Both Sides of the Fence

Jennifer McIntyre
  • 4.7 (7)
  • Society & Culture

Both Sides of the Fence is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by two unlikely allies who represent deeply different lived experiences and worldviews—yet share a commitment to honest dialogue, empathy, and respect. Derek McCance – A respected gay male business owner and active community leaderJennifer McIntyre – A conservative mother, oil and gas industry professional, and outspoken industry advocateTogether, they explore today’s most polarizing political, cultural, and social issues from opposite sides of the fence. Rather than debating to “win,” the hosts aim to understand how people arrive at their beliefs—and where common ground still exists.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 12 with another special guest Lannie McAllister, Cinderella would be proud of this come back or coming of age story.

    A lot of people talk about “breaking the cycle” like it’s a slogan. Then you hear a story like Lainey McAllister’s and realize it is a series of decisions made under real pressure, with real consequences, over decades. We start in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Lainey’s earliest comforts are books, science, and a nightly Cinderella ritual, while her home life is marked by poverty, food insecurity, a father’s gambling and alcoholism, and the heavy silence that often surrounds family trauma. Lainey connects the dots between what her parents survived and what she inherited, including how abuse, racism, and untreated pain can become a household “normal” even when no one names it. We talk honestly about generational trauma, mental health, and the line between explanation and responsibility, plus why therapy becomes a practical tool for change instead of a taboo. From there, Lainey shares what it takes to choose a different path: resisting gang culture and peer pressure, holding onto faith as a source of safety, and confronting the dangerous familiarity of an abusive relationship in adulthood. Her turning point is unforgettable, and it leads to a hard-earned rebuild, including returning to college later in life to complete a biology degree. We also zoom out to the Galapagos Islands for a surprising lesson in calm, gratitude, and community care, then end with what marriage looks like when two people lead with grace, tell hard truths, and refuse to lose themselves. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more listeners can find it.   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

  2. Aug 31

    In Episode 11 of Both Sides Of The Fence, we welcome Bishop E. W. Jackson. He joins us to discuss his life, including his experiences, and how he went from foster care to Harvard through discipline and faith.

    We sit down with Bishop Jackson to trace the turning points that took him from foster care and street trouble to discipline, faith, and public life. We wrestle with how to hold convictions without hatred, and how shared humanity can cut through today’s political and cultural division.  • foster care, gang involvement, and the day his father intervenes  • a school reset, a safer classroom, and a teacher who builds confidence  • learning worth, boundaries, and empathy without excusing harm  • reconciling America’s painful history with optimism and gratitude  • reading the Bible as curiosity that becomes personal faith  • how faith reshapes marriage, parenting, and friendships  • drawing the line between faith and politics through a biblical worldview  • personal responsibility, consequences, and the role of family in teaching accountability  • why moral disagreement gets mislabeled as hate and how to keep conversations respectful  • race, identity, and the push to relate through shared humanity  • leaving the Democratic Party over conscience and social issues  • bridging the partisan gap by praying for opponents and treating people as human  If everyone could remember to like, follow, share the podcast, tell your friends, families, and neighbors about what we it is that we're trying to accomplish here.   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

  3. Aug 17

    In episode 10 of Both Sides Of The Fence, we welcome back Lenny McAllister. This time, he brings along his latest book, A Venn Diagram Of One And The Leadership We Need.

    We talk with Lenny McAllister about his new book *A Venn Diagram of One* and why it leaves us feeling hopeful about America when it is hard to feel optimistic. We dig into security, empowerment, opportunity, and what it takes to rebuild trust, community, and real leadership across political lines.  • Why the book lands as an approachable read for everyday American citizens  • The security, empowerment, opportunity framework and why security has to come first  • The difference between power and empowerment and why it changes civic life  • Redefining leadership beyond follower counts, virality, and titles  • Standing on principle even when it costs money, relationships, and speaking opportunities  • America as a second act nation and why young people need that story  • Inflection points versus reflection points and why trust is the missing ingredient  • Hurt people hurting people and how fear and economic stress fuel political anger  • The American Dream shifting into an economic-only story and what gets lost  • Faith as obligation through works, loving Americans, and taking care of yourself to avoid burnout  • Why questioning our own assumptions is the real path to healing  Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. And if you also like this next episode with Land McAllister on a Venn diagram of one.   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

  4. Jul 31

    Both Sides Of The Fence episode 9 with special Co Host Dereks husband Bon'Sel

    Healthcare that bankrupts working families. Faith that gets weaponized. Immigration enforcement that makes even citizens wonder if they’re safe. If any of that hits a nerve, you’ll feel right at home with us. Derek is joined by a special co-host, his husband Bon'Sel, for a hot-topics conversation that stays honest, personal, and grounded in real life rather than talking points. We dig into why the United States spends more on healthcare than almost any other country while people still can’t afford insurance or medication, and how big pharma lobbying and campaign donations keep reform stuck. From there, we talk about religious freedom and what respect looks like when someone believes differently, including the damage done when LGBTQ people are shamed or excluded in the name of God. We also zoom out to what “community” used to mean and how small acts of kindness can rebuild trust. Then we tackle immigration and border security with compassion and clarity, including stories about fear, ICE encounters, and what a lawful, humane system should protect. We also get into the cost-of-living crisis, why politicians get rich in public service, and why people feel like they’re living in a Hunger Games economy. Finally, we talk AI risks, the need for regulation, and the opioid and drug epidemic through a personal family recovery story that brings everything back to empathy. If you like thoughtful debate without dehumanizing anyone, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

