Boosting Baseline Energy: A Conversation with AJ Kazmierczak

Finding Your Place with Michael Zarick

Food, Community, and Third Spaces with Michael Zarick (Third Space Indy) Host Chris Whonsetler welcomes Michael Zarick of Third Space Indy to the Okayest Cook podcast to continue a conversation on community and “third spaces” as places outside home and work that foster consistent connection and conversation. Michael shares notable meals from a new food-focused project with Amanda Gibson featuring Indianapolis restaurants Macizo and Wisanggeni Pawon, emphasizing owner stories and kitchen access, while Chris highlights a Greenfield coffee shop, Hitherto, filled with board games and game nights. They discuss why third spaces matter amid isolation, COVID-era habits, and phone-driven convenience, and how car-centric infrastructure, zoning, and suburban design discourage spontaneous community compared with pub culture and transit-rich cities. Michael describes merchandise plans (locally made mugs) intended to get people into local businesses, recalls Pizzeria Ruby in northwest Arkansas as a personal third space, and cites Flanner House’s Flanner Farms and Cleo’s Bodega addressing food access. They also touch on roller rinks, walking, bus riding, and Michael’s ideal model: Abby Reckard’s forthcoming Lille Bønne community space in a rezoned Dutch church. Find Michael: @Thirdspaceindy on Instagram Web: https://thirdspaceindy.com/ ~ Support Okayest Cook by grabbing some of our new merch!  https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/ [https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/] Shopping with our favorite brand via affiliate links is also a huge help ~ Anova: We love their Precision Cooker 3.0 & vac sealers - https://bit.ly/3WT36ZR MEAT!: Powerful meat grinders - https://bit.ly/4ho5a4r Hedley & Bennett: Quality Aprons - https://hedley-and-bennett.sjv.io/EEzBq2 Yeti: The king of coolers - https://yetius.pxf.io/a1NJXq Lodge: Cast Iron cooking - https://lodgecastiron.pxf.io/zxe7dr ~ 00:00 Cold Open and Sizzle 00:35 Meet Third Space Indy 01:38 Notable Meals and Food Show 04:15 Coffee Shop Third Place 06:55 What Makes a Third Space 10:16 Isolation and Why It Matters 12:50 Mugs That Get You Out 15:39 Food as Culture and Story 18:19 Pizzeria Ruby Community 24:11 Beyond Food Third Spacesn 31:50 Food Deserts and Flanner Farms 36:26 Why Third Spaces Matter 37:19 Skateland as Third Space 39:15 Intergenerational Rink Culture 40:23 Online Community Limits 41:46 Cars Kill Spontaneity 46:07 Pub Culture and Transit 49:00 Zoning and Missing Middle 52:02 Transit Benefits Everyone 53:41 Bus Serendipity and Bus Camp 56:23 Walkable Cities and Green Space 59:17 How to Make Friends IRL 01:01:05 Dream Third Space Li Labon 01:04:18 Final Shoutouts and Where to Find Him -- More at https://OkayestCook.com Sign up for our Second Helpings newsletter: https://OkayestCook.com/subscribe Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook Crew:  Chris Whonsetler Email: Chris@OkayestCook.com Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto

Combating food insecurity with Sierra Nuckols

Community Food Box Project: Mutual Aid, Food Insecurity, and Food Apartheid Host Chris Whonsetler continues a conversation about community and commensality, connecting his lack of personal experience with food insecurity to the need to keep community needs front-of-mind. Guest Sierra Nuckols, an Indianapolis native, explains how her upbringing and interest in gardening led her to food justice work, including partnerships with urban growers and community gardens. She describes food apartheid as the historically rooted, racialized and class-based system behind “food deserts,” noting how food desert maps mirror redlining patterns. Sierra outlines the Community Food Box Project (under Cultivate Indy), emphasizing 24/7 access, easy-open high-protein donations, and biweekly volunteer meetups, plus plans for a live box-status map and upcoming March 7 fundraiser. They discuss donating regularly, attending local policy meetings, and simple habits like buying an extra item each grocery trip. Support the Community Food Box Project: https://bit.ly/4sdmiPb Food Box Map: https://bit.ly/46xP3Ok Social: https://www.instagram.com/communityfoodboxproject/ ~ Support Okayest Cook by grabbing some of our new merch!  ⁠https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/⁠ [https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/] Shopping with our favorite brand via affiliate links is also a huge help ~ Anova: We love their Precision Cooker 3.0 & vac sealers - https://bit.ly/3WT36ZR MEAT!: Powerful meat grinders - https://bit.ly/4ho5a4r Hedley & Bennett: Quality Aprons - https://hedley-and-bennett.sjv.io/EEzBq2 Yeti: The king of coolers - https://yetius.pxf.io/a1NJXq Lodge: Cast Iron cooking - https://lodgecastiron.pxf.io/zxe7dr ~ Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:33 Podcast Intro Community 01:54 Food Insecurity Blind Spots 03:49 Meet Sierra Nuckols 06:12 Gardening and Local Food 07:13 Community Garden Partnerships 08:20 Food Apartheid Explained 13:37 Rooftop Garden Tangent 14:52 Notable Meals Roundup 19:33 Spotting the Food Boxes 21:09 Origins of Food Box Project 23:31 What to Donate and Why 26:47 Root Causes and Awareness 28:32 Practical Ways to Help 31:18 One Item Challenge 31:49 Volunteer Meetups 33:55 Recurring Donations 34:24 Interactive Box Map 36:06 Food Apartheid Explained 40:31 Grassroots Solutions 45:57 If Mutual Aid Disappears 51:39 Magic Wand Future Focus 56:06 Community Dinners Plans 58:01 Start a Pantry Anywhere 01:00:38 Asking for Help Safely 01:02:49 Final Call to Action Mentioned in Episode:  -- More at https://OkayestCook.com Sign up for our Second Helpings newsletter: https://OkayestCook.com/subscribe Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook Crew:  Chris Whonsetler Email: Chris@OkayestCook.com Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto

