Washington, DC has long been a symbol of American strength — but what happens when its streets no longer feel safe? In this episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we dive into the realities of crime, homelessness, and safety in our nation’s capital. From personal stories of danger on the Metro to shocking statistics about violent crime, we unpack what’s really happening in DC and why President Trump’s efforts to restore law and order matter for every American.

We share our experiences, react to Amber Duke’s viral post about life in DC, and explore why safety is not just a privilege, but a right. Plus, we look at the deeper cultural questions: What does true compassion look like? How should freedom and responsibility shape our cities?

If you’ve ever wondered what the future of America’s capital might hold, this conversation is for you.

00:00 – Shocking encounters in DC: assaults, theft, and chaos in broad daylight

00:47 – Welcome back to Gen Z Unplugged: why DC safety matters now more than ever

01:26 – Before-and-after: stats on crime and homelessness in DC

03:09 – The fear factor: what it’s like for Gen Z women to navigate DC and the Metro

04:27 – The right to safety: balancing compassion with accountability

05:19 – National Guard deployment: 2,200 troops, 1,000 arrests, 120 firearms seized

07:42 – Young women on bail reform: why 79% say no to releasing violent criminals

08:39 – Amber Duke’s viral post: theft, harassment, and survival in DC

10:00 – Trump’s tough stance: shelters or jail, and why consequences matter

11:35 – Tragedy in DC: the shocking story of a newly engaged couple

12:59 – California and San Francisco: lessons from failed policies

13:25 – Justice served: why Americans crave safety and accountability

13:25 – Revisiting the Jordan Neely case: Daniel Penny and the right to defend

16:32 – The right to be safe: freedom, compassion, and preventing repeat crimes

20:04 – True compassion: giving freedom back through restoration, not neglect

21:27 – Closing thoughts and call to action

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.

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In this bonus episode, Nica shares her grandmother’s harrowing experiences living under the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. From imprisonment and starvation to hiding venomous snakes for food, her family’s survival is a powerful reminder of the human cost of communism and the resilience it takes to rebuild life after devastation.

Through these stories, Nica challenges us to reflect on the freedoms we often take for granted in America—freedom of speech, religion, and opportunity—and why they must be protected. This raw and deeply personal conversation sheds light on a genocide that is too often forgotten and offers wisdom for a generation that must remain vigilant against tyranny.

✨ A story of survival.

✨ A warning against repeating history.

✨ A call to gratitude and resilience.

[01:05] Welcome + intro to Nica’s bonus episode

[01:41] The horrors of communism in Cambodia

[02:09] Nica’s grandmother imprisoned in Tuol Sleng prison

[03:14] Escaping chains but too weak to run

[04:05] Rebuilding life after the war & her grandmother’s strength

[04:29] Non-traditional foods & survival under Khmer Rouge

[05:39] Hiding and eating a venomous snake to survive

[07:18] Why Cambodians ate tarantulas & scarcity of food

[07:38] Stripping away individuality under communism

[08:32] Gratitude for freedom in America

[09:30] Why the Khmer Rouge genocide is rarely discussed

[12:03] Founding the Cambodian Student Association & difficulty telling survivors’ stories

[13:18] Communism as a nightmare that still lingers today

[15:04] The dangers of socialism & gratitude for freedom

[17:07] Encouraging the next generation to build a life of resilience and purpose

[17:49] Closing reflections: Why this story matters on today’s campuses

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.

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This week on GenZ Unplugged, we sit down with Nica Marin, Events & Marketing Officer at the Luce Center, who just became an American citizen—only days before this conversation. Nica opens up about her family’s escape from the horrors of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge, the long and costly 14-year immigration process, and what it felt like to finally step into her American dream.

She also shares her perspective on illegal immigration, why gratitude shapes her outlook, and how opportunity, freedom, and responsibility define what it means to her to be an American. This is a story of resilience, faith, and the pursuit of liberty.

