Episode 179: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how our awareness of mortality shapes the way we live.

Kyte begins by discussing how ancient philosophers, particularly the Stoics, believed we should keep death constantly in mind. This, they argued, helps us avoid self-deception about our mortality and the tendency to become overly attached to material possessions and markers of success.

Later, the hosts discuss how major religions have grappled with the question of what happens after death. While some offer detailed explanations, Kyte notes that not all religions provide clear answers. He suggests the emphasis in Christianity, for example, is more on how to live well rather than specifics about the afterlife.

Rada and Kyte share their personal reflections on mortality. Rada admits he doesn't think about it much, while Kyte says he ponders it daily, not in a morbid way, but to remind himself to use his finite time wisely. They discuss how people near the end of life often shift their priorities to relationships, forgiveness and small joys.

A key theme that emerges is the importance of storytelling and self-reflection in giving meaning to our lives. Rada observes that unlike animals, humans have a unique ability to narrate our experiences and define our identities through internal conversations. Kyte emphasizes how this helps us understand our place in time and our connections to others.

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 178: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss failure and how successful people often view it as an important part of achieving their goals.

Kyte explains that he is a proponent of not being afraid of failure, recounting how, as a young skier, he made it a goal to fall down frequently in order to improve, rather than just trying to make it down the hill without falling. He says this mindset of not being afraid to fail or look ignorant has served him well throughout his life and career.

The discussion then turns to how many successful people, when reflecting on their careers, often cite their failures as important learning experiences that helped them achieve greatness.

The conversation also touches on the role of luck in success, with Kyte arguing that successful people often downplay the significant impact luck has played in their achievements.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

The Beauty of failure and the gifts we overlook, by Richard Kyte

The Importance of Failure, The Gray Area Podcast with Sean Illing

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 177: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore the paradox of valuing diversity while facing the erosion of cultural distinctiveness. 

"There's a deep incompatibility between two different conceptions of diversity," Kyte said. "Individual diversity requires inclusivity, but group diversity necessitates exclusivity to preserve shared practices and beliefs." 

The podcast highlights the alarming statistic that an estimated half of the world's 7,000 languages may disappear within a generation, taking with them the rich cultural knowledge embedded in these tongues. 

Rada inquires about the potential benefits and drawbacks of a common global language, highlighting that while it could enhance convenience, it could also result in a world that lacks cultural diversity. 

The hosts also discuss the impact of globalization and capitalism on traditional practices, such as the evolution of ethnic restaurants in the United States. As these establishments become more mainstream, they often lose their authentic cultural roots, replaced by standardized menus and business models. 

The hosts emphasize the need for a balanced approach, one that preserves communities with distinctive cultural characteristics while also promoting inclusivity. 

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Last of their kind: What is lost when cultures die? by Wade Davis, Scientific America

Seven unique practices in the world that are dying out: See them before they are gone forever, by Ben Groundwater, The Sydney Morning Herald

Before it disappears: recording endangered practices, skills and knowledge, by Nik Petek-Sargeant, The British Museum

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 176: Is life richer when you settle in one place and grow deep roots, or when you prioritize exploration through travel and seek constant adventure? This age-old question is the focus of the latest episode of "The Ethical Life" podcast.

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how advances in technology and remote work options have made it easier for people to choose how they want to live. Kyte said that the desire for freedom often draws people to a more nomadic lifestyle, but warned that the experience can be deceptive, lacking the sense of community and obligation that provides meaning.

The hosts explored the benefits of travel, such as reduced stress and increased creativity, but also acknowledged the tendency for people to get stuck in routines and forget to explore their own communities. They emphasized the importance of intentionally seeking out new experiences, even close to home.

The discussion also touched on the growing number of "full-time traveler residents" in states like South Dakota, as well as the emotional appeals and potential pitfalls of a nomadic life.

Kyte shared the story of a friend who initially enjoyed the RV lifestyle but later decided to settle down, craving a stronger sense of community and connection.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Nomadic adventures or a rooted life? The joys and limits of wandering, by Richard Kyte

On living an exciting life, by Nick Costello

Becoming a resident of South Dakota is easy. Some say too easy, by Jack Dura, The Associated Press

Slate Political Gabfest, 2024 conundrums edition

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 175: As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people set out to make positive changes in their lives through New Year's resolutions. However, the success rate for these resolutions is notoriously low. Hosts Scott Rada and Rick Kyte explore the complexities and challenges of setting and achieving New Year's goals.

The hosts begin by examining why we are so drawn to making resolutions, even though many of them fail. Kyte suggests the timing plays a role, as the excess of the holiday season leads people to want to cut back in areas like spending and weight.

But Rada wonders if the timing of New Year's resolutions, at the height of winter in many parts of the country, makes them more difficult to stick to. He proposes that shifting the new year to about April 1 could be more conducive to resolutions focused on exercise, healthy eating and spending time with loved ones.

