Third Space Indy

Host Michael Zarick speaks with Dominic Senibaldi, owner of Cat Head Press and part-owner of Love Handle on Mass Ave. Dominic about moving to Indianapolis for grad school at Herron, deciding to stay after finding community, and opening Cat Head Press in 2016 as a hand screen-print shop. They discuss Dominic’s interest in physical media through VHS collecting, the role of printmaking and zines in political resistance, and his view of the “manosphere”.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising (https://cityrising.org/)

Third Space Indy is supported by Proformus (https://www.proformus.com/)

00:00 Manosphere Cold Open

00:45 Third Place Intro

01:49 Dominic Background

04:27 Cat Head Press Explained

05:17 Alien Cat Branding

06:34 Love Handle Origins

08:41 VHS Wall Obsession

14:26 Why Indy Feels Like Home

17:59 Print Community Support

21:21 Workshops Drinking Inks

23:13 Zines and Resistance

26:01 Defining the Manosphere

27:48 Masculinity Grift Economy

28:51 Consumption-Based Manhood

30:21 Male Gaze Paradox

31:44 What Being A Man Means

33:46 Third Space Defined

36:34 Indy Third Space Examples

39:26 Lost Music Scene Spaces

43:55 Favorite Green Spaces

47:21 Top State Parks Picks

51:05 Wrap Up And Where To Find

Host Michael Zarick of Third Space Indy interviews Indianapolis cyclist Keith Hutchison at Highland Park about building community on bikes through Bike Party and bicycle riding groups. Keith, an Indianapolis native who returned in 2011 after 17 years in Colorado partly to ride here, describes Bike Party as a free, monthly, second-Tuesday ride begun in April 2016 that now draws up to nearly 1,000 riders in summer and continues year-round with volunteer, consensus-based planning and route test rides. They discuss Indianapolis’s cycling history and growing infrastructure (bike lanes, Cultural Trail, Monon), the social “yes-and” spontaneity of biking, and exploring alleys and overlooked routes. Keith emphasizes the overlooked middle space between sport cycling and advocacy: riding bikes for fun, freedom, and low-barrier third spaces, and notes the rise of women-centered groups in the local scene.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising (https://cityrising.org/)

Third Space Indy is supported by Proformus (https://www.proformus.com/)

00:00 Cycling Should Be Fun

01:00 Third Place Concept

01:37 Meet Keith Hutchison

02:30 What Is Bike Party

04:38 Keith’s Bike Roots

05:29 Indy’s Cycling Comeback

08:32 From Full Moon to Bike Party

10:43 Dirt Bags and City Exploring

11:38 How Routes Get Planned

14:01 A Free Rolling Third Space

15:40 Bike Tribes and DIY Groups

19:41 Highland Park Bike Hub

21:47 Etiquette and Street Culture

23:31 Exploration and Presence

28:35 Inclusive Groups Growing

31:56 Bikes as Simple Transport

34:08 We Are Traffic Too

35:16 Defining Third Space

36:59 Third Place vs Space

37:28 Bike Party Vibes

39:29 Routes Distance Starts

42:00 Rules Safety Traffic

42:21 Lost Third Spaces

49:13 World We Want

52:24 Internet Social Media

59:31 Indy Bike Culture

01:03:39 Next Guest Question

01:04:38 Where To Find Keith

01:05:31 Bike Party Links Outro

Host Michael Zarick interviews Indianapolis poet Auboni Hart (Auboni Essence) about performing writing, creating community “third places,” and her evolving pride in Naptown. They discuss how stage performance adds emotion and meaning beyond the page, Auboni’s rehearsal process, and her work with That Peace Open Mic, which she joined in 2017 and says has adapted through COVID with virtual shows and more spacing at in-person events. Auboni shares how she shifted from disliking Indianapolis to intentionally seeing its beauty, highlighting local bookstores, events, and favorite food spots. She describes a third space as somewhere you can show up without an expectation to spend money. Auboni also explains forming a one-off band for her Naptones award-show performance, being named a 2026 Art & Soul artist, and she performs her poem “Let Me Down Easy.”

