Leaders and Legends

Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch is one of the most accomplished leaders in Indiana. She joins the “Leaders and Legends” podcast this week to discuss her role as LG and the path that brought her to the State House. We are very grateful to her for the hour she spent with us. We hope you will enjoy the discussion. Sponsors: sponsors https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/43f8ab4b...

Mitch Daniels’ career is without parallel in modern Indiana history. An advisor to Senator Richard Lugar, President Ronald Reagan, and President George W. Bush, Daniels’ path to the governor’s office was shaped by his previous experiences. He talks about these leaders, some famous Hoosiers, and answers our ‘Five Questions’. He also invited us back for another podcast to discuss his time as governo...

Nate Feltman is one of the most successful young leaders in our state. From heading the IEDC, to being an entrepreneur, and now a part-owner of the Indianapolis Business Journal, Nate is making his mark. He joins “Leaders and Legends” to discuss his career, what it is like to work with Mitch Daniels, and how much fun he had living in the Soviet Union. Sponsors: sponsors https://files.fireside.fm/f...

Sue Ellspermann is this week’s guest on our “Leaders and Legends” podcast. A former lieutenant governor and now president of Ivy Tech, Sue’s career is one dedicated to education, workforce development, and public service. We hope you enjoy spending your next hour with us, and we thank Danielle Shockey, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, for co-hosting. Sponsors: sponsors https://files.fireside...

Dan Elsener is one of the pre-eminent leaders and education thought drivers in our city and our country. Dan’s drive for excellence and unparalleled strategic thinking has catapulted Marian University into the national conversation when it comes to educating young people and training classroom leaders. Dan joins us on “Leaders and Legends” to discuss his career, the importance of diversity at the...

Rob Kendall and Chris Spangle are political (and romantic) rivals who don’t take themselves too seriously, yet still bring an incredible amount of smarts to what they do. “Leaders and Legends” doesn’t make present-day political discourse a part of its mission—there are plenty of places to find that—but when friends want to have a reasonable chat, we are all about it. Sponsors: sponsors https://fil...

Professor Peter Carmichael went from being at Pike High School with Eric Holcomb to being the Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. Listen to Peter talk about growing up in Indy, history’s controversies, why the American Civil War still resonates, and his favorite leaders and battles from the watershed conflict in our nation’s history. Sponsors: sponsors https://files.fireside...

Mickey Maurer is an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an owner of the Indianapolis Business Journal, and now he’s a guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Mickey takes us through his career, what led him to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, and take a job working for Mitch Daniels. Sponsors: sponsors https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/43f8ab4b-615b-4fa3-83f7-01fc9ec2f2bc/mCf0_E0g.jpg...

Are you a Colts fan? If so, you will want to listen to this edition of the “Leaders and Legends” podcast as our friend David Frick discusses leading the negotiations to bring the Colts here from Baltimore. He’s a Southport grad who went to Harvard Law School and became deputy mayor under Bill Hudnut. He was in the mayor’s office for the Blizzard of ’78, the Kiritsis drama, the Pacers telethon, and...

Birch Bayh was a titan of modern Indiana politics and an exemplar of public service. Sadly, as we did Senator Richard Lugar, we lost Senator Bayh earlier this year. On today’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast we talk with former Bayh staffers Louis Mahern, Bob Blaemire, and Nancy Papas about the life, times, and career of an unforgettable Hoosier statesman. Sponsors: * Veteran Strategies (https://vet...

Terry Curry served in the military, worked as a journalist, and is in his third term as Marion County prosecutor. He details his love of both the law and his Butler Bulldogs in the latest “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Sponsors: * Veteran Strategies (https://veteranstrategies.com/) * Girl Scouts of Central Indiana (https://www.girlscoutsindiana.org/) About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’...

Mark Miles is one of the pre-eminent leaders in modern Indianapolis. Declared a ‘Living Legend’ by the Indiana Historical Society, Mark has managed political campaigns, ran the Pan Am Games in 1987, headed the men’s professional tennis tour (the ATP), was chairman of Indy’s Super Bowl effort, and now is CEO of Hulman and Company. Please join Danielle and me as we ask Mark about his astoundingly su...

