Communism is often sold as a vision of equality, fairness, and security for everyone. But what does it actually require to work?

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we unpack the promises behind communist and socialist ideas that are gaining popularity with young Americans—and the realities that often get left out of the conversation. Drawing on the testimony of G. Van Fleet, a survivor of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, we explore how collectivist ideas spread, why they appeal to younger generations, and what history shows about where they lead.

Is communism truly about helping the vulnerable—or does it demand far more than people realize?

Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself.

0:39 – Why a survivor of Communist China is warning Americans

1:08 – The shocking similarities between the U.S. and Communist regimes

1:39 – Why Gen Z struggles to understand the cost of freedom

2:22 – Reagan’s warning: Freedom is one generation away from extinction

3:37 – How Marxist ideas spread through universities

4:28 – The buzzwords Gen Z should recognize as Marxism

7:19 – “Replacing rugged individualism with collectivism” explained

9:08 – Why faith and local communities succeed where collectivism fails

12:46 – The incentive problem that makes communism collapse

28:40 – The final warning: Freedom must be defended by the next generation

Xi Van Fleet's talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJmIUp1Olo

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 if everything culture told you about “success” was backwards?

In this powerful summit talk, Lauren Husman dismantles the modern feminist script that says career over family, independence over intimacy, and ambition over motherhood is the only path to happiness. From a viral ad that erased a mom’s family in the name of “focus,” to the rising 4B movement swearing off men entirely, Lauren asks the question most Gen Z women are too afraid to say out loud:

What if marriage and motherhood aren’t the problem… but the promise?

Backed by eye-opening polling data and her own story as a newlywed, Lauren exposes the lie of the “strong, independent woman” myth and offers something radically countercultural: a vision of the real good life — one rooted in faith, family, and truth.

If you’ve ever felt torn between ambition and marriage, career and kids, culture and conviction — this conversation is for you.

6:08 – The Commercial That Says Your Family Is a “Distraction”

7:03 – The Modern Definition of a “Successful Woman”

8:23 – The Feminist Checklist for Happiness

9:39 – How Radical Feminism Became “Mainstream”

10:46 – The Happiness Decline No One Talks About

11:36 – “Shouting Your Abortion” — What It Really Reveals

12:51 – The Poll That Surprised Everyone About Gen Z Women

13:51 – “I Just Got Married” — Why I Didn’t Wait

14:54 – The Problem With Non-Committal Gen Z Men

16:14 – The Real Good Life (And What Actually Matters Most)

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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When Hillary Clinton writes about Allie Beth Stuckey in The Atlantic, you know something bigger is happening.

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we unpack Clinton’s viral article attacking the idea of “toxic empathy” — a phrase Stuckey has popularized to describe what happens when compassion is manipulated to justify destructive policies.

Is empathy being weaponized in today’s culture wars?

Can empathy become harmful when it overrides truth and justice?

And why are young conservative women suddenly at the center of this national debate?

From immigration and abortion to gender ideology and women’s sports, we break down what Clinton actually said, how Allie Beth responded, and why this conversation matters for Gen Z right now.

Because this isn’t just a media spat.

It’s a fight over what compassion really means — and who gets protected when empathy is pushed to the extreme.

Listen in as we explore the headlines, the context, and the deeper question:

Is empathy our highest virtue — or has it replaced something even more important?

00:46 – Welcome & Why Hillary Clinton Targeted “Toxic Empathy”

01:04 – Allie Beth Stuckey’s Reaction to The Atlantic Article

02:44 – What “Toxic Empathy” Actually Means

04:11 – How Empathy Can Blind Critical Thinking

06:10 – The Sermon That Sparked the Controversy

07:56 – Allie Beth’s 3-Part Definition of Toxic Empathy

09:14 – The Laken Riley Case & Selective Outrage

12:13 – Gender Ideology, Regret & Irreversible Consequences

14:00 – Why Love (Not Empathy) Is the Highest Virtue

20:54 – Social Media, Extremism & The Algorithm Problem

Read the full article:

“The War on Empathy” by Hillary Clinton, The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/war-empathy-hillary-clinton/685809/

Watch Allie Beth Stuckey’s full response here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxSfytPN2kQ

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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Happy early Valentine’s Day from Gen Z Unplugged 💌

In this fun and thoughtful Valentine’s special, we’re talking everything from dreamy date ideas and “talking stage” confusion to healthy standards and our favorite conservative couples.

We share practical (and realistic) dating advice for Gen Z women, reflect on examples of strong marriages like Ronald Reagan & Nancy Reagan, and highlight modern couples like Allie Beth Stuckey, Isabel Brown, and JD Vance & Usha Vance who show that marriage can be joyful, supportive, and faith-filled.

Whether you’re planning a candlelight concert, making heart-shaped pancakes, hosting Galentine’s, or navigating an undefined “talking stage” — this episode is for you.

00:47 – Welcome to Our Valentine’s Day Special 💐

01:34 – Classic vs. Creative Date Ideas (Candlelight Concerts, Pottery & More)

03:52 – Group Dates on Valentine’s Day… Yes or No?

04:41 – Stay In or Go Out? The Reservation Struggle Is Real

06:34 – How Long Do You Have to Be Dating for Valentine’s to “Count”?

08:06 – Talking Stage Dilemmas & Subtle Flower Moves 🌹

10:34 – What If You’re Single on Valentine’s Day? (Galentine’s & Self-Date Ideas)

17:27 – Conservative Couples We Love & Why They Inspire Us

24:33 – “Marriage Is 100/100” – Powerful Advice for Young Women

28:31 – Low Maintenance vs. Undervalued + Ending the Endless Talking Stage

💬 Join the conversation in the comments:

What’s your ideal Valentine’s date — dinner out, cozy at home, or Galentine’s night?

