Should social media be banned for under-16s in the UK - and what can we learn from Australia? Do phone-free schools actually work, or do they just push problems underground?

In this episode, we’re joined by Amit Singh Kalley - leading commentator on this topic and the creator of the viral Periodic Table of Emojis. Amit helps us explore one of the most urgent debates facing parents, schools, and policymakers.

Amit shares how he keeps up with the fast-changing language of teens, and why adults still underestimate the pressure young people face online. Drawing on his experience as a Deputy Headteacher who banned phones at his school, he unpacks what actually works - and what doesn't.

You’ll learn:

• The four questions Amit believes parents should ask their children every day
• What phone-free schools can achieve
• How to rebuild trust when phones have created a wall between parents and children
  
  

We look at some of the research in Jonathan Haidt’s book ‘The Anxious Generation’ and look at the very real risks like grooming and sextortion. We discuss the peer pressure between parents as well as teens, whether gaming platforms should be included in a ban, and how Gen Z may one day look back on being handed smartphones so young.

Listen in and you’ll discover what good conversations about social media actually sound like - and how parents and teens can walk the digital path together, instead of pulling in opposite directions.

Hit play now and join the conversation we can’t afford to avoid.

How to contact Amit:

https://forworkingparents.com/

https://www.instagram.com/forworkingparents/

https://www.tiktok.com/@forworkingparents

https://www.facebook.com/forworkingparents

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitsinghkalley

1.00 Intro to Amit

2.05 The idea for the Periodic Table of Emojis

3.40 Keeping up-to-date with how teens communicate

5.14 What are adults still not getting about social media?

7.35 The wall built between parents and children and how to break it down

8.48 The 4 questions to ask your children every day about their online experience

11.07 ‘The Anxious Generation’ and the accidental phone-based childhood

12.12 Amit’s experience of banning phones at school and the results

14.37 Lily’s experience of having phones in school

17.04 The language of the social media ban

18.20 How Gen Z will look back on being given phones & social media

19.35 The dangers of access for young people - grooming and sextortion

23.55 Can we hold the social media companies to account?

28.14 Would a ban work?

30.52 Reports on the changes in Australia so far

32.22 How it could be implemented in the UK and will we do it?

37.45 How to have a good conversation about social media between parents and teens

41.14 Should we ban gaming platforms too?

43.49 How teens might react to losing social media access, how to make them more aware and how to involve them in the discussion

46.50 How to connect with Amit

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/

Ever wondered why your CV isn’t getting responses - or how you’re supposed to stand out when everyone’s following completely different advice? Should you write for AI screening, recruiters, or hiring managers… and can you do all three at once?

In this episode we're joined by Carl Scutt, the UK’s only certified Career Storyteller, to cut through the confusion and explain what actually works in today’s job market.

Carl shares how he got started, why so many CVs fail, and how to build a compelling CV whether you’re just starting out with limited experience or reshaping a long career to stay relevant. From accomplishment statements and keyword matching to career pivots, CV gaps, and whether gimmicks really help - this episode is about clarity, confidence, and telling the right story.

You’ll learn:

• How to write a strong CV when you’re early in your career (and what else counts)
• How to shape accomplishment statements - even if you haven’t done the job before
• How to tailor your CV for each role without rewriting it from scratch
• How to position a long career history, handle gaps, or pivot into something new
• How to write a CV for humans and AI - and the three audiences you must satisfy

Whether you’re applying for your first role, feeling stuck mid-career, or trying to future-proof your experience, listen in and you’ll discover how to stop guessing - and start telling a career story that gets noticed.

Hit play now and make your CV work harder for you.

Connect with Carl:

https://www.yourcareerstory.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-scutt/

2.05 Intro to Carl

3.20How Carl got started

5.08 Challenges with CVs in the current market

6.20 How to build a strong CV when you're starting out

8.40 What else to include when you're starting out (hobbies, interests, etc)

10.27 How to form accomplishment statements if you've not done the job you're applying for before

11.08 How to think about accomplishment statements

12.04 How to tailor your CV for each job application

13.35 How to stand out from other applicants

16.07 How to take a long career history and shape it for a role today

17.20 How long should a CV be?

19.11 How to position yourself in a CV for a pivot or career change

20.30 How to handle gaps on your CV

23.47 How to get through AI screening with your CV - should you write for bots or humans, or both?

29.40 Do gimmicky things help you stand out?

31.34 How to tailor your CV when uploading to job boards

33.13 Cover letters - do recruiters still expect them and if so how to do them?

35.58 How to make sense of all the conflicting CV info and advice that's out there

38.08 What does it mean to be a career storyteller?

43.00 Carl's one guiding principle

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/

Why do you like a song so much… and why does it become your song? Why can't you recite the lyrics to an old favourite on demand - but the second the track starts, you’re singing every word?

In this episode of The Gen X/Z Exchange, we go beyond “favourite bands” chat and get into the psychology and neuroscience of music - starting with our all-time favourite songs, then unpacking the three things that can turn any track into a lifelong favourite.

