The Middle

🎵 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 171 – Speed datingRoger opens this week’s episode by detailing his perilous descent into the underground world of rare collectible toys—specifically, an oversized La Boo Boo. From Facebook marketplace meetups that feel like drug deals to AI-powered authentication techniques, it’s a wild ride through the plushie black market.But the episode quickly takes a detour into deeper waters, as the pair unpack an unexpected encounter with cultural beauty standards in Asia. What begins as a comment about powdered white faces evolves into a broader discussion on colonialism, colourism, class, and whether Asian beauty standards are really western ideals in disguise.Later, Andy recounts his and his wife's experience at a “friendship speed dating” event. It’s as awkward as it sounds. The duo unpick modern loneliness, gender dynamics, the impossibility of men and women being ‘just friends’, and what happens when socialising as a couple intersects with post-Tinder confusion.Lizzo also makes an unlikely cameo. Obviously.Hashtags:#LaBooBoo #CollectibleCulture #WhiteBeautyStandards #AsianBeauty #PopMart #FacebookMarketplace #CulturalNorms #SpeedDatingFails #MenVsWomen #ModernFriendship #AndyAndRoger #PodcastChat #TinderFatigue #LonelyPlanet #CouplesThatDateTogether #YellowFeverDebate #CosmeticSurgery #BeautyMythEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 170 – Trump chokesIn an unavoidably morbid and uniquely American turn of events, Andy and Roger process the death of Donald Trump—reportedly from choking on a Big Mac aboard Air Force One—and its implications for U.S. and global politics. While most media is still in stunned reaction mode, the duo skip the spectacle and explore what this means for MAGA, the Republican Party, and America’s political psyche.JD Vance is now president (pending swearing in), and the discussion probes whether the MAGA movement survives without its cult leader, or if it dissipates into factions. Can Vance maintain the energy, or is this the beginning of a Republican identity crisis?Andy and Roger also explore the Democrats’ next moves in a post-Trump world, whether the media can survive without their orange cash cow, and what global allies (and enemies) make of the latest American chaos. Plus: is it actually possible that McDonald’s has killed a U.S. president?Hashtags:#TrumpDeath #BigMacGate #JDVance #MAGAMovement #AmericanPolitics #USPresidency #RepublicanParty #Democrats #PoliticalChaos #TrumpLegacy #PresidentialSuccession #Populism #ConservativePolitics #MAGA2026 #VanceEra #USMidterms #GlobalPolitics #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcastEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 169 – Nanny stateRoger returns from a chaotic family trip to Malaysia with war stories from airport border security, forgotten backpacks, and a renewed appreciation for Australian food safety standards. Andy and Roger reflect on the nanny state versus the wild chaos of Southeast Asia—where you might find horse meat next to the Fruit Loops.The conversation spirals into parenting styles, travel hazards, and whether Australian children are overprotected. They debate the merits of haggling at night markets, the ethics of domestic helpers in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, and whether Australia should embrace a “maid economy” of its own. There's a touch of philosophy, some light intergenerational resentment, and a surprising amount of time spent on seatbelt regulations.They also touch on generational roles, multi-generational households, and the underexplored potential of grandparents as a solution to the childcare crisis. A meandering and provocative episode that may or may not be sponsored by Bluey.Hashtags:#NannyState #ParentingStyles #TravelWithKids #AirportSecurity #MalaysiaTrip #FoodSafety #HagglingCulture #AsianMarkets #DomesticHelpers #MultigenerationalLiving #ChildcareCrisis #FilipinoMaids #GlobalInequality #AustralianCulture #ExpatLife #RogerAndAndy #TheMiddlePodcast #CrossCultural #ModernParenting #LawAndOrderEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 168 – Make friendsIn this episode, Andy and Roger wrestle with the timeless advice of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, asking the important question: does any of this still work in 2026?Roger recounts a conversation with a new migrant seeking advice on making friends in Australia, prompting a deep (and often reluctant) dive into Carnegie’s greatest hits. Andy questions whether trying to be liked is inherently inauthentic, while Roger attempts to rehabilitate