The Sage Steele Show, EP 85: Why Gen Z Is Abandoning College and Returning to Faith

Date: December 10, 2025
Guest: Isabel Brown (author, podcaster, Gen Z commentator)
Host: Sage Steele

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
Sage Steele welcomes Isabel Brown to discuss the shifting attitudes of Generation Z toward higher education, career paths, and organized religion. The episode explores why many Gen Zers are increasingly skeptical of traditional universities, re-imagining education through homeschooling and co-ops, and, most notably, experiencing a revival of faith as the foundation for their lives and work. Isabel shares powerful stories from her own life—including her pivot from elite college ambition to a state school, her activism as a conservative campus leader, her journey to motherhood, and the deep influence of faith and community. The conversation also honors the legacy of Charlie Kirk, his role in inspiring revival, and how Gen Z is redefining the American dream.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Value of College: Is It Broken for Gen Z?

• Rising Skepticism of Traditional College
  • Sage shares personal regret over expensive private college tuition for her kids:

    “And two of them went to schools that were $80,000 a year. So what the hell were we thinking?” (03:29)

  • Both discuss the growing appeal and long-term value of trade schools and entrepreneurial paths, referencing recent Wall Street Journal coverage:

    “The billionaires 10 years from now are going to be trade people... because they can't be replaced by AI.” – Isabel (04:00)

• Changing Cultural Narratives
  • Isabel notes societal pressure on high schoolers, where “where are you going to college?” is assumed, not “what are you doing next?” (07:21)
  • Growing movement inside Gen Z families to reclaim agency over their children’s education, with a surge in homeschooling, co-ops, and alternative models.

2. The “Rot” in the Education System & Calls for Reform

• Isabel recounts the historical context behind the ideological shift in universities, referencing the American Communist Party’s stated goals decades ago to infiltrate education and media (05:14).
• Critiques “brainwashing” and lack of intellectual diversity:

  “Now it’s not [liberal arts]. Now it’s just brainwashing.” – Isabel (04:44)

3. Experimenting with New Educational Models

• Isabel and Sage discuss innovative approaches—nature schools in Idaho, homeschool co-ops, hiring private teachers in small groups (12:00–14:00).
• Isabel’s family decision:

  “We are completely all bought into homeschooling for our kids, at least for the first several years.” (11:08)

4. COVID’s Impact on a Generation

• Discussion about the developmental and psychological fallout for young children, particularly regarding missed opportunities for emotional growth and social interaction:

  “Psychology experts and mental health experts are devastated by today’s four- and five-year-olds...” – Isabel (14:20)

5. Isabel’s Personal Education Journey

• Elite Aspirations & Disappointment
  • Isabel shares how she was told to chase elite universities, faced multiple rejections, and ultimately, a moment of discernment on a Colorado mountaintop (16:47–19:18).
  • Ultimately chose Colorado State University, graduated debt-free, and later wrote a book about being a conservative on hostile college campuses.
• The Power of Faith and Family in her Education Choices
  • Her parents’ sacrifices, her own experience at public/private schools, and later, higher education at Georgetown.
  • Isabel credits her faith for guiding college decisions:

    “I also think it was God in many ways. I think it was the discernment of the Holy Spirit...” (20:37)

6. The Role of Activism & Facing Persecution

• Recounts organizing a major conservative speaker event at CSU, facing threats, protests, and the deployment of the National Guard (26:37).
• Shares the impact of continued activism and the costs of speaking truth:

  “To constantly, every day have to answer the question, am I willing to die for this? I think is a whole new realm…” (43:45)

7. Loss, Grief, and the Revival After Charlie Kirk’s Death

• Sage and Isabel reflect on the enormous impact and global revival sparked by Charlie Kirk’s death.
• Isabel describes the rush of vigils, renewed faith among young people, and Charlie’s own evolving emphasis on faith:

  “I think he probably would have said... he was willing to give his own life up for people's souls to be saved..." (41:06–42:16)

• The importance of carrying the baton and continuing the work of spiritual revival.

8. Motherhood, Marriage, and the Beauty (and Challenge) of Family

• Isabel describes falling in love with motherhood, balancing an ambitious career, and the support of her husband (58:16).

