Ep. 17 - Imani Lehté - Local Community Builder
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Intro
In so many ways, socializing is like a muscle. It sounds stupid until you start practicing regularly. Just like going to the gym (something I need to do more of), you start to notice that over time, small interactions become easier and big interactions phase you much less than they otherwise would. For example, when you attend a rally for peace in Gaza and hear a stirring speech from a random person, you are no longer intimidated by walking up, telling them you enjoyed what they said, and then inviting them onto your podcast. This is how I met Imani Lehté. I hope you enjoy our conversation in the middle of Marrot Woods.
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Important links and mentions
Production learnings from the episode
I love recording in the outdoors. I’ve said it before, but the natural sound is pretty enjoyable for me to listen to. I’m unsure if the listeners enjoy it, but no one messages me to complain, so no news is good news.
It also allows for more avoidance of mic bleed, which has been a consistent issue for the entire length of the podcast. I've actually come to terms with this issue much more internally. Because of the nature of my podcast’s ever-shifting recording environment and lack of real control, I suspect it’s nearly impossible for me to achieve the perfect audio I desire while also maintaining the relative mobility I partake in.
Also, I listened to an episode of the Rewatchables this weekend, a deeply successful podcast, and there was quite a bit of echo and microphone bleed noticeable in the episode. They had just moved to a new studio, but it certainly made me feel good about my small-time production having comparable audio quality, especially with a much more variable environment.
On Flexing Your Socializing Muscles.
2020 completely disrupted whatever minimal social skills people had. People are still recovering from being so deeply isolated during that time, and many missed out on learning to interact with people for the first time during those years. I believe the pandemic's ramifications have yet to be fully realized in multiple ways.
Interacting with other people is scary. Not because people are scary, but because I truly believe we all feel alone and a deep level of unease around that loneliness. And then we have anxiety about that which is assumed that no one else is feeling, so we don’t act. But we crave social interaction, we crave that friendly hello, the small conversation in line at the farmer’s market, or, in my case, joining a group of people meeting for the first time at a coffee shop.
When I was laid off from my job in January of this year, I was terrible in job interviews, and I certainly was more hesitant in talking to strangers than I am now. But I forcefully made myself start socializing. It was out of a need for survival (finding a job) that I began this podcast and started networking heavily. Over time, I noticed that as I sought out connections, it became increasingly easier. Not only was I gaining a slight level of notoriety, but I also learned how to talk to people.
Which leads me to yesterday, Sunday, September 15th. I attended a meeting at the Red Door Cafe, and the entire time during this meeting, I was noticing this group of people next to me who seemed hesitant to talk to each other and were sharing a lot of things that sounded like “baby’s first interaction,” i.e. sharing their names, their careers, their interests. I learned later these people were meeting through a socializing service (I don’t know the name).
After my meeting was done, I had the perfect in. I had stolen a chair from their sitting area to sit on prior to their interactions starting, and so I returned it. A simple thank you for returning the chair turned into a “what are you guys doing?” which turned into a “may I join your circle?” It was kind of funny; it’s like I walked into a crappy joke with a bad punchline. A Korean, a Columbian, a Palestinian, a South Sudanese person, and two Americans walk into a coffee shop… they all spend an hour talking.
This turned into a discussion about me and Third Space Indy, and a talk about human connection that I think everyone was fairly interested in hearing. And finally, a trading of phone numbers and a promise to reconnect sometime soon.
This is not an interaction I could have made for myself 9 months ago. It is through consistent social exercise that I had the confidence and the ease to step into that circle I was not a part of. But it was fun to do and I’m glad I did. It’s always worth doing, and it is vital that people have these types of interactions so we can slowly rebuild the social fabric of society. This hangout was important, but so is every small in-person conversation and tiny interaction.
What does it mean to be a consumer?
One of Imani’s biggest places of advocacy they bring up is withholding your spending as a way to show your power as a consumer. Americans have a spending obsession. We are the richest country in the history of the world, and we certainly show it. When we spend money on food, we go to grocery stores, farmers’ markets, order snacks from Amazon, Instacart, and gas stations. We spend money on endless streaming services, coffee every morning, random trinkets like Beanie Babies or Labubus, sports gambling, and guns.
Spending money is the American way, and if you can’t spend money, you are often seen as lesser. When I was unemployed, I certainly felt less. And now that I have a job, I’m back to spending, though with maybe a bit more hesitancy. It’s an addiction that’s hard to kick.
At the same time, places like Target, Wal-Mart, oil companies, and other large corporations and businesses need you to keep spending to survive. So if you turn the faucet off for the flow of money to these places, they feel it. We’ve seen it earlier this year with Target and over a much longer period of time with the BDS movement. Consumers have power; we just need to act collectively to express it.
Redirect your spending to local businesses, people you know, and can talk with. People who align with you and will advocate for you, rather than faceless and ethereal corporations.
Just some really high-level thoughts and things to think on. Once again, I hope you enjoy the episode with Imani. Have a great day.
Episode Summary
Empowering Community: A Conversation with Imani Lehté 🧶
In this episode of Third Space Indy, host Michael Zarick talks to Imani Lehté, a passionate community member and advocate in Indianapolis. They discuss the importance of value-based community building, Imani's journey from a restrictive upbringing to an open and liberated mindset, and the role of spaces like Indy Community Yoga in fostering inclusivity. Imani also shares their personal connection to their name, their experiences growing up, and their involvement in various community initiatives and rallies. Join the conversation as they explore how to create supportive, inclusive spaces and the significance of being true to oneself.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Beliefs
00:46 Meet the Guest: Imani Lehté
01:38 Crocheting and Personal Interests
01:57 The Significance of Names
03:02 Podcast Philosophy and Guest Criteria
04:06 Imani's Background and Radicalization
06:03 Community and Personal Growth
17:21 Indy Community Yoga and Its Impact
28:15 Third Spaces and Nature Connection
32:12 Unexpected Friendships in the Beer World
34:43 The Importance of Vice in Community Building
36:38 Reflecting on Lost Third Spaces
37:04 The Struggles and Evolution of Religious Spaces
43:28 Favorite Ice Cream and Hometown Memories
49:39 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
54:30 Wrapping Up and Contact Information
Episode Transcript
Imani Lehte
Imani Lehte: [00:00:00] and that's why my personal belief is like any space that only allows for one train of thought or one school of thought, or in doctrine or, or whatever. Is bound to fail. And
I think that When we box people in on belief system rather than values, we, we lose a lot of great greatness and, and we should be able to genuinely coexist without having to hide away these other things. And that's why I'm like, value basis is,
Imani Lehte: I don't know.
Michael Zarick: I No, I totally agree with you. I, I personally really enjoy the framing of, uh, churches, religious centers, religion as quote unquote third space as.
