About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 79: Artificial intelligence has been one of the most talked about topics so far this year — and with good reason. In just the past two months, there has been a flood of news stories talking about the amazing possibilities of this new technology, along with plenty of worries about what this all could mean. ChatGPT is at the center of this debate. This software, which was launched in November, is a natural language processing tool that can answer questions, write essays or even construct computer code. AI has raised plenty of questions about ethics, and it seemed like an overwhelming topic for this podcast. So we deiced to ask ChatGPT this question: "I am looking for topics for an upcoming podcast about ethics and AI. What topics should I cover?" In seconds it provided a list of topics. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada take a critical look at the many ethical questions raised by AI, and whether the world is ready for this huge technological shift. Read more:Richard Kyte: Here are the ethical questions would should be asking about AI About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 78: About 1 in 5 U.S. adults say they have personally bet money on sports in the past 12 months, and the changes in many states to loosen marijuana regulations have proved popular. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss these changes and how the four classical virtues —prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance — seem to be at risk. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: America has gone too far in legalizing vice, by Matthew Loftus, The Atlantic As more states legalize the practice, 19% of U.S. adults say they have bet money on sports in the past year, by John Gramlich, Pew Research Weed legalization supported by most U.S. voters, Morgan Paxhia, Kiplinger About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 77: Law enforcement officers and teachers are at the center of some of our country’s biggest political and policy debates. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether how the political polarization around these two professions is harmful and makes recruitment and retention of people in these fields difficult. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Nurses retain top ethics rating in U.S., but below 2020 high, by Megan Brenan, Gallup Poll finds confidence in police practices drops to a new low, Gary Langer, ABC News Record-high 56% in U.S. perceive local crime has increased, by Megan Brenan, Gallup ‘A recipe for disaster.’ Deadly encounter in Memphis comes at a critical time in American policing, by Ray Sanchez, CNN Education issues vault to top of the GOP's presidential race, Trip Gabriel, The New York Times Organs in exchange for freedom? Bill raises ethical concerns, by Steve LeBlanc, The Associated Press About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 76: Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why rural voters have become more more Republican over the past 25 years and whether there's anything Democrats can do to reverse that trend. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Can anything be done to assuage rural rage? by Paul Krugman, The New York Times The politics of resentment: Rural consciousness in Wisconsin and the rise of Scott Walker, by Katherine J. Kramer A boring and obvious way to get more rural votes, by Matt Yglesias, Slow Boring About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 75: Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss a recent study about happiness and whether the philosophy of the stoics can help us in our everyday lives. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Key to happiness is learning to accept things as they are, by Richard Kyte What the longest human happiness study found is the key to a good life, by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, The Atlantic The happiest, least stressful, most meaningful jobs in America, by Andrew Van Dam, The Washington Post What is stoicism? A definition and nine stoic exercises to get you started, Daily Stoic A 2,300-year-old philosophy stoicism has enjoyed a revival of late, especially in Silicon Valley, by John Metcalfe, The Washington Post About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 74: A recent column in the New York Times, in which a grandmother said she was losing sleep about her 9-year-old granddaughter walking home alone from school, caused quite an uproar on social media. Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how parents often wrongly evaluate risk and how a Japanese TV show builds up confidence in youngsters. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Why "Old Enough" is the show you should be watching right now, by Cady Lang, Time About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 73: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the reactions from fans and the media after the on-field cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: A life without risk isn't worth living, by Richard Kyte What makes Americans so crazy about football?, by Randall Balmer, Dartmouth College The 10 most dangerous jobs in America, by OSHA NFL culture shift on full display after Hamlin collapse, by Jeff Tracy, Axios About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 72: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss a recent study by the IRS that finds 88 percent of Americans say it's not at all acceptable to cheat on their taxes, but yet only 44 percent think it is their personal responsibility to report anyone who refuses to pay what they owe. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Don’t worry, the IRS isn’t hiring an ‘army’ of auditors — here’s what’s really happening, by Ryan Ermey, CNBC Trump's returns shed light on tax offsets, foreign accounts, by Michael R. Sisak, Jill Colvin and Chris Rugaber, The Associated Press About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 71: This is the time of the year when many of us make resolutions, and becoming better organized and cutting down on clutter is on many people's lists. