Ep. 41 - Anna Rhodes-Steckbeck - Booked for Tomorrow
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Episode Summary
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.
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
Episode Transcript
Anna Rhodes-Steckbeck
Anna: [00:00:00] I kind of like started my, my Instagram, to share with other people. And that's why I really try to highlight.
All the events that I think are cool and that I wanna go to, so that they keep happening. Again, I'm being selfish with it, but if I enjoy it, I hope that other people would too. So I love, I love Indy for being Indy. Like it's, it's been unwavering in the community here, but there's always something to do.
There's always something. You just have to find it and you can love it.
Michael Zarick: Hello! My name is Michael Zarick, and this is Third Space Indy. In 1989, a man named Ray Oldenberg wrote a book called The Great Good Place. In this book, he coined the term, the third place. This describes a place outside of your work and [00:01:00] outside of your home. They can go be with others, build community, and just be yourself.
So I've made it my goal to find people all over Indianapolis. Who are doing this in their very own way. Which brings me to today's guest, Anna Rhodes Steckbeck. But I'm just gonna call you Anna from now on. Yeah. Because I feel like that's who you are to me. Um, Anna is many things you are, and I mean that impossibly the most true way.
Okay. And that you work, many jobs, you attend every event I attend and beyond. You are always reading somewhere and posting about reading. Mm-hmm. Uh, and you are just like a shining light whenever I see you, and I really love that about you. Um, but the reason I have you on today is because I made a deal sort of, uh, which is that, uh, [00:02:00] Tomorrow Bookstore, which is one of your many jobs.
Anna: Yes. Yeah. Yeah,
Michael Zarick: it has a secret project, which we'll get into a little later on.
Anna: Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: And, uh, I said, Jake, who's one of the owners of Tomorrow bookstore, I said, you have to tell me about the secret project. And he said, he said, I'll tell you if you have me on the podcast. And, uh, he said, just kidding, have Anna on instead.
So I was like, okay. So he told me the Secret Project and I was really excited about it. So. That's, uh, part of the reason you're here, but also you are incredible in your own right. So mm-hmm. I'm here to talk about that, but first of all, let's get into it. How are you doing?
Anna: I'm good. I'm good.
Michael Zarick: Yeah. Not selling me on it.
Um, so can you, in your own words, describe yourself,
Anna: I mean, I hate doing that. I don't like to talk about myself. I,
Michael Zarick: I think that's a description in its own right.
Anna: Right. Yeah. Uh, I'll talk about anyone else. I am forever like a hype person for everyone else, but talking [00:03:00] about myself is hard. Um, I don't think I have any business being on your podcast.
Um,
Michael Zarick: we can have a discussion about that too.
Anna: Yeah. I, I think biggest thing with me is I, I want everyone to feel comfortable and like safe around me. I think that's really important. Um, I try not to judge at least outwardly. and I just want people to meet me however they come and I wanna meet them however they come.
Michael Zarick: so, I guess let's, let's, let's talk about that. Why don't you feel qualified to come on the podcast?
Anna: I don't, I don't have a thing. I guess like most people in Indy that, you know, it's because they have a restaurant, a business, a podcast. they're an artist, they're a musician. They have a thing. Mm-hmm. I don't really have a thing.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Uh, I guess my thing is just being out and being in the world.
Michael Zarick: There's a, I think about this a lot.
Anna: [00:04:00] Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: There's a sub. Subcategory of community builder
Anna: mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: That I really like. Okay. And I think you fall into this.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Which is instigator.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Somebody who doesn't necessarily, uh, like you said it, have a thing.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: But is there to activate others. Okay. Into enjoying community.
Anna: Yeah. And
Michael Zarick: I think you are very within that realm of that. Well,
Anna: that's what I love. I love meeting people from like different walks of life. Yeah. Um, that maybe wouldn't have met each other otherwise, but like if I can be that connector, because if there's more cool stuff to do in Indy, that's more stuff that I get to show up to.
So if I can connect two people that have like very different interests, but then connect. Yeah. Uh, that's what I like to do. There's a
Michael Zarick: term I like to use, which is Nexus. Okay. Become a nexus of community. Um, I don't know, but I, I totally agree. [00:05:00] There's like. People ask me why I do this. And I think to an extent it's altruistic.
Like I really like the idea of highlighting other people.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: But there's also the selfish aspect, like you just mentioned, where it's like, if I achieve the world that I want to live in,
Anna: right.
Michael Zarick: It's absolutely better for me. Like I, you know, I want to be able to walk or bike or bus everywhere,
Anna: right?
Michael Zarick: I'm not just doing this for the love of the game, you know, I want to live in a better world also.
Yeah. But also that means it's better for other people too,
Anna: right? Yeah. Because I mean, it's not like if. A musician, artist, collab, and host a cool event. I'm not the only one going, like, I'm gonna share it and everyone else is gonna go too. And yeah, have a good time and hopefully they'll make some money and meet some fan, make fans, you know?
Yeah. Go from there.
Michael Zarick: All that to say podcast. Everyone is accepted on this.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Everyone is a member of their community and everyone has thoughts about their community, even if they don't think so. That's what I think.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, so can you tell me a little bit about. [00:06:00] Like I also associate with, you have like having infinite jobs.
Yep. Which I think right now you have like two or three.
Anna: Yeah, I have two right now.
Michael Zarick: Um,
Anna: which is low for me.
Michael Zarick: You're looking for a three or a four?
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: What, uh, have you ever had like a traditional like nine to five, 40 hour week?
Anna: Um, yes. Okay. So this is a different life ago. Um, I was a kindergarten teacher for four years.
Um, so not, I've never worked in an office, um, which I consider traditional nine to five, but working in a school, I mean, I had to, there's still office politics dynamics there. Um, but even when I was doing that, I worked at Sun King at the same time and was doing events for them. So I was never just one thing.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: So why'd you get out of that and why are you a, a serial. Part-timer.
Anna: Like I feel like I'm a serial like gig worker. I do part-time too. Um, but my favorite thing is to say yes to everything. the [00:07:00] weirdest things that people ask me to do. And I like the flexibility to be able to do them. Like working at the fair.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Why am I working at the fair? I,
Michael Zarick: it's for the corn,
Anna: I mean, I guess so I guess free entry to the fair, but just such a random thing. But I always say yes and I end up meeting. Really cool people and then getting connected with other jobs and it's, I feel like a lot of the decision isn't even on me.
It's just kind of how my life ebbs and flows and these certain jobs just work out at the right time and it's like, oh, I really need like a little extra cash right now, and then this job will pop up. Then it kind of unfolds into something a little more than that, but
Michael Zarick: yeah.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: What's the, what's the most memorable time you said yes to something?
