The Middle

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 90 – Trump Derangement Syndrome Andy just can’t let it go… In this episode, Andy and Roger revisit the controversial and divisive figure of Donald Trump, exploring how Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) influences public discourse and personal reactions. They engage in a deep dive into their own biases, discussing the impact of Trump’s rhetoric on their psyche and the...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 89 – The Olympics In this episode, Andy and Roger take a deep dive into the 2024 Paris Olympics, starting with a critique of the opening ceremony and its various missteps, including the rain-soaked festivities and out-of-sync performances. They reflect on the cultural significance of the Olympics, comparing them to past events like the Sydney and Beijing games. The c...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 88 – Anarchy in the UK In this episode, Andy and Roger delve into the complexities surrounding Muslim immigration in the UK, particularly focusing on the social tensions and controversies that have arisen in recent weeks. They explore the challenges of integrating Muslim communities into Western societies, the impact of extremist views, and the role of media in shapi...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 87 – Can’t go without In this episode, Andy and Roger explore the intricacies of daily life and the unique items they can't live without. They dive into the frustrations of sleepless nights due to parenting, the joy of maintaining hobbies, and the quirks of personal preferences like needing separate duvets. The conversation touches on various relatable and humoro...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 86 – Uncle Roger In this episode, Andy and Roger explore the cultural phenomenon of Uncle Roger, the satirical YouTube character known for his humorous critiques of cooking videos, especially those involving Asian cuisine. They discuss the nuances of cultural appropriation, the fine line between comedy and offence, and the impact of Uncle Roger's character on bot...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 85 – Donald Trump In this episode, Andy and Roger delve into the political dynamics surrounding the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, discussing its impact on American politics and society. They explore the psychological and emotional ramifications for Trump and his supporters, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the implications for the upcoming...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 84 – Joe Biden Should Joe Biden resign? In this episode, Andy and Roger delve into the complexities of political leadership, focusing on the challenges faced by Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the current political climate. They discuss Biden's cognitive decline, the pressures of presidential responsibilities, and the implications of potential leadership changes wi...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 83 – If I were a man In this episode, Andy and Roger dive into the unique challenges faced by men in 2024. They discuss a variety of topics, including the impacts of the keto diet and the unexpected difficulties of male dieting, the societal expectations and pressures on men, and the often overlooked need for men to have personal hobbies and alone time. The conversat...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 82 – Jerry Seinfeld In this episode, Andy and Roger explore the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict, sparked by the recent protests at Jerry Seinfeld's show in Australia. They discuss the blurred lines between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, examining the motivations behind protests and the broader implications for public discourse. Andy and Roger don’t qui...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 81 – Two whities and a scarf In this episode, Andy and Roger begin with a humorous critique of LinkedIn's culture, from random messages and sponsored ads to the insincerity of self-promotional posts. They explore the platform's impact on professional interactions, comparing it to other social media networks. The conversation then shifts to a deeper and more s...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 80 – Anger management In this episode, Andy and Roger dive into the complexities of anger management, particularly in the context of modern masculinity. They discuss the societal expectations surrounding male aggression, the impact of cultural shifts on how anger is perceived, and the fine line between expressing emotions and losing control. Drawing from personal exp...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 79 – Starbucks In this episode, Andy and Roger dive into the polarising world of Starbucks, exploring why the iconic coffee chain invokes such strong reactions. They discuss personal experiences with Starbucks, including the quality of coffee, the atmosphere, and the brand's marketing strategies. The conversation delves into cultural differences in coffee consump...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 78 – Adults only In this adults-only episode, Andy and Roger delve into the world of pornography, exploring its impacts on society, relationships, and individual behaviour. They discuss the rising phenomenon of AI-generated porn and its ethical implications, the controversial role of OnlyFans in the modern gig economy, and the psychological effects of early exposure...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 77 – Mind the age gap In this episode, Andy and Roger dive into the complex topic of age-gap relationships, exploring societal norms, legal boundaries, and cultural perceptions. They discuss controversial figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, who is known for dating younger women, and the implications of such relationships on public opinion. The conversation navigates thro...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 76 – Dark humour In this episode, Andy and Roger discuss some famous humour bombs from the past. They discuss a mix of famous stand up comedians, sitcoms and even sexual innuendo featured in much loved children’s shows. They consider what should and shouldn’t be considered acceptable in 2024 and reflect on what would pass muster in previous decades. Andy and Roger la...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 75 – Just do better In this episode, Roger makes a surprise appearance on Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps. Andy and Roger discuss violence against women and what can be said of the obligations on men as a whole. Andy and Roger discuss the nature of violence and how to navigate the current debate surrounding the notion that “men just need to do better”. #u...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 74 – Screen time In this episode, Andy and Roger discuss Jonathan Haidt’s latest book about the impact of screen devices on children. Andy and Roger discuss their own attitudes towards the topic, whether they believe this is a real risk for the next generation or whether this is just a moral panic. Andy and Roger also discuss differences in opinion about how to paren...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 73 – Bad bosses In this episode, Andy and Roger discuss what it takes to be a good boss. What is the right balance between pushing staff hard verses being kind and friendly, but also kind of weak. Andy and Roger discuss what Elon Musk and Steve Jobs have in common, and no, it is not their love of Android. Andy and Roger have some interesting differences of opinion th...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 72 – Bad parents In this episode, Andy and Roger discuss their views on parenting. Andy and Roger explore a series of parenting-puzzlers, including letting kids ride alone on a subway, monitoring kids’ social media accounts, the age kids should be allowed smartphones, spanking, what to do with a bad report card, ‘mental health days’, drinking beer and wine, and compe...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 71 – Smokes on a plane In this episode, Andy and Roger go back to the 90s and explore what used to be okay, including smoking on a plane. Topics covered include Nazis at football matches, the free Britney movement, Michael Jackson, the Smashing Pumpkins, forced affection from Pepé Le Pew, gender roles and more. Andy also finds a way to weave in a certain sex tape fro...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 70 – Moral hazards In this episode, Andy and Roger consider some of life’s big challenges and moral conundrums. Are you on the right side of history? Roger has a messy situation involving bins and another sticky car parking situation, Andy grapples with hugs in social settings, Roger can’t work out whether speaking over people in meetings is okay, Andy wonders whethe...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 69 – Crypto king In this episode, Andy and Roger interview fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried from his prison cell - or at least they thought they would be until he cancelled at the last minute. Andy and Roger consider the ethics of stealing billions of dollars from investors and whether SBF is evil or not. They discuss effective altruism, the eerie similarities between SBF...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 68 – The iliterati In this episode, Andy and Roger take a look at their empty bookshelves and wonder what went wrong. They discuss the rise of audiobooks and how they consume information in this contemporary world where books are not what they once were. They discuss the best way to find new book leads, top tips to cry like a man and get in trouble when they again tr...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 67 – Is that racist? In this episode, Andy and Roger examine two high profile “racist incidents” that caused a stir over the past few weeks. Roger serves as our in field reporter, asking the good people of Castle Hill whether Sam Kerr is racist. Andy and Roger also discuss the Spencer Leniu NRL “monkey” incident, and whether it's okay for kids playing gorilla tag...

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 66 – Building Beautifully In this episode, Andy and Roger are joined by Sharath from the YouTube channel Building Beautifully. Sharath joins the Middle to discuss housing affordability, the generational divide and ways to make homes more affordable for young people. Sharath explains what a YIMBY is and shares with us some anecdotes about his YouTube channel. This pod...