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.

Episode 38: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada debate whether we should be worried about the unprecedented breach of trust inside the nation’s highest court, or if this simply is ending the charade that our nation’s justices need to be cloaked in secrecy. Later, they discuss the similarities between Florida's so-called Don't-Say-Gay law and a high school football coach who wants to pray with his players. And in the third segment they talk about whether we should build a national COVID memorial. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: It’s about time someone punctured the Supreme Court’s veil of secrecy, by Jack Shafer, Politico Slate Political Gabfest, with David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson Why New York needs a COVID memorial, by the New York Times editorial board 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 37: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about recent calls by former President Barack Obama for technology companies to better protect the public from polarizing falsehoods online and whether billionaire Elon Musk's plans for Twitter are helpful. Next, they discuss whether it's ethical to cancel all things Russian in the wake of that country's brutal attack on Ukraine. And in the third segment, they look at a recent study that shows why a company's culture is critical to keep its best employees. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Obama says tech companies have made democracy more vulnerable, by Elizabeth Dwoskin and  Eugene Scott of The Washington Post Obama’s plans to fight disinformation are better than most, Casey Newton, Platformer Reasonableness must be cultivated, not legislated, by Richard Kyte '2020 changed everything': How misinformation of 2020 is shaping 2022 elections, by Amanda Seitz, The Associated Press The profound irony of canceling everything Russian, by Kevin M.F. Platt, The New York Times La Crosse City Council issues support for Ukraine, removes Russian flags from city facilities, by Olivia Herken, La Crosse Tribune Here’s why the best workers leave companies, while the worst ones stay, by Jason Feifer Office frustrations more likely to cause proactive employees to leave; less proactive employees will take it, by Tom Snee, the University of Iowa 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 36: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the recent case where a former nurse in Tennessee was convicted of two felonies and now faces eight years in prison for a fatal medication mistake. Next, they discuss how fear of others can seep into our consciousness, and how that can change the way we act. And in the third segment, they look at the ethical considerations that go into designing our infrastructure. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Nurse convicted of neglect and negligent homicide for fatal drug error, by The Kaiser Family Foundation Nurses nationwide quit nursing careers after RaDonda Vaught verdict, by Marissa Sulek of WSMV-TV RaDonda Vaught verdict showed jurors didn't fully understand role of nurses, by Dr. Michael Brisman By wary of everything, by Douglas Kane To make safer streets, design them for drunk drivers, by Jessie Singer 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 35: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about whether the behavior of close family members should affect how we think about our leaders. Next, they discuss potential changes to daylight saving time and why this issue is so important to so many people. And in the third segment, they look at why some sports fans don’t actually seem to like their favorite teams. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Report: Justice Thomas' wife urged overturning 2020 election in texts to Trump chief of staff, by The Associated Press Ethics experts see Ginni Thomas’s texts as a problem for Supreme Court, by The Washington Post Hunter Biden, the protected third rail of journalism, Joe Concha, The Hill U.S. Senate backs bill that would make daylight saving time permanent, by The Associated Press I think I just solved daylight saving time, by Peter Coy of The New York Times 8 reasons to make daylight saving time permanent, by Jason Feifer 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 34: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about why certain people seem to be able to be at their best in the worst of situations. Next they look at whether the liberal talking point that there’s no such thing as an ethical billionaire is true. And as the pandemic seems to be waning across America, they discuss how to balance forgetting the worst parts of the past two years while not ignoring the lessons we should all learn. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: An unlikely hero. We look at Volodymyr Zelenskyy's rise, by David Leonhardt of The New York Times Ukraine's heroic Zelenskyy unites divided Americans against Putin, by Ewan Palmer, Newsweek COVID has made global inequality much worse, by Joseph E. Stiglitz, Scientific American Thorstein Veblen’s theory of the leisure class, by Rob Henderson, Quillette We Will Forget Much of the Pandemic. That’s a Good Thing, by Dr. Scott Small, 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 33: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about why it matters how Ukrainians react to the violent incursion by Russia. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: How Much Will the West Sacrifice for Ukraine?, by Tom McTague, The Atlantic On the theological ethics of assassinating Vladimir Putin, by Jeff Hood, Progressive Christian Drain Putin’s brains, by Robert Zubrin, National Review 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 32: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the recent protests by tuckers in Canada and when and whether it’s OK to disrupt people’s everyday lives to get your voice heard. In the second segment they discuss the vacancy on the Supreme Court and whether President Joe Biden was right to narrow the list of potential nominees to just black women. And in the third segment, they look at recent efforts across the nation to ban certain books and who should decide what’s appropriate.  Links to stories discussed during the podcast: The Ottawa trucker protests are a test of democracy, by The New York Times Editorial Board Americans are divided on the Supreme Court and Biden’s handling of a new justice, by Ipsos Senators spar over Biden’s pledge to pick Black woman for SCOTUS seat, by Politico Biden quest for judicial diversity goes beyond race, gender, by The Associated Press Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S., by 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 31: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about Gallup's annual rankings of the honesty and ethics of various professions. In the second segment they discuss a recent column that says we should stop worrying about "the way things used to be.” And in the third segment, they look at what Americans like about their health care. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Gallup: Military Brass, Judges Among Professions at New Image Lows, by Lydia Saad Why you should stop worrying about 'the way things used to be,' by Jason Feifer What Americans like about their health care, by Timothy Taylor Do I Really Need a Toilet? And other questions you can’t believe you ask yourself when you’re looking for an apartment in New York, by Stephen Ruddy, 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 30: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about U.S. immigration policy and why this is one of the most polarizing issues in America today. Next they discuss whether automated traffic enforcement is a better way to keep people safe. And in the third segment, they look at why some people choose to be ignorant about what’s happening in their lives. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: US Chamber of Commerce CEO calls for doubling immigration into US, 'permanent solution' for DACA recipients, by Adam Shaw of Fox Business Automate as much traffic enforcement as possible, by Matthew Yglesias What we don't want to know, by Shayla Love of Vice 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 29: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant and what it says about us as a nation. Next they discuss UFOs and so why many people are obsessed with the question about whether we’re alone in the universe. And in our third segment, they look at a recent study that shows vaccine mandates might not be working as intended. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: "Three cheers for 'Let's Go Brandon," by Marc Thiessen, The Washington Post "What we believe about UFOs," by Harry Reid, The New York Times "See where 12 million U.S. employees are affected by government vaccine mandates," 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 28: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are joined by special guest Chris Lay to forecast what will happen in the near year. Topics include the future of vaccines, which film will win the Best Picture Oscar and the political future of Liz Cheney. 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. Chris Lay is the podcast operations manager for Lee Enterprises and host of an entertainment podcast.

