Three great gen Z podcasts you must download

Founded by the UN in 1999, International Youth Day takes place every 12 August to honour the energy, creativity and passion of young people all over the globe. This year, schools and colleges across the world will be hosting youth panels, innovation labs, and leadership workshops, focusing on everything from climate change to digital innovation and inclusive leadership. But if you want a front-row seat to what really matters to gen Z, these three standout podcasts – created by young people, for young people – offer an unfiltered look into the hopes, fears, values and ambitions of a generation shaping the future.

Courageous Conversations

Created by the female-led Courageous Brand, focused on empowering the next generation of women leaders, this one’s struck a real chord with its loyal gen Z followers (over 80,000 on Instagram) for its inspiring and uplifting content. Hosted by Kelly Roach and Amy MacBride, each episode delivers candid, compact conversations with young entrepreneurs, athletes, creatives, and activists, covering topics such as mental health and overcoming imposter syndrome. 

Past guests have included Gigi Speer – a former D1 athlete turned ESPN broadcaster and law student advocating for women in sports, and Annie Reger, a college gymnast and Nike intern reflecting on identity, failure, and success after injury. It’s especially valued in schools and mentoring circles for its relatability. As one listener puts it: “I love that they have many guest speakers with women who go through similar situations and experiences as me. It shows that I am not alone.”
Listen to Courageous Conversations

Gen Z Money

Hosted by award-winning Australian financial planner Azaria Bell and her co-host Nath, this one helps young people take control of their money – and still have a life.

With 14,000 followers (12,000 on Facebook, 2,000 on Instagram), it’s earned a devoted following for its warm, humorous, jargon-free and no-nonsense approach to everything from budgeting and tax to spotting scams on TikTok and avoiding lifestyle inflation. 

Bell, winner of the FPA Student of the Year award, launched the show to break down personal finance in a way that’s clear, relevant, and actually enjoyable to listen to. Episodes such as ‘18 things to do now that you’re 18, ‘How to ask for a pay rise’ and ‘How to set money goals you will actually achieve’ offer practical, real-world advice, while championing side hustles, savings goals, and financial independence. All without ever sounding like a lecture. 
Listen to Gen Z Money

Ask Gen Z

Why do gen Z cancel brands? How do they shop consciously? And what does true representation look like? Hosted Sydney N Sweeney [whose advert for American Eagle sparked controversy last month] and Jeremiah Jones, and produced by the LA-based Adolescent Content, this monthly podcast explores subjects like these, via some lively, authentic and unscripted conversations. In the process, its 206,000 followers have praised it for being honest, educational – and actually representative of youth voices.

Previous episodes include Understand Gen Z’s Shopping Habits – unpacking why traditional marketing often misses the mark, and how conscious consumption is replacing mall culture; Size Inclusivity and Body Positivity, which takes aim at tokenism while celebrating authentic body diversity; and Boycotting Brands, which explores cancel culture, social media activism, and the particular values that shape gen Z’s brand loyalty.
Listen to Ask Gen Z

Ali Catterall is an award-winning writer, journalist and filmmaker whose writing has featured in the Guardian, Time Out, GQ, Film4, Word magazine and the Big Issue, among many others. Ali is also the writer and director of the 2023 film Scala!!!

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