Millennial in the Middle: Recent Episodes
Connor Dehlin
Today marks the three year anniversary of me publishing my first episode of Millennial in the Middle. It is crazy to see how much the world has changed in that time and I have experienced more personal growth than I could have imagined. This podcast has played a huge role in my life as it has forced me to listen, to think critically, and to have empathy. After a lot of debate, I have decided it is time for this brand and show to be retired. I am already in the works of a new show with a different framework and theme. Stay tuned!
In this final episode, I share my experirence of Running with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain a couple weeks ago. I give the behind-the-scenes details for those who would like to learn about it, but have no desire to be anywhere near a 4,000 pound charging bull. This experience taught me a valuable lesson about life which I feel is the perfect ending to this show and preview of what is to come!
Thanks for the support and the hours of your life you have given me listening to this show. I hope it impacted you positively.
Born and raised on the west side of Chicago in the Austin Community, Dr. Brown has committed himself to making the greatest possible impact on today's youth. As a videographer Evan was filming a documentary in South Africa and was humbled by the poverty he saw. He came home from that trip and went into action mode. Dr. Brown received his Ph.D in Educational Administration. He holds a M.S. in Professional Media & Media Management, and also a B.A. in Radio & TV with a minor in Music Business.
In today's interview, we discuss how he started a nonprofit and the first few trips to South Africa. Meet & Teach is a non-profit organization designed to provide disadvantaged youth with educational hands-on workshops and sports camps. Meet & Teach consist of a diverse group of coaches & workshop instructors that teaches youth creative processes in areas such as videography, photography, music production, design, and more. This organization was established in order to create accessible activities and provide the community with opportunities.
This interview is fun and inspiring and a guaranteed "feel-good."
Support his organization by visiting MeetandTeach.org or follow him on social @doctorevanbrown.
Today Connor interviews Amber Farooqui for a fun interview about her life hacks and the community she has built. Amber's enthusiasm is contagious. She is a great example of someone thriving in the passion economy and building a platform around uplifting others.
Amber is the founder of Evolve Your Business, The Sisterhood Community, a Business Coach, Consultant, Best Selling Author, and Speaker. Amber’s mission is to help you make an influence, impact, and income. She empowers others to recognize their full potential and realize that they truly can turn their dreams into reality in both business and life.
I recently sat down with my friend and business partner Landon Bytheway to recount our journey over the last year in starting a business together. For those of you wondering what STUDIIO is and how it all came to be, here is the full story. Opt and STUDIIO are joining forces in 2023 and have some really cool things in the works.
Landon is a world-renowned videographer and content creator. Give him a follow and check out his work @Landonbtw
Today's episode a perfect follow-up to the previous solo episode (#100). I found Déjà's poetry on her very popular instagram account @ebbandflowpoetry. I knew I needed to dig into her perspective on life for myself and my listeners. She is a great example of someone who has taken her talents and used it to be a force for good in the world. To follow her journey follow her on social media @ebbandflowpoetry and go read her newest book "Come Home to Yourself." It is a catalyst for transformation, a guide to letting go, surrendering to solitude, and discovering one's authenticity and purpose. By doing so, Déjà Rae shows that the love we are all looking for has always been inside of us, patiently waiting for us to come home.
Déjà Rae is a writer, explorer, and dreamer. Since she was young, her inquisitive mind has led her on a perpetual journey towards enlightenment and self-discovery. Both introspective and analytical, Déjà Rae’s work focuses on identifying patterns in the world, and articulating shared human emotions. With a bachelors degree in psychology, and an ongoing masters degree in international development, Déjà Rae hopes to use her education and creative skills to empower others to chase after their most authentic selves.
Hitting 100 episodes and starting a new year has me in a reflective mood. 2022 will be remembered for me as the year I looked within. Whenever people used to talk about self-love or personal development I thought it was all fluff. I have lived a lot of my life relying on external validation to feel like a success. My favorite read of the year was Michael Singer's "Living Untethered." He explains that all of us are going through life just trying to be "okay in there." In this episode I talk about my personal journey of looking with in, letting go, and living in the now. What I call the process to personal revolution. I hope this resonates and helps some of you!
Thank you so much for listening and your continued to support!
Trent Ellingford is a speaker, entrepreneur, and commercial real estate investor and coach. In this interview, Trent dispels some of the myths around investing and talks about the new playbook. If you are young, hungry, and looking for some direction and motivation this episode is made for you.
Follow Trent at @trentellingford or you can even book a call with him at TrentEllingford.com
Cooper Campbell is a Gen Z himself already working as a consultant helping members of Gen Z navigate life, relationships and their career. With a lot of experience specifically dealing with people suffering from depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. If you have ever dealt with someone in a similar situation this episode will you give you some great insight.
Follow Cooper at Cooper__id
Today Connor interviews Bobby Umar a Keynote Speaker and Coach who is a world renowned expert in branding, networking, and leadership. They discuss everything from how to tell story, how to find your passion, and how to put yourself out there. Bobby has shared his personal message on many stages throughout the world and has a loyal social media following of over 650k followers( 200k on Twitter). Some of Bobby's accomplishments include:
-5x TEDx SPeaker
-Professor & Exec Education instructor, York & McMaster University
-Top 7 Networking Guru to Follow
-Author of 3 Books including "How to Network Anytime, Anywhere, w/ Anyone"
-2nd best Business Coach to follow on Twitter
-Ranked 4th overall for Kred Influencer on #Leadership across all Social Media
He currently is the CEO of DYPB- Discover Your Personal Brand which can be found at dypb.ca
To follow him on social channels you can find him at @raehanbobby
Connor is talking politics again in today's episode. He shares the three takeaways from the results of the midterms. Then he talks about what the next two years might look like as we enter another presidential election.
Danielle Farage is a LinkedIn top voice for Gen Z and a work futurist speaker and writer. In this episode, Danielle tells her story of how she embraced the new perspective on work and how she is helping other people do the same. This USC grad records her side of the episode from an AirBnB in Paris, along her journey of remote work and networking.
Follow along with her blog and podcast all of which can be found on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-farage/
Today Connor interviews Kiannalie Sarmiento. Kiannalie is a great example of a young Gen Z jumping into her career and chasing her passions. At 19, she went to a coding bootcamp and immediately fell in love with product development and technology. She is very passionate about community and has gone the extra mile to create spaces of inclusion and connection. She has served as the Utah Chapter Leader in the 'Latinas in Tech' organization. This interview has a lot of insight about generational differences, culture and the importance of diversity.