Episode 27: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the pros and cons of the consumer society in which we live and what’s the right ethical way to proceed as we quickly approach Christmas. Next they discuss the fallout from the terrible tragedy that left six people dead and many more injured in a holiday parade in Wisconsin. And in the third segment, they look at the recent firing of Chris Cuomo from CNN and whether he was right to put his family before his job. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Why Americans buy so much stuff: A short history, by NPR Wisconsin Republicans urge removal of DA over parade deaths, by The Associated Press Suspect in Waukesha parade carnage says he feels "demonized," by 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 26: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the unpredictable nature of the pandemic and whether our lives will return to normal anytime soon. Next they discuss the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict and how moral outrage often ignores the law. And in the third segment, they look at a recent survey that asked young people in 21 countries about their futures. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: The Lionization of Kyle Rittenhouse by the right, by Meredith McGraw of Politico Where Are Young People Most Optimistic? In Poorer Nations. by Claire Cain Miller and Alicia Parlapiano of the New York Times The Changing Childhood Project survey by UNICEF 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 25: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the reaction to a high school football game where the 106-0 score ignited a debate about sportsmanship. Companies are buying up single-family houses in cities across the country, and in the second segment they look at how this might put home ownership further out of reach. And in the third segment, they discuss campaign yard signs and how or whether they contribute to our political discourse. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: High school apologizes after California football team won game 106-0, by Lauren M. Johnson of CNN Inglewood High players defend their 106-0 win over Morningside amid criticism, by Luca Evans of the Los Angeles Times How corporations are buying up houses — robbing families of the American Dream, by Larry Getlen of the New York Post Ciattarelli Dominated in New Jersey. When It Came to Lawn Signs, by Peter Coy 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 24: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada debate what responsibility Facebook has to control the content we see in our news feeds. In the second segment, they look at the continued struggles companies face in trying to fill open positions and whether this is a true turning point in how Americans view work. And in the third segment, they talk about whether parents should be able to exert genetic control over their offspring. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Facebook should stop pretending it has such high standards, by Matthew Yglesias Where are the workers? Cutoff of jobless aid spurs no influx, by Christopher Rugaber and Casey Smith, The Associated Press and Report for America Polygenic screening of embryos is here, but is it ethical?, by Phillip Ball of The Guardian 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 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 22: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss what's behind the huge spike in the murder rate last year. In the second segment, they debate what’s getting in the way of building more affordable housing. And in the third segment, they talk about what if anything can still be done to change the minds of those who refuse to get vaccinated. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch thinks Americans have a problem with unchecked rage. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reports that a major housing development in Brooklyn was derailed because a nearby community garden would not get enough sunlight. Tech writer David Pogue asked in a recent tweet whether a website that collects the names and photos of vocal anti-vaxxers who then died of COVID is unnecessarily cruel, or a useful reminder to anyone on the fence? 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 21: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss what's behind the anger and mayhem at many local governmental meetings in response to mask mandates. Next they talk about the troubling trend of more young men choosing not to attend college. And in the third segment, they debate whether students should be allowed to decide whether they need a mental health day away from school. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: New York Times columnist Michelle Cottle writes about how many school board meetings are out of control. The Wall Street Journal reports that many young men are abandoning higher education. The New York Times says some states are now allowing K-12 students to declare a mental health day. 