Episode 167: In a world that often feels increasingly rude, hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the challenge of combating incivility in our everyday lives.

The rise in rudeness, Kyte says, can be largely attributed to heightened stress and anxiety levels worldwide. "When people are stressed, they are not on their best behavior," he said. "They're less patient with others and more prone to reacting impulsively."

This dynamic can play out in a variety of settings, from the workplace to public spaces like retail stores and on the road. But Kyte emphasizes that not all rude behavior is equal. He distinguishes between occasional lapses in civility, which may stem from neglect or preoccupation, and chronic, intentional rudeness that often comes from a place of dislike for others.

Rada and Kyte also delve into the contagious nature of both rudeness and kindness, underscoring the responsibility we all have in shaping the social environments we inhabit. By supporting customer service workers, reaching out to loved ones, and being open to positive interactions with strangers, individuals can help foster more considerate behavior.

Read more

How to deal with rude people at work (10 effective steps), Indeed

New research shows that workplace rudeness is 'contagious,' by Megan Border, Anderson School of Management

Coping With The Rise Of Incivility, by Joyce Russell, Forbes

The increase in road rage, The Washington Post

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 166: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada debate the value of existing federal holidays and the potential for adding new ones.

The discussion begins by examining the dual functions of holidays — some serve as occasions for celebration, while others are meant to encourage reverence and reflection on national values.

While the hosts support making Election Day a federal holiday, there was less agreement about what to do with Columbus Day. Both hosts agree that the holiday should be scrapped, but the suggestion to turn it into Explorer's Day was only embraced by Rada.

Throughout the discussion, Kyte expressed skepticism about adding too many new federal holidays, citing concerns that they often become more about commercial opportunities than meaningful observance.

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 165: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the troubling decline of trust in American institutions. From government and science to religion and media, public faith in once-revered pillars of society has plummeted in recent years.

Kyte attributes this crisis to reduced interdependence and collaboration among citizens. "We don't depend on other people in the course of our daily lives nearly as much as previous generations did," he said. "We've lost the habit of working together."

This erosion of casual, face-to-face interactions has fueled a growing cynicism, with many Americans increasingly distrustful of experts and authority figures.

The hosts also examine the role of media, noting how a "mean world syndrome" — a focus on negative news — can contribute to a sense of despair and distrust.

"Media's focus on bad news creates a sense of despair and distrust in the world," Kyte said.

Kyte also distinguishes between healthy skepticism, which questions knowledge claims, and destructive cynicism, which stems from a negative view of human nature. He advocates for cultivating hope — a belief in the fundamental goodness of people.

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 164: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the transformative world of online dating apps and their influence on how people connect in the 21st century.

While dating apps have made it easier for many to find potential partners, the hosts agree that they also can increase stress and anxiety around relationships. The conversation explores how increased digital interaction can impact happiness and interpersonal dynamics, with Kyte emphasizing the importance of using online tools to complement, rather than substitute, real-life engagement.

The episode also examines the geographical and cultural implications of online dating, and the hosts discuss whether these apps have the power to break down barriers and foster greater diversity, or if they may instead contribute to a sense of alienation. They also delve into the age-old debate of "opposites attract," analyzing the role of complementary personalities in successful relationships.

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 163: With the presidential election just weeks away, the latest episode of The Ethical Life podcast explores the complex challenge of engaging with undecided voters.

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how the shrinking pool of undecided voters reflects the growing polarization in American politics.

"We've become much more polarized, and that could be that there's less overlap between views of Democrats and Republicans," Kyte explains. He notes that in 2016, about 10% of voters were undecided a month before the election, but that number has dropped to just 3 to 4% this year.

The hosts examine the different strategies campaigns are using to reach these elusive undecided voters, from large rallies aimed at energizing the base to individual door-to-door canvassing efforts. They also critique the formulaic, emotionally driven campaign ads that dominate the airwaves in battleground states.

The discussion challenges the common perception of undecided voters as disengaged. Kyte says a recent article in The Atlantic suggests "there are people who've been paying attention more than the rest of us" and are genuinely grappling with complex issues.

The hosts also tackle the ethical dilemma of whether it's appropriate for campaigns to focus on specific issues they believe will resonate with undecided voters in key states, even if those issues aren't the most pressing national concerns.

Read more

Richard Kyte: Voters face hard truths as Election Day nears

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 162: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore the importance of self-awareness and how to strike a balance between adapting to external circumstances and staying true to one's core values.

Kyte emphasizes the challenge of developing an accurate self-identity, noting the powerful influence of self-deception. He suggests that being part of a community with honest, caring friends can help recalibrate one's self-perception.

The discussion delves into the potential negative impact of social media on self-identity, particularly for younger people, and the need to filter out random online opinions in favor of feedback from trusted individuals. The conversation also examines the role of introspection and self-knowledge, drawing on Sigmund Freud's metaphor of the iceberg to illustrate the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind.

Generational differences in the workplace are also explored, with Kyte explaining how cultural phenomena within certain professions can lead to harsh treatment of newcomers. The experts discuss the sensitivity of younger generations, which they attribute to the decline in robust interpersonal relationships and the impact of social media.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

How to reinvent your self-Identity and live your best life, by Nida Leardprasopsuk, Forbes

In defense of soft, weak Zoomers, by Matt Yglesias, Slow Boring

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 161: The traditional bookstore is undergoing a resurgence, transforming into vibrant community hubs that defy predictions of their demise in the digital age. This turnaround comes after many had forecast the "complete demise" of bookstores in the face of competition from e-commerce and digital books.

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada attribute this sucess to three key factors: serving as community gathering spaces, curating unique local collections and hosting events that bring readers together.

"Bookstores are ideal places to define and pass on local culture," Kyte said. "They can present something unique about the culture and history of a region better than any other physical place."

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

The revival of independent bookstores brings communities together, by Richard Kyte

Some surprising good news: Bookstores are booming and becoming more diverse, by Alexandra Alter and Elizabeth A. Harris, The New York Times

Pearl Street Books, La Crosse, Wis.

Barnes & Noble, Rochester, Minn.

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 160: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the ongoing issue of traffic safety and road design in the United States.

Despite advancements in vehicle safety, over 42,000 people died in traffic crashes in 2022. The hosts argue that the U.S. has a higher rate of traffic fatalities compared to other wealthy nations, and this is partly due to cultural attitudes and a lack of political will to implement stronger safety regulations and road design improvements.

They discuss how features like roundabouts, narrower lanes and traffic calming measures can significantly improve road safety, but often face resistance from the public. The hosts also note that aggressive and distracted driving behaviors have worsened in recent years, and suggest automated speed enforcement could help address this.

Looking to the future, the hosts are optimistic that the rise of autonomous vehicles could have a positive impact on overall driving behavior, as self-driving cars would follow traffic laws and set a new standard for safe driving. However, they also raise ethical questions about public acceptance of autonomous vehicle technology, even if it proves to be statistically safer than human drivers.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Why are American drivers so deadly, by Matthew Shaer, The New York Times Magazine

Addressing America's traffic death crisis, by Matthew Yglesias, Slow Boring

Will you keep driving when autonomous vehicles are safer than humans?, by Demetria Gallegos, The Wall Street Journal

2025 Chevy El Camino RS comes back to digitally hunt Ford's Maverick and the Santa Cruz, by Aurel Niculescu, Auto Evolution

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)."