Today Connor invites Eric Espinosa on the show to discuss business, life and his experience living abroad. Eric is an avid entrepreneur and had his first exit not too long after being out of college. He most recently founded Coconut VA and serves as CEO. Last year, he and his wife set a goal to live abroad and travel most of the year. He talks about how he was traveling the world, without an itinerary and still growing his business. He also went and spent over a month experiencing the daily life of a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines to understand the needs of those he was helping to employ. He gained a great perspective by living in a 400 square foot apartment, working through the night and doing it on a typical income.
Follow along with Eric on LinkedIn and join his #VacationLaptopless movement!
Hunter Saunders has become a good friend recently after joining Connor's team at Opt. As Connor has worked with him for the last couple months it has been clear that he is the personification of Gen Z. He is 23 years old, intelligent, and is taking advantage of what the world has to offer. His insight and depth of understanding about his generation is impressive and informative. In this episode, Connor gets Hunter's perspective on the generational divide, what makes us different and what brings us together.
Last week Queen Elizabeth passed away after an unprecedented 70+ year on the throne. Connor had the news broken to him in real time on a call with a business partner who is British. This raw moment of emotion showed him a unique perspective. In this episode Connor talks about the lessons we can learn from the Queen's legacy as it relates to respecting our previous generations while making improvements and progress moving forward.
Connor has spent a lot of episodes talking about the past, today he is talking about the future. Tyler Doyle is a celebrity in the metaverse. He is the most prominent influencer in the game Upland. In fact, he just returned from a conference in Las Vegas where he was named "Broadcaster of the Year." He has made a career out of investing in the metaverse and teaching others on how to make REAL money in the VIRTUAL world. If you aren't convinced that evolution is happening and coming at us faster than ever, you need to listen to this episode.
Follow @Loyldoyl on social media, particularly his youtube channel if you are interested in learning more.
A brief description of Upland...
Built at the intersection of the real and virtual world, Upland gives you the power to buy, sell and trade properties based on real-world addresses, just like the one you live at today… but in the virtual world.
The digital properties you collect in Upland don’t have any association or rights to the correlating properties in the real world, however, the addresses do mirror real-life locations. Upland’s economy is powered by an in-game currency called UPX (pronounced “UP-EX”).
Once you own a property in Upland, you can start to collect UPX earnings on it every 3 hours. Pretty nifty, right?
Complete property collections in order to boost your UPX earnings and win a one-time UPX award.
Trade your properties with other Uplanders in the marketplace - for UPX or other properties in order to grow your property portfolio and UPX earnings!
Have you spotted a property that you want which is already owned by someone else? No problem! you can always make an offer for the property - even if it's not actively up for sale on the marketplace!
To Life, Liberty and Property!
Connor interviews Josh Barney to discuss how technology has affected the way we think, communicate and work together. As a Gen Xer, Josh didn't grow up with the type of innovations that he now deals with on a day-to-day basis. He has been on the front lines of watching these changes happen at warp speed. Josh has worked in tech roles across many different industries including the military, sports, and entertainment. Josh talks about his time working for the Department of Defense and one of his more recent projects leading the technology team for the Utah Jazz. This interview will give you a different perspective on innovation, technology and where we are headed.
Click here to read the Sports Illustrated article about the story Josh tells in the interview about how the Jazz helped a 7 year old blind fan watch a game.
https://www.si.com/media/2017/05/08/utah-jazz-esight-technology-blind-fan
What is Vulnerability is cool? It's a movement!
As a child, Jenna a was a victim of sexual abuse. That experience created a dark cloud over her mental health, relationships and life for years. Like most victims of abuse, she didn't share her story for a long time and internalized all the pain. In her 20s she started openly sharing her experience and her journey of embracing counseling and self-growth. As she was vulnerable on social media, she was blown away by the response. So many individuals reached out that had been through similar experiences and didn't have a forum to talk about it. As the responses continued to pile up, Jenna went into action and started hosting events that would be a place of healing. The Vulnerability is Cool movement was born.
In this episode Jenna shares her own story and talks about the impact these events have had on the lives of so many women. To keep up with this movement follow @VulnerabilityisCool and @JennaJarvisJarvis.
Meet Jason Petersen, Connor’s primary business partner and Founder at Opt. Connor met Jason at the end of 2021 and it didn't take long for the two of them to find a rhythm of working together. Jason's ability to take a big idea and turn it into a reality has been crucial to Opt getting off the ground.
Today's episode is about Jason’s experiences in life and business prior to Opt. Jason has started up seven companies and led them to successful exits. He has been a part of software companies, multiple real estate firms, a business services, consumer goods, wholesale distribution. He has also personally acquired six bankrupt businesses directly and got each turned around in less than six months. One, an Inc. 5000 company, is now one of the largest corporations in its market in North America (Hansen Lighting).
Along the way he has learned invaluable lessons on communication, business and leadership. He tells Connor some of his most important observations applicable to all areas of life including what he calls FLOW: The First Law of Winning.
Have you ever wondered how a digital nomad can actually be effective on the road? Do you even know what a digital nomad is? You need to hear today's conversation with Spencer Wight and Akram Nassri.
They are the owners of an agency called Strategic Growth Partners and have seen incredible success approaching life with the "new school" mentality of working smarter not harder and living an adventurous life along the way. Listening to these two displays the shift we are seeing in the younger generations when it comes to what we value and how we choose to live our lives.
Follow them on social media as they embark on an adventure of living abroad with no return date planned. @SpencerWight @Akram.Nassri
For the last five months, Connor has jumped head first into what started as an idea, became a company and is about to be an app that can be used by the masses. Big ideas often start around a big problem: we all value our time, but it's hard to put a value ON our time! Connor and his team are trying to help with the creation of Opt.
Connor talks about how his personal experiences paved the way for all of this to happen: his time as a professional speaker on the road, this podcast and the lessons he has learned by looking into societal trends a little deeper. He then takes you behind the scenes and talks through what it has been like building a startup from scratch.
There has been an evolution in what we value that has affected our culture, the way we communicate and our careers. Connor points out what he feels are the three main factors that have led to this evolution and why the timing for this app has him more passionate than ever.
Thanks to our guest Emily Engemann, today's episode is fun, spunky and full of sunshine. Emily Engemann is a world class Zumba instructor, podcast host and has become a light to millions of people through her social media presence. Her blog and podcast (which she hosts with her sister Kass Martin) is called "Little Bits of Awesome" and is all about training your brain to find the positive things that happen each day. Through small habits and uplifting self talk you can feel better about yourself and the world around you.
