Character Explorations

What does being a good citizen look like for a public servant? In this episode, Shea Chapin and Vladimir Hudson explore the meaning of citizenship and virtues that aid in public service. Featuring Shea Chapin, Assistant Professor of Law, and Vladimir Hudson, a senior Flight Operations major at the University of Dubuque Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more...

How do we engage with the political sphere in a meaningful way? In this episode, Adam Smith and Chloe Breitbach discuss voting, civic virtue, and the difference between spectating and participating in politics. Featuring Adam Smith, Professor of Political Philosophy talking with Chloe Breitbach, a first-year student majoring in Human Health Science at the University of Dubuque. You can read Adam S...

What responsibilities do citizens have in the United States of America? Are there certain virtues that lead someone to be more responsible as a citizen? In this episode, Adam Hoffman and Jackson Drobac explore civic virtues and the actions that good citizens take to support the common good. Featuring Adam Hoffman, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, and Jackson Drobac, First-year Biology Student...

The rise of the internet has impacted the way we mourn in ways that may be beneficial in some cases and harmful in others. In this episode, Daniel Fleming argues that, however we choose to mourn online, paying attention to ourselves and others is essential to mourning well.   Featuring Daniel P. Fleming, Assistant Professor of Computer Studies at the University of Dubuque Interviewer, Annalee...

The deaths of love ones can lead us into despair if we do not find a way to find focus on hope and positivity. In this episode, Dale Easley discusses how storytelling can help us navigate our grief and create meaning around loved one’s deaths, so that we can move forward in hope.   Featuring Dale H. Easley, Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Dubuque Interviewer, Annalee R...

Aging is an inevitable part of life. In this episode, Katie Boyer discusses how we can embrace the process of aging and make choices that support our well-being during any stage of life.   Featuring Katie E. Boyer, Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Dubuque Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director Emerita of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque   T...

The abundance of contradictory and even misleading information about climate can lead to dismay and apathy on a grand scale. In this episode, Donovan Tann suggests that using our imaginations to create a new story about climate will allow us to get over the hump of despair and into collective action.   Featuring Donovan E. Tann, Professor of English at the University of Dubuque Interviewer, A...

What does it mean to parent with integrity within a digital environment? In this episode, Jenn Supple discusses issues that parents should reflect on before posting about their children on social media, including concerns about disclosure, boundaries, identity, and authenticity. Featuring Jenn Supple, Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Dubuque Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, D...

Suspending our disbelief in reading scripture puts us in touch with the Author God. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Timothy Matthew Slemmons suggests that reading the Bible with an open mind and heart can be a transformative experience, revealing both God and ourselves to us in unexpected ways.   Featuring Timothy Matthew Slemmons, Professor of Homiletics and Worship at the University of Dubuque Th...

Today’s guest is Rev. Gregory Drumwright, public theologian, civil rights activist, and minister to George Floyd’s family during the Chauvin trial. Rev. Drumwright shares about his journey and purpose, and challenges us to cling to hope and God in the pursuit of justice. Featuring Rev. Gregory Drumwright, founder of Justice 4 the Next Generation and pastor to the Citadel Church in Greensboro, Nort...

Today’s guests discuss the roles that the church and individuals play in bridging political divides. Featuring Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton, Founder and Executive Director of House United , with Rev. Dr. Beth McCaw, Associate Professor of Ministry at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character In...

Playfulness can be serious business, Brian Hallstoos asserts in this episode, pointing to century-old publications from the University of Dubuque. By engaging in “playful play,” Black student Sol Butler made friends in the early 1900s and helped build a campus community that was less likely to express and tolerate anti-Black racism. Yet photographs and text also point to the limits of playfulness...

Contemporary scientific culture has evolved to focus on productivity, which often disincentivizes play. Yet, as Adam J. Kleinschmit discusses in this episode, play is a central element of curiosity-driven discovery science because it stimulates new ways of thinking and encourages the creative combination of ideas in novel ways. The external incentives that drive productivity culture can also adver...

Flourishing as communities and individuals requires well-being in a variety of areas so that we thrive and grow toward our human potential. In this episode, Mary K. Bryant discusses how, if we engage with games in responsible and thoughtful ways, playing games can contribute significantly to our flourishing. Featuring Mary K. Bryant, Director of Media and Programming for the Wendt Center for Chara...

Performance, at its best, is a gift of play and hospitality. In this episode, Prof. Kristen Eby discusses the various responsibilities of both performer and audience to ensure a hospitable space that encourages an optimal, communal artistic experience. Featuring Kristen Eby, Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Dubuque Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Init...

Does your capacity to “pay attention” have anything to do with your moral character? What does studying for exams have to do with becoming a good person? In this episode, Dr. Adam Smith argues that these things are connected: paying attention is about getting comfortable with uncomfortable things, and this “comfort with discomfort” is a mark of good character. Featuring Adam Benjamin Smith, Associ...

When we serve the community, it is important to identify what is motivating us. Is it that we are trying to feel good about ourselves? Or to actually accomplish something good? In this episode, Rev. Dr. Beth McCaw considers society’s pursuit of comfort through the lens of service trips, and encourages re-centering so that we act out of love rather than self-affirmation. Paradoxically, when we are...

The move to living more of our lives on our screens presents us with charitable opportunities online. Helping others through microfinance may make a positive impact, but sometimes aspects of online lending programs that are invisible to us negatively impact borrowers. In this episode, Dr. Franklin Yartey discusses the need for responsible lending and provides guidelines for lending intelligently a...

American’s daily interactions increasingly happen online. Many of the services we use are available for free, but the convenience of using them often comes with a cost we don’t fully appreciate. In this episode, Sarah Slaughter examines concerns about data collection and suggests strategies for managing privacy online in ways that reflect integrity and good character.   Featuring Sarah Slaugh...

One of the first augmented reality apps to take off with the general public in 2016, Pokémon Go continues to entertain its loyal fans—and both the benefits and concerns over health and safety remain relevant. In this episode, Rafic Sinno considers the moral responsibilities of both game consumers and designers to work against the addictive aspects of such technologies.   Featuring Rafic Sinno...

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 Forsh...

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 Inter...

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...

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...

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...