Hello, my name is Michael Zarick and this is Third Space Indy. In this podcast, we talk to community organizers, leaders, and builders right here in Indianapolis who are doing their best to make [00:01:00] Indianapolis a better place today I'm talking to Imani Lehté. Hello, who is somebody I met at a Gaza rally?
Um, and the reason I was so drawn into you. It is because you gave a speech and you said a lot of stuff that
were like, it's like I was a Russian agent and you activated me, and you like, said, said some things in the speech that I was like, ,
that really connected with me. So I'll talk a little bit about that.
Um, but otherwise.
Hello, Imani. How are you doing?
Imani: Hi. I'm good over here. Crocheting? Yeah, just making a little blanket.
Nothing serious. This has been my hyper fixation
for the last couple months. So,
yeah.
Michael Zarick: The, the blanket or just crocheting?
Imani: Crocheting, yeah. This is my second blanket in the last couple months, so I'm like very, I'm very into it.
I'm also, I'm making all types of art right now. So this is
Michael Zarick: you, so you mentioned to me before we started recording mm-hmm. That [00:02:00] you wanted to bring up. Uh, the name Lehté.
Imani: Yeah. So, um, the reason why I use my
name Imani Lehté, which is my first and my middle name and not my
last name, um, is because
my middle name is my great-grandmother, um, on my mom's side. Um, her first name spelled backwards, so her first name was Ethel, and my middle name is Lehté. And. For me, I literally, I felt extremely connected to this person that was, we were not on the same, you know, realm of earth at the same time. But, um, just like having her name is super important to me. My mom also says
that like, she was like, you have my grandma's hands and all of that stuff. And so I just like, I really wanna like honor my. My great-grandmother through the way that I express myself. And so using that name is, is
really more honorable than this last name. But that's, that's a whole other story why I don't use my last name, but yeah. That's okay. Yeah. You don't have to share.
Michael Zarick: Um, wow.
Thank you for sharing. [00:03:00] Mm-hmm. And thank you for offering to share as well. So the reason I asked you on, like I said, is because of the speech you gave at this rally. Mm-hmm. But also a very common question I get is, who is allowed to come on your podcast? And my question always, I always rephrase it back to them and I say, who is not allowed to come on the podcast?
Mm-hmm. Um, and the reason I say this is because I think truly that, uh, anybody is qualified to talk about community and, and
You don't necessarily have an association with an organization or a business or anything like that. You are just a member of the community, somebody who's deeply invested in the community, and I think that's really powerful.
Um, and something I just sort of want to, to talk to you about and things like
that. Mm-hmm. Okay. Any thoughts?
Imani: Um, I'm like, I [00:04:00] have so many thoughts. I have stories and explanations. Um. I think I'll, I'll be very brief. I grew up, um, the school that I went to from ages five to 13 was a white christian nationalist, um, school. I lived up in northwest Indiana, so I was, I was near Chicago. I was in a populated area. But, um, I think growing up in that, and obviously given the connection to our current times, um, I understand the deeply rooted. Illness of like separation and individuality that, um, I experienced being in that environment and how it indoctrinated my brain.
And, um, I think I, I had to, I had to move away from a lot of that stuff. And so my brother, after I finished uh, college, my brother was living in Indianapolis and I was like, I don't wanna go back home. Mm-hmm. Northwest Indiana's is okay. Chicago's okay. I've seen
it my entire
life. So I wanted to go somewhere else and I moved to Indianapolis and, um. It absolutely changed my [00:05:00] life. For the better? Um, yeah. Yeah. I had already been, um, I have a minor in women and gender studies and counseling and a degree in psychology. So my brain has already been like people and, you know, understanding the complexities and all that stuff. But once I moved here, I was able to actually like, live that out for real and not just like read all the books that I've read and really be able to practice that in real life. And. I've just been
ever radicalized over and over and over again, just seeing the fullness of, of life outside of this very isolated and limiting thought process and, and way of living. And so I just. Because I see it and I've been in such visceral stuff. I'm like, okay, if y'all haven't been in as crazy stuff as I've been in, y'all can get out y'all. Let's get it together. Mm-hmm.
I was like, I could have been a tra wife. For real. I was like, I genuinely had like the, the idea in the, like, I was like, okay, [00:06:00] I'm gonna wait. I'm gonna have to pause real quick. Yeah.
Um.
Michael Zarick: Because I think of my average guest as my mother. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And my mother might not know what a trad wife is.
Yeah.
So,
uh, shout out to Marney. A trad wife is, stands for traditional wife. Mm-hmm. And the idea of like sixties housewife
who cooks, cleans,
uh, takes care of the kids and doesn't have a career mm-hmm. Or any sort of aspirations. Uh, although, yeah, I do wanna, I do want
Imani: to
Michael Zarick: push back slightly on this idea as fully negative.
Mm-hmm. Because I think women should be allowed to be trad wifes.
Imani: Yes. Yes.
Michael Zarick: But I think, uh,
there
should be a level of choice. Mm-hmm. Yes.
Imani: Absolutely. Right. The advocacy is behind removing the choice. Right? Yep. Um, sorry. Yeah, just a little aside. No, no worries. Um,
yeah. Um, so I, like I was saying, I, I could have absolutely been a trad wife. I had the idea, the last man I dated, I'm also a lesbian. Um Mm. [00:07:00] Um, and the last man that I dated, I was like, Hmm. He's, he's a good wholesome black man and he's, you know, he's been to church a little bit and he's in the army and I can really, like, I was like, listen, we'll be together for about 20, 30 years, make sure the kids go off to college. And I'll just be like, I'm just so unhappy after 30 years and we just have to get divorced and then I'll go find my wife eventually. But I was like, I'm, these are thoughts
Michael Zarick: you had?
Imani: Yes, I was
fully willing to like. Live within the script that my parents subscribed to at the time. Um, live in the script that, that the world and, and the schooling. Um, and, and ultimately it was a cult, uh, this, this cult kind of, uh, did to my brain. I really was just like,
I, I'm willing to sacrifice it all and, you know, I'll, I'll get my satisfaction later when nobody can tell me what to do in front of my face. And, um. I think coming from a, a place where I was willing to hide so much, I like all I'm grasping for now is [00:08:00] freedom and liberation. And I was like, whatever
gets me and other people there is really what is most important. 'cause I know what it is to, to be in that bondage. Like you are aware of what's going on and you're still like, well I'm willing to do it. Like this is what I know.
Michael Zarick: Yeah, yeah. When, at what point did you feel like, um, 'cause you're talking about being in this sort of.
I'm gonna call it a mental prison. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, just a, a way you just sort of stuck in the, what you were taught and what you saw around you. Um, at what point did you feel, or was there a specific moment where you had a, a, a reframing?
Imani: Um, I think there were several. Moments
of reframing? Well,
first was me going to public school.
What a culture shock. Ooh, public school. We love public schools. Um, and that was just me being around the general population of people for the first time. For real, for real. Other [00:09:00] than like my family who's Black from Chicago and the, you know, crazy school that I was at. And so I really was just like, oh.
