This Changes Everything #10: The Outlook for Youth and Young Adults

California Groundbreakers

This pandemic has been a wild ride for everyone, especially for young Millennials and Generation Z. These teens and 20-somethings are dealing with some turbulent stuff -- mental health issues, remote learning, a rocky economy and job market -- during some pivotal life stages. On the other hand, what happened in 2020 made many young people far more aware of politics and activism, and their generation is set to take over the economy in just a decade. So what are the specific ups and downs they’re going to be facing between now and then, and how are they going to handle them? We’re asking those questions to three people: a Gen Zer, a young Millennial, and a researcher who studies their generations’ cultures, habits and lives. GUESTS: * Isha Clarke, the 18-year-old co-founder of climate-change activism group Youth vs. Apocalypse - https://www.youthvsapocalypse.org/meet-the-staff * Assemblymember Alex Lee, representing Assembly District 25, and California's first Gen Z state legislator - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/us/alex-lee-california-assembly.html * Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of many books on generational differences, her latest is "iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy -- and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood" - http://www.jeantwenge.com/about-jean PODCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY * 0 to 6:05 min - Intro to the episode and our guests * 6:05 min - Alex Lee and Isha Clarke explain how the past 14 months have impacted them and their peers * 9:40 min - How Millennials/GenZers have changed the way mental health issues are perceived and addressed * 14:30 min - How Alex and Isha are making their mark in politics and activism - and how their generations must work with older ones to make change * 20:50 min - The economic and job outlook for young people - and how they'll handle their powerful role as the now-largest population group in the U.S.