Get IN. with Nate Spangle

On today's show I sat down with Lauri Shillings, Libertarian nominee for Indiana Secretary of State, about her unconventional path into politics, Libertarian values, and why the SOS race matters.

Shillings discusses her background in media and leadership, her entry into the party through local involvement, and Libertarian principles like limited government and the non-aggression pledge. She explains Indiana ballot access rules tied to the Secretary of State race, including the 2% threshold to maintain access and 10% for major-party benefits like primaries and election board seats.

Shillings describes campaigning statewide on a grassroots budget, debate experiences, concerns about voter fraud claims, and the administrative nature of the office, including fixing broken state election systems.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - How Lauri Shillings Got Into Politics - The Libertarian Party, Its Principles, and the Need for 2% - Voter Fraud Claims and State Election Systems

Thank you to our partners: Jackson County Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Campaign Focus Over Attacks 01:20 Guest Introduction: Lauri Shillings 03:14 Small Town Roots and Service 05:06 Finding Libertarian Values 07:31 What Libertarians Believe 09:55 Joining the Party Leadership 12:03 Ballot Access Explained 16:26 Why Secretary of State Matters 21:34 Debates and Pay to Play Rules 24:57 Voter Fraud Claims and Reality 26:36 How Indiana Elections Run 28:59 Policy vs. Role Limits 29:48 Ethics Scandals Spotlight 32:53 Dirty Local Politics 35:32 Libertarian Vote Thresholds 39:39 Campaigning and Voter Mood 43:07 Indiana Road Trip Stories 47:07 Why This Race Matters 49:54 Hidden Gems and Hoosiers 53:20 Vote and Final Thanks

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.

On today's show I sat down with Jak Kramer, president of Young Professionals of Central Indiana (YPCI), about building community and connections in Indianapolis.

Kramer explains YPCI as a membership-based organization with 400–500 members that hosts monthly happy hours and coffee connects, plus annual events like golf outings and galas to help young professionals meet friends and opportunities.

He shares his path from attending his first YPCI event around age 24 to joining the board and becoming president, and describes choosing venues to support local businesses and coffee shops. He discusses keeping events non-transactional, using curiosity and authenticity in conversations, and a rule for warm introductions.

Kramer also highlights Indiana's "big yet small" network and why Indianapolis is a good city for making an impact, along with recommendations and hidden gems.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - How to Get Plugged Into Central Indiana's Network of Young Professionals - Events Hosted by Young Professionals of Central Indiana - What Makes Indianapolis the Place to Make an Impact

Thank you to our partners: Greek's Pizzeria Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling AccountedFor

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Give First Networking 01:12 Guest Introduction: Jak Kramer, YPCI 02:22 Jak Finds YPCI 03:26 What Is YPCI 04:09 First Event Nerves 05:08 Events Local Business 06:46 Who Joins YPCI 07:59 No Transactional Vibes 09:46 Connection Stories 12:20 Board Life And Growth 13:54 Membership Value Math 14:46 Career Impact Volunteering 15:39 Authentic Networking Tips 18:20 Indiana Invisible Strings 21:23 Pride In Every Town 26:07 Why Indy Over Austin 29:06 Indiana Rallies Together 30:38 Networking in Indy 32:06 Be the Connector 33:52 Warm Introductions Rule 36:15 Cutco Referral Story 38:20 YPCI Event Goals 39:36 Why Indiana Feels Home 40:18 Rapid Fire Indy Picks 45:43 Hidden Gems Spotlight 49:08 Hoosier to Watch 50:50 Favorite Indiana Memory 51:35 Final Networking Takeaways 52:40 Where to Find YPCI

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.

On today's show I sat down with Katherine Watercutter, a former Indiana University distance runner, seven-time All-American, multi-time Big Ten champion, and national podium finisher, about her athletic career and post-grad entrepreneurship journey when she founded Gold Hinge as a side hustle at 23.