That it led to something else.
Anna: Oh my gosh. I mean, I don't, I don't think that there's one, I think just where I am right now. Do you know what I mean? Like everything I've done to this point has gotten me [00:08:00] to sit here with you and like talk about the secret project with Tomorrow. Um, it's kind of my whole life just keeps snowballing with these requests or these asks Yeah.
Uh, opportunities. But there's nothing that really stands out as like this one defining that led to this. It's, it all works together. That's how I've met so many people in so many different areas of the city and in my life.
Michael Zarick: It's like a, I always describe it. I think you and I are more similar than maybe you perceive.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Um, when, when I first started doing this, there was this like constant, I called it the web.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: It's like every person connects you to someone else constantly, and sometimes there's overlaps. And as I meet more and more people, there's more overlaps.
Yeah.
But it's like, it's not one specific moment in time.
Right. It's a, it's a flow between them. Uh, which is actually how I like to live my life. I'm very go with the flow. Yeah. Very. Which is troubling because I, running this podcast does take some planning as well as some other things, but, oh, well. Um, so [00:09:00] maybe to lean more towards, uh, Tomorrow a bit, what you're, do you consider yourself an introvert?
Anna: No, no. De definitely extrovert.
Michael Zarick: But you have introvert like hobbies, which is like coming to where we are now and like reading a book.
Anna: Yeah. Well I do. I really value my alone time.
Michael Zarick: Mm.
Anna: Um, I think that's more than being introverted is I just, I grew up an only child, so I learned how to be alone a lot so that I like to be out and very social and public facing, but I also need that time by myself to decompress.
Um. And reading has always been an escape for me. So the world is on fire. Yeah. But like I can read a book and be somewhere completely different.
Michael Zarick: Yeah. What are you reading right now?
Anna: Oh, I'm reading two books right now. Um,
Michael Zarick: can you wait? I, I also do that
Anna: uhhuh
Michael Zarick: and it makes my wife really angry. 'cause like, she's like, don't you just like focus on, I maybe angry is not the right word.
She's like, she can't comprehend.
Anna: Right. Well, when people can't do it, they get frustrated when other [00:10:00] people do it. It's, I. I have to read different books because I have different vibes. I'm very mood based on everything I do. Um, that's, that's another part of why I like my freedom is because sometimes I don't wanna do certain things.
So I just don't.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Um, most people don't, you can't do that at a nine to five. You have to show up every day.
Michael Zarick: So what are the books?
Anna: Um, I am reading Daycare by Nora Lang. Um, I'm actually doing my first author, I'm moderating an author talk for the first time.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: With Nora Lang. With Nora Lang. Um, so is
Michael Zarick: that exciting?
Anna: Uh, I'm nervous.
Michael Zarick: Do you, have you read her other books too?
Anna: I have. Uh,
Michael Zarick: okay, so you're like, yes, this is, this is dope.
Anna: Yeah, I'm excited. I was excited for her, um, her first book, Us Fools, I really enjoyed. Um, and her new book isn't out yet, so I have an advanced copy of it, but it's, uh, short stories, so I'm really enjoying that and excited to moderate.
I've never. Never done that, so, but with an author makes sense. Yeah. Like why wouldn't I do that?
Michael Zarick: That's so cool.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Okay. What's the other book?
Anna: Um, the other book is The Grievers [00:11:00] Trilogy. Um, it is set in Detroit and it's a kind of post-apocalyptic, there's a weird, mysterious illness that affects, affects only black people in Detroit.
Um, and it's,
Michael Zarick: wait, it's like geographically.
Anna: Only in Detroit.
Michael Zarick: Okay.
Anna: Yeah. And it's has a tie into gentrification of people wanting Detroit. And so it's trying to figure out where this illness came from and that it's probably human made.
Michael Zarick: Mm-hmm.
Anna: Um, that's been a wild ride. Yeah. So to go back and forth between those is,
Michael Zarick: it wouldn't be Anna if you weren't reading something extremely, uh, dour.
Anna: Yes.
Michael Zarick: Um, that sort of leads us to, well, actually I'm, I'm interested like. You kind of stumbled into your job at Tomorrow, which is maybe true of all the jobs you've gotten.
Anna: Yeah. Kind of.
Michael Zarick: Can you tell me like your relationship to tomorrow and maybe Jake Budler, like how did you stumble into your current position?
Anna: Yeah. so I am, I very much [00:12:00] admire Jake Budler. Um,
Michael Zarick: I can't say the same. He and I have unspoken beef. I've decided.
Anna: Yeah, that's fine. That's between you two. I'm, I'm good. I'm solid. I, um. I was working in another bookstore. it did not pan out how I thought it was going to. I was really sad about it because I really wanted to be in the book community in Indy.
and Jake reached out to me almost immediately and he was like, Hey, because you know his energy. You wanna talk about whatever he's talking about?
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Uh, he reached out to me, he is like, Hey, I have this weird project and I thought of you. And I was like, yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, I just, I'm really fortunate I didn't pick the shift right, that happened.
But I'm really fortunate for what happened because I think I fit so well at Tomorrow and with the team and with this particular project. There's not many other people that I think would fit for it other than me. [00:13:00] Um, I think Jake would work well for it, but he actually has a nine to five and owns a bookstore.
But I think it really makes sense. But it did. I really just kind of fell into it and just knowing Jake from around the city and the bookstores, um, that he thought of me really means a lot. And I appreciate the, the opportunity for sure.
Michael Zarick: That's cool.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: So what, I kind of know what it is, but can you tell me again what it is?
Anna: Yeah. Um, so it's called Booked for Tomorrow, and it is Oh, really? Yeah. Booked for Tomorrow.
Michael Zarick: Okay. I didn't know that.
Anna: That's cool. Yes. Yeah. Uh, yeah, we officially have an Instagram now. It is a mobile book bike, so I have a really cool e-bike. Um, we have worked with a local builder and built up, it's a bookshelf that I put onto the back of the bike and I'm gonna take all over the city.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Um, I'm really excited for it because I've been popping up for Tomorrow anyways, but I've just table in boxes. But now to have this really cute, compact thing to take around the city. [00:14:00] Um, and I obviously, I love nature. I love to be outside. so to have a mobile bookstore that I can just take outside on a sunny day,
Michael Zarick: yeah.
