Why Third Space Indy?

A poorly constructed logo is still a logo!

Introduction

I’m launching a podcast called Third Space Indy, and I made a trailer for it if you're interested. If you want to get notified when episodes are released, Click Here.

In this post I'm going to share about why I started working on this project and what Third Space Indy means.

What is a third space? Where have they gone?

A Sense of Place

After moving to Indianapolis and losing my job, I’ve had a lot of time. Instead of wallowing, I went to work networking and looking for help. I had a passing interest in starting my own business and an idea of what to pursue. The loose essence of what I wanted to build was a community space, a coworking space, or a gathering place where people could come together in their community and meet people. Different from co-working spaces that exist now, which, in my opinion, have a focus on business and professionalism.

So, for inspiration, I sought out community builders, thoughtful and magnetic people who draw others in. I wanted to find people who could inspire me or give me guidance on what I was thinking about doing. What I found beyond what I was already looking for is that hundreds of people in this city are doing the heavy lifting to keep the social fabric of Indianapolis neighborhoods alive.

I did this because I believe we have a serious problem right now. A loneliness epidemic. COVID, the development of AI, political division, and the disappearance of third spaces, spurned by many factors, all of these things contribute to the experience of feeling more alone, even though we have more technology to connect than ever before. These people I met with are on the frontlines doing everything they can to counter this, to revitalize relationships, and to retake community.

A picture of two people smiling into a camera, the woman on the left makes a peace sign and the man on the right leans into her smiling. They appear to be in a loosely industrial setting. — I had a great time chatting with my guest Kate Grimm.

I have yet to meet someone in the past year or two who I've brought this up to that disagrees. People are craving connection. There is a dour sense of isolation. Additionally, there is both a reality and a mental block where people aren't quite sure where to go to escape this daze. Luckily, people in Indianapolis alone are working to facilitate the regrowth of our neighborhoods, our buildings, and our interpersonal connections. I believe that people want more out of their lives and and I am doubling down on the economy of community.

What is a Third Space?

Diagram that explains what a 3rd place is. It shows the first place, home. The second place, work. And third "3rd place" all connected with lines as the 3 parts of your life. — A simple illustration that tells you all you need to know.

The "Third Place" is a term coined by the sociologist Ray Oldenburg. The main gist of this idea is that the majority of your time is spent in two places, Work and Home. The third place, or third space, is the ethereal "other place" that you spend time when you are not at home or at work.

These places are foundational to the human experience. They are your community center, your church, the mall, the barbershop, and the gym. Everywhere you can go, you can avoid the stresses of home and work, relieve yourself of the worries of life, and make connections with other people. Many third spaces are free, but it's certainly not a requirement.

Over the past 20 years or so, this type of space has been dying off. There are a wide variety of factors to account for this. People have less spending money now than ever, less free time; it's becoming difficult to support these establishments. The political landscape is further divided than ever. In many ways, this drives people out of these spaces, and the lack of them further drives this issue. The lack of pedestrian infrastructure and the suburban sprawl in the US create scenarios where these spaces are less and less accessible. The evolution of the internet and the rise of streaming platforms mean it's now easier to stay home for entertainment than to go to the movie theater or a bowling alley. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 drove people into their homes, and nearly a year of social isolation made people hesitant to return out (though this issue is waning).

There are no single considerations about why these places have collapsed; a complicated combination of events as time marches on has created the unfortunate scenario we are in.

Nexus of Community

So, I’ve been building Third Space Indy with the intent of becoming a nexus for these people, shining a light on the individuals doing the real work to improve where they live and develop a sense of place. I want to create a catalogue of information to help people understand that there are people creating Third Spaces, and where those Third Spaces are. I hope to drive people out of their holes and into their communities and neighborhoods and to rebuild the things we've lost, a mutual understanding and a sense of place.

This is the thesis of Third Space Indy. I hope you will join me on this journey. There are so many conversations to be had.

A picture of Michael Zarick holding a pork tenderloin sandwhich that overflows out of the bun it's contained in. — I figured this pork tenderloin sandwhich deserved to be shown off.