the usefulness of smiling, remembering names, and basic human warmth.They also touch on workplace culture, social awkwardness, Friday drinks, and the delicate art of not being a jerk. Along the way, they explore masculinity, authenticity, and the tension between self-improvement and selling out. Andy reflects on the joy of disassembling Lego, while Roger admits to hoarding four bins’ worth of Christmas rubbish. No one comes out looking good.Also covered: packing fatigue, moving-house misery, and why everything ends up in a box labelled “misc.”Hashtags:#DaleCarnegie #HowToWinFriends #MakingFriends #SocialSkills #AndyAndRoger #AuthenticityCrisis #AustralianCulture #WorkplaceDynamics #FridayDrinks #Minimalism #MovingHouse #MaleFriendship #SelfHelpBooks #PodcastChat #PackingProblems #CulturalAdvice #SmilingIsWeird #NameMemoryFail #SocialNorms2026 #StatusAnxietyEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 167 – Goodbye 2025Another year older, another unwanted barbecue. In this special New Year’s wrap-up, Andy and Roger reflect on the curious psychology of Facebook Marketplace, from bookcase bartering and sick-son sob stories to ash-spewing barbecue disasters. What begins as a suburban tale of fridges and passive-aggressive pickup requests morphs into something deeper: the strange economics of zero-dollar transactions and the true meaning of "deadshit energy."In the second half, the hosts do what they do best: attempt a 12-month world recap in under 12 minutes. They revisit Donald Trump’s shock re-election and its ripple effects, including strikes on Iran and a MAGA movement slowly eating itself from within. From antisemitism in Western Sydney hospitals to Pope Francis’ death and Albanese’s oddly smooth re-election, the year was as chaotic as it was forgettable.Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the Bondi Hanukkah massacre, the collapse of consensus—2025 had no shortage of headlines. Yet between a Brisbane relocation and a nostalgia-fuelled Oasis gig, there were also glimmers of light.A reminder, perhaps, that even in dark times, you can still fit a full-sized fridge in a RAV4.Hashtags:#FacebookMarketplaceFails #FridgeInARAV4 #Trump2025 #CharlieKirk #BondiShooting #AussiePolitics #MAGA #Antisemitism #CostOfLivingCrisis #OasisLive #PopeFrancis #BrisbaneLife #AndyAndRoger #PodcastRecap #FreecycleFails #EndOfYearWrap #Australia2025 #PoliticalReview #BarbecueSaga #SuburbanChaosEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 166 – AntisemitismThis week, Andy and Roger kick off the episode with a Christmas debrief and a rant about Sydney’s failed curbside waste collection—complete with an altercation involving a taxi driver, a mosque, and a van full of rubbish. Naturally, it gets political from there.The core of the episode is a deep (and at times circular) dive into antisemitism, prompted by physicist David Deutsch’s theory known as “The Pattern.” Andy and Roger dissect the theory’s claims that antisemitism is an inherent, cyclical force embedded in all societies. Andy is unconvinced. Roger has thoughts. They explore whether antisemitism is unique compared to other forms of racism, how religion and cultural identity influence perceptions of power, and why conspiracy theories so often land on Jewish communities.The discussion navigates the difference between prejudice and scapegoating, the legacy of historical memes, and why "similar but different" groups provoke discomfort. They question whether theories like Deutsch’s help or hinder our understanding, and end with an appropriately awkward moment about how many times they’ve said “Jews” on air.Hashtags:#TheMiddlePodcast #AndyAndRoger #Antisemitism #ThePattern #DavidDeutsch #CulturalIdentity #ModernRacism #JewishHistory #Scapegoating #PodcastDiscussion #FreeSpeechDebate #WesternCivilisation #BondiAttack #NSWPolitics #ChrisMinns #CouncilPickupFail #MosqueParking #ChristmasInAustraliaEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 165 – BondiA sombre one this week, as Andy and Roger respond to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack—an act of anti-Semitic violence that left 15 dead and many injured. With hesitation but resolve, they unpack the political and cultural fallout: the risk of ideological vacuums, the failure of leadership, and the avoidance of hard conversations around religious extremism.The episode examines Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s muted response, critiques the political distraction around gun laws, and reflects on the community’s rising fear, especially within Australia's Jewish population. The hosts consider how social