Leaders and Legends

The “Leaders and Legends” podcast journey through our country’s 250th anniversary continues with the brilliant and award-winning author Edward Larson. His book “Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters” is a tour-de-force study of why & how the colonists and the Founding Fathers pledged each other “their sacred honor.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr...

DuJuan McCoy, Owner, President and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting, sits down for an exclusive one-hour interview on the $83 million acquisition of WRTV-ABC Indianapolis and what it means for local journalism in Indiana. Circle City Broadcasting, an Indianapolis-based company, owns WISH-TV, WNDY, and WRTV-ABC in Indianapolis. McCoy addresses the social media backlash that followed the deal, explai...

On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast (#354), we interview Professor and author Richard Bell about his book “The American Revolution and the Fate of the World”. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding, we must not forget the impact the victories and words of American colonists had on thinkers and leaders around the globe. See Privacy Policy at h...

In 1824, one of the most enduring legends of the American Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette, made his final trip to the United States. It was a triumph. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Hoosier historian Ryan L. Cole about his highly-acclaimed new book, “The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic" See Priv...

On March 26th, former Hoosier First Lady and American Second Lady Karen Pence joins the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss the Hummingbird Charitable Foundation, which will host an event to detail its critical work for the past year, announce support for new causes, and throw one of the best lunches of 2026. For ticket information, please go to  https://hummingbirdcharitablefoundation.o...

The macabre dance between Communist leaders Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin is one of the most fascinating struggles for power in the 20th century. Not only did Stalin win, but he masterminded the murder of his bitterest rival. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Josh Ireland takes us through the entire bloody plot. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy No...

Professor Turley revisits the “Leaders and Legends” podcast to discuss his latest, thought-provoking book, "Rage and the Republic: the Unfinished Story of the American Revolution” which details how the unique origins of our revolution set it apart from all that have come after it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell...

Is American society more polarized than ever? How did the Founding Fathers handle division in their day? On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview renowned scholar Yuval Levin about his brilliant and compelling new book “American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—And Could Again”, and we do it courtesy of Marian University and its Richard G. Lugar Speaker Series. S...

What is the solution for our homelessness crisis? Is there a solution for our homelessness crisis? On this week’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we tackle these subjects and more with two of Indy’s most influential and respected leaders: Emmy Hildebrand, CEO of Helping Veterans and Families & Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, CEO of Coalition for Homeless Intervention and Prevention See Privacy Policy at...

For five decades, Greg Weaver’s writing and mentorship have shaped our news and our newsrooms. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with one of our state’s most respected journalists who is also a celebrated winner of “Shelby County Idol." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

He’s not blind, but he is a zebra—and an entrepreneur and a lifelong fan of the Indiana football Hoosiers. Bryan Neale is our guest on this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast. We discuss what his career as an NFL official, his long-running podcast, and how fun it was to ride along with the 2025 national champions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

Kara Kenney has been a force in Indiana media for more than 15 years, and she’s just getting started. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with one of the state’s most honored journalists and proudest Indiana University graduates. The Hoosier leader and/or legend she admires most? Mark Cuban. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...

Overshadowed in history, perhaps, by the brilliance of his predecessor and the execution of his son, British monarch King James I is brought to life in this new and superb biography. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our guest is best-selling historian Gareth Russell (one of our absolute favorite writers). We discuss the first Stuart king’s six loves—and there may be a few surprises. S...

Wanna know what really happened during the watershed years of the Nixon and Reagan presidencies? On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with famed speechwriter and strategist Ken Khachigian, author of “Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan & Nixon” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...

Considered by many to be the watershed battle of the American Civil War, Gettysburg is also one of our country’s most discussed events. On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with Tim McGrath, author of “Three Roads to Gettysburg: Meade. Lee. Lincoln. And The Battle That Changed The War, The Speech That Changed The Nation" See Privacy Policy at...

You know the song “Nobody Does It Better”? It wasn’t written about Jim Voyles, but it should have been. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Jim (and his terrific co-author Mark Bourcier) about his new autobiography detailing life around the track, in the courtroom, and enjoying fine dining at the Workingman’s Friend See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

Chris Matthews is one of the smartest and funniest political commentators in America today. His previous bosses include President Jimmy Carter and Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we talk with Chris about the astonishing impact of RFK and why history was changed forever that night in the Ambassador Hotel See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...

The media landscape is changing throughout the United States and across the globe. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ryan Martin (whose current gig is executive editor of the state’s largest newspaper). We ask Ryan about his early interest in journalism, what’s next for the Star, and spend a disproportionate amount of time talking about Ir...

Complicated, controversial, and consequential, Senator Edward Kennedy was a titan of American political life. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we speak with award-winning author John A. Farrell about his highly praised biography of the scarred scion of one of our country’s most influential families. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic...

The senseless and brutal murders of middle school students Abigail Williams and Liberty German in the small Indiana city of Delphi shocked the world. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, authors of the superb but haunting book “Shadow of the Bridge: The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side...

If there is a role in politics at which Anne Hathaway hasn’t excelled, I don’t know what it could possibly be. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, Hall of Famer Jim Shella and I talk with Anne about paying her dues in the political world, the amazing list of people with whom she’s worked, running national conventions,and what happened when she accidentally changed something written by Mi...

Just exactly how did King James VI of Scotland accede to the English throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603? Was he the right choice? Was he the rightful choice? On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we discuss these questions and more with the brilliant and best-selling author Dr Tracy Borman, OBE, author of “The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of t...

As secretary of defense during the Vietnam War, Robert McNamara presided over one of the most haunting chapters in American military history. His legacy remains, in 2025, as polarizing and controversial as it was nearly 60 years ago. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, our conversation is with Philip and William Taubman, authors of “McNamara At War: A New History" See Privacy Policy at h...

November 1963 was a month of two watershed assassinations: President John F. Kennedy and Ngo Dihn Diem, president of South Vietnam. The murder of these two men dramatically altered the hsitory of the 1960s in the United States and Southeast Asia. On this week's leaders and “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we bring back the world’s pre-emient historian of the Vietnam War, Professor Brian VanDeMark, t...

Perhaps the greatest intellectual contest in our country’s history pitted Alexander Hamilton against Thomas Jefferson—with the winner still yet to be decided. On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and author of “The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in Americ...