Defending Indiana

In our Season Four Finale, we break down the surprising, inspiring and unexpected  delights that came out of Indiana in 2025 proving, once again, that you should never dismiss the Hoosier State.  We touch upon Indiana University Football, the Heisman Trophy Winner, and Democracy!  Joined by our guest and sound editor, Michael Miltenberger, we share our favorite things that impacted not only Indian...

There simply was not enough time for Colleen and Janice to ask Dr. Justin Garcia everything they wanted to know about sex!  But this conversation was a good start.  We cover the history and impact of the Kinsey Institute, sex research, sex in relationships, dating apps, sex education and a whole lot more.   ****This episode contains content that may not be suitable for all listeners.  Parental dis...

Kurt Vonnegut, one of the greatest American writers of all time, was a Hoosier!  Colleen and Janice go deep into discussing the life and work of Vonnegut with special guest, Chris Lafave, curator for the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library.   Guest: Chris Lafave is the curator for the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.   Chris has been studying and speaking about Kurt...

Colleen, Janice and fellow co-producer, Michael Miltenberger, discuss some of their favorite unusual stories coming out of the Hoosier state.  Both current events and past mysteries are shared such as zebras and camels on the interstate, the Kokomo Hum and Pukwudgies.  Seriously, we are not making this stuff up.   Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana defendingindiana@gmail.com Defending Indiana We...

So it turns out many people really do write books in Indiana.  Bronwen Carlisle from Indiana Humanities joins Colleen and Janice to discuss the books and authors that everyone should have on their reading lists.  This is a great conversation that highlights another overlooked but significant fact about the Hoosier State...and it's damn entertaining too. Bronwen Carlisle , programs and special...

Before you fly over Indiana for the holidays, just listen to this episode.  Maybe you're missing something...?   Colleen and Janice reminisce about their past Hoosier holidays with nods to live nativity scenes, unstable ice skating rinks and time and a half.  Fortunately,  Kathleen Crews, Director of the Santa Claus Museum & Village and Melissa Arnold, Executive Director of the Spencer Co...

We know, it's been a while!  Colleen and Janice wrap up season three with their customary witty banter while offering very little useful information.   Join us as we defend our delayed season finale and provide updates from the past year.  Season 4 coming soon! Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Theme Music: Michael Miltenberge...

Indiana has been home to extraordinary women.  From actors and singers and writers to entrepreneurs and notable women from history, amazing women have been born and raised in Indiana (or if they spent a few years here - we're claiming them too!). One of these amazing Hoosier women, Christina Hale, worked her way through college as a proud single mother and served as a nonprofit executive for...

In our second episode examining human rights in Indiana, Colleen and Janice discuss the events in the Indiana Statehouse and Supreme Court following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overrule Roe v. Wade.  State senator, J.D. Ford, provides context and detail to help us understand how Indiana became the first state to ban abortion after the fall of Roe v. Wade.    ***TRIGGER WARNING - This episod...

In the first episode examining the state of  human rights in Indiana, Colleen and Janice discuss the history and politics of LGBTQ+ rights over the past decade with state senator, J.D. Ford. Interview starts: 16:31   J.D. Ford - In 2018, the voters of Indiana Senate District 29 elected J.D. Ford to the Indiana Senate   Since then, he was elected as Minority Caucus Chair and appointed to serve as r...

Is this "flyover" state worth a second look?  Colleen and Janice hope Hoosier photographer and entrepreneur, Joey Lax-Salinas, can convince them it is.  Lax-Salinas has changed the way Indiana appears on search engines by photographing and cataloging nearly every city and town across the entire State of Indiana (approximately 400 to date!).  With his extensive travel and knowledge of not...

Defending Indiana cuisine felt like a herculean task for Colleen and Janice.  Thankfully, acclaimed Hoosier chefs, Ambarish Lulay and Chris Pappas, stepped in to provide much needed insight.   Listen and learn all about food and the food scene in Indiana including: the "Indiana Banana" (the pawpaw), duck farms, mushrooms, burrata, lemon rice soup and the pork tenderloin.    Interview sta...