Find out more about all Emily is doing by following her on social media @EmilyEngemann.
Today Connor discusses his rookie attempts at meditation. He talks about one of his favorite books “The Untethered Soul” and some things he learned in the process of applying simple truths.
Notes: The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
Path by J.E. Chadwick
Today’s episode features a fun, intriguing, and vulnerable interview with Bret Engemann. Bret has done a lot in his life and has had many run-ins with celebrities, professional athletes, and of course influencers! So who is Bret Engemann? Here’s a quick teaser: his father was President of Capitol Records and signed the Beatles and the Beach Boys. He was a starting quarterback at Brigham Young University, played for the Oakland Raiders, had a brief stint on the Bachelorette, and was close to dating Kim Kardashian before Kanye swooped in (not a joke!). Bret’s colorful life has given him a unique perspective on life’s priorities, what’s behind the glitz and glamor of fame, and how not to get caught up in the way people perceive you.
Rio De Janeiro has been on the bucket list for a while. I was not disappointed! In today's episode Connor talks about his experience in Brazil jumping into the culture and being welcomed by the locals with open arms. One of those Rio locals, Alcira Bernardo, was willing to join the show in a remote interview after he got back to the States. Alcira for 15+ years owned and operated two hostels in the city hosting travelers from all over the world. A conversation on the famous Copacabana Beach led Connor to want to dig into her experiences further. Alcira speaks of her experience watching people from different cultures live together for an extended period of time and ultimately building lifelong relationships.
In today’s episode Connor sits down with Bridger Pennington to talk about money. They discuss the concept of currency and how the US dollar took the top spot from a global perspective. They then dive into what the future of money might look like. They discuss cryptocurrency, blockchain and how something as simple as free WiFi could be the key to ending poverty.
Bridger Pennington is the founder of 3 funds focused in debt and real estate which have raised and deployed millions of dollars. Bridger has done over 326+ transactions over the past 4 years. On the side, he runs Investment Fund Secrets to help others start their own funds in a world where people believe you need Ivy League credentials or Wall Street experience to break into. As a fellow millennial, Bridger has broken into the complicated world of finance and investing and has become a subject matter expert helping people all over the world to get in the game.
“You need to break bread with people who think and look different than you.” Today Michael Banks, CEO and Founder of Body By Banks, joins the show. Michael talks about the lessons he learned from his parents, his experience coming to Utah in the early 80s, and the importance of positive self-talk. As Black History Month comes to a close this timely interview will give you a great perspective on race and how to make the most of the hand life deals you.
To connect with Michael go to BodybyBanks.com or follow @BodybyBanks on social platforms.
Michael Banks is the Founder and CEO of the highly successful Body By Banks Corporation. Under his leadership, the Body By Banks Corporation has grown to become a recognized business leader in the fitness and personal training industries. Just a few highlights from his list of accomplishments.
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Chief Designer of the Olympic Village Training Facility for 2002 Olympics • Featured in CEO magazine 2010
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Broadcasted a fitness show on Comcast and appeared on NBC and Fox News • Total transformation DVD Series sold in Walmart Stores
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Created highly successful fitness DVD Series including Total Transformation and SWEAT • Successful launch of www.bodybybanks.com and various online training programs
After a long break, we are back with new episodes! Not only new episodes but a new look, new studio, and new direction for the show. In this episode, Connor explains what's on the horizon for Millennial in the Middle as we expand to new topics outside of politics. Connor also tells the story of Christopher Columbus in a way that you probably haven't heard before. This framing of history is so applicable to life and this podcast. It's good to be back!
Today Connor interviews Cayman Cardiff in another episode in the LGBTQ+ series.
Cayman grew up in Georgia as an All-American southern kid. He played football, baseball and basketball and on the outside appeared to fit in perfectly. Inside, however, he felt he was different from his teammates. He discusses his acceptance of his sexuality, coming out and the lessons he has learned from being authentic to himself. He is now thriving and about to compete in an international male pageant as Mr. USA. Follow his journey @caymancardiff.
Did you know that Malleus Maleficarum was passed in book sales only by the bible in 1692? This book was used as handbook for detecting and punishing witches. 🧙🏼♀️
In honor of Halloween, today’s episode focuses on the history of the Salem witch trials. I walk you through three takeaways from this time period and discuss how certain negative human characteristics have a tendency to present themselves when people are afraid. Rather than draw parallels myself to today, this time I invite you to do so. Let me know what you come up with!
Have you ever wondered what the Mayor does? Connor recently visited city hall and sat down with the Mayor of South Jordan, Utah - Dawn Ramsey. While she discusses what roles the mayor plays and what an ordinary day is like you will find quickly she is far from ordinary. In her first term, Mayor Ramsey served on 25+ boards and committees, represented local government on a federal level in Washington DC several times and worked closely with the Governor. Her positivity and desire to serve her community is easy to recognize.
For more information on Mayor Ramsey or to get involved in her re-election campaign you can visit dawnramsey.com
We have had a lot of interesting guests on the show, but today’s guest may be our most entertaining and colorful yet. Ryan Woods is a gay man and as a drag queen (artist) travels the country as his character Lady Maga USA. Yes… Make America Great Again. If that doesn’t intrigue you, I’m not sure what will.
Full Bio: Ryan Woods is a proud Eagle Scout, America-first Republican, Christian, and political activist. He’s an award-winning journalist with a background in mass communication and video production. He’s President of Log Cabin Republicans Utah and is working to save his state from a leftist takeover.
He’s been performing and dancing since he was a tiny tot. Drag artistry is a composite outlet for all the things he loves, such as fashion, theater, costumes, makeup and imagination. “Being Lady Maga USA is about joy. When I see the smiles and happiness she brings to any event, my heart is full,” says Woods.
Most LGBT Conservatives are afraid to publicly share their views.
“I want to empower others to loudly and proudly declare their love of America and join the Conservative movement. I get so many messages from LGBT Conservatives who are afraid to speak out. I hope my example inspires them to have the courage to do so,” said Woods.
For more information check out LadyMagaUSA.com.
Today, Connor shares the first of several interviews with members of the LGBTQ+ community. These interviews will be open, honest and real. Connor uses his platform to ask questions we may typically feel uncomfortable to ask, in an honest attempt to increase understanding with the hope of bringing people together.
