Episode 144: There was a period of time in America, roughly 1940 to 2000, during which we were largely part of a monoculture. Most of us watched the same TV shows and movies, read the same newspapers, and listened to the same radio stations. Today, however, because of the Internet, that's clearly not the case. And although this feels new to many of us, over the long arc of history, most people have never been part of a monoculture. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how these changes affect how we live today.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Here's how rituals can shape our cultural identity, by Richard Kyte

How the logic of cults is taking over modern life, by Derek Thompson and Sam Illing

The misunderstood reason millions of Americans stopped going to church, by Jake Meador, The Atlantic

About the hosts

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. Fulcrum Books will publish his soon-to-be released book, "Finding Your Third Place."

Episode 143: Americans’ love affair with sports is stronger than ever. According to a poll earlier this year by Pew Research, about half of Americans say they took part in organized, competitive sports in high school or college; most Americans who played sports in high school or college say their athletic experiences improved their physical health and confidence; and nearly 4-in-10 Americans follow professional or college sports at least somewhat closely.

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether legalized gambling, the reliance on TV revenue and costly taxpayer-funded stadiums make sports less appealing.

Discussion topics:

The dark side of the sports betting boom, by Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN

Cash-grabbing power players are sending college sports Into a soulless spiral, by Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated

Stadium subsidies are getting even more ridiculous, by Dan Moore, The Atlantic

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. His forthcoming book, "Finding Your Third Place," will be published by Fulcrum Books.

Episode 142: Most economists say that the U.S. economy is in a relatively strong position. Although inflation is still a concern, overall GDP numbers are strong, the unemployment rate is low, and wages are rising. Yet in a poll from earlier this year, just 28 percent of Americans rated national economic conditions as excellent or good.

There are many reasons for this disconnect, but one is certainly the high price of housing and the stubborn problem of homelessness in many of our cities.

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about how the tight housing supply and zoning restrictions are especially harmful for those with the lowest incomes.

Links to stories mentioned in the podcast:

We can solve housing one communithy at a time, by Richard Kyte

Share of gross rent in household income in the United States in 2022, by Statista

Why is housing inventory so low? Understanding the the U.S. housing shortage, by Jess Ullrich, Bankrate

Where are all the apartments for families? by Rachel Cohen, Vox

Homeless or overhoused: Boomers are stuck at both ends of the housing spectrum, The Wall Street Journal

Biden administration to boost affordable housing programs, supply of manufactured homes, by Alex Gangitano, The Hill

Looking for a new car under $20,000? Good luck. Your choice has dwindled to one vehicle, by Tom Krisher, 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. His forthcoming book, "Finding Your Third Place," will be published by Fulcrum Books.