Rated Gen Z
Raquel Borras
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Rated Gen Z is an unscripted podcast that explores the unfiltered experiences of 18-24-year-olds. Each episode dives into their dreams, struggles, and perspectives, offering a raw confessional rather than a polished interview. The show aims to give voice to a generation often talked about but rarely listened to.
Эпизоды
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Finance, Film & Finding Yourself: Tavian on Graduation, Growth & Who You're Becoming! 01.07.2026 46минSend us Fan Mail Freshman year at UCLA, Tavian spent his weekends alone in the dorms. By senior year, 58 people showed up to celebrate his birthday. What happened in between is the story of this episode. Tavian just graduated from UCLA and is heading to JPMorgan Chase as a global finance and business management analyst — but he's also a filmmaker with two short films, a former Daily Bruin journalist, and someone actively working toward his pilot's license. He contains multitudes. In this conv... -
Making People Smile: How Bryce Found His Calling in Theater 24.06.2026 39минSend us Fan Mail Bryce Foyabo was in a middle school play when it happened — he made the audience smile, and he felt it. That was the moment he knew. Now 23 and studying theater arts at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Bryce is doing the work to turn that feeling into a career. In this episode we talk about what it really looks like to pursue acting as a Gen Z artist — the demanding classes, performing in a dance touring ensemble, studying heroes and anti-heroes, and trying to figure out how to bre...
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From Loss to Leadership: Danielle on Suicide Prevention & Mental Health at UCLA 17.06.2026 53минSend us Fan Mail Danielle just graduated from UCLA's nursing program, with her sights set on becoming a psychiatric nurse. But her path into mental health work became deeply personal last year, when she lost her best friend to suicide — someone who was deeply loved across the entire UCLA campus. Instead of letting that loss go unspoken, Danielle helped organize a mental health event in his honor that drew hundreds of attendees. She's now part of UCLA's newly formed youth suicide prevention co...
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I Used to Be That Guy: How Sean Escaped Red Pill & Toxic Alpha Male Culture 10.06.2026 55минSend us Fan Mail Sean is back. You might remember him from last year's episode. Sean has been vocal about red pill culture and toxic masculinity, and in this episode he gets completely honest about it. He was that guy. The one who bought into the alpha male mentality, who had damaging views about women, and who chased money and status thinking it would make him happy. It didn't. Now he's doing the work. He talks openly about what pulled him into that world, what it cost him, and what finally ...
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Art, Apps & Authenticity: Gen Z’s Big Canvas 15.04.2026 38минSend us Fan Mail This week on Rated Gen Z, Raquel sits down with 18-year-old changemaker Siri, founder of SmilesThruArt and recent creator of a web app bringing art therapy to children’s hospitals. Together, they dig into the real impact of art on mental health, the highs and lows of social media, and why Gen Z is rewriting the rules on connection, college life, and creativity. Tune in for raw stories, practical insights, and proof that there’s way more to Gen Z than TikTok trends! powered b...
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Exploring Spirituality, Science, & Self-Growth: A Conversation with Najuka, Life Coach & Healer 01.04.2026 42минSend us Fan Mail On this episode of Rated Gen Z, Raquel reconnects with Najuka, a 23-year-old healer, life coach, poet, and aspiring novelist based in Mumbai. They discuss Najuka’s unique journey from data analyst to life coach, her experiences helping clients address root issues through life coaching, akashic readings, and numerology, and the increasing openness among Gen Z in India to explore mental health and spirituality beyond traditional career paths. The conversation explores the inter...
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Gen Z Grit: Navigating Pressure, Purpose & College Life 25.03.2026 49минSend us Fan Mail In this episode of Rated Gen Z, host Raquel Host sits down with 19 year old Maliya for an honest and insightful conversation about growing up, navigating academic and social pressures, and finding your path in today’s world. Maliya shares her journey from San Diego to USC, her passion for behavioral economics and psychology, and the inspiration behind her own podcast, The Mental Playbook. Together, they discuss the challenges of comparison culture, the impact of social media,...
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Season 2 E2 : Finding Your Voice and Building Your Brand: A Gen Z Journey with Harshini 04.02.2026 41минSend us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of Rated Gen Z, Raquel sits down with Harshini—an 18-year-old changemaker who’s already deeply involved in community work, personal branding, and even preparing to launch her own podcast. The conversation dives into topics like building a personal brand on LinkedIn as a young adult, finding balance amidst school and extracurriculars, and the pressure Gen Z faces around college applications and choosing their path. Harshini opens up about her experie...
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Season 2 EP1 Turning 18: From Pistachio Cake to FDA Testimony with Anvita 21.01.2026 38минSend us Fan Mail Season 2 kicks off with Anvita, who's graduated from Raq the Boat to Rated Gen Z by turning 18. We're covering the important stuff: her new baking obsession (pistachio cake included), what it's like speaking at FDA meetings about pediatric healthcare, and why turning 18 isn't the dramatic transformation everyone promises. powered by raqvision If you'd like to become a guest on Rated Gen Z, visit raq.vision to learn more.
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E33: Marching Forward: Acceptance, Allstate Choir & Navigating Trans Teenhood 31.12.2025 43минSend us Fan Mail In this episode, you’ll meet Pepper, an 18-year-old with a love for planes, a flair for music, and a thoughtful take on navigating young adulthood today. Pepper talks candidly about the realities of college applications, the highs and lows of participating in band and choir, and the challenges of finding a college that feels safe and welcoming as a trans student. There are genuine moments of joy—like making Allstate Choir—and lots of honest conversation about choosing a caree...
