In Episode 2 of The Project Middle Podcast, we dig into one of the most pressing issues facing the middle class: housing. How has the cost of owning a home changed over the last 50 years? What’s driving today’s unprecedented housing surges—from foreign investment to the rise of corporate landlords? We examine whether homeownership, once a cornerstone of the American dream, is still within reach for the average American. Plus, we explore potential solutions to ease the squeeze, from zoning reform to new models of home ownership.

Welcome to Project Middle, a podcast exploring the realities, pressures, and personal stories of America’s middle class. In our very first episode, we lay the groundwork for what this show is all about—understanding where the middle class stands today and how the cost of the American Dream has shifted over the past 50 years.

We dig into the numbers, comparing life in 1975 to now: median income, housing, healthcare, college tuition, and more. What could a middle-class paycheck cover back then—and what does it get you today?

This episode sets the tone for the journey ahead, as we examine the economics, experiences, and evolving expectations shaping the middle class of America.