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising (cityrising.org)

00:00 What Is Performing

00:40 Intro

01:08 Meeting Auboni

04:47 Why Perform Poetry

07:37 Repping Indianapolis

12:47 Finding Your Community

14:54 Forming A One Off Band

18:34 That Peace Open Mic Origins

20:53 COVID And Open Mic Changes

30:07 Do I Get Art

35:05 Third Space Definition

36:52 Paying For Community

39:04 Values Over Convenience

39:38 Third Space Not Transaction

40:50 Lost Third Spaces

42:42 Childhood Porch Nostalgia

45:22 Ocean Versus Space

47:46 Space Curiosity Not Colonizing

50:20 Art and Soul Spotlight

53:03 Performing Writing Live

56:55 Feedback And Sensitivity

59:48 Poem: Let Me Down Easy

01:04:25 Freedom Reimagined Question

01:07:45 Where To Find Auboni

01:09:23 Final Thanks And Credits

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick interviews AJ Carr-Canary, owner of DID Fit Studio, an aerial arts studio in Indianapolis. AJ shares her path from mechanical engineer at Rolls Royce to instructor, then studio owner. They discuss building a welcoming, judgment-free community, open houses, and collaborations with local groups. AJ emphasizes that pole fitness exists because of strippers, advocates sex positivity, and describes how the studio supports and discounts sex workers while educating newcomers without condescension. The conversation also touches on third spaces, personal hobbies, and public transit needs in Indy.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising

00:00 Sex Work Origins

00:38 Third Place Intro

01:08 Meet DID Fit Studio

02:16 Spring Showcase Plans

04:25 What The Studio Is

07:22 From Engineer To Owner

12:12 Why Community Matters

13:31 Honoring Sex Workers

14:41 Sex Positive Education

16:55 Aerial Apparatuses Tour

18:33 Finding Adult Community

22:03 First Class Nerves

24:17 Defining Sexy Energy

26:33 Heels Show And Tell

28:27 Politics And Small Business

29:29 Canned Questions Bit

30:18 Sponsor Shoutout

30:43 Defining Third Space

32:21 Cats Gym And Reading

34:40 Fantasy Books Deep Dive

36:15 Being A Student Too

36:47 Heels Classes And Workshops

38:38 A Third Space Lost

42:44 What Indy Is Missing

49:22 Small Business Reality

52:17 Fugler Studio Mascots

53:37 Next Guest Question

55:44 Wrap Up And Where To Find

57:10 Final Thanks And Credits

Host Michael Zarick talks with Anna Rhodes-Steckbeck about being a connector in Indianapolis through events, relationships, and sharing what’s happening around the city. Anna, a former kindergarten teacher and serial yes-sayer with multiple jobs, describes her goal of making people feel safe and comfortable and explains how she fell into working with Tomorrow Bookstore. She reveals Tomorrow’s “Booked for Tomorrow” project: a mobile book bike that will pop up at farmers markets, parks, local businesses, and private events like weddings, with curated selections based on the occasion. They discuss what Anna is reading, why local bookstores matter as community spaces, and the Indy Indie Book Crawl’s role in supporting bookstores during a tough season. Anna shares why she chose to fall back in love with Indy after the pandemic by intentionally finding and promoting cool, sometimes hard-to-find community happenings.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising

00:00 Why I Share Indy

00:45 What Is a Third Place

01:12 Meet Anna Rhodes

03:30 Community Instigator

05:55 Infinite Jobs Life

08:56 Reading and Recharge

11:47 Finding Tomorrow Books

13:16 Booked for Tomorrow Bike

17:50 Indy Indie Book Crawl

24:03 Why Bookstores Matter

25:46 Owning Books vs Library

28:20 Loving Indianapolis

30:03 Falling Back for Indy

31:12 Reddit Says Bored

32:28 Going Solo Together

34:04 Sponsor and Third Place

35:11 Why Garfield Park

36:24 Lost Third Space Memory

39:35 What Makes a Third Space

44:43 Book Bike Logistics

49:02 Cartoon Uniform Question

51:19 What Indy Still Needs

52:52 Wrap Up and Plugs

53:52 Final Thanks and Credits

Host Michael Zarick interviews Mads Gullion and Carly Valentine of Swap Sesh, a free monthly clothing exchange. Started by Carly about two years ago and later co-led with Mads, Swap Sesh now meets at the Garfield Park Arts Center every third Saturday (12:00–2:30), where attendees bring up to 10 items. They discuss how swaps help people experiment with style without the cost and pressure of shopping, and how the project supports anti-consumerism and waste reduction amid large amounts of textile waste. They reflect on community-building through regular attendees, mending and repair workshops, and concerns about enabling overconsumption, emphasizing the community impact.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising

00:00 Why Swaps Matter

00:54 Third Place Intro

01:40 Meet Swap Sesh Hosts

03:33 How They Met

06:07 What Is Swap Sesh

07:23 Why They Started

09:18 Textile Waste Reality

10:10 Community Closet Idea

12:54 Who Shows Up

14:41 Indy Gay Market Tangent

16:21 Building Friendships

17:34 Finding a New Home

18:52 Mending and Repair

19:46 Reduce Reuse Recycle

21:03 Anti Consumerism Talk

23:33 Are Swaps Enabling

26:43 Invite and Next Swap

28:34 Style Evolution

29:32 Swap Finds and Style Experiments

30:19 Menswear Limits and Pocket Politics

32:36 Gendered Fashion and Wearing What You Want

33:56 Cars, Athleisure, and Fashion Shifts

37:56 Uniform Dreams and Workwear Comfort

39:48 Sponsor Break and Defining Third Space

41:09 College Third Spaces and Lost Hangouts

45:37 Neighborhoods, Libraries, and Childhood Spaces

49:46 Yearly Reflection and Spoon Theory

55:15 Next Guest Questions and Wrap Up

Native Bread’s Hayley McGinley on Building an Allergen-Free Bakery

Michael Zarick hosts Third Space Indy and interviews Hayley McGinley, founder of Native Bread, an Indianapolis bakery that is 100% gluten-free and free of top allergens. Hayley shares how, after discovering a gluten sensitivity in 2015 during a Whole30, she started an artisan gluten-free bakery in 2016, growing from home recipe testing and Facebook sales to scaling production through shared kitchens like ClusterTruck and Duos while working a full-time job. They discuss food restriction and exclusion, local dining favorites, and how Native Bread helps families feel welcomed.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising

00:00 Food Freedom at Native Bread

01:14 Welcome to Third Space Indy

02:14 Allergen Free Bakery Mission

04:43 Baking Roots and Family

06:38 Discovering Gluten Sensitivity

09:55 Starting the Bakery Idea

12:24 Humble Beginnings and Scaling

20:37 COVID Yeast Shortage Panic

22:07 Living with Food Restrictions

25:42 Favorite Local Spots and Global Eats

32:12 Outspoken Values as a Business

32:40 History Awakening

34:55 From BLM to Gaza

36:41 Anti BDS Laws

41:03 Pushback and Trolls

44:56 Social Media Truths

45:51 Small Actions Matter

46:52 Canned Questions Begin

47:59 North Mass Third Space

51:04 Polyamory and Safety

52:52 Lost Third Spaces

56:02 Procrastination and Decisions

01:01:56 Wrap Up and Where to Find

01:03:07 Final Thanks and Outro

Third Space Indy: Sayra and Wendy of the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA)

Host Michael Zarick welcomes listeners to Third Space Indy and interviews Sayra and Wendy from the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA). Sayra explains IUYA’s origins in 2012 after anti-immigrant legislation and the passage of HB 1402 in 2011, which removed in-state tuition for undocumented students; the group initially fundraised through yard sales to award two $500 scholarships to Ivy Tech students and later incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2015. The conversation covers IUYA’s evolution into statewide “know your rights” workshops with attorneys during President Trump’s first presidency, emergency resources, a social justice mentorship program, ongoing scholarships, referrals and resource connections, community safety trainings, and current financial assistance for families impacted by ICE (including utilities, rent, and attorney fees). Wendy and Sayra discuss continuing their work despite being targeted, emphasizing long-standing community roots and the need to keep moving forward. They reflect on organizing history around the Dream Act, civil disobedience at the State House, and how youth organizing pressured the creation of DACA. The episode addresses Indiana’s SB 76 and how IUYA focuses on centering community needs and responding to legislative impacts rather than legislative advocacy itself, while encouraging non-impacted people to get involved through time, skills, or donations. They share how to volunteer via iuya.org and by messaging IUYA on Instagram, and highlight Indy Rapid Response as a local network offering trainings, a community safety training on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 PM, and a hotline (855-589-4639) to report ICE sightings.

