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The Middle

Andy and Roger

In a world where only the extreme get their voice heard... How do we know where the middle is?

Join us on our search for the middle.

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  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 42 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • S1 · E208
    Yesterday · 33 min

    #208 - Butt scrunch

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 208 – Butt scrunch Apparently, the biggest controversy in comedy right now is a pair of gym shorts. In this episode, Andy and Roger tackle the backlash against comedian Shane Gillis and his jokes about women's gym attire, particularly the increasingly popular scrunch-bottom shorts. They debate whether comedy should be allowed to offend, whether audiences are taking jokes too literally, and where the line sits between observational humour and misogyny. The conversation expands into the gender wars, exploring why people dress the way they do, the role of sexual attraction and social status, and whether men should be allowed to comment on women's clothing choices. Andy argues that comedy can highlight absurdity without passing moral judgement, while Roger questions whether society has lost the ability to have an honest conversation about appearance and attraction. Along the way, they discuss online outrage, male allies, Kim Kardashian's influence on beauty standards, and the difference between laughing at something and wanting it banned. Things then take an unexpected turn into the world of furries, costume etiquette and some rather questionable theories about what happens underneath the onesies. By the end, even Jerry Seinfeld isn't safe. Hashtags: #ShaneGillis #StandUpComedy #ComedyControversy #CancelCulture #GymCulture #GymFashion #ScrunchShorts #GenderWars #FreeSpeech #ComedyBoundaries #MisogynyDebate #SocialCommentary #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcast #CultureWars #OnlineOutrage #GenderDynamics #BeautyStandards #KimKardashian #MaleFemaleDynamics #PoliticalCorrectness #FurryCommunity #ObservationalComedy Engage with us on social media: Website:
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  • S1 · E207
    October 10 · 48 min

    #207 - Death penalty

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 207 – Death penalty Roger returns from Movie World on the Gold Coast with stories of ageing superheroes, terrified children and stunt shows before Andy brings the mood down considerably with a discussion about the death penalty. Because nothing says light entertainment quite like a botched execution. In this episode, Andy and Roger examine the case of Christa Pike and the reported complications surrounding her execution attempt, raising questions about lethal injections, the humanity of capital punishment and whether the state should ever have the right to take someone's life. They debate the arguments for and against the death penalty, from justice for victims and their families to wrongful convictions, rehabilitation and the moral implications of state-sanctioned killing. The conversation broadens into the psychology of violent criminals, the role of mental illness and childhood trauma, and whether free will should influence how society assigns blame and punishment. From serial killers and historical figures like Hitler to the assassination of Osama bin Laden, the duo explore where justice ends and revenge begins. They also discuss the Lindsay Clancy case, the complexities of criminal responsibility and how social media and conspiracy theories can distort public perceptions of justice. Ultimately, Andy and Roger ask whether a more civilised society should prioritise punishment, rehabilitation or simply protecting the public, and whether some crimes are so horrific that even the most principled opposition to the death penalty becomes difficult to maintain. Hashtags:
#DeathPenalty #CapitalPunishment #ChristaPike #LethalInjection #CriminalJustice #DeathRow #TrueCrime #JusticeSystem #HumanRights #EthicsAndMorality #FreeWill #MentalHealth #CriminalPsychology #SerialKillers #Rehabilitation #RestorativeJustice #LindsayClancy #WrongfulConvictions #USPolitics #SocialJustice #Philosophy #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion Engage with us on social media: Website:
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  • #206
    October 3 · 45 min

