Black in the Middle: Recent Episodes
Travis Brown, Herman Watson & Tim McCoy
Middle class, middle of map and just always stuck in between. This is a podcast about a three black friends who grew up in the burbs and how the battle of nature vs nurture turned them into the men they are today. Follow along as they layout a blueprint on addressing, engaging and making decisions based on cultural biases and varying perspectives.
PAY YOURSELF FIRST. T-Bone's mantra drives this week's Black in the Middle as we tackle another debate from the comment section. Does it make sense to accumulate wealth for future generations even if it comes at the expense of our own enjoyment? Is that our responsibility as black fathers in white America? And if so, how well are we pulling it off?
This episode of Black in the Middle comes straight from the comments section. A social media clip from our interview with The Situational Therapist went viral and... Y'all went off in the comments. Some of you agreed. Some of you disagreed. It was a fantastic back and forth.
One comment that really made us think involved White Adjacency, or the idea that POC in white spaces enjoy life advantages based solely on a proximity to whiteness. Do we think that's true? Is it unavoidable in the middle? And does it explain why we've always felt stuck in between? Listen up and find out.
A few weeks ago we had Glenn Sandifer II on the pod to discuss his High Value Man relationship book, 'The Middle Ground.' This week we're cracking the book back open to unpack our thoughts on Mr. Sandifer's theories. Where did we agree? Where did we disagree? And was Herm really mad though?
This week's Black in the Middle is off the cuff as Kanye West invades our regularly scheduled Autumn Update. We discuss Ye's latest controversy and then unpack what's been going on in our three corners of the world... Business, parenting and relationship
This week we sit down with Derrick "The Situational Therapist" Hoard to discuss his path from nuerodivergent child of a tyrannical mother to successful therapist and TikTok star. What starts as an interview develops into something bigger as Tim, Travis and Herman open up about their own parenting and relationship struggles. This is a raw and revealing episode you won't want to miss.
Derrick Hoard is a licensed marriage and family therapist, avid gamer, and adult survivor of childhood abuse and neglect. He's also The Situational Therapist, a social media persona he uses to straight talk complex psychological issues and remove the stigma of experiencing childhood abuse. Derrick's sometimes challenging but always engaging videos have amassed over 900K followers on TikTok.
It's all about the music on this week's pod. The boys take a trip down memory lane and discuss their most influential songs and artist through the different stages of life. We had to reach WAY back into the vault for this previously UNRELEASED episode from Season One.
We do not own the rights to any of the music mentioned. All rights belong to the respective owners. No Copyright Infringement Intended.
Romantic relationships are challenging under the best of circumstances. Throw in the rigors of an increasingly demanding business world and you have a recipe for dating frustration and failure. On this week’s pod the boys interview author, executive leader, business strategist (and fellow FAMU alum) Glenn Sandifer II. Glenn’s new book, The Middle Ground, explores the complex dynamics of business and romance.
Herm wants you to know that Glenn’s views are his own as we discuss the differences between High Value Men and High Value Women, why there’s so much friction when you choose the wrong kind of partner and how successful men can avoid relationship failure in a modern world.
On the heels of Herman's perfect empty house Man Day, we discuss relationships past, present and future. Did we truly leave our toxic traits behind us? How do we build stronger lives with stronger wives? And why did it take fatherhood and 40 to finally feel grown?
This week's Black in the Middle answers these questions and more... very carefully. Nobody wants to sleep on the couch.
Everybody wants to be top dog, but the Social Dominance Hierarchy is a lot more nuanced than the Alpha/Beta framework we were taught. Success means teaming with players all across the personality spectrum and we all shift in and out of different roles, so how do we navigate this complex world of Gammas and Deltas?
This week the Black in the Middle crew debunks the myth of the Alpha Male (and gives the Beta his come up) while trying to answer the age-old question, 'What kind of man are you?'
Desmond Carr is back for PART 2 of our retrospective on his entrepreneurial journey. This week we talk about the importance of Winning as a Team, Challenging the Status Quo and Desmond’s secret to No Limits Living.
Then we cap things off with a discussion of Legacy, Comeback Stories and the founding of Rally Gin.
Lifelong friend and brilliant entrepreneur Desmond Carr is in the house this week. In PART 1 of this two-part interview, we discuss Desmond’s career journey from Kansas City to Los Angeles (and every stop in between), the Found Family philosophy that has kept us all tight over the years, the pitfalls of Corporate America and Paving a Personal Path to Success.
We also argue Cryptocurrency, which Travis still thinks is dumb.
Our country feels more and more divided every day. With people so wrapped up in their political, social and religious ideology, hatred is drowning out discourse. Every disagreement feels like war.
Your boys are back discuss how disturbing blind devotion can be in a world overrun with lies, and whether our own strongly-held beliefs might deserve a closer look.