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 20: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the moral responsibility we have to the people of Afghanistan after 20 years of war in their county. Next they talk about whether it’s appropriate to treat those who have been vaccinated from COVID differently than those who have chosen to get the shot. And in the third segment, they debate the ethics of gambling, which continues to see a rapid expansion across the country. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: According to Axios, the Afghan refugee crisis is about to get much worse. A story by The Dispatch says many of the people who live near Fort McCoy, one of the resettlement sites for Afghan refugees, have a message of obligation and compassion. Adam Rogers writes in Wired Magazine about a discussion among some Texas health care workers about whether it’s ethical to treat those who have been vaccinated 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 19: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the recent report about the climate and what actions we can take to possibly avoid a catastrophe. Next, they talk about the compassion fatigue many health care providers are feeling as COVID cases spike yet again. And in the third segment, they debate whether homeowners hold opinions that are hurting the availability of affordable housing. Links to stories discussed during the podcast:  An analysis of the 3,500-page climate report by CNN. A column by Matt Yglesias about how ending poverty for millions is the biggest driver of climate change. A BBC report about radical solutions to climate change. An Atlantic story about compassion fatigue by health care providers. A story by Vox that says homeownership can bring out the worst in 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 18: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the recent spike in COVID cases and what more can be done to increase the number of people getting the vaccine. Also discussed is how the pandemic has contributed to job burnout among so many workers. The third segment looks at the unexpected withdrawal last week of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and why this – like so many things in our lives – quickly turned into such a polarizing debate. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: A recent Vox article says we should mandate vaccines, not masks. Does this go too far? Are such mandates better handled by private companies? Why is the FDA seemingly slow to fully approve the vaccine, and how much of a difference would full approval actually make? According to a recent report by ABC News, burnout in the American workforce, which surveys indicate was a widespread problem even before the pandemic, is an issue that employers and managers can no longer afford to ignore. A column by James Boyd, who covers University of Illinois athletics for Lee Enterprises, says Biles is not a 'quitter,' and she doesn't owe her fans or her country anything. 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 17: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the recent trips to space by Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos. Are those expensive excursions an exciting way to show the promise of space tourism or are they simply vanity projects that ignore the more pressing needs back on Earth? The hosts also debate whether teens should be able to get vaccinated without their parents’ consent, and they discuss a recent study that shows how Americans have lost confidence in big institutions. John Thoe: Climate crisis: Ethics of space tourism Dr. Larissa Morgan:COVID-19 Vaccination of Minors Without Parental Consent Axios:Massive trust gap splits America Gallup:Americans' confidence in major U.S. institutions dips 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 16: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how advances in technology during the past 25 years have benefited us, the often unintended costs of these efficiencies and what the next 25 years might look like. 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 15: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss a widely shared meme on social media titled "7 Rules of Life." Is this list useful, and does the advice offer a path to living an ethical life. Here are the rules: Rule 1: Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. Rule 2: What others think of you is none of your business. Rule 3: Time heals almost everything. Give it time. Rule 4: Don’t compare your life to others and don’t judge them. You have no idea what their journey is about. Rule 5: Stop thinking too much, it’s alright to not know the answers. They will come to you when you least expect it. Rule 6: No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Rule 7: Smile. You don’t own all the problems in the world. 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 14: First Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why so many employers are having such a tough time filling their job openings and whether the extra federal jobless benefits are part of the reason. Next, they take a closer look at where we’re at with loosening COVID restrictions and whether vaccines are being used where the need is the greatest. And in the third segment, they try to determine whether the internet has made us meaner. 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.