People can be complex and have multiple identities. I had always known that I was a lesbian.
From the first time I heard that word. I was like, something's interesting about that.
I like that.
I've held on to that. Right. Wait, wait, so, um, I'm
Michael Zarick: half Lebanese.
Imani: Mm-hmm.
Michael Zarick: Do you know where I'm going with this? Yeah.
Yeah.
It's very co very common, uh mm-hmm. Slip when
I'm younger to be like, I'm a
lesbian. And my wife still calls it. She's like, Michael, you're a lesbian. I love that.
Imani: Um,
Michael Zarick: so before
you even knew the word, what the word meant,
Imani: it like called to you. Yeah.
Yeah. Um, and so like having, the first friend I made was a very out and proud and alternative, uh, black lesbian.
Mm-hmm. And. I attached myself to this [00:10:00] person at the hip when I first like met them because I was like, whoa, I, whoa, you can, they,
um, at the time had this like rainbow mohawk and shaved sides of their head. I was like, amazed you, like you're the coolest person. Just, I was like, oh my god, people can be like this. Um, and so I had moments like that and then a couple years later I actually like came out and then once I went to college, I expanded my mind even more and just.
Like getting my women in gender studies minor. I was already like kind of a feminist and reading certain books and things and was like, Hmm, something's a little fucked up about this. Um, but beyond, like, once I, once I got into the feminism, I was like, all right. And then once I got
out on my own as an adult for real, I was like, oh, so all of this is like an actual thing. These things that I've been reading are real, for real, for real. Um, and obviously I think the, the last instance of me being extremely radicalized was October 7th, [00:11:00] 2023. I, you know, I'm, I'm, I've grown up how I've grown up and I didn't know you 26 and Yeah.
Michael Zarick: That would've been, you were 24 at the time. Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
So that, I mean, I think about impactful moments in my life and how they reframe thinking. Mm-hmm. The, the thing I always reference is like the most eye-opening.
Experience in my life is taking a class in college. I mentioned this
before,
um, called
Imani: American
Michael Zarick: Intervention in Central and Southern America. Phew.
That's, that's, now that's a, Hey, go look. Go look that stuff up. It's, um, very fun, very fun. Fun.
Um, but like having a, a sort of spark of like, oh, some stuff is going on. And also, um, to have that for yourself.
In a moment where there's like two ways you could go mm-hmm. Where you could be deeply [00:12:00] dehumanizing or deeply pro-human, in my opinion. Yeah. Um, I think is a really, it says a lot about you.
Imani: Yeah.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Um, and I think it was just also like. For me, I think growing up in a lot of, um, fundamentalist faiths or faith practices as far as Christianity, there is this like push for Israel as a, like, what's
Israel is, you know, it's a big thing. Then Jesus will come back and I was like, I, I think I kind of went through my understanding of that and the teaching of that, and I was like, I don't really, I don't, I don't really like the way that that sounds and not demonizing faith or understandings.
In, in that aspect. But just like, I was like, oh, so all of these people who are actively there, who are native to this land are just going to disappear. That doesn't make any sense to me. And it was just also like there's, I don't know, there wasn't any questions in my mind.
I I was like, [00:13:00] so this has been, this has already been going on. This is just an escalation of what's already been going on. So I'm late. Mm-hmm. So it wasn't even like, it was just like a, oh, I do two seconds of research. Oh, so this has been, you know, 75 years of this already. Actually
Michael Zarick: wanna share Actually wanna share my moment with specifically mm-hmm. Is a friend of mine who I'll not name, was like, he's like, there's a couple things in reality that are like so obvious, like there just, there's moral, he goes, there's moral things that like you cannot, disagree with. Mm-hmm. And and
it, it was in a conversation with another person Yeah. Who was also a good friend of mine. Um, and, and so the first person, person A who said that goes like, Palestine, Israel. And the second person goes, oh, what do you mean by that? And person A goes, um, like, you know, [00:14:00] Israel is right to like.
like do, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And person B was like,
I, he's like, you don't think there's like disagreements with that? And I was just over here like this conversation, totally uninformed. Mm-hmm. Um, and like
looked up like four videos and like read some articles and I was like, I was like, this seems pretty cut and dry to me.
It didn't, it didn't, uh, take me very long to come to my own understanding. Yeah. Um, just because of. Of what you said. Mm-hmm. The historical context.
That was, it was pretty,
uh, simple. Yeah.
But yeah,
Imani: and I think
being deeply connected to erasure as just being a black person, being a non-binary person, being queer, living in this country, um, like, I think me
Michael Zarick: blows away, wisp in the wind.
Imani: Um, like I was just like. So, so they were literally like, [00:15:00] it was just wiped off the map,
huh? I was like, that's
a little, that's a little funky.
I've never, I've, I've never seen that be done and
there'd be good things happening. And then I was also like, oh, Britain's involved.
Gimme star.
Oh, so, so the, so the grandfather of racism and bigotry and violence, um, and the, yeah.
Michael Zarick: So.
What was
he gonna say? Mm Oh, the other thing that like really caught my eye when like watching those videos was the way the map changed on certain dates or like certain, like markers. Yeah. Um, I was like, why? Like, this doesn't seem, I was like, this doesn't seem right. Right.
Imani: Everything's not curling, but I, I
Michael Zarick: think it, um, but thank you for sharing like those. Those times. Yeah. And as always, Free Palestine
Imani: yeah.
Michael Zarick: Um,
Imani: From the river to the [00:16:00] sea,
Michael Zarick: very difficult. Mm-hmm. Very weighs on me every day. Yeah. Um, so I do want to get to the, what drew me in. 'cause it is not specifically this issue that drew me into you. Yeah. It was just the happenstance of being at a, at a rally.
Yeah. Um. What you talked about in your
Imani: speech was
Michael Zarick: not about this specifically. Mm-hmm. It was about more localized conversation. Yeah. Around when we are at a time where we are lacking in, uh, service from the government. Yeah. From, I don't know what from a lot of. Places. Um, all we have left is each other.
Yeah. And I think this idea of really deeply investing in your community and yourself and lifting each other
up as best we can [00:17:00] mm-hmm. Is really what connected with me in that moment. Um, I am butchering what you
said. Yeah. In a lot of ways. But that is what really drew me in and why I approached you and said, Hey, come on. My podcast. Yeah
Imani: Yeah. I'm like, how do I, where do I even go from there? Um. I think so my, my, my, um, biggest community that I'm a part of is Indy Community Yoga. You know, and shout out, you literally talked to Tony
four hours ago. That's my guy. I was just messaging him, him earlier today. Yeah.