We are three black dudes from the no coast and we are not about to sit here and talk about how banning abortion in America will affect us. That will be in part 2 of this series with special guest.
However, when looking at this drastic move through a political lens, the Black in the Middle crew has pinpointed a conservative strategy for this country's return to states rights. That's what this episode is about and it's a rollercoaster of a ride. Hang on friends.
Join us for a laughter packed episode as the crew updates you with what is on the minds of men who are black while living in the middle of white America.
Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to one's country. As Black American men, this is changing...and we're not so sure how to deal with it. Listen as the crew unpacks how current and past events painting a different picture of our future in America.
If you look at it, it only makes sense that America is becoming exactly what it should based on Individualism & Entitlement as Norms.America was built on brutality, dehumanization and what we are experiencing with violence fits in perfectly with America’s story. What are the elements of a culture? Are we too competitive as a country, as a people? Why does America feel like we're not all in this together? And What to do about it?
There is a group forming, or already present, inside your neighborhood high school and it is potentially stoking fear and amplifying racial and political division within the student population.
Turning Point USA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk. The organization says its "mission is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government. Turning Point USA believes that every young person can be enlightened to true free market values."
Kyle Rittenhouse was a keynote speaker at a Turning Point event in 2021. The group seems to be Pro-Trump on most issues with other notable associated people and brands include Sebastian Gorka (ties to Vitezi Rend) far- right anti-semitic org, Alan West and Mike Lindell - My Pillow guy.
Tune into this episode and get ready for what happens next.
The Who, What, When, Where but we have no idea as to the Why. We say this often but it seems like it's still the same old shit, just a different group of people now suffering from unspeakable loss. You telling us nothing has changed in 23 years?
We’ll talk about the politicization that always happens, again, nothing has changed. Have you heard some of the ridiculous solutions being proposed by your elected officials? Yes, one door. Well we have some out of the box thinking for you today.
Also, why is it always dudes? This is an episode talking about the things we should actually be talking about. And at the end of the day, at the very end of the day…we think it's just the culture. Tune in and stay tuned in.
Over 3 seasons of recording has gotten us to Episode number 100 ya'll! The crew celebrates this accomplishment by reflecting on the body work created thus far. This episode unpacks the crew's favorites, fan favorites, those that didn't make the cut and episode topics of the future.
Oh yeah and we went live on Facebook for some strange reason. So there's that.
Enjoy!
It's an interesting game of cat and mouse.
On the heels of our last episode around Will smith; figured it would be a good time to expand on what the world witnessed:
It was confidence that allowed him to go on stage, but unpacking it gave off major vibes of insecurity.
Let’s go!
In lieu of the Will Smith (53) Chris Rock (57) slap heard round the world, we figured now would be a good time to answer the question “When is violence the answer?” In this episode the crew recaps what happened, weighs in on the choice of a slap versus a punch, talks about public humiliation, the effect on the Smith children and explores alternative remedies for this strange, jaw dropping situation.
What did Will Smith Reaffirm in the minds of “other races” with his actions? Did he effectively send a message for future jokes about his wife or do you think the most hilarious comedy special is in the works?
Would he have hit a white comedian? Female? Will said “Love will make you do crazy things”, but was that actually love that we witnessed?
Tune in for answers to these questions in more on the latest Black in the Middle Podcast episode.
We live in an ever changing society and the evolution of sexual orientation and gender identity are two that always seem to rile the headlines. The crew decided to unpack this topic a bit on this latest episode and not only comment on what we have seen thus far in sports and media but also predict what we may see in the near future.
This episode is about when Racism...and all the other ism’s...take a back seat to the atrocities and turmoil that is going on in the world.
How are you living your life different with so much uncertainty in the near future?
When you look around, everything is moving along very normal, but were all are probably thinking the same thing, when is the other shoe going to drop and what brand is said shoe?
The crew ponders these questions and many more in this episode of Black in the Middle podcast.
When celebrating a milestone in Daddy Watson's professional career turns into a A semi-morbid podcast episode. This is that!
Join the crew as we explore the question, if we died untimely, what do we have in place for our son's to have a strong, male influence to get the support he needs that momma may not be able to provide.
What does that look like? What can we expect of others? What do we need to do now? All that and more from your favorite Kansas City based podcast crew, Tim, Travis and Herman.
You know what time it is. The crew goes in on Russia and all of the craziness that they have started. SMH
Theodis is KC born and bred; a Missouri State Grad with an MBA and is very active in central city communities, making a positive difference any way he can. He has spent the past 20 years in banking - most recent years have been on the commercial lending side.
- Who is Theodis Watson?
- The differences in banks
- Relationships with your banker
- The importance of financial literacy
- Bridging the wealth gap
- Teaching our kids early
- Banking myth-busters
- All banks are not created equal
- Managing finances as a couple
- The effects of the pandemic
This episode is jam packed with personal budgeting tips (especially those households with an Amazon obsession) AND business financial guidance for the entrepreneur in you. Check out this special guest interview that is full of tips, jokes, stories and TONS of resources to help you get your money right.
