Leaders and Legends

Representative Todd Huston is the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives and this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Co-host Jim Shella and I talk with Todd about his family’s political history, what made him run for office, and the responsibilities of being Speaker.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts of Central Indiana   NFP - A leading i...

Just reelected to the United States Senate (and winning 89 of Indiana’s 92 counties), Todd Young represents Hoosiers with purpose, faith, and distinction. Senator Young was a guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast in May 2020, and we are reposting our conversation with him in honor of his latest victory.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts of Central Indiana   MacAl...

In honor of Purdue University’s standing as the number one ranked men’s college basketball team in the country, we are reposting our fun and terrific “Leaders and Legends” podcast interview with Coach Gene Keady. Just as he did while winning six Big Ten championships, Coach Keady was to the point and no-holds barred.      Sponsors    Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts o...

Toby McClamroch and John Dillon personify what it means to be loyal and close friends—and politics be damned. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we talk with these two amazing Citizens of Indianapolis about their friendship, their storied CYO coaching careers, and what the passing of Rex Early means to them.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts of Central Indiana &...

Was 1942 the decisive year of World War II? Historian Taylor Downing argues that it is, and he is this week’s guest on the Leaders and Legends podcast. Taylor is the author of “1942: Winston Churchill and Britain’s Darkest Hour.” It is a wonderfully written and very informative book, and I hope you enjoy our conversation.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts of Central Indian...

Dr Will Inboden is author of the brilliant new book “Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink” and he is also our guest on the Leaders and Legends podcast. Dr Inboden takes us through the world as it was in the 1980s, how President Reagan’s leadership changed history, and close we actually came to a nuclear war.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts...

Is the history of the Normans more than just the feats of William the Conqueror in 1066? Yes, says Professor Levi Roach. In this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we discuss Dr Roach’s new book " Empires of the Normans”  which details   how these descendants of the Vikings dominated European and Asian leadership and politics for centuries.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Sc...

He was a man as unique as his name: Rexford Carlisle Early. We lost Rex, a former Marine, on Veterans Day, and in tribute the “Leaders and Legends” podcast convened three of his closest friends to talk about Rex’s life, times, and laugh lines. Please enjoy Ann Delaney, Murray Clark, and Jim Shella as we reminisce about a true Hoosier original.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Sc...

Craig Shirley is a prolific and award-winning historian who has chronicled the rise and legacy of Ronald Reagan, the beginning and end of World War II, and is this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. What impact did President Reagan have on America and the world? Craig takes us through the career of one of our country’s greatest presidents.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies &n...

Gareth Russell is a best-selling author and historian who was kind enough to join the “Leaders and Legends” podcast this week to discuss his delightful and funny book: “Do Let’s Have Another Drink: the Dry Wit and Fizzy Life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.” It’s full of terrific stories and anecdotes (some of them related to what we saw in “The King’s Speech”) while painting a beautiful portr...

A few years ago, we posted an interview with President John F. Kennedy Secret Service Agent Clint Hill and his co-author Lisa McCubbin Hill; just this month Agent Hill has released a new book titled “My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy” and in honor of his new effort, we are re-posting our “Leaders and Legends” conversation with Clint. He and his wife were fabulous guests who were very forthcoming not on...

Dr Nicola Tallis is the author of several books on British history, and she is this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We discuss her books on 16th-century history, how a new generation of female historians is changing our knowledge of history, and why studying the past is so important. Find her books here: https://nicolatallis.com/books/.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies &n...

Dwight Chapin was one of President Richard Nixon’s closest aides both during his political comeback in the late 1960s and while he was president. In part one of a two part interview, Dwight is this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We discuss his enthralling and highly-praised new book: “The President’s Man: The Memoirs of Nixon’s Trusted Aide”.   Sponsors  Veteran Strat...

John Wechsler is one of Indiana’s most impactful and respected entrepreneurs—and he is also this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. John joins us to talk about how his military service prepared him for his career, why Indianapolis is respected as a tech hub, and his new video venture—Spokenote.  Sponsors    Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts of Central Indiana &nb...

Larry Csonka, Super Bowl VIII MVP - Part Two  In part two of our “Leaders and Legends” podcast interview with NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl VIII MVP Larry Csonka, we discuss why he decided to write his book “Head On: A Memoir”, some of his favorite playing memories, and if he ever ran over the incomparable Dick Butkus. Sponsors  Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts of Central Indiana...

Larry Csonka is one of the greatest players in NFL history. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion, was named MVP of Super Bowl VIII, and is author of “Head On: A Memoir".  In part one of our “Leaders and Legends” podcast interview, The Zonk talks about his early years playing football, the effect Don Shula had on his career, and what it was like to go 17-0.  Sponsors  Veteran Strategies &...

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II after reigning for more than 70 years is dominating the media around the globe and tugging at the heart strings of millions of people worldwide. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast with discuss the late Queen’s life with Deborah Hart Strober and Gerald Strober, the authors of “Queen Elizabeth II: An Oral History.” The Strobers were granted unprecedented a...

Former Indiana Speaker of the House and two-time gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is one of the most well-liked, humorous, and accomplished public servants in modern Indiana history. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Speaker Gregg talks about his career, his connection with his fellow Hoosiers, and how much he enjoyed being in the Statehouse. Our friend—and John’s friend—Jim Shella j...

Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most brilliant and famous Hoosier writers in our state’s history. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast our conversation is with Chris Lafave, curator of the Indy-based Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library and Vonnegut fan and our friend Kip Tew. We discuss Kurt’s writings, his influences, and how his writings have affected us all.  Sponsors  Veteran Strate...

The clash between President Lyndon Johnson and Senator Robert F. Kennedy is the defining political relationship of the 1960s. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we talk with historian Jeff Shesol about his book “Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy and the Feud that Defined a Decade.” Without a doubt, this is one of the best political history books I have ever read—you will e...

Earlier this year the wonderful and delightful Janet Allen, Artistic Director and Co-CEO of the Indiana Repertory Theater, announced her retirement after nearly 40 years of service at one of our state’s most venerable and entertaining venues. Janet is our guest on this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, and we are greatly honored to have this conversation with her.    Sponsors  V...

Probably only Ulysses S. Grant has had a more beneficial and recent historical reappraisal than our 33rd president Harry Truman; on this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast historian and journalist Jeffrey Frank comes on to discuss his superb new book “The Trials of Harry S. Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man, 1945-1953. You may purchase Mr. Frank’s book here: https://amzn.to...

In 2011, James Danko became the 21st president of Butler University. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we talk with President Danko about his career, the amazing opportunity to lead one of state’s most prestigious universities, and how he felt when Gordon Hayward’s shot just barely missed in the 2010 NCAA championship game.    Sponsors    Veteran Strategies   G...

Dr Tracy Borman is one of the world’s best-selling and most-quoted historians of British history. On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Dr Borman joins us from the United Kingdom to discuss her brilliant and rollicking new history of the British Monarchy: “Crown & Sceptre: 1000 Years of Kings and Queens.”  Sponsors   • Veteran Strategies   • Girl Scouts of Cent...

Mark K. Updegrove is a Presidential Historian for ABC News and president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. He is also this week’s guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast; Mark and I discuss his brilliant new book “Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency”. Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3IJTKaC      Sponsors    Veteran Strategies   Girl Scouts of Central Indiana  ...