Episode 182: The conversation between hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada begins by examining a recent New York Times article that explored dozens of metrics that were used to measure societal well-being in the United States.

The study found that while the United States has experienced remarkable economic growth and prosperity since the 1990s, measures of happiness and overall well-being have not kept pace.

"There was little disagreement about that," Rada said. "At the same time, they looked at things like trying to measure people's happiness and things like addiction and things like long longevity, and all of these things were either not growing at the same rate as they were in the other wealthy countries in the world or were getting worse."

Kyte attributed this disconnect to the United States' highly materialistic culture, noting that countries such as Japan experienced similar declines in well-being as they became more prosperous and focused on material goods. In contrast, the island of Okinawa, which maintained a focus on tradition, community and relationships, saw much higher levels of happiness.

The discussion also explored the role of income inequality, with the U.S. ranking among the highest in the world for income disparity. Kyte explained that this can create stress and a sense of unfairness, even among those who are relatively well-off.

The conversation delved into the limits of how much money can truly contribute to happiness, with Kyte explaining that once basic needs are met, additional wealth does not necessarily lead to greater fulfillment. Instead, he emphasized the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and intrinsic sources of joy.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Why Americans older than 60 are so happy, by Emily Peck, Axios

Ted Talk: Why monkeys (and humans) are wired for fairness, by Sarah Brosnan

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 181: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada explore the growing challenge of maintaining focus and attention in our increasingly digital world.

To combat these distractions, Kyte suggests three key strategies: cultivating face-to-face relationships, spending time in silence and engaging in creative activities. He emphasizes the importance of disconnecting from phones during social gatherings to fully engage with others, as well as the value of quiet reflection to develop deep focus.

The discussion also explores the concept of depth versus breadth of experience.

Kyte explains that while breadth involves a wide variety of activities, depth requires focusing on a single thing in greater detail. The hosts agree that deeply focusing on one task can lead to a greater sense of accomplishment compared to multitasking, which the research shows is detrimental to productivity and focus.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Attention spans are declining. Here's how to reverse the trend, by Richard Kyte

The real stakes of the war for your attention, by Sean Illing, Vox

Chris Hayes' 'Sirens' Call' is a thorough look at the fight for attention in modern age, by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press

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 180: Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk through the best answers to four ethical dilemmas.

One scenario involves a last-minute concert invitation where the tickets turned out to cost $75 each, despite assumptions they were free. The discussion centered on the importance of clear communication to avoid misunderstandings that could damage friendships.

Other dilemmas include how to deal with a rude traveler at an airport, how to handle a constantly complaining elderly relative and a cat-sitting situation where the owner gave the host an expired gift card, prompting a debate on the ethics of regifting.

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)."