What if everything we thought was “wrong” with Gen Z was actually the outcome of generations striving to do better for their children?
In this solo episode of Gen Mess with Tess, host Tess Brigham turns the tables on common complaints about today’s youth and boldly reveals how every “mess” in the workplace and at home is really generational evolution in real time—and a sign of remarkable progress.
Drawing deeply from her own life as a Gen Xer, therapist, and parent to a Gen Z son, Tess Brigham unpacks the hidden links between generational values, shifting parenting philosophies, and the transformation of work and life. She discusses the evolution from silent survivalists, boomers’ pursuit of success, to Gen X’s badge of independence—and how each generation has tried to heal the wounds of the last, often by swinging the pendulum in new directions.
Key highlights from this episode:
- Why labeling Gen Z as "entitled" or "too sensitive" misses the bigger story of progress
- Tess Brigham’s personal journey parenting a son with mental health challenges—and how it shaped her view of parenting and resilience
- How workplace frustrations with Gen Z are linked to conscious choices Gen X and Millennial parents made to create emotionally safer homes
- The groundbreaking shift: Gen Z prizes wellness, therapy, and boundaries not as luxuries, but as new standards
- A timely message for every parent and leader: Why the generational mess we’re in is not a mistake, but humanity learning to live, not just survive
By the end of the episode, you’ll see generational “mess” through a new lens—one of ongoing evolution, empathy, and hope.
Timestamped Episode Overview:
- 00:00:01 – Tess Brigham sets the stage: generational challenges and introducing
- 00:00:32 –Tess Brigham: Opening thoughts on Gen Z, the new world of work, and the evolution of values
- 00:02:22 – The progression from the Silent Generation to Gen X: how each raised their children to break new ground
- 00:05:21 –Tess Brigham
- reflects on Gen X parenting—its aspirations and overcorrections
- 00:07:00 – Ad break:Tess Brigham
- discusses her work with organizations to “clean up the gen mess”
- 00:07:54 – Personal story: Raising her son Max, the challenges of mental health, and questioning modern parenting
- 00:12:06 – The new parenting paradigm: Responding to the child you have, not the one you imagined
- 00:12:44 – The impact on the workplace: Today’s Gen Zers as products of generational evolution
- 00:13:24 – Generational values: How priorities have shifted over time
- 00:14:19 –Tess Brigham shares about her father’s late-in-life emotional growth and seeing progress across the generations
- 00:15:15 – Looking at Gen Z through a lens of celebration, not criticism
- 00:16:19 –Tess Brigham
- wraps up with a call to embrace the mess as part of evolution
- 00:16:51 –O utro Voiceover: Closes with info about connecting with Tess and future resources
Ready to witness how generational messiness is actually a story of hope and healing? Press play.
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