00:00 – Welcome to GenZ Unplugged & introduction of Nica Marin

01:00 – Nica’s family history: surviving Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime

04:30 – Forced labor, persecution, and survival through resilience

07:30 – How Nica’s grandfather paved the way for her family’s U.S. immigration

10:00 – Growing up in Cambodia’s schools vs. dreams of American education

15:00 – The 14-year wait: preparing for life in America as a child

18:00 – Receiving the long-awaited news of moving to the U.S.

20:30 – First impressions of America: California, Texas, and culture shock

24:00 – The meaning of citizenship & reflections on illegal immigration

29:00 – Why following the law matters and the cost of doing it the right way

33:00 – Finding opportunity in America: entrepreneurship and graphic design

36:00 – Challenges of being a conservative voice in liberal spaces

39:00 – Becoming an American citizen: gratitude, patriotism, and hope for the future

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.

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College can feel like a battleground for your beliefs—where culture pulls you away from faith, identity gets tangled in sports or academics, and loneliness makes you question everything. In this powerful episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Catherine and her co-host open up about their raw faith journeys—through illness, athletics, sorority life, heartbreak, and redemption.

From black mold poisoning to spiritual awakening in a dining hall, they share how God showed up in unexpected ways and how purity, perseverance, and community shaped their lives. Whether you’re navigating college, relationships, or just trying to hold on to your faith in a world that pushes against it—this conversation is for you.

[00:28] Welcome back to Gen Z Unplugged + intro to today’s faith discussion

[01:28] Catherine’s cradle Catholic upbringing & strong family faith foundation

[03:28] College basketball, shifting identity, and faith taking a back seat

[05:58] Black mold poisoning, hospitalization, and a life-changing wake-up call

[08:58] Realizing her worth is not in basketball, but in Christ

[10:58] Wrestling with idols—faith vs. sports, school, and affirmation

[12:28] Co-host’s story: growing up in a megachurch but living a secular lifestyle

[15:58] Joining a sorority, chasing friendships, and confronting emptiness

[19:58] Turning to the Bible in loneliness and depression—finding hope in Scripture

[22:28] Transformation: leaving behind a worldly lifestyle for Christ

[26:28] God’s “winks”: Catherine’s fiancé’s name as an answered childhood prayer

[30:28] Christian dating vs. hookup culture: setting boundaries and staying pure

[35:28] Peer pressure, flack, and why purity is countercultural but worth it

[37:28] Closing reflections: identity in Christ, accountability, and encouragement

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.

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From “normal” becoming the bare minimum to uncovering the hidden red flags, the ladies of Gen Z Unplugged tackle one of the most asked questions on college campuses: Are all the good guys really taken? In this honest and often hilarious deep dive, they unpack the four qualities that truly matter in a partner—faith & morals, values, lifestyle, and attraction—while warning against love bombing, settling for bare-minimum effort, and ignoring your gut. Plus, they break down the surprising stats on cohabitation before marriage, how birth control can shift who you find attractive, and the “Four Horsemen” that predict relationship failure. Whether you’re dating, engaged, or single by choice, this episode will help you raise your standards without losing your heart.

[00:17] Welcome to Gen Z Unplugged + today’s big question: Are all the good guys taken?

[00:49] Why “normal” shouldn’t be the standard—raising the bar in relationships

[01:45] Faith & morals: Why shared beliefs are non-negotiable

[05:15] Spotting spiritual leadership without crossing dating boundaries

[08:11] Values & family: Respect, friends, and being a man of your word

[11:16] Bare minimum vs. true effort in dating

[11:17] Lifestyle compatibility and why it matters long-term

[12:25] The surprising divorce stats on living together before marriage

[14:02] Cohabitation convenience traps & “test drive” relationship myths

[16:17] Attraction in Christian dating: Is it optional?

[18:35] How birth control can change who you find attractive

[20:35] When to break up: Big red flags vs. subtle warning signs

[26:19] The “Four Horsemen” that predict relationship breakdowns

[29:50] Communication, listening to loved ones, and removing rose-colored glasses

[32:32] Why dating should be fun—and why you shouldn’t wait for someone to change

[33:17] Closing thoughts + share your funniest dating stories

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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Legacy media is collapsing, new platforms are rising, and Gen Z is caught in the middle of the information war. In this hard-hitting conversation, journalist and commentator Emily Jashinsky breaks down why Americans no longer trust traditional news, how the media got Trump and Biden wrong, and what it means for the next generation of young women in journalism. If you care about truth, cultural clarity, and the power of honest reporting, this episode is for you.

