The Ethical Life

Lee Enterprises Podcasts
  • 4.0 (26)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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)." Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify.

  1. Have we forgotten how to live with reverence?

    4H AGO

    Have we forgotten how to live with reverence?

    Episode 240: In a fast-moving world filled with distractions, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters. In this episode, hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore the idea of reverence — a quality that once shaped how people understood life, but now often feels distant or overlooked. The conversation begins with a simple moment: Kyte’s discovery of a weathered deer antler in the woods. What starts as an ordinary walk becomes something more reflective, prompting a deeper consideration of life’s fragility and the reality that every living thing has its time. That awareness, Kyte argues, is at the heart of reverence — the ability to recognize both the richness of life and its limits at the same time. From there, the discussion turns to why that perspective can be so difficult to maintain. Distraction plays a major role. Constant stimulation, whether from technology or the pace of modern life, keeps people moving from one moment to the next without pausing to reflect. At the same time, a form of self-deception can take hold, allowing people to act as if their daily concerns are more permanent or significant than they really are. Kyte and Rada also examine the role of shared rituals — from small gestures of respect to larger cultural practices — in helping people stay grounded. These moments, even when they seem simple or symbolic, serve as reminders to step outside of individual concerns and recognize something larger. As those rituals fade or become less widely understood, the sense of reverence they reinforce can fade with them. The episode also explores how reverence connects to humility and justice, and how its absence can give way to arrogance and a more self-centered view of the world. In a culture that often emphasizes personal identity and constant self-promotion, that shift has real consequences for how people relate to one another.

    49 min
  2. Why do Americans see each other as morally broken?

    MAR 25

    Why do Americans see each other as morally broken?

    Episode 239: A new global survey delivers a striking insight. Among 25 countries studied, the United States stands alone in one key measure — more people say their fellow citizens are morally bad than morally good. In this episode, hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada dig into what that perception reveals about American life — and what it might be doing to the country’s social fabric. The conversation begins with a simple but unsettling question: When people say others lack morals, who are they actually thinking about? Kyte argues that much of this judgment is abstract. It is easier to condemn a vague group than a real person we know. In everyday life, most interactions are neutral or positive. But when distance grows — socially, economically or geographically — imagination fills in the gaps, often in negative ways. That distance is not accidental. Americans increasingly live, work and socialize among people who share similar backgrounds and beliefs. Kyte points to growing economic separation, where people occupy different spaces, attend different venues and rarely cross paths. Even public experiences that once brought a mix of people together — from neighborhoods to ballparks — have become more segmented. Rada raises another factor: fear. Many people think the country is in decline or on the brink of collapse. That sense of instability can distort perception, making others seem more threatening or less trustworthy than they really are. Political rhetoric can amplify those fears, especially when it frames entire groups as dangerous or misguided. The result is a cycle that is difficult to break. When people assume bad faith, they are less likely to engage in meaningful conversation. And without those conversations, trust continues to erode. For a democracy that depends on persuasion and cooperation, that poses a serious risk. Still, the episode does not end on a pessimistic note. Both hosts suggest that people have more agency than they might think. Choosing where to spend time, where to travel and how to engage with others can create opportunities for real connection. Even small, repeated interactions can begin to challenge assumptions and rebuild confidence.

    47 min
  3. Is modern life eroding our willingness to sacrifice for something greater?

    MAR 18

    Is modern life eroding our willingness to sacrifice for something greater?

    Episode 238: In a culture shaped by convenience, skepticism and growing individualism, what does it mean to commit yourself to something beyond your own interests? Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore the meaning of commitment, drawing a careful distinction between inward conviction and outward behavior. While those ideas are often treated as interchangeable, Kyte suggests they reflect different dimensions of human experience — one rooted in belief and emotional attachment, the other expressed through actions and obligations. The conversation examines how commitment develops over time. It is not automatic, nor is it purely transactional. Instead, it grows through trust, shared purpose and a belief that something — a relationship, an institution or a cause — is worthy of time, energy and, at times, personal cost. Kyte and Rada explore how earlier generations often felt stronger ties to organizations, neighborhoods and civic life. Today, many of those connections have weakened. The shift has brought benefits, including greater independence and accountability. But it has also left many people unmoored, searching for meaning without clear attachments to anything beyond themselves. The episode also considers the role of trust. It is difficult to commit deeply to people or institutions that feel unreliable or self-serving. Historical events, cultural shifts and personal experiences have all contributed to a more cautious, sometimes cynical outlook — one that can make deep connections harder to sustain. At the same time, the hosts argue that a life centered only on personal advancement can feel thin and unsatisfying. Meaning often emerges not from self-focus but from connection to something larger — whether that is family, community, faith or shared ideals. Read more from Richard Kyte: ‘Slop’ and ‘rage bait’ won’t shape your life. These words might.

