The Middle American

Brian Groesser

Do you find yourself to be politically homeless? Do you feel like nobody represents you in Washington or state/local government? Are you tired of rising rhetoric and hyperpartisanship? Are you finding that you are affording less regardless of which party is in power? This podcast is for you.

I am in the middle. I am registered unaffiliated. But we need to do more than simply change our voter registrations. And we certainly cannot afford to completely opt out of politics. We must engage if we want real change.

This podcast is a step towards that change. But real change happens when listeners decide to do more than just listen - when they decide to act. My hope is that listening motivates you to take that step, no matter how small, to make your community better.

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25 episodes
Avg 53 min
English

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Episodes 25

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S4 · E26
Yesterday · 49 min
Trump's Unraveling
Trump is the most resiliant politician in American history. He has survived scandals, two impeachments, criminal indictments, and an election loss. This is different. The unraveling of his influence has begun. Democrats will take over the House in November - and possibly the Senate. Equally important, after Election Day he becomes a lame duck president. Broken promises. Low approval ratings. Families struggling economically to afford groceries, utilities, gas, and rent/mortgages. It is all coming to a head. The script has not changed - just the audience's reception of it. There will be an opening for moderates and independents like never seen before in 2028. Will they take advantage of it? Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E25
September 14 · 36 min
Rhetoric(al) Questions
Shelly Headen is a Democrat running in a competitive State House district in North Carolina trying to unseat a long-serving Republican. She is a vital component of the North Carolina Democratic Party's efforts to flip the state legislature for the first time in over a decade. Over the weekend, the Party abandoned her. Why? A history of vile social media posts that are not only disqualifying but disconcerting. The continued rise of rhetoric from candidates of both parties must be addressed. Unfortunately, the trend only truly gets checked in competitive races - something that is rare in politics. The Party did the right thing by condeming and abandoning her - but should they have done so prior to the public outrage? Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E24
September 10 · 48 min
9/11: 25 Years Later
25 years ago we lost our innoncence. A generation removed from that tragic day requires us to take a look back. We have a duty to remember. We also have a duty to teach and learn. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E23
September 8 · 1 hr 5 min
Conversation with Andrew Dunn: Author of Change Agent: Pat McCrory's Rise, Reckoning & Legacy
Few people understand North Carolina politics better than Charlotte Observer columnist and Carolina Journal reporter Andrew Dunn. His new book covers the career of former Charlotte Mayor and North Carolina Governor Pay McCrory that challenges the politician's public perception. Andrew and I discuss: 1. How McCrory transformed Charlotte over 14 years in office as a Republican mayor. 2. What led to him winning the highest elected seat in NC while carrying two major, traditionally blue counties - Mecklenburg and Wake. 3. The HB2 bathroom bill crisis and fallout. 4. Where McCrory fits in today's politics. The conversation addresses broader ideas like whether the electorate awards those who govern versus those who fight; if the McCrory of 2012 could even win a Republican primary in 2026; and what motivated him to step beyond being a citizen and become a candidate to better his community and state. Finally, we discuss an emerging new change agent: the rise of the democratic socialist. Tune in for an engaging discussion about the book and beyond. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E22
September 3 · 1 hr 5 min
Conversation with Nick Sliwinski: Wake Forest Commissioner
Nick moved to North Carolina and found himself immediately involved in a development dispute within his new neighborhood. His pragmatic approach to helping neighbors led them to encourage him to do more within the community. With no prior political experience, he decided to run for the town's non-partisan Board of Commissioners. He won. After four years of service, he felt he had more to give. He ran again. He lost. But his service did not go unnoticed by his colleagues, who brought him back when a vacancy on the Board came up. Hear Nick discuss: 1. What led him to initially engage with his new community. 2. The difficulty of taking that first step in practicing citizenship, along with the reward in doing so. 3. How partisanship impacted both of his campaigns in a non-partisan race. 4. What he has learned about himself and politics by serving his community. 5. What advice he would give to those who are looking to take their own first steps in practicing citizenship. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E21