Enjoy!
New year, same ish...part two? This month's update became a bit emotional as the crew relived the sad ending to a great Kansas City Chiefs season. We couldn't be more proud but we obviously gonna talk about the other side of the coin.
Tune in for this and more topics in politics, pop culture, business, personal and more like: A Las Vegas Pro Bowl, NFL hiring practices in question, The Brian Flores lawsuit, Is anyone watching the Olympics?, A McDonalds surf and turf, The rise of subscription prices, Too much of Nelly, What to do about Joe Rogan and Black History Month
Are you ready to die for America or the idea of freedom? We know are brave veterans are but what about you?
This episode breaks down what we love about our country; things like diversity, opportunity, education k-12, civil liberties, the Super Bowl, etc. And what we dislike or hate; things like our healthcare system, political system, legal system and every other racist framework this country thrives on.
Join in and maybe we'll change how you feel...or maybe not.
Scorpio Horn is the Head Football Coach and Director of Development at KIPP KC, a local charter school that is making waves. Scorpio, or Scorp as we call him, is a good, long-time friend of the BITM crew, so it was great to sit down and talk about things we all love: football, leadership, parenting and equity.
What kind of schools did you go to growing up? Are you giving your kids the same experience you had or making sure they never have to go through what you did?
With school age kids and a couple of big decisions ahead, the crew unpacks this age old debate. This episode will explore learning how to learn at an early age, the parent factor when it comes to which type of school, community issues, or lack thereof, outcomes, classroom size, taxes, programming, testing, curriculum, teachers networking and of course cost. Let's go, time to take ya'll to school.
Well, 2020too is here. How you doin? Yeah, that's what we thought. Same. Just like the new year, we had big plans and ideas about our first episode but things ain't really go that route. Nonetheless, this episode is fire as we push each other out of our comfort zones and open up about how we will attack the new year and achieve our goals...even after a slower than desired start. Leggo!
... an episode where I can talk about all the things I REALLY want for Christmas because Lord knows the only ones getting what they actually want are under the age of 15. So let's bring ourselves job and take a trip down a memory lane that is full of nostalgia, wishfulness and maybe a few dreams come true.
What leads someone to have a victim mentality? What if we wasn't set back as black people? Would we be as resilient, amazing, hard working as we are?
Victim Mentality is defined as an acquired personality trait in which a person tends to recognize or consider themselves as a victim of the negative actions of others, and to behave as if this were the case in the face of contrary evidence of such circumstances
Are we victims and if so of what? Oh, and let’s not forget to talk about white victimhood and its surge during the 2016 Presidential election as well as most recently with Kyle Rittenhouse.
Lots to discuss during this holiday season: Ahmaud Arbery trial, the Rittenhouse trial and acquittal and what this means, a Michigan high school shooter and the parents’ liability, Celebrity vaccine fakers, the Metaverse and the speed of development, a deadly concert by Travis Scott, what’s new on Netflix right meow, Delta variants and more!
Is intelligence genetic? Does hard work really pay? We all say “everything happen for a reason", but does it though?
It's time to demystify these terms and phrases a lot of us find ourselves saying and even living by on a daily basis.
But wait, there's more! The crew questions the Death Penalty, assisted suicide, churches and taxes and short detours from these mainstream, controversial concepts.
Enjoy!
Is it better to be honest about money or put up a facade? And why?
Is there a benefit to lying, being frugal, flat out stunting? Were you ever stunting? What was it for? Have you ever been cautious about stunting? How honest are you about money with your kids?
Get answers to these questions and more from the midwestern black middle class perspective by pressing play!
The crew tackles a lot in this months edition of the Update. From What is the Metaverse, Let’s Go Brandon aka F Joe Biden to discussing Killings on Set, Cancel Culture News, topics were plentiful in this "getting colder" month of October.
Chivalry is the combination of qualities expected of a knight: courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and readiness to help the weak. So, is it dead? Can it live on through Tinder?
Staying friends with your exes can be fine and healthy, right?
Is marriage is no longer necessary?
Are you a better husband or a better father? Can you be both at the same time?
The BITM crew answers these and other questions that challenge the status quo of what it is supposed to mean to be a man and a women in todays world.
Close your eyes and imagine 3 guys by the names of Tim, Travis and Herman who grew up in the burbs, played sports, got good grades, stayed out of trouble, drove boats, went to college, got jobs, tipped handsomely, had loving families and started a podcast...but Tim, Travis and Herman were 3 white dudes. Would anyone listen to their podcast? Would they be special? Would they feel special? Hmmm...you'll have to listen to find out.
