Conversation Piece Podcast

On this episode of Conversation Piece, Youssef Boudarine and Ariel Hendrickson, two dynamic forces in Indianapolis' culinary scene, join Conversation Piece to discuss their community-driven hospitality work, including events like Epicurean Indy and the upcoming MOkAO festival, which celebrates African coffee and chocolate. Youssef and Ariel delve into the essence of hospitality, emphasizing authen...

On this episode of Conversation Piece, middle school teachers and advocates for public education Tina Ahlgren and Ronak Shah stop by to discuss the complexities and challenges facing Indianapolis' public schools, including the impact of charter schools, vouchers, and historical segregation. Tina and Ronak highlight the importance of stability, equitable resources, and community collaboration to en...

On this episode of The Open Door, Parish Butler stops by to talk about his deep love of music. Parish shares his journey from Limewire baby, his first experience with Kanye West's music (Through the Wire), and the difference between appreciation for music then versus the lack of appreciate for it now.  Connect with Parish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parish_butler/ The Open Door is a se...

On this episode of The Open Door, Leslie Bailey stops by to discuss the heaviness that is closing her business, Maven Space. Leslie shares how she came to this decision, the process of winding down those operations over the last few weeks of March, and what it means to model "closing out loud" for others, particularly women small business owners. Follow Indy Maven on Instagram: https://www.instagr...

On this episode of The Open Door, Matt Hadley stops by to talk about why relationships are our most valuable asset. Matt shares how he was first inspired to start building relationships, where we can start building them ourselves, and how it all led him to start his own show, Circle City Success Podcast. Follow Circle City Success on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/circlecitysuccess317/ Conne...

On this episode of Conversation Piece , Lindsay Labas, Vice President of Marketing Communications at the 500 Festival, stops by the studio to talk all things 500 Festival. First, Lindsay shares her journey from her early days in marketing with the Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Department to how she ended up in her current role at the Festival, highlighting her passion for community building, st...

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Starla Kay Mathis and Lateva Woolfolk, founders of Create. Connect. Collab. (CCC), an organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs, stop by the studio to discuss their journeys into entrepreneurship, the importance of community, and how CCC provides a safe space for women to overcome barriers, build confidence, and grow their businesses. Th...

Attacks on public education have seen an exponential increase as of this most recent presidential election. In Indiana, a flurry of bills aimed at stripping (and ultimately dissolving) resource from Indianapolis Public Schools are still being heard as we approach the end of the legislative session. People are fighting, though, and on this Emergency Episode of Conversation Piece, recently elected I...

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Sirius Blvck and Scott Matelic drop by the studio to talk about their recent album,  Daily Rituals of the Wild Heart (available now!). The duo delves into the creative process behind the project, exploring themes of rebirth, reflection, and the importance of daily rituals. We also discuss their personal journeys, the communal nature of the album, and h...

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, we're on location at Tomorrow Bookstore with owners Jake Budler and Julia Breakey! Jake and Julia talk about their journey from South Africa to Indiana, the importance of global literature, and how their bookstore has become a hub for community and conversation. They delve into the challenges of immigration, the political nature of curation, and the im...

On this episode of The Open Door, Katresha Taylor, a hospice worker with over 20 years of experience, stops by the studio to talk about normalizing grief, redefining it as "love in action," and exploring communal grieving processes. Katresha shares insights from both her professional experience and personal journey, highlighting that the biggest misconception about grief is thinking we need to fix...

On this episode of The Open Door, Hang Doan, a 19-year-old gender fluid film student at IUPUI, stops by the studio to discuss their experience practicing advocacy through casual existence, the pressure to be exceptional as a trans person, and the power of cities like Indianapolis to create change. Hang also shares what they feel is the biggest misconception about the trans community. Connect with...

On this episode of The Open Door, Bo Turner stops by for a last-minute conversation about her latest entrepreneurial venture, Find Indianapolis. Bo shares why she started Find Indianapolis, how Indianapolis is a "big small town" with big city amenities AND small town community support, and explains how her love for experiences ties it all together. Follow Find Indianapolis on Instagram: https://in...

