The Gen Mess with Tess
The Gen Mess with Tess
Podcast Description
Are generational divides in the workplace and in life driving you crazy?The Gen Mess with Tess is here to help! Hosted by Tess Brigham—certified coach, licensed therapist, TEDx speaker, author, and mom to a Gen Zer—this podcast tackles the challenges and complexities of navigating life and work across multiple generations. From the unique struggles of Gen Z to the evolving perspectives of Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers, Tess brings her expertise to the table, offering practical advice, expert insights, and real conversations to bridge the generational gap. Whether you're trying to communicate better with colleagues, understand your kids, or just get a clearer perspective on the "mess" of it all, The Gen Mess with Tess is your go-to resource for understanding how different generations think, work, and live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes such as generational divides, burnout, and workplace communication. Examples include episodes discussing the unique challenges faced by Millennials and Gen Z regarding burnout, and practical strategies for improving generational communication in the workplace. The show also highlights societal expectations and personal perspectives, aiming to bridge the gap among Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
Are generational divides in the workplace and in life driving you crazy?
The Gen Mess with Tess is here to help! Hosted by Tess Brigham—certified coach, licensed therapist, TEDx speaker, author, and mom to a Gen Zer—this podcast tackles the challenges and complexities of navigating life and work across multiple generations. From the unique struggles of Gen Z to the evolving perspectives of Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers, Tess brings her expertise to the table, offering practical advice, expert insights, and real conversations to bridge the generational gap. Whether you’re trying to communicate better with colleagues, understand your kids, or just get a clearer perspective on the “mess” of it all, The Gen Mess with Tess is your go-to resource for understanding how different generations think, work, and live.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if the person giving you life advice is, behind the scenes, completely falling apart?
In this deeply moving solo episode of Gen Mess with Tess, Tess Brigham pulls back the curtain, sharing the raw, unfiltered story of a year that shook the very foundations of her life. From the staggering loss of her father to the painful journey of caring for her mother as dementia set in, Tess Brigham—the certified coach and licensed therapist—describes what happens when every piece of her own identity is “activated in crisis mode.”
Far from the highlight reels and inspirational soundbites, this episode reveals the messy, complicated realities even therapists and coaches face. Tess Brigham explores generational differences in dealing with grief, mental health, self-reliance, and asking for help—drawing wisdom (and exposing blind spots) from Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. She reflects on the exhausting duality of caring for aging parents while supporting her own child through mental health struggles, and how real-life heartbreak changed her perspective as both a professional and a human being.
Key highlights include:
- The overlooked emotional cost of being the “strong one” in the family
- Generational patterns and how each age group defines asking for help and resilience
- Why anticipatory grief and caretaking are acts of love—and also sources of silent pain
- Lessons Tess Brigham is carrying forward, and the generational beliefs she’s choosing to leave behind
- A vulnerable reminder that “hanging tough” means allowing yourself to soften, seek support, and be human
This solo episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating family caregiving, loss, or simply questioning how we all handle life’s hardest seasons.
Episode Overview 00:00 – Intro Announcer sets up the show’s generational lens
00:31 – Tess Brigham addresses why sharing her own story matters
03:02 – Navigating simultaneous personal crises: parental loss, caregiving, and self-identity
06:33 – The unique grief of losing a parent’s mind versus a parent’s body
08:40 – Generational patterns: independence, vulnerability, and the cost of stoicism
11:32 – Tess Brigham on what Millennials and Gen Z are teaching the rest of us
13:05 – The realities of “functioning” through grief and anticipatory loss
17:17 – Each generation’s wisdom, and what Tess Brigham plans to carry—and leave behind
20:35 – A gentle call to “hang tough” in a way that honors both strength and softness
Ready to feel seen and understood in the messiest moments of life? Hit play and join the conversation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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