    #206 - Changing minds

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 206 – Changing minds Andy returns from Sydney with a new appreciation for public transport and, more surprisingly, the Toyota Camry. From there, Andy and Roger ask a question that sounds simple until you actually try to answer it: when was the last time you genuinely changed your mind? The conversation moves through belief, identity and contrarianism, as Roger reflects on growing up religious, sincerely believing in God, and eventually leaving those beliefs behind. Andy considers his own Catholic upbringing and whether the same instinct that makes someone question religion can also make them more willing to challenge the prevailing view. Naturally, an attempt to talk about religion eventually becomes another discussion about Israel and Gaza. Andy and Roger debate responsibility for the war, Hamas and the October 7 attacks, Israel’s military response, civilian suffering, hostages, radicalisation and what any realistic path towards long-term peace might involve. They disagree over where responsibility should fall, whether diplomacy was given enough of a chance, and how Gaza could eventually be rebuilt and governed — arriving, somehow, at KPMG consultants and the Toyota Camry. Hashtags:
#ChangingYourMind #Religion #Belief #Contrarianism #IdentityPolitics #IsraelGaza #Israel #Gaza #Hamas #MiddleEast #October7 #PeaceProcess #PoliticalDebate #MoralResponsibility #Radicalisation #Indoctrination #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #AustralianPodcast #TheMiddlePodcast Engage with us on social media: Website:
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  • S1 · E205
    September 26 · 45 min

    #205 - Is it rael?

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 205 – Is it rael? Roger goes to the pub, has a few too many drinks and somehow ends up taking the Israel-Palestine conflict home with him. From there, Andy and Roger unpack what happens when political disagreement stops being about competing interpretations and starts being about whether people can agree on the basic facts at all. They discuss the polarisation surrounding Israel and Gaza, October 7, the Hannibal Directive, accusations of genocide, civilian casualties and the increasingly fraught question of Israel’s legitimacy. The conversation also turns to antisemitism in Australia following the Bondi terror attack, shifting attitudes among younger people, the politics of the United Nations, Zohran Mamdani and Benjamin Netanyahu, and the reluctance of political tribes to condemn abuses committed by their own side. Andy and Roger also wrestle with competing claims to the land, colonialism and indigeneity, whether history offers any useful moral clarity, and the uncomfortable reality that Israelis and Palestinians ultimately have to find a way to live alongside one another. There are no neat answers, although relocating a second Jewish state to the Northern Territory does briefly enter the discussion. Hashtags:#IsraelPalestine #IsraelGazaWar #Gaza #October7 #MiddleEast #BenjaminNetanyahu #ZohranMamdani #Antisemitism #Bondi #AustralianPolitics #USPolitics #UnitedNations #PoliticalPolarisation #Geopolitics #TwoStateSolution #Hamas #Israel #Palestine #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion Engage with us on social media: Website:http://themiddle.site/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email:the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website:http://themiddle.site/ Or click:https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E204
    September 19 · 59 min

    #204 - Mackle No More

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 204 - Mackle-no-more Apparently the safest way to survive a pop tour in 2026 is to say absolutely nothing — although even that can now get you into trouble. Andy and Roger start by asking whether “peak woke” really is over, looking at the growing profile of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), dissatisfaction with mainstream politics, and why more radical political movements can become attractive when people decide the status quo is no longer working. The conversation then turns to a reported controversy involving Ed Sheeran and Macklemore, after Macklemore used a support slot to promote the Palestinian cause and criticise Israel’s actions in Gaza. Andy and Roger debate celebrity activism, whether an Ed Sheeran concert is the place for political campaigning, the difference between criticism and cancellation, and the pressure on public figures to take a position — including the increasingly familiar argument that silence itself amounts to a statement. They also wrestle with the complexity of Israel, Gaza and Hamas, the limits of slogans such as “Free Palestine”, and whether political advocacy becomes less persuasive when it leaves no room for the agency or responsibility of the other side. Along the way, P!nk, Robert Kraft and Roger Waters enter the discussion, as does Macklemore’s past controversy involving a costume criticised as a Jewish stereotype. Hashtags:
#CancelCulture #EdSheeran #Macklemore #CelebrityActivism #FreePalestine #IsraelGaza #GazaWar #PoliticalActivism #DSA #DemocraticSocialistsOfAmerica #WokeCulture #CultureWars #FreedomOfSpeech #MusicPolitics #Antisemitism #RogerWaters #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion Engage with us on social media: Website:
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  • S1 · E203
    September 12 · 45 min