I um. Having, I think they were one of the places that I was like tip toeing in for a while before I really like. Started to go. Um, I had gone to probably like two, two and a half years ago. They had, um, a practice at like the pipe, [00:18:00] uh, library branch, and it
was like yoga for everyday people. And it was like six 30 and I came in late and, um, I was like, oh. And had such an amazing experience. Um, at the time the, the person leading was Katasha, who is. Amazing. Um, love her. Shout out.
Never met them. Yeah. Uh, Katasha is awesome. Um, uh, they have like a, a candle shop out in, I think it's, let me not say the wrong city, somewhere in Ohio that's kind of close. Uh, I mix up all the C names, but, um, and so I went to that columbus, cleveland, right?
Michael Zarick: Cincinnati.
Imani: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: No, I, my brains cannot in Ohio.
Imani: I cannot keep up with all of that. Um, but went to that, um, movement practice and. Had such an amazing time and then went to a Qigong practice where Tony was facilitating and it was at the Indy Zen center and. I fully
went onto the floor [00:19:00] with my shoes on having, you know, no knowledge of, of these, of like, you know, how, how sacred these spaces are,
or, or what's the, you know, common practice within these spaces. And him just being so welcoming and being like, okay, well you can take off your shoes here. And just being so
open and welcoming. And then they have their queer and trans practice, which is my favorite practice. And I started going there, um,
last summer and have. R rarely miss. Um, I just love
the space that they're cultivating as far as like allowing queer and trans people to feel comfortable moving their bodies and all that stuff. And I just, the, the integrity that I've seen and their, them
being very clear about what they believe in and that they're about, you know, community and liberation and, and all things freedom and all things progressive, for real, for real. Um, and I have in so many different ways, whether financially or just [00:20:00] emotionally been directly supported by folks in that community.
And I think that's,
Michael Zarick: well, when you talk about, you, you said some stuff earlier in this very conversation where you're like, I was lying to myself. I was masking. Mm-hmm. I was not being true to who I was, and that is very much what Tony and I discussed. Earlier today and, but every, but every practice mm-hmm.
It is about being true to yourself. Mm-hmm. And not lying to yourself about who you are. Yes. And spending time thinking about that, and
Imani: then also sharing that with other people. Yeah. In the moment. Um, is that what you've found?
Michael Zarick: Like
Imani: you, you're
Michael Zarick: really facing, coming to
Imani: Yeah. Yes. Oh my God. Um, during that first Qigong practice, there's a, um, a quote that. Um, they do before every single practice. And it's being a ordinary heart and just like, there's [00:21:00] no way of knowing or not knowing. It's just you. You just gotta, you gotta be.
Um, and that's how you know. Um, and so it is just all like, everything is everything. You are you. Freedom is the most important thing. Um, we're all connected, all of that stuff all rolled into one. And so I've just,
I've seen that continuously be echoed in this community. Um, and I think it's really empowered me to push forward things that I want to do and ideas that I've had in my, in my brain and in my body that I just haven't gone for. And so I'm like, genuinely, it's the reason why i'm about to go on leave for my job for a little bit because I'm like. This space has really shown me, like, and I've read the book, Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. That's a great book.
Um, but really, but really like seeing it lived out, um, by community members is, and, and being given permission, whether verbally or just, you know, through [00:22:00] how they move throughout the world.
To, to do that is. So important. And it, I don't know, it's life changing.
It's just life changing. So, uh, shout out to Indy Community Yoga for being one of, one of the places that truly keep me grounded. I, like now tell
my mom, I'm like, I gotta go to church on Sunday morning. Gotta go to my lawyer, my little movement practice real quick to, to make sure that I renew myself and, and be around community and, and refuel my cup or refill.
I haven't, I've only gone
Michael Zarick: to two or three, um, and I was telling. I,
uh,
I feel like I am doing myself a disservice by not attending anymore. 'cause I, you know, it's, it's, it is very pleasant. Yeah. And even, you know, I think even if you go in with a hesitancy mm-hmm. Which you shouldn't because it's very welcoming
Imani: and open.
Michael Zarick: Um, you will come out just feeling rested in a different way.
Imani: Yeah. And what
I'll say to you is no rush. 'cause I, you know, like I said, I, you said you were tiptoe I, right. [00:23:00] Right. And I think that's the best way to do it. That's really what
they want. Like that's the ordinary heart way is like, uh, and, and I think to, as someone who's been in a cult, like to avoid cult.
Is to be skeptical, is to be like, let me really let this I see. Wants it cold. But I don't think that you're saying that either.
No. Um, but to, but to make sure that you're not involving yourself in things that how we avoid fascism is, is allowing ourselves to really sit with those things and like sometimes tiptoe in and out and be like, all right, I'm gonna have to come back to that book later because I really can't absorb that information. But still knowing that, like even in that moment, like this is probably good for me. I just don't, I can't have it right now.
Yeah. Maybe later I'll come back to it and so yeah, you'll find it. So you identify heavily as a community organizer? Uh, no. Yes. My, my, I, yes, but
my, the title that I give myself in, in, [00:24:00] I don't know, to be silly, is more like community B word.
Uh, that's not, that's not a nice term, but like I, I am willing to. I also am a, am a pastor's kid, so that's, that's important context. Yes. You are pastor. Yes, a pastor. My dad currently has his own little, you know, sect of, of whatever. Um,
and so I think I know what true servitude in a community is, but for violence and harm. Mm-hmm. And so that's why I'm willing to kind of. Label myself community B because I'm willing to, and maybe in not a, an amazing way. Um, but I'm willing to like really do as much as I can for the people who I know would, would have and, and will do the same.
Like, I don't know Tony himself has, has like, I want to use the word blessed, but it sounds so like. Christian-y or whatever,
but genuinely has like blessed me in financial ways that I voice all the time. I can't like, yeah, [00:25:00] thank you for giving me permission to do that. Of course. Um, but like genuinely has blessed me in ways that I'm, like, I don't even have family members that I know that I can rely on to show up for me.
And that's not just 'cause of sex, like there's complications, whatever, but like to know that this person is like, you're a human being worthy of, of just. Uh, being heard, being supported in whatever way I can. Like, that's, I don't know, it really, that's that like unconditional love with conditions, if that makes sense.
Yeah. That's that unconditional love with boundaries and I'm like, I really appreciate that and that's how I kind of wanna move throughout my life and how I, I've, I've been shifting and moving in the last little while, so,
Michael Zarick: yeah. So what do you, um, are there active? Are you taking any active, uh.
uh community building efforts? If not, that's okay.
