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We talk a lot on this show about how emotional suppression gets conditioned into us. But what about the generation living in the aftermath of everything we've built — and everything we've passed down?

This episode is about kids. Specifically, why we keep calling Gen Z lazy when what they actually are is overwhelmed, overstimulated, and emotionally under-resourced in a world that was already broken before they got here.

I sat down with Rashad — school counselor, speaker, and therapist in training — for one of the most grounding conversations I've had on this show. We talk about what emotional safety actually looks like in real life. Not in theory. In your home, in your relationships, in a classroom full of teenagers who have never been taught to answer the question: who are you to you?

We cover why men get trained out of vulnerability early, why women get punished for expressing emotion at all, and how jumping into solution mode — however well-intentioned — can quietly shut someone down. Rashad breaks down what it actually means to stay present with someone who is struggling, and why removing your ego is the prerequisite for any real repair.

Then we zoom out. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are navigating nonstop dopamine loops, post-COVID nervous systems, social media comparison, economic anxiety, and a future that feels stacked against them before they've even started. Lazy isn't the right word. Burned out before adulthood is closer.

But there is hope here. Real hope — not the performative kind. This conversation is full of it.

If you are a parent, a teacher, a partner, or anyone who loves a young person and wants to do better by them, this one is for you.

About Rashad Rashad is a school counselor, speaker, and therapist in training who has dedicated his work to helping young people feel seen, safe, and emotionally equipped for the world they're navigating. He works on the front lines of the youth mental health crisis every day — in classrooms, hallways, and one-on-one conversations that most adults never get to witness. His approach is grounded, practical, and deeply human.

Find Rashad on Instagram @rashadyoung_ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rashad.a.young

If this episode spoke to you, it would mean the world if you took a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend who needs it. And make sure you hit follow so you never miss an episode of Conditioning to Consciousness.

You can connect with me on Instagram @jesscallahan_, join my Substack community at conditioningtoconsciousness.substack.com, or explore more of my work at jesscallahan.com.

My Back in the Body Nervous System Healing course is now available! Find it here.

Thanks for listening — I’m so grateful you’re here.

If this episode spoke to you, it would mean the world if you took a moment to leave a review or share it with a friend who needs it. And make sure you hit follow so you never miss an episode of Conditioning to Consciousness.

You can connect with me on Instagram @jesscallahan_, join my Substack community at conditioningtoconsciousness.substack.com, or explore more of my work at jesscallahan.com.

My Back in the Body Nervous System Healing course is now available! Find it here.

Thanks for listening — I’m so grateful you’re here.