Listeners, the phrase follow your dreams has long echoed through graduation speeches and splashed across social media feeds, but its meaning is evolving in 2025. According to a recent UCLA study, 86% of young people still hold onto the hope of achieving the American dream, but rising costs, a volatile job market, and widespread mental health concerns add daunting barriers. Most young adults now want more relatable stories—stories that reveal not just glossy success but honest depictions of late nights, setbacks, and restarts. Atlas Burrus, a Gen Z writer quoted in this study, said for many, just surviving right now feels like a daring dream itself.

To unpack these complexities, we spoke with essayist Heather Havrilesky, who recently wrote, “Embrace Your Dreams in 2025.” She challenges listeners not just to chase what glitters but to ask, “What’s truly worth wanting?” Instead of following trends or chasing someone else’s vision of success, she urges everyone to reflect on what genuinely brings joy—because satisfaction often lies outside the boundaries of convention.

Recent guests on our show exemplify this. Paralympic gold medalist Dylan Alcott described blending athletics, music, and activism into a career that few would have imagined. For him, success meant refusing to accept limitations and finding meaning in surprising places. Another guest, entrepreneur Sebastien Decoppet, said the dream has to be “so meaningful and compelling that you can’t stop thinking about it—even if it means navigating periods of pain and sacrifice.”

Listeners looking for practical advice: start by noticing which activities make you lose track of time; write your dreams down and break them into small, realistic steps; openly reassess and be ready to pivot if your circumstances or ambitions change. Experts and dream-chasers alike emphasize that setbacks aren’t failures—they’re essential to building resilience and creating an authentic life.

In a world more complex than ever, following your dreams is less about chasing a finish line and more about setting your own—celebrating small victories, staying true to your passions, and daring to redefine what success means for you now.