On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Mike Francis Williams II and Mama Odie, the mother-son duo behind Salamat Cookies!, stop by the studio to talk about the first nationwide Filipino-inspired cookie pop-up and delivery service that has baked over 200,000 cookies since launching in 2020, based right here in Indianapolis. They discuss their journey from COVID-era beginnings to shipping cookies to nearly every state and five countries, sharing how they "cookie-fied" Filipino flavors like ube, pandan, and mango to introduce American audiences to their heritage through familiar treats. They also talk about family legacy, mental health in communities of color, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and their mission to celebrate Filipino-American culture one cookie at a time.Learn more about Salamat Cookies: https://www.salamatcookies.com/Connect with them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salamatcookies/Check them out at these farmer's markets: Garfield Park, Fishers, and Monument CircleShout out to Frida's Flowers for sponsoring the show! Elevate your next event (or your living room) with some of Madeline's incredible work: fridasflowersindy.com/This week’s Give Em Their Flowers shout out: EACH OTHER!Support the showSubscribe to the newsletter.Leave a review.Check out our website.Connect with us on Instagram.Connect with PatrickInstagramLinkedInTikTokProduced and hosted by: Patrick ArmstrongFilmed and edited by: Mike Lee ProductionsEngineered and mixed by: Popular RaptureMusic by: Mandog

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Hang Doan, a Gen Z digital native, artist, filmmaker, and creator, stops by the studio for the second time to expand on our conversation from February's Open Door! Hang discusses leaving home at 16, accelerating their education, earning an associate's degree in 11 months and nearly completing their bachelor's by 19, and being driven by determination to model perseverance for their younger siblings. They also talk about embracing their Vietnamese heritage and queer/trans identity in their work while building authentic community through consistent, honest content creation.Follow Hang on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hanghmaiConnect with Hang on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanghoamai/Shout out to Frida's Flowers for sponsoring the show! Elevate your next event (or your living room) with some of Madeline's incredible work: fridasflowersindy.com/This week’s Give Em Their Flowers shout out: Free Mom Hugs: https://freemomhugs.org/Support the showSubscribe to the newsletter.Leave a review.Check out our website.Connect with us on Instagram.Connect with PatrickInstagramLinkedInTikTokProduced and hosted by: Patrick ArmstrongFilmed and edited by: Mike Lee ProductionsEngineered and mixed by: Popular RaptureMusic by: Mandog

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, FrancesMary Loughead, founder of BFF Indy, stops by the studio to talk about the power and importance of building authentic relationships. FrancesMary, or FM, shares about growing up in Chicago, navigating city and suburban life, and going from public trans-super user to full-time driver after moving to Indy during the pandemic. She also gives us the backstory on how BFF Indy came to be, as well as answers the age old question: why is it so hard to make friends as adults?Learn more about BFF Indy: https://bffndianapolis.com/Connect with BFF Indy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bff.indy/Shout out to Frida's Flowers for sponsoring the show! Elevate your next event (or your living room) with some of Madeline's incredible work: fridasflowersindy.com/This week’s Give Em Their Flowers shout out: FM's mom!Support the showSubscribe to the newsletter.Leave a review.Check out our website.Connect with us on Instagram.Connect with PatrickInstagramLinkedInTikTokProduced and hosted by: Patrick ArmstrongFilmed and edited by: Mike Lee ProductionsEngineered and mixed by: Popular RaptureMusic by: Mandog

On this week's episode of Conversation Piece, Naptown's very own Gary Gee welcomes us to his studio to talk about his creative journey and personal growth within the Indianapolis arts community. Gary breaks down how his unique hand-built ceramic works and mentorship provides a platform for him to connect deeply with the community and encourages young people to embrace their creativity using whatever resources are available. He also gets into perseverance, self-discovery, and the transformative power of art in shaping lives and communities.Learn more about Gary Gee: https://artbygarygee.com/Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originalgarygee/Shout out to Frida's Flowers for sponsoring the show! Elevate your next event (or your living room) with some of Madeline's incredible work: fridasflowersindy.com/Support the showSubscribe to the newsletter.Leave a review.Check out our website.Connect with us on Instagram.Connect with PatrickInstagramLinkedInTikTokProduced and hosted by: Patrick ArmstrongFilmed and edited by: Mike Lee ProductionsEngineered and mixed by: Popular RaptureMusic by: Mandog

On this episode of The Open Door, Sarah Harker, former nurse turned business consultant, stops by the studio to talk about her work supporting female founders of small businesses in Indianapolis, helping them navigate growth and funding challenges. Sarah talks about the power of collaboration over competition and highlights the importance of community and mentorship in the entrepreneurial journey.Connect with Sarah on Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahjessicaharkerThe Open Door is a series where once a month we literally open the studio door and invite folks from the community to sit down with us and talk about whatever is on their hearts. To learn more go to https://bit.ly/opendoor2024.Shout out to Life in Indy for sponsoring this initiative! Life in Indy is your comprehensive guide to the Indianapolis region. This site gives you a full virtual tour experience, so you can explore our community and discover where in Indy is the best place for your new home. Learn more at https://www.lifeinindy.com/Support the showSubscribe to the newsletter.Leave a review.Check out our website.Connect with us on Instagram.Connect with PatrickInstagramLinkedInTikTokProduced and hosted by: Patrick ArmstrongFilmed and edited by: Mike Lee ProductionsEngineered and mixed by: Popular RaptureMusic by: Mandog