Third Space Indy

Mokao is a festival celebrating Coffee and Chocolate; this year, they celebrated the Americas and indigenous traditions. Third Space Indy was invited to table at the event, and while tabling, I engaged whoever was willing to sit down with me in a short conversation. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Proformus Urban Planning & Design Intro music: Scared Rabbit by Jennasen Timestamps: * Ann...

The Monon Trail Sale, organized by @AmandainIndy, asked Third Space Indy to attend on the second day as a merchant, where I sat down and talked to people walking through and browsing wares! I had a great time and hope you enjoy listening. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Proformus Urban Planning & Design Intro music: Scared Rabbit by Jennasen Timestamps: * Annabella — 0:19 * Sarah — 12:3...

This week, I sat down with Clockwork Janz, the Creator of Frankensteam, in their backyard. We discussed the marriage of food and music in their work and life. We also talked about slowing down to spend time with friends, oral fixations, and holding hands with John Cage. I really had a great time talking to Clockwork, and I hope you enjoy this episode. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Proform...

This week, I talked to Coryn Hendrix, the founder of Board Meetings, an LGBTQIA+ and allies skate-and-social group here in Indianapolis that meets regularly at various skate parks around town. I had known about the predecessor to this group, Grind Culture, for quite a while, and I met the founder, Carly, basically a week before she left for California. So I was so overjoyed to see that Coryn was c...

Hang Doan is a local drag queen, artist, influencer, and model. This week, Michael sits down with Hang at the Spades Park playground to talk about their gender journey, figuring out life, and how to become hot, rich, and famous. Enjoy the conversation :) 00:00 Cold Open 00:22 Support Third Space Indy 02:11 What Is a Third Place 02:41 Meet Hang Doan 03:31 Thrifting Fit Check 05:47 Vietnamese Hoosie...

Hannah Hadley is a musician, textile artist, art teacher, and the organizer behind Indy Gay Market. Michael sits down with Hannah at the Indianapolis Art Center to talk about building queer community through markets and art, the origin story of the Big Gay Market, and what it means to create a big gay space in Indianapolis. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Proformus Urban Planning & Desi...

Jesse Brown is a City-County Councilor for District 13 on Indianapolis' Near East Side and one of the loudest progressive voices in local government. Recorded live at Patina Art Gallery & Alley Cat Ceramic Studio in front of a crowd for Third Space Indy's one-year anniversary, Michael sits down with Jesse to talk about his unlikely path from punk anarchist to elected official, the frustrations...

Danielle Guerin is the founder and executive director of Soul Food Project Urban Farm, a nonprofit with four urban farm sites across Indianapolis. Michael sits down with Danielle at one of her farms in Irvington to talk about growing food and growing people, food deserts, the true meaning of food access, and finding healing through farming. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Proformus Urban Pl...

Nigel Long is a DJ, community organizer, and lifetime Indianapolis native known as DJ Grapevine. Michael sits down with Nigel at the Cloud Underground studio inside Morning Star a part of Flanner House in Northwest Side of Indy. Michael and Nigel talk about Black joy in Indianapolis, the origins of Grapevine, and why community is always work worth doing. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Prof...

Third Space Indy Live Show on May 23rd, 2026: oneyear.thirdspaceindy.com Andrea Watts is an advocate, consultant, and former city government bureaucrat working to improve Indianapolis's built environment through her work at Health By Design. Michael sits down with Andrea at Canal Bistro in Broad Ripple to talk about walkable cities, the politics of infrastructure, Arab American identity, and what...

Ethan Rosuck is a meteorologist at Fox 59 and CBS4 in Indianapolis. Michael sits down with Ethan at Chicago Beef and Dog Company in Irvington to talk about building friendships in a new city, Jewish identity and culture, Indianapolis's local food scene, and what it's like to love your niche career. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Proformus Urban Planning & Design Intro music: Scared Rab...

Jay Grillo is a multimedia artist, documentarian, and organizer at the Indianapolis Liberation Center. Michael sits down with Jay inside the Liberation Center in Fountain Square to talk about art as solidarity, cultural identity, and building community through showing up. Sponsors: City Rising (cityrising.org) Proformus Urban Planning & Design Intro music: Scared Rabbit by Jennasen Timestamps...

Karla López Owens is the deputy prosecuting attorney, community outreach director at the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, and president of the Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus. This week, she joins Michael at Ellenberger Park in Irvington to talk local democracy, her run for Marion County Clerk, and what it looks like to take government services directly to the people. Links & Resources Karl...

Host Michael Zarick speaks with Dominic Senibaldi, owner of Cat Head Press and part-owner of Love Handle on Mass Ave. Dominic about moving to Indianapolis for grad school at Herron, deciding to stay after finding community, and opening Cat Head Press in 2016 as a hand screen-print shop. They discuss Dominic’s interest in physical media through VHS collecting, the role of printmaking and zines in p...

Host Michael Zarick of Third Space Indy interviews Indianapolis cyclist Keith Hutchison at Highland Park about building community on bikes through Bike Party and bicycle riding groups. Keith, an Indianapolis native who returned in 2011 after 17 years in Colorado partly to ride here, describes Bike Party as a free, monthly, second-Tuesday ride begun in April 2016 that now draws up to nearly 1,000 r...

Host Michael Zarick interviews Indianapolis poet Auboni Hart (Auboni Essence) about performing writing, creating community “third places,” and her evolving pride in Naptown. They discuss how stage performance adds emotion and meaning beyond the page, Auboni’s rehearsal process, and her work with That Peace Open Mic, which she joined in 2017 and says has adapted through COVID with virtual shows and...

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick interviews AJ Carr-Canary, owner of DID Fit Studio, an aerial arts studio in Indianapolis. AJ shares her path from mechanical engineer at Rolls Royce to instructor, then studio owner. They discuss building a welcoming, judgment-free community, open houses, and collaborations with local groups. AJ emphasizes that pole fitness exists because o...

Host Michael Zarick talks with Anna Rhodes-Steckbeck about being a connector in Indianapolis through events, relationships, and sharing what’s happening around the city. Anna, a former kindergarten teacher and serial yes-sayer with multiple jobs, describes her goal of making people feel safe and comfortable and explains how she fell into working with Tomorrow Bookstore. She reveals Tomorrow’s “Boo...

Host Michael Zarick interviews Mads Gullion and Carly Valentine of Swap Sesh, a free monthly clothing exchange. Started by Carly about two years ago and later co-led with Mads, Swap Sesh now meets at the Garfield Park Arts Center every third Saturday (12:00–2:30), where attendees bring up to 10 items. They discuss how swaps help people experiment with style without the cost and pressure of shoppin...

Native Bread’s Hayley McGinley on Building an Allergen-Free Bakery Michael Zarick hosts Third Space Indy and interviews Hayley McGinley, founder of Native Bread, an Indianapolis bakery that is 100% gluten-free and free of top allergens. Hayley shares how, after discovering a gluten sensitivity in 2015 during a Whole30, she started an artisan gluten-free bakery in 2016, growing from home recipe tes...

Third Space Indy: Sayra and Wendy of the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA) Host Michael Zarick welcomes listeners to Third Space Indy and interviews Sayra and Wendy from the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA). Sayra explains IUYA’s origins in 2012 after anti-immigrant legislation and the passage of HB 1402 in 2011, which removed in-state tuition for undocumented students; the grou...

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick talks with Alexa Hill, owner of Common Room Indy, a salon in Castleton that she describes as a “weird, gay, funky” safe space designed to feel more like a true community hub than a sterile, typical salon. They discuss the idea of “third places” and why salons naturally fit that definition through consistency, conversation, and trust. Alexa s...

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick converses with Jalen Roseberry, the new Executive Director of DATHOUSE, about her journey from a coffee shop patron to a community leader. They delve into the essence of Third Spaces and how genuine, consistent engagement with local businesses can foster community spirit and meaningful relationships. Jalen shares insights about managing dive...

Launching a new Third Space Indy series - videos where we slow down, hear a restaurant owner’s story, and dive deeper into the dishes that make their menu special. What should we call this series? Amanda and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start. Wisanggeni Pawon is fueled by passion, dedication, and a desire to showcase Indonesian cuisine. It was so lovely hearing just a piece of Aji...

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick sits down with Nya Anthony, the founder of Sapphic Social. They discuss the origins and mission of Sapphic Social, a community group supporting trans, immigrant, and queer people through various events and meet-ups. Nya shares her journey from starting the group on an app to organizing events that foster meaningful connections among the quee...