Scott Rada and Richard Kyte predict what people 50 years from now will think of our society today. Later, they talk about the role luck plays in our lives. And, because this is our 13th episode, they'll look at the belief in superstitions, and why people often rely on the supernatural rather than logic. 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.

In the wake of the conviction this week of Derek Chauvin, Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss what work still needs to be done to make interactions with police safer. Later, we'll look at the debate – both ethical and medical – about the FDA’s decision to pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. And with graduation season nearly here, we’ll talk about what advice we should be giving young adults as they head out into the world. Here are links to material mentioned in the podcast: 99 Percent Invisible had a story about how emergency medical transport was once a role filled by police officers, and how we learned to hand off that responsibility to people who were better equipped to handle those situations. A story by NPR quotes author and law professor Paul Butler. He says he has his students do a ride-a-long with a police officer who invites the students to play a game the officer calls “Pick That Car.” Last year, an episode of the podcast Hi-Phi Nation looked at the history of traffic enforcement in America. A column from 2016 by Dick Meyer that says we're giving graduates the wrong advice.   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.

With America's attention yet again on gun violence, Scott Rada and Richard Kyte talk how their different life experiences frame how they each look at the issue of firearm safety and why guns are such a cultural symbol for so many people. Also discussed is a column Richard wrote in 2011 about how rural and urban people view this issue so differently. Later in the episode, Scott and Richard discuss a poll released just before Easter that shows that for the first time a majority of Americans say they no longer belong to a particular church. Finally, we tackle two ethical dilemmas, one about whether politics belong in professional sports and the other about how to deal with a lousy boss. 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.  

Topics include whether you should teach children that police officers are their friends, how much to reveal when selling a used car and if telling people with Alzheimer's disease the whole truth is always appropriate. What we’ve been reading Rick:Boeing 737 Max cleared to fly again 'too early,’ by Theo Leggett of BBC News Scott:How ‘Owning the Libs’ Became the GOP’s Core Belief, by Derek Robertson of Politico 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.  

