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GenZ Unplugged
Is AI Making Gen Z Smarter—or Stealing Our Ability to Think?
AI is everywhere—from classrooms and workplaces to Google searches, social media posts, and even the way we brainstorm, write, and create. But Gen Z seems caught in a strange contradiction: we use AI constantly, yet many of us are anxious about where it’s taking us.
In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Catherine and Rachel unpack why Gen Z is both the first generation to grow up with AI and one of the first to push back against it. From “analog bags” and grandma hobbies to AI-written posts, brain rot, creativity, and the fear of a robot-run future, this conversation asks the question everyone should be asking: Are we using AI as a tool—or letting it think for us?
1:02 — Why Gen Z Has to Answer the AI Question
1:56 — Can We Still Tell What’s Real?
3:42 — Star Wars, Humanoid Robots, and a Future That Feels Too Real
4:47 — Half of Gen Z Uses AI—So Why Do So Many Want the Past Back?
5:28 — The Lost Childhood Gen Z Still Longs For
7:28 — Why Nostalgia, Vintage Trends, and “Analog” Living Are Coming Back
8:31 — The Rise of Analog Bags and Grandma Hobbies
9:48 — Thousands of Students Boo AI at Graduation
12:32 — Is AI Damaging Creativity and Making Us Mentally Lazy?
21:34 — The Biggest Difference Between Google and AI: Thinking vs. Being Thought For
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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51. She Was 23 in the White House Briefing Room — Reagan Reese on Staying Grounded
09:35||Season 1, Ep. 51At just 23 years old, Reagan Reese became one of the youngest reporters in the White House briefing room — and she had no idea if she was ready.In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Reagan shares how she went from Hillsdale College to The Daily Caller, what it’s really like covering the White House in the Trump administration, and why the most important thing young conservatives can do is stay brave, stay curious, and stay grounded.From unpredictable days chasing breaking news to the quiet habits that keep her sane, Reagan offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at political journalism — and a powerful reminder that politics matters, but it should never become your whole identity.---Reagan Reese is the White House Correspondent for the Daily Caller and a Visiting Fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum. She previously reported on education for the Daily Caller News Foundation after graduating from Hillsdale College with degrees in Rhetoric and Public Address and Journalism. At Hillsdale, she captained the Division II softball team, leading them to multiple conference championships.--- 0:34 Introduction to Reagan Reese1:01 From Hillsdale to The Daily Caller2:03 The call that changed Reagan’s career2:25 Becoming one of the youngest reporters in the White House briefing room3:52 Why Gen Z belongs in the room4:50 What a White House correspondent actually does5:17 When the news schedule changes overnight5:42 Chasing sources and breaking news7:29 Reagan’s advice for young conservatives8:10 Why politics should never become your identity 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. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
50. Fireside Chat with Leah Campos and Reagan Reese | 2026 DC Summit
38:01||Season 1, Ep. 50Leah Francis Campos was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on October 8, 2025, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Ambassador Campos is committed to deepening the relationship between the United States and the Dominican Republic, while prioritizing the vital national interests of the United States - in pursuit of peace, prosperity, regional stability, and security.---Our inspiring one-day summit features bold, unapologetically conservative women who are confronting cultural lies and restoring clarity, courage, and common sense in American life. At the summit, you’ll meet like-minded young women, form real friendships, and become part of a growing network of women who are ready to lead with purpose and conviction.---This event was organized by The Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women, and recorded and produced by FIXR Media on Friday, June 26, 2026. The Luce Center is an all-women, mentorship organization dedicated to preparing and promoting conservative women leaders. For more information, visit here: https://www.conservativewomen.com/ 🔴 Subscribe to Luce Center on YouTube ➡️ youtube.com/cblwomen SOCIAL MEDIA: @CBLWomen on X 👉 https://twitter.com/cblwomen @CBLWomen on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/cblwomen/ @CBLWomen on Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/CenterforConservativeWomen/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. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
The Mother Who Fought Big Pharma — Liz Wheeler on Faith, Courage & Raising Lionhearts (Repost)
29:06|Liz Wheeler’s fire didn’t begin on a political debate stage — it sparked in a hospital room. A young athlete, a terrifying diagnosis, and a mother who refused to let the system decide her daughter’s fate. In this powerful conversation, Liz reveals how God redirected her passion from the pool to confronting corruption, exposing evil, and defending American families. She also gives raw wisdom on motherhood, vocation, and raising the next generation to pursue heaven — not likes.If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to live boldly in truth while guarding the hearts of your children, this episode will light a match inside you. Host of The Liz Wheeler Show on Blaze TV and author of Hide Your Children: Exposing the Marxists Behind the Attack on America’s Kids.Liz commands an audience of over 1 million on X, and is known for exposing corruption and calling out the so-called “experts.” She is rigorous in her research, passionate about her faith, and unapologetically fearless.0:56 — A fearless voice joins Gen Z UnpluggedWelcome & quick intro; Liz’s speech left a mark.1:30 — The dream that disappeared overnightCompetitive swimmer → chronic illness → identity shaken.2:59 — A mother’s relentless love against medical gaslightingHow Liz’s mom became the hero who saved her life.5:20 — The moment Liz uncovered institutional corruptionWhy America’s healthcare failures are about more than incompetence.6:56 — Barack Obama, abortion votes, and political awakeningThe exact turning point that launched her activism.9:16 — Media, speaking tours & God’s redirected planHow sorrow and passion became purpose.10:53 — Marriage, vocation & motherhood as a battlegroundWhat true presence requires — and why culture gets it wrong.12:42 — “Our duty is to shepherd souls to heaven”Liz’s life rule for career decisions.14:50 — Protecting kids from culture’s silent predatorsScreens, schools & soul-formational vigilance.17:56 — The humbling truth of parentingWhy even the strongest parents can’t do it without God.20:43 — Free will, spiritual warfare & raising saintsWhat happens when kids choose wrong — and why hope remains.22:49 — When parenting means saying “no” to the entire worldHow to be countercultural with courage.23:53 — Final wisdom from LizA pep talk for future wives & mothers answering God’s call.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. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
49. She Hid Her Conservative Views to Survive College
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48. She Escaped Socialism. Now She’s Warning Gen Z.