Imani: Um, well, my biggest way [00:26:00] to, yeah, my biggest way is, uh, doing rallies mostly. Uh, folks who are like jVP, uh, Jewish Voices for Peace, Indiana, amazing love them. Um, have asked me to, to partner in some things. Um, I also am on the board for indy Community Yoga, so if we do more like. Out loud community based, uh, conversations or rallies or anything like that. I'll kind of be the representation for that. I also am a poet, so a lot of the work that I do in that aspect is
very to get you activated and going. Um, it's telling you a story
so that you don't repeat a pattern that I'm seeing or that I've noticed or that I can articulate. Um, and then, uh, the last thing is that I have this. Big, hopefully five year plan to, um, open up a community space. Um, and yeah, so that's, that's my, my biggest thing is kind of moving towards that. And I am trying to start [00:27:00] my coalition, collective, whatever I wanna call it, comrad
situation of, of people who genuinely are passionate about this, who are like just all scattered around and who are well connected, who need a place to house it. And I'm like. Community B word. Here. I'll be the voice. I'll be the voice. I will scream and yell and look like the crazy person so that y'all can get what I know y'all can do. Done. Like
I just want to be the. The the face to keep it going or whatever, it has to be like out. So that's definitely, that's my biggest goal right now.
Yeah. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Community B word.
Imani: Yeah. Out here. My mom probably wouldn't like that. But
Michael Zarick: you're
Imani: not saying the word. Yeah. Yeah. B word. It'd be like Bumblebee. Yeah. Ooh, okay. I'll be listen. Pollinating and things, yo. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Yeah
Imani: Yeah, in the community,
Michael Zarick: I guess.
Imani: Yeah, absolutely.
Michael Zarick: Um. [00:28:00] Sorry, I'm listening to the birds. Yeah. So, okay.
uh, I began, begun, began, I've begun asking, I don't know what the correct word is here. Um, this question,
Imani: which is, uh, what is a third space to you?
Michael Zarick: It's the. It's the topic. Of the show,
Imani: which I love.
Um, third spaces are, are my big thing. It is in my mind mostly free. Um, but just blatantly
community
centered spaces where people can be free to be themselves. All iterations of human beings with respected boundaries. Um, and. Somewhere else outside of your home, outside of your job, outside of that coffee shop you always go to to be free. And for me, that's community space. That's [00:29:00] uh, poetry spaces. That's my yoga space. Mm-hmm. Um, and
Michael Zarick: well, so we are in Marrot Woods.
Yeah. This too,
in,
is this considered Broad Ripple? I dunno how this works. Um, but you mentioned that you really like being here and connecting with nature. Okay. And then also when we were talking about where else to record, you mentioned a debris slash pub, I don't know what it is. Yeah.
But a place on the east mm-hmm. Side. Can you tell me a little bit about that?
Imani: Yeah. Okay. So I'll start with the woods. Um, I kind of live like downtown a couple of years ago when I first moved to Indianapolis. And so I was like looking for trails, looking for places to walk
that were like calm and. And, you know, scenic and all that stuff.
And I found this place and I don't know how many times I walked here that year alone from downtown. Not, no, not not from downtown, but I would like come, I would come and park and, and walk around here. And so I'm like, once we get into the innards once, once you get into the innards, I [00:30:00] know this place like the back of my mind.
Like I've literally been in here in the dark and people have been like,
are you okay? And I'm like, I know this place. We'll see how it goes when we leave today. Listen, listen. We'll be okay. I believe in us. Um. But this just, uh, place mostly untainted
by the violence of constant or, or of, of urgency. Mm-hmm.
Like this is, it really became my place of like, you don't have anywhere to go. Mm-hmm. This is it. These trees are all this is, or, or what it really is supposed to be. Be
The, the, plants that you see here, the, the, the nature that's, that's really what it's supposed to be. And so I think it, it's, it became my third space because I just like, it quiets my mind so much. I don't know. Yeah. Yeah it's real. It's my will, my real like woo woo point of just like, ah, I love the nature and the trees and the, the that's funny. So. [00:31:00]
Michael Zarick: Alright, so what about the, what is,
Imani: is it not
Michael Zarick: a brew?
Imani: They don't brew beer there. They do. Oh, they do. They do, yes. Okay. So brewery. Yeah. In the back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So Kismetic Beer Company, my friend, shout out, uh, Nicole and Ryan. Um, they
opened, let me not be wrong. May of 2023. 2022. 2023. I, yeah, I'm like, sorry if I got it wrong. Um, i'm trying to be a good representative. No, at 2022. And so I had moved, I moved into my house that was like a couple of blocks away from there, um, literally like a couple months before. And so I was like, there's not, there wasn't too much around the neighborhood.
They hadn't really like done up the park near my house that much. And it was just like, I was like, I'm getting used to East Side, what's going on here? And they opened up and I was, at the time I was working at.
A restaurant in Carmel that had like a hundred plus beers on tap. And so I was really learning about beer at the time and I was like, okay, this is a community space. It is woman owned, [00:32:00] it is beer. So I was like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna try it out. And I was like really into reading books and I was
like way more introverted than I am now and I still am an introvert. Mm-hmm. But went in there and you know, there it is. Just Nicole and Ryan in there and they were. I don't, I, I don't know. My, I my brain doesn't expect, unfortunately, white folks who are in their late thirties, early forties to be like, so open armed. And especially in the beer world, it's, it can be
a little like, actually I
Michael Zarick: have a, a, a story about that, but you can keep it
Imani: going. Yeah. So it's like, it could be a little dicey and i'm like, I know what I'm getting myself into. And so to receive. F Abundant, welcoming, and acceptance. And then I started talking about this book that I was reading with Ryan and he started reading it and he ended up, um, getting ahead of me in the, in the series. And now we gotta talk about the third book that just came out and
all that stuff.
And just being able to create these [00:33:00] friendships with these people who are just like, we've been in beer for 15, 20 years in this city.
We've seen the ups and downs and the complexities, and we want to create a space that's. Really for all and be intentional about who we are and not accept weirdness. And I love it. They, I,
it, it just, by the way, that was, that was wild. No will, I don't, i'm trying to ignore that so I don't get, get scared. It'll be good. Um, but so them just being so open to arm and, and just creating that space right there, they just happen to find that space and it, it'd be the right place for their.
They're a brewery. Brewery, and now they're, they brew all of their
stuff in the bag, artisanal quality stuff. So if you like beer, they won awards, people Kismetic.
Yeah. You, I think they, what's the,
Michael Zarick: do you know the street?
Imani: Um, it is
on.
Ooh,
Michael Zarick: that's
Imani: okay. It'll be in the show
Michael Zarick: brewery. Yeah,
Imani: yeah, yeah.
Michael Zarick: And I have a map. Yeah.
Imani: It, I know it's on the cross street of rural, [00:34:00] but, um, love, love
them and what they've created and they do all types of events and things and, yeah. Yeah. I, I don't know.
They're awesome.
Imani: I do love, like I, I did learn love learning about beer, and I definitely know the beers. I don't like don't gimme nothing dark, nothing that tastes like coffee, love good beer. Ooh, I love a good coffee or chocolate stout. Well, Kismetic has,
they've got some good stuff. I, I think they have a, they have a peanut butter. Let me not lie. It might be a peanut butter stout, let me not lie, but it's, that's something, that's something that exists. It sounds amazing. They have a Japanese rice lager that is so amazing.
