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 

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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n this deeply personal and emotional episode of Both Sides of the Fence, co-hosts Jennifer McIntyre and Derek McCance sit down with Jennifer’s daughter, Nayeli McIntyre, to talk openly about one of the most difficult chapters their family has ever faced. 

Together, they discuss Nayeli’s struggles during her pre-teen years with gender dysphoria, depression, and self-harm, and the fear, confusion, isolation, and emotional weight that came with trying to understand those feelings at such a young age. 

Jennifer shares what it was like trying to support and protect her child while also wrestling with beliefs and perspectives that challenged her own understanding of the world. Rather than approaching the conversation through politics or ideology, this episode focuses on the raw reality of family, love, communication, and the complicated space where deeply held beliefs and unconditional love collide. 

Honest, vulnerable, and at times heartbreaking, this conversation is about listening, navigating uncertainty together, and remembering the humanity on both sides of deeply emotional issues.

If you would like to contact Jenn, please don't hesitate to send her an email,  [email protected]

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In Episode 3, our guest, Tim Motte, served 25 years as a state police officer, fighting narcotics and firearm trafficking. Tim Motte has been a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He has also served our country for 3 years of active duty in 43 countries, and also served his country on 9/11 as a first responder to Flight 93.

Tim Motte has a charity called  Gunny's Ridge Veteran and First Responder Mission - Alignable serves military, veterans, police, firefighters, EMS, and other first responders who dedicate their lives to protecting others—often carrying unseen wounds long after the job is done. Facing some of the highest rates of PTSD, psychological trauma, and suicide in America, many struggle to find the comprehensive support they truly need. 

Gunny’s Ridge’s mission is to create a multidisciplinary healing campus that delivers emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual restoration for military veterans, first responders, and their families recovering from trauma. Through innovative programs, partnerships, and a holistic approach to recovery, the goal is to establish a scalable care model nationwide.

Gunny's Ridge Veteran and First Responder Mission

https://www.alignable.com/burgettstown-pa/gunny-s-ridge-veteran-and-first-responder-mission

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Episode 2: Questions That Can’t Be Answered… or Answers That Can’t Be Questioned?

In this episode of Both Sides of the Fence, co-hosts Derek McCance Castro and Jennifer McIntyre are joined by longtime friend Tiffany Culp for a candid conversation on some of the most polarizing issues shaping our world in 2026.

Together, they share unfiltered perspectives, challenge assumptions, and explore what it really means to have open dialogue in today’s climate. No scripts. No easy answers. Just real conversation.

This episode also sets the stage for Episode 3, the first installment featuring a very special (close to home for one of our hosts) guest, where the conversation goes even deeper.

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Episode 1: Welcome to Both Sides of the Fence

In our very first episode, co-hosts Derek McCance Castro and Jennifer McIntyre introduce Both Sides of the Fence, a podcast built on the idea that meaningful conversations don’t require agreement… just a willingness to listen.

We share the thought process behind launching the podcast, what we hope to accomplish, and the mission driving every episode: creating space for honest, respectful dialogue in a world that often feels divided.

You’ll also get a glimpse into who we are...our backgrounds, experiences, and the moments that shaped our perspectives, both past and present.

This isn’t about changing minds.
It’s about opening them.

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