On this week's episode, Duane Thalley, know universally as Stretch, joins the show to share his journey from Los Angeles to Indianapolis, where he discovered his passion for building authentic connections across cultural and racial divides. A near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2019 became the catalyst for launching the Follow D$ Podcast and finding …

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Al Carroll, President and CEO of IndyHub, joins the show to talk about how relationship-building has been key to shaping his career and community impact. Al discusses what brought his from Florida to Indiana, what he learned working at TechPoint, and how it all led him to what he's doing now at IndyHub,…

On the final installment of Community in Conversation for 2024, the team popped out to University Park downtown for the fourth Chicken & Beer Festival, hosted by Eat Here Indy! Chicken & Beer Fest has been a staple in the city for the past four years. It connects people to the tastiest local restaurants and chefs featuring delicious food, great mus…

On this episode of Conversation Piece, Lena Pringle, former anchor of Daybreak on Wish TV, shares her journey from traditional journalism to becoming an art-trepreneur in Indianapolis. After taking a transformative break from her career, she discusses how prioritizing wellness, building community, and embracing creativity led to unexpected opportun…

On this week's episode, Emmy Award-winning director, producer, and camera operator Jake Huber joins the show to discuss his journey in the film and video industry — from starting out filming local shows to creating custom set builds for music videos, and shares insights on storytelling, community building in Indianapolis' creative scene, and his tr…

On this installment of Community in Conversation, we take a look inside Epicurean Indy, a brand new international food and art festival specifically centering and highlighting the immigrant / international communities that exist here in Indianapolis. In this episode, we sit down with five folks from various industries with different stories to find…

On this installment of Community in Conversation, we explore Proof: A Midwest Literary Festival in Indianapolis 📚 The episode highlights the often-overlooked members of the literary community, including volunteers, staff, and booksellers, who contribute to making such events possible, while aiming to elevate and center voices that are typically und…

On this special bonus episode of Conversation Piece, we head to the historic Naptown Thrift in South Broad Ripple for the next installment of Community in Conversation, celebrating six years of the shop and the release of Visual Aural, a mixtape and photo book combination showcasing some of the best hip hop artists in Indianapolis from local photog…

On this special bonus episode of Conversation Piece, we launch our newest series Community in Conversation, focused on highlighting the people behind the scenes of the organizations who bring events like BUTTER and CHREECE to life every year. In this episode, we head to the historic Stutz in downtown Indy for the fourth annual BUTTER FINE ART FAIR.…

On this special bonus episode of Conversation Piece, with sit down with Naptown hip-hop collective Slum Baby Family (SBF) at the Chreece festival in Fountain Square. The group discusses their evolution, recent album release "Family First, Volume One," and the importance of Chreece in showcasing local talent. Members 4200Kory, MACCOLADES, DJ Des, an…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, we celebrated 100 episodes of the show with a live recording on August 19th at Tinker House Events in Indianapolis. In front of a live audience of friends, family, and community members, Patrick, along with the CP team of Mike Lee, John Overton, and Madeline MacKinnon, reflects on the growth of the show…

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Kelsey Jones, a strategic communications expert and entrepreneur, joins the show to discuss her transition from corporate work to launching her own consulting business and running Silent Book Club Indy. She offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and communications professionals in Indianapolis, emphas…

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, interdisciplinary artist and curator Fēi Ford comes by to discuss her journey with Future Friends Holographic Magic Club, her evolution as an artist, and the importance of community in her work. She also reflects on her recent solo show, the challenges of gentrification, and her role as a connector in I…

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Oreo Jones, a pioneering figure in the Indianapolis hip-hop scene, joins the show to discuss his musical journey from punk rock roots to becoming a hip-hop artist, his experiences navigating the Indianapolis music landscape, and the creation of CHREECE, an all-day hip-hop festival in Fountain Square. Jo…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Sarah Myer, Chief of Staff & Strategy at Indiana Sports Corp and one of the city’s biggest ambassadors, joins the show to discuss her journey from working in arts and media to leading major sports events in Indianapolis. She shares insights on event planning, community impact, and the importance of volu…

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Jake Moran, a fashion, streetwear, and editorial photographer based in Indianapolis, joins the show to discuss his upcoming project "Visual Aural," a dual-medium art piece combining black and white photography with original hip-hop tracks from local artists. Jake talks about how he got into photography,…

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Dierre Hartman, a rising hip-hop artist known as Kxng Dierre and a journalism student at Jackson State University, joins the show to talk about his journey from Indianapolis to Jackson, Mississippi and how his HBCU experience has shaped both his music and his brand, God's Child. Dierre shares his early …