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about why some people value tidiness, while others say a home filled with cherished items shows a life filled with meaning and memories. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Richard Kyte: What do the things in our lives say about us?, by Richard Kyte Clutter is good for you, by Rob Walker, The New York Times In praise of unfinished basements, by Brady Brickner-Wood, The New York Times The relationship between mental health and cleaning, by Sherri Gordon, Very Well Mind Slate Political Gabfest About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 70: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are joined by Chris Lay to — perhaps foolishly – make their prognostications for the new year. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Movie theater stocks plummet after modest ‘Avatar 2’ opening weekend, by Brian Welk, Indie Wire How unions are winning again, by Rani Molla, Vox About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, Chris Lay is Lee's podcast operations manager, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 69: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are joined this week by Chris Lay to review their prognostications about topics including vaccines, the Oscars and Donald Trump. About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, Chris Lay is the podcast operations manager for Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 68: Christmas is almost here, and many people are scurrying to find last-minute gifts. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether money makes a good gift and if it's OK to try to instill your own values in what you choose to put under the tree. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: How to be the best damn gift giver you can be, by Graham Techler, Fatherly About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 67: The philosophical and social movement called effective altruism has received lots of attention over the past month after the collapse of the user-friendly crypto exchange FTX. The founder of the failed company is Sam Bankman-Fried. He seems likely to face civil and/or criminal penalties for what appears to be at best mismanagement and at worst blatant corruption that caused the sudden failure of the exchange, along with the disappearance of billions of dollars. But other than running FTX, Bankman-Fried was an evangelist for effective altruism, and many wonder whether his well-documented business failure puts the principals of this movement at risk, and whether the principles of the movement a benefit to society. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Effective altruism offers promise, pitfalls, by Richard Kyte The reluctant prophet of effective altruism, by Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker How Sam Bankman-Fried's fall exposes the failures of effective altruism, by Zeeshan Aleem, MSNBC About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 66: Each year, federal, state and local governments have to make important budget decisions. With so many people struggling to meet even their basic needs — such as food, shelter and health care — is it OK for public dollars to fund things that feel more optional, such as the arts, sports stadiums and even space travel? Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Wikipedia California voters approve Proposition 28 for music and arts education funding, by Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times Kansas City Royals confirm new stadium plans, by Makenzie Koch, Brian Dulle and Russell Colburn, WDAF-TV SLS and Artemis warrant continued robust support, by U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama NASA is returning to the Moon this week. Why do we feel so conflicted?, by  Shannon Stirone, Leroy Chiao, Lori Garver and David Grinspoon, New York Times About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 65: Cancel culture has roared onto the scene in the past few years, much to the delight of some and to the dismay of many others. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the importance of holding people accountable for their actions but also what can happen when we take that too far. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Cancel culture comes from loss of trust, by Richard Kyte NHL team yanks contract of a player who bullied a Black classmate with disabilities, by Bill Chappell, National Public Radio A growing share of Americans are familiar with ‘cancel culture,’ by Emily A. Vogels, Pew Research Center Why cancel culture is so toxic and how to effectively hold folks accountable, according to social media experts, by Alesandra Dubin, Insider About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 64: Each year at this time, there are lots of stories written about how to avoid having political fights around the Thanksgiving dinner table. But what if the debate is about what’s on the table instead? Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why the choices we make at supermarkets and restaurants send a strong ethical message. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Inside the fantastical, pragmatic quest to make “hybrid” meat, by Kenny Torrella, Vox Here’s exactly how your diet affects the planet, a landmark study finds, by Scott Dance, The Washington Post We badly need better alternatives to conventional meat, Matthew Ygelsias, Slow Boring Thanksgiving dinner will cost 20% more this year because of inflation. Here's what to expect, By Vanessa Yurkevic, CNN About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 63: A recent change means that Amy Dickinson’s advice column is appearing each day in all Lee Newspapers. