Category Archives: the inspired minds podcast

In today’s episode, Rick and Sam are joined by Jonathan Marks, professor of political philosophy at Ursinus College, to discuss the case for a liberal education in American universities, focusing on the aim of creating reasonable students and citizens. Drawing on the works and thoughts of John Locke and other enlightenment thinkers, we discuss critical thinking, intellectual and character virtues, civics education, and political engagement. Most importantly, we are reminded to think critically about our own viewpoints, and that we can get along with our fellow citizens even when we disagree.

Our guest today is Jonathan Marks. Professor Marks teaches political philosophy at Ursinus College. He has published on modern and contemporary political philosophy in journals like the American Political Science Review, the Journal of Politics, the Journal of American Political Science, and the Review of Politics. He is the author of Let’s Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education and Perfection and Disharmony in the Thought of Jean Jacques Rousseau. He co-edited and contributed to Principle and Prudence in Western Political Thought.
Professor Marks also has written on higher education for InsideHigherEd, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Weekly Standard, and the Wall Street Journal. He is a contributor to the Commentary Magazine blog. He received both his BA and his PhD from the University of Chicago.
Sam Scinta is President and Founder of IM Education, a non-profit, and Lecturer in Political Science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Viterbo University.

Rick Kyte is Endowed Professor and Director of the DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University.

Music compliments of Bobby Bridger- “Rendezvous” from “A Ballad of the West”

In today’s episode, Rick and Sam are joined by Dr. Jeff Thompson, executive advisor and chief executive officer emeritus at Gundersen Health System, to discuss healthcare and the common good, including the context of the current pandemic. Dr. Thompson notes that as an organization you can be competitive and values-based, using creative solutions to both serve the community and meet organizational goals. The conversation explores healthcare organizations’ responsibilities to the communities in which they operate; viewing resources, including finances, as tools to meet goals; and engaging stakeholders by first listening to understand their perspectives.

Our guest today is Dr. Jeff Thompson. Dr. Thompson is executive advisor and chief executive officer emeritus at Gundersen Health System, as well as a nationally-recognized pediatrician, author, and speaker on values-based leadership.

During Dr. Thompson’s tenure, Gundersen Health System gained national recognition for its sustainability efforts and was recognized by independent healthcare ratings organizations for high-quality patient care. It also earned the highest honors of Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Award for 2012 through 2016 and the White House Champions of Change award in 2013. Dr. Thompson is a founding member and past board chair of the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality and the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium. He also serves on boards for the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value, the Wisconsin Statewide Value Committee, About Health, and Practice Greenhealth.

Dr. Thompson has authored and been featured in many articles, book chapters and abstracts on healthcare, leadership and sustainability topics. He is the author of Lead True: Live Your Values, Build Your People, Inspire Your Community, . He is board certified in Pediatric Critical Care, Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine, and Pediatrics and has been caring for patients for over thirty-five years. He earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.

Sam Scinta is President and Founder of IM Education, a non-profit, and Lecturer in Political Science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Viterbo University.

Rick Kyte is Endowed Professor and Director of the DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University.

Music compliments of Bobby Bridger- “Rendezvous” from “A Ballad of the West”

In today’s episode, Rick and Sam are joined by Senator Gary Hart, who has served the nation for over 50 years in numerous capacities, discussing the rights and responsibilities of being an American citizen in a democratic republic. Senator Hart has written that “there are a thousand small ways to distinguish the true citizens and patriot from the lowly opportunist,” and the conversation explores themes such as finding a distinct national purpose, restoring civics education, identifying and dedicating ourselves to our commonwealth, and finding pride in public service.

For over five decades, Gary Hart has dedicated his life to public service. Senator Hart was first elected to the Senate in 1974, having never before sought public office; he represented Colorado in the United States Senate from 1975-1987. During his time in the Senate, he served on the Armed Services Committee, where he specialized in nuclear arms control and was an original founder of the military reform caucus. He played a leadership role in major environmental and conservation legislation, military reform initiatives, new initiatives to advance the information revolution and new directions in foreign policy. He is widely-recognized as among the first to forecast the end of the Cold War. In 1984 and 1988, he was a candidate for his party’s nomination for President.