Find IUYA online: Instagram/Facebook @undocuhoosier and iuya.org.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising

00:00 Why We Keep Going: ‘Aquí estamos y no nos vamos’

00:39 Welcome to Third Space Indy + Protecting Guest Identities

01:47 Meet Sayra & Wendy (Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance)

02:48 How IUYA Started: HB 1402 and the Fight for In‑State Tuition

04:06 From Scholarships to Know‑Your‑Rights: IUYA’s Programs Grow

06:47 Living With a Target: Staying Unafraid and Unapologetic

09:41 Sayra’s Organizing Journey: Dream Act Protests to DACA Pressure

13:25 Wendy’s Perspective: Learning the History Behind DACA

15:14 What SB 76 Could Mean + IUYA’s Community-First Response

18:45 How Allies Can Help: Time, Talent, Treasure + Direct Family Support Fund

22:06 14 Years In: Community & Business Support in Indianapolis

25:30 More Ways to Get Involved: Indy Rapid Response & Safety Trainings

28:07 Rapid Response Hotline & Last Call for Registration

28:54 Sponsor Shout-Out + Defining a “Third Space”

31:13 Third Spaces We’ve Lost: Restaurant Kitchens & School Community

34:17 Teacher & Mentor Shout-Outs (and Service Industry Real Talk)

37:49 What Makes a Business Worth Supporting? Safety Signals & Community Boards

40:48 Policy Reality Check + How to Show Up for Neighbors

43:22 Question for the Next Guest: What Do You Procrastinate Most?

44:32 Where to Find IUYA + Final Thanks and Sign-Off

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick talks with Alexa Hill, owner of Common Room Indy, a salon in Castleton that she describes as a “weird, gay, funky” safe space designed to feel more like a true community hub than a sterile, typical salon. They discuss the idea of “third places” and why salons naturally fit that definition through consistency, conversation, and trust. Alexa shares her 15-year journey in the hair industry, her business education, and how she ultimately took the leap from working in other salons before opening Common Room Indy.

The conversation covers how her unapologetic, values-forward presence online helped the business grow, including a viral Instagram reel that brought in like-minded stylists and clients. Michael and Alexa also talk about being explicit about political and community values, creating visibly safe spaces, supporting businesses aligned with those values, and the importance of clarity when choosing where to spend money.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising

00:00 Cold Open

01:29 Welcome to Third Space Indy

02:56 Meet Alexa Hill & Common Room Indy

05:45 Designing a Salon That Feels Like Home

07:47 “Therapy” in the Chair

09:17 The Gift of Gab

12:44 Why Hair Matters

17:39 From Cosmetology to Owner

20:59 Building the Team

24:18 Community Support & Local Spots

27:57 Choosing Castleton

29:16 Traffic, Parking, and Convenience

30:31 Serving Everyone

31:44 Why Hair Costs What It Costs

35:10 Hair Color Is Chemistry

36:17 Sponsor Break + Defining a ‘Third Space’

37:56 The Common Room Book Club

41:01 Indy Book Crawl

44:04 Being a Good Neighbor

46:58 Burlesque Classes at She Shop Fitness

49:31 Question for the Next Guest + Where to Find Alexa & The Common Room (Wrap-Up)

In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick converses with Jalen Roseberry, the new Executive Director of DATHOUSE, about her journey from a coffee shop patron to a community leader. They delve into the essence of Third Spaces and how genuine, consistent engagement with local businesses can foster community spirit and meaningful relationships. Jalen shares insights about managing diverse initiatives within DATHOUSE, including a coffee shop, laundromat, and coworking spaces, and highlights the challenges and rewards of running a small nonprofit. The episode also explores Jalen's numerous activities and interests as a self-proclaimed 'ultimate dabbler,' ranging from her involvement in local nonprofit boards to organizing community dance parties. The conversation underscores the importance of showing up for your community and the organic growth of communal bonds through sustained effort.

Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising

00:00 Building Genuine Community Connections

01:13 Introduction to Third Space Indy

01:43 Meet Jalen Roseberry

02:12 The Story of Lincoln Lane Coffee

07:07 The Evolution of DATHOUSE

11:31 Challenges and Leadership in Nonprofits

19:06 The Ultimate Dabbler

35:38 Monster Truck Rally Adventures

37:00 Women in Monster Truck Driving

38:10 Cat Calls: A Space for Women and Queer Folk

38:31 Themes and Dress Codes for Events

39:39 Canned Questions and Third Spaces

43:45 Memories of Past Third Spaces

46:43 Books and Reading Habits

50:24 Movie Discussions and Favorites

59:34 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts