The career map a lot of us grew up with is getting redrawn in real time, and teenagers feel it first. We’re joined by Roman, our 17-year-old high school senior, for a candid look at what “planning for the future” actually feels like when job security is shaky, entry-level roles demand experience, and a college degree doesn’t automatically open doors.

We talk through the growing list of paths Gen Z is considering: entrepreneurship, family businesses, online school, and especially career-technical education and the skilled trades. Roman explains why hands-on programs can feel more connected to real life than rigid classroom routines, and he shares what students learn when they run the numbers on taxes, rent, transportation, food, and education. The affordability conversation gets real fast, and it reshapes how young people think about lifestyle, independence, and even multigenerational living.

We also dig into screens and technology with less panic and more nuance. Roman breaks down how he actually uses AI in school for research and sources, why he doesn’t think AI replaces deep thinking or meaningful conversation, and why banning phones at school misses the root problem when laptops and other devices still exist. If you care about Gen Z career paths, college versus trades, financial literacy, AI in education, and screen time, this one will challenge a few assumptions.

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