Anna: Um, I'm really
Michael Zarick: Is this like a, you're gonna do like a rotation circuit between like farmer's markets and,
Anna: yeah. So I have a lot of things in the works for, as the weather's getting nicer. Um, I am popping up at some farmer's markets. Um, I'm popping up at local businesses. I kind of. And being a little selfish with, with this too, is that I'm popping up places that I want to be.
Um,
Michael Zarick: of course,
Anna: right. Would know it any other way. So I'm popping up at everywhere that I think will be fun, um, and hope that people come and hang out and find, find me at places. But I also am gonna gonna do private events. it is, it is my dream. It is my dream to do a wedding, to work someone's wedding. I love to curate a selection of books based on an event and to do that, like for a couple, So I bring their books that they want, they want their guests to [00:15:00] read. And see, but then to get to know who they are and then create something on their behalf and then sell at a wedding. Like it sounds so fun. Yeah. Like I really.
Michael Zarick: That's cool.
Anna: Yeah,
Michael Zarick: no, I'm just like thinking about like, would you sell it or was it, is it like wedding gifts or like, what's your vision?
Anna: Well, so I wanna stay really flexible with all of it. Yeah. Um, and that's one thing I really appreciate that Jake and Julia have given me is the flexibility to kind of take the project and do it how I want, like with their guidelines. And, yes, I don't wanna say no to anything, especially this first year of doing things.
I'm gonna say yes to everything. So what I picture is. That they would register for books with me. Um, but then based on the things that they register, I'd pick other things. Assuming their guests probably have the same interests, but so guests can purchase gifts, but also books for themselves.
Michael Zarick: Yeah. And Books for Tomorrow.
Anna: Books for Tomorrow.
Michael Zarick: That's so, that's so like, it's such an interesting concept of like, so, uh, compliments to my wife. I, growing up [00:16:00] I hated getting receiving gifts 'cause it never felt right.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Um. Shout out to my Mom also. She also gave really good gifts because she listens. Uh, but I never felt like somebody truly understood me until my wife started giving me gifts.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Because she kind of cheats. 'cause I realized, I realized that all the gifts that she has chosen for me are things that I say out loud and then she writes down.
Anna: Yeah. That's like the key to good gift giving. Yeah. Just listening.
Michael Zarick: Um, but. I love the idea of being able to connect with someone on that sort of, you have to find, I feel like for you, for a wedding specifically to find, you have to find like a really specific group of people who are like, are really into reading.
Anna: Yeah. Which that exists.
Michael Zarick: Yeah. Oh, I mean,
Anna: right. They're everywhere. Book crawl. That's like a huge event.
Michael Zarick: They're everywhere. Uh, and then like connect with them, like have an interview and like
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Talk about, oh, what are your interests? What do you. Want people, what's the vibe you want at your
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Wedding?
Like I know people in [00:17:00] Arkansas who had like a Halloween wedding.
Anna: Oh, fun.
Michael Zarick: Halloween themed wedding.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: So it'd be kind of cool to like,
Anna: I can bring books for that.
Michael Zarick: Exactly. That's what I'm saying. that's a really cool idea.
Anna: Yeah. Uh, I also am really excited for, I'm gonna do like popups in certain parks.
and I'm gonna have an artist that will do live painting or drawing and then some kind of music act. So just come like, hang out with me in the park. I'll have maybe a food option and books to sell, but just come hang out. Yeah. And be outside. Is it
Michael Zarick: like a you combo with the Silent Book Club or,
Anna: um, I haven't connected with her yet.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: But maybe a little different than that. 'cause you don't have to be a reader to come to these. Um, you may just be a fan of the artist or, I have a certain DJ that's gonna come out and maybe you're a fan of them and. Just to get outside. Yeah. I just want people to be outside with me.
Michael Zarick: Yo, hit me up when you do that.
Anna: Yeah, for
Michael Zarick: sure. I'll be
Anna: there. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: you mentioned it and we are, I'm contractually, except I didn't sign anything obligated to talk about it. Uh, the Indy Indie book [00:18:00] Crawl, which when this releases will be this coming weekend.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: can you explain to me what this is? 'cause I have only, I've not experienced it.
I also, I probably shouldn't say this, but I have a personal goal to not spend money on books this year, but if you are looking to spend money on books and you're interested in supporting local bookstores,
Anna: yeah,
Michael Zarick: this is a perfect opportunity. Um, can you tell me what the book crawl is?
Anna: Yeah, so the Book Crawl, they happen all over the country, but the Indy Indie Book Crawl is specific to Indy obviously.
Um, kind of started brainchild of Jake, and um, Tomorrow Books. This time of year is such a hard time for bookstores. When we're coming off of the holidays. It's cold January, February, March. It's hard. and that is a time when a lot of bookstores really have to look at, can we continue through the year or is this when we need to maybe pull back?
Um, so that's when Indy Indie Book [00:19:00] Crawl comes in and it is really. The best time to come out and support all of the local bookstores. Um, it really helps us in our, this first quarter of the year. Um, but also it's just really fun to see how many people in Indy love bookstores. Like we, we see it on Instagram, we talk about it, but to go to the bookstores and feel how full all of them are and how excited people are to read, um.
I really appreciate you don't have to buy anything during Book Crawl. Um, but just showing up is fun. It's kind of a week, weekend long party, uh, starting off with like a influencer kickoff party and every bookstore has their own activities and fun things planned, but there's um, a bingo that everyone can play in.
There's a passport just trying to get out and seeing. It's really fun that we have. So many bookstores in Indie and they're all different. Like That's wild.
Michael Zarick: Yeah, it is cool. Like they all have their own vibe.
Anna: Everyone, like we'll have some overlap obviously, of new releases and [00:20:00] such, but
Michael Zarick: everybody has heated rivalry.
Anna: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I, yep. People are still buying that and reading it and, um, yeah, let's go. Let's do it.
Michael Zarick: I'll say shout out to Nathan.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Uh, he's one of the local book influencers, just like an incredible, wonderful human being. Um, and can you, can you explain to me like what a. I don't understand the format. Can you tell me about like what, 'cause the bookstores are pretty spread apart.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, so is it like, but there's also events,
so like, what is, what's, so you either have a big, like, can you explain to me like the format of the Indy Indie Book Crawl to the point where it's like, what are you doing?
Anna: Um, it's really, I mean, it's like a pub crawl. Mm-hmm. But you're not walking. You have to drive. Yeah. There are some that you can walk to, um, but it's really groups of friends.