Sunday Dinner with Strech

Commensality and Community: Dwayne Stretch on Sunday Dinner and Follow D Money Chris Whonsetler talks with Indianapolis community builder Dwayne “Stretch” Thalley about “commensality” — how eating together builds community and makes tough conversations easier by encouraging people to listen. Stretch shares his journey from Los Angeles to Indianapolis, his work connecting diverse networks, and how events like Sunday Dinner at Tinker Street and his earlier Breaking Bread dinners intentionally bring strangers together over food. They recap standout meals at Tinker Street (including a Black History Month chef collaboration, a shiitake custard tasting, and Sunday Dinner’s chicken-and-waffles pairing), discuss the need for respectful disagreement and safe spaces, and discuss why food lowers defenses and improves listening. Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: “We’re Red” + Studio Banter 00:30 Welcome to Okayest Cook: Commensality & Why Food = Community 01:32 Meet Dwayne “Stretch” Thalley: Sunday Dinner as a Community Table 03:39 Stretch’s Two-Minute Bio: From LA to Indy, Defining Community as Family 05:37 Parenthood, COVID, and Relearning How to Be Social Again 07:59 Notable Meals: Black History Month Chef Collaboration at Tinker Street 11:04 Top-Five Bite: The Shiitake Custard Tasting Menu Rave 13:44 Inside Sunday Dinner #2: Seating Strangers, Chicken & Waffles, and Pairings 17:50 Sunday Dinner Origins: Breaking Bread Networking + How the Idea Came Together 23:37 Menu Memories & Stretch’s Mom’s “Secret Recipe” Layered Dessert 26:42 Why Dinner Works: Listening, Shared Joy, and Opening the Events to All 29:06 Building the Audience: Invites, Community Network, and Teasing Stretch’s Podcast 29:36 Can We Multiply Sunday Dinner? Building Community Through Conversation 30:27 Why ‘Follow D Money’ Exists: Telling Indiana Stories & Hosting Everyone 32:44 Diversity Makes a Stronger Community (and Better Perspectives) 33:51 Food as a Bridge: Collard Greens, Cultural Intentionality & Trust 36:58 How Food Disarms Conflict and Improves Hard Conversations 39:14 Food Insecurity in Indy: Awareness, Kids, and Community Responsibility 45:00 What’s Next: Sunday Dinner #3, Outdoor Picnic Vision & Breaking Bread Returns 50:40 Car Takeout Reviews vs. Shared Tables: The Food Influencer Debate 57:37 Closing: Where to Find Follow D Money + Keep Being a Safe Place Find Stretch: Web: https://followdmoney.com/ Personal: https://www.instagram.com/thalleyboy/?hl=en Follow D$: https://www.instagram.com/followdmoneypod/?hl=en Mentioned in Episode:  Tinker Street: https://tinkerstreetrestaurant.com/ [https://tinkerstreetrestaurant.com/] Keith Lee: https://www.instagram.com/keith_lee125/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/keith_lee125/?hl=en] -- More at https://OkayestCook.com Sign up for our Second Helpings newsletter: https://OkayestCook.com/subscribe Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook Crew:  Chris Whonsetler Email: Chris@OkayestCook.com Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto

Building A Stronger Relationship With Your Food: Jason Erman

Exploring the Fifth Quarter with Jason Erman In this episode of the Okayest Cook Podcast, host Chris Whonsetler and co-host Andy Heiser chat with their guest, Jason Erman, an advocate for homesteading and nose-to-tail eating. Jason discusses his journey from culinary school to raising and butchering his own animals in Nevada County, California. The trio delve into utilizing lesser-known cuts of meat, commonly referred to as the fifth quarter, such as pig heads, hearts, and liver. Jason shares practical recipes and insights on optimal cooking techniques, the cultural shift in food consumption, and the importance of connecting with local farmers. The episode also touches on America’s national eating disorder and how returning to whole foods can enhance both diet and enjoyment. Find Guest: Social: https://www.instagram.com/nosetotailnevadacounty Mentioned in Episode:  Jason Notable Meal of the Week: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTl3bYwj_W3/ No Way Jose 5th Quarter Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTwMhdSjtPX/?img_index=1 [https://www.instagram.com/p/DTwMhdSjtPX/?img_index=1] ~ Support Okayest Cook by grabbing some of our new merch!  https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/ [https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/] Shopping with our favorite brand via affiliate links is also a huge help ~ Anova: We love their Precision Cooker 3.0 & vac sealers - https://bit.ly/3WT36ZR MEAT!: Powerful meat grinders - https://bit.ly/4ho5a4r Hedley & Bennett: Quality Aprons - https://hedley-and-bennett.sjv.io/EEzBq2 Yeti: The king of coolers - https://yetius.pxf.io/a1NJXq Lodge: Cast Iron cooking - https://lodgecastiron.pxf.io/zxe7dr ~ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Coffee Concerns 00:30 Welcome to the Okayest Cook Podcast 01:06 Discussing the Four Pillars 02:11 Introducing Jason Erman 02:54 Jason's Homesteading Journey 05:58 Notable Meals and Bourbon 08:12 Cooking with Venison 11:11 Exploring Lamb and Sunchokes 21:10 The Importance of Resting Meat 28:10 Utilizing the Whole Animal 35:03 The Value of Butchering Your Own Meat 37:03 Exploring Uncommon Cuts at the Butcher Shop 37:51 Cooking Techniques for Heart and Other Organs 41:50 Overcoming Mental Hurdles with Organ Meats 46:32 The National Eating Disorder 50:04 The Importance of Knowing Your Food's Origin 57:57 Practical Tips for Eating Healthier 01:05:02 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 01:06:07 Scrapple: A Delicious Way to Use Odd Bits More at https://OkayestCook.com Sign up for our Second Helpings newsletter: https://OkayestCook.com/subscribe Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook Crew:  Chris Whonsetler Email: Chris@OkayestCook.com Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto Andy Heiser Email: Andy@OkayestCook.com Web: RakeDevelopment.com Instagram: @andheiser

Boosting Baseline Energy: A Conversation with AJ Kazmierczak

Boosting Baseline Energy: Insights from The Coffee Viking In this episode of the Okayest Cook podcast, host Chris Whonsetler sits down with AJ Kazmierczak, also known as the Coffee Viking. They discuss a range of topics from their personal backgrounds and funny family traditions, to practical insights on boosting daily energy levels. AJ shares his journey as an entrepreneur and outdoorsman and provides valuable advice on maintaining energy through passion, activity, whole foods, and proper supplementation. They touch on the importance of cutting screen time, the potential benefits and pitfalls of caffeine and nicotine, and the recipe for a delicious venison breakfast casserole. This episode is packed with tips for enhancing daily vitality and overall well-being. Find AJ: https://www.instagram.com/the_coffeeviking https://1stphorm.com/coffeeviking Jenningsjava.com Lonewolfcustomgear.com [http://lonewolfcustomgear.com] ~ Support Okayest Cook by grabbing some of our new merch!  https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/ [https://shop-okayestcook.square.site/] Shopping with our favorite brand via affiliate links is also a huge help ~ Anova: We love their Precision Cooker 3.0 & vac sealers - https://bit.ly/3WT36ZR MEAT!: Powerful meat grinders - https://bit.ly/4ho5a4r Hedley & Bennett: Quality Aprons - https://hedley-and-bennett.sjv.io/EEzBq2 Yeti: The king of coolers - https://yetius.pxf.io/a1NJXq Lodge: Cast Iron cooking - https://lodgecastiron.pxf.io/zxe7dr ~ Chapters: 00:00 Podcast Kickoff and Introductions 00:45 Family Heritage and Backgrounds 01:29 Marriage and Name Changes 02:35 AJ Kazak: The Coffee Viking 04:16 The ATA Show and Business Insights 07:15 Notable Meals and Food Adventures 17:09 Energy and Wellness Tips 47:16 The Importance of Setting Realistic Goals 47:24 Learning from Elite Athletes 48:02 Adapting to Life's Phases 48:32 The Necessity of Flexibility 50:15 Balancing Family and Personal Goals 51:56 Maximizing Sleep and Recovery 58:01 The Impact of Screen Time 01:10:19 Exploring Nicotine and Cognitive Function 01:18:07 The Benefits of Physical Activity 01:23:41 Final Thoughts and Practical Tips More at https://OkayestCook.com Sign up for our Second Helpings newsletter: https://OkayestCook.com/subscribe Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook Crew:  Chris Whonsetler Email: Chris@OkayestCook.com Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto