GenZ Unplugged

What if the key to success isn't more confidence, but more humility?

Journalist and author Mary Margaret Olohan joins GenZ Unplugged to challenge the conventional wisdom surrounding confidence, ambition, and success. She shares why young women should prioritize character over self-promotion, how she discovered her calling in journalism, and what it really means to stand firm in your convictions.

From navigating political disagreements with grace to embracing faith, virtue, and the power of great literature, Mary Margaret offers a refreshing perspective on what it takes to become a woman of courage, conviction, and character.

#genzunplugged #marymargaretolohan #confidence #humility #conservativewomen

Mary Margaret Olohan is White House Correspondent for The Daily Wire and the author of Detrans: True Stories of Escaping The Gender Ideology Cult. She previously wrote for The Daily Signal and for The Daily Caller News Foundation. A graduate of the Catholic University of America, Mary Margaret is the proud eldest daughter of an Irish Catholic family of eleven children.

0:12 - Mary Margaret Olohan's Journey with the Luce Center

2:28 - Discovering Your God-Given Calling

3:36 - What Inspired Her Career in Journalism

5:20 - Overcoming Vices and Growing in Virtue

8:10 - Why Gen Z Overvalues Confidence

10:11 - Why Humility Doesn't Mean Weakness

13:07 - How to Stand for Truth Without Being Combative

17:08 - Welcoming Detransitioners with Compassion

20:07 - How Reading Changes the Way You Think

GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, Anastasia Leffas, and Rachel Hurley. Producer is Sandra Scarlatoiu.

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At just 16, Bella Vantes has amassed over 150,000 Instagram followers by saying what others are afraid to say. But she believes young women are being sold a dangerous lie: that they must choose between pursuing their ambitions and building a family.

In this episode of GenZ Unplugged, Bella shares how she went viral, how Charlie Kirk inspired her political journey, and why she's determined to challenge the culture of victimhood. From the pressures facing Gen Z women to the importance of faith, family, and finding your own purpose, Bella offers a bold perspective on what it means to pursue the American Dream.

Can young women really have it all—or have we been asking the wrong question?

0:00 - The Biggest Lie Gen Z Believes (Opening Stinger)

0:16 - Meet Bella Vantes: 16 Years Old and Unfiltered

1:36 - Is Socialism Crushing Gen Z's Dreams?

3:31 - The Viral Video That Changed Everything

5:52 - How Charlie Kirk Inspired Her Political Journey

7:25 - Finding Purpose After Charlie Kirk's Death

9:54 - The Biggest Lie Young Women Are Being Told

13:21 - Why Women Shouldn't Have to Choose Between Career and Family

15:52 - Bella's Vision for America's Future

17:35 - Stop Dreaming Small: Bella's Message to Gen Z

#genzunplugged #bellavantes #genz #conservativewomen #americanDream

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Follow Bella on Instagram @bellavantes and on YouTube @TheBellaVantes!

GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, Anastasia Leffas, and Rachel Hurley. Producer is Sandra Scarlatoiu.

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Are conservative women being pushed into a box? Political commentator Elisha Krauss joins Gen Z Unplugged to challenge conventional thinking about marriage, motherhood, and women's roles in the conservative movement. From why college women may have more influence than Joe Rogan to why she's refusing to give up on California, Elisha makes the case for strong relationships, principled leadership, and a conservatism that recognizes women as partners—not competitors.

Elisha Krauss is a conservative commentator, writer, and podcaster. Currently, she is a host of The Washington Examiner Newsmaker Series. Previously she was a co-host and contributor at Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire. Krauss also cohosted the Ricochet Ladybrains podcast with a rotating cast of friends: Mary Katharine Ham, Kelly Maher, Bethany Mandel, Lyndsey Fifield, and Emily Zanotti. Krauss previously hosted a morning drive radio show in Los Angeles with Shapiro for four years and produced the syndicated Sean Hannity Radio Show for seven years. She has also worked with Truth Revolt as a grassroots organizer and writer, PragerU as their Director of Outreach, and ran a congressional campaign in her home state of Oklahoma.