    #203 - Armageddon

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 203 – Armageddon Andy and Roger ask the reassuring question of whether humanity might be heading for Armageddon, and whether all those reassuring statistics about the world getting better are missing the bigger picture. Starting with Steven Pinker’s case for human progress, they move quickly into AI, technological risk, political instability and the possibility that civilisation can be improving on paper while becoming considerably less comfortable in practice. The conversation turns to whether AI has already passed the point where governments can meaningfully control it, what happens to inequality when machines can replace more human labour, and whether the next generation of “AI natives” will leave the rest of us looking like someone’s dad trying to open an email attachment. Andy and Roger also debate whether smartphones and algorithms are fundamentally anti-human, why modern life keeps becoming more complicated, and whether opting out of the race is really possible. Finally, they make some predictions about what we may soon outsource to AI: jobs, friendships, massages, medical examinations and, inevitably, podcasts. Which raises an uncomfortable question — how do you know you’re not listening to an AI podcast already? Hashtags:
#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #FutureOfAI #Technology #ChatGPT #AIAutomation #FutureOfWork #AIJobs #SocialMedia #Smartphones #Humanity #ExistentialRisk #TechCulture #Automation #DigitalLife #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #ArtificialGeneralIntelligence #FutureOfHumanity #AIRevolution Engage with us on social media: Website:
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  • S1 · E202
    September 5 · 31 min

    #202 - Bali-ache

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 202 – Bali-ache Roger returns from Bali having finally discovered the appeal of doing absolutely nothing in a five-star resort, before Andy drags him back to the less relaxing world of workplace politics. In this episode, Andy and Roger tackle a listener question about the colleague who is much better at looking competent than actually being competent. They explore the dark arts of managing up, why perception and influence are genuine workplace skills, and whether confronting someone who leaves everyone else cleaning up their mess is ever worth the political cost. The conversation expands into office psychopaths, toxic colleagues, bullies, favouritism and the uncomfortable reality that businesses do not always reward the hardest-working or most deserving person. They also discuss why some difficult personalities still get results, the difference between competence and aggression, and how quickly workplace power dynamics can change. Roger finishes with a story from his graduate days involving a notorious office bully, a name badge and an unexpectedly effective observation about the man’s chest. Hashtags: #WorkplacePolitics #OfficePolitics #ManagingUp #ToxicWorkplace #WorkplaceCulture #CareerAdvice #Leadership #OfficePsychopaths #WorkplaceBullying #CorporateCulture #CareerGrowth #Management #WorkplaceDrama #Influence #ProfessionalDevelopment #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #FakeItTillYouMakeIt #ToxicColleagues #BusinessCulture Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E201
    August 29 · 44 min

    #201 - No, we’re not wiser

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 201 – No, we’re not wiser Two hundred (and one) episodes in, Andy and Roger ask the obvious question: are they older and wiser? Older, certainly. The rest remains open to debate. Continuing their trip down memory lane, they revisit two of the biggest and most divisive topics they’ve covered: Donald Trump and Israel-Palestine. Looking back at their earlier discussions of Trump, Andy and Roger consider where their views have converged, where genuine differences remain, and how much of their old disagreements came from Roger playing devil’s advocate. They discuss distrust of institutions, Trump’s appeal as an anti-establishment figure, the alternatives offered by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and whether the Trump era has permanently changed political engagement and the culture wars. The conversation then turns to October 7, Gaza and Israel’s response, where agreement becomes considerably harder to find. Andy argues that the humanitarian cost in Gaza is unacceptable and questions whether Israel’s actions have damaged its long-term security and international standing. Roger stresses the security threats facing Israel, the role of Hamas and the difficulty of identifying a realistic alternative response. They debate civilian casualties, deterrence, Iran, Hezbollah, international support for Israel and whether the events of the past few years have strengthened or weakened the Palestinian cause. After 200 episodes, it seems some arguments remain very much alive. Hashtags: #DonaldTrump #Trump2024 #USPolitics #KamalaHarris #IsraelPalestine #IsraelGazaWar #Gaza #October7 #MiddleEast #BenjaminNetanyahu #PoliticalPolarisation #ForeignPolicy #Geopolitics #CultureWars #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcast #PoliticalPodcast #Israel #Palestine #CurrentAffairs Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E200
    August 22 · 46 min

    #200 - Are we any wiser?

