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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
53 episodes
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...
The Pressure to Be the Bridge | Ep. 37
If you grew up between two worlds, you probably became the bridge.The one who explains both sides. The one who keeps the peace. The one who carries tension so others don’t have to.But over time… that role comes w...
The Hidden Cost of Self-Awareness | Ep. 36
Self-awareness is often considered one of the most important traits for personal growth and emotional intelligence.But what happens when self-awareness becomes overwhelming?Research suggests that while 95% of people beli...
The Survival Mindset | Ep. 35
Many people think trauma comes from one major life event.But what if trauma is something that slowly forms through the environments we grow up in?In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre explores the survival mindse...
Own Your Story: Stop Minimizing Yourself | Ep. 34
There comes a point in your life when you realize the parts of your story you once felt insecure about are actually the parts that shaped your strength.In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre explores what it truly means to own you...
School Days: Biggest Challenges & Triumphs | Ep. 33
In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell takes you inside his early school days and the challenges and triumphs that came along with that.From not having textbooks at the start of the school year and wearing knockoff uniform...
Resilience, Faith & Redefining Success with Josh Banton | Ep. 32
What did resilience cost you and what did it give back?In Episode 32 of Middle of the Fence, Andre sits down with artist and songwriter Josh Banton to unpack resilience, sacrifice, fatherhood, faith, and redefining success.<...
The Fear of Being Seen Trying | Ep. 31
The Fear of Being Seen Trying | Stop Hiding Your Growth (Ep. 31)Have you ever wanted something so badly… but stayed quiet about it?In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre dives into the fear of being seen and...
Loneliness of Becoming | Ep. 30
Have you ever felt lonely? Not because you had no one, but because you were becoming someone new?In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell dives into The Loneliness of Becoming — a powerful and often misunders...
The Guilt of Growth – Why Personal Growth Feels Uncomfortable | Ep. 29
Have you ever felt like becoming better was somehow making you worse?In Episode 29 of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell dives into a feeling many of us experience but rarely talk about—the Guilt of Growth.As you g...
History of the Suburbs: How Affluent Acres Was Built | Ep. 28
The suburbs didn’t just happen — they were built intentionally.In this solo episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre breaks down the history of American suburbs, starting earlier than most people are taught. From streetcar suburbs ...