Employed but for Free with Michael Zarick

This week, I sat down with Chris Smith, the founder of 1000 Words Gallery on the east side of 10th Street. Chris talked about how the gallery started as a place he needed for himself and grew into a platform for Black and brown artists, and why he’s building toward a future where 1000 Words doesn’t need him at the center. We also got into how picking up a camera after years of running track taught him to slow down, and why we need more spaces where people who see the world differently can actually sit together. I left really inspired by how much of himself Chris pours into other people.Sponsor City Rising: https://cityrising.orgMusic Jennasen, “Scared Rabbit”Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:24 Election Day 04:24 Meet Chris 11:44 Indy vs. Cincy 13:25 Why 1000 Words 18:28 Why Third Spaces Matter 25:42 Arts Administration 31:46 Decentering Yourself 38:51 Art & Young Men 42:55 Scarcity Mindset 47:39 Finding Photography 52:26 Canned Questions 56:15 Lost Third Spaces 61:18 Guest Questions 68:15 Where to Find Chris

This week, I sat down with my good friend Lily Groot in her studio, with her greyhound Nancy asleep a few feet away. Lily is a painter, muralist, and printmaker, and we spent our time talking about why she’s so inspired by flowers, her Print Bike, and how Indy is a lot cooler than even we tend to give it credit for. I had a great time catching up with Lily about art, movies, and more.Lily has her first solo show in 10 years, Spare Time, coming up December 4th, 2026 at Re:Public.- Sponsors Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival: indylgbtfilmfest.com City Rising: cityrising.orgMusic Jennasen, “Scared Rabbit”Timestamps 00:00 Cold Open 02:24 Intro 03:32 Meet Lily 08:19 Why Flowers 13:36 The Print Bike 20:30 Speakeasy City 28:41 Movies & Hangouts 38:58 Third Spaces 47:38 Korie’s Question 49:49 Spare Time 53:07 Choosing Inefficiency 58:29 Christmas Wishes 1:04:32 Favorite Flowers 1:06:16 Find Lily

This week, I sat down with Korie Griggs at Highland Park on the east side of Indianapolis. Korie is a poet, author, co-founder of Each Other’s Books, and she’s fresh off two hip replacements, all while about to release her new book, And So It Is. We talked about finally being able to say yes to things, carrying grief in the body, and being in right relationship with the land around us. I really enjoyed chatting with Korie today (and getting heckled by a squirrel named Kevin)SponsorsIndianapolis LGBT Film Festival: indylgbtfilmfest.comCity Rising: cityrising.orgMusicJennasen, “Scared Rabbit”Timestamps00:00 Cold Open02:00 Intro03:19 Meet Korie04:03 New Hips14:13 The Books18:07 Literary Ancestors23:12 Ingles to Indy30:01 Highland Park31:41 Third Spaces40:00 Art & Coffee43:24 Living Freely48:39 The White River54:02 Simpler Living58:01 Media & Fiction1:03:50 Closing Questions1:08:22 Find Korie

This week, I swung by Market Mix on 38th Street, right next to Blue Mind, and just talked to whoever wanted to sit down with me. I got to chat with Davi (and Yuvi the cat), Edith Conchas, Ben, Dillon Lockwood, and Harsha about what brought them to Indy, what keeps them here, and where they find community. It was a beautiful fall day and a really fun way to meet some new neighbors. I hope you enjoy.Sponsor City Rising: https://cityrising.orgMusic Jennasen, “Scared Rabbit”Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:33 Davi 04:03 Edith 14:12 Ben 28:22 Dillon 37:50 Harsha

This week, I sat down with Tyler Fenwick, a Mirror Indy reporter and organizer with the newly formed Indiana Local News Guild, to talk about labor organizing and local journalism. Tyler talked about why you don’t have to wait for things to go bad before you organize, and what it feels like to speak up on behalf of your coworkers. We also got into the small town newspaper vibe Mirror Indy brings to the city and some of the more memorable people he’s met on the job. I really enjoyed chatting with Tyler today about unions, journalism, Alan Jackson, and more!SponsorCity Rising: cityrising.orgMusicJennasen, “Scared Rabbit”LinksMirror Indy: mirrorindy.orgIndiana Local News Guild: inlocalnewsguild.comTimestamps00:00 Cold Open01:00 Intro02:06 Meet Tyler05:18 Why Organize08:22 Organizing Quietly11:20 Going Public14:46 Recognition17:17 What’s Next21:31 Labor History25:08 Local Journalism28:43 The Labor Beat31:08 AI & News32:58 Supporting Mirror Indy37:26 Third Spaces41:35 Indy Stories44:34 Two Years Ago46:55 Alan Jackson Christmas49:28 Next Guest Question50:51 Where to Find Tyler52:30 Outro

