The Ethical Life

By Scott Rada and Richard KyteSociety & Culture

The Ethical Life episodes

December 07, 2022 Is effective altruism useful when deciding how to help others?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
45 min
November 30, 2022 Are lawmakers making wise choices in spending our money?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
52 min
November 23, 2022 Does cancel culture promote accountability or mob rule?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
50 min
November 16, 2022 How big of a role should ethics play in what we eat?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
42 min
November 09, 2022How can you give good advice like Amy Dickinson?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
48 min
November 02, 2022 What is so appealing about true-crime shows?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
37 min
October 26, 2022 From the archives: What are the ethical pitfalls of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hr 1 min
October 19, 2022 Will expanding use of high-tech tools reduce crime?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
47 min
October 12, 2022 Why are so many boys and men struggling?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
38 min
October 05, 2022 Why are reports of anxiety, especially among young people, spiking?
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
41 min

About The Ethical Life

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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. Kyte is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."