tensions, foreign conflicts, and domestic policy paralysis converge to create dangerous outcomes—and how the failure to address extremism honestly allows space for fringe voices to rise.Amidst it all, they pay tribute to Ahmed Al Ahmed—the unarmed Muslim man who tackled the shooter—highlighting the human capacity for bravery in the face of horror. A heavy discussion, but an important one.Hashtags:#BondiAttack #AntiSemitism #ReligiousExtremism #PoliticalLeadership #GunControlDebate #IslamicExtremism #JewishCommunity #Albanese #PaulineHanson #TragedyInAustralia #MiddleEastConflict #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcast #SydneyNews #CurrentAffairsAustralia #IslamAndTerrorism #Radicalisation #AustraliaPoliticsEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 164 – We’re friedIf you’ve ever been so exhausted you considered sleeping through Christmas, this one’s for you. Andy and Roger limp toward the end of the year reflecting on burnout, endless life admin, and the fantasy of doing absolutely nothing.The pair swap war stories of seasonal stress, from Roger’s sleep-deprived chaos with four kids to Andy’s absurd four-house relocation marathon. They tackle the growing impossibility of downtime in a world designed for dual incomes and zero margin. The discussion turns to modern relationships and emotional labour—why men often disengage, how domestic logistics become defaulted to women, and the mental load that silently shapes our lives.Also on the docket: group chats as purgatory, unread WhatsApp messages, the decline of festive joy, and why no one’s unboxed their toys anymore. They close with a rare resolution: less hustle, more pizza.Hashtags:#Burnout #Overworked #ChristmasChaos #LifeAdmin #MentalLoad #SleepDeprivation #ModernLife #AndyAndRoger #GenderDynamics #DomesticLabour #EmotionalLabour #WorkLifeBalance #PodcastAustralia #ModernMasculinity #FourHouseMove #GroupChatFatigue #TiredParentsEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 163 – Learn to careThe Christmas lights are up, the elves are getting freaky, and Andy and Roger are back—armed with Spotify Wrapped and existential dread. Kicking off with a discussion of Santa, chocolate poo, and Barbie pole dancers, this episode spirals into one man’s musical identity crisis and another’s late-night bromance with Joe Rogan.But beneath the absurdity lies something darker. Roger confesses to a midnight panic about AI, humanoid robots, and the death of the corporate job. Andy tries to reassure him with baristas, PhDs, and a surprising amount of Marxist optimism. They debate whether robots will displace both lawyers and latte makers, if owning property is the last refuge of the middle class, and whether career advice is now pointless.It's a Christmas special filled with techno-anxiety, intergenerational angst, and just a splash of Taylor Swift.Hashtags:#SpotifyWrapped #AIAnxiety #ChristmasPodcast #AndyAndRoger #MiddleClassCrisis #RobotButler #SantaMyth #ElfOnTheShelf #TaylorSwift #JoeRogan #WorkplaceFuture #TechDystopia #GenerationalChange #AGI #SpotifyUnwrapped #2025Predictions #ModernParenting #LateStageCapitalismEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 162 – Burkas of TokyoFresh from a stint in Tokyo, Roger returns to the pod—culturally cleansed and slightly jet-lagged—to join Andy in unpacking the latest stunt from perennial provocateur Pauline Hanson. From grilling Wagyu on a sandwich press to donning a burka in the Senate, Hanson’s antics lead to a candid discussion about political theatre, respect for religion, and whether the Parliament needs a quiet carriage.Roger shares tales from Japan, where warmed toilet seats and robot bidets prove revelatory, and where the culinary challenges include milkfish sperm and mystery liver mousse. The hosts contrast Japan’s order and civility with the chaos of Sydney’s transport system and Australia’s border officials—landing somewhere between admiration and despair.Also on the menu: bogan icons in politics, Jackie Lambie’s rough charm, and why you’re more likely to find dignity in a Tokyo train than a Sydney airport queue.Hashtags:#PaulineHanson #BurkaDebate #AustralianPolitics #TokyoTrip #BidetLife #CultureShock #JackieLambie #JapanTravel #BoganCulture #AndyAndRoger #PodcastAustralia #PoliticalStunts #ParliamentDrama #QuietCarriage #TravelStories #SydneyTrains #ToiletTech #WagyuSteak #MiddlePodcastEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 161 - Off limitsAndy and Roger return this week with what can only be described as a descent into the gutter—and a surprisingly philosophical one at that.What begins with a meme-fuelled riff