This week, for my birthday episode, I handed the mic to Patrick Armstrong, who guest-hosts the podcast. We talked about what a third space means to me now, a year and a half into the show, plus introversion, making Reels, and how I think about success. This was a moment to talk through a bit of self-reflection as I complete 2 full years in Indianapolis. I hope you enjoy.SponsorCity Rising: https://cityrising.orgMusicJennasen, "Scared Rabbit"Timestamps00:00 Cold Open01:04 Intro02:29 Angela Davis07:21 Why This Episode12:02 Content & Reels20:26 Defining Third Spaces30:12 Presence & Introversion41:13 Year Highlights44:02 Picking Guests53:14 Canned Questions1:10:15 Defining Success1:18:25 Where to Find Patrick

This week, I sat down with Lindsey Cornett, who's running for the IPS School Board in District 4, to talk about public schools and what they mean for a city. Lindsey has been through a lot over the past few months just to stay on the ballot, and she walked us through it all. We also talked about why kids are our neighbors, whether you have them or not, and why she still has so much hope for IPS. I really enjoyed chatting with Lindsey today about schools and community. I hope you enjoy.Sponsor City Rising — cityrising.orgMusic Jennasen — "Scared Rabbit"Timestamps 00:00 Cold Open 01:12 Intro 02:33 Meet Lindsey 04:48 Why Run 09:05 Ballot Battle 14:58 IPEC & Governance 23:13 Hope & Goals 28:54 Neighborhood Schools 36:35 Funding & Equity 40:23 Down-Ballot Races 42:49 Third Spaces 51:19 Enroll Indy 57:20 Meeting Update 59:19 Guest Questions 1:05:11 Wrap Up

This week I sat down with Michael and Madeleine Janssen, the founders of Circle City Flea and Lucky Duck Ventures, to talk about bringing an outdoor flea market back to Indianapolis. We got into why markets right now, why businesses struggle to find retail space, and what it means to build an authentic space of just another market. I really enjoyed this conversation and hope you do too!SponsorCity Rising — cityrising.orgMusicIntro: Lily & Madeleine - "Rabbit"Outro: Jennasen — "Scared Rabbit"Timestamps0:00 Cold Open1:58 Intro2:43 Meet Michael & Madeleine5:30 Why a Flea Market15:45 Circle City Flea's Home26:20 Markets & Local Economy39:45 Canned Questions53:24 Flea Design & AI1:05:02 Closing Question & Where to Find Them

This week, I sat down with Christine Page, executive director of the Indiana Barn Foundation, to talk about moving back to Indianapolis after 30 years away. Christine talked about the shuffleboard club she ran in Florida and what eventually led her to come back home to Indiana. I really enjoyed chatting with her about how the city's changed since she left, the interstate's effect on our neighborhoods, and barns. I hope you enjoy.Sponsor: City Rising — cityrising.org Music: Jennasen — "Scared Rabbit"Timestamps: 00:00 Cold Open 00:47 Intro 02:30 Meet Christine 04:31 Shuffleboard Club 19:12 Returning to Indy 23:22 Getting Involved 28:25 Interstate & Urban Planning 35:35 Third Spaces & Historic Buildings 49:53 Barns 59:46 Closing Thoughts 1:07:43 Where to Find Christine

Today's guest is Jennifer Magley, a local content creator, emcee, and sidequester. She recently finished her 100 stages in 365 days quest, and I'm fortunate to have sat down with her at Borage in Speedway as one of her final stages before she rounded it out with stage 100 on the Conversation Piece podcast. Jennifer has long been one of the most requested guests for the show, and I'm so thankful because she's electric, and I hope you hear how much genuine fun I had talking with her.SPONSORCity Rising — cityrising.orgMUSICJennasen — "Scared Rabbit"TIMESTAMPS00:00 Cold Open01:08 Intro01:59 Meet Jennifer02:25 Borage & Safe Spaces05:47 Brownsburg vs. Indy09:15 Stooge Quest & Pat McAfee12:39 Community & Belonging18:24 Stage Quest Stories26:24 Wardrobe & Style30:04 City Rising Question35:00 Money & Investment in Indy38:43 Husband Rob42:06 Talking to Women54:13 Style Evolution58:03 Crisis & Booking Gigs01:03:22 Community & Privilege01:15:00 Where to Find Jennifer