The Gen X/Z Exchange: Navigating Career, Purpose & Modern Life Across Generations

Chris and Lily Perkins
  • 5.0 (4)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Ever find yourself wondering why you aren’t happier, where your career is going, or why life suddenly feels uncertain — even when everything looks fine on paper? If you’ve ever felt stuck, off-track, or unsure what comes next, you’re not alone. The Gen X/Z Exchange is a life navigation podcast where a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter explore the biggest challenges facing modern life - from career direction and purpose to relationships, wellbeing, identity and the changing world of work. Across generations but facing many of the same questions, Chris and Lily bring honest conversations and real-world perspective to the uncertainty so many people feel today. Chris has navigated layoffs, career pivots and the realities of midlife change, while Lily is figuring out early career decisions, identity and adulthood in a fast-changing world. Together, they bridge generational perspectives to help you: make sense of career and life transitions navigate work and purpose in a changing economy improve relationships and wellbeing feel less alone in the challenges of modern life These aren’t expert lectures or quick fixes. They’re candid conversations about figuring life out - together. If you’re navigating a career change, questioning direction, dealing with midlife or quarterlife uncertainty, or simply trying to understand how life looks different across generations, this podcast is for you. Follow us now and join a growing community learning how to navigate modern life - one honest conversation at a time.

  1. How to talk to teenagers about drinking and drugs - without pushing them away with Diana Hu McDowell

    MAR 25

    How to talk to teenagers about drinking and drugs - without pushing them away with Diana Hu McDowell

    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/

    45 min

  2. MAR 11

    Why we’re losing the places that bring us together — The UK’s 'Third Place' problem

    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 muchWhy UK pubs, youth clubs and community spaces are disappearingThe impact of losing third places on young people and community lifeInspiring UK examples of communities rebuilding local spacesHow schools, sport and shared projects can create new gathering placesWhat 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/

    29 min
  3. Is AI taking our jobs? Gen Z starting out, Gen X being pushed out with Maureen Wiley Clough

    FEB 25

    Is AI taking our jobs? Gen Z starting out, Gen X being pushed out with Maureen Wiley Clough

    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 themHow ageism shows up in hiring (and how to respond to it)Why traditional career advice may no longer apply in the age of AIThe skills and mindset becoming more valuable right nowWhether 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/

    40 min
  4. Should social media be banned for under-16s? Phones, schools & the trust gap with Amit Singh Kalley

    FEB 11

    Should social media be banned for under-16s? Phones, schools & the trust gap with Amit Singh Kalley

    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 dayWhat phone-free schools can achieveHow 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/

    51 min
  5. How to write a CV that actually gets read – For Gen Z, Gen X & career changers with Carl Scutt

    JAN 28

    How to write a CV that actually gets read – For Gen Z, Gen X & career changers with Carl Scutt

    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 beforeHow to tailor your CV for each role without rewriting it from scratchHow to position a long career history, handle gaps, or pivot into something newHow 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/

    46 min

  6. JAN 14

    Why Do I Like This Song So Much? The Psychology of Catchy Music

    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 personalWhat the Reminiscence Bump is - and how it shapes Gen X vs Gen Z tasteWhy lyrics live in your brain differently than spoken wordsHow to find new music (and why many of us stop searching as we get older)How to run an inter-generational family listening partyListen 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/

    41 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    2026 trailer and thank you message

    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/

    3 min
  8. Gen X, Gen Z, Boomers & Millennials: Gabby Rosely decodes how the generations can all get along at work

    12/03/2025

    Gen X, Gen Z, Boomers & Millennials: Gabby Rosely decodes how the generations can all get along at work

    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 styleWhy “Engage-Discuss” vs. “Command-Obey” is the key model to understanding generational differencesHow different generations view and want to receive feedback - and how to adapt when it’s not your styleWhether gender plays a role in these workplace dynamicsThe 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/

    52 min
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Ever find yourself wondering why you aren’t happier, where your career is going, or why life suddenly feels uncertain — even when everything looks fine on paper? If you’ve ever felt stuck, off-track, or unsure what comes next, you’re not alone. The Gen X/Z Exchange is a life navigation podcast where a Gen X dad and his Gen Z daughter explore the biggest challenges facing modern life - from career direction and purpose to relationships, wellbeing, identity and the changing world of work. Across generations but facing many of the same questions, Chris and Lily bring honest conversations and real-world perspective to the uncertainty so many people feel today. Chris has navigated layoffs, career pivots and the realities of midlife change, while Lily is figuring out early career decisions, identity and adulthood in a fast-changing world. Together, they bridge generational perspectives to help you: make sense of career and life transitions navigate work and purpose in a changing economy improve relationships and wellbeing feel less alone in the challenges of modern life These aren’t expert lectures or quick fixes. They’re candid conversations about figuring life out - together. If you’re navigating a career change, questioning direction, dealing with midlife or quarterlife uncertainty, or simply trying to understand how life looks different across generations, this podcast is for you. Follow us now and join a growing community learning how to navigate modern life - one honest conversation at a time.

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