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

Will you live to 100? Medical science has added around 30 years to the average lifespan over the last century. But have we added 30 healthy years? In this episode, Chris and Lily explore the difference between lifespan and healthspan — why living longer isn't enough if those extra years are spent dealing with illness, frailty or loss of independence. Drawing on ideas from Peter Attia's b...

Have we become a little too obsessed with wellness? From green powders and cold plunges to therapy talk, mindfulness apps and self-care routines, wellness has gone from a niche interest to a multi-trillion-dollar industry. But is it actually making us healthier and happier, or just giving us more things to worry about? In this episode of The Gen X/Z Exchange, Chris and Lily explore the rise of mod...

How do you make a great first impression in a new job? And what separates the people who thrive in their first 90 days from those who struggle? Starting a new role can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Whether you're beginning your career, changing employers, stepping into leadership, or navigating a fully remote environment, the first few months can shape your success for years t...

We don't have a full episode this week - there are two reasons for that you'll hear about in this preview. Instead, here's a sneak peek of some of the topics we have planned. If there are any others you'd like us to discuss, let us know! The Gen X/Z Exchange is a UK podcast exploring career change, purpose, wellbeing and modern life through honest conversations between a Gen X...

“Why am I always tired?” — even when you’ve had a full night’s sleep? If you’re constantly exhausted, struggling with low energy, or feeling “tired and wired”, you’re not alone. And it might not be a sleep problem at all. In this episode of The Gen X/Z Exchange , Chris and Lily unpack why so many of us feel permanently drained — across both generations — and why the usual advice about sleep hygien...

What should you do with your life - when there’s no clear path to follow? Whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your direction later in life, figuring out what comes next can feel overwhelming - especially when traditional career paths no longer seem to fit. In this episode of The Gen X/Z Exchange , we're joined by Charlie Rogers, author of Undefinable Life Design , to explore a diff...

Do you ever say yes when you mean no — just to avoid awkwardness, conflict, or disappointing someone? If so, you’re not alone. People pleasing is far more common than we think — and it can shape our work, relationships and sense of self. In this episode of The Gen X/Z Exchange , we unpack our own experiences of people pleasing, why it happens, and what it’s really costing us when we constantly pri...

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...

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...

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...

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 p...

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...

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 thi...

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...

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...

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 m...

“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...

We spend time at work, think about work, talk about work and then come home and watch TV shows about work! Would you love to message ‘Urgent exit required’ to get out of boring meetings? Would you sever your work self from your self outside work? Could you work in Carmy’s kitchen from ‘The Bear’? We talk about what we can learn from the portrayals of different workplaces in our favourite TV shows....

Is your social circle shrinking? Learn the rules of making and keeping friends, no matter your age. Why is it so much harder to make new friends after school? From the playground to the workplace, the rules of friendship change drastically. In this Ultimate Guide, Chris and Lily break down the lifespan of your social circle.  We share our stories about those childhood BFFs and dive into the tough...

Did you know you experience some kind of transition in life about every 18 months? Every now and then, we experience a major change that threatens to totally derail us. It can seem overwhelming, but there’s a practical toolkit you can use to help you get through it. We all make plans and expect our lives to follow the pattern we have in mind. Life, unfortunately, has other ideas. Typically, we exp...

Are you preparing for a job interview for your first ‘proper’ job, or getting back into the job market after not having interviewed for a while? You need to listen to this episode. While some fundamentals of the interview remain the same, AI, online interviews and what to do and say now have changed. We break down what the different types of interview need to achieve from the recruiter’s perspecti...

If you’ve thought you need to be doing more with Linkedin, but don’t know how, this episode is for you. Whether you’re a student or new grad building your network, or a mid-career professional starting a job search, we break down how to get the most out of LinkedIn. We’re joined by LinkedIn expert and career coach Sarah Burgess. For over 20 years Sarah has coached everyone from school leavers to C...

Are you thinking about leaving the UK? Maybe you’re struggling with the cost of living. Or fed up with how broken the country feels right now. Perhaps you’ve been somewhere on holiday and thought ‘It would be so great to live here!’ But what about the post-Brexit practicalities of getting a visa and making the move, and the downsides? We delve into all of this in this episode. Whether you’re Gen Z...

Whether you’ve heard of Cringe Mountain or not, this episode is for you if you’ve ever wanted to try something new or step out of your comfort zone and have been paralysed by the fear of being judged by others. This isn’t just about posting on social media. It could be starting to network more if you’re job searching, trying to get fit if you’ve not exercised for a while, or wanting to tell your f...

It’s an inter-generational battle!  Well, not quite. More a fun and light-hearted quiz on how much Gen X and Gen Z know about some of the defining aspects of the other generation’s formative years. Ten questions each, four rounds: Popular culture (TV, movies and music) Historic events Youth culture Life and tech If you’re Gen X, you’ll easily get full marks on the Gen X questions. Same for Gen Z o...