The Midwest, and the Kansas City metro specifically, has recently fallen victim to more racist scandals than normal. 4 incidents in southern, northern and eastern suburbs have made local and even national news over the last 2 weeks, putting our covertly racist 2 state area on the map. When it comes to these things happening over social media, should we even be surprised at this point? The crew unpacks this and traverses both sides of the argument in this episode.
This update is full of topics and news that popped off in September. Sitting in a room with Kanye for an hour vs Drake for an hour...what are your takeaways, Chiefs, Alabama for the first time reported more deaths than births, mRNA and a simple vaccine explanation by Herman, Haitian vs Afghan refugees, Nola wants to go to her first HS football game with friends, Donda vs. CLB, being from the Late 1900’s, Fugees going on tour and so much more happening this Fall.
When 50% of black population live in the south and you're not in a city like D.C., Chicago or Detroit, do you feel that because you are raised suburban versus urban that you need to justify your blackness?
The crew unpacks this question and many others in this episode.
How black is your home? Do you feel like your sexual/life partner selection makes you need to justify your blackness?
Tim says that once you mix and mingle cultures your blackness erodes. With that said, does that exude in your everyday life? What about if the roles are reversed?
We don’t want to get canceled for this episode, but it's been on the docket for a good minute. I mean, we’ve all dated outside our race but decided to take a step back and ask ourselves questions like:
When did you start dating outside your race & why? What race was she/he?
How much of an issue was it at home?
Were you accepted?
How much did you think about race?
Can you support diversity and be against mixed race relationships?
And many more questions!
These are the most burning, semi-racist, personally-invasive, but real questions that not-black...okay maybe some black...people have asked us or people who look like us.
Take it away, Karen.
Grab a Cliff bar, an apple or something off the $1 menu because you might get hungry listening to this episode. How important was food in your household growing up? What were some of the ways food made you into the person you are today? The crew tackles these questions about most of our favorite thing to do - eat, and they do it without a morsel in sight.
This is the food episode so stick with BITM as the journeys through life's lessons, challenges and experiences through the lens of mastication.
It's August and the weather is perfect, football is back, kids going to school and white people are going extinct. This episode is packed with jokes, facts, tips, politics, pop culture references, disasters, memories and more!
Herman was recently asked, "Who are you?" No he wasn't interviewing for a new job but this introspective exercise to knowing thyself was helpful in putting together a long term plan for himself, his fam and his career. So let's give a shot shall we!?
The crew answers questions about their most important personal possessions, true motivation, areas they've made progress in, areas they lack in, greatest struggles that taught the greatest lessons and things they need to let go of...among others.
Let's see here: not leaving the house, not bathing, contemplating life, love and the loss of some hopes and dreams and feeling a bit of anxiety and apathy about things. Sounds like a midlife crisis to me, oh wait, that's just the pandemic.
Listen to the crew as they unpack the similarities between the pandemic that covid-19 has put us all in and a midlife crisis.
Wait...what happens if you're going through both at the same time? Fuuuhhhh....
This episode is not all doom and gloom. The crew comes up with solutions on how to get ahead of a midlife crisis" as well as how to deal with one.
Happy 40th Birthday to Mr. Herman Brady Watson. He's looking and feeling good for Middle Age but there are quite a few things that are different now. Listen to Tim and Herman talk about what it's like to be at the "halfway point of life" and listen to Travis hold on to his youth at 39.33333.
How has the aging process affected you aesthetically, physically and mentally?
And the big question, how has your maturity kept up with your age? Are the two connected? And what factors impact them? The crew shares their middle aged perspective on middle age, looking back on life and looking forward into the future.
Let's talk about the idea of being woke: what it is, how it began, how it's going and what it has brought to the conversation. The crew breaks down a few levels of wokeness as well as discusses wokeness burnout, topics of wokeness and wokeness outcomes. So tune in and please don't sleep on this episode.
Do you see things as just black and white or do you tend to live a bit more in the gray area. The crew runs thru some recent examples such as Sha'Carri Richardson and the accountability & reaction she received. George Floyd and the consequence of writing bad check while being black and others.
Two defining and different approaches to life: Moral Absolutism is an ethical view that all actions are intrinsically right or wrong, while Consequentialism is when the morality of an act depends on the consequences or context of the act.
What a summer this is becoming...Britney Spears Conservatorship, Free Bill Cosby, Trump Org & CFO Indictment, Florida Tower Collapse, CRT is still a shit-show, NCAA rules in favor of athletes getting paid, First Openly Gay NFL Player ( Sorry Michael Sam), First Transgender (woman, born a man) from New Zealand to compete in Olympics...and so much more!
Tennis Star Naomi Osaka has made recent headlines for stepping away from the French Open and now more recently choosing not to play Wimbledon due to mental health. The BITM crew gives their take on her situation and relates it to their experience as employees, managers and owners of companies small and large.
