It started with a hard “yes” in the middle of doubt—and turned into something no one expected.

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we sit down with Abigail DeJarnatt and Allie Paris of Counteract USA to unpack the unexpected story behind a movement that’s reaching young people across the country. What started with one reluctant “yes” quickly turned into something much bigger—answering a question so many are afraid to ask: why is Gen Z walking away from faith?

From losing friends to deconstruction, to wrestling with calling, identity, and purpose, this conversation dives into the real tension young Christians are facing today. But it doesn’t stop there—this is also about rebuilding: forming bold community, speaking truth with courage, and living out faith when it actually costs something.

If you’ve ever felt alone in what you believe—or unsure how to stand firm in today’s culture—this episode is for you.

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Abigail founded Counteract USA in June 2021 in Northwest Arkansas after watching her peers in Gen Z struggle with hopelessness and the deconstruction of their faith. Though once in pursuit of a career as a professional choreographer, God changed the calling on Abigail’s life and ignited a passion within her to equip her generation of Christians to stand upon the truth of the Word of God and counteract the narratives of our culture with the hope of the gospel of Jesus.

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Allie joined Counteract USA in 2021, quickly realizing that taking Counteract USA from an idea to an organization was exactly what God was calling her to–what stood out to her about Counteract USA is that the gospel was the “why” behind every meeting and conversation. Based in Northwest Arkansas, Allie continues to make it “happen,” serving Counteract USA tirelessly to reach her generation for Christ.

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1:16 — Welcome + Meet Counteract USA

2:11 — The Moment Everything Changed: Friends Leaving the Faith

3:34 — Why Cultural Issues Are Actually Spiritual Battles

4:16 — Discovering the Answers Were Always in Scripture

5:21 — Running from the Calling (and Why It Didn’t Work)

6:36 — Surrendering the Plan: Career, Relationship, Everything

7:44 — Starting Over—and Finding Unexpected Peace

9:14 — “You’re the Only One”: The Isolation of Gen Z Christians

10:14 — From Conversations to Community

11:16 — When the Movement Became Bigger Than Expected

Learn more about Counteract USA here: https://counteractusa.org/

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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What would make a successful finance executive walk away from it all to fight for America’s kids? Erika Donalds did exactly that. When her son came home miserable from school, she discovered a broken system—and made it her mission to change it.

In this powerful episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Erika shares how one mom’s love turned into a nationwide movement for school choice and education freedom. From battling bureaucrats to building better schools, she reveals how faith, family, and fierce determination can take on even the biggest machine.

Founder and Chairman of OptimaEd and Chair of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for Education Opportunity. Erika is a national expert on education policy and school choice, a frequent media commentator and speaker, and a seasoned business executive.

01:30 – Erika Donalds shares how her faith and family shaped her calling to fight for education freedom.

02:53 – From college sweethearts to changemakers: how Erika and Byron Donalds built a mission from humble beginnings.

04:33 – When her son’s school labeled him the problem, Erika refused to listen—and discovered the power of school choice.

06:05 – The moment everything changed: a miserable child, a leap of faith, and a mom on a mission.

07:35 – What school choice actually means—and why it’s revolutionizing education across America.

09:05 – How parents can take back control: education freedom explained in plain terms.

10:35 – Why Erika no longer trusts the public school system—and what she’s seen from the inside.

12:05 – Fighting misinformation: when people say school choice “defunds” public schools.

13:35 – The surprising truth: public school teachers are the biggest supporters of school choice.

15:05 – Homeschool, charter, hybrid—how the Donalds family has tried it all.

16:41 – Erika’s message to moms: “If your child is miserable, that’s not God’s plan.”

18:01 – What to do if you’re stuck in a bad school district—and how to find better options.

19:41 – “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”: Erika’s challenge to moms to put their kids first.

21:13 – The myth of “having it all”: how Erika learned to reorder her life around faith and family.

23:11 – Leaving a corporate career to follow God’s plan—how risk turned into purpose.

24:55 – The importance of setting boundaries, priorities, and putting family above ambition.

26:43 – Erika’s advice to young advocates: why showing up at school board meetings still matters.

28:19 – Why every taxpayer—parent or not—has “skin in the game” for education.

30:09 – The First Amendment, civics, and what too many Americans have forgotten.

32:00 – How Erika is helping lead America’s 250th civics revival with Turning Point, Hillsdale, and others.

33:55 – “If you don’t know your rights, you can’t defend them.” Why civics education matters now more than ever.

35:57 – Erika’s final message to young women: stay rooted in God’s Word and your priorities.

37:41 – The power of sisterhood, faith, and finding your calling with like-minded women.

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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What starts as a quiet nudge can turn into something much bigger.

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, two college students share how an unexpected calling—one they initially felt completely unready for—led to the creation of their podcast, Hot Mess, Holy Heart. From navigating loneliness on campus to wrestling with doubt, social media pressure, and the search for real purpose, their story is both honest and deeply relatable.

This conversation dives into what it actually looks like to pursue faith in a generation overwhelmed by noise—and why more young women are starting to look for something deeper.

If you’ve ever questioned your purpose, felt spiritually stuck, or wondered if you’re ready for what God might be asking of you—this episode is for you.

1:03 — Meet Alex & Lauren + Their Unexpected College Journeys

1:44 — Feeling Called Somewhere You Didn’t Expect

2:43 — Introducing Hot Mess, Holy Heart

4:13 — “I Loved the Church More Than God” — A Faith Wake-Up Call

5:18 — From Doubt to Discovering a Calling

7:03 — “This Is the Person” — How Their Partnership Began

11:43 — Getting Out of a Spiritual Rut (Practical Advice)

13:44 — Social Media, Comparison, and Finding Your Worth

19:57 — The Loneliness Epidemic in College Life

24:03 — Is the Gen Z Faith Revival Actually Real?

Follow Lauren and Alex on their new podcast @hotmessholyheart on YouTube and Instagram!

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!

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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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.