What's keeping Americans from relocating?

The Ethical Life

Episode 159: Hosts Scott Rada and Rick Kyte discuss the growing trend of Americans moving less frequently and their own experiences with putting down roots.

Rada, who moved frequently as a child, and Kyte, who spent his entire childhood in the small town of Frazee, Minnesota, reflect on the pros and cons of living in one community for over 20 years.

Kyte explains that the advantages of staying put include developing deep connections within the local area and getting to know the community exceptionally well. In contrast, Rada's more transient upbringing may have provided him with different skills, though he acknowledges the challenges of being the "new kid" when moving to a new place.

The hosts explore how modern comforts and technology have made it easier for people to remain in one location, potentially impacting professional ambition and community engagement.

They also highlight an innovative housing project in New Glarus, Wisconsin, that is designed to foster a sense of neighborhood and support for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast

Why Americans stopped moving, by Erica Pandey, Axios

Americans no longer want to move for work. Here's why, by Irina Ivanova, CBS News

75% of Americans Have Regrets About Moving, by Sam M. Huisache, Home Bay

Social Capital Atlas

Putting violence in perspective: how safe are America’s educators in the workplace?, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."