Watercutter transferred to IU as a walk-on and struggled with fitness and pressure before earning a full scholarship after placing 11th at cross-country nationals and setting school records. After graduation she worked in sales and started Gold Hinge in 2019, initially as an online boutique, facing cash burn, credit-line debt, and near-shutdown moments. A tie-dye Champion sweatshirt ad scaled during COVID to $100K a month but was unsustainable, leading her to private labeling and a breakthrough pleated tennis skirt with help from an ad agency.

Gold Hinge later scaled to major revenue of over $1M a month, earning Watercutter a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 spot, and produced collaborations with the Indianapolis Colts and Homefield/IU.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - Katherine Watercutter's Running and Entrepreneurship Journey - Gold Hinge's First Products and Eventual Scale to $1M a Month - Gold Hinge's Licensed Collaborations

Thank you to our partners: St. Elmo and Harry & Izzy's World Food Championships (enter code 25INDY at checkout and receive 25% off all event tickets)

Check out these great clips from the show:

00:00 Show Intro & St. Elmo / Harry & Izzy's Game Day Menus 01:34 Guest Introduction: Kathryn Watercutter, Founder of Gold Hinge 03:00 Perceptions of Indiana 04:12 Realizing Running Elite Potential & Kentucky vs. Indiana Competition 06:18 The Mental Battle of High School Running & Coach Mentorship 08:47 College Recruiting, Transferring from Miami of Ohio, & Walking On at IU 11:51 Bouncing Back: From Walk-On to All-American & Full Scholarship 15:46 The Internal Mental Talk Track in High-Stakes Races 18:38 Exceeding Expectations & Proudest Race Moments 21:28 Managing High Expectations & Senior Year Cross Country Battle 25:12 The Early Days: Early Side Hustles & First Entrepreneurial Steps 28:13 Balancing IU Athletics, Internships, & Starting an E-Commerce Site 31:00 Overcoming Early E-Commerce Struggles & Private Labeling Shift 38:39 World Food Championships Break 39:35 The Tie-Dye Champion Sweatshirt Boom & Viral Ad Success 43:44 Scaling Bottlenecks, Pre-Orders, & The Reality of E-Commerce Growth 47:00 Grit, Mindset, & Manifesting Success Through Hardship 51:48 The Turnaround: Pleated Tennis Skirts & Scaling to Multi-Millions 57:30 Scaling Beyond 10 Million & Advice for Emerging Entrepreneurs 01:00:40 Forbes 30 Under 30 Honor & The Indianapolis Colts Collaboration 01:06:15 Female Leadership in Indiana, Homefield IU Collab, & Viral Celebrity PR 01:09:40 Innovation, Staying Futuristic, & Learning to Celebrate Wins 01:12:00 Why Indiana is Home 01:13:30 Hidden Gem in Indiana: Indiana War Memorial & Downtown Indy 01:15:20 Hoosier to Watch: Brian Kavicky 01:16:40 Favorite Indiana Memory: IU Big Ten Football Championship Victory 01:19:15 Outro & Where to Find Gold Hinge

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.

On today's show I sat down with Andrea Huntington, executive director of the Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA), which unites and supports Indiana's land conservation community.

ILPA member land trusts serve all 92 counties and have protected more than 176,000 acres. Huntington explains land trusts as nonprofit organizations that protect land for nature and people, often providing free public access via trails and amenities.

She shares her path from practicing law to fundraising at Shirley Heinze Land Trust and then leading ILPA, which offers trainings, conferences, and technical support for land trust staff. Huntington also discusses misconceptions about land trusts, collaboration with economic development, Indiana's ecological diversity, including 30 national natural landmarks, and the need for more conservation given only 4% of Indiana is public land, plus volunteer opportunities and "Land Trust Days" events August through October.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - What a Land Trust Is - Indiana's 30 National Natural Landmarks - "Land Trust Days"

Thank you to our partners: Keller & Keller World Food Championships (enter code 25INDY at checkout and receive 25% off all event tickets) AccountedFor