38:02||Season 1, Ep. 48Amira Hawat, a summer 2026 Luce Center intern, grew up in Venezuela surrounded by propaganda, corruption, blackouts, water shortages, and fear — but she didn’t fully realize how abnormal it was until she came to America.In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Amira shares what it was like to leave Venezuela at 14, experience freedom for the first time, and watch young Americans romanticize the same ideology that destroyed her country. From writing essays by candlelight to seeing free speech treated like a crime, her story is a powerful reminder that freedom is fragile — and socialism is not the answer. 00:50 Meet Amira: Escaping Socialism01:59 Growing Up Surrounded by Propaganda03:14 Venezuela’s Breaking Point04:31 Writing Essays by Candlelight05:53 Seeing Corruption Up Close08:00 The Venezuela Americans Don’t Imagine12:05 Two Realities: Luxury Online, Suffering at Home14:54 How Her Family Escaped to America17:31 What Happens When You Speak Out31:09 Why Socialism Is a LieAmira is a 2026 Luce Center intern.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. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
47. Gen Z Is More Connected Than Ever… So Why Are We So Lonely?
32:38||Season 1, Ep. 47Gen Z was promised endless connection—Snapchat, Instagram, Zoom, dating apps, group chats, and constant access to everyone we know. So why does this generation feel more isolated than ever?In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we unpack the loneliness epidemic: how screens replaced real friendship, why COVID made isolation feel normal, how self-checkout and QR codes made us avoid basic human interaction, and why Gen Z may have to relearn the lost art of simply talking to people.00:52 — Why Gen Z Loneliness Is Getting Worse02:47 — The Technology That “Connected” Us Started Tearing Us Apart04:56 — The Shocking Loneliness Statistics Among Gen Z07:42 — How COVID Trained a Generation to Live Online09:34 — Why In-Person Connection Changes Your Biology13:08 — Are We Forgetting That We’re Embodied People?15:10 — When Phones Become a “Pseudo Sibling”18:51 — Why We’re Scared to Talk to Real People in Public22:52 — The College Cafeteria Test: Everyone Is Looking Down27:12 — The Anxious Generation and the Childhood We Lost31:17 — How Gen Z Can Start Rebuilding Real CommunityGenZ 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. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
4. Fear, Isolation, and the Fight for Our Minds with Stella Morabito (Repost)
40:21||Season 1, Ep. 4Why are so many young people feeling isolated, anxious, and afraid to speak the truth? Former CIA analyst and author Stella Morabito reveals the terrifying strategy behind modern censorship, gender ideology, social media addiction, and cancel culture: the weaponization of loneliness.In this explosive interview, Stella dives into:How tyrants and regimes use fear and isolation to control the massesThe dark connection between identity politics, political correctness, and mob ruleThe truth behind gender ideology, porn culture, and the destruction of familyCOVID-19’s role as a “social engineering” experimentWhy Gen Z must break the spiral of silence—and how to do it💥 This episode will open your eyes to how freedom is being quietly stripped away—and how YOU can push back.📘 Grab Stella’s book The Weaponization of Loneliness and visit StellasBookClub.com00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:19 Stella's Background and Book Overview02:34 Understanding the Weaponization of Loneliness04:04 Historical Context and Modern Implications06:23 Impact on Youth and Society07:10 Gender Ideology and Hypersexualization08:57 Social Media and Self-Censorship22:53 COVID-19 and Enforced Isolation30:39 Final Thoughts and Advice for Gen Z33:45 Conclusion and Where to Find the Book, "The Weaponization of Loneliness"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. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
8. The Pen, The Press Room, and The Fight for What’s Real with Mary Margaret Olohan (repost)
37:30||Season 1, Ep. 8She walked into the White House with a notebook and conviction — and shook the room. Mary Margaret Olohan isn’t just reporting the news, she’s exposing the silence, breaking the narrative, and refusing to bow.From homeschooling to headline-making, Mary Margaret opens up about how her faith shaped her fight, what legacy media won’t say about abortion and gender ideology, and why Gen Z girls are done playing nice.00:00 – Why Mary Margaret Olohan is a Gen Z icon01:00 – The Kavanaugh moment that changed everything03:00 – Breaking into media with grit and grace04:30 – Reporting on abortion, gender, and the stories no one else would06:00 – Inside the White House press room: chaos, courage, and questions10:00 – From viral moments to Air Force Two: journalism at the front lines12:30 – Facing backlash — and not backing down17:00 – Advice for young women who feel silenced20:00 – How faith and homeschooling forged her fire25:00 – What phones and social media are doing to girls28:00 – The media’s toxic portrayal of womanhood30:00 – Real love vs. TikTok fantasies34:00 – Her dad’s advice: “The truth will set you free”35:00 – Endurance, purpose, and living for something biggerGenZ 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. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0