What IS an employer's responsibility when it comes the mental wellness of its employees? When work colleagues or your employees are going through it…how do you balance the want to help versus the need to drive performance?
All this and more in another mental health focused episode.
This episode is absolutely lit! That's why its 109 minutes. Well, we got stories about building legacies, establishing a solid foundation in your family, related Tuskegee airmen, the role of good Uncles, being a good person, entrepreneurship and the hustle, racist run-ins with surgeons and high school kids, the importance of sports and musical instruments and so, so much more.
You're welcome.
Can you think of a better federal holiday than Juneteenth? Celebrating the day that Texas slaves got word they been free for 2 years - I guess the Pony Express lost a letter.
Black people have been observing and celebrating this day for years and it just hit the radar of mainstream America last year. Fast forward to 2021 and now everybody gets an invite to the cookout.
The crew discusses how much pandering is really going on here and what can we do to get the most out of it. Is this an opportunity to create and share a new experience? How will you celebrate Juneteenth? Let's talk about it.
It's been a while since our last check in on the crew's mental so the time is now. This episodes dives into the stressors of life - kids, health, wealth, relationships and...oh yeah...WORK. Not to mention this Covid-19 world that we live in and all of the changes we endure. The crew measures their mental health on a scale of 1-10 and talks about how they are going to get to a TEN, a frickin' TEN! Most the episode is dominated by Tim and all his problems juxtaposed to all of his ideas for solutions so if you're a part of the T-Hive or Worms World,
This week's episode covers the gamut of news and updates from all over the country and culture. The crew covers the 100 anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, they talk about workers unionizing in new-age businesses, the delightful resurgence of the Black Sitcom, the rebirth of sports "after" covid-19, Herman 'blerding' out over comics and cards and the plan to recirculate the black dollar in the black community.
Trump called it un-American. And this theory is already being banned in states throughout America and 2/3 of our black asses ain't even heard of it.
Critical race theory (CRT) is an academic movement of civil rights scholars and activists in the United States who seek to critically examine the law as it intersects with issues of race and to challenge mainstream liberal approaches to racial justice.
On this month's edition of The Update, the crew catches up on all the things: the social norms of wearing masks and if there will be a special quarantine section price at Arrowhead Stadium, Nurses Appreciation Week and the 18% that will choose not to get vaccinated, the workforce shortage and the fact that no one has a job and employers cant find good help (hmmm...), Herman's goes a bit off the rails on Travis and his highly paid Fortune 500 CEO, high powered celebrity break-ups, divorces and deaths, transgender rights and how they pertain to sports and the civil rights era, the slow extinction of girls and boys organizations, second home owners vs homelessness, market volatility, three horrible saxophonist and the sacrifice of missing recess for band class.
On the cusp of Mother's Day we take time out to celebrate our mommies. The crew reflects on how mothers run the world. We would not be anything with our our moms and the mothers of our kids. Let's go down memory lane to hear stories of these 3 momma's boys: moms, wives, grandmas, baby-mommas, aunties - all the moms!
The crew always talk about the clique of 12ish black friends in a sea of white but there was a white guy who experienced it all...and he goes by the name, Sanderson. This episode is a must listen to hear some of the stories you're already up on, but from a less melanin'd perspective. Kaepernick, sports, fatherhood, career, serendipity, brotherhood, racism, economics, love and naked Tony Gonzalez - this podcast episode bare's all ;-)
The verdict is out. Where were you when it went down? How did you feel? How do you feel now? Are you hopeful? Optimistic? Still pessimistic about cops and Black America? The crew opens up on their feelings and continue to paint a picture of what it's like being black in America.
Partake in this sleepy episode as the crew defines tribalism in American culture and runs down the most vicious, the most influential, the most lucrative and the longest lasting tribes in of our day and age.
Herman talks about his virtual church, Tim talks baptism and T-bone discusses about NFL Sunday ;-)
Things have evolved over time. The church was a staple of our community and now the perception has changed. On the cusp of Easter Sunday…what a better time than now to have this conversation.
The crew talks about the importance of church in their childhood, how the church factored into their maturation into adulthood and what their perception is now.
Has Black Lives Matter replaced the Black Church?
It's back and this is no April Fools joke. After a couple weeks hiatus, the crew runs through all the things - from Dashawn "Inner Glutes" Watson (no relation) and Tim officially becoming middle age, to a short performance review of Q1 and what them stimis hitting for.
The episode does hit on a few dark topics like voter suppression, mass killings and the death of George Floyd.
Tim and Herman share the story about their low points in life and how they not only held it together but clawed their way back to some semblance of success. Travis revels in his perfect record of stability, or appearance thereof.
So, bring on the war stories, horror stories but most importantly those comeback stories. This is the "When you ain't got shit" episode.
This is the "I get that from my daddy episode.