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Orchid Hook 01:33 Guest Introduction: Andrea Huntington, Indiana Land Protection Alliance 02:49 What Is A Land Trust 04:04 Land Trusts vs. Parks 05:29 How Land Trusts Choose Land 08:10 Andrea's Path Into Conservation 08:49 Indiana Dunes Park Myth 11:11 Funding Stewardship Forever 12:25 Public Access And Easements 16:19 Shirley Heinze Origin Story 17:34 Dune And Swale Explained 19:34 Protecting Land In Practice 23:10 Why Conservation Matters 25:04 ILPA Role And Partnerships 29:14 Iconic Sites Kankakee Story 32:20 Central Indiana Preserves 34:54 ILPA Career Leap 36:12 Lilly Grant Impact 37:36 Alliance Support Explained 38:03 Stewardship Gathering 39:40 Big Oaks Refuge Detour 41:30 Indiana Nature Surprises 46:34 Favorite Places Old Growth 48:37 Land Trust Misconceptions 50:18 Why Indiana Feels Special 53:00 Public Land Hunting Talk 55:52 Hidden Gems Landscapes 57:55 Hoosiers To Watch 01:03:33 Wrap Up And Land Trust Days

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.

On today's show I sat down with Jenn Wells, assistant vice president of customer experience and brand strategy at Hancock Health and host of the Just Jenn women's health podcast.

Jenn discusses her career path from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to healthcare marketing and how Hancock Health focuses on the customer journey, brand storytelling, digital experience, and virtual care.

She explores why many people avoid preventive care, how taboo or embarrassing health topics keep patients from asking questions, and how Just Jenn aims to make conversations about issues like infertility, menopause, and cancer care feel like talking with a trusted friend.

She also describes Hancock County's goal to become Indiana's healthiest county through partnerships addressing social determinants of health, improved access and navigation, and lower-cost lab and imaging options like the Gateway location, while emphasizing practical accountability such as scheduling annual exams.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - Why People Avoid Preventative Care - The Just Jenn Women's Health Podcast - How Hancock County Plans to Become Indiana's Healthiest County

Thank you to our partners: Pence Media Group World Food Championships (enter code 25INDY at checkout and receive 25% off all event tickets)

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Best Health Stories 01:33 Guest Introduction: Jenn Wells, Hancock Health 02:27 From Motorsports To Healthcare 04:30 Marketing Human Healthcare 11:52 Taboo Topics And Asking Questions 16:54 Finding Real Resources 20:18 Just Jenn Podcast Breakdown 22:34 Menopause And Cancer Support 33:26 Grace Accountability And Calendars 39:18 Healthiest County Goal 39:56 Trails And Health 41:41 Life Expectancy Rankings 43:48 Partners For Healthiest County 44:33 Annual Exams And Mental Stress 45:51 Access And Affordable Care 46:38 Gateway Labs And Imaging 50:02 Patient Portals And Data Sharing 51:59 Modernizing Patient Experience 55:39 Stop Self Diagnosing 57:36 Menopause Talk And Stigma 59:33 Indiana Home And Hancock Gems 01:01:18 Hidden Gems Foodie Tour 01:05:02 Next Gen And Experience Economy 01:10:55 Wrap Up And Where To Find Jenn

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.

On today's show I sat down with Brad Gutwein, co-founder and CEO of Copper Moon Coffee in Lafayette, Indiana.

Brad remembers starting his career after Purdue by joining his family's feed mill business, where he and his brothers grew Morning Song Wild Bird Food from a small regional operation into a major national supplier for retailers like Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Target, and others, ultimately selling the company to Scotts Miracle-Gro in 2005.

