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 it means to fight for the city you're stuck loving.

Sponsors:

City Rising (cityrising.org)

Proformus Urban Planning & Design

Intro music: Scared Rabbit by Jennasen

Timestamps

1:07 — Intro

3:51 — How Michael and Andrea met

5:52 — Health By Design and the built environment

6:29 — How Indianapolis has changed

10:14 — From city bureaucrat to advocate

13:19 — The Walton family model and attracting talent through livability

16:16 — Building connections through shared passion

19:22 — Why Andrea never moved to New York City

21:44 — Drive Less April challenge

25:01 — Why it's hard not to drive in Indianapolis

28:09 — IndyGo, transit frequency, and the privilege of flexibility

33:23 — Arab American Heritage Month and Lebanese identity

35:41 — Canned questions

38:47 — 16th & Monon street mural

42:21 — Lost third spaces

49:15 — Carmel's walkable infrastructure

52:56 — Friday Field Trips series

55:15 — The Walk and Bike Summit

57:41 — Question for the next guest: What's on your rider?