Do you ever look at your parents and see yourself in them. What's their reaction when you do something that reminds them of you? In this episode of Black in the Middle, the crew recalls times when they had an epiphany that a behavior of theirs was genetic, when saw something in their children that resembled themselves and really dive into what they think is caused by nature and not nurture, and vice versa.
Finally they discuss family curses and the myth and the truth behind them.
Emotional intelligence (EI/EQ) is the ability to understand, use and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. It manifests itself in several ways: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy and Social Skills.
The crew walks through the importance of EQ in their personal lives and business lives as well as how to instill it in others at work and at home. This is definitely a learn some sh!t episode!
This episode 'audiofies' the paradox of choice right before your ears.
Are you presented with too many options in life?
Do you truly believe the choices you make are your own or could they be a part of a man-made construct built to lead you down a path?
Welcome to the matrix and the customization of life. Blue pill or red pill? It's time to decide just how meta you ready to go over the next 40 minutes.
Buckle up.
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. We don't care how strong you are or think you are, we all suffer from or have things that make us anxious. The crew opens up about what creates anxiety in their lives and how they deal with it on a regular basis. Tune in and let's grow together.
What is a conspiracy there you believe in Do you even believe in them? Was Jesus divine or just a really good dude? What fuels the success of a conspiracy theory?
UFOs? Yes or no
Covid: man-made Chinese lab-bat or Mother nature scorned?
We ask and answer all of these questions in this not-so-supernatural episode. Tune in bro.
Do you dream at night? What about day dreaming? The crew talks about dreams and how they evolve throughout life as well as the impact they had on life. Travis wanted to be like Mike, Tim and Herm wanted lambos but you're going to have to listen find out which dreams they had and achieved. Other questions answered in this episode, "Why do we kill dreams [of others]?", "How can we raise our kids to chase their dreams?" and more!
In order to answer this question the crew not only takes a look inward and reflects on the lives the've led but also explores pop culture, black culture, and America when it comes to the racial equity gap across systems. Oh, and twerking. Twerking was definitely analyzed and graded on the MLK scale of approval. Listen to the episode to find out the results.
We might be a little biased but this is probably the best take from the middle of the latest events in America. Yes, the crew is talking about the march and riots on Capitol Hill that took place the day of Electoral College count confirmation.
Josh Hawley, (not)Antifa, white privilege, Chewbacca bathing suits, pragmatism, Pelosi's chair, death, memes and more in this season finale of Black in the Middle podcast.
Get ready for a highly informational, truly inspirational podcast episode delving into the commercial real estate ecosystem as well as the strong history and bright future of black Kansas City and Black America.
This episode runs the gamut of topics from redevelopment of historically black neighborhoods like Wheatley Provident Hospital in 18th & Vine, the importance of having foresight, the importance of "being in the room", channeling your passion, what the hell is a 1031, fractional investing and and some bad story about how Tim fractionally tackled Ladell Betts as a freshman in high school. TF?
This episode goes deep into the idea of masculinity and what it takes for it to become toxic. The crew covers gender roles, mental health, raising strong/non-toxic boys, fear of the black man, fake tough guys and being protected under a cloak of whiteness.
Oh yeah, and Herman almost gets furloughed from the podcast.
We know Georgia done counted votes like 11 times, by hand, and many other states are being drug through the ringer but what really is the impact and aftermath of this wild and crazy election ride. This episode is your answer.
This episode is dedicated to all of things we are thankful for. Subscribers Beware T-bone experiences a couple of foodgasms during the recording. The crew takes a trip down memory lane and reminisce about the Thanksgiving Thursdays of past as well as look forward to one ahead.
Chitterlings, football, Zoom, philanthropy, covid, travel, great grandmas giving the stiff arm, old and new traditions and details on Hermans season pullout game...are wrapped up in this holiday season episode.
Welcome back to the T-Bone Takeover and part two of Love and Marriage.
This episode dives into what it means to be good husband and how to get there, marriage role models growing up and how they may not fit the mold you see on TV and so many more topics like kids, goals, mistakes and the rollercoaster of events, milestones and emotions that we call love.
Welcome to the T-Bone Takeover. Follow along on this 3-part journey as Herman and Tim talk Travis through their experience with the proposal, wedding, honeymoon and the transition of everything after "I Do".
It’s the long awaited relationship episode and it’s coming in several parts so dial in for stories of love, joy, embarrassment, accomplishment, inspiration, growth, sex, babies and more.
Travis and Herman try to hold an intervention with Tim when they find out he’s lacking an idol in his life. Listen till the end to hear the backstory and reasoning why.
Along the way, the crew realizes they are the same age Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was while changing the world (what you doing with your life). They reflect on other Super Negros like Barack Hussein Obama.
The lack of political strategy from Ice Cube’s camp comes up and they discuss fallen idols like Bill Clinton, Cosby and others. #cancelculture
How to find talent and how to be the talent that great start ups, SMBs and corporations are looking for.
