Podcast

In this episode, I interview Keira Amstutz, leader of Indiana Humanities, to uncover the impact of public humanities on the Hoosier State. 

We delve into local culture, the importance of community engagement, and Keira's personal journey. Keira highlights key initiatives, from book clubs to Smithsonian exhibits, showcasing how Indiana Humanities enriches lives across all 92 counties. 

Tune in to learn about the essence of humanities and how these programs foster community connections.

Listeners will learn about:

• The multifaceted role of Indiana Humanities and its community impact

• How to get involved in local cultural and literary events

• Opportunities for small towns to host significant exhibits and events

Check out these great clips:

00:31 Meet Keira Amstutz: Impacting Hoosier Lives
01:24 Understanding the Humanities
01:58 Indiana Humanities: History and Mission
04:17 Cultural Development in Indianapolis
07:30 Literary Renaissance in Indiana
09:56 Connecting Communities Through Humanities
11:07 Programs and Initiatives
17:02 Novel Conversations: Free Book Club Kits
21:11 Chew on This: Statewide Dinner Parties
28:51 Supporting Indiana's Cultural Ecosystem
32:10 Podcasting and Online Interests
32:18 Creative and Memorable Grants
34:00 Impacting the State Through Grants
35:30 Understanding Humanities
38:37 Civics and Democracy Initiatives
39:50 Smithsonian Exhibit Opportunity
43:23 Indiana Authors Awards and Programs
45:04 Holiday Gifting and Hoosier Books
46:19 Fun Segments and Indiana Landmarks
51:23 Advice to Younger Self
54:43 Final Thought and Hidden Gems

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

I got to sit down with Bryce Morrison, co-founder of Mom Water, a unique non-carbonated, non-sweet canned vodka beverage based in Indiana.

Up until this year I had NO IDEA that they were based here in Indiana.

We get into the origins of Mom Water, the challenges of starting a beverage company during COVID-19, the role of family in the business, and their growth strategy.

You’re going to learn about: 

• The unique positioning of Mom Water in the RTD (ready-to-drink) market

• Impact of Indiana roots on the brand's identity

• Their future plans… including Dad Water

Check out these great clips: 

00:24 Meet the Founders: Nate and Bryce
00:36 The Origin Story of Mom Water
01:47 Challenges and Early Successes
02:43 From Concept to Marketplace
03:20 The First Sale and Rapid Growth
05:25 The Branding and Marketing Strategy
10:56 Navigating the Alcohol Industry
23:39 Family Involvement and Expansion
32:04 Family Dynamics and Retro Branding
32:38 Birth of Dad Water
32:54 Market Reception and Consumer Preferences
34:39 State Sales and Distribution Challenges
36:37 Competitive Landscape and Industry Trends
42:45 Naming the Products
44:31 Company Culture and Hiring Philosophy
47:01 Personal Reflections and Family Involvement
50:45 Indiana Pride and Business Success
53:14 Advice and Final Thoughts

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

I sat down with Scott Wise, the founder of Scotty's Brewhouse. 

We talked about his roller coaster journey opening, growing, and eventually closing Scotty's Brewhouse. 

This is insight from Scott Wise, sharing his perspective on how events transpired. 

You are going to learn about:
-The vulnerabilities and victories of entrepreneurship
-Lessons while running a company in a hyper growth stage
-Mistakes made through 20 years of restaurant ownership  

Check out these clips from the show: 
01:34 The Journey of Scotty's Brewhouse
02:24 Early Challenges and Lessons Learned
02:46 College and Entrepreneurial Aspirations
03:42 Opening the First Scotty's Brewhouse
05:42 Expansion and Early Success
10:14 Facing Failure and Learning from Mistakes
15:03 The Second Scotty's and Non-Smoking Initiative
20:02 Rapid Growth and Reflections
33:43 Challenges in Downtown Indy
37:17 Management Contracts and Continued Growth
38:37 The Dream of Brewing Beer
39:02 Challenges and Advice from Jeff Mies
39:16 Scotty's Niche: 30 Beers on Tap
39:46 Opening the Brewery: Three Wise Men
41:51 Broad Ripple and the Brewery's Success
42:32 The Concept of Centralized Supply
43:24 Competitors and the Brewing Industry
44:36 The Goal to Sell and Burnout
47:00 The Nightmare of Selling the Business
51:42 Post-Sale Challenges and Bankruptcy
56:46 Rebuilding and Lessons Learned

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

Note from the host: I realized I said "like" WAY too much in this interview. We are going to clean that up in 2025.

I sat down with Allison Melangton and Doug Boles to talk all things Indy 500 and major sporting events in Indianapolis. 

We got into the intricate planning, community engagement, and long-standing traditions behind hosting major sporting events like the Indianapolis 500 and the 2012 Super Bowl.

This episode offers a detailed look at the logistics, from ten thousand plus staff to dealing with weather challenges, and the economic impact these events have on Indiana.