August 31 · 1 hr 15 min
Conversation with Jacob Arthur: Candidate for WCPSS School Board District 7
Jacob, a fellow attorney and father of four, decided in the midst of COVID that he should do something more upon seeing his children struggle with remote learning. He had been involved in state government, but not as an elected official. He was practicing citizenship. In 2021, he decided to run for WCPSS School Board. He lost. But rather than treat the loss as a verdict, he used it as a lesson to learn from. Now he is running again. Tune in for our conversation about: 1. Why he decided to step beyond his comfort zone and get involved in state government. 2. What he learned from his time at the state legislature that gave him confidence to run on his own. 3. What he learned from his first campaign, including how partisan non-partisan races are in reality. 4. Why he decided to keep running, after losing two straight campaigns, and how he is a better candidate now than when he started. 5. How is vision for The Wake Framework can be applied at WCPSS. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E20
August 26 · 48 min
Conversation with Wesley Warshawer
Being comfortable with the uncomfortable. Wesley Warshawer joins the podcast for a discussion of how he took a significant step in practicing citizenship by stepping outside of his Silicon Valley bubble and moving to Bismarck, North Dakota, to experience what he thought would be the opposite of his life experience. He toured the country for 18 months, from Bismark to Biloxi and many stops in between that did not resemble his California home. He found along the way that we are more alike than we are different, despite the political polarization and binaries were are sold. This is his journey. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E19
August 24 · 1 hr 7 min
Conversation with Concord Mayor Steve Morris
Steve Morris, mayor of Concord, North Carolina, joins me to discuss his experiences over the past two decades participating in local government. We cover topics addressed in my upcoming book, Our Middle American Life, including: (1) Why he chose to take an initial step as a citizen practicing citizenship more than 20 years ago when he joined the Chamber of Commerce and became its chair. (2) How did his time on the Chamber prepare him to run for County Commissioner. (3) What political muscle did he build over three successful terms as a moderate Republican on the County Commission. (4) What lessons did he learn from losing during his fourth campaign. (5) How he became mayor of the 10th largest city in North Carolina, in a non-partisan race, when both parties endorsed other candidates. This conversation is the upcoming book in real world action. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E18
August 17 · 37 min
The Middle American Reboot
I'm back. I've been writing a book. It's called Our Middle American Life. In the process of writing it, the thesis of the book changed - as did my perspective on politicians, the parties and the political system. We live in a society where the middle politically (independents) are the largest voting bloc in the country - throw in disenchanted moderates and the number is even larger. Yet, we have no representation. Not in DC. Not in most state capitals. Not even likely in your local governments. Why? While at the same time, the middle class is shrinking, both in size and its ability to afford what has defined the middle class (and the American Dream) for generations. What happens this November on Election Day will make zero difference. We need to do more. I need to do more. And this podcast's purpose is a start. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E17
June 8 · 1 hr 15 min
Live and Lie in LA?
The Los Angeles race for Mayor has garnered unprecedented national media coverage with a script worthy of its Hollywood background. An incumbent mayor who has overseen a bungled response to a catastrophic natural disaster. A reality TV star with viral AI-generated campaign videos. Drugs, deception and manipulation. But this is no script. Instead, we have seen a third candidate swoop in after Election Day to win a spot for the two-person race in November. Allegations of fraud, rigged elections and illegal votes. Let's take a look beyond the headlines. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E16
June 7 · 1 hr 16 min
The Affordability Crisis: Listener Conversation with Rebekah and Ryan Rose
Rebekah and Ryan are in their 30s. Two young kids. Listen to a wide-ranging discussion of living within your means, trying to save to buy a home, the rising costs impacting thin margins of running a small business, and how one voice can lead to community activism in local politics. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E15
June 3 · 42 min
Rate Rage
Property taxes are going up in Wake County. This is on top of a 2024 tax valuation that saw increases in tax assessed values of over 50%. Homeowners insurance is up 15% over the past two years. Auto insurance up 5%. Duke Energy is seeking an 18% increase after only recently getting a 20% increase. Increasing rates are decreasing consumer spending power as wages have not followed suit. Individually, each rate increase may not seem significant, but collectively, they are pushing an already cash-strapped middle class to their breaking point. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E14