0:00 - Opening Stinger

0:12 - Meet Elisha Krauss

2:03 - Why Conservatives Shouldn't Avoid Liberal Cities

3:31 - What Ben Shapiro Is Really Like

5:35 - What's Happening to Young Women?

7:10 - The Conservative Movement's Messaging Problem

9:29 - Why College Women Have More Influence Than Joe Rogan

12:45 - Why Elisha Refuses to Give Up on California

17:25 - Can Women Have Both Careers and Families?

18:48 - The Reality of Balancing Motherhood and Ambition

20:25 - Home Birth, MAHA, and Modern Motherhood

22:58 - What Conservative Men Get Wrong About Marriage

24:10 - Why Men and Women Should Be Teammates

GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, Anastasia Leffas, and Rachel Hurley. Producer is Sandra Scarlatoiu.

Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!

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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 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! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social 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

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Why are fewer young people choosing marriage and children—and what can we learn from those who swim against the tide?

Economist and author Catherine Pakaluk joins us to share the story behind her groundbreaking book Hannah’s Children. From her personal journey as a young wife and mother of six overnight, to her research on the cultural and spiritual roots of declining birth rates, Catherine unpacks what it really means to see children as gifts rather than burdens. This conversation is raw, hopeful, and deeply countercultural—perfect for anyone wrestling with questions of calling, career, and family.

01:22 – Welcome and introduction to Catherine Pakaluk

02:22 – Why Hannah’s Children was written

04:22 – The birth rate crisis and cultural shifts in Gen Z

07:22 – Catherine’s personal story: marriage, family, and unexpected callings

13:22 – Balancing being a new wife and instant mother of six

18:22 – “Readiness” and why waiting for the “perfect moment” doesn’t work

23:22 – One child at a time: openness without numbers

25:22 – Money myths: why children aren’t “too expensive”

30:22 – The deeper reasons behind declining birth rates

37:22 – How faith and lived experience shape the desire for children

43:22 – Can the economy incentivize larger families?

48:22 – Marriage, career, and calling: why it’s not either/or

51:22 – Where to find Catherine’s work and a sneak peek at her upcoming project

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! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social 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

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Amira Hawat, a summer 2026 Luce Center intern, grew up in Venezuela surrounded by propaganda, corruption, blackouts, water shortages, and fear — but she didn’t fully realize how abnormal it was until she came to America. In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Amira shares what it was like to leave Venezuela at 14, experience freedom for the first time, and watch young Americans romanticize the same ideology that destroyed her country. From writing essays by candlelight to seeing free speech treated like a crime, her story is a powerful reminder that freedom is fragile — and socialism is not the answer.

00:50 Meet Amira: Escaping Socialism

01:59 Growing Up Surrounded by Propaganda

03:14 Venezuela’s Breaking Point

04:31 Writing Essays by Candlelight

05:53 Seeing Corruption Up Close

08:00 The Venezuela Americans Don’t Imagine

12:05 Two Realities: Luxury Online, Suffering at Home

14:54 How Her Family Escaped to America

17:31 What Happens When You Speak Out

31:09 Why Socialism Is a Lie

GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, 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! X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social

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Erika Donalds joins Gen Z Unplugged to deliver a wake-up call on artificial intelligence, education, and the future of America. While many young people are being taught to fear AI, Erika argues it may be one of the greatest tools for opportunity, entrepreneurship, and learning—if we use it wisely. She also explains why parents must take back responsibility for teaching patriotism, civics, and truth at home, what’s really happening with the Department of Education, and why young women don’t need to wait until motherhood to start defending the next generation.

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Erika Donalds is the Founder of Education Freedom Foundation and Chairman of OptimaEd. Erika is a national expert on education policy and school choice, a frequent media commentator and speaker, and a seasoned business executive.

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0:37 Intro

1:15 Why Gen Z Shouldn’t Fear AI

1:48 Students Are Being Lied To About AI

3:00 How Parents Can Teach Kids to Use AI Wisely

4:22 AI Needs Guardrails—Not Panic

5:13 Why AI Is the New Internet

6:51 Educators Must Adapt or Fail Students

8:28 America’s Civics Crisis Before the 250th

9:40 Patriotism Starts at Home

12:08 The Plan to Dismantle the Department of Education

14:58 How Young Women Can Defend Education Freedom

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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At just 23 years old, Reagan Reese became one of the youngest reporters in the White House briefing room — and she had no idea if she was ready.

