An Interview With Voyage Ohio
I had the honor of being interviewed by VoyageOhio for their series “What Part of You Has Served Its Purpose and Now Must Be Released?”
If you want a real heartfelt look at the person behind Middleyak, this is the one for you.
The original publication can be found here
Marissa Dunyak of Dayton on Life, Lessons & Legacy
We’re looking forward to introducing you to Marissa Dunyak. Check out our conversation below.
Marissa, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I thrive on slow mornings. Even on the days I’m scheduled for a 12-hour shift at the pharmacy, I still wake up about an hour and a half early. I like to start by feeding the dogs and making coffee while I’m still in my jammies. Then I shower, get ready for the day, and spend at least 40 minutes reading while I sip black coffee and eat breakfast. Starting my mornings this way guarantees that I do something just for myself every day. It’s the one habit I’ve kept consistently and one I don’t plan to change anytime soon.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the owner and artist of Middleyak Leather Company, a Dayton-based business creating handmade leather goods. I’m also a community pharmacist in my day job but these days my passion lives in my work as an artist and small business owner.
I first fell in love with leatherwork at summer camp and kept teaching myself through high school and college breaks. What started as a hobby slowly grew into Middleyak Leather Co., a one-woman workshop where I design and craft bags, wallets, and small goods entirely by hand. Every piece is cut, stitched, and finished with simple tools.
I work almost exclusively with oil-tanned leather because it’s durable, water-resistant, and built to stand up to the hustle of everyday life. My designs are also simple and tough, drawing inspiration from the grit and resilience of my community.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
My indecision and fear. I can vividly remember being in college, sitting in a restaurant, spiraling with anxiety over what to order because I didn’t want to make the wrong choice—about food. Like, seriously? It’s time to let that go. I’m learning to own my thoughts and opinions, to make choices confidently, and to treat mistakes as opportunities to grow rather than things to fear.
Also I’m just tired—it’s exhausting to move through life trying to please everyone instead of showing up as my authentic self. In my business and my personal life, that means being unapologetically me. For Middleyak, that looks like weaving my values directly into the brand: designing inclusive gender-neutral pieces, using my platform to advocate for equality and bodily autonomy, and celebrating small businesses and art as acts of resistance.
As I become more open about what I stand for, my audience grows—not just in numbers, but in authenticity. People connect with the person behind the brand, and that connection builds trust, loyalty, and a stronger, more genuine community.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell little Marissa that she is unique, beautiful, and worthy—exactly as she is. As a kid, I carried a lot of anxiety I didn’t understand or know how to express. My social anxiety, especially, made me an easy target for peer pressure; I went along with whatever others wanted because I so badly wanted to belong and hadn’t yet found my own voice.
I know I made choices that hurt some people in my effort to earn others’ approval, and I wish I’d understood then that my value didn’t depend on anyone else’s acceptance. Growing up surrounded by diet culture and a society that taught girls to shrink themselves, I developed a pretty harsh self-image. I still have bad days—but I’ve learned that self-love and forgiveness aren’t destinations. They’re lifelong practices.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
That one’s easy—my sisters. I learn so much from both of them and deeply value their opinions and lived experiences.
My older sister, Ashley, is the quintessential Eldest Daughter—steady, reliable, and the family’s rock. She’s an adventurer and a dreamer, yet somehow balances that with being a teacher, mother, and spouse. She’s forever my emergency contact and a constant source of awe.
My younger sister, Erika, is pure, beautiful chaos—queer, brilliant, and endlessly curious. She’s a lawyer, academic, and small business owner who always has a dozen ideas in motion. She challenges and expands my perspective in the best possible ways.
Together, the three of us are a force of nature. We question, support, and antagonize each other—lovingly, of course—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
A little bit of both. I went to college and grad school, studied science, and built a respectable career as a pharmacist. Those milestones shaped me in important ways, but at my core, I’m happiest when I’m creating. There’s something profoundly fulfilling about transforming raw materials into functional, beautiful art—it feeds my soul in a way that checking for prescription errors never could.
That said, I don’t want to diminish my work as a community pharmacist. I see the impact every day—catching a prescribing error, easing someone’s fear about a new diagnosis, or simply offering company to a lonely patient. That work matters deeply. But it’s not what I was born to do.
I was born to make—to break things down and rebuild them in color, texture, and form. To solve problems with my hands. To leave something lasting and real behind. Every day that Middleyak Leather Co. grows, I feel closer to that authentic version of myself. And soon, I hope to stand fully in that purpose—building a legacy grounded in creativity, craftsmanship, and grit.
Want to read more interviews with Marissa? Check out these past features:
Shoutout Ohio - Meet Marissa Dunyak | Leatherworker & Pharmacist
Canvas Rebel - Meet Marissa Dunyak
