All Episodes

Brother Jamaal Shabazz returns to the show to talk about his journey into full-time entrepreneurship and why it is so important to him to show up for people. We also have an honest, authentic conversation about the trans community and what it means to support humanity in all people. Learn more about Brother Jamaal: https://www.brotherjamaalnelson.com/ Learn more about the trans community: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5357259/#Sec16 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8944319/ https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/four-myths-about-trans-athletes-debunked https://www.sf.gov/trans-women-in-sports-facts-over-fear https://glaad.org/fact-sheet-for-reporters-transgender-participation-in-sports/ https://www.woodhullfoundation.org/fact-checked/transgender-athletes-do-not-have-an-unfair-athletic-advantage/ https://www.transathlete.com/post/how-many-transgender-kids-play-sports https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/ https://mapresearch.org/equality-map/bans-on-transgender-youth-participation-in-sports/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10063975/#abstract1 https://www.them.us/story/chris-mosier-trans-man-compete-mens-olympic-trials https://www.hrc.org/news/the-cold-case-of-an-lgbtq-pioneer-marsha-p-johnson Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://conversationpiecepod.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

David McKissic (Cerebro Creative House, IBJ Forty Under 40) joins the show to talk about his South Bend origins, his recent self-discoveries in the last ten weeks, and why he believes the Midwest is the creative mecca, not just in the U.S., but in the WORLD. Learn more about and connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mckissic-51b771a6 Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://conversationpiecepod.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Attendees at Chreece leave messages for their favorite hip hop artists. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Mike G and GP, co-founders of We Don't Run From Adversity, join the show to unpack how personal loss, family legacy, and hard won retail lessons shaped the Indianapolis-based streetwear brand into a decade-strong lifestyle movement built on community over hype. Learn more about WDRFA: https://wdrfa.com Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Bigg Woog drops by the show to talk about his creative journey, the wins and losses of entrepreneurship, and letting the game come to him. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Sean "Oreo" Jones returns to the show to talk about kicking off decade two of Chreece, his creative output in the past few years, and staying optimistic in turbulent times. Learn more about Chreece, buy tickets, and support the DJ Indiana Jones scholarship: https://chreeceaf.com/ Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Rebecca TeKolste and Jason Donati, Senior Lobbyist and Water Policy Director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, join the show for an emergency conversation about the historic floods and storms that hit communities across Indiana the past two weeks. Learn more about the Hoosier Environmental Council: https://hecweb.org For a list of sources for things mentioned in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zXSjHjABIx0y9A7BldV2SQBYUjgnlX6J6NaLbEhqreo/edit?usp=sharing For a list of resources for folks both impacted by the storms + floods and looking to make an impact (compiled by Jason): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IZOdJ26r4wIxp59iVr4eVWzrt3ZETbV_L23JSnZn3s8/edit?tab=t.0 Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Marc Williams, aka Mr. Kinetik, joins the show to talk about his journey in education, tapping back into his creative brain via creating new music, and what it means to be a loud advocate for what you believe in.  Subscribe to the newsletter (out Tuesdays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Patrick Armstrong Theme song: Mandog

Grayson Pitts aka Robin Raps joins the show to talk about being back in Naptown, the root of his philosophy, and his new project Keep the Car Running. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Patrick Armstrong Engineered by: Patrick Armstrong Theme song: Mandog

Four for four with 4200Kory. On this fourth appearance, we get into his recent trip to NYC + On the Radar appearance, his recent marriage, his latest project 4UBU, and what it means to engage civically in your city and to learn from the work of others. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Mike Lee Productions  Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Rebecca Zeller, co-founder of draft community, joins the show to talk about dreaming, kindness, building a creative space in Indianapolis with her husband Aaron, and what she's noticing about herself as a new mom and community builder. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Mike Lee Productions  Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Taylor Hall, Indy-born singer-songwriter, activist, and mom, opens up about her journey from releasing her first song during the BLM movement to catching Stevie Wonder's ear, and how motherhood, mental health, and community have reshaped both her music and her mission. Connect with Taylor: https://www.thetaylorhall.com/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Musifiky Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Sarah Meyer, Chief of Staff & Strategy at Indiana Sports Corps, opens up about navigating anxiety, loss, and the pressure of showing up for everyone. She also shares how a simple mantra, "just eat the ice cream," has become her guide to cutting through the noise and embracing life fully. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Mike Lee Productions  Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

We talk to folks about their hopes for the city of Indianapolis. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Ziad Hefni  Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