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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As a new year unfolds, it’s easy to obsess over résumés, productivity hacks, fitness milestones, and the next big achievement. But what if we’re asking the wrong questions altogether?

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Hannah Faulkner joins the conversation to unpack what it actually means to set goals with eternity in mind. From faith and fitness to work, mentorship, and burnout, we wrestle with the tension between worldly success and kingdom impact—and why Gen Z feels stuck chasing outcomes that never quite satisfy.

We talk about delayed gratification, stewarding your body and mind, resisting the pull of constant productivity, and choosing goals that shape who you’re becoming—not just what you’re accomplishing. If you’re entering 2026 asking “What really matters?”—this episode is for you.

00:49 — Your 2026 Goals Might Be Aimed at the Wrong Thing

01:38 — Stop Building a Resume and Start Thinking About Your Eulogy

03:56 — When Self-Improvement Quietly Replaces God

05:38 — Why Hustle Culture Is Burning Out Gen Z Women

07:52 — Doomscrolling, AI, and the Death of Deep Thinking

10:18 — The Mentorship Gap No One Is Talking About

13:06 — You Become What You Watch, Read, and Follow

17:05 — Fitness Culture Is Lying to You About Your Body

23:07 — Delayed Gratification Is a Spiritual Skill

27:58 — Silence With God Might Be the Hardest Discipline

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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Title IX was created to protect women—our opportunities, our safety, and our right to fair competition. But in 2026, we’re watching it be used against the very girls it was meant to defend.

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we break down what’s really happening with the Supreme Court’s latest Title IX cases, why women’s sports are at the center of the fight, and how “equal opportunity” is being redefined in ways that cost female athletes scholarships, records, and even their safety. From firsthand stories and viral headlines to the deeper cultural shift behind it all, this is the conversation Gen Z women can’t afford to sit out.

Because when reality gets blurred, someone always pays the price—and right now, it’s girls.

00:34 — Why Title IX is suddenly everywhere again: Supreme Court cases and the fight over women’s sports

01:08 — Standing outside the Supreme Court: young women rally for fairness in sports

01:46 — “It’s wild that in 2026 we’re still debating basic biology”

02:32 — What Title IX actually says—and what it was meant to protect

03:53 — How Title IX is being weaponized to redefine “equal opportunity”

05:08 — “If even one girl is harmed, that’s too many”

06:09 — The Peyton McNabb story: when ideology turns physically dangerous

08:08 — Supreme Court language that shocked the nation

11:02 — Former athletes explain the biological reality behind competition

27:25 — Why there is hope—and why Gen Z women must lead the response

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 if productivity, creativity, and personal fulfillment didn’t have to compete?

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we share the unique work system we use at the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women—and why it’s led to our most successful year to date.

We break down how collaboration hours, deep-focus workdays, and real flexibility help our team produce better work without burnout. The result? Record-breaking internships, major events, stronger creative output, and a workplace culture that supports both excellence and real life.

In this conversation, we cover:

Why rethinking how we work matters more than working longer

How focused collaboration speeds up big projects

Why flexibility can actually raise standards

What this model means for women balancing career, family, and long-term growth

If you’ve ever felt like there should be a better way to work—this episode is for you.

Would you thrive in a system like this? Tell us below.

Timestamps

00:00 — Why we’re finally sharing our unconventional work system

01:36 — How collaboration hours actually work (and why they’re limited)

02:18 — Flexibility doesn’t mean working less

03:06 — The productivity wall most workplaces ignore

04:27 — Why shorter work windows produce better results

05:41 — Shifting from “clocking hours” to pursuing excellence

07:14 — Where our deepest, most important work really happens

08:49 — Blending the best of remote work and in-person collaboration

11:27 — How this model reduces burnout—especially long-term

13:39 — Why limited collaboration speeds up major projects

06:26 - “Deep Work,” by Cal Newport: https://a.co/d/8ZWD097

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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Welcome back to Gen Z Unplugged.

Today, we’re jumping on one of the internet’s biggest trends and taking it way deeper than TikTok ever could: our Ins and Outs for 2026. From fashion and food to dating, tech, culture, and mindset, we’re breaking down what we’re officially leaving behind—and what we think is shaping the year ahead.

Some of these takes are fun. Some are spicy. Some might be a little controversial. But all of them reflect a real cultural shift we’re watching unfold: less doomscrolling, more intentional living. Less victim mentality, more accountability. Less noise, more substance.

Whether it’s why doomscrolling is out, real food is in, hobbies are back, or why boyfriends might be out and husbands might be in—this episode is our honest, unfiltered forecast for 2026. Let’s get into it.

00:00 — Why “Ins & Outs” are everywhere—and why we’re doing ours

01:40 — Dressing classy again & the return of intentional fashion

02:20 — Skinny jeans, riding boots, and the 2016 revival

05:15 — Raunchy books and movies are officially out

06:30 — Doomscrolling is out, reading and real life are in

08:15 — Food as fuel: ingredients, whole foods, and protein

14:20 — Sunlight, circadian rhythms, and waking up with the sun

18:15 — Victim mentality and chronic negativity are out

20:55 — Boyfriends out, husbands in: dating and marriage shifts

25:05 — Analog life, hobbies, and reclaiming real-world skills

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!

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