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 200 – Are we any wiser? Two hundred episodes in, Andy and Roger are older, slightly more injured, and not obviously wiser. Roger opens proceedings with a mysteriously sprained hip and an aggressive encounter with a physiotherapist, while Andy recounts an equally painful experience with a GP, an administrative form, a urine sample, and a doctor who warns him that AI can hallucinate while apparently failing to follow perfectly straightforward instructions. From there, the pair mark episode 200 by revisiting some of the biggest themes from the podcast’s back catalogue and asking whether their views have changed. They return to racism and white privilege, the rise and retreat of woke culture, pronouns, acknowledgements of country, Me Too and the workplace culture wars. They also look back at Australia’s Voice referendum, what its failure says about political campaigning and identity, and their continuing frustrations with the ABC. Trump and Israel-Palestine are saved for part two, proving that even after 200 episodes they still haven’t learned how to keep things brief. Hashtags: #Episode200 #TheMiddlePodcast #AndyAndRoger #CultureWars #WokeCulture #Racism #WhitePrivilege #AustralianPolitics #TheVoice #VoiceReferendum #AcknowledgementOfCountry #MeToo #ABC #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Healthcare #AustralianCulture #PoliticalCommentary #IdentityPolitics #PodcastMilestone Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E199
    August 15 · 37 min

    #199 - Artificial thought

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 199 – Artificial thought In this episode, Andy and Roger ask a fairly modern question: if ChatGPT is writing your messages, planning your holidays and settling your arguments, at what point are you no longer doing much of the thinking yourself? Prompted by a listener who worries that outsourcing everyday mental work might be making him slightly dumber, they debate whether AI is simply another useful tool—or a very convenient crutch. Roger also discovers that Andy has been filtering some of their WhatsApp exchanges through AI, which goes about as well as you’d expect. The conversation moves through authorship, confidence, communication and whether polished AI-generated language still feels like it came from a real person. Andy and Roger then put AI through a series of practical tests: planning holidays, diagnosing medical problems, helping children learn, giving relationship advice, reviewing contracts, picking stocks, fixing broken appliances, writing university assignments and researching major purchases. They finish on the harder question of whether some things—like wedding vows or a parent’s eulogy—matter precisely because you have to do the work yourself. Hashtags: #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #GenerativeAI #AI #CriticalThinking #FutureOfWork #DigitalLife #AIWriting #Technology #HumanConnection #Education #RelationshipAdvice #AIEthics #Productivity #University #Communication #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #TechCulture #FutureOfAI Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E198
    August 8 · 36 min

    #198 - Enshittified

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 198 – Enshittified Things aren’t what they used to be. Or perhaps Andy and Roger are just getting older. In this episode, Andy and Roger ask whether everyday life really is getting shittier, starting with the faded glory of Pancakes on the Rocks and the uncomfortable possibility that nostalgia has been doing some heavy lifting. From theme parks and childhood memories, they move on to the internet, where social media, advertising, algorithms, regulation and relentless commercialisation have turned what once felt like a place of discovery into something closer to a giant online shopping centre. The decline continues through streaming services, corporate life, workplace bureaucracy and the expectation of being permanently online. They also look at consumer technology and the disappearing excitement of new gadgets, the transformation of eBay from online auction adventure to another e-commerce platform, and why international travel can feel more expensive, crowded and commercialised than it once did. Along the way: Disneyland, robot vacuum cleaners, the Mona Lisa, corporate risk culture, flying cars and Roger’s decades-long pursuit of the perfect sausage and gravy. Hashtags: #Enshittification #Nostalgia #InternetCulture #SocialMedia #StreamingServices #CorporateCulture #WorkplaceCulture #Technology #ConsumerTech #OnlineShopping #eBay #Amazon #Travel #Overtourism #ModernLife #DigitalCulture #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #AustralianPodcast #TheMiddlePodcast Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E197
    August 1 · 29 min

