Millennial in the Middle

Today we take a break from politics for a feel-good story and informative interview. In high school, Courtney Hill found herself in the middle of an extreme battle with anorexia. It only took a few weeks to become a very dangerous situation. What started quickly led to a very long 5 year road to recovery. She had several stays in treatment centers with her last time in rehab lasting over a year. I...

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right! The circus was on full display in Tuesday night. Last night was a good example of why most people have stopped watching the news and don’t like politics! In this episode Connor gives some thoughts on the debates, what went wrong and missed opportunities for both candidates. He also tells the story behind the first ever televised Presidential Debate in...

Allenmichael Boasten listened to the intro episode of this podcast and felt this message resonate with him. He feels like he is in the middle and in today’s political environment he knows being uninvolved or uninformed isn’t an option. He offered to come on the show to discuss race and his experiences growing up in Mobile, Alabama. He played college football, has lived all over the country and has...

20 EPISODES!! This benchmark for some reason really seems significant! What started as an fun idea with a catchy name has now become a legitimate platform for reasonable people to have uplifting and informative conversations. We are finding this is bringing people together, helping you learn something new and leading to an increased sense of respect and empathy for others. The initial concern was...

Emily Northway graduated college and decided to head to Norway to get a year of international work experience. She bought a one-way ticket, enrolled in some Norwegian classes and started applying for jobs. That one year has now turned into 6+ and she has immersed herself into the country, culture, and workplace. In this interview Connor asks Emily about the differences in lifestyle, politics, and...

With the presidential election just around the corner we are bound to hear a lot about the electoral college. After all, two of our last five elections have produced a winner that received fewer votes than the loser! In this episode, we dive into the history of the electoral college dating back to the Compromise of 1787 and why after 700+ attempts to change this system it is still in place today.

You know we love history on this podcast. Today we have a discussion on why history is so important to understand and learn from. Connor brings Patrick Henry Hansen on the show and asks him what parallels he sees with today and ancient history. His answer may surprise you and will definitely make you think. Patrick Henry Hansen is a speaker, corporate trainer, author and historian. Patrick has del...

We all remember where we were on September 11th, 2001. We had been attacked on our homeland, but this enemy was very  different. There was not a specific country to strike back against. Instead, it was an underground terrorist organization led by Osama Bin Laden. This ushered in the "War on Terror." US involvement in the Middle East from 2000-today can be difficult to understand. Why were we...

As Americans we have heard the National Anthem our entire lives. With repetition things tend to lose importance and meaning. In this episode Connor tells the story of the Star-Spangled Banner, how it became our national anthem, and why we started performing the anthem at sporting events. This episode is a great example of the goal of Millennial in the Middle. You will learn from history, broaden y...

The hippie movement took the country by storm in the 1960s. Hundreds of thousands of people headed to San Francisco with "flowers in their hair." The subculture sentiment was in response to a turbulent time in our nation's history. This group used love and "plant medicine" as the anecdote to the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement. The climax of the hippie movement was the Woodstock music festiv...

At his core Donald Trump is a showman. Given the chance to have 4 nights of TV coverage highlighting his achievements and making the case for four more years, you shouldn't be surprised there wasn't a lack of theatrics. In Part 2 of Connor's reaction to the RNC, Connor looks specifically at the speeches that stood out, what Trump did this week that was out of character and a look at the Trump fami...

After listening to the DNC and RNC there is one thing both parties can agree on: this election is the most important in our history, America and our democracy are in danger, and the consequences are grave if the other guy wins! In Part 1 of the reaction to this week's Republican National Convention Connor takes a big picture approach. He discusses fear and the dangers of how it can be used to cont...

After the death of George Floyd I was guilty of avoiding the news. I think like for a lot of white Americans it was easier just to turn it off, look away, and not seek to understand. A problem like racism isn't something you can ever fully solve so why even bother? If you have felt this way, don't worry I have too. Talking about race isn't something most people are comfortable with and honestly I...

We have hit 10 episodes! To celebrate we're giving you a bonus episode you can watch in under 10 minutes... How dumb does the media really think we are? Connor breaks down two current political ads (one Republican and one Democrat) and says what we're all thinking.  This is an entertaining listen that reminds us all to think critically! 

For four nights this week the Democratic party blitzed the airwaves to make the case for Joe Biden and against Donald Trump. Connor gives his reaction to his favorite speeches and thoughts on the Democratic strategy.  Connor also talks about some formative events of Joe Biden's personal life and how we can all have a bit more empathy. 

Rick and Mindy Guymon went to the hospital to have their fourth child and found out in the Operating Room their daughter Tessa had Down Syndrome. This news came as a surprise and they wondered what life would look like. Reactions from friends, family and even the doctors varied. At 18 months old Tessa was then diagnosed with leukemia. Since then the Guymons have gone through chemotherapy and won t...

We have all heard Trump repeat the phrase “America First.” In this episode we dive into the current political debate between nationalism and globalism. As always, Connor takes a historical look at the issue going all the way back to “America’s first” President. In Washington’s Farewell Address, he offered advice to the nation that is still relevant today, and he set a precedent that would become A...

For more than two decades, Dr. Matt Townsend has been energizing and educating audiences with his unique lessons on life, love and leadership. Known as one of America’s top presenters in the field of Human Relations and Development. Matt can be seen weekly on KSL Television’s, Studio 5 with Brooke Walker. His book Starved Stuff: Feeding The 7 Basic Needs of Healthy Relationships is a popular pick...

The world was shocked when Donald Trump won the election in 2016. The polls got it so wrong! Now we find ourselves in another election year election year and Joe Biden has a similar lead to what Hillary Clinton had at this same point. Are the polls right this time or are we in for another surprise?  In this episode Connor tells the story of when he personally met Trump in 2015 when he was jus...

America was built by immigrants. People from all over the world want to live in this country and experience the "American Dream." Immigration is a topic in the center of the political debate without a clear answer. It is so much more complicated than what we often hear in debates. Carla Swensen-Haslem watched her mother become a citizen and has devoted her life to helping immigrants in their desir...

Erase history? Most people don’t understand what led to the resurgence of the Confederate flag and what it is often used to symbolize. A look at history may change the way you think about the Confederate flag and Confederate statues. With that said, it is unfair to judge people of the past by today’s standards. The legacy of the Founding Fathers like Washington and Jefferson is not something to be...

Michael Henry is a United States Marine and one of the most patriotic people you will ever meet. His love for this country comes from the years he spent defending our freedoms. He gives his perspective on what the American flag means to him, the national anthem, and how soldiers view political parties.

Connor explains why he decided to start this podcast and introduces the Millennial in the Middle concept. He tells his personal experiences with being in the middle of the loud and extreme voices and his desire to be a voice for those that find themselves somewhere in the middle of our divisive world.  Listen to this episode first for a framework of whats to come! Clowns to the left of me, jo...