  5. Jul 20

    Both Sides Of The Fence episode 8 part 2, Coming Out And Coming Home

    The hardest part of coming out is not always saying the words; it is what happens next, when your family is already stretched thin. We bring Derek’s mom and dad back for a raw, detailed conversation about the first time Derek came out, why it exploded into fear and denial, and how trauma and chaos at home can lead a parent to misread a child’s truth as “attention” or “acting out.” If you care about LGBTQ family acceptance, parenting through crisis, and real-life healing, this story goes beyond slogans and into the messy middle where most families actually live. We talk about repression and the unintended harm of trying to “fix” what you do not understand, as well as how strict rules can become a stand-in for love when everyone feels out of control. Derek opens up about masking his sexuality, dating a girl to appease expectations, and how shame and pressure can spill into consequences that follow you for years. We also dig into bullying, school safety failures, and why kids stop reporting harm when adults refuse to take them seriously. Then the tone shifts: one conversation about the word “choice” becomes a hinge moment that helps his parents see the daily cost of being gay in a hostile environment. From there, we trace the slow rebuild: learning, meeting real people instead of stereotypes, and choosing presence over perfection. If you are a parent, a teen, or someone trying to repair family relationships after a painful coming out, you will hear practical guidance, hard-earned empathy, and hope that does not ignore the damage. Subscribe so you do not miss what comes next, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find these conversations. What part of your story still needs a turning point?   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

  6. Jul 6

    Both Sides Of The Fence episode 7 part 1 - When Your Child Discloses Sexual Abuse And You Have To Act

    A family can be loud, loving, and full of funny childhood stories, then get shattered in seconds by one disclosure. During Pride Month, we’re joined by Derek’s parents, Billy and Gail, for a conversation they never expected to share publicly: what happened after Derek was sexually assaulted as a small child, and what it took for all of us to survive the years that followed. We talk about the signs many parents only recognize in hindsight, including night terrors, bedwetting, fear, and sudden changes in behavior. Billy and Gail walk through the gut-punch of realizing the harm came from inside the family, not from a stranger, and how denial can show up even when you love your child fiercely. We also unpack what mandated reporting looked like in 1992, the shock of police and child services at your door, and the helplessness of watching a child get pulled into interviews and court procedures. Then we get real about the justice system: intimidation, plea deals that feel like erasure, sentences that do not match the lifetime impact, and the way a whole family can be retraumatized while trying to do the “right” thing. Finally, we land on what healing actually requires over decades: better support, consistent counseling, accountability, forgiveness for yourself, and staying united when trauma tries to split everyone apart. If this hits close to home, you are not alone. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find these stories and resources.   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

  7. Jun 22

    Both Sides Of The Fence Episode 6 with special guest Anya Marino

    Fear spreads fastest when people think the “other side” is abstract. That’s why our conversation with Anya Marino lands so hard: she brings both lived experience and deep legal expertise to questions that usually get reduced to slogans. Anya is a transgender woman, a national legal advocate for transgender and non-binary rights, and Miss Gay America Femme 2026, and she helps us separate what the Constitution actually says from what cable news says it means. We dig into transgender rights through the lens of the First Amendment, Title VII workplace discrimination, and the practical reality of pronouns at work and in daily life. We also get specific about public schools and libraries, book restrictions, and why “age appropriate” can’t be used as a cover for viewpoint-based bans. From there, the conversation turns to conversion therapy and conversion practices, what medical organizations say about harm, and why rebranding dangerous ideas as “treatment” still leaves kids paying the price. Then we take on the toughest topics head-on: transgender participation in women’s sports under Title IX, how enforcement can lead to sex verification testing and body policing, and why bathroom bans can create safety risks for everyone, including cisgender women and girls. We close with a bigger question about open debate, political rhetoric, and what it looks like to call people in instead of calling them out. If you want a thoughtful, detailed discussion on gender identity, gender dysphoria, gender-affirming care, civil liberties, and how we live together in public, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who disagrees with you, and leave a review with the question you still want answered.   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

    Both Sides Of The Fence Episode 6 with special guest Anya Marino

  8. Jun 8

    Both Sides Of The Fence episode 5 with special Guest Lenny McAllister Jr.

    In this episode of Both Sides of the Fence, Derek McCance and Jennifer McIntyre sit down with Lenny McAllister Jr., a conservative Black leader, political commentator, media host, and author of the upcoming book A Venn Diagram of One, set to release in August 2026. Known for his work across newspapers, digital media, radio, and television, Lenny brings a powerful and unique perspective to today’s political and cultural conversations. As an African-American voice within the Black conservatism movement, Lenny has often challenged assumptions from both sides of the aisle. Together, Derek, Jennifer, and Lenny discuss the bold framework behind A Venn Diagram of One - America’s “second act” built on three pillars: Security, Empowerment, and Opportunity. The conversation explores how national inflection points can become moments of reflection, why echo chambers are weakening our shared future, and how Americans can build bridges without surrendering conviction. This episode is a challenge to choose hope over division, action over outrage, and purpose over trend. It is a call to restore the American Dream through courage, personal responsibility, civic engagement, and the power of the pivot, while reclaiming the “United” in the United States.   The link below is our Link-tree, which will take you to all of Both Sides Of the Fence's social media. https://linktr.ee/BothSidesOfTheFence_Podcast

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Both Sides of the Fence is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by two unlikely allies who represent deeply different lived experiences and worldviews—yet share a commitment to honest dialogue, empathy, and respect. Derek McCance – A respected gay male business owner and active community leaderJennifer McIntyre – A conservative mother, oil and gas industry professional, and outspoken industry advocateTogether, they explore today’s most polarizing political, cultural, and social issues from opposite sides of the fence. Rather than debating to “win,” the hosts aim to understand how people arrive at their beliefs—and where common ground still exists.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer McIntyre
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Both Sides of the Fence
  • Show Website
    Both Sides of the Fence