    #197 - India

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 197 – India Roger went to India for work and returned with an expanded cultural perspective, several questions about infrastructure, and a stomach that had formally resigned. In this episode, Andy and Roger unpack Roger’s first visit to India, beginning with the country’s extraordinary cultural, linguistic and culinary diversity. Roger reflects on Bangalore’s enormous technology industry, the scale of its engineering workforce and the stark contrast between polished corporate campuses and the conditions immediately outside them. The conversation covers India’s wealth and poverty, overcrowding, sanitation, rubbish, public infrastructure and the tension between experiencing a place honestly and romanticising its hardships. Andy and Roger also discuss kinship-based societies, the continuing influence of caste, arranged marriages and how densely populated countries such as India and Japan manage public life very differently. Naturally, much of the episode is devoted to food. Roger recounts navigating unfamiliar curries, questionable water, an uncooperative digestive system and the risks of street food, before comparing Indian cuisine in India with the familiar butter chicken, vindaloo and papadums served in Australian restaurants. There are also cows on the road—despite assurances to the contrary. Hashtags: #India #Bangalore #IndianCulture #IndianFood #TravelIndia #BusinessTravel #CulturalDiversity #StreetFood #FoodTravel #BangaloreTech #SiliconValleyOfIndia #CasteSystem #IndianSociety #TravelStories #CultureShock #GlobalTravel #AustralianPodcast #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcast #PodcastDiscussion Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E196
    July 25 · 29 min

    #196 - Protest vote

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 196 – Protest vote Is voting for One Nation a rational protest vote, or the political equivalent of sending an angry email and accidentally hitting “reply all”? Andy and Roger respond to a listener who’s fed up with the major parties and considering voting for Pauline Hanson for the first time. They discuss political identity, compulsory voting, why the Liberal Party is struggling to inspire loyalty, and whether minor parties like One Nation and the Greens serve a useful purpose by forcing issues onto the political agenda. The question is whether a protest vote can send a message without also endorsing the people who might end up wielding the power. The conversation turns to Pauline Hanson’s growing political appeal, One Nation’s prospects at the next election and Gina Rinehart’s support for Hanson. Andy and Roger debate whether billionaire backing matters to ordinary voters, what might be motivating Rinehart, and whether One Nation’s current momentum represents a lasting political realignment or simply a particularly large protest vote waiting to happen. Finally, they review Pauline Hanson’s Super Progressive movie: a feature-length political cartoon with few apparent guardrails. There are some genuinely funny moments, some political commentary, and quite a lot that would make an awkward choice for family movie night. Could watching it actually change the mind of someone considering voting One Nation? Hashtags: #OneNation #PaulineHanson #AustralianPolitics #AusPol #FederalPolitics #ProtestVote #GinaRinehart #Immigration #CultureWars #PoliticalCorrectness #Wokeness #DonaldTrump #LaborParty #LiberalParty #AustralianElection #AndyAndRoger #PoliticalCommentary #SuperProgressive #MinorParties #CompulsoryVoting #PoliticalIdentity Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E195
    July 18 · 50 min

    #195 - Wonder drugs

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 195 – Wonder drugs Roger is back in Brisbane, the weather is terrible, and after briefly contemplating the bleakness of bachelor apartment living, Andy and Roger turn their attention to the latest supposed miracle of modern medicine: GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. They explore how these drugs are changing the conversation around obesity, willpower and the constant background hum of “food noise”. If a drug can dramatically reduce hunger and cravings, does that challenge the idea that losing weight is simply a matter of discipline? And if GLP-1s can influence our desire for food—and potentially other rewards—what happens when medicine starts changing not just our bodies, but our behaviour? The discussion broadens to the potential impact on restaurants, alcohol, fast food and a society built around eating and drinking, as well as the inequality created when effective treatments are available to those who can afford them. Andy and Roger also debate whether using weight-loss drugs is “cheating”, whether governments should subsidise them, and whether scepticism about a medical shortcut carries its own risks. Ultimately, they ask whether GLP-1s are merely another pharmaceutical tool—or the beginning of a future where we increasingly medicate our way around the inconvenient parts of being human. Hashtags: #Ozempic #GLP1 #WeightLoss #Wegovy #Mounjaro #Obesity #FoodNoise #WeightLossDrugs #Health #ModernMedicine #PublicHealth #OzempicWeightLoss #Semaglutide #Tirzepatide #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #AustralianPodcast #HealthDebate #BodyImage #Willpower Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E194
    July 11 · 31 min

