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Middle of the Fence
Welcome to Middle of the Fence, the podcast hosted by Andre Spruell that explores what it means to grow up between two different worlds.
Raised in one of New Jersey’s highest-crime areas while attending private school in one of the wealthiest counties in the country, Andre experienced firsthand the contrast between environments, perspectives, expectations, and identities. But Middle of the Fence goes beyond just one story.
This podcast dives into the experiences of people who have had to navigate different sides of life...whether socioeconomic, cultural, racial, religious, professional, or personal and the lessons, struggles, and growth that come from living between those worlds.
Through authentic solo episodes, thought-provoking interviews, and honest conversations, Middle of the Fence tackles topics such as identity, mental health, personal growth, relationships, success, social pressure, faith, culture, and self-discovery.
At its core, the podcast is about finding common ground in a divided world and reminding people that no matter what side of the fence we grew up on, we’re all more alike than we think.
New episodes every Wednesday.
Episodes
61 episodes
Can You Love Someone and Still Choose Yourself? | Ep. 59
What does it actually mean to love someone when doing what feels right might also mean disappointing them, creating distance, or even letting them go?In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre gets personal about several difficult rel...
Does Race Shape the Way We See the Truth? | Ep. 58
How much do race, upbringing and lived experience influence the way we interpret the world around us?Using the national conversation surrounding the death of Nolan Wells as a starting point, Andre explores how our personal experiences sh...
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Why Chasing Acceptance Keeps You From Being Yourself | With Fab | Ep. 57
What happens when you spend years trying to fit into boxes you were never meant to fit inside?In Episode 57 of Middle of the Fence, I sit down with Fab, owner of the award-winning Fab & Jules Salon in Montclair, ...
Have We Misunderstood Black Excellence? | Ep. 56
When you hear the phrase "Black excellence," what comes to mind?For many people, it means extraordinary achievement—championships, wealth, awards, or public recognition. But what if we've been defining excellence too narrowly?...
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Why Society Wants You to Pick a Side | Ep. 55
Have you ever felt like the world wanted you to choose just one version of yourself?Whether it's your culture, career, beliefs, relationships, or identity, society often encourages us to simplify who we are so we fit neatly into a catego...
Can We Call an Entire Country Racist? | Argentina's History, Afro-Argentines & The Bigger Question | Ep. 54 (Part 2) ⭐
Can a nation's history define the people living there today?In Part 2 of this two-part documentary special, we move beyond headlines and explore the history behind one of the biggest conversations surrounding the 2026 FIFA ...
Can We Call an Entire Country Racist? | The World Cup, Argentina & Why We Judge Entire Groups | Ep. 54 (Part 1)
Can an entire country be defined by the actions of a few?As Argentina continues its 2026 FIFA World Cup run, accusations of racism have dominated headlines and social media following a viral incident involving streamer IShowSpeed....
Being Liked vs. Being Respected | Ep. 53
Most of us grow up wanting to be liked.We avoid conflict.We struggle to say no.We put other people's comfort ahead of our own authenticity.But what happens when chasing approval starts costing us opportunities, confidence,...
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Why We Judge People So Quickly | Ep. 52
How often do you decide who someone is before they've even finished introducing themselves?Whether it's the way someone dresses, speaks, carries themselves, or the assumptions we make based on appearance, first impressions happen almost ...
Can You Love Someone You Disagree With? | Ep. 51
Can you genuinely love someone you disagree with?In this solo episode, Andre explores one of the biggest challenges facing relationships today: maintaining connection with people whose beliefs, values, and perspectives differ from our ow...
What I've Learned About Belonging After 50 Episodes | Ep. 50
For 50 episodes, Middle of the Fence has explored the spaces between cultures, backgrounds, identities, and life experiences.But what happens when the host reflects on what he's learned from the journey itself?In this milestone ep...
Why the World Cup Means More Than Soccer | Ep. 49
The FIFA World Cup is often viewed as the biggest sporting event in the world.But why does it create such a powerful emotional connection for so many people?In this special World Cup edition of Middle of the Fence, Andre explores ...
Why Some People Never Feel Fully Accepted | Ep. 48
Why do some people feel like they fit in almost everywhere but still struggle to feel like they truly belong?In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell explores the hidden emotional challenges of growing up between different w...
How Environment Shapes Relationships | Ep. 47
The environments we grow up in shape the way we communicate, trust, express emotion, handle conflict, and connect with others more than most people realize.In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell discusses how environment i...
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Overcoming Depression, Faith & Growing Up Between Two Worlds ft. Marlyn | Ep. 46
On Episode 46 of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell sits down with Marlyn, host of The Raw Faith Podcast, for a powerful conversation about faith, identity, mental health, resilience, and navigating life between two completely different environ...
The Pressure to Have Your Life Figured Out by 30 | Ep. 45
In this solo episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell discusses the pressure many people feel approaching 30 years old and the emotional weight that comes with comparison culture, social media timelines, financial expectations, relationshi...
You Don’t Rise to Your Potential… You Fall to Your Environment | Ep. 44
What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t your discipline… but your environment?In Episode 44 of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell breaks down how your environment shapes your standards, your habits, and what you believe is possi...
From Trauma to Healing: BPD, Family Patterns & Growth with Sarah Rose | Ep. 43
In Episode 43 of Middle of the Fence, Andre sits down with Sarah Rose — creator of BPD Beautiful, author of Sadie’s Favorite, and musician — to discuss her journey navigating borderline personality disorder (BPD) and growing u...
Slang, Slip-Ups & Switching Sides | Ep. 42
What happens when the way you talk changes depending on the room you're in?In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell explores the reality of growing up between two worlds and how language plays a major role in shapin...
The Pressure of Representing Your Identity | Ep. 41
Have you ever felt like you’re not just representing yourself...but everything that makes you who you are?In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruill dives into the emotional weight of representing your identity...
Full Circle: Trust Your Gut, Boundaries & More (w/ Yami Soriano) | Ep. 40
In this special full circle episode of Middle of the Fence, Yami Soriano—the very first recorded guest on the podcast—returns for a deeper conversation on growth, self-awareness, and stepping into your 30s.From learning to trust...
The Identity Tug-of-War: Why You Feel Like Different People in Different Environments | Ep. 39
Have you ever felt like you're a completely different person depending on where you are?At work, you move one way. With family, another. With friends, another.If that sounds familiar, you're not fake...you’re nav...
From Survival Mode to Success: How Environment, Mindset & Discipline Shape Your Life with Flow Menez | Ep. 38
In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre sits down with entrepreneur and video strategist Flow Menez to explore how growing up in a chaotic environment can shape your mindset, behavior, and identity.Flow shares his experien...