Grant was born a girl and as early as five years old felt like a mistake. In the last six months, Grant has come out as transgender and has undergone gender change operations. Connor asks about the difference between gender identity and sexuality. Grant talks about the power of being authentic and how his life has changed in this transition.
Back from the Middle East and back to talking about the Pandemic (insert eye roll here). In today’s episode, Connor reacts to Biden’s aggressive, controversial and divisive speech laying out new mandates. The tone and content seemed off-brand for the President who promised to lower the temperature and bring us together. Connor explains how partisan politics have one again torn us apart and thwarted progress.
Connor also tells of his recent real-life Forrest Gump experience of finding himself in the middle of a rally/protest with 25,000 people through the streets of Amsterdam.
We would love to hear your thoughts on the episode! Doorbreek de still!
The final installment of Millennial in the Middle East!
Ancient Egyptian history happened so long ago it is hard to wrap your head around it. In this episode, Connor draws parallels to events that occurred 3,000+ years ago and shows how they are still relevant today. Erasing history and manipulating the narrative is nothing new!
Along with some stories you'll hear a reaction to seeing the pyramids, being alone in King Tut's tomb and walking through Luxor temple.
Shukran Egypt. Shukran for the lessons learned in the Middle East. And shukran for listening!
Millennial in the Middle East Part 4!
After 2+ weeks out of the country Connor is home and in this episode reports on his experience on the archaeological dig. He shares the history of Petra and gives some tips for those who may have this spot on their bucket list. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what archaeology is all about. While digging in the dirt and trying to connect with an ancient people, Connor learned a lot about himself and life today. You'll enjoy this recap!
Millennial in the Middle East Part 3!
We have all heard the news of the Taliban’s hostile takeover of Afghanistan this week. We are so quick to make this about politics and what this means for America. As Connor records this episode in the Middle East while staying in a Bedouin village his perspective is much different. This isn’t about politics, this is about people! What is our responsibility as a nation to uphold the promises we made to our allies and protect the lives of innocent people in a war-torn nation?
Connor finishes this episode talking about Khaled Hosseini’s book “The Kite Runner.” After reading the book on his flight to Amman he saw young Jordanian boys out flying kites in his first night in the country. This reminder of humanity is something we should not forget as we discuss this crisis.
Millennial in the Middle East Part 2!!
Connor interviewed Aryeh Green a few weeks ago to learn more about the ongoing conflict with Israel and Palestine. Connor also wanted to understand the Jewish faith/culture/nationality more fully. Aryeh was the perfect person to interview. This listen will give you more background and understanding to complex issues that seem to have no solution. As for the futile… you’ll have to listen to the story of his ancestor “The Patriot Rabbi” in the American Revolution.
About Aryeh: he is the author of My Israel Trail, about hiking the 600-mile Israel National Trail and the search for peace in the Middle East. He is the director emeritus of MediaCentral, a Jerusalem-based project of HonestReporting providing support services to foreign journalists based in or visiting Israel.
Born in Washington, DC; grew up in San Francisco; made Aliya in 1984. Policy advisor to Natan Sharansky since late 1990’s; served on executive staff of Sharansky’s Yisrael B’Aliya party; was senior member of minister Sharansky’s staff in Israel’s prime minister’s office, responsible for relations with ‘next generation’ Jewish leaders and coordination of hasbara activities, including on campus, as well as for contacts with Palestinian and other Arab democracy activists.
Yes, I know it’s corny! The next few episodes will be like a mini-series with the Millennial in the Middle East theme. As you’re listening Connor is traveling to Petra, Jordan (yep, the place where Harrison Ford and Sean Connery find the holy grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) to be a part of an archaeological dig.
As Connor prepares to go he talks about the dichotomous ways of thinking and life between Western and Eastern philosophy. The Middle East has been a center of contention for centuries and it has a lot to do with us struggling to communicate and work with those who may disagree with us. Can we find the middle in this age old debate?
Connor Dehlin
In today’s episode, Connor interviews Sam Thiara, about his new book Lost and Found: Seeking the Past and Finding Myself. While discussing his story you’ll notice so many of the themes of this podcast come to the forefront. It didn’t take Connor long to connect with Sam and his desire to share his message with the world.
To follow Sam and pick up a copy of the book please visit Sam-Thiara.com.
About the book: Sam Thiara documents his seemingly impossible quest to find his grandfather’s village—armed with little more than a faded photograph.Sam vividly recounts his adventure through India’s crowded roads—a journey filled with mishaps and surprising encounters, and a growing sense of purpose. Drinking in the beauty of the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple, he finds himself connecting more deeply with his Sikh faith, while confronting the ugliness of the country’s poverty and injustice. Along the way, Sam also wrestles with his sense of self. A British-born Indian, living in Canada, whose parents came from Fiji, he questions: Am I Indian? Am I Canadian? Am I Sikh? Who am I?As he begins to piece together the puzzle of his history, Sam realizes he is piecing himself together, too. Touching and inspiring, Lost and Found is a book for anyone who has felt adrift in the world, confirming that what was once lost can be found.
The Olympics are here! A year later than expected the world will arrive in Tokyo ready to compete. This isn’t the first time a Tokyo Olympics has been delayed or canceled. Tokyo was set to host the 1940 Olympics, which obviously didn’t happen.
In today’s episode, Connor tells a story involving the Japanese samurai culture, Hitler, POWs, and an American hero you should know. Connor points out how forgiveness might be key to our current divide.
Today’s guest has personal experience being behind the scenes on the campaign trail and understands the media. She has made headlines herself and has been victim to what she claims is “fake news.” It’s not every day Connor gets to interview a close friend of Roger Stone’s.
So who is Karyn Turk?
She is the former Mrs. Florida, is an outspoken activist, and political commentator, whose life is both provocative on and off-camera.
She is the host of the weekly show “Behind the Headlines,” airing on I-Heart Radio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to your podcasts.
She prides herself on a unique brand of authenticity and cutting-edge journalism that allows her to delve deep into the inaccuracies, conspiracies, and factual errors that otherwise seem to elude contemporary media. This is why she is known as “the truth bomber.”
While she may be a fixture at Mar-a-Lago, Karyn isn’t your typical socialite. She is extremely open about her history as an adopted child and is working tirelessly with organizations raising awareness for guardianship reform. She became a freedom fighter for reform after her rights were stripped and her mother was placed in guardianship. In a story that resembles the Netflix hit movie "I CARE A LOT," Karyn fought back against a predatory legal system, ultimately finding herself strung up in the #fakenews headlines.