From the ‘Reminiscence Bump’ (why music from certain ages sticks more) to the cascading version that explains why your parents’ classics can feel like your nostalgia too, this one’s a proper brain-meets-bangers deep dive.

We cover how a live band can become a 'biological conductor' of the crowd, the role music plays in films and laugh at a few misheard lyrics.

You’ll learn:

• The science behind “favourite songs” and why some tracks feel so personal
• What the Reminiscence Bump is - and how it shapes Gen X vs Gen Z taste
• Why lyrics live in your brain differently than spoken words
• How to find new music (and why many of us stop searching as we get older)
• How to run an inter-generational family listening party

Listen in and you’ll discover how music can unlock memory, boost connection, and - even in some cases - help people access speech and movement when other routes fail.

Hit play now!

1.02 Chris and Lily each briefly discuss their all-time favourite song

3.02 The three things that can make a song a favourite

5.40 The 'Reminiscence Bump'

8.03 Why you can't recite lyrics on demand, but as soon as the song starts you can sing along all the way through

10.07 Where to find new music and why we stop listening to new music as we get older

17.23 The 'Cascading Reminiscence Bump'

18.39 How to run an inter-generational family listening party

26.43 Live music - three things that make for a great live performance

31.40 The Playlist for Life and the effect music can have on people who have lost speech or motor skills

33.53 Film music

35.17 Misheard lyrics

You can find out more about Playlist for Life here:

https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/

We're taking a short break over Christmas and New Year....but we have lots planned for 2026!

Have a listen to this short trailer to hear some of the topics we have coming up and a thank you message from us for all your support over the last six months.

If you've enjoyed the show this year, the best Christmas present you could give us is a five-star rating and review to help new listeners discover the show.

Thanks for all your support! Have a great festive season and we'll see you in January!

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/

Ever wondered why your boss, your mentor, or your Gen Z colleague just doesn’t seem to “get” how you work? Or why feedback that fires up one generation can shut down another?

Chris and Lily sit down with Gabby Rosely - former competitive swimmer turned entrepreneur, corporate leader and now multigenerational teams expert - to unpack the real reasons behind generational friction at work.

Gabby has managed teams spanning Boomers to Gen Z while still in her twenties, and she’s here to share what actually helps us connect, communicate, and collaborate across age divides.

You’ll learn:

• The surprising historical forces that shaped each generation’s work style
• Why “Engage-Discuss” vs. “Command-Obey” is the key model to understanding generational differences
• How different generations view and want to receive feedback - and how to adapt when it’s not your style
• Whether gender plays a role in these workplace dynamics
• The story behind Gabby’s 77-year-old mentee - and her personal motto, “Say yes before you’re ready!”

Whether you’re managing, mentoring, or just trying to get along in a multigenerational team, listen in and you’ll discover how to bridge the gap - and build a workplace where every generation thrives.

Hit play now and decode the generations with us.

3.10 Intro to Gabby

4.20 Gabby’s story

6.53 Historical influences shaping each generation (7.33 Boomers; 9.13 Gen X; 12.04 Millennials; 13.55 Gen Z)

12.34 Engage-Discuss vs Command-Obey

15.49 How the generations connect and motivate people at work (16.12 Boomers; 17.20 Gen X; 19.45 Millennials; 20.40 Gen Z)

21.18 Different generational views on feedback

23.06 How to avoid getting it wrong with other generations

27.27 Is there a gendered element to these challenges?

32.03 How each generation wants to receive feedback (32.15 Gen Z; 32.54 Millennials; 33.16 Gen X; 33.56 Boomers)

34.30 How to respond if feedback doesn’t meet your preferences

36.08 Gabby’s 77-year-old mentee

38.55 Gabby’s motto - “Say yes before you’re ready!”

41.26 Walking away and moving to Costa Rica

46.48 Gabby’s programs and how you can connect to learn more

49.00 Our key takeaways

Connect with Gabby Rosely:

https://www.gabbyrosely.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabbyrosely/

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/

Ever caught yourself thinking, “Maybe I should cut back” or “Am I drinking too much?” If so, this episode is for you.

We sit down with Steve Kirchell, Alcohol-Free Performance Coach, to talk about what it really means to be Sober Curious - and why going alcohol-free might be easier than you think.

Steve shares his personal journey to becoming alcohol-free, the subtle warning signs your drinking might be becoming problematic, and the number-one reason people stay stuck on the fence. We explore how alcohol affects your brain, body, and behaviour - and how to build confidence in social situations without it.

You’ll learn:

• How to handle social pressure and challenge friends who push you to drink
• Whether moderation ever really works, or if it’s all-or-nothing
• The 'Joy of Missing Out' instead of ‘Fear of Missing Out’ and how to enjoy life alcohol-free
• How long alcohol stays in your system and what it’s doing to you
• Practical advice for navigating the Christmas Party season with confidence
  
  

Whether you’re curious about cutting back, questioning your habits, or ready to quit completely, listen in and discover how to redefine fun, confidence, and connection without the glass in hand.

