The Ethical Life

Episode 79:  Artificial intelligence has been one of the most talked about topics so far this year — and with good reason. In just the past two months, there has been a flood of news stories talking about the amazing possibilities of this new technology, along with plenty of worries about what this all could mean. ChatGPT is at the center of this debate. This software, which was launched in Novemb...

Episode 78:  About 1 in 5 U.S. adults say they have personally bet money on sports in the past 12 months, and the changes in many states to loosen marijuana regulations have proved popular. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss these changes and how the four classical virtues —prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance — seem to be at risk. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Ameri...

Episode 77: Law enforcement officers and teachers are at the center of some of our country’s biggest political and policy debates. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether how the political polarization around these two professions is harmful and makes recruitment and retention of people in these fields difficult. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Nurses retain top ethics rat...

Episode 76: Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why rural voters have become more more Republican over the past 25 years and whether there's anything Democrats can do to reverse that trend. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Can anything be done to assuage rural rage? by Paul Krugman, The New York Times The politics of resentment: Rural consciousness in Wisconsin and the rise of S...

Episode 75: Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss a recent study about happiness and whether the philosophy of the stoics can help us in our everyday lives. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Key to happiness is learning to accept things as they are , by Richard Kyte What the longest human happiness study found is the key to a good life , by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, The Atl...

Episode 74: A recent column in the New York Times , in which a grandmother said she was losing sleep about her 9-year-old granddaughter walking home alone from school, caused quite an uproar on social media. Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how parents often wrongly evaluate risk and how a Japanese TV show  builds up confidence in youngsters. Links to stories discussed during the podcast:...

Episode 73: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the reactions from fans and the media after the on-field cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: A life without risk isn't worth living , by Richard Kyte What makes Americans so crazy about football? , by Randall Balmer, Dartmouth College The 10 most dangerous jobs in America , by O...

Episode 72: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss a recent study by the IRS that finds 88 percent of Americans say it's not at all acceptable to cheat on their taxes, but yet only 44 percent think it is their personal responsibility to report anyone who refuses to pay what they owe. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Don’t worry, the IRS isn’t hiring an ‘army’ of auditors — here’s what’s...

Episode 71: This is the time of the year when many of us make resolutions, and becoming better organized and cutting down on clutter is on many people's lists. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about why some people value tidiness, while others say a home filled with cherished items shows a life filled with meaning and memories. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Richard Kyte: Wha...

Episode 70: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are joined by Chris Lay to — perhaps foolishly – make their prognostications for the new year. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Movie theater stocks plummet after modest ‘Avatar 2’ opening weekend , by Brian Welk, Indie Wire How unions are winning again , by Rani Molla, Vox About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Ente...

Episode 69: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are joined this week by Chris Lay to review their prognostications about topics including vaccines, the Oscars and Donald Trump. About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, Chris Lay is the podcast operations manager for Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadersh...

Episode 68: Christmas is almost here, and many people are scurrying to find last-minute gifts. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether money makes a good gift and if it's OK to try to instill your own values in what you choose to put under the tree. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: How to be the best damn gift giver you can be , by Graham Techler, Fatherly About the hosts: Sco...

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...

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 N...

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 Ky...

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 fantast...

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:...

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 maki...

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 bet...

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...

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 l...

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 cognit...

Episode 57: As Republican governors ramp up their high-profile transports of migrants to Democratic-run jurisdictions, The Associated Press reports that the practice is getting a mixed reaction from Christian faith leaders — many of whom, especially evangelicals, have supported GOP candidates by large numbers in recent elections. Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada debate the causes of the crisis at th...

Episode 56: Last month Abigail Weinberg interviewed Jessie Singer for Mother Jones magazine. They talked about a book Singer wrote earlier this year titled “ There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster — Who Profits and Who Pays the Price . Hosts Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how harm reduction can make the world a safer place. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: U...

Episode 55:  We are weeks away from elections that could affect control of Congress, along with the political futures of states across this nation. Some issues — such as differences on tax policy or school budgets — are relatively easy to discuss, but when the topic turns to the health of one of the candidates, things quickly get tricky. Rick Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how much voters should know...