We hear about China all the time in the news, but is the country as big of a threat to the US as we so often hear? Is China our enemy? Is communism as bad as it sounds? Connor interviews Jason Szeftel, who is political and economic writer focused on all things China. His podcast called "China Unraveled" has charted the history and economic growth of China, the Hong Kong protests, the origin of the pandemic, and more.
Find him on social @JasonSzeftel or listen to his podcast "China Unraveled" wherever you get your podcasts.
At 33 years old, Thomas Jefferson took the lead in drafting the Declaration of Independence. This document gave birth to a new nation comprised of united states. Connor tells the story of how Jefferson found himself in this position as the “millennial” founding father and had a little help from Ben Franklin “the boomer.”
Happy 4th of July!
Connor recently visited Peru and was fascinated with the history of the Incas and the story of Machu Picchu's discovery. In 1911, Hiram Bingham took an expedition to Peru searching the untamed Andes for the "Lost City of the Incas." In today's episode Connor tells his story and and why it matters.
Connor also shares the his biggest takeaways from the trip and draws some important parallels from the history of the Spanish colonization of Peru.
What is Juneteenth? Today's episode answers that question and dives a little deeper into Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery. The Great Emancipator's track is messier than you might think. So do we cancel Honest Abe? Can we find the middle?
Today we welcome Jeff Kallay back to the show. Jeff first appeared on Episode 41 and established himself as our show’s Generational Theory expert.
In this conversation we dive deeper into major events that affect society (crisis, awakening, etc.). Connor asks Jeff some thought-provoking questions responded to by drawing parallels from history and some informed speculation.
How will the pandemic change the world? What can our country’s reaction to 9/11 teach us about our current issues? Who is America’s biggest enemy? Will individualism prevail or will the government become more powerful? This episode is guaranteed to make you think!
On June 6th, we commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Allied troops storming the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. June also happens to be the time we celebrate Gay Pride and Diversity across the world. In today's episode Connor connects these two events by telling the story of Alan Turing. Turing's remarkable innovations and tragic end to his life should give us motivation to be better and more accepting of all. Connor also tells an urban legend surrounding Turing's death that might change the way you look at an everyday part of your life. You don't want to miss this story!
Today we celebrate Memorial Day and the graduating class of 2021. In this special episode, Connor speaks directly to Gen Z and tells the story of a group of graduating seniors from the class of 1940. The class of 1940 had no idea what life would throw at them, but how they responded to their circumstances is what earned them the title of the "Greatest Generation."
May we always remember and honor those who sacrificed so much to pave the way for the life we all enjoy! Happy Memorial Day!
What do you do when two people you respect and trust disagree with each other on a topic? They both have more experience and knowledge surrounding an issue, but have drawn two completely different conclusions. We are constantly finding ourselves in the middle of heated debates and we all face the pressure to pick a side. This is when we get the chance to become more informed, think critically through the issue and make an opinion independent of labels or teams.
In today's episode, Connor walks through how we went through this process forming an opinion of his own on South Africa's messy and ugly history with apartheid (which literally means "apartness" in the language of Afrikaans). He discusses the colonizing of the nation, how apartheid started, and the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. If you feel you don't know very much of that topic- good! Bring you unbiased perspective to this issue, see if you can find the middle, and learn some fascinated history along the way. Maybe one day you'll "bless the rains down in Africa" too!
Gordon Cooper was born and raised in South Africa. He served in the South African Military as a special ops Marine. He saw apartheid come to an end and Nelson Mandela’s election. In his country’s unstable and dangerous time he took what he learned in the military and created a self defense and empowerment business.
He recently immigrated to America with his entire family and has brought his message of facing your fears and empowerment here. You can learn more about his business and find his book "Winning the Mental Game: Making Things Happen" at RoninEmpowerment.com
This is a fun interview that will leave you feeling ready to win the day! Stay tuned for the next episode where Connor will dive into the history of apartheid in South Africa and explore the life of Nelson Mandela.
Last week Joe Biden released a presidential ultimatum: "Vaxxed or Masked!" With this announcement we have entered a new era of the pandemic which Connor is calling the "Show me your Papers" phase.
Many of you called in or sent messages with your reasoning for the personal decision concerning receiving the vaccine. Thanks for your participation and passion to join in on the conversation.
Be sure to follow the @millennial_inthe_middle social accounts for more updates and to be a part of the movement.
What advice would you go back and give to yourself 5, 10, 20 years ago? In today's episode Connor asks Rick Heyland what he wishes he knew when he was 30.
Rick Heyland wrote his purpose statement as a 26-year-old and has been perfecting his goal accomplishment system for the last 40 years. Rick is a successful consulting executive who loves living and managing his life by purpose, goals and effective stress management principles.
After a 30 year career in management consulting he retired and started a coaching company, CI4life (Continuous Improvement 4 Life), to help others achieve their goals and dreams. He also has a CI4life podcast with over 30,000 downloads. Go to www.ci4life.org for more details and insights on how to live your best life.
In his recently published book "Live Your Purpose," Rick shares a fully integrated personal improvement system to live your best life. Rick conducted a research study consisting of 1,400 participants from several different countries to determine key success factors for living a happy and productive life. Spoiler alert: Those with purpose are 32% happier than those without a defined purpose.
Can the middle ground be found when it comes to the vaccine and mask mandates? In today's episode Connor breaks down these emotionally charged topics and asks important philosophical questions.
To give your rationale and critical thinking around these topics call into the podcast hotline 801-649-4787.
As the daughter of an undocumented immigrant who was forced to escape the Belaúnde crisis in Perú, Cristina left her native country at a very young age, along with her family, to pursue the American dream and become a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for minorities. Cristina's passion for journalism and immigration topics has led her to become one of the most prominent Latina journalists in the state of Utah, where she has reported for Univision32, Telemundo Utah, KUTV and ABC4.
In today's episode Connor talks with Cristina about her immigrant story and what the American Dream means to her.
Today, James Chadwick (Episode #49) interviews Connor. They discuss Connor's childhood, the development of his love of history and how his experiences on the road as a speaker helped prepare him for Millennial in the Middle. James extracts the full story behind how the podcast started and Connor's favorite moments so far. Most importantly, Connor shares his vision for the show moving forward and the movement he hopes to lead. He passionately shares his view of how our society can make real progress by "recapturing the middle."
