Leaders and Legends

Dana Hunsinger Benbow is this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Dana is a sports reporter for The Indianapolis Star who writes consistently compelling prose about our Hoosier sports landscape and the people who inhabit it. She has covered several landmark events and interviewed numerous sports leaders and legends. Dana talks with us about her favorite stories, her pet goat Gus, an...

George Will is one of the most respected commentators and famous baseball fans in the United States—and he’s also 2022’s first guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We talked with Mr. Will about baseball, history, and his respect and admiration for former governor and current Purdue University President Mitch Daniels. Thank you for listening to our interview. Sponsors •   &nbs...

While 2021 has had its share of disappointing moments, we at the “Leaders and Legends” podcast were honored to have some amazing guests come on to discuss their careers, research, achievements, and greatest influences. From historians to former governors and from journalists to entrepreneurs, we’ve been so fortunate that people from around the world were willing to spend an hour with us. On t...

Brad Chambers is Indiana’s Secretary of Commerce, the CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, and one of our state’s most successful business and civic-minded leaders. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we talk with Brad about our state’s myriad economic opportunities, what drove him to become an entrepreneur while still at IU, and which artist he would want to paint his fa...

Dr. Neil Lanctot is the author of a new book on the United States' entry into World War I, and he’s also our guest on this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast. “The Approaching Storm: Roosevelt, Wilson, Addams and Their Clash Over America’s Future” is a terrific accounting of one of our country’s most watershed decisions and the people who shaped it. Sponsors •      ...

Evan Bayh is one of only two Hoosiers to win statewide elective office at least five times. He was a governor, a United States Senator, and now we’re happy to say he’s our guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We talk with him about his career, what it was like to grow up with such formidable parents, and how proud he is of the people who have worked for him. Our friend Jim Shella joins us f...

Willard Sterne Randall is one of America’s most eminent historians of the Colonial and Revolutionary Era. He makes the first of two appearances on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his biographies of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and other literary efforts. Sponsors •       Veteran Strategies •      ...

Former Guitar World magazine editor-in-chief Brad Tolinski is one of the world’s most famous and respected music journalists. He appears on this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his new book, “Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen.” We talk about Eddie’s untimely death, Brad’s decade-long friendship with Van Halen, and the impact EVH had on music and musicians. Sponsors •&nbs...

Becky Skillman served Hoosiers with distinction as their 49th lieutenant governor—but her career was remarkable long before she joined Mitch Daniels’ ticket in 2004. She held several elected offices and was in the room when some of our state’s most pivotal decisions were being made. She joins the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss her career, her love of Indiana and even divulges her high sc...

Professor Allen Guelzo of Princeton University is one of our country’s pre-eminent scholars of the American Civil War. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Dr Guelzo discusses his new, highly-praised biography of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and a few other Civil War topics. Sponsors  •        Veteran Strategies •     &...

Dr. Katie Jenner is Indiana’s first Secretary of Education and this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast with our co-host, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana and former principal Danielle Shockey. We talk with Secretary Jenner about her new role, her love of teaching, and how jobs, economic development, and education all support each other. Sponsors •     &...

In October 1962, the United States and the Soviet Union stood on the brink of mutual nuclear annihilation. Historian Michael Dobbs returns to the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his book “One Minute to Midnight” which details this most terrifying moment of the Cold War. If you are old enough to remember it, then you are old enough to remember how scared you were. Learn more about this def...

The list of my political friends who have fought the good fight is a long one for sure. Today on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast we chat with my former boss at the Indiana Republican Party Murray Clark and his friend and Democrat extraordinaire Kip Tew about their careers in politics, wins and losses, and why politics is where you can meet some of the very best people. Former State House re...

David Benner is the director of Media Relations for the Indiana Pacers who just announced he’s retiring at the end of the coming NBA season. For 27 years, David has set a sterling example of what professional sports communications is all about. He joins us on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his time with the Pacers, his career as a sports journalist for the Indianapolis Star, and...

Dr. Suzannah Lipscomb is one of the world’s most popular British historians with a social media following of more than 200,000 people. She received her Ph. D. from Oxford University and hosts her own podcast called “Not Just the Tudors.” She Zoomed with the “Leaders and Legends” podcast all the way from Great Britain to talk Henry VIII’s marriages, is Queen Elizabeth overrated, and the importance...

Claudia Cummings’ career is a model of public sector and philanthropic service.  Claudia joins us on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss some of the things she’s learned along the way, what it’s like to be a part of the election process, and her current role as president and CEO of the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance.  We are joined by co-host Danielle Shockey, CEO of Girl Scouts...

Paul Page is one of Indianapolis’ most endearing and enduring sports journalists. His career as the “Voice of the Indianapolis 500” spanned decades, and he comes on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his favorite drivers, favorite races, his friendship with the Eastside’s own Scott Roembke, and promote his new book “Hello, I’m Paul Page and it’s Race Day in Indianapolis” (he says it a lo...

Dr. Craig Symonds is a brilliant and best-selling historian of American naval and military history. He’s also written about D-Day and the Battle of Gettysburg among other works. Professor Symonds joins me on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his career, key points in American history, and what it’s like to be called “impressive and extremely gracious” by actor Tom Hanks.  Sponsors...

Congresswoman Julia Carson broke down barriers while building up the people and opportunities in her district. Her grandson, Congressman Andre Carson, and her long-time friend Cordelia Lewis-Burks join Jim Shella and me to discuss Mrs. Carson’s impact, her courage, and her incomparable Hoosier legacy. Sponsors •       Veteran Strategies •     ...

Cathy Langham is one of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs in all of Indiana, and she’s also this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Joined by our wonderful co-host Danielle Shockey, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, we talk with Cathy about her career, being a woman CEO, her love of Indiana University, and how Governor Mitch Daniels changed the business culture f...

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick is one of the most accomplished and respected civic leaders in the history of modern Indianapolis (and Indiana). Jack is our guest on this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We discuss his very successful legal career, his love of sports, and what it’s like on gameday for the Fighting Irish.   Sponsors •       Vetera...

It was 47 years ago today that embattled Richard Nixon resigned the presidency due to the scandals collectively known as Watergate. In Michael Dobbs’ brilliant new book, “King Richard: Nixon and Watergate: An American Tragedy”, one of our best historians dissects the six months after Nixon’s re-election and details how a man who won 49 states in 1972 resigned less than two years later. Michae...

Al Unser, Jr. is not only a two-time champion of the Indianapolis 500, a scion of one of racing’s greatest families, and one of the most popular drivers in the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—he’s also this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. “Little Al” tells some great stories about his career, explains what it was like to race with his dad and uncle, and talks about wi...

Abraham Lincoln gets most of the attention given for political and governmental leadership during the American Civil War and deservedly so. The role of Congress during the war, however, is a compelling story in its own right. Historian Fergus Bordewich has written a book, “Congress At War”, that details the efforts of the House and Senate that worked both in concert and at odds with President Linc...

Gerry Dick’s career on Indiana television spans decades. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we talk with the host of “Inside Indiana Business” about his career in journalism, some of his favorite interview subjects, and how much the Hoosier State has changed while he’s been on the air. Sponsors •        Veteran Strategies •    &nbsp...