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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.
Middle of the Fence
Protectors or Predators? Police Brutality | Ep. 23
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In Episode 23 of Middle of the Fence, Andre breaks down a tough but necessary conversation: police brutality, systemic bias, and how policing looks drastically different on the “Tough Terrain” vs. “Affluent Acres” sides of the fence. Drawing from lived experience, academic research, traffic-stop data, and a 2006 FBI report on white supremacist infiltration in law enforcement, this episode examines how communities across America experience the police in two completely different realities.
Andre explores:
• Over-policing in urban communities and the “TSA treatment” many people of color face daily
• Generational trauma and its long-term effects on trust in law enforcement
• Data from Stanford University (100M+ traffic stops) showing disproportionate stops of Black drivers
• Why some officers of color still enforce harmful systemic biases
• Affluent communities & policing as protection — and how privilege shapes perception
• The historical roots of American policing, beginning with slave patrols
• The 2006 FBI intelligence report detailing white supremacist infiltration concerns
• What it means to live in the middle and see both sides up close
🔗 FBI 2006 Report
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/24350-fbi-warned-white-supremacists-law-enforcement-15-years-ago-fbi-counterterrorism
🎧 Whether you've lived these realities or are hearing them in-depth for the first time, this episode pushes us to reflect on empathy, accountability, and the future of public safety.
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Follow the podcast on Instagram @middleofthefence
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