On the ninth episode of “The Ethical Life," Richard Kyte and Scott Rada focus on the risks people face -- some real and some overblown -- and why people react the way they do. First we’ll discuss how to understand the changing guidelines around COVID-19 and how people can hear the same advice but react so differently. Then we’ll discuss the major threats we often hear about – from national disasters, to terrorism to climate change – and how we can try to not feel overwhelmed by worry and actually lessen their future impacts. And, in the third segment, we’ll bring the talk about risk much closer to home and look at how parents have become much more protective of their children and what drove those changes over the past few generations. Stories mentioned in the podcast Zero COVID risk is the wrong standard, by Jonathan Chait, New York magazine Protecting America against catastrophe, by Felix Salmon, Axios Idaho introduces ‘free-range parenting’ bill, by Katherine Martinko, Tree Hugger What we’ve been reading Rick: Results of the Campus Expression Survey Scott: America Is Not Made for People Who Pee, by Nicholas Kristof, an opinion writer with 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.

On the eighth episode of “The Ethical Life," Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the proposal to forgive student loan debt and whether that’s an equitable idea, if boycotts are in effective tactic to get companies to change their policies and why we should consider increasing the pay of our politicians to get a better slate of candidates. What we’ve been reading Rick: El Paso Heeded the Warnings and Avoided a Winter Catastrophe, by Sierra Juarez of Texas monthly Scott: The Boredom Economy, by Sydney Ember 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.

On the seventh episode of “The Ethical Life," Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the push in many states to legalize marijuana, whether news stories about relatively minor crimes should stay online forever, and which tactics work best when dealing with unreasonable people. Here are some of the stories referenced in today’s show: At the Boston Globe, the “Fresh Start” initiative is part of a broader effort to rethink the Globe’s criminal justice coverage and how it affects communities of color, amid a national reckoning over racial inequity. Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, had a column in The New York Times last week titled “The Science of Reasoning With Unreasonable People,” and in it he says to not try to change someone else’s mind. Instead, help them find their own motivation to change. What we’ve been reading: Richard: 'This is not justice.' Tenant activists upend U.S. eviction courts, by Michelle Conlin of Reuters Scott: Hygiene Theater Is Still a Huge Waste of Time, by Darren Thompson at 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.

On the sixth episode of “The Ethical Life,” Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are joined by Dr. Jim Bailey to talk about the coronavirus vaccines. Topics discussed include: With more than 400,000 Americans having died from the disease and millions more infected, could public health officials been even more aggressive in vaccine development? The Moderna vaccine, for example, existed in its current form in February, but we refused to use challenge trials – that’s the process where we intentionally expose people to the virus – to see how well vaccines work. Have we struck the proper ethical balance between freedom and public health? Will this pandemic result in more respect – and more funding – for our public health infrastructure? Why does COVID-19 put certain communities – especially those with lower incomes -- more at risk than others? And should we target those groups with vaccines first? When will the vaccine supply in the United States outstrip demand? Should venues be able to require proof of vaccination before people enter? Should there be a national vaccine registry? What have we learned during this pandemic that will help be better prepared for the next one? What we’ve been reading. Richard's pick: Mega-rich recoup COVID-losses in record-time yet billions will live in poverty for at least a decade Scott’s pick: Trump Wants Back on Facebook. This Star-Studded Jury Might Let Him. About the guest: Dr. Jim Bailey serves as the Robert S. Pearce endowed chair in internal medicine, professor of medicine and preventive medicine, and director for the Center for Health Systems Improvement at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He is also part of a study funded by the National Institute for Health to look at how COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities. 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.