on the Epstein email leaks spirals rapidly into a gloriously inappropriate interrogation of sexuality, dominance, and prison politics (you’ve been warned). Along the way, they debate whether gay men give better blowjobs, the ethics of office relationships if you’re secretly a furry, and how Mike Tyson fits into all of this.But it’s not all oral and outrage. The conversation eventually pivots (with some effort) toward a thoughtful discussion on whether someone’s private life should impact their professional one, the blurry lines of modern cancel culture, and whether society’s current political polarisation is just the prelude to something worse. Nazis, furries, MAGA cults, and the Holocaust Museum—somehow, it all makes it into this one.A masterclass in how to start in the sewer and end up in political theory.Hashtags:#EpsteinEmails #TrumpMemes #BillClinton #GloryholeDebate #CancelCulture #WorkplacePolitics #FurryRights #PrisonDynamics #OralFixation #PoliticalCults #MAGA #MichaelJackson #FreeSpeech #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #ModernMorality #NaziSymbolism #ParentingIn2025 #MikeTysonQuotes #BubbaGate #CulturalShifts #SexualTaboosEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 160 – Christian nationalismAndy and Roger take a theological detour in this week’s episode, tackling the unlikely marriage of atheism and Christian nationalism—because nothing says "God is dead" like two agnostics discussing the Holy Spirit on a podcast.It begins with a recap of their visit to St Mary’s Cathedral, which somehow segues into a spirited review of the sights, smells, and substances at an Oasis concert. The pair lament the rise of candy-scented vapes and euphoric Irish blokes with questionable nasal hygiene before pivoting sharply to Christian nationalism—its definition, its implications, and whether one can support the structure without the superstition.The discussion weaves through Jordan Peterson, monarchy mythologies, America’s spiritual politics, and the idea that many modern secular societies are quietly living off the dregs of Christian moral frameworks. Is belief a prerequisite for support? Can you admire the architecture without joining the choir? And are Mormons having sex with each other on mission? (Probably.) As always, Andy and Roger manage to turn existential questions into slightly uncomfortable laughs—and somehow make it work.Hashtags:#ChristianNationalism #Atheism #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #FaithAndPolitics #ModernSpirituality #JordanPeterson #CulturalDecline #ReligionDebate #OasisConcert #MonarchyMyth #CatholicHumour #VapeCulture #SpiritualCrisis #WesternValues #BeliefSystems #CulturalCommentary #ChurchAndState #SecularSociety #AustralianPodcastEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 159 – OasisAndy and Roger gear up (and grumble) ahead of the much-hyped Oasis reunion tour, navigating the emotional spectrum from teenage giddiness to middle-aged back pain. With general admission tickets in sweaty hands, they debate the wisdom of attending a 31-degree Sydney stadium gig in a thunderstorm.This episode meanders through Oasis nostalgia, Gen X vs millennial music tastes, public transport trauma, and the curious cultural cachet of pop-up merch stores. Roger muses on the lost art of rock stardom, Andy notes the k-pop infiltration at Westfield, and both reflect on what the crowd might reveal about race, class, and identity politics in 2025.Also: MAGA hats in Apple stores, Trump 2028 sightings, and the economics of songwriting royalties. Plus, a quickfire round on best Oasis tracks and live moments. Stand by me, indeed.Hashtags:#OasisReunion #TaylorSwiftErasTour #NostalgiaCulture #AndyAndRoger #BritPop #MoshPitRegrets #GeneralAdmission #GallagherBrothers #OasisSydney #OasisLive #PopCultureCommentary #MillennialVsGenX #KpopTakeover #Trump2028 #PublicTransportRant #90sMusicRevival #OasisFans #StandByMe #ChampagneSupernova #WonderwallEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 158 – TransIn a long-overdue foray into the culture wars, Andy and Roger finally tackle the topic of trans identity in society—with the subtlety of a brick through a window. From awkward change-room encounters to the philosophical minefield of gender roles, they wade through the semantics of sex versus gender, armed with nothing but a few boomer-inspired prompts and questionable analogies involving fishnets and frocks.The conversation charts the shifting meanings of “trans,” the biological basis of sex, the evolving nature of gender, and why the toilet sign has become a lightning rod for modern politics. Along the