#329. Remember when playing childhood sports in the backyard in an unorganized fashion was fun? Maybe for some of us, if we really try to remember those moments, we remember more kickball games ending in anger because someone tried to make up a rule on the spot than games ending in laughter and joy that we just had a great time. Turns out having an ump in that scenario doesn’t change much. There’s something about organized sports that creates different kinds of memories, character development, and enjoyment. We enjoy looking back and forward into our kids’ experiences as we get to watch them. If they stick with it and try really hard, maybe they can professionally become athletes who fall down in front of refs to manipulate a game just like their heroes! You know what didn’t flop? Our streaming suggestions. This week, in addition to NBA playoffs, we’re watching Rental Family, A Man Called Ove, The Last Rifleman, Is This Thing On?, Love on the Spectrum, This is a Gardening Show, Pluribus, and Foundation. Share your youth sports stories via the LinkTree below! Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#328. I dare you to stay “rural” 15 times without feeling like a doofus. Also, Chat GPT is asking questions and that makes us nervous. With that out of the way, we get to hear from Dillon and his delightful reward of a vacation! Costa Rica treated him well and the all-inclusiveness of a typically not all-inclusive resort is maybe a step above other experiences. Coffee tastings from single origins, professional massages, power juice, robes, views, and seafood are all among the highlights. He did encounter a couple of oddities which bring up questions. When does bringing food onto an airplane become too invasive? How long is acceptable to scroll through movies before landing on one? Let us know via the LinkTree below! Dillon, you deserved every bite of that shrimp cocktail, and you fully earned the cheese added to the fried plantains. Here’s to more! Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#327. Happy Birthday, Dillon! We hope you got to celebrate with something like carrot cake. Carrot cake: vegetable. And I don’t care who knows it anymore. Maybe we should get a shirt made which says, “Vegetables are more easily understood the less we understand about them” and wear it all over the world to let everyone know what we’re all about. Scottie Pippin would know it by know if we did. We would also need to make a sweater to put on during sweater weather to be cozy while we sip on something pumpkin spice. In the meantime, novel Mt. Dew flavors will do. Every season has its ups downs. All four of them are good enough for us, though some just barely. All of that and we’re streaming some stuff! This week we touch on Trust Me, Mission Impossible 7 and 8, Daredevil, and Maul. Let us know some white women sayings and until next time, be kind to each other!FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#326. We’re back after a few weeks off! We begin with that explanation and honorable nod to Dillon and Kory’s grandfather. We share some of what we’ve been up to the past few weeks, then we get into discussing doing home projects with your spouse and what it looks like when plans aren’t aligned. For example, maybe we shouldn’t plant new trees until Kory is done digging himself a hole. Also, Kory has had a lot of traveling going on and he shares some stories of two of new favorite places, Amsterdam and Austin. He kept it weird at the Comedy Mothership and kept it lonely on his car ride back to the hotel. You’re also going to want to hear some of what we’ve been streaming: Trust Me. What have you been up to? How’s your spring turning up!? Let us know via the LinkTree below. Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#325. Oh hi! We were just talking about matching a hat to the beard. Speaking of which, by some beard oil; the Artius Man link is below. Anyway, Kory is back and has some meal strategy to add to our previous discussion before he shares the ups and downs and ups again about his trip to Spain. He and his wife had a great time, learned what Tapas are all about, and got angry at the Spanish Home Depot. All of this raises some good questions about when to move on to plan B, when to press on, and when to order drinks from the flight crew so you can enjoy the luggage-filled drama on an airplane. Enjoy! Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#324. Ever feel old enough to get scammed but young enough to know better? Kendall does. Ever find tortillas so good you need to stow them away for a flight home only to wish a week later you would have bought more luggage to smuggle more? Dillon does. We talk for half an episode about those two things. We could have gone longer even, but we needed to discuss more important things such as regional diet sodas and the order in which you should eat your burger and fries. Join us as we discuss the strategy behind the order in which we eat our food then tell us your mastication proclivities via the LinkTree below! We finish with a bit of steaming old-school style with Modern Family and Scrubs. Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#323. I’m not sick, but I’m not well. It turns out those words were probably meant to help us understand our middle-aged existence as we ponder our aches and pains, overthinking, and refreshed interests. But all of it seems to be heading somewhere cool as priorities and relationships with friends and family straighten out. Balancing work and family travel, watching tv for ourselves or with our spouses, and sharing hobbies with our children or spending some time alone are all good things and all should be enjoyed. Listen in as middle-aged dudes discuss their lives and please join the conversation with your thoughts! The LinkTree below will show where to do that. Until next time, be kind to each other. FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#322. Happy Birthday to two of our favorite young people with such bright futures! One can look forward to the freedom of driving, another can look forward to figuring out pizza. Nowhere to go but up! There’ll be some bumps along the way. Popsicles might get weird, pizza chains will lie about improvements, and lemon-lime soda will always make you think of vomit, but the mac-and-cheese and sushi at a good buffet will never disappoint. And though that mac-and-cheese may be quite temporary, your dads will always be there for you: remember that when they’re in their autumn years. Be sure to visit them on the shuffle board court in Florida. Hopefully they’ll still be young enough to dominate the early-bird league. Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#321. The thaw is underway  and we came out of our dens to record another episode! Ever find yourself showing off for nobody? If you throw a snowball into the air and perfectly roundhouse it into bits but there was no-one around to see it, did it really happen? Maybe that’s why Uber drivers wait until they have a passenger before they show off their stunt driving. Speaking of stunts, the Winter Olympics is rolling and some of are here for it! All of that and more in this one as we slowly heat things back up to above freezing. Enjoy! Until next time, be kind to each otger. Sent from iPhone.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"

#320. It’s snack time, folks! You thought sandwiches and egg rolls were perfectly fine the way they were. And they are. But why not make them more fork friendly? It worked for burritos! Maybe the crab rangoon burrito will become so popular that it evolves again into a bowl and then we’ll have a spoonable burrito! Just ask for extra crab. It may be a little spendy, but then again, so is Dillon sometimes. After the break we switch gears and talk about food. Sandwiches are loved across the nation, but the menu differs a bit from region to region We discuss and sometimes question the sources of our research. We end with a little streaming and an honorable mention to a football post-season that’s been better than most for most of us fans. Let us know about your sandwich trends via the LinkTree below! Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com use discount code "themiddle"