A lot of times book clubs will do them together, uh, and just move through the city. I know last year there [00:21:00] was, there was a book club and they rented a van, like a big van, and they all just kind of trucked around together. Last year we got really, really fortunate with nice weather, so most of the downtown bookstores you can walk to, If you're willing to, to walk to them. But uh, yeah, people just bounce around. There's also popups and other things at the Stutz, um, where anyone that doesn't have a brick and mortar but still sells books and is a part of the book community in Indy still also have a place to be. Um, that's where I might have the mobile book bike a couple times.
Yeah. Um,
Michael Zarick: mobile book bike. Ah, dude, I'm so excited for that.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, I wanna give a special shout out to a couple bookstores here locally that I like. first of all, Ujaama books, Ujaama Bookstore. It's a part of Flanner House. Yes. Uh, I've been there a couple times. I know that they're personally struggling a lot right now.
Yes. So I want to give them a special shout out. I also love Indy Reads. That's my go-to nonprofit here in the city because I love [00:22:00] literacy. Um. And then also Golden Hour. Okay. Um, 'cause I love, uh, Sarah a lot. Oh my gosh, yes. She's so cool. Um, those are the three that I have forefront of my mind, but there's also like so many more beyond.
Anna: Yes. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: are you allowed to give any special shouts? Are you allowed to take favorites?
Anna: I don't, I don't know. I mean, I have them, um, um, obviously Tomorrow Bookstore. Right? That's, uh,
Michael Zarick: the quintessential.
Anna: The quintessential, yeah. Um, I also really love Golden Hour. That is where I am only a customer. I won't, I won't talk like book recs there.
I just want them, um, I love talking to Sarah about books. Um, and Chuck, uh, yeah, really unique, uh, collection there, catalog. I mean, they're all, they're all different. That's what's nice is you can, you can go to all of them during Indy Indie Book Crawl. And have a different experience at every single bookstore.
Mm-hmm. That's wild. In Indianapolis, [00:23:00] like we're a small city, and to have that much book community is great. When there wasn't any three years ago,
Michael Zarick: is it three?
Anna: Yeah, that's what Tomorrow's been open for almost three years. And,
Michael Zarick: and they were like, one of the first, like Indie Reads was the only like bookstore downtown.
And they're not even really a bookstore.
Anna: Right.
Michael Zarick: It's a
Anna: They were, and they technically aren't downtown anymore. They're Fountain Square. Yeah. So that's what, when Jake and Julia moved here, they were like, there's no bookstore downtown, which. Feels wild now to think about. Um, so yeah, they're, uh, we're coming up on three years with Tomorrow, so That's
Michael Zarick: crazy.
Yeah. And then there's so many beautiful ones like Loud Mouth and, uh, what's the whispering? A shelf. Mm-hmm. And I'm just thinking about the downtown bookstore is one of the things.
Anna: Yeah. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: What else is down there?
Anna: You got everything.
Michael Zarick: That's it. I don't know. They're all over.
Anna: Yeah. Then we have like great book popups, like Poor Taste, um, really focuses on old mass market paperbacks.
That I've never seen anywhere else, like such a cool curation of books. Uh, they'll be popped up at The Stutz and I [00:24:00] always find some kind of treasure from them. So,
Michael Zarick: definitely.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Can you tell me like the fall, the quote unquote fallout, but I mean it in a possible positive sense. This, in this case, like what is the meaning of, well, I mean you kind of touched on it a little bit about like supporting these local bookstores, but like why do, in your heart, in your mind, are local bookstores important?
To Indianapolis and like a local community?
Anna: Um, well, I mean, I'm, I'm gonna talk specifically for myself. Um, I was a bookstore kid, um, grew up an only child, so books were such a huge connection for me. So I've always spent time at the library and at the bookstore. just having that space. I think that every bookstore in Indy, we obviously want you to come by books, but you also can just be in the space, like come talk to a bookseller.
I love, I absolutely love, and I do keep track of every single one of them. When people recommend books to me, I have a whole running list of that. Talk to me about your favorite book. Like [00:25:00] you just need to get outta the house that day, like you're feeling bummed out. You wanna talk about a
Michael Zarick: book? How, how often have I bought something from you in Tomorrow Bookstore?
I probably,
Anna: uh, never. No,
Michael Zarick: I think, I think the answer is never, I just come say hello and then leave.
Anna: Yeah. Uh, and that's the great thing about bookstores is like, obviously we're trying to make, it's a business, trying to make money, but it's more than that. It's bigger than that. Yeah, most of the bookstores have some, uh, a, a book swap or free bookshelf or something as well.
So we're not always having to buy something, but we're creating a community here and that's really cool. 'cause like we need community so much right now. We need people that are like-minded and just to be around people right now. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: I'm gonna ask you the same question I asked Julia a couple months ago.
Mm-hmm. Which is, why would I own a book? When I can just go to the library,
Anna: well, that's a good personal preference. Definitely. Um, [00:26:00] I, I like to have my thing. If it's in the store in front of me, I want it right now. I work really hard to never shop online. I don't use Amazon. I don't like nothing. So if I can have something in a brick and mortar in my hands, I'm gonna take it with me.
Um, I also personally love to lend my library out, my personal library. yeah, I mean, you can go to the library, but you also have to wait, and I'm not very patient. I want it when it comes out or before if I can get an advanced copy.
Michael Zarick: That's funny. Uh, one, one person framed it to me like the waiting portion yeah.
Of the library, like putting a book on hold and then you get a little notification in your email or your text or whatever, and it's like a little gift.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: You go, oh my God.
Anna: See, I do that, but it, it's my time. I take it home with me forever.
Michael Zarick: Are you a note taker?
Anna: Not in
Michael Zarick: my books. Are you against writing in books?
Anna: I think do whatever you want with your book. I [00:27:00] don't wanna put any rules or restrictions on how anyone reads dog ear your pages. Put weird things in them. I don't care. It's your book. That's the point of it. It's a library book you would need to. Keep it nice when it's your own book. Do whatever you want.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: I personally do not write in my books, but I always keep a journal with me, um, for writing my books or keeping notes. Um, I also keep track of what books I read physically, um, like analog. I don't track it on story graph or Good Reads anymore because like I should be putting pen to paper if I'm reading a book, so
Michael Zarick: that's funny.
How many books would you say I associate you with books so deeply. Partially. 'cause you work it Tomorrow. Yeah. But also whenever I look at you on Instagram, you are just always like posting a different book. Yeah. I think you read, you might be the most prolific reader. I know
Anna: that. Okay. That's been, that is a, that is a term that's been used for me before and I don't know if I've earned that.
I do read a lot, but there's so many people that read so much more than me. I think that, [00:28:00] I think the difference for me is. I feel very intentional with what I read. Um, and if I'm enjoying it, I like to share it. But that's kind of everything for me is I try to be intentional with my time and my space and my money.