Travis talks about putting his face on a billboard, retaining talent and other nuances to growing a thriving workforce. Herman connects the times we are going through to what he experienced down in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Tune in for some interview hacks, hiring tips and the importance of follow up and follow through.
Whether you wanted the VP debate or not, this episode has what you need on a take from the middle. The crew discusses the cringe-worthy moments (the fly and others), Tim gives Pence some props but stans on Kamal Harris, he also questions the overuse of the term “the American People”, Travis labels Obama a Super Negro and Herman talks about Patriotism, how he just wasn’t impressed…but he loves him some E-Dub aka Elizabeth Warren. Other topics that come up? Well, how do you feel about a Pence coup d’etat? We think he’s down.
On the heels of the Vice Presidential debate, the crew drops an episode recapping their views of the Biden vs Trump yelling match from last week. Get a perspective of each campaign's hidden strategy from the middle.
In the spirit of Presidential Debates and Instagram Verzus battles, the gang had a little fun in this episode pitting Herman against Travis in a battle of wits and perspective. Tune in as Tim referees these two giving their take on topics such as Free College, Proud Moments, Greatest Sports Teams, Dating in the Workplace, Embarrassing moments, Abstinence and more!
There will be name calling.
There will be jokes.
There will be quotables.
Enjoy!
The crew discusses the two movements, their origins, misconceptions, pitfalls of communication and how it relates to whats going on in America today.
Join the fellas as they unpack the pros and cons of the various career paths you can take. Some paths come with more structure and processes while others might give you creative freedom and opportunity. All companies aren't created equal so listen to this episode and make the decision that's right for you.
The NFL is back but the crew (for some strange reason) talks about the different eras of the NBA, best athlete rappers and Roy vs Mike. There's an African American Studies professors coming out of the racial closet (she white, pretending to be black), Breonna Taylor's family get's $12M (only 3 cops behind bars short of justice) and Herman and Tim give a BITM Book Club update on what their reading.
There's a lot more packed in this episode so give it a listen and give us some feedback!
This month's special guest goes by a few names but we'll use his government for our pod purpose - Greg Bradley. He's Tim's fellow FAMU Alum, groomsman and APO brother. His professional experiences includes purchasing, consulting and project and product management. He's a father, a husband, a Floridian by way of Indianapolis and co-host of a 3 year running podcast, WADR (@withallduerespek).
Our convo takes many turns: The Champagne Sip, fraternities of life, the power of your network (social and IRL), online personas, company layoffs, susus, investment clubs, different types of racism found around the country and more.
It's episode 30 ya'll!!!! You're going to love all 30+ minutes of this introspective take of Black in the Middle.
The fellas reflect on how a little idea has turned into a continuous conversation of race relations, personal and professional development and so much more.
Herman gets vulnerable and discovers something about himself.
Tim brings up a couple pitfalls and challenges BITM has overcome.
Travis exclaims his vision for the podcast and how having conversations like these help you evolve.
Lots of jokes, lots of stories and lots of quotables and the beginnings of a #VERZUZ battle in this episode!
It’s been a long time and we shouldn’t left you without a dope episode to tune into. Tune into….But we here and ain’t going nowhere! In this episode Herman and Tim talk about being black and invisible to their neighbors, T-Bone wallows in his pride and sorrow of being a Chiefs Season Ticket Holder during a Pandemic, we discuss tragic and emotional events like the shooting of Jacob Blake, protests in Portland and some random white kid who’s name we shall not give power too shooting protestors. The crew also remembers the greatness of the amazing Chadwick Boseman. We touch on about 5 other topics like Covid-19 Racine, Nas new album, T having a crush on Monica AND Moesha…we mean Brandy, buying stocks on the dip and more...because its been a while. So yes, it’s a long episode but full of goodies 🙂
Kemet Coleman is a friend, colleague, musical artist, creative, marketing strategist and Urbanist. He spent some time with the crew in the studio talking about not only his body of work and current projects but also the challenges of building his own personal brand while being black in the middle.
Better late than never right! The crew hits a crap-ton of topics: making a case for hiring professional movers, Biden’s VP pick of Kamala Harris, the death of college football, pivoting and niching down in business, adding value to your relationships, virtual vs in school and how private schools been living in 2020 for years.
What would have happened if, at the age of 10, you know, back in the late 70s, 80s and even early 90s, you went to your pops and told him you were sad? Or stressed? Or depressed?
The crew answers this, talks about their experiences and offers up solutions to keeping your mental wellness strong in a world full of judgement.
Is this episode of the Update, Herman defends Overboard again (ugh), gum sales across the globe are down and we all know why, Travis binged #BlackAF and patronized a few black owned restaurants while falling off the healthy eating train and the pod is Facebook Official.
