Millennial in the Middle

About this podcast

A podcast for those of us "stuck in the middle" of a crazy and divisive world.

Millennial in the Middle

Episodes

Season 1
#42: The Halloween Party heard 'round the World -- Follow-Up Conversation with Erik Little
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.
February 23, 2021
48 min
#41: Bitter Gen Xer in the Middle - A Conversation about WHEN you were born
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.
February 10, 2021
54 min
#40: "You say you want a Revolution" - Unraveling the GameStop Fiasco
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."
February 3, 2021
47 min
#39: “Your Average Joe” - Reaction to the Inauguration and Biden’s First Week
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.
January 29, 2021
28 min
#38: How Does a Republican Fill a Pothole? A Conversation about Local Government and Defunding the Police with City Manager Graham Mitchell
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
January 20, 2021
46 min
#37: Dangerous President, Dangerous Precedent -- Candid Thoughts on Censorship
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.
January 9, 2021
45 min
#36: "Blaze of Glory" - Reaction to the Storming of the Capitol
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."
January 7, 2021
26 min
#35: American Story 101
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
January 6, 2021
45 min
#34: "Find the Gift" - My Christmas at Rancho de los Niños Orphanage
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
December 31, 2020
52 min
#33: "You May Say I’m a Dreamer" - 2020 in Review
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!
December 15, 2020
45 min
#32: Bloody Kansas — My Thoughts on Voter Fraud and Lowering the Temperature
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!
November 10, 2020
44 min
#31: “Expect Anything Different?” — My Reaction to Election Night
It‘s been 24 hours since the first polls closed and the madness has been “par for the course.” Expect anything different from 2020?
November 5, 2020
45 min
#30: If I Were a Gambling Man… What I Predict will Happen on Election Night
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!
November 1, 2020
40 min
#29: “Oh What a Night” — The Protest on Halloween
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!
October 27, 2020
47 min
#28: “Trying to Make Some Sense of it All” — Reaction the Final Debate and a Framework to Make your Decision
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.
October 23, 2020
46 min
#27: A Disgruntled Democrat — Can a Feminist be Pro-Life?
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!
October 19, 2020
50 min
#26: A House Divided - The Election of 1860 vs. 2020
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.
October 15, 2020
38 min
#25: Under the Surface - Discussing Difficult Truths and the Fight for Equality with Dr. Alli Martin
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.***
October 12, 2020
51 min
#24: The Sound of Silence - My Experience at the Vice Presidential Debate
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.
October 8, 2020
44 min
#23: “That Amalfi Coast Feeling” - Battling with and Recovering from Anorexia
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. ***
October 5, 2020
43 min

Millennial in the Middle

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

Millennial in the Middle

Episodes

#42: The Halloween Party heard 'round the World -- Follow-Up Conversation with Erik Little

#41: Bitter Gen Xer in the Middle - A Conversation about WHEN you were born

#40: "You say you want a Revolution" - Unraveling the GameStop Fiasco

#39: “Your Average Joe” - Reaction to the Inauguration and Biden’s First Week

#38: How Does a Republican Fill a Pothole? A Conversation about Local Government and Defunding the Police with City Manager Graham Mitchell

#37: Dangerous President, Dangerous Precedent -- Candid Thoughts on Censorship

#36: "Blaze of Glory" - Reaction to the Storming of the Capitol

#35: American Story 101

#34: "Find the Gift" - My Christmas at Rancho de los Niños Orphanage

#33: "You May Say I’m a Dreamer" - 2020 in Review

#32: Bloody Kansas — My Thoughts on Voter Fraud and Lowering the Temperature

#31: “Expect Anything Different?” — My Reaction to Election Night

#30: If I Were a Gambling Man… What I Predict will Happen on Election Night

#29: “Oh What a Night” — The Protest on Halloween

#28: “Trying to Make Some Sense of it All” — Reaction the Final Debate and a Framework to Make your Decision

#27: A Disgruntled Democrat — Can a Feminist be Pro-Life?

#26: A House Divided - The Election of 1860 vs. 2020

#25: Under the Surface - Discussing Difficult Truths and the Fight for Equality with Dr. Alli Martin

#24: The Sound of Silence - My Experience at the Vice Presidential Debate

#23: “That Amalfi Coast Feeling” - Battling with and Recovering from Anorexia