    #194 - Trump card

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 194 – Trump card Nothing says sporting integrity quite like the leader of the free world phoning FIFA about a red card. In this episode, Andy and Roger discuss Australia’s temporary transformation into a nation of football experts whenever the World Cup rolls around. They turn to Donald Trump’s intervention after a US player was suspended, debating whether asking FIFA to overturn the decision was shameless political interference, strong leadership or simply a case of “don’t ask, don’t get”. The conversation explores FIFA’s reputation, questionable refereeing decisions and whether sport can remain fair when powerful outsiders start leaning on the rule-makers. Andy and Roger also clash over Trump’s negotiating style, the appeal of having a “thug at the table”, and whether political outcomes are shaped more by forceful personalities or the officials and strategy operating behind them. They finish with World Cup predictions, hopes of England bringing it home and the possibility of Nigel Farage facing the formidable electoral machinery of Count Binface. Hashtags: #WorldCup #DonaldTrump #FIFA #FootballPolitics #SportingIntegrity #RedCard #Socceroos #AndyAndRoger #USPolitics #PoliticalPower #FIFACorruption #FootballDebate #Soccer #ArgentinaFootball #EnglandFootball #Leadership #Negotiation #CountBinface #NigelFarage #UKPolitics #PodcastDiscussion Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E193
    July 4 · 46 min

    #193 - Monoculture

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 193 – Monoculture Pauline Hanson says Australia should be “monocultural”. Predictably, everyone loses their minds—but what does that actually mean? In this episode, Andy and Roger unpack the difference between multiculturalism and a shared Australian identity, asking whether those ideas are really in conflict or whether much of the debate comes down to semantics. They explore immigration, assimilation, language, national values, and why discussions about culture so often become debates about race instead. The conversation ranges from public barbecues and iceberg lettuce sandwiches to Brexit, Japan, Singapore and the changing face of Australian suburbs. Along the way, Andy argues for the most charitable interpretation of Pauline Hanson’s comments, while Roger questions whether the rhetoric itself undermines the very integration it claims to promote. They also discuss the role of English, shared civic values, religious differences, and why immigration remains one of Australia's most emotionally charged political issues. Hashtags: #Australia #Immigration #Multiculturalism #Monoculture #PaulineHanson #OneNation #AustralianPolitics #CultureWars #Assimilation #NationalIdentity #Migration #PoliticalDiscussion #SocialCohesion #AustralianValues #PodcastDiscussion #AndyAndRoger #CurrentAffairs #Politics #Culture #AustraliaPodcast Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E192
    June 27 · 44 min

    #192 - Karl Stefanovic

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 192 – Karl Stefanovic In this episode, Andy and Roger take on the curious case of Karl Stefanovic, Tommy Robinson, and whether cancel culture is still alive and well in 2026. Andy opens by mourning the apparent end of Karl's media career before the pair unpack his departure from Channel Nine and the controversy surrounding his independent podcast. They debate whether Karl’s interview with Tommy Robinson was genuinely beyond the pale or simply another example of a long-form podcast allowing guests to tell their stories without being subjected to a courtroom-style interrogation. Along the way, they compare Karl’s approach to Joe Rogan, discuss platforming controversial figures, and explore the tension between journalistic responsibility, freedom of expression and personal accountability for political outcomes. The conversation also touches on Tommy Robinson’s reputation, the role of social media echo chambers, gender divides in online reactions, and whether audiences are capable of making up their own minds when exposed to contentious ideas. As always, Andy and Roger manage to disagree while remaining oddly civil about it. Hashtags: #KarlStefanovic #TommyRobinson #CancelCulture #JoeRogan #FreeSpeech #MediaBias #Channel9 #AustralianMedia #PodcastDiscussion #CultureWars #TommyRobinsonInterview #PoliticalCommentary #FreedomOfExpression #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcast Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E191
    June 20 · 37 min