Allison Melangton is simply one of the most phenomenal leaders in the history of modern Indianapolis. She’s worked the Olympics, led the Indiana Sports Corporation, and served as CEO of the spectacular Indianapolis Super Bowl Committee. Please listen to “Leaders and Legends” as Allison details her career and some of her biggest challenges. Special thanks to my co-host Danielle Shockey of the Girl...

The passing of Senator Richard Lugar has caused many from the Hoosier State (and beyond) to reflect on the senator’s life and legacy. In a very special “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we brought together three people who knew the senator very well. Please join Gail Lowry, Jim Morris, and Jim Shella for an hour of fun, candid, and informative conversation about the former mayor of Indianapolis and t...

Tim Swarens is a good friend who had a journalism career that spanned more than 30 years. He covered the Challenger explosion, the execution of Ted Bundy, Indy’s Super Bowl, and RFRA. Tim is unfailingly honest about the big events in Indiana and beyond that caused him to pick up his quill. Sponsors: * Veteran Strategies (https://veteranstrategies.com/) * Girl Scouts of Central Indiana (https://www...

Jim Kittle and Ed Treacy are bareknuckle political brawlers who have fought the good fight for their respective parties since the 1960s. They’ve also been close, close friends during this same time. Listen to them laugh, tell stories, and talk about how important it is to have friends from the other side of the aisle. Sponsors: * Veteran Strategies (https://veteranstrategies.com/) * Girl Scouts of...

Marc Allan is a Seinfeld expert, a music expert, and one of the absolute best people you will ever meet. As he celebrates his retirement from Butler University this week, we spent an hour with him to discuss the most memorable encounters of his journalism career. Please listen to one of the most honest and candid reporters in the history of Indianapolis. Sponsors: * Veteran Strategies (https://vet...

Sherry Seiwert, president of Downtown Indy Inc., is a perfect example of the leadership that makes our city prosper and grow. As Indianapolis is the economic engine for the state, our downtown is the economic engine for our city. Sherry is a life-long resident of Indy, an IPS kid, and a proud Hoosier. Please listen and share our discussion with one of the most engaging people I’ve ever met. Sponso...

Shelly Fitzgerald has dedicated her life to helping others. She became a focus of intense media and community scrutiny based on events at Roncalli High School last fall. She was engaging, honest, fun, and funny while joining us for the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We also are thrilled to welcome Danielle Shockey, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, as an occasional co-host. As noted befor...

Noblesville’s Tom Coverdale was Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1998 and the point guard on Indiana University’s Final Four team in 2002. As we approach the end of the NCAA tournament, let’s listen to Tom talk about the experience of being recruited by Bob Knight, and what it was like on campus when IU fired its legendary basketball coach. Tom also discusses the game in which IU beat a legendary Duke te...

Former prosecutor, former City-County Council President, former chief of staff to Mayor Greg Ballard, Ryan Vaughn is one of the most respected and accomplished leaders in Indianapolis. A proud Ben Davis graduate and current president of the Indiana Sports Corporation, Ryan talks about his career in politics, in government, and how the work of the Sports Corp. is building on the legacy of previous...

John Mutz and Louis Mahern are what bi-partisan friendship and collaboration are all about. Mutz, Republican and former lieutenant governor & Mahern, Democrat and former state senator, take us through their careers, their friendship, and how they’ve seen Indianapolis prosper during the past five decades. Please listen to Louis tell us what it was like to work for recently-departed Senator Birc...

Theresa Wells-Ditton is one of city’s most well-liked and respected journalists. For more than 30 years Theresa has been a leader for television news. Please listen to this remarkable and life-long Hoosier describe why journalism is more important today than ever and what she would tell President Trump if given the opportunity. About Veteran Strategies ‘Leaders and Legends’ is brought to you by Ve...

David Barras is one of the good guys. Today on “Leaders and Legends” we turn the tables on one of Indianapolis media’s best interviewers. Dave retired from WISH-TV not long ago, and all of us in the PR world miss working with him. Please listen to Dave as he takes us through his career and his thoughts on how Indianapolis has changed since he came to Indy nearly 40 years ago. About Veteran Strateg...

'Leaders and Legends’ is extremely fortunate to have local media legend Jim Shella on our podcast. No reporter with whom I ever worked was more knowledgeable about their beat and how their coverage could impact his fellow Hoosiers. Irreverent as always, Jim shares some terrific stories and treats us more than once to his famous laugh. Hope you enjoy our conversation. About Veteran Strategies ‘Lead...