way, they debate gender identity versus dysphoria, the legitimacy of gender-based versus sex-based spaces, and why some activists might be pushing a little too hard on the Overton window.Andy plays devil’s advocate. Roger brings up chromosomes. Everyone agrees the guillotine may be a bit much.Hashtags:#TransRights #GenderIdentity #WhatIsAWoman #SexVsGender #CultureWars #AndyAndRoger #TransIssues #PodcastDebate #SocialChange #GenderPolitics #TransActivism #ProgressivePolitics #FreedomOfSpeech #TransInclusion #PoliticalCorrectness #IdentityPolitics #BoomerQuestions #GenderDysphoria #ModernMasculinityEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 157 - Screw the kidsAndy and Roger confront the great Australian pastime: feeling conflicted about housing. Kicking off with Roger’s feverish tales of toddler sleep regression, the episode spirals into a confessional therapy session on modern parenting—comparing boomer belt threats to contemporary bedtime negotiations. From four-kid fatigue to the economics of making your own bed, they reflect on how generational shifts have redefined both authority and exhaustion.Things then shift gears to a particularly spicy listener question—should homeowners feel guilty about rising property prices and opposing apartment blocks in their 'leafy suburbs'? The duo unpacks NIMBYism, intergenerational wealth transfer, the "vibe" of suburbs, and why Australians struggle to separate homes from status. There’s a spirited debate on boomer economics, Gen Z victimhood, tiny homes, granny flats, and even the philosophical implications of R.V. life.No solutions, just vibes—and maybe a gentle reminder that empathy and Deliveroo porches are what really matter.Hashtags:#HousingCrisis #NIMBY #AustralianHousing #BoomersVsMillennials #ParentingFatigue #GenZStruggles #LeafySuburbs #RealEstateAustralia #TinyHomes #GrannyFlats #WealthInequality #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #ModernParenting #PropertyPrices #SocialCommentaryEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 156 - Fake newsThis week, Andy and Roger begin by talking about Barry Weiss and her surprise appointment as editor-in-chief at CBS News, before spiralling into a discussion about audience capture, ideological drift, and whether anyone—including themselves—can truly claim to be immune from cult-like thinking. Are we the sane ones, or just too deep to notice?From there, it’s a sweeping conversation through the evolving role of religion in public life, and the legitimacy of different media ecosystems (hello, Sky News After Dark). Andy floats the uncomfortable idea that the “new atheists” may have been the virus that broke Western civilisation. Roger plays devil’s advocate—possibly literally.They touch on climate, immigration, the myth of multicultural harmony, and whether Australia’s stability is luck or design. As always, it's a crossfire of hypotheticals, minor existential crises, and unexpected agreement.Somewhere in the middle, John Howard makes a cameo.Hashtags:#BarryWeiss #FreePress #CancelCulture #AudienceCapture #ModernMedia #PoliticalTribes #SkyNewsAfterDark #AustralianPolitics #ImmigrationDebate #ClimatePolicy #CultureWars #TrumpCircle #MiddlePodcast #AndyAndRoger #ModernDemocracy #EchoChambers #AreWeTheCult #PodcastDiscussion #CBSNews #CriticalThinkingEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 155 – PeaceAndy and Roger open this episode with a surprisingly heartfelt dive into the world of Uber Eats, Five Guys, and the dark side of soggy chips. What begins as a minor rant about delivery delays soon turns into an extended therapy session on the state of modern convenience, consumer behaviour, and parenting in the age of on-demand food. There’s even a side hustle involving 3D printing and a schoolboy Uber Eats empire.The tone shifts dramatically in the second half, as the hosts tackle the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the broader peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Roger marks the moment with a glass of Johnny Walker Blue, reflecting on years of devastation and the rare glimmer of hope. Andy offers a more reserved view, comparing the conflict’s aftermath to a war-fatigued world grappling with moral accountability and competing narratives.They round things out by questioning whether Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize and get thoroughly sidetracked by AI-generated Facebook videos of Stephen Hawking doing extreme sports. It's that kind of episode.Hashtags:#MiddleEastPeace #GazaCeasefire #IsraelHamas #UberEatsFails #FiveGuys #ParentingIn2025 #DonaldTrump #NobelPeacePrize #FoodDeliveryWoes #ModernConvenience #AIContent #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #MiddlePodcast #CulturalCommentary #GlobalPolitics #SoggyChipsEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website:http://themiddle.site/Or click:https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 154 – CelebrityThis week, Andy and Roger tackle the hard-hitting questions: is it ever okay for men to sit down to wee, and what does your urinal splash zone say about you? As always, it starts in the gutter—literally—and then spirals into a spirited discussion about celebrity culture, the awkward etiquette of recognising public figures (including Lleyton Hewitt at Castle Towers), and whether you’re ever truly allowed to approach someone famous while they wait for bubble tea.From reflections on Slash, Snoop Dogg impersonators, and airport stalking, to debates about political celebrity and the pecking order of fame—from athletes and models to podcasters and influencers—this episode dissects the strange hierarchies of modern notoriety. The pair also revisit Australia’s Tall Poppy Syndrome and whether it's possible to admire someone without being a cringe-inducing fanboy.A deeply serious exploration of status, fame, and… toilets.Hashtags:#AndyAndRoger #CelebrityCulture #FameEtiquette #SitDownWee #UrinalPolitics #CastleTowers #LeightonHewitt #Slash #TallPoppySyndrome #ModernFame #InfluencerCulture #SnoopDoggLookalike #PublicToiletEtiquette #CelebrityEncounters #PodcastDiscussion #AussieCulture #BubbleTeaAndFame #FanBehaviour #CelebritySpottingEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎵 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 153 – The FCC won’t let me beWhat do you get when a late-night comedian, a resurrected Trump, and a suspiciously realistic autopen portrait of Joe Biden walk into the news cycle? A particularly bleak week in American politics, it seems.Andy and Roger reflect on the spiralling absurdity of recent events: Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary cancellation and triumphant return and the uncomfortable power vacuum at the heart of the Republican Party. Is this all a Reichstag moment—or have we finally jumped the shark?There’s also discussion of Trump’s increasingly authoritarian rhetoric, and a deep dive into the power of political satire (including a cameo from John Cleese’s prophetic 1987 monologue). Roger remains convinced the institutions will hold; Andy’s not so sure.A candid, wide-ranging episode questioning whether America’s political trajectory is sustainable, and whether the rest of us are just collateral damage in its attention economy.Hashtags: #JimmyKimmel #CharlieKirk #TrumpEra #PoliticalSatire #SouthPark #FCC #FreeSpeech #CancelCulture #AmericanPolitics #Autopen #Authoritarianism #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #LateNightComedy #TrumpAdministration #CultureWars #MediaFreedomEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODEEpisode 152 – Charlie KirkAndy and Roger plunge into the dark territory surrounding the assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk.With a week’s distance from the event, they examine the cultural, political, and ideological impact of Kirk’s killing, dissecting both the online reaction and the real-world implications. Roger reflects on the shocking footage, while Andy highlights the chilling effect such violence has on public discourse.They dive into Kirk’s legacy—his role in Turning Point USA, his relationship with Donald Trump, and whether his provocations should be seen as divisive or hateful. The pair also explore the media’s response, contrasting the nuance of Ezra Klein with social media hot takes, and debating whether the broader left and right handled the aftermath responsibly.The episode also ventures into the uncomfortable terrain of political violence, cancel culture, and free speech. Andy and Roger challenge the audience to consider what trends are actually emerging—and whether the centre is still holding.Hashtags:#CharlieKirk #PoliticalViolence #FreeSpeech #TurningPointUSA #CultureWar #AndyAndRoger #USPolitics #MediaReaction #CancelCulture #PublicDiscourse #EzraKlein #TrumpEra #Polarisation #PodcastDebate #SocialMediaBacklash #RightVsLeft #AssassinationDebate #ConservativePolitics #DebateCultureEngage with us on social media:Website:http://themiddle.site/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyrogerFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePCEmail:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.comSign up to our subscriber email list:Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8