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 environments.

Marlyn shares her experiences growing up between Harlem and suburban New Jersey while overcoming emotional struggles, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and the pressure of trying to find where she truly belonged.

The conversation also dives into:

• Code-switching and identity
• Faith and healing
• Leadership lessons from her father raising 5 daughters
• The impact of mentorship and teachers
• Using your voice with purpose
• Learning how to embrace who you are

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt caught between two worlds while trying to become the best version of themselves.

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Follow Marlyn & The Raw Faith Podcast:
Instagram: @therawfaithpodcast
YouTube: The Raw Faith Podcast

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🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: Middle of the Fence

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Website: https://www.middleofthefence.com/

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, relationships, and success.

Andre reflects on his own experiences throughout his 20s, including struggles with self-worth, confidence, unrealistic expectations, and learning how to stop chasing what life is “supposed” to look like.

This episode touches on:

• Feeling behind in your 20s
• Social media and comparison
• Financial pressure and self-worth
• Trusting your own timeline
• Letting go of control
• Faith, consistency, and personal growth
• Chasing what you actually want out of life

No matter what side of the fence you grew up on, this is a conversation many people can relate to.

🎙️Audience Question

Do you feel like you’re on your own timeline or chasing someone else’s?

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🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: Middle of the Fence

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Website: https://www.middleofthefence.com/

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 possible for your life often without you even realizing it.

From the psychology behind behavior and social influence, to personal experiences growing up between “Tough Terrain” and “Affluent Acres,” this episode explores how exposure influences everything from your expectations to your identity.

Key takeaways include:

• Why your environment impacts your habits more than willpower
• How your standards are formed by what you see consistently
• Why dysfunction can feel normal depending on your surroundings
• How to shift your environment to unlock your potential

If you’ve ever felt like you’re capable of more but can’t break through, this episode will give you a new perspective.

🎙️Audience Question

Have you ever realized that something you thought was “normal”… was actually just your environment shaping your standards?

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🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: Middle of the Fence

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Website: https://www.middleofthefence.com/

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 up around toxic relationship dynamics.

For years, many people believed abuse was only physical. But as awareness grows, we’re beginning to understand the impact of emotional, verbal, and mental abuse, and how these patterns can carry across generations.

This conversation dives into:

• What BPD is and how it’s often misunderstood
• The stigma surrounding mental health
• Generational trauma and family dynamics
• Healing, faith, and personal growth
• How today’s generation has more tools to recognize and break these cycles

This episode is a reminder that awareness is the first step — but action is what creates change.

Connect with Sarah Rose

Website: https://bpdbeautiful.com

Book: https://sadiesfavorite.com

Instagram:
@bpdbeautiful.blog
@diaryofsarahrose
@themvsher.music

Facebook:
@bpdisbeautiful
@itssarahrose
@themvsher.music

YouTube:
BPD Beautiful
Them vs. Her

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share the podcast.

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 shaping identity, perception, and belonging.

From the expressive and layered communication styles found in “Tough Terrain” environments to the more polished but often coded language of “Affluent Acres,” this episode breaks down:

• What AAVE (African American Vernacular English) really is
• Why code-switching isn’t fake—it’s adaptation and survival
• How phrases like “you talk white” or “you’re so articulate” can carry deeper meaning
• The subtle impact of microaggressions in everyday conversations
• And what it feels like to constantly shift between identities

If you’ve ever felt like you had to explain yourself in one space and defend yourself in another…this episode will hit home.

🎙️ Audience Question:
What’s a phrase, word, or way of speaking from your environment that people outside of it just don’t understand?

And have you ever had to change how you talk depending on where you are?

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📲 Follow & leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to support the show.
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: Middle of the Fence

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For more Middle of the Fence, visit:
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Website: https://www.middleofthefence.com/

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 and how navigating multiple worlds can shape the way you think, act, and show up in different environments.

From cultural and religious identity to professional and personal expectations, this conversation explores the pressure to “get it right” and the fear of reinforcing stereotypes.

But here’s the truth, you’re not responsible for carrying everything.

This episode is a reminder that:

• You don’t have to be the perfect representation
• Your story is still powerful
• Authenticity matters more than perception

🎙️ Audience Question:
Have you ever felt pressure to represent your background, identity, or community in certain spaces—even when you just wanted to be seen as yourself?

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📲 Follow & leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to support the show.
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: Middle of the Fence

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For more Middle of the Fence, visit:
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Website: https://www.middleofthefence.com/

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 your intuition to realizing not everyone deserves access to you, this episode explores the real-life lessons that come with evolving through your 20s and into a new chapter.

We also touch on life, loss, motherhood, and how your perspective shifts when you start focusing on what truly matters.

With Aries season energy and a milestone birthday around the corner, this conversation is honest, reflective, and full of moments you’ll relate to.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re navigating between who you were and who you’re becoming...this episode is for you.

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For more Middle of the Fence, visit:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleofthefence/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Middle-of-the-Fence-61572183504501/
Website: https://www.middleofthefence.com/

**To support the podcast, please Follow and give us a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rating**

“No matter what side of the fence you grew up on, we’re all more alike than we think.”

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 navigating an identity tug-of-war.

In this episode of Middle of the Fence, Andre Spruell dives into what it really means to grow up and operate between different worlds and how that shapes your sense of self.

You’ll learn:

• Why identity conflict is more common than you think
• The truth behind adapting vs. losing yourself
• How different environments influence who you become
• A 3-step framework to strengthen your self-identity:
  • Awareness
  • Alignment
  • Consistency

This episode challenges you to stop choosing between versions of yourself and start becoming one integrated, authentic version that can stand in any room.

🎯 Reflection Question:
If all the different versions of you sat at the same table… which one would lead?

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For more Middle of the Fence, visit:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleofthefence/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Middle-of-the-Fence-61572183504501/
Website: https://www.middleofthefence.com/

**To support the podcast, please Follow and give us a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rating**

“No matter what side of the fence you grew up on, we’re all more alike than we think.”