What if leadership isn’t about age, status, or going viral, but about conviction, resilience, and the courage to speak out?
In this week’s episode of C3 Podcast: CODE Conscious Conversations, we sit down with Hannah Faulkner, an 18-year-old author, podcast host, and cultural commentator. From motocross champion to founder of Culture of 1776 and host of The Hannah Faulkner Show, Hannah is already shaping cultural conversations, challenging narratives, and inspiring Gen Z to rise above confusion.
We dive into her journey of faith, family, and activism, and explore how she’s helping her generation cut through noise, defend free speech, and build resilience in a divided world. In this post, we’re breaking down the biggest lessons from our conversation and what they reveal about the future of leadership.
Listen to this podcast now at C3 Podcast or join us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
From Motocross Champion to Cultural Commentator
Hannah didn’t begin her journey with politics or podcasts. She began on the race track. As a motocross and stock car racing champion, she learned discipline, perseverance, and what it meant to keep pushing when the odds were stacked against her. Those lessons in grit carried over into her cultural activism.
The pivotal moment came at 13 years old. A Turning Point USA representative visited her homeschool tutorial to inspire students to start a chapter. At first, Hannah said no. She was too busy, too young, and unsure if she could handle the responsibility. But she couldn’t shake the conviction that she was meant to do more. She prayed, reflected, and finally called back to say yes.
That decision changed everything. It opened the door to leadership roles, speaking tours across the country, investigative journalism, and eventually writing her first book, Last Chance. Hannah looks back now and sees that saying yes wasn’t just about one chapter — it was about stepping into her calling.
Her story is a reminder that leadership often starts with a single decision, not a master plan. One small yes can set a young leader on a trajectory they never imagined.
Grassroots Activism Beats Going Viral
We live in a culture obsessed with followers, algorithms, and going viral. But Hannah insists that real influence comes from grassroots action.
She’s had conversations on college campuses where students initially mocked her, one even spit food at her, only to discover, after a few minutes of honest discussion, that they actually agreed with her on major issues. In other cases, students walked away saying, “I didn’t know I was conservative until now.”
Moments like these prove her point: change doesn’t happen because of a trending TikTok. It happens when people sit down face-to-face, ask questions, and are willing to listen. Grassroots activism has ripple effects, one conversation leads to another, and suddenly entire groups of students are reconsidering what they believe.
For Hannah, grassroots isn’t “lesser” than going viral. It’s the foundation. It’s what keeps movements authentic, humble, and connected to the real people they serve.
The Mental Health Crisis: More Than Just Phones
It would be easy to blame Gen Z’s mental health struggles on phone addiction alone, but Hannah believes the crisis runs deeper. Yes, the average teen spends more than nine hours a day on screens, but the roots of the problem extend far beyond technology.
She points to the breakdown of family structures, the erosion of faith, and the overuse of psychiatric drugs. Kids are told they’re just clumps of cells with no greater purpose, then medicated when they feel hopeless. Many grow up in broken families without stability or guidance, leaving them vulnerable to confusion, despair, and quick-fix solutions.
Hannah doesn’t shy away from calling this “strategic.” A sick, dependent, and disoriented generation is easier to control. And yet, she offers hope: young people can reclaim their health and purpose by anchoring themselves in strong families, vibrant communities, and holistic health practices.
One of her most striking lessons came from her holistic doctor: “If you can’t even walk on stage without getting sick, then your freedoms don’t matter.” For Hannah, that message stuck. True leadership requires strength of body, mind, and spirit.
Building Unity in a Divided World
Division dominates headlines — left vs. right, old vs. young, tradition vs. progress. But Hannah argues that unity isn’t as impossible as it seems.
Take the gun debate, for example. Instead of starting with differences, she looks for common ground: everyone wants safety. From that foundation, she builds conversations about how to achieve it, grounding arguments in data, shared values, and personal responsibility.
This approach shifts the conversation from “I’m right, you’re wrong” to “We both want the same thing, how do we get there?” It’s a powerful strategy, not just for politics, but for life.
Hannah also rejects the victimhood mentality that she sees fueling division. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, she encourages people to take responsibility, rise above challenges, and pursue solutions. For her, resilience is the antidote to resentment.
Leadership Lessons for the Next Generation
Hannah’s journey is filled with lessons that apply far beyond politics or activism:
- One yes can change your life. Small acts of courage often open the biggest doors.
- Conversations shift culture. Don’t underestimate the power of one genuine discussion.
- Health is non-negotiable. Strong leadership begins with strong bodies, minds, and spirits.
- Unity starts with common ground. Finding shared values is the first step to lasting change.
- Reject victimhood. Responsibility, not resentment, builds resilience.
Leading With Conviction
At just 18, Hannah Faulkner is showing that Gen Z is far from apathetic. She’s proving that young leaders can cut through the noise, challenge false narratives, and inspire their peers to rise above division.
Her message is clear: leadership isn’t about age or algorithms. It’s about faith, family, resilience, and the courage to speak truth in a culture that often rewards conformity.
Listen to this podcast now at C3 Podcast or join us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
