The Brett Cooper Show – Episode 71: Can Gen Z Handle Adulthood?

Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Brett Cooper

Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper investigates the ways in which Gen Z is struggling with key aspects of adulthood—workplace independence, mental health, and financial readiness—tracing those problems to social media, cultural shifts, and a predatory higher education system. While offering critical commentary, she ultimately seeks to promote self-awareness and responsibility within her generation, advocating systemic reforms and personal solutions to overcome these intergenerational challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shocking Survey: Parental Involvement in Gen Z’s Careers

• Main Point: A survey found that 77% of Gen Z respondents brought their parents to job interviews.
• Detail: While the number includes parents who simply drive teens to interviews, the trend points to a concerning level of dependency.
• Escalating Problem:
  • 53% had parents speak to hiring managers for them.
  • 73% had parents help complete work assignments.
  • 45% reported parents regularly talking to their manager.
• Workplace Implications: Even Gen Z managers find their peers difficult to work with, prompting some companies to favor hiring Millennials instead.

Quote:

“I cannot even comprehend a situation...where it would have been appropriate for my mom to talk to anybody there.”
—Brett Cooper [15:31]

2. Mental Health and Personality Declines Among Gen Z

• Correlation with Social Media: Brett highlights another study showing that as time online has risen, traits like conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extraversion have plummeted, while neuroticism (anxiety and fear) has risen dramatically.
• Personal Impact: Brett emphasizes this is not to attack Gen Z, but to raise awareness for universal struggles her generation feels.

Quote:

“This is just another example of how we are essentially psychologically wired for anxiety.”
—Brett Cooper [02:41]

3. The Higher Education Trap: Student Loan Crisis

• Predatory Institutions:
  • The student debt problem cuts across demographics and political lines.
  • Colleges and the federal loan system have created a financial trap for young adults, encouraging massive loans for degrees that don’t pay for themselves.
• Root Cause Analysis:
  • Government-backed, limitless loans (e.g., Graduate PLUS loans) allow universities to hike tuition with little accountability.
  • Colleges can charge exorbitantly, knowing students will get loans to pay, but students end up with debt and few job prospects.
• Policy Solution: Brett credits Trump’s proposal to cap loans as a positive move to restore accountability and curb tuition bloat.

Quote:

“A bank really should only give loans for degrees with real earning power.”
—Citing Robby Starbuck [32:10]

Quote:

“That is not Trump's fault in the slightest. That is the fault of the universities.”
—Brett Cooper [39:51]

4. The Real-World Impact: Workplace Skills and Victimhood

• Skills Gap: Gen Z struggles with workplace basics—small talk, professionalism, communications, and autonomy.
• Culture of Victimhood: Universities cultivate “entitled, victim-driven ideologies” instead of practical skills.

Memorable Moment:

• Brett mocks a viral clip from a UCLA commencement featuring a student denouncing Trump and ICE, using it as evidence of misplaced educational outcomes.

Quote:

“They teach them nothing of value about the real world... Instead, fill their heads with anxiety and entitled victim-driven ideologies that make them unemployable and impossible to work with.”
—Brett Cooper [44:40]

5. Where Do We Go From Here?

• Systemic Actions Needed:
  • Hold universities accountable.
  • End limitless government-backed loans.
  • Encourage genuine cost/benefit thinking about college.
• Advice to Gen Z:
  • Take personal responsibility.
  • Pursue alternative paths: community college, trades, certificates, gap years.
  • Focus on building real-world skills and autonomy.
  • Log off social media and confront anxiety as a “bug, not a feature.”

Quote:

“While yes, there are systems that failed Gen Z, unfortunately no one is coming to save you. And that could either cripple you or it could empower you to completely change your life for the better.”
—Brett Cooper [51:03]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Parental Involvement:
  “I cannot even comprehend a situation...where it would have been appropriate for my mom to talk to anybody there.” (15:31)

• On Psychological Effects:
  “This is just another example of how we are essentially psychologically wired for anxiety.” (02:41)

• On Student Debt:
  “A bank really should only give loans for degrees with real earning power.” (Citing Robby Starbuck) (32:10)

• On College Value:
  “That is not Trump's fault in the slightest. That is the fault of the universities.” (39:51)

• On Victimhood Culture:
  “They teach them nothing of value about the real world... Instead, fill their heads with anxiety and entitled victim-driven ideologies that make them unemployable and impossible to work with.” (44:40)

• Empowerment Message:
  “While yes, there are systems that failed Gen Z, unfortunately no one is coming to save you. And that could either cripple you or it could empower you to completely change your life for the better.” (51:03)

Timeline of Key Segments

• Introduction, Survey Stats, and Initial Argument: [00:00–08:11]
• Social Media’s Psychological Impact: [01:40–04:30]
• Discussion on Parental Involvement and Dependency: [08:12–20:30]
• Workplace Challenges and Employer Preferences: [20:31–26:10]
• The Higher Education and Student Loan Crisis: [26:11–43:10]
• Viral Commencement Clip and Commentary: [43:11–46:35]
• Summary, Recommendations, and Empowerment Message: [46:36–53:00]

Takeaways

• Gen Z faces unique, unprecedented challenges: from psychological struggles tied to social media use, to stunted workplace autonomy, to being ensnared by a predatory higher-education financing system.
• Colleges and government policy are primarily blamed for setting up young adults to fail, but personal responsibility remains crucial.
• Brett’s concluding plea: reject dependence, log off social media, and focus on practical skills and self-reliance in forging adulthood.