logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
29m 33s

Is flying ethical?

Vox
About this episode

Should I give up flying for the environment’s sake? Is it ethical to stay on Twitter and Facebook if I don’t like the owners’ politics? If a DNA test shows that my dad isn't my biological dad, should I tell him? There are no bad questions. But there are some that are really hard to answer. Those are the ones Vox senior reporter Sigal Samuel likes to tackle. This week on Explain It to Me, she tells host Jonquilyn Hill how she goes about answering your ethical and philosophical questions in her column, Your Mileage May Vary. 


Have questions you can’t answer? Call Explain It to Me at 1-800-618-8545, or submit them here


Read more:

Sigal’s column, Your Mileage May Vary

You can’t optimize your way to being a good person

The Future Perfect newsletter

Share your quandaries with Sigal here 



Credits:


Jonquilyn Hill, host

Cristian Ayala, engineer

Caitlin PenzeyMoog, fact checker

Carla Javier, supervising producer

Jorge Just, editor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Oct 5
Is empathy toxic?
Society teaches us empathy is a good thing. But some are now saying the opposite, and science is complicating our assumptions too. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Megan Cunnane, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Adriene Lilly and hosted by Jonqui ... Show More
30m 16s
Sep 28
Who is the modern American dad?
Young men are more interested in becoming parents than young women are, and there's a growing number of single dads by choice. A look at modern fatherhood. This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Megan Cunnane, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Adriene ... Show More
29m 27s
Sep 21
A nation of jerks
Americans seem to be getting ruder. Are our attempts at making ourselves better actually making us worse? This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch and Isabelle Lichtenstein, engineered by Matthew Billy and hosted by Jon ... Show More
29m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Jacob Ward's Warning | Are You Ready for Immoral A.I.?
Should AI Have Boundaries? As AI becomes more powerful and more accessible, the debate over morality and responsibility is heating up. Journalist Jacob Ward joins us to explore the ethical minefield surrounding artificial intelligence. At the center of it all: Elon Musk’s Grok AI ... Show More
10m 50s
Apr 2017
Episode 15, Business Ethics (Part I)
Do corporations have ethical responsibilities? If so, what are they? Is whistleblowing ethical? When are we legally protected to do so? Not only do we have the questions, but this week we have some of the answers! Tweet us your thoughts at www.twitter.com/thepanpsycast. Part I. C ... Show More
52m 43s
Apr 2017
Episode 15, Business Ethics (Part II)
Do corporations have ethical responsibilities? If so, what are they? Is whistleblowing ethical? When are we legally protected to do so? Not only do we have the questions, but this week we have some of the answers! Tweet us your thoughts at www.twitter.com/thepanpsycast. Part I. C ... Show More
1h 4m
Sep 2024
Should Your Employer See Your Socials & Gisele Pelicot Waiving Her Right To Anonymity
Hey Lifers, Sorry for the start of today's ep. Not sure what else to say about it to be honest. If you've had the 'back' lasered, how do you get it done? What's your therapists 'go to' position? Britt is headed to Romania to see Ben! She shares how some of the challenges of being ... Show More
49m 28s
Jan 2021
Helen Fisher on How Genes Affect Your Politics
Were you an adventurous baby? Or were you risk averse? According to Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist who studies genopolitics, your answers to those questions might also inform your politics. Host, John Donvan digs into the debate surrounding genes and early nurturin ... Show More
53m 15s
Jun 2025
The fine art of fibbing | Athena Kugblenu
Comedian and writer Athena Kugblenu has a hot take: we’re all liars, and that’s OK. Exploring the line between the little lies that do no harm and the big, self-serving whoppers you’d best avoid, she offers a crucial question to ask yourself to help determine if honesty is the be ... Show More
10m 10s
Oct 2024
Is There Such A Thing As a Moral or Ethical Family Vlogger? Monetising Kids Online
Hey Lifers! Britt has potentially found a new life... as a trad wife!  Either that or she's going off grid more often. Laura has had a bit of a mishap spreading her beautiful grandparent's ashes. How do you feel about sharing your kids online? Where is the line when it comes to k ... Show More
41m 48s
Sep 2024
Should we allow gene editing? John Wyatt vs Sam McKee hosted by Andy Kind
🌍✨ Should we edit the human genome, or is that playing God? 🧬 With the revolutionary gene-editing technology CRISPR—winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 🏆—we now have the power to potentially eradicate diseases that have caused untold suffering. But where should we draw ... Show More
1h 13m
Jul 28
Ep. 372: Kant's Ethics Lectures (Part One)
We discuss lecture notes from Kant's 1785 ethics course, which provide more examples and an emphasis on the practical than his more famous works. For instance, we get more information on ethical motivation: How can the rational recognition of ethical principles lead to moral feel ... Show More
49m 4s