All of their sour beers are excellent. Did you know they have a, yeah.
Michael Zarick: Total aside, yeah. National alcohol sales are down like 10%. Okay. Actually, I, I think it would be interesting to have this conversation with you. I think that vice is really important to community building.
Uh, so drinking alcohol. Mm-hmm. Smoking, whatever you smoke.
Imani: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Cigarettes, whatever else. [00:35:00] Um,
maybe not
hard drugs. I, I think it's a little going too far, but, right, right. Like this, this idea of vice as a community, like, Hey, let's go out, have some beers and just like, chill. Yeah. Or let's go like smoke around a campfire or whatever.
That type of thing is really important to community building, and I think this is something that, as we. Well, the reason for alcohol sales dropping mm-hmm. I think is multitudes. But I think part of that, uh, part of the sadness of this is that we're missing out on like pubs
Imani: or going out
Michael Zarick: of style. Mm-hmm.
Going out with your friends Yeah.
Imani: Is sort of out of style.
Michael Zarick: Um, and that's just
what I think. And obviously there's negatives,
right? These things I do not, I do not support.
We're not trying to, in excess, do not support drinking in excess,
Imani: but I think that there is some value to
Michael Zarick: be had. Yeah.
Imani: Through vices.
Michael Zarick: Yeah, I can hear that. Yeah.
Imani: Yeah. Thoughts on that? And I think
also, like [00:36:00]
what I'll say
is as we create more spaces. And this is why like
when I create my community
space, I'm gonna intentionally make it a space that it, you know, it could be vices or not. I mean coffee, it can also be a vice, but you know, whatever. Coffee is definitely a vice. Um, but, but you know, more mild vices things it say for work vices, you know, um, I forgot the, my train of thought there. That's okay. Gosh darn it. That was just a random thought that I always think about.
Michael Zarick: Alright.
All right. Oh, next question. Mm-hmm. I do have actual questions written down.
Okay. Uh, just to like, you know, loosely keep the flow going. Right. Um, all along the same lines of like, what is a third space, what is a third space that you used to have that no longer exists that you miss?
Imani: Hmm.
Michael Zarick: If there is one,
Imani: Hmm. A third space that no longer
exists that I. I [00:37:00]
Michael Zarick: if there isn't one that's okay.
Imani: Well, I'll say for
myself, the church, um, and I'll definitely, i'll absolutely say the black church. Um, I think having just been educated before, just being a black person in America and knowing how important churches and, and spiritual spaces were to progress in movements, um.
To see there be, because there is such a like strong hold over, like fundamentalism within these spaces. Mm-hmm. And like, it just, obviously it was, it's always been a problem of, of, you know, people shutting people out of these religious
spaces, unfortunately, and they always have to combat that. Um, but I think like it's, it's even more plain now. And so it's just like sad that I, like, I think about this. Music that I grew up with, or some words of the Bible that I think of every once in a while. And like, I'm like, I [00:38:00] can't actively, I can't participate in that anymore. Um, just because of like
literally due to, you know, how my brain works now, how they, how they did me. Um, I like, I I can become that old person again, but also like genuinely where is a black spiritual space where I am free and safe. F to be a non-binary lesbian. Mm-hmm. Or be radical in thought or question. The, the, the
Imani Lehte: spirituality. And that is, and that's why my personal belief is like any space that only allows for one train of thought or one school of thought, or in doctrine or, or whatever. Is bound to fail. And I think that from like, regardless of the political spectrum or whatever it is, I think when we box people in on belief system rather than values, [00:39:00] we, we lose a lot of great greatness because I can honor a Christian person's experience and their connection to
Imani: God and all of that stuff, but I don't, I don't have to go there. Mm-hmm. And, and they can honor that I'm a spiritualist and have knowledge in a couple of different things. And, you know, a lot of what I do as far as like yoga and movement is based in Buddhism. And, and we should be able to genuinely coexist without having
Imani Lehte: to hide away these other things. And that's why I'm like, value basis is, is more important than these.
Like, how, I don't know.
Michael Zarick: I No, I totally agree with you. I, I personally really enjoy the framing of, uh, churches, religious centers, religion as quote unquote third space as. Community spaces for people and your framing of how you should, it's sort of a, a, an alternate of what Tony said earlier today, which is like, religion is just how you live your life.[00:40:00]
Um, which I really appreciate. The similar idea, this is just the values you hold.
Imani: Yeah. So, yeah. Right. And what that looks like can absolutely be different. I want it to be different. Please. We do not all need to do the same things. It is so important for us to have varying thoughts and differences. I've always been jealous of, um,
Michael Zarick: like the.
I guess it's more like pop culture, but it's also real like pop culture version of like black churches. So joyous and like songy and dancey.
Imani: Yeah.
Uh,
Michael Zarick: that is, i've never had that experience.
Imani: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: It's a, it's, it is
Imani: a fun time.
So like, I genuinely, that's why I'm like, the music is in my head and I'm just like, I'm a music head anyway. But like a lot of my, 'cause I, I also am a singer. I'm trying to get into that bag soon.
Um, and a lot of my basis of learning how to sing is. Listen,
I don't have, oh, I do have a SoundCloud. Oh my god. Sorry. You just brought up some memories.
Um, um, but yeah, there is, there [00:41:00] that is, there is that like great joy, but also, unfortunately, oftentimes the more, more often than not there, they're, they're being that like strong condemnation and these things called deliverance services where basically you, you're casting out whatever ailment you have or whatever.
Mm-hmm. Or just, is it the one where they're like.
Michael Zarick: like,
Imani: Some, yeah. Little con, what's the word they're having? Like, um,
Michael Zarick: the
Imani: demons leave their mind. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's, it's, it's a, it's a black exorcism a little bit. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I think they can or leave it, you know? Yeah. And that's not, obviously that's not everybody. And I've also had a major league visceral experience, and the school I went to wasn't even a black church, so it was a, it was a white christian nationalist, so that was like a very different experience. But even I think
like. Yeah. It just, it just sucks that, that those spaces haven't moved forward because I have like a friend who, who has a degree in religious studies and is
so well educated and is a trans woman and [00:42:00] has to like combat so much. Trying to be, that's such an interesting person. I don't even know. Oh my God, I, I know I love her. I need to call her soon. Um, but like the things that she has had to combat just being a human being,
like in religious spaces and like. Trying to find the most progressive space and, and it being like, okay, there, you know, at least this church, there's one church here right now is doing what they need to do as far as their beliefs.
And I've asked the right questions, but it not being a collective thing is like something that people who are actively in church
our, our feeling too. And so I'm like,
we gotta expand.
I'm like, the same way that you can talk to me and I am Christian, Buddhist,
spiritualist, you know. Whatever
other, I, I
think there's,
there's gotta be that space
for someone who's like, I'm
a little more christiany, but I got a little space for these other things too.