Um, so yeah, I try to share the things I enjoy.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
I'm gonna ask, okay, so every episode I ask a question from the previous guest. Mm-hmm. There's actually two guests on the previous episode. Okay. So there's actually two questions, so I'm gonna ask one of them.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Which is, and I also associate you really deeply with like, you're like an Indianapolis person.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: I don't know how to say that. Yeah. Differently. You're like, there's a few people I consider like Indianapolis people where they're just like everywhere. Um, cliff, cliff Bar Siglia is another person.
Anna: Right. I'm Indy with Anna, so, yeah,
Michael Zarick: that's true. Uh, so the question, uh, from, oh gosh, Mads Mads Gullion. Okay.
She says, what do you love [00:29:00] most about Indianapolis?
Anna: Okay, so this is kind of a long answer, but I am not from Indiana. I've lived here majority of my life. Um, I was never gonna stay here. That was never the goal. My real life dream and life was to live out of my car and travel. Like that was what I wanted to do.
Michael Zarick: Van Life hashtag van Life.
Anna: Yeah, before it was trendy though. Okay. Like I wanted to be a garbage person and just do that. Um, something a lot of people don't know about me is I had a kid in high school, um, it's actually his birthday today. He's 19. It's wild that I have a 19-year-old. Um, but in that I needed family support.
I could not have done it by myself. so I stayed in Indie and then I just stayed. Um, and life has me here right now, so I lost a lot of myself during the pandemic, right? Like everyone did. And when I could finally leave my house and go out and do things, I wanted to make sure I [00:30:00] was in places that had the same ideals as me.
so I really made a point to know who I was shopping with and where I was spending money and, and know where I was getting coffee. And I wanted to fall in love with Indy again. Um. Because I was so unhappy. Everyone was so unhappy during the pandemic and I needed to be happy and love where I was because I'm here right now.
Um, and I don't wanna just complain about it and say what every other place may have that Indy doesn't, but Indy's cool. Like there's a lot of cool stuff here. It just is kind of hard to find. And that is where I kind of like started my, my Instagram, um, to share with other people. And that's why I really try to highlight.
All the events that I think are cool and that I wanna go to, so that they keep happening. Again, I'm being selfish with it, but if I enjoy it, I hope that other people would too. So I love, I love [00:31:00] Indy for being Indy. Like it's, it's been unwavering in the community here, but there's always something to do.
There's always something. You just have to find it and you can love it. Yeah. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: I, I've talked about this a lot, but there's a. There's a theme where like I, I sometimes look at Reddit. Mm-hmm. I'm like, I'm gonna do a little advertising. I have like a Third Space Indy Reddit account. Yeah. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna be like, I have a little podcast and I always look for the posts 'cause they're there.
Mm-hmm. Once or twice a week. How do I make friends? Okay. What is there to do in Indianapolis? Yeah. And I think those are so funny. Like. It's, it's, it's a sign of, I think, uh, the state of the world we're in, where people don't know what to do. But also like a sign also of like, that says to me that you haven't, like, looked for anything.
Yeah. In a lot of ways. 'cause it's like there's so much in Indianapolis to do. Yeah. If we, you say we're a small city, I don't perceive that way. That way. Mm-hmm. We're both [00:32:00] physically large and like extremely large from a diversity standpoint of activities and. Ethnicities and things like that. And I just think those posts on Reddit are so funny 'cause it's like a lot of these people are like, I don't know what to do.
It's like, well, have you gone outside? Yeah. Have you looked around, have you followed Anna on Instagram? Like, uh, look, look for stuff that's like, find something that's of interest to you or take your interest that you already have.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: And I guarantee there's someone
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Doing that thing.
Anna: Well, I think it's more than having the thing to do.
It's, I feel like a lot of people. Yeah, everywhere but in Indy are very nervous to go to things alone. Um, like when people see me out alone, they're like, oh, you're here by yourself. And they're like shocked by it. And I'm like, yeah, like it's okay to do things alone. But I also, um. I that I want people to feel safe and comfortable with me.
I've also extended on my Instagram that is public, that if anyone wants to do something and they're feeling nervous about doing it alone, [00:33:00] ask me to go. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Has anyone taken you up on that?
Anna: Yes. Yeah. Okay. Um, I've met friends through that, um, that I'm really close with now because they wanted to go, but it's scary to go to things alone or for the first time or anything.
Yeah. But nothing in Indy is scary like you, like you can go anywhere you want and just make the choice and go. But I also will go with people if they want to go somewhere. I really will. That's not like, I don't care how well we know each other. If you don't know me at all, I'll go somewhere with you.
Michael Zarick: I am the same way.
Anna: Yeah,
Michael Zarick: yeah,
Anna: yeah.
Michael Zarick: I, I have extended that sentiment. I think multiple times. No one's hit me up. I think part of that's, I'm a large white man, like kind of intimidating. I don't feel like I come off that way, but maybe, I don't know.
Anna: I don't think you're intimidating.
Michael Zarick: Thank you. Thank you. I hope to be the least scary dude.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, great answer. I appreciate that.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, where are we? I'm gonna move on to what I call the canned questions, although I've already have already asked [00:34:00] one, um, but I figured it was fitting for you specifically. Okay. So Third is sponsored. Thirdspaceindy.com is sponsored by City Rising and my good friend, mark Lata mm-hmm.
Has decided to sponsor the podcast. Shout out to Mark always. Citi Rising is a social impact studio that leads and supports innovative projects that strengthen, celebrate and repair people and places. So if you're a people or you're the leader of a place mm-hmm. And you're interested in improving your built or lived environment, reach out to me or reach out to Mark and we'll hook you up.
Anna: Cool.
Michael Zarick: But Mark has, Mark has sponsored a question on the podcast, which is, what is a third place to you?
Anna: I mean, does this count?
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Oh, we had to pay to come, but I,
Michael Zarick: this is a constant conversation. Yeah. Third spaces are not, I think by definition, not always free. It's just a place outside of your working home.
Anna: Okay. Okay. Yeah. I mean, I am. [00:35:00] I'm a member here. I come and use the space all the time.
Michael Zarick: Yeah. We're here without a permit.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Don't tell anyone. Can I, can I admit that? Don't come for me, Joe. Um, we, oh, we didn't say where we are though. Where are we?
Anna: Oh, we're Garfield Park Conservatory.
Michael Zarick: Okay.
Anna: In Sunken Gardens.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Why do you like coming here?
Anna: Uh, I mean,
Michael Zarick: you told me a couple different reasons. Yeah.