The hosts also discuss the challenge of balancing multiple resolutions, with Kyte emphasizing the importance of changing daily routines incrementally to support various goals. However, they acknowledge the conflict between our aspirations and our natural impulses, shaped by evolution to seek out calorie-dense foods and avoid physical exertion.

Rada and Kyte stress the need to find ways to make healthy activities enjoyable, such as incorporating social elements. They also highlight the value of accountability, whether through public declarations of goals or relying on peer pressure from friends.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

New Year’s resolutions: Who makes them and why? by Shanay Gracia, Pew Research Center

The psychology behind why new year’s resolutions fail, by Cynthia Vinney, Verywell Mind

How to achieve more with the right goals, by Jason Feifer, One Thing Better

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 174: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada were joined by special guest Tim Kelley to make their predictions for the new year. Topics include cellphone bans in schools, the growth of autonomous taxis, AI breakthroughs and weaponization, the rise of vertical farming and the trajectory of energy prices. The hosts also reviewed their prior year's predictions, assessing which came true.

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Guest Tim Kelley is the senior editor for products and partnerships with Lee Enterprises.

Episode 173: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why acts of generosity often resonate so deeply with others during this time of year.

"We have such a profound desire to connect with one another, and acts of generosity, especially when we encounter it from a stranger, reaffirm for us that we're surrounded by goodness," Kyte said.

The hosts delve into how our workplace and social environments can shape our perceptions of others, making unexpected kindness all the more impactful. Kyte shared a powerful story about a friend who was helped by a stranger at a dollar store, highlighting the joy experienced by both the giver and receiver.

The discussion also touches on the importance of gratitude, the decline of personal connections in modern society and the ethics of regifting.

Read more

How an unexpected gift reminded me of what matters most, by Richard Kyte

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 172: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the ethical considerations around public disorder in cities, focusing on the growing sense that standards of conduct have slipped in many urban areas.

Kyte introduces the concept of "moral ecology," drawing a parallel to environmental ecology. He argues that a sense of security and predictability in public spaces is a vital component of a healthy moral ecology.

Rada notes that while serious crimes have declined, persistent issues like open drug use, mental illness, homelessness and lower-level offenses contribute to a pervasive feeling of unease among the public.

The hosts say that the fraying of social connections and reduced face-to-face interactions in public spaces may be a root cause of the discomfort many people feel.

Kyte emphasizes the need for more public infrastructure, such as accessible bathrooms, to address the dignity and basic needs of those experiencing homelessness, and the hosts agree that these systemic problems contribute to a broader cynicism about the ability of public institutions to effectively address community issues.

The hosts conclude by suggesting that increasing participation in local government, integrating civil service into school curricula and restoring more autonomy to municipalities could help develop localized solutions to public disorder challenges.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Liberalism and public order, by Matthew Yglesias, Slow Boring

The Hidden Politics of Disorder, Ezra Klein, The New York Times

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 171: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the many proposals to integrate religious teachings and symbols into public school curricula and the debates over the role of faith in education.

In Texas, the state board of education recently approved an optional "Bible Literacy" curriculum that provides financial incentives for districts to adopt Bible-based lessons. Meanwhile, a federal court temporarily blocked a Louisiana law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

These initiatives, largely driven by Republican-led state governments, raise ethical questions about fairness and inclusion, Kyte said.

"Religion is really bound up in defining what a culture is," Kyte explains. "You can't separate religion and culture, so trying to exclude it from public institutions is challenging."

Rada raises questions about the true intent behind these curriculum changes. He questions whether the focus is on conveying the Sermon on the Mount's message of caring for the less fortunate or simply on displaying more punitive biblical edicts.

Kyte acknowledges the delicate balance, noting the importance of teaching religious literacy without indoctrination. He suggests integrating faith-based concepts into subjects like history, literature and political science, rather than mandating standalone Bible courses.

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

Episode 170: As the holiday season approaches, many are feeling the pull to give back to their communities. But what truly motivates us to be generous, and does the impact of our donations matter more than our reasons for giving?

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the science behind the joy of giving, exploring research that shows donating time or money can boost mood and health.

"Much of philanthropy is motivated by the ways in which we feel good from helping others out,” Kyte said.

The hosts also talked about the balance between financial contributions and volunteering, noting that both forms of giving play important roles.

Later, the conversation shifts to the concept of "Effective Altruism," which prioritizes high-impact global donations over local community support. Kyte argued this view overlooks the vital role of strong social capital and healthy local communities in enabling effective worldwide aid efforts.

"You don't want civil society to fall apart," Kyte said. "You always have to pay attention to what the conditions are of the local community."

The podcast also explores the choice between public and anonymous donations, with Kyte noting that visible giving can inspire others, while anonymity allows donors to avoid unwanted attention.

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist 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, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."