And I think that's the only way that, that people are gonna come back to church because nobody's coming back to church. If [00:43:00] that's, if, if there's this like weird,
I don't know. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Yeah
I think churches are struggling. Yeah. Um, so praying for them, literally. Okay.
Imani: From Tony. Hey,
Michael Zarick: question. Yeah. Uh, I don't know if you knew I did this, but I asked a question from the previous guest.
Yeah, yeah. I've been listening to the podcast. Oh, you have? Okay. Yeah. I never know. I never know. Uh, so I actually have a two, it's not two-parter, it's just two separate questions. Mm-hmm. First question, what is your favorite ice cream?
Imani: My favorite ice cream,
Michael Zarick: I can't answer this because. I don't like to do favorites.
Imani: Oh, this is like, that's
Michael Zarick: a personal quirk of mine
Imani: and I'm the type of person who has multiple favorites of things. So I would say my, yeah, it's between a chocolate chip cookie dough and mint chip. Oh, ooh.
Okay. We're third place. Third place. Third [00:44:00] place is, is like a. Coffee, Java chip, anything like that? Oh, yes, yes. I currently have a tub of that in my, you know what my
Michael Zarick: favorite type of ice cream is? Whatever the one in front of me is. Listen, honestly, I've not, I've not had a
Imani: lot of bad ice cream. I
Michael Zarick: don't, have
Imani: I'm also like, like
Michael Zarick: corn flavor, like, um, like corn, the cup. Oh,
Imani: oh my God. I think I saw something on the internet. It's so good.
Michael Zarick: Like, because it's like sweet corn
Imani: ice cream. It should, that should, I saw someone made like a, a honey cornbread. Yes. Ice cream. And I was like, what are you? And put like, and put cornbread in between, like actually made corn. I was like, Hey, now lady, you need to stop
Michael Zarick: in Arkansas. Where we moved from, there was this ice cream place called, but the guy who ran it, he, I think he was Vietnamese ese American.
He's like the most dude, bro guy of all time. Huh. Um, and then his wife and he would make the weirdest flavors intentionally. Um, so he had like a cornbread one. Nice. He made like. Uh, like a, [00:45:00] like tarot. Isn't that weird? But like,
Imani: tarot mixed with
Michael Zarick: like, other
Imani: stuff.
Michael Zarick: Um, okay.
okay.
And just, I missed
Imani: that place because it's like, so
Michael Zarick: I, I was like, whenever they had like a weird new, weird play, I was like, I gotta try it.
Yeah. Here I go.
Imani: Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Here I go. Spending money again
Imani: on my ice cream. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Oops
Imani: Um,
Michael Zarick: thank you for answering.
Imani: Yeah. If you want ice cream in the city, go to Lick. Um, they recently did a, um, like a day fundraising for Palestine. And they are very open and honest about what they believe in. And so, yeah, if you want a place to go, I think they have two locations, I think one in SoBro and one like more mid town.
So theres a SoBro
Michael Zarick: place that they opened.
Imani: Oh.
Michael Zarick: Um, I'll link to them, but there's a SoBro, it's a storefront that they opened. I think it's near the moon on, and
then they have
a little window in the factory Arts district. Yes. FARTS.
Imani: Yeah, farts. And, um.
Michael Zarick: What the second question. Oh, second [00:46:00] question. I was like, I'm ready.
This is less of a question, more of a statement request.
Hmm.
It says, paint a picture of your hometown. I'm
Imani: like, I don't even have a hometown
Michael Zarick: for real. I moved around a lot. Take it how you like it or romanticize it.
Imani: Yeah. Hmm.
I oh, lots of or
Michael Zarick: burns to the ground.
Imani: I know.
whatever,
Um, whatever. I'll, I'll, I I'm gonna romanticize it.
I'm gonna think about like 10-year-old me. What I most remember about my hometown or the area I grew up in is the hills that are around and, um, either my mom or my brother, like driving down those hills super, super fast and our stomach's like going up and down. Um, and just. Just beautiful scenery, uh, lots of corn fields and, and beans and stuff in Indiana. See that,
Michael Zarick: [00:47:00] who could have seen that, I don't know.
Imani: but living right next to a cornfield multiple times in my life. Um, and this is the more like adult version of me, but just like constant facades. There was like a, and I, I think I even see it here too, but, and I want to create better, but. And I, and I kind of lived this life. I lived in a, like pretty big home when I grew up, when I was growing up. Mm-hmm.
And, but we ain't have no money. We didn't, we didn't need to be living. You didn't house no money. Yeah. Yeah. We did not need to be doing that. And so I just like, I feel like that was the perpetual issue of that area. That's the perpetual issue of the region is like we trying to look good and like we really need to build up
our infrastructure and mm-hmm. And focus on these things that are beautiful and build up our, our land and spaces for people to walk and do things and stop forgetting about Gary and all that stuff. Mm-hmm. So,
Michael Zarick: yeah. Shout to Gary.
Imani: Yeah. Hey, we love [00:48:00] Gary.
Michael Zarick: Um, well thank you for sharing. Yeah. I, you made me think of, this is a, like a specific memory that I always, always think of when my brother, oldest brother.
Mm. Andrew, shout out. Got his license. So he's 11 years older than me. Mm. So I would've been five. So when he was 16 or 17, drove me to get ice cream again. Hey. Constant my life, uh, listening, him driving me in his, frankly very shitty car. Yeah.
uh to get ice cream. It was Baskin Robbins in Louisville. Mm-hmm. Listening to Will Smith. I have the song will Smith song stuck in my head.
Imani: Uh, I think,
Michael Zarick: ugh. I can't remember the name of the song, but
Imani: I If it came on, oh, it was the
Michael Zarick: one that goes, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah,
Imani: nah. Oh yes. Is that summer time? I dunno.
Michael Zarick: I don't know. I, I can't
Imani: I'll figure it out. But that, like,
Michael Zarick: that loop is in my head and just like driving to get ice cream. Yeah. That's like,
Imani: I love that. Yeah. That's very, [00:49:00] yeah. That's, that's my idealized version is like that in either early fall or like late summer. Just it's getting late and the, and the sun is going down also. We, oh my god. Indiana has the best like sunsets. I love,
Michael Zarick: I love a Broad Ripple, sunset.
Imani: Oh my God. Not one. We didn't get one today because it's cloudy. It's, yeah, but it. It when it's there. I think it's just all the smog. Um, but it is, it's real beautiful. I love it. Um, positives of cars. Thank you. Yeah. Ooh, beautiful.
Michael Zarick: Sunsets, insights.
Um, thank you for answering. Yeah. Was very kind.
Imani: Uh, Imani.
Michael Zarick: Mm-hmm. We are nearing the end. Is there anything else you wanted to bring up? Up?