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the history of advice columnists in newspapers, talk about how best to give advice when asked, and later they review some of Amy's columns and whether she gave the best possible answer. Links to columns by Amy Dickinson discussed during the show: New nitpicking boss brings on new problems Science guy horrified when friends use found mushrooms in evening meal; later Amy wrote that she has second thoughts about that advice. Alcoholic nanny drinking on the job poses risks Parent pressures gay son to change Richard Kyte: Good advice requires listening first About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 62: True crime is one Hollywood’s most successful genres. Most recently, Netflix aired a 10-part series about Jeffery Dahmer, the Milwaukee serial killer, and it was a huge hit. But many of those who were affected by that crime were upset they were consulted about the show and aren’t interested in watching it. The sister of one of Dahmer’s victim’s said it’s sad that the producers are making money off of the tragic events that happened more than three decades ago. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why true crime is so popular and why such disturbing stories have such a strong appeal. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: A steady diet of horror is bad for society, by Richard Kyte, The Ethical Life The ethics of true-crime TV: What Ron Goldman's sister wants "Dahmer" viewers to know, by Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly eBay is removing Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween costumes, by Zoe Sottile, CNN About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 61: Scott and Richard will be back next week with a fresh episode, but this week we're sharing an all treats, no tricks, holiday-themed dispatch that originally ran on October 13 last year: Episode 23: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the lessons we can all learn from Halloween, why Thanksgiving is more than the just the day before Black Friday, and how families can strike a balance between the secular and religious traditions of Christmas. About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 60: After years of steady declines, crime rates have been trending upward over the past few years. And as the midterms approach, this topic is getting lots of attention, with many Republicans focusing on public safety as a prime appeal to voters. Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss several high-tech tactics designed to reduce crime and how to balance privacy concerns with public safety. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: The governor of New York says the installation of two cameras on each New York City subway car is supposed to giver commuters the sense that “Big Brother” is watching over them and to offer people “peace of mind.” Stoplight cameras are not new, but some states are looking to expand them, while others are looking to ban them. Congress is considering a bill limiting the use of facial-recognition to apprehend criminals. Cities across Texas are deploying drones to fight crime. In an article titled “The best way to end mass incarceration is to catch more criminals,” Matt Yglesias says mandatory collection of DNA for those who have been convicted of a felony is a great deterrent. About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 59: The new book by Richard Reeves, “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It” is getting a lot of attention. In it, the author, who is the father of three sons, writes: “Boys and men are struggling. Profound economic and social changes of recent decades have many losing ground in the classroom, the workplace and in the family. While the lives of women have changed, the lives of many men have remained the same or even worsened.” The hosts discuss how changes to education and other parts of society could help reverse this recent trend. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: We can no longer ignore struggling men and boys, by Richard Kyte What’s behind the growing gap between men and women in college completion?, Kim Parker, Pew Research Center The crisis of men and boys, by David Brooks, The New York Times Men’s social circles are shrinking, by Daniel A. Cox, Survey Center of American Life About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 58: Last month, a task force recommended anxiety screenings for all adults, even those without symptoms. The hosts look at what's behind the spike in cases and why it seems to be affecting young adults most of all. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: With anxiety levels spiking, it's time to look at the cause, by Richard Kyte Historical language records reveal a surge of cognitive distortions in recent decades, by Johan Bollen About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 57: As Republican governors ramp up their high-profile transports of migrants to Democratic-run jurisdictions, The Associated Press reports that the practice is getting a mixed reaction from Christian faith leaders — many of whom, especially evangelicals, have supported GOP candidates by large numbers in recent elections. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada debate the causes of the crisis at the border and what can be done to help fix this long-term problem. Links to stories discussed during the podcast The Martha’s Vineyard migrant stunt Is making one truth about this country clear, by Farah Stockman, The New York Times The border crisis could still be Biden’s opportunity, by Bret Stephens, The New York Times About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 56: Last month Abigail Weinberg interviewed Jessie Singer for Mother Jones magazine. They talked about a book Singer wrote earlier this year titled “There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster — Who Profits and Who Pays the Price. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how harm reduction can make the world a safer place. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Unintentional injury in the U.S. statistics and facts, by Statista A surge in vehicle crashes is disproportionately harming lower-income families and Black Americans, by David Leonhardt of the New York Times Newsom vetoes bill proposing safe drug injection sites in California, by Cheri Mossburg, CNN About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 55: We are weeks away from elections that could affect control of Congress, along with the political futures of states across this nation. Some issues — such as differences on tax policy or school budgets — are relatively easy to discuss, but when the topic turns to the health of one of the candidates, things quickly get tricky. Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how much voters should know about the health of the candidates who appear on the ballot, and what’s the ethical way for a challenger to bring up the medical challenges facing an opponent? Links to stories discussed during the podcast: John Fetterman has lingering speech issues after his stroke. What's the impact on his Senate run?, by Julia Terruso, The Philadelphia Inquirer A worrying phone call adds to concerns about Sen. Dianne Feinstein's cognitive health, by Amina Kilpatrick, National Public Radio Most Americans want maximum age limit for elected officials, WDAF-TV A politician’s mental health is as crucial as a pilot’s. Why don’t we tend to it?,  Ashley Weinberg, The Washington Post About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 54: Last month David Brooks of The New York Times wrote a column headlined “Why your social life is not what it should be.” Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how technology, which is designed to bring people together, often keeps us apart. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: The Big Sort, by Bill Bishop Seven key takeaways from Raj Chetty’s new research on friendship and economic mobility, by Richard V. Reeves and Coura Fall, The Brookings Institute About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 53: President Joe Biden said his administration plans to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for anyone who earns less than $125,000 a year. People who went to college on Pell grants can have up to $20,000 forgiven. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada debate this significant and expensive policy, and what it means about fairness and the structural funding problems in higher education. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: The moral failure of student debt relief, by Richard Kyte, The Ethical Life Analysis: Biden's student loan forgiveness may erase savings of climate, drugs law, by David Lawder, Reuters Student loan cancellation: Congress proposes 0% interest rates for student loans, Zack Friedman, Forbes Who owes the most in student loans: New data from the Fed, Sandy Baum and Adam Looney, Brookings Institute About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 52: Although the worst of the pandemic seems to be behind us, most people agree that remote work — at least for some employees — is here to stay. Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the benefits and challenges associated with this fundamental change in how we do our jobs, along with some of the long-term consequences. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Statistics on remote workers that will surprise you, by Apollo Technical Study finds productivity not deterred by shift to remote work, by Roy Maurer, SHRM The rise of the worker productivity score, by Jodi Kantor and Arya Sundaram, New York Times About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 51: Thousands of Americans die each year because the demand for organs far exceeds the supply. And we’ve all heard stories about hospitals in our communities struggling to get enough people to voluntarily donate blood. Hosts Scott Rada and Rick Kyte discuss what can and should be done to increase donations and save lives. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Assessing global organ donation policies: Opt-in vs. opt-out, by the National Center for Biotechnology Information Paid organ donation: The case against, by the National Center for Biotechnology Information Ethical issues of transplanting organs from transgenic animals into human beings, by the National Center for Biotechnology Information Why you get paid to donate plasma but not blood, by Elizabeth Preston, Stat The United States surrogacy law map, by Creative Family Connections About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 50: To mark our 50th episode, hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada wanted to tackle a big and important topic, and few are bigger – and more polarizing – than religion. The hosts – who have clearly different points of view – discuss the Bible, the existence of an afterlife and the effectiveness of prayer. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Here’s why we shouldn’t give up on churches, by Rick Kyte About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 49: A recent poll found that small businesses are the most-respected institution in America today. And, according to the Better Business Bureau, if consumers spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays within their local economy. However, a column last year by Matthew Yglesias, points out that, unlike small businesses, larger companies look for more qualified candidates for leadership jobs instead of often relying on family members when hiring for top jobs. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Pittsburgh Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw complains about Walmart in Illinois, by Zach Roth, State Journal-Register About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 48: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the recent protests aimed at Supreme Court justices and whether confronting them or other public officials in private spaces is appropriate. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Tweet from ShutDownDC asking service workers to report sightings of Supreme Court justices Pete Buttigieg shuts down Fox News on Kavanaugh protesters Here's what we know about Wisconsin judge John Roemer and the Juneau County shooting, by the Wisconsin State Journal Legislation to protect the home addresses of judges and other court officials, by the National Center for State Courts About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 47: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether we have the right social structures in place to allow us to develop humility as a virtue and why we need to have our beliefs and behaviors routinely challenged by others. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Humility is required for living a good life, by Richard Kyte How do you know if you’re actually humble?, by Tyrone Sgambati, Greater Good Magazine About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 46: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss a recent story by Derek Thompson of The Atlantic in which he outlines the four forces that are propelling the rising rates of depression among young people. About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 45: A few weeks ago, a Google engineer was placed on administrative leave after he said a chatbot created by his employer had achieved sentience. The company said its systems imitated conversational exchanges but did not have consciousness. It also said the employee violated its confidentiality policy. The question about whether computers have a soul is still open to debate, but what’s clear is that they’re getting better each year and processing large amounts of data. Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discus how worried should we be about the future of artificial intelligence. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: A.I. is mastering language. Should we trust what it says?, by Steven Johnson, New York Times Magazine Stephen Hawking warns artificial intelligence could end mankind, by Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC AI could defeat all of us combined, by Holden Karnofsky Are we living in a computer simulation? I don’t know. Probably., by Sean Illing, Vox About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 44: With recent polls showing most Americans aren’t happy with the direction of the country, Richard Kyte and Scott Rada debate how much of that is because of the the negative thrust of many of the news reports people see and share on social media. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Why is all COVID news bad news?, by the National Bureau of Economic Research The media is biased, but not in a way you think, by Eric Weiner Is the economy actually bad, or does everyone just feel like it is?, by Emily Stuart, Vox John Malone says WarnerMedia-Discovery getting rid of CNN would be the ‘coward’s way out’, by Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 43: Over the past few years, trans issues have gotten much more attention, especially with more children talking about and sometimes questioning their own gender. In the episode, Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about why this topic is so polarizing for many Americans and ideas about how to think about acceptance and treatment. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: We need to do better at talking about gender identity, by Richard Kyte The Battle Over Gender Therapy: More teenagers than ever are seeking transitions, but the medical community that treats them is deeply divided about why — and what to do to help them, by Emily Bazelon of The New York Times About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 42: In 2020, more than 45,000 people in the United States died from gun-related injuries, but the number of people who die each year from alcohol-related causes is more than twice that. Yet social media and cable news is not filled with debates about how to solve this problem. Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about what can be done to address this problem that is underpinning much of the violence in America today. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Alcohol facts and statistics, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Drunk driving fatality statistics, from responsibility,org Alcohol consumption among adults in Europe, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 41: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about why so many gun owners feel like their voices are being drowned out by the extreme positions so many people take on this polarizing issue. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: What hunters say about guns might surprise you, by Richard Kyte Poll finds parents are scared about gun violence in schools, and so are their school-aged children, by Fred Backus, Anthony Salvanto and Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News The presidential candidate who shot and killed a girl when he was 12, by Justin Peters, Slate About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 40: According to a story in Fast Company, when the history of the COVID-19 pandemic is written, the disease’s economic and cultural impact will surely include the Great Resignation. Rick Kyte and Scott Rada look at the pros and cons of this recent trend, and they discuss why so many of those people changing jobs seem to have second thoughts. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Mentors are important at every stage of life, by Rick Kyte Why do so many Americans regret changing jobs, by Rick Kyte Meet the typical Gen Z worker, who is quitting their job for a better one but probably regretting it later, by Hillary Hoffower, Insider Quarter of US doctors in survey say they'll quit over COVID stress, by Madeleine List, McClatchy Washington Bureau   About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

Episode 39: A recent poll found that, unsurprisingly, Americans say inflation is their No. 1 concern. Next on the list are worries about political extremism, crime and immigration. In this episode, Scott Rada and Rick Kyte discus why most voters seem to focus more on social issues rather than on policies that might fix the problems they care about the most. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Why Dems ought to take a cue from the GOP and get angry, by Will Stancil, Politico Explainer: White ‘replacement theory’ fuels racist attacks, by David Bauder, The Associated Press About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.