From February 2026 -- On the first live show of the year, Paradigm by Ajani founder Bryson Davis-Johnson sits down to talk about Indy's wellness culture, his own journey to wellness, and what it means to build something that doesn't exist in a space where communities need it. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Mike Lee Productions  Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

In this final live episode of 2025, Patrick welcomes his friend and collaborator Anthony Murdock ii, a business coach, professor, and founder of the Black Liberation Ecosystem, for a conversation about faith, personal storytelling, and Black liberation. Murdock shares his mission to transform 13,000 dreams of freedom into realities of liberation, making the case that owning your story is the most powerful asset you have. Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: The Rare Wave Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

On this episode of Conversation Piece, host Patrick Armstrong sits down with Indianapolis hip hop artist Skypp for a wide-ranging live conversation covering Skip's impact on the local music scene, his personal growth as a new father, his creative process, and his unexpectedly rough experience filming House Hunters. From November 2025. Shout out to our partners who make our live shows possible: - draft creative space (venue) - Tinker Street Restaurant (dinner) - Ash & Elm Cider (beverage) - Indy Dough (dessert) Support the show: https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed by: Mike Lee Productions  Engineered by: Popular Rapture Theme song: Mandog

Episode 143: In Conversation with Ruba Marshood Recorded live at Indy Reads in Fountain Square (October 2025) In this live episode of Conversation Piece, host Patrick Armstrong sits down with Ruba Marshood, CEO of Indy Reads, for a wide-ranging conversation about literacy, identity, community, and what it truly means to be seen. Ruba shares her personal journey as a first-generation Palestinian American, her path from global community development work to local impact in Indianapolis, and how literacy extends far beyond reading and writing into confidence, agency, and belonging. Together, Patrick and Ruba unpack literacy as a relational practice—one that can either reinforce systems of oppression or open doors to liberation, understanding, and shared humanity. Recorded in the Indy Reads bookstore, this conversation highlights the power of place, storytelling, and community-centered learning—and why creating space for people to tell their own stories matters now more than ever. Learn more about Indy Reads: https://indyreads.org/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed and edited by: Ziad Hefni Engineered and mixed by: Popular Rapture Filmed at: Indy Reads Music by: Mandog

On this episode of In Conversation With, Chef Tyler Shortt, Executive Chef of Tinker Street, takes the mic and explores how food becomes a vehicle for memory, culture, and community. From family chicken fries and New York kitchens to sourcing locally and leading collaboratively, Chef Tyler reflects on putting “himself on the plate” and building something intentional—both inside the kitchen and beyond it. Learn more about Tinker Street Restaurant: https://tinkerstreetrestaurant.com/ 🍽️ Featured Dish  Chef Tyler’s Signature Fried Chicken A deeply personal dish rooted in family recipes, Southern soul food traditions, and years of refinement—served alongside collard greens, mashed potatoes, and gravy. 🌸 Give Them Their Flowers Chef Tyler gives flowers to Chef Youssef Boudarine for his commitment to uplifting diverse cuisines, supporting small businesses, and expanding the culinary imagination of Indianapolis through Epicurean Indy. 🪴 Mentioned in This Episode Eleven Madison Park (NYC): https://www.elevenmadisonpark.com/ Epicurean Indy: https://www.epicureanindy.com/ Junior Chef Academy Indianapolis: https://www.jcaindy.com/ Subscribe to the newsletter (out Mondays): https://patrickintheworld.substack.com/ Full archives: https://conversationpiecepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversationpiecepod/ Produced and hosted by: Patrick Armstrong Filmed and edited by: Mike Lee Productions Engineered and mixed by: Popular Rapture Filmed at: draft creative space Music by: Mandog

🕯️ This Week’s Conversation: Mid-Cycle Map Rigging with Sen. Andrea Hunley In this urgent conversation, Indiana State Senator Andrea Hunley breaks down the push to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps mid-cycle. We unpack what triggered this attempt, why it has more to do with DC politics than Hoosier interests, how gerrymandering works in practice, and what constituents can do right now to protect fair representation. A clear, accessible, and empowering explainer for anyone trying to understand the stakes of Indiana’s redistricting fight. Learn more about Andrea’s work here. 🌸 Mentioned in this Episode Indiana General Assembly (IGA) website Indiana Voters website Learn more about redistricting 💭 Question of the Week What musician/musical act do people NEED to hear before they leave this mortal plane? My next guest is real cool. Stay tuned 👀 *This is a special presentation of episode 005 of From the Kitchen Table, host Patrick Armstrong's audio-only, Substack exclusive show. Listen and subscribe for free.*