Imani: Uh that's okay. Yeah. Well, okay. I do wanna, I, I do wanna leave the people with a, with a, with a thought. Um, keep trying. Um, and like I was saying before, like I think it's okay to be a little skeptical [00:50:00] before you hop in.
I think that's the best way to do it. 'Cause you've really done your research and you really let it sit in your body. Um, boycott, divest and section. Um, that is my, one of my major politics as of right now is understanding the value of our money, of our dollars and of
how we move and like how we show up. Literally how we show, like where we show up to. Um, so there are lots of grocery stores, fast food places. There are these little sacrifices and comforts that we have adopted just because we live in the United States and we. Resisting those things, resisting our easy comforts, resisting the things that get that easy dopamine release as someone who has ADHD. So it's hard,
um, is going to be incredibly important in the years moving forward. What I want to most tell people as well as that, like [00:51:00] a lot of white Christian nationalists, at least from my experiences, don't have an abundance of skills. And that's whether it be like genuinely knowing how to do stuff like this or building
things, not as a collective do they know how to do these things. There are some people who have been like real fundamental and on the farm and all that stuff, but the majority of these folks, the majority of fascists, don't know how to really build things up in, in whatever way, use their hands, use their minds in ways that cultivate and build. So. We have that, we have the brain capacity, so please use that. Learn a skill, whatever it might be. Um, you know, grow your attention span and,
and I don't know, stop spending money everywhere. Wait on things. Um, yeah, I don't know.
Michael Zarick: I think I think it's a good tip. Yeah. I
also, if you are spending money, just shout out to Indianapolis.
There are some incredible, yeah, we've got some good [00:52:00] spots. Incredible. Local, local businesses. Yeah. You mentioned two. Yeah. Lick and Kismetic Beer Company Yeah. There are many more beyond. Uh, that's where I spend my money most of the time. Yeah. So that's, I think things that are, uh, what would be considered creature comforts are only that until you find other ones.
Imani: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And also
Michael Zarick: like fight. Yeah. And like you say, invest in ourselves.
Imani: Yeah.
Go to like. Find what thing makes you, I don't know, whatever interests you and find a club for it. There probably is something out there. Hmm. I do a lot of like research and interest and stuff and there are tons of places in Indianapolis are very close that have what you want, so you are worth the time it takes to look it up.
Michael Zarick: And if you feel like you can't find one, reach out to me or Imani.
Imani: Oh. And we'll
Michael Zarick: help you find Yeah. Literally.
Imani: Huh? I'll go with you. No, I, I'll go with you. I was like, no, please. It's always
Michael Zarick: an opportunity to find a new podcast. Yeah. I was actually invited to a, [00:53:00]
um,
what's the word? Comedy, like improv. Oh, okay.
Nice to, nice. A little improv. I was invited to to an improv comedy thing the other day and I was like, I can't go, but I want to. Yeah.
So just like, there's, there's
something for everyone. The amount of like, did you know I brought this up before? Mm-hmm. Did
you know that that
Imani: Mahjong is on the rise in America? I have loved Mahjong, Ong. Sorry. Sorry. It's such, you, such a fun, fun game. Yes. That's so, I, I'm a solitaire kid. I was, you know, I was, I wasn't allowed to see a lot of things.
I was like, all right, what can I do that's safe and wholesome? So you're on like Windows XP playing pink pinball
Michael Zarick: Mahjong and solitary.
Imani: Yeah. I've read a dictionary before.
You know, I'm, I'm an interesting person.
Michael Zarick: That's so
funny
yeah. Alright, well, Imani.
Imani: I need you to ask a question
Michael Zarick: of the next Third Space Indy guest. Ooh.
guest. You
knew it was happening. Okay. I know. Damn, the pressure's on.
Ah,[00:54:00]
okay. Let's see. And again, you were literally asked, I think people stress over this, but like you were asked what ice cream you like, so, yeah.
Huh.
Imani: Oh gosh. Okay. I'm trying to come up with this quick. What is your favorite green space in Indianapolis? Hmm. Yeah.
Michael Zarick: Hmm.
Imani: Whatever that means to you
Michael Zarick: heard?
Imani: Yeah. Thank you for asking.
Michael Zarick: Yeah.
Alright
well let's wrap it up. I've, I've said that like every time though. Yeah. I dunno.
Yeah. I don't know
Imani, can you please tell the people where they can find you or just give a shout out to whatever you'd like?
Yeah. You already kind of did. Uh.
Imani: What's the BDS movement like website is? There's like bds movement.com.
Michael Zarick: do.org. Dot org. Oh yeah. It's out there. You can Google
Imani: it. Bds, look up the BDS Youth movement and you'll probably find like the exact thing
you need to look
into. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Yeah.
That is, that is the way that I am thinking about life moving forward. 'cause it works. Um, also I'm like, you saw the
boycott on [00:55:00] Target. So anyway, um, you can find me mostly on
Instagram.
Um, I post stories and things of that nature and I post some of my art sometimes and things I'm doing in my life.
Um, at Imani Leite,
that is I-M-A-N-I, period,
L-E-H-T-E. And I am starting a coalition group of people to create community spaces in Indianapolis. And I can't do the work alone, but I wanna be the face of it, or I can be the face of it. I can, I don't, uh, I don't wanna be like a introvert, when. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I, I wanna be the face of it, um, just to get myself out the house, but, um, yeah, I'm, I'm trying to cultivate that.
So if you've heard anything that I've said and you agree and you like it hit me up, I really wanna like, have as many people together as possible. So, yeah, that's the best way to find me and around in poetry spaces around the city. So,
and if you don't agree,
Michael Zarick: send me emails, I'll. To respond probably. Yeah. [00:56:00] I am kindly. Well, I'm actually consistently looking for more haters, so if you don't agree with anything said on this podcast,
Imani: please let me know. Yeah. My haters, I'll relay it to Imani probably. Yeah. As long as it's not heinous. My haters are my motivators. Okay. That came from
being a kid growing up in Chicago. Okay.
You know, the more haters I got. I know I'm doing something right. All right,
I'm dying.
Michael Zarick: Thank you so much. Yeah. For watching this episode of Third Space Indy. It is. So dark. Mm-hmm. It is. You can find michael, me at Third Space Indy on instagram.com Or wait, yeah, it's, I, I combine two sentences there. You can find me at Third Space Indy on Instagram, or at thirdspaceindy.com, where I write a blog with every episode.
It's really long. Please gimme your email. I would love you forever. Did you know Third Space Indy's? Intro music is done by the local artist, Jennasen Jennasen. [00:57:00] Thank you so much for offering me your music to use as an intro. I love the hand side over here. If anyone's listening to audio, we've got a very animated guest.
Hey, um, but that's all I got. Thank you so much for listening. Hope to see you again,
and I hope to share the next episode with you. Have a great day.
Have a great day.
Bye
Imani: bye.
Michael Z audio: bye