GenZ Unplugged

Erika Donalds: AI Won’t Steal Your Future—Bad Schools Will

July 22, 2026·18 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Erika Donalds joins Gen Z Unplugged to deliver a wake-up call on artificial intelligence, education, and the future of America. While many young people are being taught to fear AI, Erika argues it may be one of the greatest tools for opportunity, entrepreneurship, and learning—if we use it wisely. She also explains why parents must take back responsibility for teaching patriotism, civics, and truth at home, what’s really happening with the Department of Education, and why young women don’t need to wait until motherhood to start defending the next generation. ---Erika Donalds is the Founder of Education Freedom Foundation and Chairman of OptimaEd. Erika is a national expert on education policy and school choice, a frequent media commentator and speaker, and a seasoned business executive.---0:37 Intro1:15 Why Gen Z Shouldn’t Fear AI1:48 Students Are Being Lied To About AI3:00 How Parents Can Teach Kids to Use AI Wisely4:22 AI Needs Guardrails—Not Panic5:13 Why AI Is the New Internet6:51 Educators Must Adapt or Fail Students8:28 America’s Civics Crisis Before the 250th9:40 Patriotism Starts at Home12:08 The Plan to Dismantle the Department of Education14:58 How Young Women Can Defend Education Freedom GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, Catherine Hendershott, Rachel Hurley, and Hannah Faulkner. Producer is Sandra Scarlatoiu. Listen, rate, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! ACAST - Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Google Podcasts - YouTube - Rumble Send us your thoughts on this episode @realgenzunplugged!  X - Instagram - Facebook - Truth Social SFX Credits: neon sign buzz hum stereo close lowcut to taste6.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453493/ -- License: Creative Commons 0swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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