Hit play now.

0.57 Chris and Lily’s thoughts on going alcohol-free

2.40 Steve’s journey to an alcohol-free lifestyle

5.50 Gen Z’s typical experience of drinking escalating

6.24 The warning signs that your drinking is becoming problematic

8.44 The stages of people drinking on a night out

9.33 Has social media made Gen Z more cautious about excessive drinking?

12.00 Will your friends support you?

12.54 Sober curious? Is it all-or-nothing or can you drink in moderation?

14.36 How long it takes for alcohol to leave your system

15.13 The effects of repeated alcohol consumption on your brain and body

18.50 How drinking gets normalised as you get older

19.19 How to get confident you can break ingrained habits

21.08 How to challenge a friend who might pressure you to keep drinking

21.58 The ‘Joy of Missing Out’

24.00 Considering alcohol-free? How to get over feeling alcohol is essential to loosening you up and making you feel more confident

25.50 The time we all had fun without alcohol

28.53 How going alcohol-free might be easier than you think

30.32 How Steve’s life is different now since stopping drinking

32.00 Other signs that you might want to reconsider your relationship with alcohol

33.40 How to find out more about Steve’s Alcohol-Free Blueprint

34.15 How Steve’s 1:1 support works

36.27 Advice for handling the Christmas Party season

Connect with Steve Kirchell:

https://alcoholfreeblueprint.info/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-kirchell-8951a73/

https://www.instagram.com/steve_kirchell_coaching/

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/

“Why can’t I just get on with the things I keep putting off?” If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Gen X dad and Gen Z daughter Chris and Lily team up with productivity coach Wilson Obeneme to break down why we procrastinate, how it derails our focus, and what we can do to take action sooner.

Wilson shares surprising stats about procrastination, explores its root causes, and reveals the top three blockers that stop us tackling the tasks that matter most. We also dig into the hidden costs of delaying and how to avoid them.

You’ll learn:

• Two practical approaches to kick-start tasks you’ve been avoiding
• How perfectionism and “time-blindness” (ignoring deadlines) trap us - and how to beat them
• Three actionable steps to overcome procrastination using accountability
• The single morning micro-habit that can transform your productivity
  
  

Whether you’re struggling with study deadlines or drowning in a never-ending to-do list at work, listen in and you’ll discover simple tools to beat procrastination.

Even if the habit feels deeply ingrained, you can shift from “I’ll do it later” to “I'm done now.”

Hit play now.

1.12 Chris & Lily’s procrastination tendencies

2.20 Introduction to Wilson

3.25 Wilson’s early experience of becoming hyper-productive

5.58 Is procrastination something that happens, a habit or part of your identity?

7.40 Stats on procrastination

11.04 Causes of procrastination and different types

12.05 Three key reasons that stop people doing what they want

15.18 How to get started with tasks you’re putting off

19.40 How to overcome procrastination due to perfectionism and time blindness

22.55 The 8-8-8 rule and the work-rest cycle

25.05 Three additional steps to overcome procrastination using accountability

28.50 The hidden costs of procrastination

30.18 Micro-habits to beat procrastination

33.48 How to connect with Wilson

35.30 Our takeaways

Connect with Wilson Obeneme:

Take the 3-minute productivity quiz:

https://quiz.thegrowthplug.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilsonobeneme/

https://www.instagram.com/thegrowthplug_/

https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowthplug_podcast

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/

We spend time at work, think about work, talk about work and then come home and watch TV shows about work!

Would you love to message ‘Urgent exit required’ to get out of boring meetings?

Would you sever your work self from your self outside work?

Could you work in Carmy’s kitchen from ‘The Bear’?

We talk about what we can learn from the portrayals of different workplaces in our favourite TV shows.

You’ll learn:

• How Chris learned to launder money from a TV show
• Which show Lily thinks is the offspring of a workplace drama and a Black Mirror episode
• Why Lily would want to have a failing business just so Nathan Fielder could visit
• How Ted Lasso formed a new Perkins family Christmas tradition

Whether you could see yourself working in Suits, Succession or Schitt’s Creek, join us for this episode to hear about how we’ve actually applied some things from TV shows at our work and what these shows have taught us about the workplace.

If you love a show we haven’t discussed below, get in touch and let us know as we might revisit this topic in a future episode….

Hit play now.

1.10 Lily’s top TV shows

1.47 Chris’ top TV shows

2.40 The Office (UK)

3.26 THe Office (US)

4.15 Mad Men

5.26 Line of Duty

6.50 Brooklyn Nine-Nine

7.25 Severance

9.48 Parks & Recreation

10.36 The Bear

13.15 Schitt’s Creek

15.03 Ozark

17.30 Nathan for You

19.37 The Curse

20.25 Suits

21.33 Succession

22.26 Ted Lasso

24.15 What does all this mean for us?

Send us a voice message on Speakpipe!

https://www.speakpipe.com/thegenxzexchange

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisperkins172/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-perkins-8446a82bb/