    51 min
  4. How do we find the line between striving and drifting?

    MAR 11

    How do we find the line between striving and drifting?

    Episode 237: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore ambition at both extremes: the kind that consumes a life and the kind that never quite ignites. The conversation begins with a story from Rada about his great-grandfather, whose frequent advice was to “keep busy.” That guidance, Rada says, reflected engagement with work, family and community — not frantic overwork. From there, the hosts ask whether modern culture has lost sight of what healthy ambition looks like. Kyte argues that ambition has developed a negative connotation, even as society continues to praise perseverance, grit and discipline. The real issue, he says, is not ambition itself but the motives behind it. Are people pursuing meaningful goals that benefit others, or are they chasing status, money, and external validation? When ambition is untethered from self-awareness, it can become destructive. The hosts examine burnout, a term that entered common usage only in the late 1980s. Kyte notes that some highly driven professionals sacrifice relationships and long-term well-being in pursuit of achievement. In those cases, the cost — especially to the family — cannot always be recovered. At the same time, Rada raises concerns about disengagement, particularly among young men. Data show rising numbers reporting low motivation and declining participation in work and civic life. Social media, Kyte suggests, can intensify unrealistic comparisons, making meaningful progress feel unattainable. When people cannot see a clear path from where they are to where they want to be, they may stop trying. Rather than fixating on distant outcomes, Kyte recommends focusing on incremental progress. Small, achievable steps build momentum and confidence. Mentorship also plays a critical role. Many accomplished people, he says, are willing to share guidance with those who ask. Healthy ambition often develops in a relationship, not isolation. The discussion turns to a deeper psychological question: Are individuals directing their goals, or being driven by subconscious forces they do not fully understand? Both overwork and apathy can stem from unresolved motivations. Self-reflection, often sharpened through conversation with others, helps clarify whether one’s pursuits align with personal values.

    50 min
  5. Do we have a moral duty to direct our attention wisely?

    MAR 4

    Do we have a moral duty to direct our attention wisely?

    Episode 236: In an era of alerts, feeds and endless scrolling, hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada examine who — or what — shapes where our focus lands. The conversation begins with a familiar childhood command: “Pay attention.” For Kyte, that phrase always carried a quiet tension. It raised a deeper question about authority over one’s inner life. Who gets to decide what deserves space in our minds? A teacher in a classroom? A parent? A coach? Today, that authority often comes not from a person but from a device. Phones buzz. Watches vibrate. Platforms send notifications engineered to keep us engaged. Each click, Kyte argues, is part of an unspoken contract in an economy built on capturing and holding concentration. But not everyone resents this guidance. For some, curation feels like relief. In a world overflowing with choices — from grocery store aisles packed with options to streaming libraries with thousands of titles — narrowing the field can reduce anxiety. Still, the hosts ask whether outsourcing focus slowly erodes autonomy. Kyte draws a distinction between choosing among options and cultivating the discipline to guide one’s own awareness. That discipline, he argues, is central to human flourishing. Repeated habits of focus shape character. Over time, they help form identity itself. The discussion moves from social media to civic life. In a democracy, is there a responsibility to stay informed? How much awareness is enough? While it may be unrealistic to master every issue, the hosts suggest that complete disengagement carries its own risks. They also explore a deeper philosophical claim: that concentration helps form the soul. By this, Kyte does not mean something mystical or abstract. Rather, he describes the self as a knowing subject shaped by relationships, interests and commitments. Where awareness goes, identity follows. The episode closes with an ethical dilemma set at a scenic campsite. A brief glance at a screen draws criticism from a passerby. Is that judgment fair? Does a place of natural beauty create expectations about how we spend our time? And when others assume the worst, do we owe them an explanation? Read Kyte's latest column: The attention economy is winning. Here's how I'm fighting back.

    44 min
  6. When did the internet stop serving us and start using us?