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E32: Empowering Hope: Gen Z's Global Impact & Entrepreneurship Journey 19.11.2025 41минSend us Fan Mail In episode 32 of Rated Gen Z, we're diving deep into the power of youth-driven change with special guest Taylor Thigpen. From starting a thriving houseplant business at 14 to launching nonprofit initiatives that bridge cultures between American and Ukrainian youth, Taylor’s journey is all about purpose, passion, and real-world impact. Host Raquel returns from filming a Gen Z documentary to chat with Taylor about 4H, leadership, social entrepreneurship, and what it means to bu...
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E31: The Paradox Generation: Why We're Told to Be Unique But Judged by Numbers 30.07.2025 36минSend us Fan Mail In this episode, we chat with Megumi, a Northwestern University student athlete who's got some real talk about what it's like to be Gen Z right now. She opens up about her work with the Evanston Special Olympics and how it changed her view on what success in sports really means. But that's just the start. Megumi doesn't hold back when it comes to the job hunt struggle. She breaks down how weird it is that we're all told to be unique, but then companies just want to see the nu...
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E30: Mic Drop Moments: Podcasting, Passion & Personal Growth 23.07.2025 40минSend us Fan Mail In this episode, we kick it with Ryan, a young creative powerhouse who's crushing it in the world of content creation, podcasting, and business strategy. Ryan spills the tea on his journey from existential crisis at 19 to building a multi-faceted career that's all about making creativity his life's work. He's not just talking the talk - this guy's walking the walk, running a podcast production company and DJing on the side. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Ryan gets re...
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E29: The AI Generation: Insights on Tech, Love & Personal Growth 16.07.2025 37минSend us Fan Mail In this episode, we hang out with Swetha, a 22-year-old entrepreneur fresh out of UT Austin who's shaking things up in the world of AI and student empowerment. She's all about getting students AI-powered and ready to take on the future. But it's not just tech talk - Swetha gets real about the ups and downs of job hunting, modern dating, and figuring out your mental health in your twenties. From building websites with AI to navigating the wild world of situationships, Shweta's...
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E28: From LSU to Love Island: A Gen Z Perspective on Life & Love 09.07.2025 40минSend us Fan Mail In this episode, we catch up with Joshua Jones, a marketing student at LSU who's back to spill the tea on his college life and Gen Z experiences. Joshua's got some exciting news - he's part of my upcoming documentary that's all about giving young voices a platform. He's pumped to show how his generation is tackling everything from social media drama to COVID curveballs. Joshua's not just sitting around waiting for opportunities to knock. He's out there hustling, landing campu...
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E27: Breaking Labels: How One Gen Z Survivor Rewrote Her Story 02.07.2025 32минSend us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, we connect with Vanessa Rosalie, a 22-year-old former foster youth who's turning her challenging past into a powerful force for change. Vanessa pulls back the curtain on her 13-year journey through the foster care system, sharing the raw realities of living in 12 different homes and attending 5 schools. But this isn't a story of defeat - it's a testament to resilience and the transformative power of education. Vanessa tackles head-on the stereotypes...
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E26: Beyond the Feed: Creating Community Through Mental Health Advocacy 25.06.2025 35минSend us Fan Mail In this illuminating episode, we chat with Lachelle, a 20-year-old marketing intern at the DMAX Foundation who's making waves in mental health awareness. She spills the tea on what it's really like to balance college life, social media, and emotional well-being in today's always-on world. Lachelle gets real about the DMAX Foundation's mission to create safe spaces for young adults to talk openly about mental health. She shares her own journey of finding community and support ...
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E25: Gen Z vs. Human Trafficking: One Teen's Global Fight 18.06.2025 31минSend us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode, we chat with Josh Eckstein, an 18-year-old high school senior who's making waves in the fight against human trafficking. Josh breaks down what trafficking really looks like today, busting myths and showing us it's not always the dramatic scenarios we see on TV. He's got some serious insights on how AI could be a game-changer in this field - for better or worse. But what really stands out is Josh's take on survivor-led initiatives. He's all about p...
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E24: From Burden to Pride: A Young Caregiver's Path to Empowerment & Advocacy 11.06.2025 23минSend us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode, we chat with Mana, a 26-year-old from Japan who's shaking things up in the world of caregiving. She opens up about her journey taking care of her autistic brother and the real struggles faced by families with special needs kids in Japan. But Mana's not just talking about problems - she's out there making waves, working as a peer mentor and dreaming big about a future where families don't have to shoulder the whole caregiving burden alone. Ma...
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E23: Navigating Gen Z Marketing: Mahika's Insights on Business & Social Media 04.06.2025 41минSend us Fan Mail In this engaging episode, we sit down with 24 yr old Mahika, a dynamic young entrepreneur and the founder of Muses, a Gen Z marketing consulting studio. Mahika shares her journey of launching Muses while studying at UC Berkeley, inspired by her peers who were "nano, hyperlocal creators and social media geniuses." She saw a unique opportunity to connect brands with college ecosystems, focusing on making a positive impact rather than just pushing products. Mahika candidly discu...