In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Reagan shares how she went from Hillsdale College to The Daily Caller, what it’s really like covering the White House in the Trump administration, and why the most important thing young conservatives can do is stay brave, stay curious, and stay grounded.

From unpredictable days chasing breaking news to the quiet habits that keep her sane, Reagan offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at political journalism — and a powerful reminder that politics matters, but it should never become your whole identity.

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Reagan Reese is the White House Correspondent for the Daily Caller and a Visiting Fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum. She previously reported on education for the Daily Caller News Foundation after graduating from Hillsdale College with degrees in Rhetoric and Public Address and Journalism. At Hillsdale, she captained the Division II softball team, leading them to multiple conference championships.

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0:34 Introduction to Reagan Reese

1:01 From Hillsdale to The Daily Caller

2:03 The call that changed Reagan’s career

2:25 Becoming one of the youngest reporters in the White House briefing room

3:52 Why Gen Z belongs in the room

4:50 What a White House correspondent actually does

5:17 When the news schedule changes overnight

5:42 Chasing sources and breaking news

7:29 Reagan’s advice for young conservatives

8:10 Why politics should never become your identity 

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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Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged!  

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SFX Credits: 

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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.

Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! 

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What happens when a college student can take an entire class on Marxism—but struggles to find courses on Locke, Burke, or the ideas behind America’s founding?

Author Joelle Webb joins Gen Z Unplugged to explain why that experience inspired her to write Conserving Truth, how political philosophy can help Gen Z move beyond viral soundbites, and why understanding conservatism’s intellectual roots matters now more than ever.

From Marxism and campus ideology to liberty, tradition, and the pursuit of truth, Joelle makes the case that young conservatives shouldn’t just know what they believe—they should know why.

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Joelle Webb is a writer, legal researcher, and graduate student whose work focuses on

American conservatism, constitutional law, civil rights, public policy, and higher education.

Webb recently graduated from Drake University with a B.A. in Law, Politics, and Society, where

her studies centered on constitutional law, political theory, contemporary public-policy debates,

and legal jurisprudence. She is currently pursuing a Master of Legal Studies at the University of

Denver Sturm College of Law.

Her professional experience has spanned politics, state government, public policy,

communications, and legal advocacy. Most recently, Webb worked as a Legal Research

Assistant for the Equal Protection Project, where she assisted attorneys with research related to

civil-rights issues in higher education, including federal civil-rights complaints challenging

race-based programs and policies.

Before entering legal advocacy, Webb worked in state government and political campaigns,

including the Iowa Attorney General's Office, the Iowa Secretary of State's Office, and national

and state political organizations. These experiences gave her an opportunity to see

conservative politics from several perspectives: as a student of its intellectual history, as

someone working within the political movement, and as a legal researcher examining

contemporary constitutional disputes.

In 2025, Webb independently published two books exploring questions that had increasingly

shaped her academic and professional interests: What does it actually mean to be a

conservative? What principles should conservatism seek to preserve? And what

happens when contemporary institutions move away from principles of individual rights

and equality before the law? 

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1:52 — Why Joelle Webb Wrote Conserving Truth

3:23 — Taking a College Class on Karl Marx

4:23 — Why Marx Gets Taught—but America’s Founders Don’t

5:29 — How Campus Ideology Captivates Young People

7:38 — Conservatism Isn’t About Stopping Change

8:08 — Locke, Burke & Tocqueville: The Ideas Behind America

11:23 — Is Gen Z Hungry for Something Deeper Than Soundbites?

13:18 — Conservatism vs. the Republican Party

15:19 — How a College Journal Became a Published Book

19:24 — Conservative Women Shaping the Next Generation

Check out Joelle's latest book here: https://www.amazon.sg/Conserving-Truth-History-Western-Conservatism/dp/B0FDKZTJFY 

GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, Anastasia Leffas, and Rachel Hurley. Producer is Sandra Scarlatoiu. 

Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! 

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Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged!  

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