  “As much as she loves making content, she loves being a Mother even more. I'm so lucky to be her husband." – Brock (58:16)

• Pushback against fear-mongering and anti-family sentiment online:

  “I hate that this has become the norm, that young girls are terrified of pregnancy…” (51:41)

• Story of faith’s power in childbirth—using prayer as comfort during labor (54:14).

9. Church, Faith, and Controversies in Catholicism

• Both discuss struggles with Catholic leadership, especially public stances on controversial political issues (70:00).
• Isabel stresses distinguishing between institutional Church teaching and statements by select bishops:

  “The leadership bishops who are in these leadership positions are going to influence… But ultimately, my heart has been so softened... that can't be more important to me than church teaching ultimately as it's existed for 2000 years.” (70:42)

• Argues that Gen Z is flocking to liturgical, high-tradition churches—not despite but because of rules and structure (84:42–87:04):

  “There is a shocking number of millions upon millions of young people today all over the world, at record numbers, becoming Catholic specifically... What they love about the Mass and what they love about the structure of church hierarchy is that it's not about them. Yes, it is entirely about God…” (84:43)

10. The Influence and Responsibility of Public Voices

• Isabel describes lessons learned from Charlie Kirk—every person can influence their cultural circles, not just public figures (87:57–90:13).
• Her evolving mission: Less about telling people what to think, more about creating venues that revive curiosity, faith, and family.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On College and Opportunity

• “We just need to stop valuing something that no longer has value or the same amount of value anyway.” – Isabel (04:44)
• “What we thought was normal… I love that the normal is being kind of cracked in half and blown up a little bit…” – Sage (14:09)

On the Deep Roots of Education’s Issues

• “They specifically wanted to push socialism through the American education system, mostly through the universities, and to foment student protests…” – Isabel (05:14)

On Faith in the Face of Grief

• “Charlie is still alive. He's just alive with a different zip code and a different address.” – Isabel (38:27)
• “God still does work all things together for good...” (37:12)

On Parenting and Reviving the Family

• “Motherhood has given me… such a passion to do what I do. Because it's not for me, it's for my daughter and her generation and the next generation.” – Isabel (49:19)

On the Church’s Strength and Resilience

• “Jesus Christ himself promised when he established the church that the gates of hell will never prevail against this church.” – Isabel (74:42)
• “Of all things, actually, my faith shouldn’t be about me. My faith is about God.” – Isabel (84:43)

On Gen Z’s Uniqueness

• “God is raising up an amazing generation with Gen Z… be willing to lay our lives down, literally and figuratively, for freedom in a way that we've never seen.” – Isabel (63:19)

Powerful Epiphany

• “Wisdom is not necessarily correlated with age or with a particular background. Wisdom is a gift from God and if you constantly pray for it, … God will immediately give it to you.” – Isabel (94:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trade Schools & College Skepticism: 02:57–05:08
• Communist Goals in Education: 05:14–06:24
• Reshaping the College Question: 07:21–08:36
• Nature School and Homeschooling: 11:08–13:55
• COVID Impact & Emotional Fallout: 14:20–15:09
• Isabel’s College Journey & Decision: 16:47–19:19
• College Activism and Persecution: 26:37–30:35
• Revival After Charlie Kirk’s Death: 38:30–42:16
• Family, Parenthood & Embracing Motherhood: 49:19–58:16
• Contemporary Catholic Church Conversations: 70:00–74:42
• Gen Z’s Return to Faith and Structure: 84:42–87:04
• Isabel on Cultural Influence & Mission: 87:57–92:47
• Conservative Voices at CNN: 92:55–95:37

Conclusion

This episode is a thoughtful, personal, and often moving examination of why Gen Z is rethinking the traditional paths society has set—from education to faith and family. Isabel Brown’s blend of personal testimony, cultural critique, and spiritual passion exemplifies a generational shift—one that looks past prestige and instant gratification toward fulfillment rooted in tradition, faith, and meaning. Throughout, Sage creates space for both seriousness and joy, modeling the very kind of open, courageous, and curious conversation Gen Z is now making its own.