Anna: The whole time we've been here, there's been four people have walked behind us. Um, I. I love to be outside. If I, that's my choice is always to be outside and this is the closest thing during the winter, um, or when it's raining like today.
Uh, and it's pretty, I mean, you feel good here. That's why I know your skin is hydrated sitting here. I know. It feels good.
Michael Zarick: The skin hydrated skin thing is sending me, uh,
Anna: it's real though.
Michael Zarick: What, what about this place is so compelling to you, like emotionally? Is it the aloneness or is it like the feeling of being outside or is there something beyond that?
Anna: Um, I mean, I'm sure there's something [00:36:00] beyond all of that that I can't even tap into. Right. Um, but no, it's being alone, it's quiet, but you're still around living things. Um, my, as a kid, I used to pack a backpack and climb a tree in my backyard and read. So I feel like this is probably the closest thing outside of going out and climbing a tree and reading.
So, yeah. Yeah,
Michael Zarick: that makes sense. Um, next question related.
Anna: Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: What is a Third Space or place
Anna: mm-hmm
Michael Zarick: that has existed for you previously that no longer does?
Anna: Um, okay. This is like a, a, you're gonna maybe say this isn't a Third Space, right? Because it's a store.
Michael Zarick: A lot of people have answered, a lot of people have answered stores yeah.
That they worked at.
Anna: Well, not so that I
Michael Zarick: worked out. I'm not here to judge.
Anna: I know you're not judging, but I know there is like a, a, a right and a wrong term for a Third Space, but this is like a deep cut. [00:37:00] Indy institution Is Artsy Fartsy.
Michael Zarick: I think I've, have I heard of that? I know,
Anna: I, I am sure that you have like artsy fartsy was in broad pool is on the main strip.
Um, it was. I mean, even now as an adult, like one of my favorite places to go to, they, it was kind of a gift shop, but they had candy and like joke things as well, like whoopee cushions,
Michael Zarick: whatever. Like it was that store in like Harry Potter,
Anna: whatever, like yeah. But it was like this real place you could go. I would go there for birthday parties and just like would let people pick things out.
Um, I would just go and play with things and look at things. Artsy fartsy was awesome. I don't know what happened to it. I don't know any backstory to it, but artsy fartsy, if I could, if I had the money and could open that space again, I would definitely do that because I know that people know that space.
Michael Zarick: There's a Halloween shop in Louisville mm-hmm. Called Caufields. Okay. I love going to [00:38:00] Caufields. Yeah. Like a, like I have the, some emotional connection to it. I have, don't think I've ever purchased anything there.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Ever. But there is, there's the Halloween half, which they make a ton of money on. Yeah.
Like one time a year. And then there's the magic half. Oh, it is like, so
yeah.
Random, crappy, magic stuff. And I love going in there. Last time we visited, I think they were only open like three days a week, probably outside of the Halloween season. Mm-hmm. But, uh, so, and there's just like a giant bat on the side of the building.
I don't know. something about that place was always so compelling to me. And it was like that sort of like what you're talking about, like,
Anna: yeah.
Michael Zarick: The kitschy like store. Yeah. They sold art supplies too.
Anna: Yeah, it was, it was like a little bit of everything. I'm sure. Like there will be other people that will remember it better than I do.
Um, but I remember it was all like, it was dark wood, so it felt warm when you went in. And I feel like there was one older woman that was there all the time. I'm sure it was her shop. Um. But I could just go and be a kid and like play with stuff and [00:39:00] look at things and I didn't have to buy things. Yeah. She would also give me things for free sometimes.
Um, just little trinkets and things that I still have some of them to this day, which I don't hang on to things very often, but it meant something to me. So
Michael Zarick: Do you remember when they closed?
Anna: I'm not sure when that was. That's okay. Probably in the nineties. Like or early? No, I'm sorry. Probably early 2000s. Uh, yeah.
When Broad Ripple was kind of shifting and more boutiquey and just didn't make sense. But
Michael Zarick: Broad Ripple is very boutiquey.
Anna: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, uh, good answer. I like the, I I just want to just, I want to, uh,
the definition of Third Space. Mm-hmm. And I need to say, this is just literally, this is it.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Outside of your work and outside of your home place that you can go be with other people. Okay. And when you tell me that you like took your birthday parties there [00:40:00] and you had a connection with the owner who like, clearly knew you Yeah.
Because she gave you like, that is I think a third. It doesn't matter if it's just, just a business, like I think that says a lot.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, the most important thing I think is there's two pieces that I think are the most important about the. Larger definition of Third Space, but just like consistency.
Anna: Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: And conversation.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Being the main focus. Um, so don't, we don't, we don't, uh, hedge here.
Anna: Well, I feel like that kind of flows into kind of what I do now with the places that I go, is like, I get to know my servers, I get to know my baristas. And make that community within these spaces that maybe are not considered third spaces to everyone.
Right. But it's building that community in different places. And that's, I feel, that's the bigger thing for third spaces is the community within it. Um, [00:41:00] outside of my home or work. Yeah. So
Michael Zarick: I think there's a, I was trying to explain. So I came from Skosh Okay. Over in Garfield
Anna: Park. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Uh, I met a woman named Mo.
Shout out to Mo, uh, and. I, I explained it. This happens to me a lot when people go, I mentioned I do a podcast. Mm-hmm. And then I say that my wife has heard me say the definition of Third Space to the point where I feel like half the time when I say it, she's like, I gotta go to the bathroom. Um, it's like, I don't, I'm not gonna, I'll pass up on this.
Um, but I said the definition of Third Space, the Mo, and then I said something along the lines of, um, like a lot of places say, They want to be a Third Space. Like it's on their website. Yeah. They're like, we strive to be a Third Space. And I don't think that is all you can do to achieve that. You have to, there's a couple of more steps there. Yeah. You can't just like say, it's like when you say like, uh, [00:42:00] I don't know. I don't have a good example of a, of another thing. When you say like, I'm a good person, I think there's a couple more steps To being a good person than just saying it out loud.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um.
Anna: And I feel like most people that are good people don't just say I'm a good person. You like see it in their actions.
If they're saying it, they probably aren't the best person.
Michael Zarick: I'm a great person. Uh, sorry, I need help. Uh, but yeah, that's what I like. I think there's a lot of things that go into the creation of a Third Space
Anna: mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: That go, go unspoken.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um, and that's a hard thing to overcome where like. Tomorrow's a great example of this. Yeah. I think in a lot of ways, like they are a store, it's just, it's frankly just a bookstore. Yeah. But there's so many steps that Jake and Julia take that go beyond just being a bookstore that I think makes it a community space, especially for people who live, uh, near Mass Ave or like Cottage Home, that type of area.
