Third Space Indy

This week, I sat down with Chris Smith, the founder of 1000 Words Gallery on the east side of 10th Street. Chris talked about how the gallery started as a place he needed for himself and grew into a platform for Black and brown artists, and why he’s building toward a future where 1000 Words doesn’t need him at the center. We also got into how picking up a camera after years of running track taught...

This week, I sat down with my good friend Lily Groot in her studio, with her greyhound Nancy asleep a few feet away. Lily is a painter, muralist, and printmaker, and we spent our time talking about why she’s so inspired by flowers, her Print Bike, and how Indy is a lot cooler than even we tend to give it credit for. I had a great time catching up with Lily about art, movies, and more. Lily has her...

This week, I sat down with Korie Griggs at Highland Park on the east side of Indianapolis. Korie is a poet, author, co-founder of Each Other’s Books, and she’s fresh off two hip replacements, all while about to release her new book, And So It Is. We talked about finally being able to say yes to things, carrying grief in the body, and being in right relationship with the land around us. I really en...

This week, I swung by Market Mix on 38th Street, right next to Blue Mind, and just talked to whoever wanted to sit down with me. I got to chat with Davi (and Yuvi the cat), Edith Conchas, Ben, Dillon Lockwood, and Harsha about what brought them to Indy, what keeps them here, and where they find community. It was a beautiful fall day and a really fun way to meet some new neighbors. I hope you enjoy...

This week, I sat down with Tyler Fenwick, a Mirror Indy reporter and organizer with the newly formed Indiana Local News Guild, to talk about labor organizing and local journalism. Tyler talked about why you don’t have to wait for things to go bad before you organize, and what it feels like to speak up on behalf of your coworkers. We also got into the small town newspaper vibe Mirror Indy brings to...

This week, for my birthday episode, I handed the mic to Patrick Armstrong, who guest-hosts the podcast. We talked about what a third space means to me now, a year and a half into the show, plus introversion, making Reels, and how I think about success. This was a moment to talk through a bit of self-reflection as I complete 2 full years in Indianapolis. I hope you enjoy. Sponsor City Rising: https...

This week, I sat down with Lindsey Cornett, who's running for the IPS School Board in District 4, to talk about public schools and what they mean for a city. Lindsey has been through a lot over the past few months just to stay on the ballot, and she walked us through it all. We also talked about why kids are our neighbors, whether you have them or not, and why she still has so much hope for IPS. I...

This week I sat down with Michael and Madeleine Janssen, the founders of Circle City Flea and Lucky Duck Ventures, to talk about bringing an outdoor flea market back to Indianapolis. We got into why markets right now, why businesses struggle to find retail space, and what it means to build an authentic space of just another market. I really enjoyed this conversation and hope you do too! Sponsor Ci...

This week, I sat down with Christine Page, executive director of the Indiana Barn Foundation, to talk about moving back to Indianapolis after 30 years away. Christine talked about the shuffleboard club she ran in Florida and what eventually led her to come back home to Indiana. I really enjoyed chatting with her about how the city's changed since she left, the interstate's effect on our neighborho...

Today's guest is Jennifer Magley, a local content creator, emcee, and sidequester. She recently finished her 100 stages in 365 days quest, and I'm fortunate to have sat down with her at Borage in Speedway as one of her final stages before she rounded it out with stage 100 on the Conversation Piece podcast. Jennifer has long been one of the most requested guests for the show, and I'm so thankful be...

This week I'm talking to my friend Fred Miller, AKA MF Fred. You may know him from his whiteboard videos or the Flock Camera bike tour he ran just this past weekend. Fred has been on my list of people to talk to for a long time, and we finally found some time to sit down in Garfield Park to talk about everything from the origin of the whiteboard, growing up around a megachurch, and what it means t...

This week, I'm chatting with Jason and Molly, the co-leaders of November Project Indy, a free workout group that shows up rain, shine, or negative-degree wind chill at 6 am, twice a week. We talked about why people keep coming back for over a decade, how the group has reshaped the way they both see Indianapolis, and Jason opens up about the heart attack that changed how he thinks about relying on...

This week, I sat down with Brianna Garr-Bland, AKA DJ BriMix, at Blue Mind Coffee to talk about public transit, third spaces, and everything in between. Bri talked about how she got into DJing, why she loves riding the bus by choice, and how Blue Mind became her go-to community spot. We also got into why more people should give the bus a shot, and what it really means to have a third space in your...

This week, I sat down with Jai-Lyn Norwood, the founder of Indy Black Climbers, at North Mass Boulder. We talked about how she came into climbing, why she started a group focused on getting more Black climbers into the sport, and what it's been like building that kind of representation in a space that hasn't always had it. We also got into vulnerability, teaching third grade, losing her mom this p...

Episode Summary This week, I sat down with local muralist and illustrator Siena Baldi at Lille Bønne to talk about her magical realism style, why murals matter for a city's mental health, and how a quarter-life crisis in Hawaii eventually led her to Indianapolis. Siena talked about her printmaking roots and the value of investing in mural design. I had a great time sitting with Siena on today's ep...

This week, I sat down with my good friend (and podcasting rival) Patrick Armstrong, host of Conversation Piece, to catch up on his life. Patrick talked about balancing a full-time job at Downtown Indy Alliance with community building, and what makes something a true "community event" versus just networking with extra steps. We also got into identity, growing up in rural Indiana, and lessons from h...

This week, I sat down with Mike Marbach, founder of Crossroads Comedy Theater, to talk about building new improv artists here in Indy. Mike talked about why improv isn't really about being funny, but rather about reintroducing adults to play, and how that carries over into everyday conversation, relationships, and even conflict resolution. I really enjoyed chatting with Mike today about his work,...

Episode Summary: This week, I sat down with Ben Inskeep from Citizens Action Coalition, someone I've followed on Twitter for a while and who always gets me riled up about data centers. We got into the environmental toll, the grid risks, the sad math on jobs per megawatt, and the deeper AI conversation around stolen labor, harmful use cases, and who actually benefits. Sponsor: City Rising — cityris...

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...