Leaders and Legends

The Tudors continue to fascinate history lovers around the globe. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast we discuss the legacy and impact of this delightful and dysfunctional royal family with historians Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey. The Tudor period (1485 to 1603) changed the history of the world—and I hope you enjoy our lively and fun discussion. Sponsors: Veteran Strategies NFP -&nbsp...

Ray Boomhower is one of the Hoosier State’s most talented historians. He is also this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Ray serves as the senior editor of the Indiana Historical Society Press and is in demand as an unsurpassed storyteller. His books include biographies of Ernie Pyle, Gus Grissom, and President Benjamin Harrison. Ray was very generous with his time, and we hope you...

While the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences during World War II get the most attention from scholars, the Casablanca Conference in 1943 demonstrated how the Allies planned for the destruction of the Axis powers while also signaling the emergence of the United States as the dominant partner in the Anglo-American alliance. In this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we explore the Casablanca Conferenc...

On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was nearly assassinated by a deranged Jodie Foster fan named John Hinckley. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with Del Quentin Wilber, author of “Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan”. Full of new reporting and insider accounts of that fateful day, “Rawhide Down” is one of the best history books I’ve ever r...

The friendship of Patty Spitler and Ken Owen stretches back to the last century and Indianapolis is the better for it. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we feature a delightful conversation with two cherished members of our media landscape. Sponsors: Veteran Strategies NFP - A leading insurance broker and consultant Garmong Construction Crowne Plaza Downtown Indianapolis Historic...

General George S. Patton is one of the most successful and polarizing military leaders in American history. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Kevin Hymel—the world’s premier biographer of Patton. He separates man from myth and explains why Patton’s actions during World War II deserve both praise and scrutiny. Sponsors: Veteran Strategies NFP - A leading insurance brok...

It was 163 years ago this month that Abraham Lincoln was somehow, someway nominated for president. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we discuss “The Lincoln Miracle: Inside the Republican Convention that Changed History” Edward Achorn’s superb account of the 1860 Chicago convention. Lincoln’s victory remains one of the greatest upsets in American political history and this book tells t...

“To The End of the Earth” is a brilliant and highly-readable account of the United States Army’s heroic campaigns in the Western Pacific during the last year of World War II. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, acclaimed military historian John C. McManus discusses this final volume in his three-part history of the American Army during the war against Japan. Sponsors: Veteran Strategies...

For the first time since 1953 there was a coronation ceremony in England, and billions across the globe watched the pomp and pageantry as Charles III was crowned King of England. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we have a delightful conversation with acclaimed royal biographer Christopher Andersen, author of “The King: the Life of Charles III.” Sponsors Veteran Strategies NFP - A...

One of only four five-star Fleet Admirals in the history of the United States Navy, Chester Nimitz is one of the most consequential and underrated leaders of the Second World War. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, best-selling historian Craig Symonds discusses his marvelous new book, “Nimitz at War”, which details the critical contributions made by Nimitz to the winning of the war in t...

 He was known as “Mr. Warmth” and Don Rickles’ insulting presence on our television screens lasted seven decades. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we talk with acclaimed author Michael Seth Starr about his rollicking biography: “Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom" Sponsors: Veteran Strategies NFP - A leading insurance broker and consultant Garmong Construction Crowne Plaza D...

Bob Grand is one of the most influential and generous Hoosiers I’ve ever met. He remains a mentor to many, a supporter of charities and candidates, and Bob is this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast—and we are joined by Indiana Journalism Hall of Famer Jim Shella. Sponsors: Veteran Strategies NFP - A leading insurance broker and consultant Garmong Construction Crowne Plaza Down...

 At 11:40pm on April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank less than three hours later. In his compelling and delightful book, “The Ship of Dreams: the Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era”, acclaimed historian Gareth Russell details not only the tragic sinking of the ship, but also how it was built and how the disaster changed history. Sponsors: Veteran Stra...

Tevi Troy is one of the most popular and respected presidential historians writing today. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Tevi discusses his book “Fight House” which details some of the most intense White House turf battles during the past 75 years. Sponsors Veteran Strategies NFP - A leading insurance broker and consultant Garmong Construction Crowne Plaza Downtown Indianapolis...

The Battle of Midway is universally regarded as one of the watershed naval encounters in world history; but how did the Americans defeat the Japanese so decisively? On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Steven McGregor, author of the brilliant new book “The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in the Pacific at Midway.” Simply put: World War II would have been a completel...

On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we discuss the untamed world of 19th-century finance (a reoccurring topic it seems); our guest is Greg Steinmetz, author of “American Rascal: How Jay Gould Built Wall Street’s Greatest Fortune.” If you think speculation is rotten these days, then you’ll enjoy listening to Greg detail the wanton nature of the Wall Street of yore. Sponsors: Veteran Strat...

Ambassador Ken Adelman is a legend in the arms control community. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Amb. Adelman about his book “Reagan at Reykjavik: Forty-Eight Hours that Ended the Cold War.” It is a brilliant, insider’s account of the 1986 summit between President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev (the leader of the Soviet Union). If you love Cold War history, then it...

Jake Oakman is the executive director of the beautiful White River State Park and one of the most respected communications gurus in the world. We have a fun and funny conversation with Jake on this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast and he gives some unique answers to the podcast’s Five Questions. Sponsors: Veteran Strategies Girl Scouts of Central Indiana NFP - A leading insurance broker a...

 Elizabeth Taylor is on the Mount Rushmore of the entertainment industry’s megastars. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview author Kate Andersen Brower about her delightful and fascinating biography “Elizabeth Taylor: the Grit and Glamour of an Icon” & learn that this Hollywood legend was so much more than just one of the most beautiful woman of all-time. Sponsors: Ve...

How important was John F. Kennedy to the launch of America’s space program and how did John Glenn get to be its first hero? On the week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview author Jeff Shesol about his engaging book “Mercury Rising: John Glenn, JFK, and the New Battleground of the Cold War” and find out just why JFK championed our quest for space exploration. Sponsors: Veteran Strategies...

Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson is one of the most successful football coaches in history. Award-winning Florida sports columnist Dave Hyde recently collaborated with Coach Johnson on the latter’s entertaining and no-holds-barred memoir “Swagger.” Dave joined the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his book and Coach Johnson’s place in football history. Sponsors Veteran Strategies Girl Scouts of...

For our 200th podcast interview, “Leaders and Legends” presents a conversation with businessman and entrepreneur Al Hubbard. A philanthropist who served in both Bush Administrations, Al is also one of Indiana’s leading education experts.  We talk with all about his career, his friendship with President George W. Bush, and the state of politics in our state and country in 2023.  Sponsors ...

Sarah Gristwood is one of the world’s best-selling historians, and she is our guest on this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Sarah discusses her writings and research, how female historians are bringing a fresh approach to the discipline, and answers our Five Questions.  Sponsors  ·              Veteran Strategies &nbs...

Scott Sander is one of the most respected & genuine of all Hoosier journalists, and he is also this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We discuss his career, his most memorable stories, who has the best hair in Indy, and what time in the morning he has to wake up to host WISH-TV’s “Daybreak.”  Sponsors  ·          &nbs...

The end of World War II in Europe is one of the most fascinating topics in military and political history. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, best-selling author Martin Dugard discusses his book, “Taking Berlin: The Bloody Race to Defeat the Third Reich”, which is a brilliant and fast-paced account of how the Allied armies encountered each other in 1945.  Sponsors  Veteran Str...