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/
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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
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Chris Whonsetler
Email: Chris@OkayestCook.com
Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com
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