Is their one truth or is the truth relative? Are some moral values better than others? Are some cultural artifacts worth teaching and preserving more than others? Guided by perspectives in history, theology, and ethics from St. Thomas faculty (listed below) this conversation aims to foster understanding across differing values and religious beliefs as well as explore how shared values and a deeper understanding of moral differences can lead to a more inclusive higher education culture and stronger societal connections.

• Dr. Shaherzad Ahmadi, Associate Professor of History
• Dr. Laurel Potter, Assistant Professor of Theology
• Dr. Christopher Wong Michaelson, Barbara and David A. Koch (“coach”) Endowed Chair in Business Ethics & Academic Director of the Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership

Co-sponsored by the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies of the University of St. Thomas as part of their 2025 Culture of Encounter Ideas Festival.

• Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.
  • Produced by Nicole Zwieg Daly, JD, EdD, CPPM.
  • Engineered by Tom Forliti.

Is beauty something that's antithetical to work, or is beauty to be found anywhere and everywhere, including work? During this LIVE podcast recording, hear from St. Thomas students who talk about the future of work that they are hoping for, from professionals who share their everyday reality of work, and scholars who connect goodness, truth, and beauty to meaningful work and a meaningful life.

Student panelists:

• Cheniqua Morrison, majors in English and Film Studies
• Joe Burbach, major in Business Administration
• Katie Iverson, majors in Accounting and Law and Compliance, minor in Philosophy

Professional panelists:

• Maija Garcia, Director of Education and Professional Training, Guthrie Theater
• Quentin Moore, VP Advancement, Ascension Catholic Academy
• John Sullivan, J.D, Nonprofit Board Member and Retired General Counsel, Carlson Companies

Expert panelists:

• Mark McInroy, Th.D, Associate Chair of the Theology Department; Founding Co-Director of the Claritas Initiative
• Wendy Wyatt, Ph.D, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; Founding Co-Director of the Claritas Initiative

Co-sponsored by:

• Academic Affairs
• The Career Development Center
• The Center for the Common Good
• The Claritas Initiative

• Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership.
  • Produced by Nicole Zwieg Daly, JD, EdD, CPPM.
  • Engineered by Tom Forliti.

Is fantasy football part of the good life, is it just a colossal waste of time – or worse? This podcast is ordinarily about work, but this episode is about play, and whether any redeeming consequences come from the work that a $30 billion industry of analysts, podcasters, pundits, gamers, and other fantasy nerds put into it. To put that question to the test, in Fall 2024, 11 honors students at the University of St. Thomas and Professor Christopher Wong Michaelson formed a fantasy football league for a class called “Fantasy Football and the Good Life.” While playing fantasy football against each other, they also discussed ethical questions in fantasy sports: from fairness to conflicts of interest, racism to sexism in sports, collusion and punishment, and more.

For the final class assignment, students had to select and debate five propositions examined over the semester. The propositions concern the following topics: success, punishment, fair play, luck, and gambling. Who won and who lost each debate doesn’t matter any more than who won and lost on the fantasy football field. To judge the arguments, student judges were joined by one celebrity guest judge: University of St. Thomas Head Football Coach and multiple coach of the year award-winner, Glenn Caruso.

Listen and learn about "Fantasy Football and the Good Life."

Thanks for listening to Work in Progress with Christopher Wong Michaelson.

• Sponsored by The Melrose & The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership at the University of St. Thomas.
• Produced by Nicole Zwieg Daly, JD, EdD, CPPM.
• Engineered by Tom Forliti.