May 29 · 57 min
The Affordability Crisis: Listener Conversation with Matt Johns
Matt is a college grad in his mid-40s living in Michigan. He discusses his employment journey from Michigan State to his current job working with Hillsdale College. Matt is now trying to make a living with a girlfriend, two kids and a full-time job while feeling the same constraints many Americans are feeling in terms of making ends meet in today's economy. Here's his story. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E13
May 28 · 53 min
The Affordability Crisis
The stock market is hitting all-time highs. But while Wall Street is printing money, Main Street is pinching pennies. 90-day delinquencies on credit cards, student loans and auto loans are at all time highs. Wages are being out-paced by housing/grocery/car costs. The average American is feeling like they cannot afford things like they used to only a few years ago. And they are not wrong. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E12
May 23 · 1 hr 22 min
Raleigh Attorney Shootings
Yesterday, two attorneys were shot outside the Wake County Courthouse in Raleigh, NC, by a pro se Plaintiff. The parties had just been in court on a civil case involving a local police department and production of body cam footage dating back to an incident in 2021. Both attorneys seemingly will survive, but online supporters of the shooter are calling for her release, justifying the attorneys being shot, and asking people to look further into the case. So I did. Here is what I found. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E11
May 21 · 28 min
Duggan Drops Out
Mike Duggan, the former Mayor of Detroit, has been running for Governor in Michigan as an independent candidate since December 2024. In January 2026, he was polling within single digits of the lead. Today, he announced his departure from the race. How this race may impact other independents in terms of making a decision to run for office and why we need more people like Mike to not just run, but take it to the finish line. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E10
May 14 · 32 min
Cooper Crime Conundrum
The North Carolina Senate race is going to be the most funded and possibly most watched race in the 2026 election cycle. Cooper is up big. Whatley has no record or name recognition to run on. So the GOP's main strategy is to attack Cooper's record, and the efforts have begun. Cooper released 4,200+ criminals back into society as part of a COVID-related settlement agreement while governor in 2021. Those releases have resulted in subsequent murders and other violent crimes. An investigation has started and a new website is out with a database of these offenders and their post-release activities. Is this Cooper's Willie Horton moment? Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E9
April 29 · 56 min
The E-Bike Epidemic
You've probably seen them in your neighborhood or around town - a kid on what seems like a dirt bike driving recklessly in and out of traffic. These are actually known as "e-motos" but marketed as "e-bikes" and legally defined as motorcycles. Yet, parents are buying them at alarming rates for largely their middle school-aged boys to operate on city streets. It's the equivalent of giving the keys of your car to your 13-year-old and encouraging them to wear a seatbelt. The federal and state governments are largely behind in regulating the use of these devices, shifting the responsibility to local governments. I was concerned. I reached out to my local government. And they did something about it. You can too. Before it's too late. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E8
April 27 · 46 min
White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
A gunman breached Secret Service security over the weekend for the third time in less than two years, attempting to take out the President. This time, the event unfolded at the annual White House Correspondent's Dinner. Almost immediately conspiracy theories emerged as to what happened, including whether this was a false flag operation. Lack of trust in Trump and in our governmental institutions have helped create those theories, which are not necessarily easily dismissed dating back to Butler. I'll discuss multiple perspectives on those breaches to try to understand why they keep occurring - because they should be a concern to all regardless of the reality. Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show
S4 · E7
April 14 · 41 min
Trump, Pope Leo & Iran
The war in Iran is now into its 7th week, extending beyond the original 4-6 week timeline forecasted by President Trump at the onset. It remains unclear as to what the US is seeking to accomplish in Iran, largely predicated on mixed messaging from the White House. Other messages, however, have been quite clear. Trump on Truth Social has lambasted his GOP opponents, called out Pope Leo, and depicted himself as Jesus. Will the Iran War turn into COVID 2.0 for Trump? Like the show? Shoot me a text with your thoughts Support the show

Showing 1–20 of 25 episodes