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)."

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.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Why Americans stopped moving, by Erica Pandey, Axios

Americans no longer want to move for work. Here's why, by Irina Ivanova, CBS News

75% of Americans Have Regrets About Moving, by Sam M. Huisache, Home Bay

Social Capital Atlas

Putting violence in perspective: how safe are America’s educators in the workplace?, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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 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

Scientists discover what really causes us to procrastinate, by Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, StudyFinds

Why people procrastinate, and how to overcome it, by Javier Granados Samayoa and Russell Fazio, Scientific America

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)."