Yeah, because [00:43:00] you guys have a lot of regulars and there's a level of relationship that you have. Um, it's not my Third Space 'cause I don't like going a lot. Yeah. But there are people out there who
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Who it is for.
Anna: Yeah. Well and that's what I mean. It's really nice because I appreciate at Tomorrow that I can be who I am there as an employee.
Um, and that's what that people feel comfortable just coming in and hanging out. Like we can talk books or we can talk literally anything else. And that's why I feel like all the booksellers there feel the same way. Come buy a book, cool, but also just be in our space. That's what it's there for and I really appreciate that there are a good number of businesses that the business is not always the main focus and the employees know that and feel that, um, and that we do have more Third Space than people let on, even if they don't say it on their website.
Michael Zarick: What's a, what's a place that you find [00:44:00] particularly compelling around town?
Anna: Um, I mean, I spend a lot of time at Calvin Fletcher. Uh,
Michael Zarick: oh. Goat.
Anna: I've that outdoor seating area. That's why I love to be outside,
Michael Zarick: just like on the, on the street
Anna: really? It's like
Michael Zarick: three tables.
Anna: No, in front of Blue Beard. There's that
little
Anna: sitting
Michael Zarick: area.
The little, the little plaza.
Anna: Yeah. When it's nice outside, you can almost find me there every day. Like real, and
Michael Zarick: I have never sat in that. Yeah. I thought it was exclusive to Blue Beard.
Anna: It might be, but no one's told me to move. I don't think it is. Like, not inside the Blue Beard walls.
Michael Zarick: Oh, okay. It's
Anna: that there's a little space,
Michael Zarick: like on the cultural trail.
Anna: Yeah. But it's, you'll see it just when you walk by there this summer. I'll probably be there. We'll sit down and talk, zap
Michael Zarick: each other up.
Anna: Yeah. No, exactly.
Michael Zarick: Uh, that's funny. Uh, did Jake, is it just, sorry, Book Crawl?
Anna: Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: Bike for tomorrow.
Anna: Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: Is that what it's called? Books For Tomorrow,
Anna: Booked For Tomorrow.
Michael Zarick: Is this a separate business? Sorry to jump backwards.
Anna: Um, no, I mean, it's under the same umbrella.
Michael Zarick: Okay.
Anna: [00:45:00] But like, this
Michael Zarick: is tomorrow bookstore's book bike.
Anna: Yes. But they, like I, I do have a lot of creative freedom with it.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Um, but it is under Tomorrow obviously, and I'm, when I'm bringing books out, it's books from the bookstore.
So Julia has curated the initial. Stock. Right? Yeah. And then I pull from that and then also curate based on events.
Michael Zarick: Is there a way for you to secure the books while moving around? Does it like cover up?
Anna: Yeah, so, so really
Michael Zarick: excited. No, sorry, I'm just like totally jumped back to this. No, I saw an image of a book, of a book bike and it didn't look very like,
Anna: yeah,
Michael Zarick: it looked like things could fall off.
Anna: I mean, if you see me riding around. In March, don't judge me. Right. Like I'm just, don't judge me. Give me some grace. I may cut you off in a car. We'll see what happens. But it's, so when I'm parked, it will be open, um, as compartments that will open up and I'll have face outs. [00:46:00] Then, um, when it's closed, everything goes on the bottom and it becomes like a cube and it's all enclosed.
Michael Zarick: Oh,
Anna: okay. Yeah, well, it's gonna be trial and error for a little bit. That's what our, um, our builder knows that I'm probably gonna hit them up and say, Hey, I hit this, I broke this. I need this adjusted. Uh, they're prepared for that.
Michael Zarick: Have you ever backed up a trailer before?
Anna: Uh,
Michael Zarick: or is this all one piece?
Anna: No, it's like a,
Michael Zarick: is there a trailer?
Anna: Yeah, there's a trailer, a hitch on the back of it. Um, yeah, yeah, definitely. I've,
Michael Zarick: okay.
Anna: Yeah. I've experience with bikes. I worked at REI for a long time, yo. Yeah. I've worked everywhere. I've worked every, I have a little experience doing everything. Right.
Michael Zarick: Uh, I do wanna say, just for safety purposes, Indianapolis has a pedestrian safety issue.
I'm looking in the camera.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Please be careful,
Anna: please. Yeah, try not to hit
Michael Zarick: me specific. No, I'm talking to you. Are you gonna [00:47:00] have a helmet?
Anna: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I have all the bells and whistles. I'm safe. We're following the rules of the road first, but
Michael Zarick: you should get a helmet. Sorry, I'm gonna describe something to you.
Anna: Yeah,
Michael Zarick: I have to describe this visually too. 'cause I'm on a podcast, but it's a helmet.
Anna: Uhhuh.
Michael Zarick: Uh, but on top is like. A book fanned, open Uhhuh, but laying on page down.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: On top of the helmet.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Surely that, that shape is probably not safe. I
Anna: don't, but
Michael Zarick: I wonder if it
Anna: exists. I don't think I wanna wear that shape, but like it, I'm, it exists, I'm sure.
No, I was very particular about the helmet I got from bike people who did our build. So shout out to
Michael Zarick: them or get one of the Mohawk helmets. Um,
Anna: I have a neon, so neon is one of my favorite colors. I have a neon helmet that has lights on it.
Michael Zarick: Have what?
Anna: Uh, it's neon green.
Michael Zarick: Okay.
Anna: I don't know what the difference between neon yellow and neon green.
Michael Zarick: Well, there's, isn't neon just a like bright?
Anna: Yeah, that's what neon for me is a neutral, but like any shade of neon is a neutral. It goes with everything.
Michael Zarick: So just any neon.
Anna: Any neon. But the, the helmet is [00:48:00] neon yellow. Neon green. Yeah. Easy to spot though.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: So, yeah.
Michael Zarick: Okay. What, wait you, was there a story about the helmet?
Anna: I don't think so. Oh,
Michael Zarick: okay.
Anna: You were describing the helmet.
Michael Zarick: I don't
Anna: know. You were creating a whole new helmet.
Michael Zarick: I don't know, whatever. Uh, or get a helmet. Sorry. I'm thinking about bike helmets now. Yeah, that's so funny. Get a helmet that's like this flower pot over here. Yeah. Like a, like a clay pot. And it just has a
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: None of these things are safe to wear.
Anna: No, and they look pretty silly, so I'm probably not gonna do it. I'm
Michael Zarick: big of a silly,
Anna: yeah.