For those of you who have been with us from the beginning - thank you for being a part of this journey! For those of you new to the show - this episode is a great place to start!
We may be 50 episodes in, but we're just getting started :)
James Chadwick is a British author who has lived all over the world. Always restless, he quit school to hitchhike across Europe and the Middle East, where he rented snorkels in Israel and ran a guesthouse in a Turkish cave. At Oxford University, he studied mythology and utopian literature. Then, for twenty-five years, he worked in more than a dozen countries.
On his travels, he took thousands of pages of notes, hoping one day they would mean something. Then, after a ten-day silent meditation retreat in Java, the patterns in the notes became very clear, and he sat down to write Path.
In today’s episode we talk about his early adulthood, time working across Asia and his meditation retreat! James has become a friend and mentor to Connor as they have connected over discussing what it means to truly be “in the middle.”
To read James’ book visit JEChadick.com or follow Path: A Story of Love, A Guide to Life on Facebook.
This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
I recently received this question from a listener: "During the election you said no matter who wins, things won’t change that dramatically from how they are now. Democrats have now put forward legislature against guns, abolishing the electoral college, and packing the Supreme Court. What are your thoughts now and would you take back what you originally said?"
Listen to today's episode to hear my response...
I asked for your thoughts and feedback on the last episode and you responded. Thanks to all of you who called in and left a voicemail or sent in written responses.
In this episode, we dive into this conversation further and play voicemails left by you - the listeners.
Follow us on social @millennial_inthe_middle or call in and leave a voicemail at 801-649-4787.
The "shot heard 'round the world" which set the American Revolution in motion was in response to a tyrannical government trying to confiscate guns and ammunitions from its citizens. With this experience fresh in the Founding Father's minds it is no wonder why they made the right to bear arms the second amendment to the Constitution.
We have a gun problem in the United States. There may not be a better example of extreme ways of thinking and a refusal to compromise than the debate on gun control. We often look at this issue with an all or nothing mentality, but does it have to be that way?
To join the conversation and leave your thoughts on this topic call the number below and leave a voicemail. You might just hear yourself on an upcoming episode :)
(801) 649-4787 - The new Millennial in the Middle hotline
We never thought we would have to issue a Bachelor "Spoiler Alert" warning before a podcast episode, but here it is! The controversy surrounding this season of the Bachelor puts racism in America and ignorance to prejudice in the spotlight. Emmanuel Acho, host and author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man took the challenge of hosting this tense conservation and the evening was "uncomfortable" to say the least. In this episode Connor discusses his thoughts on conversations about race in America and how we can make steps forward in having an open dialogue about how race affects us all.
When someone gets stressed and is looking for a way to blow off some steam, going for a walk can often do the trick. While we have all done this, none of us can say we have taken this to the extreme like our guests on the show today. James Alan Thompson and Paul Chavez decided to walk across the country for peace. Amidst the turmoil of the pandemic and social unrest they left from San Francisco and walked all the way to Washington D.C. The journey took 204 days from June 24th to January 13th. They traveled through Yosemite, the Rocky Mountains, the plains of the Midwest and the east coast (in the winter months). Along the way they gained new insights about our country, it's citizens and themselves.
Is America the greatest country in the world? For those of you listening to this podcast I am guessing without hesitation you would answer that question with a resounding "YES!" Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what makes America great? Can you give a deeper response than a one-word answer like freedom, opportunity or democracy?
Patriotism isn't simply saying you love your country. True patriotism is having the desire to make your country better and being willing to be a part of the solution. That's what the Founding Fathers did! They weren't perfect and neither are we. In this episode Connor shares his internal debate as a Millennial patriot bound to spark some introspection of your own.
Remember Episode 29 with Erik Little telling the story of canceling the "Protest on Halloween?" Well, if you didn't hear what went down the rest of the week you need to listen to this episode! A party happened, thousands showed up, cops were called and 9 individuals (including Erik and his business) are being charged by the Utah Attorney General. You have probably read articles or heard about it in the news. As with most things there are two sides to every story. In this episode, Connor gives Erik the mic to walk through what happened from his perspective and what he has learned from this experience.
There are a lot of ways to label each other. By naming the show "Millennial in the Middle," Connor has chosen above anything else to identify himself as a millennial. As loyal listeners you know Connor often relates history, politics and culture to the different generations. Today Jeff Kallay joins the show as our as an expert in explaining generational theories about how we interact with each other.
Jeff has spent his career working with colleges and universities understanding how to recruit Millennial and Gen Z students and understanding their Baby Boomer and Gen X parents. He studies and presents about American generations, understanding generational differences and how to best connect with each unique peer group. He is an extremely popular speaker at conferences and workshops around the country. He’s known for his booming voice and boisterous attitude. This lively conversation is bound to teach you a thing or two and make you think about how WHEN you were born has impacted your life.
Last week you probably heard lots of talk about the Stock Market, GameStop, Reddit, and RobinHood. Connor takes his turn weighing in on this situation and takes a philosophical approach to the broader issues this debate surfaces. Whether you have followed this story closely or know nothing at all you will get something out of this episode. Like most episodes you will find this story is more complex than you might think at first glance and after listening din't be surprised if you find yourself somewhere "in the middle."
The Inauguration went off without a hitch and Biden is saying all the right things. Connor gives his thoughts on the speech and call for unity, the record number of executive orders, the split Supreme Court, and Kamala Harris’ role.
Today we will inaugurate a new President. After an election year it’s easy to have big government be your only focus, but have you ever stopped to think how much the President actually affects your day-to-day life? In today’s episode you’ll see that local government often has a much larger impact on you and your family.
Connor brings Graham Mitchell on the show to give his unique perspective as a City Manager. (Not sure what a city manager is? All the more reason you should listen to this episode!) He talks about issues his city has faced and gives a real world approach to some major societal issues. For example, we have all heard the debate on defunding the police. Rather than a hypothetical conversation you will quickly see how complicated these problems are and how complex the answers may be.
Graham Mitchell - City Manager of El Cajon in San Diego County
We've reached a breaking point. Yesterday Donald Trump was banned from Facebook, Twitter, etc. The New York Times published an article posing the question "If Free Speech is a Threat to our Democracy." While this sounds like an oxymoron this question is at the center of our current political debate. In this episode, Connor discusses what he feels is a dangerous precedent being set.
