A Conversation with Brooke Bierhaus on Filmmaking, Coffee, and Community

Sometimes life gets messy — hard drives crash, folders disappear, and special conversations get lost in the shuffle. That’s exactly what happened with this episode. Back in 2023, I recorded a deep, thoughtful, and inspiring interview with filmmaker Brooke Bierhaus… and then I lost it.

I genuinely thought it was gone forever. So when I recently stumbled across the original file, buried in an old backup, I felt a mix of relief, excitement, and immediate guilt. (Sorry, Brooke!)

But now, finally, the episode is here — and I’m so glad to be sharing it with you.

Who is Brooke Bierhaus?

Brooke Bierhaus is a documentary filmmaker and storyteller with a real passion for human connection. Her film The Connected Cup is a visual journey across the globe, showing how people from different cultures come together over something as simple — and profound — as a cup of coffee.

Her work blends curiosity, empathy, and a keen eye for the small details that reveal something bigger. It’s not just about coffee — it’s about the rituals we share, the conversations we have, and the way we find each other in a noisy world.

Third Space: The Coffee Shop Dream

When we recorded this episode, Brooke was in the planning stages of opening her own coffee shop, Third Space, in Northwest Arkansas. She spoke about her vision for the place — not just as a spot to grab a drink, but as a true community gathering space. A “third space” between home and work, where creativity, conversation, and collaboration could flow freely.

Now that Third Space is open and thriving, it’s wild to go back and hear her talk about it before it even existed. It’s a reminder of how dreams evolve, and how speaking them out loud is often the first step to making them real.

What We Talked About

The global journey behind The Connected Cup
Why coffee matters more than we think
Building a documentary from scratch
Lessons from traveling and filming around the world
The early ideas and intentions behind Third Space
Creativity, community, and connection

Why This Episode Matters

Even though this conversation was recorded in 2023, everything Brooke Bierhaus shares still feels timely. Her insights into storytelling, building something from the ground up, and creating spaces that matter — they all hit in a real way, especially for creatives and indie filmmakers carving their own paths.

If you’re interested in filmmaking, coffee culture, starting a business, or just making things that bring people together, this episode is for you.

And again — huge thanks to Brooke for her patience and for being such an incredible guest. Sometimes the universe gives you a second chance to share something that matters. I’m glad this one found its way back.