Episode 194: For generations, the American Dream has been portrayed as a promise of success 鈥 a good job, a home to call your own and a better life for your family. But in 2025, that dream looks very different depending on where you live and who you ask.
Hosts Scott Rada and Rick Kyte explore how lifestyle choices have become a new front in America鈥檚 ongoing cultural divide.
鈥淪ome people picture success as owning a big truck and a home with plenty of space,鈥 Rada said. 鈥淥thers see it as living in a walkable neighborhood with fewer material possessions and a smaller environmental footprint. Both claim the label of the American Dream 鈥 but they鈥檙e often in direct conflict when it comes to public policy.鈥
The episode looks at how zoning laws, housing shortages and infrastructure debates have turned personal preferences into political battles. Rada and Kyte discuss a growing movement called the 鈥淎bundance Agenda,鈥 which argues that America should focus on building more 鈥 more homes, more transit, more energy 鈥 to create opportunities for everyone. However, they also warn of the risks associated with prioritizing economic growth as the sole objective.
People are also reading…
鈥淲e鈥檝e built systems that reward some dreams while shutting out others,鈥 Kyte said. 鈥淎nd often, the people making these decisions aren鈥檛 the ones feeling the consequences.鈥
The episode also highlights recent political messaging that encourages Americans to settle for less, such as higher prices or fewer product choices, in the name of national interest. Kyte and Rada debate whether that kind of sacrifice is a noble calling or a political distraction.
In the end, the hosts agree that America鈥檚 real challenge may not be choosing between big trucks or bike lanes, but learning how to make space for both.
鈥淥ur democracy works best when people are willing to compromise and respect different paths to a meaningful life,鈥 Kyte said. 鈥淭he question is whether we鈥檙e still willing to do that.鈥
About the hosts
聽is a digital strategist with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the聽聽in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is also the author of聽
