Faith in the Fire: Finding God Beyond College and Culture - Episode 13

College can feel like a battleground for your beliefs—where culture pulls you away from faith, identity gets tangled in sports or academics, and loneliness makes you question everything. In this powerful episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Catherine and her co-host open up about their raw faith journeys—through illness, athletics, sorority life, heartbreak, and redemption.

From black mold poisoning to spiritual awakening in a dining hall, they share how God showed up in unexpected ways and how purity, perseverance, and community shaped their lives. Whether you’re navigating college, relationships, or just trying to hold on to your faith in a world that pushes against it—this conversation is for you.

[00:28] Welcome back to Gen Z Unplugged + intro to today’s faith discussion

[01:28] Catherine’s cradle Catholic upbringing & strong family faith foundation

[03:28] College basketball, shifting identity, and faith taking a back seat

[05:58] Black mold poisoning, hospitalization, and a life-changing wake-up call

[08:58] Realizing her worth is not in basketball, but in Christ

[10:58] Wrestling with idols—faith vs. sports, school, and affirmation

[12:28] Co-host’s story: growing up in a megachurch but living a secular lifestyle

[15:58] Joining a sorority, chasing friendships, and confronting emptiness

[19:58] Turning to the Bible in loneliness and depression—finding hope in Scripture

[22:28] Transformation: leaving behind a worldly lifestyle for Christ

[26:28] God’s “winks”: Catherine’s fiancé’s name as an answered childhood prayer

[30:28] Christian dating vs. hookup culture: setting boundaries and staying pure

[35:28] Peer pressure, flack, and why purity is countercultural but worth it

[37:28] Closing reflections: identity in Christ, accountability, and encouragement

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 0

swipes and whooshes plastic umbrella fast and short swings stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- https://freesound.org/s/425853/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

Power Cord Unplug 1_2 by Joao_Janz -- https://freesound.org/s/477641/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Abstract Glitch Effects_015 by jalastram -- https://freesound.org/s/412303/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.