0:46 – Emily Jashinsky shares her origin story and early influences

2:28 – How the Luce Center and Sarah Palin shaped her worldview

2:53 – Discovering a love for writing and falling into podcasting

4:00 – Journalism’s shift from legacy to independent platforms

5:16 – Media bias, economic pressures, and why trust collapsed

6:57 – The rise of creators like Tim Pool—and the fall of corporate gatekeepers

8:28 – What Emily would ask the Trump administration in the press room

9:03 – How conservative media must rise to meet the moment

10:10 – Why Americans want honest, transparent journalism—not neutrality

11:49 – Gen Z and the overwhelming flood of contradictory information

13:32 – The human cost of hyper-novelty in the digital age

15:11 – Conservative women, bro podcasts, and the gender ideology gap

17:33 – Why Gen Z men are shifting right—and what women need to hear

19:31 – How to communicate conservative values to young women

21:11 – Feminism in newsrooms and the limits of elite liberal bias

23:46 – Jake Tapper, “Original Sin,” and media’s Russia collusion disaster

27:11 – Will the media ever be held accountable? Emily explains what it will take

30:13 – Why truth-telling is the only winning formula in the media now

33:46 – Advice to aspiring journalists: tell the truth, get the facts, embrace the niche

36:44 – Where to follow Emily and support her work

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.

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From the White House to the war room, KT McFarland has seen it all. In this electric episode of Gen Z Unplugged, we sit down with the former Deputy National Security Advisor to unpack the truth about Iran, the collapse of the Soviet Union, Trump’s missile shield strategy, and how America lost — and can regain — its global edge. This isn’t your average history lesson. It’s a firsthand account of how power works, how nations fall, and how Gen Z can rise.

[00:45] Meet KT McFarland: From typing Nixon’s intel briefs to Trump’s National Security Council

[02:15] Early days at the White House and Clare Boothe Luce encounter

[03:45] Writing Reagan’s Star Wars speech — and being in the Oval Office

[05:45] How that one speech broke the Soviet Union

[06:45] Trump vs. Reagan: Who truly reshaped U.S. defense?

[08:00] Understanding the Iran threat — and Trump’s bunker buster strategy

[10:30] The truth about Israel, October 7, and what the media won’t show you

[13:45] Iran’s decades-long war cry: Death to Israel, Death to America

[15:00] “The greatest threat to America is… us.”

[16:15] How Trump is reviving American pride — and why it matters

[17:45] America First doesn’t mean America Alone

[20:15] What Gen Z needs to know about courage, clarity, and leadership

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.

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The silence is breaking. In this powerful episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan dive into the stunning reversal from the University of Pennsylvania — a public apology, policy changes, and the erasure of a male swimmer’s records from the women’s board.

From personal trauma to national triumph, they dissect the cultural chaos surrounding women’s sports and celebrate the pivotal victories that are turning the tide. With new legislation on the horizon and the Supreme Court set to hear a major Title IX case, Riley and Paula issue a rallying cry: now is the time to stand for truth, fairness, and biological reality.

This isn’t just about politics. It’s about justice.

👇 SHOW NOTES & TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Intro: Gen Z Unplugged DC Summit Series

00:34 – Riley & Paula on keeping men out of women’s sports

01:10 – University of Pennsylvania’s stunning apology & Title IX compliance

02:05 – Restoring records and federal funding negotiations

03:00 – Cultural chaos and the need for accountability

03:50 – Supreme Court takes on Title IX case

04:20 – New legislation to defend women’s sports

05:10 – The cultural shift: Even liberals are waking up

06:05 – Executive orders, legal wins, and what’s next

07:10 – A call to action for everyone — regardless of party or identity

08:00 – Hope for young women, and a message to the next generation

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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