Self-Advocacy and Community Building: A Conversation with Nora Elder

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick interviews Nora Elder, a self-advocacy strategist and founder of Marble, LLC. They discuss the importance of knowing oneself to better engage with and build meaningful communities. Nora shares her personal journey from a corporate job to starting her own business, spurred by the sudden loss of her pet and a desire for meaningful work. She explains the concept of 'getting selfish'—belonging to oneself—and its crucial role in self-advocacy. They also touch upon the connection between self-advocacy and third spaces, emphasizing the value of internal work in forming strong community ties. Lastly, they discuss Nora's current projects, including her workshops and part-time jobs that enrich her sense of community in Indianapolis.

00:00 Introduction to Self-Advocacy and Third Spaces

01:19 Meet the Host: Michael Zarick

01:47 Podcast Overview and Announcements

02:27 Introducing Today's Guest: Nora Elder

03:28 Nora's Journey to Self-Advocacy

04:14 The Birth of Marble, LLC

06:22 Navigating Career Changes and Personal Loss

13:44 Balancing Multiple Roles and Community Building

22:10 The Concept of 'Getting Selfish'

36:09 Sustaining a Business with Flexible Pricing

36:32 The Value of Community Workshops

38:04 Exploring Third Spaces and Their Importance

38:22 Sponsorship and Community Impact

39:24 Defining and Reflecting on Third Spaces

43:09 Memorable Third Spaces from the Past

47:13 Fun and Thought-Provoking Questions

50:33 Books That Shaped Us

55:52 Winter Reflections and Community Building

01:00:06 Final Thoughts and Where to Find Us