On the fifth episode of “The Ethical Life,” Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the fallout one week after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Topics discussed include: False information and conspiracy theories were to blame, but what can be done – in both the short and long term – to reduce the chances of violent uprisings like this from happening again? Would the Republican Party be in a stronger place today had Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in 2016, and is the GOP now at risk of splitting in two? Many of our elected leaders say this mayhem is not who we are as a country – but is that necessarily true? Social media was filled with people comparing the violence at the Capitol with the protests around racial justice earlier this summer. Are there any similarities between the two? Has isolation because of COVID-19 pushed us into an even more polarized society, and can prosperity be dangerous because we don’t have a common enemy to bring us together? Was it right for CEOs of big companies – often in the tech world – to fill the vacuum of leadership at this key moment? And how do we moderate free speech when provocative speech often gets the most attention. What we’ve been reading. Richard's pick: American Airlines is grounding emotional-support animals Scott's pick: Gene Weingarten: Your call is unimportant to us

On the fourth episode of “The Ethical Life,” Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why trust is lacking in our society, both with our elected leaders and with each other, and why kindness might be the most important political virtue. We explore why the citizens of Flint, Mich., still are wary of drinking the water, even though officials says it’s finally safe, how needlessly regulating things such as frozen cherry pies make people skeptical of the role of government in our lives, and why journalism is important to keep people informed and to shine a light on corruption. In addition, we talk about whether the right people are getting the COVID-19 vaccines first, and if politicians should be at the front of the line? We also discuss a recent study that found adding context to controversial monuments does little to change people’s minds and the role confirmation bias plays in how we understand our past. A recent article demonstrates the importance of ethics in hospitals, when the number of people needing care exceeds the amount of care that can be provided. On a lighter note, we talk about the recent push by Florida officials to promote the eating of python meat as a way to control this invasive species. And stealing a page from another podcast, we discuss three conundrums of modern life. Here are links to the articles mentioned in the podcast. Flint Has Clean Water Now. Why Won’t People Drink It?, by Derek Roberts of Politico >> https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/23/flint-water-crisis-2020-post-coronavirus-america-445459 The Trump administration’s latest deregulation target: Frozen cherry pie, by Emily Heil of The Washington Post >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2020/12/18/deregulate-frozen-cherry-pie/ Only Seven of Stanford’s First 5,000 Vaccines Were Designated for Medical Residents, by Caroline Chen of ProPublica >> https://www.propublica.org/article/only-seven-of-stanfords-first-5-000-vaccines-were-designated-for-medical-residents Why Just ‘Adding Context’ to Controversial Monuments May Not Change Minds, by Erin Thompson of Smithsonian Magazine >> https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-just-adding-context-controversial-monument-may-not-change-minds-180976583/ Snake and eggs for breakfast? Florida may soon encourage you to eat invasive pythons, by Chris Jenkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel >> https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-florida-encourages-eating-pythons-20201209-tvykcdh35bgtvfuv7vvxm4iy6q-story.html Slate Political Gabfest >> https://slate.com/podcasts/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.

On the third episode of “The Ethical Life,” Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine and ask whether the scientific process could have been sped up even faster. We also discuss who should get the vaccine first, and whether prisoners should be at the front of the line. In addition, we look at the tactics used to discourage smoking decades ago and wonder whether a similarly graphic and shocking message should have been used to show the horrors of COVID-19. There’s also a quick detour about whether holidays are in the proper place on our calendars. We get an update on monarch butterflies and the endangered species list. And finally we discuss a recent study that shows how the people we spend our time with changes as we age. Here’s a the links to the stories we discussed on today’s episode. We had the vaccine the whole time >> https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-design.html Here's why inmates should get vaccinated against COVID-19 before the rest of us >> https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2020/12/11/heres-why-inmates-should-get-covid-19-vaccine-before-rest-us-column/3871449001/ It's time to scare people about COVID >>https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/opinion/covid-public-health-messaging.html Feds to delay seeking legal protection for monarch butterfly >>https://www.stltoday.com/news/science/feds-to-delay-seeking-legal-protection-for-monarch-butterfly/article_11ebf4a7-0901-5968-9428-abf9f864bcd4.html Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? >> https://ourworldindata.org/time-with-others-lifetime 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.