Why do teenagers take risks with alcohol and drugs - even when they know the dangers? And how do you talk to them about it without shutting them down or pushing them away?

In this episode we're joined by Diana Hu McDowell, founder of East West Prevention, to explore how parents and young people can navigate one of the most difficult conversations in modern life.

Drawing on her own journey and years of experience in prevention and recovery, Diana explains why teenagers are drawn to risk-taking behaviours, the role dopamine plays, and how today’s pressures - from social environments to wider culture - shape those choices.

You’ll learn:

•  Why teenagers are more vulnerable to addictive behaviours than we might think 
•  The early warning signs that drinking or drug use may be escalating 
•  How to talk to teenagers about alcohol and drugs without triggering shutdown or secrecy 
•  Why “no questions asked” policies can build trust between parents and teens 
•  The risks of vaping, marijuana use and so-called 'legal highs' 
•  How harm reduction approaches can keep young people safer in real-world situations 

We also explore how attitudes have shifted since 80s anti-drug campaigns, whether prevention initiatives at festivals help or hinder, and why addiction should be understood as a health issue rather than a personal failure.

Listen in and you’ll discover how to have better conversations, build trust, and help young people make safer choices - without cutting them off from the world they’re growing up in.

Hit play now and start the conversation that really matters.

Contact Diana:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-hu-mcdowell/

https://www.eastwestprevention.com/

If this episode resonates, you might also find our conversations on social media and teenagers and friendship and peer pressure helpful.

1.48 Diana's story

5.15 Diana's recovery

6.44 Why teenagers are drawn to addictive behaviour

8.01 The biggest pressures young people are facing today

9.57 80s anti-drugs campaigns and how the perception they created differed from reality

12.40 Early warning signs of things escalating

17.10 How parents can start the conversation with teenagers without them shutting down

19.08 Tips for parents to avoid overreacting

25.35 How the 'No questions asked' policy can work to build trust

27.15 Legal highs - how safe are they?

30.35 The consequences and risks of vaping and marijuana use

34.54 Are prevention initiatives at festivals encouraging certain behaviours or helping reduce harm?

37.19 Diana's successes with prevention and early intervention

39.20 Framing addiction as a health issue not a personal failure

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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 does it feel like there are fewer places to meet people, spend time together, or just belong in your community? And what happens to society when those spaces disappear?

In this episode of The Gen X/Z Exchange, we explore the idea of 'third places' - the pubs, youth clubs, community halls, sports clubs and local spaces that sit between home and work and help communities thrive.

Across the UK, many of these places are disappearing. Pubs are closing at record rates, youth services have been cut back, and many towns are struggling to maintain the spaces that once brought people together. But there are also inspiring examples showing what’s possible when communities come together.

We look at why third places matter for people of all generations - and why their loss may be affecting young people especially.

You’ll learn:

• What we mean by the 3rd place and why these spaces matter so much
• Why UK pubs, youth clubs and community spaces are disappearing
• The impact of losing third places on young people and community life
• Inspiring UK examples of communities rebuilding local spaces
• How schools, sport and shared projects can create new gathering places
• What ideas like fourth places and fifth places might mean for the future

Listen in and you’ll discover why the spaces where we gather matter more than we realise - and the one simple thing everyone can do to help keep their local third places alive.

If this conversation resonates, you might also enjoy our episodes on friendship in modern life and why social drinking is changing, which both touch on the same question: where do we actually connect with other people today?

Hit play and join the conversation.

1.23 The rate of pub closures across the UK

2.10 Youth Services cuts 2010-2024

2.55 Defining Third Places

4.38 Why are they struggling?

10.28 How schools can offer 3rd places for young people

11.50 Why a lack of places is problematic for young people

13.40 Examples of what's possible: Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams

16.48 DIY SOS Big Builds

17.20 Pride in Place and Community Right to Buy

19.04 Newton Aycliffe's Woolworths Model

22.24 The 4th Place - how to regenerate urban areas with more affordable housing

23.55 The 5th Place - combined areas that can be quarantined

25.32 One thing you can do to support your community spaces

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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/

Is AI replacing jobs before young people even get started - and pushing experienced workers out before they’re ready to finish? And if the old advice to “work harder” no longer works, what does a secure career actually look like now?

In this episode, we’re joined by Maureen Wiley Clough, creator of the ‘It Gets Late Early’ podcast and newsletter, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping careers at both ends of working life.

Together, we explore the uncomfortable truth that ageism affects every generation - from Gen Z struggling to access entry-level roles increasingly automated by AI, to Gen X professionals finding themselves displaced and unable to re-enter the workforce. Maureen reveals companies' real motives behind the ‘AI-washing’ we’re seeing, the myths that keep people feeling stuck, and what Gen X and Gen Z can do to keep their careers moving.

You’ll learn:

• Whether AI is really eliminating entry-level jobs - and what replaces them
• How ageism shows up in hiring (and how to respond to it)
• Why traditional career advice may no longer apply in the age of AI
• The skills and mindset becoming more valuable right now
• Whether everyone needs a side hustle - or a different way of thinking about work

We also explore how Gen X and Gen Z can support each other through uncertainty, what holds older workers back from career change, and one powerful piece of advice for those just starting out - and those worried they’re being pushed aside.

Listen in and you’ll discover how to navigate a working world where careers may last longer, change faster, and require reinvention more than ever before.

Hit play now and rethink what “job security” really means in the age of AI.

How to connect with Maureen:

https://www.itgetslateearly.com/

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

https://www.instagram.com/maureenwclough

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

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

1.58 Intro to Maureen and her role in The Gen X/Z Exchange starting

3.10 How ageism affects every generation

8.28 Will AI replace entry-level jobs before Gen Z get started?

13.27 Why mentoring should work both ways

14.22 Why Gen X is being displaced and can’t get back into the workforce

19.08 Coded language concealing ageism and how to respond to it

23.04 Does conventional career advice to work harder to keep your job still hold true?

26.29 The side hustle - should we all have one?

31.10 Myths holding people back and thinking that it’s too late to change

33.18 What skills and mindset are becoming more valuable right now

36.56 Maureen’s one piece of advice for someone starting out and someone afraid of being pushed out

38.07 How to connect with Maureen

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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/

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

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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/

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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!

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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/

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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/

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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

The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter - helping you navigate life’s transitions with perspective across generations.

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/