logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
41m 46s

Generation Doom: Hooked On Hopelessness

Dr. Phil McGraw
About this episode

Gen Z are growing increasingly disillusioned and pessimistic about the state of the world around them. A major multi-country study found that over 50% of young people believe that humanity is doomed. Gen Z or “Generation Doomer” witnessed the hope of obtaining their parents' and grandparents' American Dream lifestyles disappear after reaching adulthood. No wonder young people are angry, despondent, and hopeless.

Young generations are cynical about their careers, the climate crisis, economic stability, interpersonal relationships, and the inability of their governments to govern effectively. Young professionals decry they work twice as hard as boomers and receive none of the benefits. Doomers aren’t even trying to hit milestones like homeownership- instead they’re doom-spending on outlandish travel and luxury goods. Many Doomers say they not only have no hope for the future- they can’t stop doom-scrolling about all of the atrocities in the world, creating a vicious cycle of emptiness. 

On the other hand, futurists say we’ve faced eras of mass critical stress several times and humans have always evolved, adapted, and survived. For all we know, our lives in the future could be beyond our wildest dreams. The question we’re asking tonight is- are these Doomers just contributing to their own plight and downfall?

Thank you to our sponsors:Cozy Earth: Visit https://CozyEarth.com/PHIL | for 40% off use code: PHIL Beam: Visit https://ShopBeam.com/DrPhil | Code: DRPHIL

 

Up next
Yesterday
Jonathan Turley: Cancel Culture vs. the Constitution
Law professor and media analyst Jonathan Turley joins Dr. Phil to unpack the legal, cultural, and personal consequences of rage-fueled censorship in America. What happens when society treats words like weapons? Dr. Phil sits down with law professor and First Amendment advocate Jo ... Show More
53m 36s
Jul 2
Montana Tucker: Using Art to Confront Silence
Montana Tucker sits down with Dr. Phil for a conversation about activism, resilience, and the power of storytelling. She opens up about her documentary The Children of October 7, Hollywood’s reluctance to speak up about antisemitism, and how young generations are shaping the narr ... Show More
53m 37s
Jul 1
AI Is Coming For You
Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming — it’s already here. And it’s not just changing how we live… It’s starting to redefine what it means to be human. Dr. Phil discusses how AI is already fundamentally changing civilization as we know it and what to expect in the near future. Fir ... Show More
43m 17s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 4
Is Gen Z Actually As Poor As They Claim To Be?
Why is Gen Z stuck in a world drowning in wealth? Homes, families, and financial freedom—milestones older generations nailed, but young folks are falling behind! Are boomers hogging the riches, or is inequality the sneaky villain? From crushing student debt to tech-creating billi ... Show More
16m 50s
Jun 20
Welcome to midlife, Millennials. Are you in crisis?
Many Millennials are either already in their 40's, or they're staring them down. Are they having a midlife crisis?As this generation enters midlife, their lives look really different from their parents' lives: Millennials are more educated and have a higher median net worth, but ... Show More
17m 8s
Aug 2024
Are young people disengaged? The real story behind youth participation.
Almost half of the world’s population will be voting in elections in 2024. Young people, however, are less likely to join this large group of voters than older generations. Many believe this is because young people are less interested or engaged in politics and society.   In this ... Show More
52m 35s
Sep 2022
Bobby Duffy on Generation Myths
In the West we routinely witness instances of intergenerational sniping – Boomers taking potshots at over-privileged and under-motivated Millennials, and Millennials responding with a curt, “OK, Boomer.” What do we make of this, and is it anything new? These are questions Bobby D ... Show More
20m 40s
Feb 2025
Future generations: acting today for a better tomorrow
This week, we examine what it means to think long-term and act as ‘good ancestors’ for future generations. How do the choices we make today shape the world of tomorrow? And how can governments, businesses, and individuals take responsibility for ensuring a sustainable and equitab ... Show More
33m 6s
Mar 2025
How Gen Z Sees the World
Generation Z, which was born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, has a unique economic, political, and cultural identity. In the 2024 election, Gen Z shifted strongly to the right. They are less likely than any previous generation to expect they’ll achieve the American Dr ... Show More
59m 31s
Sep 2022
Will Civilization Collapse?
“I see in you all the characteristic stigma of decay. I can prove to you that… your atheism and your pessimism and your cynicism, your immorality, your broken-down marriages…were characteristic marks of the dying ages of ancient States.”  Oswald Spengler, The Decline of the West ... Show More
14m 25s
Apr 29
2571: Are Millennials Really the "Hook-Up Generation" by Dr. Gary Lewandowski of Luvze
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2571: Luvze challenges the stereotype of Millennials as the "hook-up generation," revealing research that paints a more nua ... Show More
11m 51s
Jul 2024
Why young people are worse off than their parents — and what to do about it | Scott Galloway and Chris Anderson
In this special conversation, NYU marketing professor Scott Galloway and head of TED Chris Anderson dive deeper into Galloway’s explosive recent TED Talk, which has been seen by millions and ignited conversations about what he calls “the great intergenerational theft,” or how old ... Show More
56m 19s
Oct 2024
Why Paying People to Have Babies is a Billion-Dollar Mistake
SPONSOR LINK: https://ntn.so/EconomicsExplainedOverpopulation has been our biggest fear for decades, but now, shrinking populations are the real crisis. From aging societies to dwindling birth rates, countries worldwide are grappling with the risks of a declining population and s ... Show More
16m 45s