    #191 - Cloudy reflections

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 191 – Cloudy reflections In this episode, Andy and Roger discover that nothing captures the state of American politics quite like a mysteriously green reflecting pool outside the White House. From there, things only become more normal. The conversation takes in Donald Trump’s latest foreign policy backflip, the prospect of UFC fights on the White House lawn, and whether politics would be improved by settling succession battles inside a cage. Andy and Roger debate whether MMA belongs at the people’s house, ponder hypothetical match-ups involving JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Kamala Harris and AOC, and wonder if America has finally confused entertainment with government altogether. Back home, they discuss Pauline Hanson’s appearance at the National Press Club, the growing appeal of One Nation’s media strategy, and whether Australia’s political system is really vulnerable to a populist insurgency. There is also time for an unexpected detour into Carl Sandilands’ future career prospects, the demise of McDonald’s Angus burgers, an hour-long fast food wait that tests Andy’s patience, and the economics of ordering $700 worth of nuggets through a drive-through. To finish, Andy recommends the low-budget horror film Obsession, while Roger suggests checking out the latest UFC main event and argues that watching two blokes punch each other for ten minutes is still preferable to reading a page-and-a-half diplomatic agreement. Hashtags: #TrumpPolitics #UFC #WhiteHouse #PaulineHanson #OneNation #AustralianPolitics #DonaldTrump #JDVance #MarcoRubio #MMA #McDonalds #FastFoodFails #Populism #CultureWars #AndyAndRoger #PoliticalCommentary #PodcastDiscussion #USPolitics #AustralianMedia #HorrorMovies Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E190
    June 13 · 1 hr 6 min

    #190 - One Nation

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 190 – One Nation In this episode, Andy and Roger begin with an unexpected observation about cosmetic surgery, lip filler, hair transplants, and the growing pressure to optimise appearance. What starts as a discussion about cosmetic enhancements quickly turns into a broader conversation about identity, signalling, status, and how different groups present themselves in modern society. The discussion then shifts into politics, with a deep dive into the remarkable rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation in Australian polling. Andy and Roger explore why populist movements are gaining traction, whether Pauline Hanson is Australia’s version of Donald Trump, and how voters are responding to growing frustration with the major parties. They debate questions of race, immigration, multiculturalism, Islam, political correctness, and whether Hanson’s appeal comes from speaking uncomfortable truths or from exploiting division. Along the way, they discuss Trump’s enduring influence on global politics, the decline of traditional conservative parties, the role of social media and meme culture in modern political movements, and whether political figures should be judged by their intentions, their actions, or the consequences of both. As usual, the conversation wanders through history, culture, identity and plenty of uncomfortable territory before arriving somewhere in the middle. Hashtags: #PaulineHanson #OneNation #AustralianPolitics #Populism #DonaldTrump #PoliticalCommentary #CultureWars #ImmigrationDebate #MulticulturalAustralia #IdentityPolitics #AntiWoke #PoliticalTrends #AustralianCulture #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcast #CurrentAffairs #PoliticalDiscussion #MediaCulture #SocialCommentary #PodcastAustralia Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

  • S1 · E189
    June 6 · 27 min

    #189 - Make your bed

    🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 189 – Make your bed Making the bed is apparently the first step towards success, which may explain quite a lot. Andy and Roger compare their tolerance for household discipline, from unmade beds and open drawers to the genuinely hazardous business of leaving the dishwasher door down. They also consider separate doonas, decorative cushions and whether laziness should simply be accepted as a basic feature of human nature. The conversation moves to ironing, office clothes and the many months of life potentially lost to pressing shirts, before Andy asks Roger to update his assessment of the conflict in Iran. Roger explains why his hopes for a successful outcome have fallen, as they discuss Iran’s nuclear program, regional proxies, the Trump–Netanyahu relationship and the increasingly elastic boundaries of presidential immunity. Hashtags: #MakeYourBed #HouseholdHabits #ModernLife #Ironing #OfficeCulture #CorporateFashion #Iran #IranConflict #MiddleEastPolitics #DonaldTrump #BenjaminNetanyahu #Geopolitics #PresidentialImmunity #AustralianPodcast #AndyAndRoger #TheMiddlePodcast #PoliticalCommentary #CultureAndPolitics Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: the.middle.podcast.au@gmail.com Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

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