EP: 002 | What Gen Z Wants You To Know | Zak Koenigs

I’ve never been more nervous to record an episode. In this conversation, I sit down with my son, Zak, who opens up about what it’s really like to grow up in Gen Z— the isolation, the phone addiction, the anxiety, the hope, and the lessons he wants parents to hear.

You’ll hear his raw honesty about his darkest days, what he wishes I had known as his mom, and the small but powerful steps parents can take to support their kids. This isn’t a how - to guide. It’s an invitation to listen deeply to our kids—because they are telling us what they need, if we’re willing to hear it.

🌱 Key Takeaways

The hidden reality of Gen Z’s struggles: Zak shares what it felt like to feel stuck in bed, paralyzed by OCD and isolation, while secretly yearning for community and love.
COVID-19’s silent impact: The class of 2020 lost rituals and closure, but gained a strange digital resilience.
Online communities shape identity: Many teens speak the “language” of their digital groups more fluently than real-life conversations. Parents often don’t even know the rules of the world their kids are living in.
Why boys are especially vulnerable: From toxic grifters online to incel communities, young men without guidance can easily be pulled into dark, hate-fueled spaces.
What Parents Can Do: Instead of forcing help, collaborate with your child to find community. Sponsor safe, offline experiences. Support them in building minor, non-invasive routines that recharge them in real life.

⏰ Time Stamps

[00:02:00] Zak describes his lowest point—days stuck in bed, unable to send a text, challenged by OCD.
[00:05:00] Growing up Gen Z: how being a COVID grad shaped his generation’s mental health.
[00:08:00] The inner world of young men: what parents don’t see but kids desperately feel.
[00:12:00] How online grifters prey on boys’ loneliness and twist it into hate.
[00:18:00] Why parents struggle to “speak the language” of their child’s digital communities.
[00:23:00] Zak’s blunt take: the need for regulation, phone bans in schools, and systemic change.
[00:27:00] Is Gen Z addicted? Zak explains.
[00:29:00] The one boundary Zak secretly appreciated, even though he hated it.
[00:30:00] His advice to parents: sponsor real-world connections, don’t just lecture.
[00:36:00] The one simple, non-invasive routine he says can help kids climb out of the hole.

✨ Resources & Next Steps

✔️ Join the Bad Mom Community for more conversations like this here.

✔️ Share this episode with a parent who feels alone—you’re not.

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