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, King Dierre stops by our new studio* to talk about his latest album, Dirty Dirty , an ode to his time at Jackson State University that bridges his experiences between Indianapolis and Jackson, Mississippi. Dierre breaks down the creative process for the album, from the intentionality of his choices in song structure to who he's collaborating with and w...

A wave of bills targeting people from all walks of life in Indiana are being heard right now during Indiana's 2025 legislative session. Some bills have already passed, others have fizzled out, and the onslaught of news and information coming out (or not ) can feel impossible to keep up with. That's what groups like Moms for Indiana. On this Emergency Episode of Conversation Piece, co-founders Elle...

On this episode of Conversation Piece, Precious Jewel, your Number One Source for Indy's Hood Happenings, drops by the studio to talk about her journey: from soap-making during quarantine to sculpting said soap to becoming a multidimensional artist and content creator who highlights the vibrant culture of Indianapolis. She shares how overcoming anxiety and fear-based perceptions of the city helped...

Recent executive orders from the Trump administration have effectively halted refugee resettlement and severely impacted humanitarian immigration programs, forcing organizations like Exodus Refugee in Indianapolis to adapt their operations and temporarily close their doors for safety of the people they serve. On this Emergency Episode of Conversation Piece, Cole Varga, Executive Director of Exodus...

On this episode of Conversation Piece, multifaceted community advocate, graphic artist, hip-hop producer, and roller skater Wildstyle Paschall stops by the studio to talk about a whole bunch of stuff -- from the housing crisis in Indianapolis and the evolution of the local hip-hop scene to the importance of communal joy, particularly through roller skating. Wildstyle shares his insights on systemi...

On this week's episode, Brother Jamal Nelson, a neighborhood revolutionary and creator of the first-ever combined Black culture and Black history board game and trivia app, stops by the studio to share his journey from military service to community leadership. Brother Jamaal talks his transformative experiences with Black liberation literature and his commitment to creating educational opportuniti...

On this episode of The Open Door, Jean Lee, founder of the Academy of Chaos and director of the Midwest Homeschool Expo, stops by the studio to talk about her journey into homeschooling during COVID and her work creating community-based educational resources. Jean discusses how she developed hands-on engineering, geography, and economics classes at the Westfield library, while also organizing a co...

On this episode of The Open Door, Ron Williams stops by the studio to talk about his brand Nate Redd Clothing, to talk about his journey from drawing clothes he couldn't afford as a child to building his Indianapolis-based fashion brand over the past 11 years. Ron shares how his mother's influence shaped his brand - from teaching him to draw to inspiring the name "Nate" (from Nathaniel, her favori...

On this episode of The Open Door, Tori Witter stops by the studio to talk about Indy Design Week, a volunteer-run nonprofit that celebrates and elevates design across all disciplines in Indianapolis. Tori discusses how the organization brings together different design communities through their annual week-long festival in April, featuring local speakers, partnerships with design organizations, and...

On this week's episode, Antonio Maxie (formerly Yung Tone) discusses his journey from north side battle rapper to establishing himself as an Indianapolis music and business icon, or as Drayco put it, "a real Naptown celebrity." Maxie shares insights about the impact of early mentors and venues like The Ugly Monkey on his development as an artist, his commitment to Indianapolis, and his role in bui...

On this week's episode, Drayco McCoy, a prolific Indianapolis-based rapper, producer, and multi-disciplinary artist, joins us to talk about his journey from Fort Wayne to becoming an integral part of the Indianapolis music scene. Drayco discusses his creative process 33 projects in, his recent sobriety journey, and vision for Indianapolis' creative future. We also explore themes of artistic authen...

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Congressman André Carson joins us to talk about his journey from growing up in Indianapolis's Dodge City neighborhood to becoming a representative of Indiana's 7th Congressional District in Washington D.C. We talk about his early life as a hip-hop artist and activist, and how these experiences shaped his approach to politics and community service. The...