Talking Gen Z: How young people today use slang episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 19, 2025 · 47 MIN

Talking Gen Z: How young people today use slang

from MPR News with Angela Davis · host Minnesota Public Radio

If you’ve heard a young person say someone has “rizz” or something is “mid,” you might’ve nodded along — all while secretly wondering … what on earth were they talking about? Every generation has its own way of speaking, but Gen Z slang is unique. Influenced heavily by social media trends, it’s shaped by internet culture and can spread at lightning speed. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests break it all down. Where does this generation’s slang come from? What does it say about how young people connect, express themselves and even challenge the way we use language?Guests:  Tish Jones is a poet, emcee and hip-hop theater artist from St. Paul. She’s the founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks, a St. Paul arts and culture organization that provides mentorships, workshops and other opportunities for artists and art leaders.Alayo Tripp is a linguist and cognitive scientist studying language development. They are also an assistant professor of computational language science at the University of Florida. Was there any slang you’re curious about that we missed in the show? Check out the list below for more words and phrases.100 Current Slang Terms Teens and Gen Z Use Daily

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 19, 2025

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Talking Gen Z: How young people today use slang

0:00 47:00

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of MPR News with Angela Davis?

This episode is 47 minutes long.

When was this MPR News with Angela Davis episode published?

This episode was published on August 19, 2025.

Can I download this MPR News with Angela Davis episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!