In this episode, Colleen and Janice want you to imagine watching a stunning sunset over the vast, blue seascape while feeling gentle breezes and sand between your toes.  Would you believe THIS is Indiana?!?!?!  It is and it can be enjoyed regularly at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.  Joined by Superintendent for the National Park Service, Paul Labovitz,  and founder of Dig the Dunes, Eve Wie...

Colleen and Janice discuss true crime in Indiana with the founder of Cold Case Chronicles , a popular, Indiana-based cold case podcast.  Indiana has had its share of infamous crimes - many that have gone unsolved.  Join us as we learn more about how podcasts and citizen detectives are changing the landscape of crime solving.  Cold Case Chronicles is made up of four women from totally different bac...

Colleen and Janice share many laughs discussing sexy beverages, après ski and growing up in families who did and did not drink alcohol (can you guess which host grew up without?) Joining them for an interview and a lesson in Indiana bourbon is the man behind the wildly popular @indianabourbon Instagram page, Dirk Fentz.  Dirk Fentz is a bourbon enthusiast focused on bringing attention to Indiana s...

Colleen and Janice welcome Jesse Kharbanda, the Outgoing Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council.  In this enlightening conversation, Kharbanda explains the challenges of pollution in Indiana (and across the country) and the actions addressing those challenges. Jesse Kharbanda is the  Outgoing Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana’s largest environmental...

Joined by Jared Thompson, co-creator/co-director of the Limestone Comedy Festival and owner of The Comedy Attic in Bloomington, IN,  Colleen and Janice discuss all things comedy in Indiana (and across the US). Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Theme Music: Michael Miltenberger Sound Editing: Michael Miltenberger Stay in Touch with...

Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana defendingindiana@gmail.com Defending Indiana Website Defending Indiana on Facebook Defending Indiana on Instagram Defending Indiana on Twitter

Nymphs, Egyptian beer and sibling issues - these are just a few of the topics addressed in the season two finale.  Colleen and Janice welcome their #1 Season Two Fan (and Janice's mom!), Carmen Jones, and #1 "Non-Listener", John Brennan, who offer their thoughts on why they listen...and why they don't.    Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Co-Producers: Colleen Bren...

Apparently, Indiana is not the only state with bizarre liquor laws.  Colleen and Janice examine liquor laws from across the U.S. to determine whether or not Indiana's are as bad as they thought then chat with Chris Reisetter and Scott Ferguson from Zorn Brew Works to learn all about craft beer in Indiana. Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice...

Pop or soda?  Tennis shoes or sneakers?  People all over the U.S. use different words to talk about the same things and Indiana is no exception.  Colleen and Janice dive deep into regional slang and try to understand the origins of "Region Rat" with the Mayor of Hammond, IN, Tom McDermott.   Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana defendingindiana@gmail.com Defending Indiana Website Defendi...

He is loved, feared, hated and revered.  Colleen and Janice discuss college sports and the legendary Bobby Knight with sports journalist, Chris Luchene. Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Theme Music: Michael Miltenberger Sound Editing: Michael Miltenberger Season Two Intern: Kate Beck Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana defendingi...

Auto racing is kind of a big thing around the world.  Colleen and Janice learn all about life in the fast lane from former motorsports professional and Indiana native, Terry Greetham.  Terry's experience with racing teams is so long, we can't fit it all in this space, but we are not above a little name dropping (Mario Andretti, Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti and more!).   Hosts: Collee...

How can we relive our glory days without hometown news?  Colleen and Janice wonder whatever happened to small town news in the Midwest.  Joined by their guest, podcast host and executive director of GreatNews. Life, Jenny Craig-Brown, they learn that hometown news might actually be coming back.  Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Th...

Curious to find out how Indiana fits into the Great American Melting Pot, Colleen and Janice discuss immigration and refugees with refugee advocate, Sara Hindi.  Turns out, Indiana has a much more diverse population than many people might think! Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez Theme Music: Michael Miltenberger Sound Editing: Mich...