    FEB 25

    When did the internet stop serving us and start using us?

    Episode 235: In 1988, Congress passed a law to protect the privacy of video rental records. Lawmakers worried someone might discover what movies you checked out from Blockbuster. Today, that concern feels almost quaint. Now entire industries are built on watching what we read, where we drive, what we buy, how long we linger and even how much debt we carry. What began as a tool for connection and convenience has evolved into a system designed to monitor behavior and monetize it. In this episode, hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore the moral shift from helpful innovation to extraction. When does personalization cross a line? Is it harmless for companies to tailor ads and offers based on our behavior, or does that slide into exploiting vulnerability? The conversation turns to a troubling example: reports of gig-style nursing platforms that may factor in an applicant’s financial stress when determining pay. Two equally qualified nurses receive different wage offers — not because of merit, but because of perceived desperation. Even if such practices are legal, are they just? And what does it mean for fairness when opaque systems quietly shape opportunity? They also examine the “illusion of consent.” We click “agree.” We accept the terms. We keep using the apps. But if participation in modern life requires surrendering personal data, is that choice meaningful? Or has opting out become unrealistic? The discussion broadens to algorithmic management, workplace surveillance and the growing discomfort many feel in a world where behavior is constantly measured. Efficiency may increase. Convenience may improve. But at what cost to dignity? And as always, the episode closes with an ethical dilemma that asks whether we can separate valuable ideas from the flawed people who share them — and what moral responsibility listeners bear in that decision.

    49 min
  7. Do we outgrow idealism or abandon it?

    FEB 18

    Do we outgrow idealism or abandon it?

    Episode 234: The hosts start with a question that most of us eventually confront: What happened to the person we used to be? The one who believed big problems had solutions, that institutions could be improved, that effort and empathy would move the needle. Drawing on a Washington Post column about former AmeriCorps volunteers who now describe themselves as more world-weary than hopeful, the conversation explores how early civic energy changes over time. Is that shift a healthy move toward realism? Or does it signal something more troubling? Kyte argues that the real danger isn’t maturity or pragmatism. It’s cynicism. He draws a sharp distinction between hope and optimism, suggesting that while optimism expects specific outcomes on a preferred timeline, hope is steadier and more durable. When expectations collide with institutional inertia, corruption or slow progress, disappointment can harden into distrust. And once distrust becomes a default posture, it seeps into everything: careers, communities, politics, even personal ambition. Rada pushes the discussion into familiar territory for many listeners, asking whether we “settle” as we age. If childhood dreams fall away, does that mean we’ve compromised? Or have we simply recalibrated? Kyte responds that healthy ambition focuses on effort and craft rather than external validation. The goal isn’t recognition or medals — it’s meaningful engagement.

    49 min
  8. Are we trading human creativity for AI-driven efficiency?

    FEB 11

    Are we trading human creativity for AI-driven efficiency?

    Episode 233: Artificial intelligence is often sold as a gift — fewer tedious tasks, faster workflows, more time to focus on what really matters. From summarizing documents to organizing files, today’s tools promise to clear away the friction of daily work. And in many cases, they deliver. Few people entered their profession dreaming of merging PDFs or transcribing blurry documents. But what happens when the mundane disappears? In this episode, hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore a quieter concern raised in a recent Wall Street Journal column: the human brain isn’t built for nonstop high-level engagement. Those repetitive, low-intensity tasks many of us rush to eliminate may actually serve an important purpose. They create mental “lull time” — space for reflection, recovery and the kind of wandering thought that often leads to insight. Kyte shares a personal example of using AI to speed up a long-term archival project. The tool dramatically reduced the time required, yet the work became more mentally intense and surprisingly exhausting. Instead of alternating between light and focused effort, he found himself operating at a sustained cognitive peak. The result? Greater output — and greater strain. The conversation expands beyond individual experience. Drawing on examples from law enforcement, workplace analytics and even wearable technology that tracks stress, the hosts consider whether modern culture increasingly equates optimization with virtue. When every minute is measured and every task streamlined, do we unintentionally crowd out the mental recovery that judgment and imagination require? They also examine broader implications. If automation concentrates production and wealth, what happens to our sense of usefulness and contribution? Work is not only about income, but it also shapes identity, purpose and belonging. How might those foundations shift in an age of accelerating technological change?

    50 min
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4
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

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)." Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify.

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