We have been back for a day and there's already some major events to respond to. Yesterday's events of watching the Capitol be stormed by protesters was a shocking image. This was not a good day for America and one we will remember for a long time. In this reactionary episode, Connor gives his feelings on Trump's last stand and his attempt to go down in a "blaze of glory."
Throughout the year we will be diving into a lot of history. Most people struggle with history because we focus on dates and statistics, rather than stories and people. With that said, you have to have a general understanding of the sequence of events in our roughly 300 years of history to have a framework to view politics and the American story.
In this episode, Connor takes the challenge of giving a recap of our entire country's history in 20 minutes. Hopefully, this helps you feel more informed and allows you to expand your knowledge more easily moving forward.
As promised in the episode:
1776
1787
1849
1861
1917
1929
1941
1960
1980
2001
In the final episode of 2020 Connor shares his experience on a humanitarian trip he went on over Christmas. The trip was put on by A Child's Hope Foundation and Board Member Brett Bailey was the trip host. Connor brings Brett on the show to discuss some of the highlights of the week and lessons learned. Brett has taken over 15 trips down to Mexico to do construction projects at the orphanages and more importantly to spend time with the kids. Brett also played a major role in building an orphanage from the ground up in his role as Director of Orphan Support.
We wish you a Happy New Year! Regular programming of the podcast will be back at the start of 2021 with weekly episodes. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us at the Millennial in the Middle this year may you "Find the Gift" and strive to "Be the Gift" in new year!
If you would like to learn more about the organization you can visit achf.org. If you are interested in going on a trip or donating please contact Connor through his social channels or email Brett directly at Brett@achf.org
Hey everyone! It’s been a minute since our last episode. Today Connor checks in on some important topics and gives an overview of the year 2020.
Weekly episodes will return in January! Follow @millennial_inthe_middle to stay up to date!
Over the last several days, I have been asked more times than I can count what I think about the allegations of voter fraud. After processing all of this I share where I have landed and give some guidance for how to not get so worked up in the next couple months. Spoiler alert, I find myself somewhere in the middle!
In this episode I start with a story which involves voter fraud, looting and burning a town, violent retribution, and a congressman attacking a senator while giving a speech on the senate floor. All of this happened in the 1850s in what we now refer to as “Bloody Kansas.” The parallels in this story are clear and confirm the need for our country to lower the temperature!
It‘s been 24 hours since the first polls closed and the madness has been “par for the course.” Expect anything different from 2020?
For weeks I have had listeners ask me who I think is going to win the election. In this episode I decided to give it my best guess.
I point out some key differences between the 2016 and 2020 races and how it might come into play. We walk through some key things to watch on election night and what Trump has to do to pull off an unlikely victory. Take a listen and feel free to send me what you think is going to happen!
Erik Little runs an event company and as you can imagine 2020 has been a rough year. Large gatherings are literally illegal! Erik decided to play by the rules and planned what would be the biggest party in Utah of the year. This wasn’t going to be just any party, it was going to be a “peaceful protest.” Millennials and Gen Z coming together in support of their right and need to gather and socialize to fight feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression. This protest/party quickly got the attention of the media, local law enforcement and even the governor. In this episode, Erik tells of his experience trying to play by the rules and being shut down!
Connor explains a parallel to another costume party that was also a protest in American history that got the government’s attention. This episode will make you think about when the government oversteps their bounds and the importance of Americans fighting for their liberties. Party on!
Even though it seems nothing is normal in 2020, there is one thing that won’t change: on election day you have to make a decision. Being in the middle doesn’t mean you vote for Kanye. Being in the middle doesn’t mean that you choose to stay home and not vote at all. You can still be in the middle and make a choice. In this episode, Connor gives some advice on how to feel good about your final decision. He then breaks down the final debate within this organized framework.
This episode also includes a story of Connor meeting President Trump and an encounter he will tell his kids and grandkids.
With the confirmation hearings of Amy Coney Barrett last week we saw an intelligent, powerful woman take center stage. This brought the topic of abortion and Roe v. Wade to the forefront of political conversation. While this argument is typically broken down to pro-life vs. pro-choice it is much more complicated than that.
In today’s interview with Morgan Reber, Connor has a serious conversation about an important topic. Morgan is very informed and passionate in her stances as a feminist and progressive democrat. With that said, she has struggled with the debate over abortion. Morgan explains to Connor her experience weighing out the arguments and where she has landed. Her answer may surprise you!
We have all heard people say things like “we have never been more divided,” “the stakes have never been higher.” You might have even heard people say “we are headed for another civil war!” Today we dive into history to look at the time our country was more divided than ever. Connor tells the history of the Election of 1860 which brought Abraham Lincoln to the White House and led 11 states to secede from the Union in between election night and inauguration day.
Connor compares this period to today and brings some rational thinking to these extreme scenarios. He also talks about why we should expect a wild November and what we can do about it.
To stay with the theme of Debates, Connor brings his High School Debate coach, Alli Martin, on the show to discuss various topics. Connor competed nationally in debate and talks about the lessons and skills he learned then that are still with him today. He also asks Alli what are the issues that matter most to her and why. Alli is an activist and advocate in the community helping to amplify the voices of those often unheard. They focus on LGBTQ rights and race in America. They discuss “white privilege” and pose the question if benefitting from a racist system makes you a “racist.”
Dr. Alli Martin:
Alli (she, her, hers) works as an Assistant Principal at Horizonte Instruction and Training Center in Salt Lake City School District. She earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. Alli serves as a member of the Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign and is a co-founding member of Friends, Allies, and Mentors of the LGBTQ community (FAM). Through her work with FAM, Alli regularly provides professional learning experiences to educators on issues of intersectionality and LGBTQ youth.
Correction: Abraham Lincoln ran and against Stephen A. Douglas and others in the general election for the Presidency in 1860. They also faced each other in a race for the Illinois Senate in 1858 (A race that Douglas won). It is in this election for senator that their now famous “Lincoln-Douglas” debates were held.
A night to remember! Connor was lucky enough to have the chance to volunteer at the Vice Presidential Debate last night in Salt Lake City. In this episode, he talks through his impressions of being there in person and what stood out to him. He also explains a moment you don't see on television that is a great metaphor for our political discourse today and life in general.
Connor recorded this episode only two hours after the debate without watching any commentary or pundits. He just gives his raw reaction to what he saw and the biggest moments of the night.
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. In this interview she opens up about how a happy and healthy teenage girl found herself at rock bottom and what she learned along the way. We talk through the misconceptions around eating disorders and how we can support others with any sort of mental illness.
