.jpg)
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
68 episodes
Why Do We Romanticize the Past? Are We Remembering It Clearly? | Ep. 66
Why does the past sometimes feel better than the life we’re living right now?Old relationships. Childhood memories. Previous jobs. Family gatherings. Different versions of ourselves. It’s easy to look backward and convince ourselves that...
The Power of Transformation: Sobriety, Consciousness & Reinventing Yourself with German Palacio | Ep. 65
What happens when you stop being afraid of change and start seeing transformation as a necessary part of life?In Episode 65 of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell sits down with German Palacio, a Buenos Aires-born creative...
.png)
Are You Building a Life or Just Escaping the One You Have? | Ep. 64
What if the life you're working so hard to build isn't actually being driven by where you want to go but by what you're trying to get away from?In Episode 64 of Middle of the Fence, Andre explores the thin line between ambiti...
.png)
Especial en Español: ¿Qué Está Pasando con ICE y los Inmigrantes en Estados Unidos? | Ep. 63
☢️ LANGUAGE NOTE: This special episode is recorded entirely in Spanish.For the first time on Middle of the Fence, I’m bringing you an episode completely in Spanish.As the son of an immigrant, the conversation ...
.jpg)
You Never Know What Someone Is Going Through: The Power of Empathy | Ep. 62
You see someone's behavior...but do you know what they're carrying behind it?Someone may seem distant, impatient, rude, or completely fine on the outside while privately dealing with grief, financial pressure, family struggles, health ch...
Are the People Around You Helping You Grow or Keeping You Stuck? | Ep. 61
Are the people closest to you helping you grow or keeping you stuck?As we get older, our relationships change. Sometimes we grow together, sometimes we grow in different directions, and sometimes we have to reconsider who deserves our ti...
Is Music Actually Getting Worse or Are We Just Getting Older? | Ep. 60
Is music actually getting worse or are we just getting older?We've all heard someone say, “They just don't make music like they used to.” But what if there's more behind that feeling than we realize?In Episode 60 of Middle of t...
.png)
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...
.png)
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?...
.png)
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,...
.png)
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...
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...