Gen Z is more connected than any generation in history—so why are young people desperate to escape the digital world?
In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we introduce our new host, Anastasia Leffas. She shares how faith, family, mentorship, and conservative community shaped her worldview—and why Gen Z is searching for something more meaningful than social media, artificial intelligence, and online validation.
Anastasia also discusses the transition from college to working life, the responsibility of mission-driven work, the growing appeal of socialism, the battle over human dignity, and the competing ideas confusing young people about what it means to be a man or woman.
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Anastasia Leffas was first introduced to the Luce Center during her Summer 2025 internship, which opened up a whole new world for her both personally and professionally. She joined as a full-time staff member in June of 2026, ready to further the Luce Center’s mission. Anastasia is thrilled to be a part of the Center’s work to reach and raise up phenomenal women like the ones she looks up to as mentors and friends.
Having graduated from Benedictine College in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Minor in Theology, Anastasia is passionate about fostering a love for Western Culture and the Humanities. This love was especially encouraged through her time as a student leader in the Sheridan Honors Institute, a Presidential Scholar, a Constitutional Fellow with the Center for Constitutional Liberty, and an Angelico Fellow with the Center for Beauty and Culture.
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0:20 Meet Gen Z Unplugged’s New Host
0:59 How Anastasia Found Her Conservative Voice
2:25 The Faith and Family Foundation That Shaped Her
3:10 Debating Abortion at Just 12 Years Old
5:32 The Post-College Identity Crisis Nobody Prepares You For
7:43 The Biggest Difference Between College and a Career
9:13 Why Gen Z Is Desperate to Escape the Digital World
10:20 Human Dignity, Socialism, and the Fight for Gen Z
11:29 The Gender Debate Is Trapping Men and Women
15:16 Anastasia’s Dream Podcast Guest
GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, Catherine Hendershott, Rachel Hurley, and Hannah Faulkner. Producer is Sandra Scarlatoiu.
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SFX Credits:
neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
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