Since retiring from the Senate, Senator Hart has been extensively involved in international law and business, as a strategic advisor to major U.S. corporations, and as a teacher, author and lecturer. He has also continued to serve the nation in various capacities. He served as chair of the Threat Reduction Advisory Council at the Department of Defense, was vice-chair of the Secretary of Homeland Security’s Advisory Council, former chair of the Council for a Livable World, chair of the American Security Project, and co-chair of the US-Russia Commission.
Senator Hart also served as co-chair of the U.S. Commission on National Security for the 21st Century. The Commission performed the most comprehensive review of national security since 1947, predicted the terrorist attacks on America in 2001, and proposed a sweeping overhaul of U.S. national security structures and policies for the post- Cold War new century and the age of terrorism. Most recently, Senator Hart served as the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland.

Senator Hart holds a doctor of philosophy degree (D.Phil.) from Oxford University and graduate law (J.D.) and divinity (B.D.) degrees from Yale University. He is the author of over twenty books.
Additional Information/Reading:
The Hart Center for Public Service website: https://www.msudenver.edu/president/hart-center/
Viterbo Lecture Featuring J. Drew Lanham: https://www.facebook.com/viterboethics

Sam Scinta is President and Founder of IM Education, a non-profit, and Lecturer in Political Science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Viterbo University.

Rick Kyte is Endowed Professor and Director of the DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University.

Music compliments of Bobby Bridger- “Rendezvous” from “A Ballad of the West”

In today’s episode, Rick and Sam are joined by Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited, to discuss conservation and environmental stewardship through the lens of outdoor recreation. Throughout their conversation they recognize conservation efforts face significant challenges, but confront them with a sense of optimism and hope. As they consider this, they examine how shared values and a nonpartisan approach builds partnerships and brings diverse people together in collaboration for the common good.

Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. Before coming to Trout Unlimited in September 2001, Chris Wood served as the senior policy and communications advisor to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service where he helped protect 58 million acres of publicly owned land. Chris began his career as a temporary employee with the Forest Service in Idaho and also worked for the Fish and Wildlife program of the Bureau of Land Management. He is the author and co-author of numerous papers and articles and three books including, Watershed Restoration: Principles and Practices (AFS 1997), From Conquest to Conservation: Our Public Land Legacy (Island Press, 2003), and My Healthy Stream: A handbook for streamside owners (Trout Unlimited and Aldo Leopold Foundation, 2013).

Sam Scinta is President and Founder of IM Education, a non-profit, and Lecturer in Political Science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Viterbo University.

Rick Kyte is Endowed Professor and Director of the DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University.

Music compliments of Bobby Bridger- “Rendezvous” from “A Ballad of the West”

In today’s episode, Rick and Sam are joined by Beth Conover to discuss conservation in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through their conversation they discuss two approaches to conservation, the more traditional approach and a more collaborative approach. Furthermore, they consider challenges and successes of engaging seemingly disparate groups of people, building trust within communities, practical approaches to conservation efforts and establishing common ground to more effectively accomplish the various goals of conservation.

Beth Conover has spent her entire career working at the intersection of environmental policy and community development. Beth is currently the Executive Director of the Salazar Center for North American Conservation, which works to support and advance the health and connectivity of the natural systems and landscapes of North America. Prior to joining the Salazar Center, Beth served as the Senior Vice President for Natural Resources and Community Development for the Gates Family Foundation. She has worked on community conservation program development in diverse places including Providence, Rhode Island; Zimbabwe, Southern Africa; and the Colorado Plateau. Born in Denver, she was Director of Parks and Environment for the redevelopment of the former Stapleton International Airport and a senior advisor and founder of Greenprint Denver for Mayor John Hickenlooper. She is the editor and co-author of How the West was Warmed: Climate Change in the Rocky Mountain West.

For further reading: Weaving the Strands Together: Case studies in inclusive and equitable landscape conservation (https://salazarcenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Weaving-the-Strands-Together_Case-studies-in-inclusive-and-equitable-landscape-conservation.pdf)

Sam Scinta is President and Founder of IM Education, a non-profit, and Lecturer in Political Science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Viterbo University.

Rick Kyte is Endowed Professor and Director of the DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University.

Music compliments of Bobby Bridger- “Rendezvous” from “A Ballad of the West”