You are going to learn: 

• The most unique traditions of the Indy 500

• Economic impact of hosting MAJOR events like the Super Bowl

• What all goes in to pulling off The Indy 500

Make sure you check out these great clips: 

01:17 Hosting Massive Sporting Events
02:40 Super Bowl 2012: Behind the Scenes
08:53 Indy 500: The Greatest Spectacle in Racing
16:00 Weather Challenges at the Indy 500
33:58 The Snake Pit: A Unique Tradition
36:44 Race Day Logistics
37:34 Pre-Race Preparations
39:34 Race Day Morning
41:41 Celebrity Appearances
48:00 Year-Round Speedway Events
51:01 Museum Renovation
52:36 Rapid Fire Questions
01:00:52 Indiana's Hidden Gems

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

French Lick is an incredible spot for a weekend getaway in Indiana.

They have amazing golf, restaurants, a casino, and plenty of activities if golf and gambling isn't your thing.

In this video I cover:
0:00 Introduction
00:36 What Hotels to Stay at in French Lick
01:36 The Golf Courses in French Lick
03:13 Other Activities in French Lick
05:13 The Best Restaurants in French Lick

This guide to French Lick was created from my personal experience in French Lick and talking to the locals.

My content is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater.

Today we get into the nitty gritty of the business of farming, and the way one company is helping farmers make a little extra money on the side.

Scott Nelson is the CEO of Make Hay, a B2B marketing technology platform that enables brands to produce authentic and trusted agricultural-related marketing content at scale and generate extra revenue for farmers. 

In the conversation you are going to learn about:

• The inside workings of big restaurant's supply chain

• The struggle of the small American farmer

• How Make Hay is helping farmers generate additional income

Make sure you check out these great clips from the show: 

00:27 Meet Scott Nelson: CEO and Co-Founder of Make Hay
01:46 Scott's Journey in Marketing and Tech
04:34 Panera Bread and Food Transparency
15:17 The Birth of Make Hay
19:46 How Make Hay Works
23:05 The Farmer's Perspective
39:19 The Future of Farming
40:24 Opportunities for Small Farmers
41:03 Content Creation for Farmers
42:00 Success Stories and Examples
44:44 Challenges and Solutions
47:56 Monetizing Farm Content

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

I sat down with Dan Kidd, also known as Heavy Bourbon, a prominent bourbon content creator with over 70,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram.

This episode was a Taste and Talk.

Dan brought some of his favorite Hoosier Bourbon's and Whiskeys and enlightened me on the creation and tasting process. 

You are going to learn: 

• The top 10 places to enjoy a Bourbon in Central Indiana

• Insider knowledge about the Spirit Industry in Indiana

• 6 of our favorite Hoosier Bourbons & Whiskeys

Check out these great clips from the episode: 

01:13 Introducing Dan Kidd aka Heavy Bourbon
01:46 Whiskey Tasting Begins
03:15 Tasting Techniques and First Impressions
05:35 Dan Kidd's Journey as a Bourbon Creator
07:49 Moondrops Distillery
09:59 Becoming a Bourbon Steward
14:20 Haberdasher Distillery
23:30 Four Fingers Distillery
24:45 Fred Minnick: The Bourbon Authority
25:45 Bourbon Festivals and Events
27:10 Indiana Whiskey Scene
28:16 8th Day Distillery
30:50 The Story Behind Expensive Bourbon
31:39 First Bourbon Experience at St. Elmo's Steakhouse
33:12 Learning to Appreciate Bourbon
34:09 Bourbon Recommendations for Beginners
35:03 Local Bourbon Favorites
36:51 Unique Bourbon Tasting Experiences
40:56 Top Bourbon Bars in Central Indiana
54:05 Advice for Young Bourbon Enthusiasts
55:20 Bourbon Smash and Final Thoughts

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I had the pleasure of sitting down with MJ Coyle an incredible designer that grew up in Indy and spent several years working on the HGTV show Good Bones. MJ told some fun stories from his days on Good Bones and shared advice to other Hoosiers working in creative fields. 

• In this conversation MJ shares insight on: 

• Building a creative career in Indiana

• The reality of reality TV

• A few budget friendly design tips for Hoosiers

Make sure you check out these great clips from the show: 

00:27 Meet MJ Coyle: The Innovative Designer
05:07 MJ's Journey: From Indiana to New York and Back
08:29 The Call from HGTV
13:52 Life on Good Bones
17:06 The Reality of Reality TV
26:55 Design Philosophy and Tips
31:52 The Importance of Thoughtful Space Design
32:26 Budget-Friendly Design Tips
33:00 Exploring Midland Antiques
34:40 Quick Design Fixes for Impressing Guests
36:46 The Art of Custom Pieces
40:42 Transitioning from TV to Business
45:02 Advice for First-Time Home Buyers
47:01 Lightning Round: Fun and Quirky Questions
54:02 Supporting Local Art and Design

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.