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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