Character Explorations

Humans enjoy stories, so it is not surprising that binge-watching shows has grown into a common pastime. Media marathoners breeze through entire seasons in under a week, use stories to work through issues vicariously, and often form communities around new series. But binge-watching can also lead to lost time living our own stories and developing our character. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Susan Forshey explores binge-watching, its positive and negative effects, and offers suggestions for balancing life and watching habits.

Featuring Susan L. Forshey, Associate Professor of Christian Discipleship at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode comes from Susan Forshey’s article, "Consuming Stories Not Our Own: On #Showholes and Character in the Age of Binge-Watching," from Character and . . . Screen Life, volume 3 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

Through the power of story, we can come to know those who are remote to us in ways that engage our compassion. Drawing from the novel, The Outsiders, Jonathan Barz provides a working definition of “courageous compassion” and argues that this character quality must shape our responses to the immigration crisis.

Featuring Jonathan Barz, Professor of English at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode comes from Jonathan Barz’s article, "Outsiders and Insiders: Courageous Compassion and the Immigration Crisis," from Character and . . . Courageous Compassion, volume 2 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

When we are confronted with suffering, both locally and globally, we often experience a desire to do something. To determine a way forward, we should consider how we can channel that desire into a habit of responding to suffering in ways that alleviate the immediate need as well as work to end the root causes of suffering.

Featuring Christine Darr, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode comes from Christine Darr’s article, "Courageous Compassion: Cultivating Virtue in a Complicated World," from Character and . . . Courageous Compassion, volume 2 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

Disagreements among people are a natural part of the human experience. But when we lose sight of what we are arguing for or who we are arguing with, disagreements can have larger, longer-lasting effects. Media, leadership, and bias all influence our perception of issues and those who disagree with us, a concern which can lead to critical rifts in society, as well as emotional and physical effects on our individual health. A focus on character virtues will help us mend the crisis and keep us—as a society and as individuals—healthy despite our differences.

Featuring Josh Thomas, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode comes from Josh Thomas’s article, "Healing a Fractured World," from Character and . . . Crisis, volume 8 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

No workplace is perfect, but anyone with co-workers knows that office culture is the difference between a job that you love and a place that you dread! Toxic workplaces can make the most dedicated employee lose productivity, disengage from the culture, and even leave the company. Extreme cases of a toxic culture sometimes lead to the end of the organization. Understanding the characteristics of a toxic employee or workplace can help identify the issues and work toward fixing the problem. People of good character can employ a variety of strategies to remedy the situation.

Featuring Michelle A. Grace, Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode comes from Michelle A. Grace’s article, "Character and Crisis: Toxic Workplaces and Culture Change," from Character and . . . Crisis, volume 8 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

Interfaith friendship is key to breaking down barriers of hostility and distrust between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Bonnie Sue Lewis calls for courageous compassion and creation of “sacred spaces” to welcome others into our lives. Practicing hospitality and an openness to the Other is not only fundamental to all three faith traditions, but enabled only through the God who first welcomed us and by whose grace and mercy we draw strength to love and serve one another. Interfaith friendships begin with making room for God.

Featuring:

Bonnie Sue Lewis, Professor Emerita of Mission and World Christianity at the University of Dubuque

Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

For more on this topic, read Bonnie Sue Lewis’s article, “Courageous Compassion and Interfaith Friendship,” which appeared in Character and . . . Courageous Compassion, volume 2 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

In the months and years following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, suspicion and fear reigned in the U.S. Roger Ebertz shares the story of two Americans: Herbert Inouye, a young Japanese-American man, and Ralph L. Carr, Governor of Colorado to provide a historical example of how a political leader can respond with courageous compassion in a time of great national fear.

Featuring:

Roger Ebertz, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Dubuque

Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

For more on this topic, read Roger Ebertz’s article,"Courageous Compassion in a Time of Terror,” which appeared in Character and . . . Courageous Compassion, volume 2 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

The desire to share our lives with the world to avoid the feeling of missing out has led to a growing crisis of identity as people look to social influencers as models to imitate; this allows the normalization of following the influencer, rather than considering our own individuality, our own values, and our own character. Molly Hein shares the good news that there are steps we can take to find our way back to focusing on our individual identity.

Featuring Molly Hein, Assistant Professor of Business at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode comes from Molly Hein’s upcoming article, "Social Influencers: FOMO and Identity Crisis," from Character and . . . Crisis, volume 8 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . . Watch for the article to come out in fall 2022.

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

Science practiced with integrity can illuminate a pathway through the crisis of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Several important questions have arisen about how best to manage, treat, and live with COVID-19. Ken Turner examines responses by scientists as he considers the question, “Was there integrity?”

Featuring Ken Turner, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode is based on Ken Turner's upcoming article "Science and Integrity: A Pandemic Lens" from Character and . . . Crisis, volume 8 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . . Watch for the article to come out in fall 2022.

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.

Does the truth matter anymore? Mary Emily Briehl Duba argues, not only does the truth matter, but telling the truth is the first necessary step toward facing well the numerous crises of our day, from a global pandemic to climate change.

Featuring Mary Emily Briehl Duba, Assistant Professor of Theology at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

For more on this topic, read Mary Emily Briehl Duba’s article “Does the Truth Matter? Truth-Telling as Resistance and Hope in a Post-Truth Era,” which appeared in Character and . . . Transitions, volume 7 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.