This is not a sad story. This is a story of triumph and the road back. Courtney explains her breakthrough moment and how she has committed to taking care of herself and helping others in their journey. All of us can learn from how Courtney found a way to bottle up that “Amalfi Coast feeling.”
Just a warning, we do talk about some sensitive topics (eating disorders, self-harm) in this episode that may be triggering for some.
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 1960. Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy took part in this debate and shifted how presidential campaigns were conducted. The power of television took elections into American’s living rooms. The story behind this night is so interesting!
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 a great perspective on life. While he knows there is a lot of progress we can make as a country he points out how far we have come and chooses to view the world from an optimistic perspective.
He says at the beginning, “One thing we lack when it comes to politics is empathy and you can’t have empathy without listening.” I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as we continue to have real conversations with the aim to move forward together.
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 that we would run out of things to talk about or interesting topics to cover. For the last two months we have released 2 episodes a week and my real problem is deciding what topics and guests to prioritize. We can confidently say we’re just getting started and it’s just going to keep getting better!
In this episode, Connor looks back at the first 19 episodes and points out some themes and recurring comments that teach us a lot. He plays highlights from several guests and weaves it together in a way that further cements the purpose of this podcast.
At the end, Connor explains why he sings “Stuck in the Middle with you” at the end of every episode and how this sign-off has evolved to mean something much more than a comment about the clowns and the jokers in the world.
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 values. Emily explains how she is often put in a position to represent the US in conversations with friends and what Europeans really think of Obama, Trump, and the current election. More than anything, Emily’s courage has taught her some life lessons that we all can benefit from hearing!
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 delivered over 1,200 keynotes and trainings to sales professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders in over 20 countries. His clientele includes Apple, Tesla, Google, Rolls Royce, Kimberly Clark, Goodyear Tires, and dozens of Fortune 500, enterprise level and small business clients.
Patrick is best known for his entirely unique style of combining brief historical stories with modern sales, negotiation and leadership issues. He leverages history to entertain and inspire audiences who walk away feeling informed and motivated.
Patrick is the author of the best-selling book series, From Great Moments in History. His four books have been endorsed by industry icons including Stephen R. Covey, Brian Tracy and Larry King.
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 there? Who were we fighting? Today we speak with Colonel Bob Church and learn of his experiences during his deployment in Afghanistan in 2006 and answer some of those questions.
Bob Church went to law school and decided to enter the Navy as a JAG officer. Over the course of his career he has been the command JAG for combat engineers, aviation, field artillery, and has been the State JAG officer. Currently he serves as the state military judge in Utah for the National Guard. He has been to Korea, Japan, Ukraine, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, and Iceland. In this episode we focus on his deployment to Afghanistan in 2006. He served in a unique capacity working to help set up the newly formed Afghan criminal justice system. He mentored Afghan military judges, military attorneys and military police in their newly adopted military code of justice. Teaching them law and order and the concept of "innocent until proven guilty."
His perspective on the war and the freedoms we enjoy in our country is inspiring. You don't want to miss this episode! For pictures and other visuals visit the @millennial_inthe_middle instagram page or Facebook page.
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 your understanding of a current issue, and be inspired. For 100+ years the Star-Spangled Banner has brought us together as a nation and we need this message of unity now more than ever!
Connor says this may be his favorite episode so far, we are curious to see if you agree!
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 festival. 500,000 people in the woods of New York got together to listen to good music and spread love. In this episode we look into how this movement started and discuss why Woodstock is such a memorable event. We could benefit from a Woodstock 2020!
Jo Bright is our guest to walk through this conversation with a hippie perspective. Jojo is a blogger and podcaster focussed on natural healing, mindset and self improvement. She represents the ideals of the hippie movement in 2020. She brings a fun side out of Connor that makes for an entertaining listen. Give her a follow @xojobright.
Enjoy this not-so-serious episode and remember "all you need is love."
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 family.
Connor then gives a wake-up call to the Democrats. The strategy of Hidin' Biden and letting Trump self implode isn't working. With 60 days to election day it should be a sprint to the finish and Biden better start "running!"
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 control and manipulate people. 2020 has been a year filled with fear and both the DNC and RNC continued with rhetoric from a fear-based mentality.
Connor also takes a step back and looks at how some of the world's greatest leaders have handled fear in the most difficult times. He looks specifically at how Winston Churchill calmed his nation during WWII and gives the surprising history of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster.
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 went into filming this episode a little apprehensive! I urge you to listen to this interview with an open mind, try to avoid making justifications or the counter-arguments. Sometimes it is just better to listen. That's what I did in this interview and I hope you do too.
Kira Nielsen is a long-time family friend that I hadn't seen in years before this interview. I follow her on social media and have been so impressed with how she has chosen to speak up and get involved. She is politically active and a great advocate for equality. She also was a part of a select group at Brigham Young University that spent an entire year studying race relations in America which was capped off by a tour of Civil Rights Movements, personal experiences with those that were there, and then being a part of an honorary march across the bridge in Selma remembering "Bloody Sunday."
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 the battle with cancer. Tessa just celebrated her third birthday and being cancer-free!
In this episode Rick and Mindy discuss what they have learned and recount some of their experiences along this journey. We also discuss how to approach situations surrounding those with disabilities and learn what to say and what not to say. Their story will broaden your perspective as we all try to have more compassion, empathy and understanding for those around us. While life with Tessa is different than what they had pictured, it is wonderful! Rick and Mindy share the light of Tessa with all of us on their Instagram. Give this episode a listen and follow their social account, you won’t regret being a part of the @GuymonTribe!
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 American policy.
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 among those searching for better relationship skills and can be found on his website at MattTownsend.com.
In this interview Matt and Connor discuss the current political climate and the communication problems we are all facing with friends, family, and co-workers. Matt gives advice for how to have tough conversations over divisive issues from a place of love and understanding.
Matt also gives his advice to Connor on the power of finding common ground and how you can influence those on both sides of the aisle. You won't want to miss this "group therapy session!"
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 just "the guy from The Apprentice." Connor also compares Donald Trump to McDonald's. To see what he means you'll have to listen!
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 desire to come to this country legally. In her final year of Law School focusing on Immigration, she shares what she has learned from study and personal experience. Listening to her perspective is informative and eye-opening.
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 discredited, rather something we can learn from. We have the ability to build on their framework and continue to stride forward.
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, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you!