Free Yourself from Consumerism with Carly and Mads (Swap Sesh)

Host Michael Zarick interviews Mads Gullion and Carly Valentine of Swap Sesh, a free monthly clothing exchange. Started by Carly about two years ago and later co-led with Mads, Swap Sesh now meets at the Garfield Park Arts Center every third Saturday (12:00–2:30), where attendees bring up to 10 items. They discuss how swaps help people experiment with style without the cost and pressure of shopping, and how the project supports anti-consumerism and waste reduction amid large amounts of textile waste. They reflect on community-building through regular attendees, mending and repair workshops, and concerns about enabling overconsumption, emphasizing the community impact.Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising00:00 Why Swaps Matter00:54 Third Place Intro01:40 Meet Swap Sesh Hosts03:33 How They Met06:07 What Is Swap Sesh07:23 Why They Started09:18 Textile Waste Reality10:10 Community Closet Idea12:54 Who Shows Up14:41 Indy Gay Market Tangent16:21 Building Friendships17:34 Finding a New Home18:52 Mending and Repair19:46 Reduce Reuse Recycle21:03 Anti Consumerism Talk23:33 Are Swaps Enabling26:43 Invite and Next Swap28:34 Style Evolution29:32 Swap Finds and Style Experiments30:19 Menswear Limits and Pocket Politics32:36 Gendered Fashion and Wearing What You Want33:56 Cars, Athleisure, and Fashion Shifts37:56 Uniform Dreams and Workwear Comfort39:48 Sponsor Break and Defining Third Space41:09 College Third Spaces and Lost Hangouts45:37 Neighborhoods, Libraries, and Childhood Spaces49:46 Yearly Reflection and Spoon Theory55:15 Next Guest Questions and Wrap Up