With third places shut down around the world due to COVID-19, it is now up to you to become your own third place. This podcast can help you understand the strong emotions we have all been feeling and make space in your mind for the calm. Hosts Mary Allard and David Gaines are eager to unpack topics such as grief, gratitude, insecurity, and self-awareness. In near weekly episodes, Allard and Gaines invite a guest to share their story in connecting to themselves and the world around us. It is a true celebration of community strength and vulnerability that comes from listening to others share the deepest parts of their lives.

If you are in tune with your emotions, this podcast can be intense. We have all had a tough year, so don’t be scared if you find yourself wanting to cry while exploring their catalogue. Come take a breath of fresh air and step back from the emotional chaos going on inside. And, if you are more of a reader than a listener, most episodes are transcribed on their website at thirdplacepodcast.com.

We were fortunate to talk with Mary Allard about The Third Place Podcast, how they differentiate from other podcasts, and their future plans in podcasting. See below for our full Q&A.

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DISCOVER PODS: How’d you get into podcasting?

MARY ALLARD: We met as leaders in the beverage industry. We found ourselves having deep and challenging conversations often. Beverage has a way of doing this. There is something magical about it, whether it’s coffee, tea, wine, spirits, or otherwise, it is often an element of people connecting. In fact, coffee shops are often referred to as “third places,” because they are not your home or your work, but a third place in which you gather with others.

The evolution of The Third Place podcast came from identifying what about the coffee shop made it a safe space and how could we expand on that concept, bringing The Third Place into the home, into our perspectives, and into our way of being. Out of that vision, we started taking our conversations online, recording them, and realized very quickly that The Third Place was also a space that we refer to as the “grey space,” or the in between. Exploring how we find truths outside of a divisive and dualistic approach but within the “messy middle,” where we can explore a this and that, not just a this or that way of operating and communicating with others. 

DISCOVER PODS: In your own words, why should listeners tune in to The Third Place Podcast?

MARY ALLARD: As a society, we have forgotten how to relate to one another. Life has become polarized and dualistic: you’re either with me or against me. And this was before this past political season! To embrace the human experience is to see the world through other’s eyes. The Third Place podcast helps with the disconnect. This looks like less conflict and tension and more like a peaceful existence with others. The Third Place podcast restores the art of dialogue.

DISCOVER PODS: What kind of feedback have you heard from your listeners?

MARY ALLARD: The feedback has been overwhelming, in the best sort of way. We often have listeners reaching out to share their personal experiences with our challenging topics. There are three themes… The first being that our vulnerability inspired them to do the same. The second theme in the feedback we’ve received is that our podcast helped them to positively reframe a topic or perspective that is usually a polarizing one with a negative connotation associated with it, helping them access empathy. And finally, we continue to get listeners saying that this work has to keep going, that there is something here that the world needs more of, and that it is a breath of fresh air. 

Read more: 5 Practical Ways to Boost Empathy with Podcasts For Listeners Who’ve Had Enough

DISCOVER PODS: Describe your recording set up? What equipment are you using?

MARY ALLARD: With Mary recording from Colorado and David from Ohio, we record with the Squadcast platform which focuses on recording high quality audio. This is a great platform for our guests also! We both use Shure microphones with our Macbooks, and produce in Audacity. Fun fact: David is a musician who plays keyboards in an 80’s cover band and taps into his music skills to produce all of our episodes, including the recording and arranging of the music that is included in most of our episodes. 

DISCOVER PODS: What’s the biggest challenge you face as an indie podcaster?

MARY ALLARD: Growing our audience! While we certainly have fun in our conversations and with our guests, we also view this work as sacred – something that can help each of us grow into a better version of ourselves as we work towards inclusion. The work of The Third Place and the need for empathy is just beginning and we want to spread the word to people seeking to engage.

DISCOVER PODS: Where do you want to take your podcast?

MARY ALLARD: We strive to inspire and create an engaged community. One where people start to not only feel safe to “go there” with others, but create that space for their friends, family, and colleagues, as well. In order to do this, we create tangible tools to help our listeners practice embodying a “third place” mentality. We want to see these tools in action… In the future, we also envision having virtual and in-person events to bring people together to continue to encourage deeper connections and more productive conversations in the world. 

DISCOVER PODS: What other podcasts are you listening to now?

MARY ALLARD: As you can imagine, we listen to many podcasts! Some of our heavy hitters are The Liturgists, Dear White Women, Unlocking Us with Brene Brown, Pantsuit Politics, and Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. 

Read more: 3 Valuable Podcast Content Takeaways From The Best TV Of The Worst Year

DISCOVER PODS: Anything else you’d like to add?

MARY ALLARD: Check out our Patreon Page here. 

Explore our “Be Well” swag shop here. Follow us on Instagram @thirdplacepod here where we also do frequent giveaways as extensions of our topics.

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