Does you child have a black momma or daddy? If you answered yes, then you are raising a black kid. The next question is, are you raising your kid black? As fathers of black boys and girls, Herman, Tim and Travis discuss the importance of shining a light on black heritage, history and culture and good or bad of a job they are doing themselves.
This week on The Update, the fellas check in on each others mental state, discuss strong black films of the 21st century or lack thereof and much more!
The crew opens up a bit and talks about what they are scared of. From snakes to scary movies to cops, from fatherhood to potential, Herman, Tim and Travis put a spotlight on the things that drive them to be better men.
This week on the Update the crew talk about [white] allies, the first thing they will out of Covid a creepy trip to the zoo and much more
So, in today’s episode, the crew chops it up with long time friend, Scott Bailey, another black male living in the middle. This episode is framed as a constructive brainstorm in preparation for Scott's meeting with executives and other diverse managers at his company.
The crew finds themselves in a bit of an entanglement thanks to our hero Will Smith and the boo, Jada, our local superstar Patrick Mahomes get's a fat payday and Herm killed his houseguests by drying them out from their insides, ew.
This week on The Update we talk about Herman’s unwelcome house guests, putting in some sweat equity, mask fashion, Independence Day pride or lack there of and hitting 1000 monthly downloads…oh snap!
We’ve got 5 degrees between the 3 of us but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we are 100% wrapped up in the ideal that every kid needs to go to college. This episode dives into the importance of getting that degree, the alternatives to college life, the influences that sent us down our chosen paths and the experiences that molded us and the careers we have today. Also,Tim with FAMU..smh.
Tune in for the first in the crews series of weekly updates. Herman, Tim and Travis bring you up to speed of what’s going on in their lives and how it’s like living in the middle, right now. Get an inside look into the lives of your hosts as they give you “The Update”. This week, Herman has uninvited guests, Tim makes moves on his journey to building wealth and Travis talks about his struggles in not being able to fix stupid [people].
Herman’s the book worm but Tim’s been hyper focused on building wealth and decided to pick up a book, The Millionaire Next Door. It’s one of many from his required reading list but join us as the crew get served up some unknown and unpopular facts about the wealthy in America and what it takes to join the ranks.
One of the hardest things to do is be intentional about who you are, what you project to others and how they perceive you. No, we are not talking about doing it for the gram. We are talking about understanding your true talents, leveraging your strengths and passions and building your personal and professional brand that will be a driving force in pushing you towards your goals. The crew discusses how stuck they feel sometimes when dealing with polarizing issues, defining their own brand, Drew Brees, Ben & Jerry’s and more in this introduction to self branding.
*DISCLAIMER: Technical difficulties were experienced in the recording of this episode. It was probably the best yet, but the clicking and glitching in the playback is enough to press skip to jump onto episode 13 - and we totally understand.
But oh well, Fu$& it! Listen to 3 Dope Dads talk about being father's and having one too!
Listen to Tim try and say big words as the crew covers a lot of “good” in this episode: being well rounded, lifting up those around you, the network effect of philanthropy, different kinds of giving, karma, the causes we support, how to assess an opportunity that is presented to you and the most important, giving when you don’t even have anything to give.
With so many of us out of work and potentially still getting paid a little from the government, now is a perfect time to reevaluate your professional goals, take steps to skill up and come out on the other side of this better and stronger than before. We talk about our past layoffs, investing, credit, wealth and more.
The crew dives into the fear white community members have when a black family moves in down the street, when calling the cops on black men goes wrong and an update on what it’s like jogging through the neighborhood after the public deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.
Is 15% still good? Is 30% too generous? Should I really be tipping for carryout? In this episode you will find out why the answer is...it depends on whether Herman, Tim or Travis is picking up the check.
An unarmed black man was murdered by the police...on video...again. We talk about policing, protesting, rioting, politics, systemic racism and how to handle all of the rage, anger, sadness, disappointment, confusion and lack of hope some of us have with this country and the racist people who run it.
Ahmaud Arbery, a 25 year old black man, was murdered while jogging in Georgia. Yup. We talk about it, how we would react in the same situation, how it's affected us and what we are going to do about it.
Wait...was that a compliment? Listen to both sides of the argument when the crew discusses what it's like being called the whitest black guy - from both sides.
A common goal, but with a different approach. Progress may look a little different on this side, but the blueprint remains true.
A raw, real and uncut conversation about the pandemic and how it's affecting the lives of individuals and families across the country. Featuring invited guests Jibran Kelley, Kegan Coleman and Andrew Enlow.
Fail to plan or plan to fail; this is our blueprint for goal setting. Listen to the crew talk through experiences when they used the SMART goal framework, vision boards and SWOT to reach personal, professional and business focused milestones.
Kind of like an episode 0 but this is just a quick introduction on what to expect as we take this audible journey together. Meet Travis Brown, Herman Watson and Tim McCoy and find out why we put this 'blueprint' together for you.