The Ethical Life

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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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."

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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.

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Episode 159: Hosts Scott Rada and Rick Kyte discuss the growing trend of Americans moving less frequently and their own experiences with putting down roots.

 Rada, who moved frequently as a child, and Kyte, who spent his entire childhood in the small town of Frazee, Minnesota, reflect on the pros and cons of living in one community for over 20 years.

 Kyte explains that the advantages of staying put include developing deep connections within the local area and getting to know the community exceptionally well. In contrast, Rada's more transient upbringing may have provided him with different skills, though he acknowledges the challenges of being the "new kid" when moving to a new place.

The hosts explore how modern comforts and technology have made it easier for people to remain in one location, potentially impacting professional ambition and community engagement.

They also highlight an innovative housing project in New Glarus, Wisconsin, that is designed to foster a sense of neighborhood and support for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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Episode 158: Hosts Scott Rada and Rick Kyte talk about the complex issue of procrastination and its ethical ramifications.

The discussion explores the emotional and psychological reasons behind procrastination, with Kyte explaining how people often minimize the stress of tasks by not thinking about them. Rada shared personal experiences of completing dreaded tasks and realizing they weren't as difficult as anticipated, highlighting the satisfaction that comes from checking items off a to-do list.

The hosts also examine how factors such as anxiety, fear of failure and high personal standards can contribute to procrastination, particularly among students facing big assignments. They consider whether some individuals may actually produce better work under the pressure of tight deadlines.

Rada and Kyte speculate that the rise of instant gratification and digital distractions likely exacerbate procrastination in today's society. However, they also discuss the importance of balancing future planning with present awareness and gratitude.

Finally, the podcast offers strategies to overcome procrastination, such as focusing on tasks that energize the individual and avoiding unnecessary commitments. Rada shares productivity hacks like the "two-minute rule" and the "one-touch rule," while Kyte emphasizes the value of dedicated time for tackling larger projects.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Episode 157: Hosts Scott Rada and Rick Kyte explored the profound impact of kindness on mental health, workplace culture and societal structures.

Research shows kindness benefits not only the giver and receiver, but also those who witness it, highlighting the inherently social nature of kind acts.

"It's beneficial within a community of people," Kyte said. "That's what's most interesting — we have all this evidence now of the profound ways in which we are social creatures."

But the decline of "third places," spots where people naturally interact with one another and foster kindness, was something the hosts found worrisome. This reduction in daily opportunities for kindness has the hosts worried people are losing practice in being kind. 

"We get out of practice of looking for opportunities to help one another out," Kyte said.

The discussion also touched on balancing assertiveness with kindness, using Rada's experience dealing with an insurance claim as an example. The hosts emphasized the importance of recognizing the humanity in others, even in frustrating situations.

Additionally, the hosts explored the potential risks of developing habits of treating AI assistants as people, rather than tools, warning this could negatively impact real human interactions.

The role of kindness in the workplace was another key focus, with the hosts highlighting a story about a manager who improved safety by getting to know his employees. They stressed managers' responsibility to ensure fairness and address legitimate needs within teams.

"Learning how to do that well is the mark of a good life," Kyte said. "Part of that is dealing with people."

Links to stories discussed during the podcast