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, host Patrick Armstrong sits down with Aaron Marshall, better known as Double A, a rising star in Indianapolis's hip-hop scene and the owner of Naptown Thrift. The conversation explores Marshall's journey from aspiring artist to successful entrepreneur, delving into his passion for vintage fashion, his e…

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, David Gibson, storyteller, filmmaker, and founder of Elevation Is A Must, shares about the vision that sparked his entrepreneurial journey, why changing our mindset is the first step to changing the world, and how that same world needs more people to "come alive" right now. David also shares the three t…

On today’s episode of Conversation Piece, Madeline Mirelez-Perez Mackinnon joins the show to talk about tapping into play when creating and how that (and so much more) sits at the heart of her work with Frida’s Flowers. Madeline talks about the privilege of getting to spend some formative years in Mexico City, the role her experiences with Lark Son…

On today’s episode of Conversation Piece, digital curator, creator, and entrepreneur Shay McCoy joins the show to talk about leaving full-time corporate and going full-time small business owner. Shay shares about laying the groundwork for such a transition with City of Shay, how creating content has created community, and why Indy is the place she’…

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, LaStar Jackson, entrepreneur and founder of luxury fashion brand Saint Avenue, joins the show to talk about intentionality and purpose in art. LaStar shares about his upbringing and how his mother's interest in fashion influenced him from a young age. He also discusses the journey of starting his brand,…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, CEO of Melanin House Brandz Brandon Lee Buckley, also known as B.Lee, joins the show to talk about building brands and businesses as a creator and influencer. B.Lee talks about the roots of his creative and entrepreneurial passions, networking as early as seventh grade, and getting involved in the India…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Nicha Stapanukul joins the show to talk about navigating the classical music scene as a performer, teacher, and community facilitator. Nicha shares her origins as a pianist, immigrating to the U.S. from Thailand by herself as a teenager, and the shift from performance to education coinciding with a shif…

On today’s episode of Conversation Piece, Newfangled Confections CEO Carrie Abbott joins the show to talk about bringing innovation to the small business community. Carrie shares how she got into candy making, her love for the process of what you do, and the power of affirming others chasing their small business dreams. She also discusses the neces…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Mike Lee steps out from behind the camera to talk about his journey from Chicago to Indy to entrepreneurship. Mike shares about the first time he picked up a camera, his love for the post-production process, and when he knew it was time to pivot towards being a full-time creator and entrepreneur. He als…

On this week’s episode, Tasha Jun joins the show to talk about what it means to write honestly about the most intimate parts of ourselves. Tasha shares her childhood of significant moves, from the U.S. to Tokyo to California to Indiana, the rejection and reclamation of her ethnic identity, and how she captured it all in her debut memoir Tell Me the…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Chief Brand Officer for The Basketball League (TBL) Jennifer Magley joins the show to talk about going after what you want and how we all want a place where everyone knows their name. She shares her journey from pro tennis player to coach to corporate, going viral after being laid off, and how community…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Demel Bolden, a multifaceted creator and founder of DRVN LLC, joins the show to talk about overcoming adversity and taking life head on. Demel shares about the traumatic experience that shaped his early life, the origins of his passion for visual storytelling, and his first viral moment. He also breaks …

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Ella Ashwill, CEO and founder of the ERA, joins the show to talk about equitable artist representation, how to get it, and where we're at now. Ella shares her journey from Indiana to California and back and how the numerous roles she's played throughout her career have helped inform her approach to her …

On this week’s episode, the one and only Anthony Murdock II joins the show to talk about the journey of finding wholeness within ourselves. Murdock talks about resisting whiteness through discovering identity, the way language helps us give life to our experiences, and how liberation is at the root of all our stories. He also shares how the lives o…

On this week’s episode, multimedia mastermind and CEO of Push Prep Greg Buck joins the show to talk about the work he’s been doing in the city and the things we can achieve when we come together as a creative community. Greg shares growing up in the city after moving from Michigan, his basketball career, and how he got started in photography. He al…

On this week’s episode, Polished Communications CEO and President Casey Harrison joins the show to talk all things entrepreneurship! Casey shares about when she first fell in love with communications, her journey into the small business world, and how her core values permeate both her personal and professional lives. We also discuss the unknown acc…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, we're dropping a little bit early for the holiday! That's right, it's 317 Day here in Indianapolis and we are joined by the young legend himself, Mr. How You What, 4200Kory. Kory talks about growing up on the far east side of Indianapolis, what led him to music in the first place, and the love he saw fr…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Sara Easterly, Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard, and Lori Holden join the show to talk about their new book Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents and Allies. They share about their respective relationships with adoption, how they all came together, and what it means …