Michael Zarick: Except
Anna: I'm gonna be silly enough, pulling around a 300 pound pound trailer on a bike, like. Let me see where we get with that.
Michael Zarick: Your legs are gonna be, you're gonna have monster
Anna: legs.
Oh. Oh, no. I'm getting so yolked right now. I've been working out so much. I'm like pushing on a bike all the time. I, my legs are ready. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: That's dope.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Luckily India, Indiana. Yeah. And Indianapolis is flat,
Anna: so, oh, I'm not going by any hill. That's not happening. If there's a hill to get there, I'm [00:49:00] sorry. I can't do that event.
Michael Zarick: Um, okay. I have one more question, which is the other question. Okay. From the previous guest.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Their name is Carly Valentine.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: Uh, Carly asks, if you were a cartoon character, what would your outfit be? Because it has to be one outfit.
Anna: Okay. So it's so funny you're asking that this is my uniform, this is my favorite outfit.
Uniform
Michael Zarick: is the word we used.
Anna: Yeah. Well, this is where I feel the most me, it's
Michael Zarick: Can I describe what you're wearing?
Anna: Yeah, you can. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Or you can.
Anna: I'm so, okay, so. I, we talked about fabric. This shirt, it's a camo shirt that is like cheesecloth. It's like nothing. It's wonderful. It's from Zodiac Vintage. Then I have a vintage, like nightgown also feels really good, but it's kind of pretty,
Michael Zarick: and it's, uh, yeah, it's like tissue, not tissue paper.
What's the word she phone?
Anna: I don't know.
Michael Zarick: Oh, it's, it's like, see through
Anna: fabric, it's shear. Cheer, it's sheer and then has [00:50:00] lace,
Michael Zarick: and then lace on the bottom.
Anna: So it's a little girly uhhuh, but then jeans, and then always my blend stones because I need to be outside and just ready to go. Right. But this would be my cartoon character.
Uniform is like very spot on for me.
Michael Zarick: I feel like it's very distinct.
Anna: Yeah. And, and it, it just feels so mean. So we
Michael Zarick: got like camo. Yeah. Which is a little more butch. Yep. And then you got your girly lace.
Anna: Yep.
Michael Zarick: And then jeans, which is neutral.
Anna: Right.
Michael Zarick: And then blonde stones for activity
Anna: boots, activities. And then I always have my nails done.
Always. So, yeah.
Michael Zarick: That's so good.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: What, uh, what would be the theme of your cartoon?
Anna: It would have to be some kind of like, exploring adventure. Well, okay. So it would have to have superpowers because I wanna be able to teleport.
Michael Zarick: Are you a Power Puff Girl lover?
Anna: I mean, I don't hate it.
Michael Zarick: I love power Buff Girls.
Anna: I, I was more Nickelodeon than Cartoon Network as a kid, so, you know, there's a little divide there. Um. But no, 'cause I would want my cartoon where I, everything is how I want it. [00:51:00] Right. So I could teleport. So I love going to New York. I would be in New York during the day, but then could like hop back and do an event on my book bike and you know, it would just be my life, but I could just do more with it.
Yeah.
Anna: Right. Yeah,
Michael Zarick: I love that. Ah, okay. One last question.
Anna: Okay.
Michael Zarick: And we can wrap up. What question would you like to ask the next Third Space Indy guest?
Anna: Oh gosh, that's so hard. Um, I do like the cartoon question. It's, it's fun. Um, I guess like, what I would like to know, really, I would like to know this from everyone, but your next guess, like, what do we still need an Indianapolis?
Like what do you wanna see here? Um, and that doesn't have to be like a brick and mortar. That can be just be some kind of community that can be an outdoor space. Like in any regard of that. Like, what is something that you want here? Maybe you loved it somewhere else, maybe it doesn't exist anywhere [00:52:00] else.
What do you wanna see here? Because that's what, like, I love asking that question though, because a lot of things are very attainable. You just have to have the right group of people having a conversation and it can happen a lot.
Michael Zarick: Definitely. I like that they talked about that at, um, Creative Mornings. Yeah.
Last week. Yeah. Just like, oh, the Kan-Kan.
Anna: Yes.
Michael Zarick: Guy was like. He was like, I just kept coming to Creative Mornings. Yeah. And talking to people about this thing that I wanted to do, which was an art house theater. Yeah. And then eventually just it became,
Anna: it just happened. I mean, that's the thing that's I, so, I know we disagree on the size of the city.
You say it's a big city. I say it's a small city, but we can make the city so much smaller, like in the best way that you just get the right people in the room to make things happen. So ask for it, talk about it, and it'll happen. Right?
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Agreed.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: I agree.
Anna: Cool.
Michael Zarick: Alright. Thank you Anna, for coming on.
Anna: Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: I'll drop a pod or drop a A plug for you. Shout out to Tomorrow Bookstore. Shout out [00:53:00] to the Indy Indie Book Crawl.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: What's the handle for that on Instagram?
Anna: I think it's Indy. Indie book Crawl.
Michael Zarick: I-N-D-Y-I-N-D-I-E? Yeah. Book crawl.
Anna: Yeah,
Michael Zarick: because it's two different indies.
Anna: Yes. Yeah. I-N-D-I-E is in there.
Michael Zarick: And then where if you would like to be found, can the people find you?
Anna: Um, I mean, outer around the city, right? Like, if you just see me around, come say what's up? I need you to give me your name and like how I know you or maybe don't know you.
Michael Zarick: And your social security number.
Anna: I mean, you can have
Michael Zarick: it. And the last four digits of your,
Anna: it's all yours.
I don't have anything like take what you want.
Michael Zarick: Uh, and do you care for Instagram? Yeah.
Anna: Uh, I'm Indy with Anna. Um,
Michael Zarick: INDY?
Anna: Yes, with Anna. With A-N-N-A-A-N-N-A. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Uh, the only way to spell Anna. Shout out to Anna Darling. Yeah.
Anna: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Uh, great. Anything else?
Anna: No.
Michael Zarick: On your mind. Hey, thanks for watching or listening to this episode of Third Space Indy.
You can find me at Third Space Indy on Instagram [00:54:00] or by going to Third Space Indie dot com where I write a blog sometimes. Uh, shout out to Mark Latta and cityrising.org for sponsoring the podcast. Shout out to the Garfield Park Conservatory for illegally hosting us. Smile, uh, and as always, thank you to the local artist Jennasen for allowing me to use your song Scared Rabbit as the intro music.
See you in the next one. Goodbye.
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