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Food, Community, and Third Spaces with Michael Zarick (Third Space Indy)
Host Chris Whonsetler welcomes Michael Zarick of Third Space Indy to the Okayest Cook podcast to continue a conversation on community and “third spaces” as places outside home and work that foster consistent connection and conversation. Michael shares notable meals from a new food-focused project with Amanda Gibson featuring Indianapolis restaurants Macizo and Wisanggeni Pawon, emphasizing owner stories and kitchen access, while Chris highlights a Greenfield coffee shop, Hitherto, filled with board games and game nights. They discuss why third spaces matter amid isolation, COVID-era habits, and phone-driven convenience, and how car-centric infrastructure, zoning, and suburban design discourage spontaneous community compared with pub culture and transit-rich cities. Michael describes merchandise plans (locally made mugs) intended to get people into local businesses, recalls Pizzeria Ruby in northwest Arkansas as a personal third space, and cites Flanner House’s Flanner Farms and Cleo’s Bodega addressing food access. They also touch on roller rinks, walking, bus riding, and Michael’s ideal model: Abby Reckard’s forthcoming Lille Bønne community space in a rezoned Dutch church.
Find Michael: @Thirdspaceindy on Instagram
Web: https://thirdspaceindy.com/
~ Support Okayest Cook by grabbing some of our new merch!
https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/
Shopping with our favorite brand via affiliate links is also a huge help ~
Anova: We love their Precision Cooker 3.0 & vac sealers - https://bit.ly/3WT36ZR
MEAT!: Powerful meat grinders - https://bit.ly/4ho5a4r
Hedley & Bennett: Quality Aprons - https://hedley-and-bennett.sjv.io/EEzBq2
Yeti: The king of coolers - https://yetius.pxf.io/a1NJXq
Lodge: Cast Iron cooking - https://lodgecastiron.pxf.io/zxe7dr
~
00:00 Cold Open and Sizzle
00:35 Meet Third Space Indy
01:38 Notable Meals and Food Show
04:15 Coffee Shop Third Place
06:55 What Makes a Third Space
10:16 Isolation and Why It Matters
12:50 Mugs That Get You Out
15:39 Food as Culture and Story
18:19 Pizzeria Ruby Community
24:11 Beyond Food Third Spacesn
31:50 Food Deserts and Flanner Farms
36:26 Why Third Spaces Matter
37:19 Skateland as Third Space
39:15 Intergenerational Rink Culture
40:23 Online Community Limits
41:46 Cars Kill Spontaneity
46:07 Pub Culture and Transit
49:00 Zoning and Missing Middle
52:02 Transit Benefits Everyone
53:41 Bus Serendipity and Bus Camp
56:23 Walkable Cities and Green Space
59:17 How to Make Friends IRL
01:01:05 Dream Third Space Li Labon
01:04:18 Final Shoutouts and Where to Find Him
--
More at https://OkayestCook.com
Sign up for our Second Helpings newsletter: https://OkayestCook.com/subscribe
Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook
And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook
Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook
Crew:
Chris Whonsetler
Email: [email protected]
Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com
Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto
By Okayest Podcast Network4.8
1212 ratings
Food, Community, and Third Spaces with Michael Zarick (Third Space Indy)
Host Chris Whonsetler welcomes Michael Zarick of Third Space Indy to the Okayest Cook podcast to continue a conversation on community and “third spaces” as places outside home and work that foster consistent connection and conversation. Michael shares notable meals from a new food-focused project with Amanda Gibson featuring Indianapolis restaurants Macizo and Wisanggeni Pawon, emphasizing owner stories and kitchen access, while Chris highlights a Greenfield coffee shop, Hitherto, filled with board games and game nights. They discuss why third spaces matter amid isolation, COVID-era habits, and phone-driven convenience, and how car-centric infrastructure, zoning, and suburban design discourage spontaneous community compared with pub culture and transit-rich cities. Michael describes merchandise plans (locally made mugs) intended to get people into local businesses, recalls Pizzeria Ruby in northwest Arkansas as a personal third space, and cites Flanner House’s Flanner Farms and Cleo’s Bodega addressing food access. They also touch on roller rinks, walking, bus riding, and Michael’s ideal model: Abby Reckard’s forthcoming Lille Bønne community space in a rezoned Dutch church.
Find Michael: @Thirdspaceindy on Instagram
Web: https://thirdspaceindy.com/
~ Support Okayest Cook by grabbing some of our new merch!
https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/
Shopping with our favorite brand via affiliate links is also a huge help ~
Anova: We love their Precision Cooker 3.0 & vac sealers - https://bit.ly/3WT36ZR
MEAT!: Powerful meat grinders - https://bit.ly/4ho5a4r
Hedley & Bennett: Quality Aprons - https://hedley-and-bennett.sjv.io/EEzBq2
Yeti: The king of coolers - https://yetius.pxf.io/a1NJXq
Lodge: Cast Iron cooking - https://lodgecastiron.pxf.io/zxe7dr
~
00:00 Cold Open and Sizzle
00:35 Meet Third Space Indy
01:38 Notable Meals and Food Show
04:15 Coffee Shop Third Place
06:55 What Makes a Third Space
10:16 Isolation and Why It Matters
12:50 Mugs That Get You Out
15:39 Food as Culture and Story
18:19 Pizzeria Ruby Community
24:11 Beyond Food Third Spacesn
31:50 Food Deserts and Flanner Farms
36:26 Why Third Spaces Matter
37:19 Skateland as Third Space
39:15 Intergenerational Rink Culture
40:23 Online Community Limits
41:46 Cars Kill Spontaneity
46:07 Pub Culture and Transit
49:00 Zoning and Missing Middle
52:02 Transit Benefits Everyone
53:41 Bus Serendipity and Bus Camp
56:23 Walkable Cities and Green Space
59:17 How to Make Friends IRL
01:01:05 Dream Third Space Li Labon
01:04:18 Final Shoutouts and Where to Find Him
--
More at https://OkayestCook.com
Sign up for our Second Helpings newsletter: https://OkayestCook.com/subscribe
Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook
And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook
Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook
Crew:
Chris Whonsetler
Email: [email protected]
Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com
Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto

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