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, former guest and good friend Leah Burns joins the show to laugh it up while diving deep into a whole mess of things. Leah shares more of her personal journey growing up in Central Arkansas, the ongoing navigation of her faith, and questioning if it really is an honor to be Asian (spoiler alert: it is!).…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, film directors Jason Poon and Jeff Wu join the show to talk about their latest project, NO CLOUDS IN MY SUMMER, a surreal romantic drama that non-linearly explores a young man’s introspection after a breakup. Jason and Jeff share their experience working together, their origins in filmmaking, and how th…

IT'S A BONUS EPISODE! On this very special episode of Conversation Piece, Patrick posts up at the Circle Centre Mall in downtown Indianapolis at The Intersection, part of the NBA All Star weekend where food and fashion come together in a showcase of who's who and what's what in Naptown, curated by EatHere and Cargo Streetwear. First, Patrick talks …

It’s NBA All Star Month in Indianapolis! On this week’s episode, one of Naptown’s hiphop staples Skypp joins the show to educate us on Indianapolis’ past and present hiphop scene and where we could go from here. Skypp shares his early beginnings, from writing rhymes in middle school to standing on set with legends in high school to continually risi…

It’s NBA All Star Week in Indianapolis! On this week’s episode, the Walk and Talk legend himself Sampson Levingston joins the show to school us on how you can’t find a moment in Indiana’s history without Black people in it. Sampson talks about his journey from playing football at Indiana State to starting his Through2Eyes blog where he could share …

It’s NBA All Star Month in Indianapolis! On this week’s episode, the best host in the game Olivia West joins the show to get us hyped for everything going on in the city these next few weeks. Olivia talks about her upbringing in LaPorte running the 4H circuit and hooping, the pivotal moment at Purdue that set her on her current path, and becoming o…

On this week's episode, good friend Dr. SunAh Laybourn joins the show to talk about her new book Out of Place: The Lives of Korean Adoptee Immigrants. Dr. Laybourn shares how the book developed over the past seven years, what it means to challenge our own identities as Korean adoptees and as immigrants, and the importance of building upon the schol…

On this week’s episode, screenwriter and personal essayist Mindy Stern joins us to talk about her experience as a domestic, same-race adoptee. Mindy shares about her early thoughts and feelings about adoption, how those feelings evolved very quickly, and the written journals that would come about because of it all. She also expands upon her journey…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, comics artist and author Sarah Myer joins the show to talk about their graphic novel Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story! We talk about the process of crafting such an intimate, imaginative telling of their early journey, from their love of The Little Mermaid and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a ch…

On this week’s episode, Patrick takes a deep dive into three core memories of his journey: one great, two not so great. He talks about how these things became foundational in how he understands himself today and how he understands + contextualizes his past experience. He also discusses how these things tie together to form the sacred timeline of hi…

On this week’s episode, Patrick rings in the new year with a solo conversation about the adoptee experience, specifically, our comfort — and discomfort — with the conversations around adoption. He talks about the inherent discomfort that permeates the act of adoption and the dynamic between the stories we, as adoptees, want to tell and the stories …

On this week’s episode, it’s the Holiday Spectacular + Best of 2023 Special with my (Patrick’s) very dear friends Leah Burns and Erik Kemp ✨ Leah and Erik join the show to close out 2023 the right way: by talking about the difference between basements and storm shelters! They also answer some get-to-know-you questions and help Patrick celebrate the…

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by a very special guest, Patrick’s wife Emily Armstrong! Emily comes on the show to talk about Emily + Patrick’s origin story, their NYC baby-moon, and talk about their upcoming (or ongoing?!) parenthood journey. They also answer some get-to-know-you questions and dive into some questions from you, the audience …

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, author Brittany Means joins the show to talk about resisting dominant narratives and the ways systemic issues influence our stories, particularly their origins. Brittany shares her ongoing journey to stay present, how dominant narratives like resiliency can lead us down the wrong paths, and how these di…

On this week’s episode of Conversation Piece, Patrick does a deep dive into three things we should all consider regarding the adoptee identity: some people claim it and some don't, adoption + our experiences affect us every single day, and 'adoptee' as an identity is still not validated by the general public. Then, he talks about what you can expec…