Inspired by parallels between blending bird seed and coffee, Brad and his brother, Cary, purchased Copper Moon Coffee in 2007 from a Marsh Foods-related entity and shifted it from convenience/office channels toward premium retail branding. After early struggles in a highly competitive category, moving to a new Lafayette facility in 2013 enabled upgraded equipment and K-cup production, helping scale to roughly 15–18 million pounds annually and 150–160 employees, with strong growth via Amazon, club, and grocery channels.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - The Gutwein Family Feed Mill and Morning Song Wild Bird Food's Growth and Sale to Scotts Miracle-Gro - The Shift of Copper Moon Coffee to Premium Retail Branding - How Copper Moon Coffee Scaled to 15–18 Million Pounds Annually

Thank you to our partners: Bloomrank AccountedFor

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Competitive Coffee Reality 01:11 Guest Introduction: Brad Gutwein, Copper Moon Coffee 02:05 Coffee Roots in Francesville 03:03 From Marriott to Feed Mill 05:26 Morning Song Takes Off 12:01 Landing Big Box Retail 16:42 Calling Walmart in 94 18:50 Selling Morning Song and Coffee Pivot 21:48 Discovering Copper Moon 24:57 Buying a Business Overnight 27:52 First Changes and Retail Push 32:02 Rebrand During the Recession 33:36 Move to Lafayette Turning Point 37:43 How a Commercial Roastery Works 40:03 Retail Expansion Plans 40:52 Top Sales Channels 41:09 Team Growth Moves 41:39 K-Cup Breakthrough 42:50 Scaling Up Production 43:53 Winning Shelf Space 45:40 Indiana Brand Awareness 47:01 Growth Strategy Secrets 49:01 Marketing Demos Ads 50:37 Future Growth Vision 51:09 Product Lineup Tour 53:30 Flavors And Trends 55:14 Regional Brand Acquisition 56:09 Start Versus Buy 58:06 Why Indiana Home 58:41 Rapid Fire Coffee Talk 01:00:28 Foodservice Behind Scenes 01:01:34 Working With Family 01:02:53 Indiana Hidden Gems 01:07:29 Final Wrap And Where To Buy

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.

On today's show I sat down with Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam about how Carmel grew from rapid early-2000s expansion into a 106,000-resident city voted the nation's best place to live, driven first by schools and later by walkability, arts, and distinct districts like the Art & Design District, Midtown, and City Center.

Mayor Finkam credits Mayor Jim Brainard's success to listening to residents and selling a long-term vision, including architecturally significant development, public art, and roundabout-centered design standards.

She addresses misconceptions that Carmel is snobby or uniformly wealthy, noting district diversity, 110 languages from 90 different countries spoken in schools, and local poverty concerns that led to a food access commission.

Mayor Finkam outlines her leadership priorities of keeping Carmel safe, clean, and beautiful, plus government modernization, cultural "one team" operations, and public safety innovations like drone first responders and advanced firefighter helmet technology.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - How Carmel Grew So Rapidly - Misconceptions About Carmel - Mayor Finkam's Priorities to Making a Better Carmel

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Carmel Vision Teaser 00:29 Guest Introduction: Sue Finkam, Carmel Mayor 01:59 Moving to Carmel 03:16 Growth and Schools 05:19 Building Downtown Districts 07:37 Advice for City Leaders 09:44 Carmel Misconceptions 12:13 Food Access and Poverty 13:44 Mayor Week in Review 14:53 Modernizing City Hall 18:41 Safe Clean Beautiful Brand 22:05 Public Art and Identity 24:54 Roundabouts and Design 29:25 Homeplace and Annexation 31:59 Roads Construction Priorities 36:34 Roundabout Challenges 37:42 Community Safety Priorities 38:40 Drones And Real Time Response 40:36 Firefighter Helmet Tech 43:07 Listening And City Vision 45:17 Building A City Identity 49:00 Intentional Growth And Amenities 50:36 Becoming Carmel Mayor 53:10 Handling Online Criticism 58:20 Why Indiana Feels Like Home 58:56 Rapid Fire Carmel Picks 01:03:53 Hidden Gems And Hoosiers 01:07:16 Favorite Indiana Memory 01:10:17 Final Thanks And How To Connect

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.

On today's show I sat down with Craig Mince, president of the Athenaeum Foundation, about the Athenaeum (often known as the Rathskeller) and its evolution from Das Deutsche Haus, founded by pro-democracy German Turner gymnasts committed to "sound mind, sound body."

Craig explains the building's 1894 east wing (gym, Rathskeller) and 1897 west wing (parlors, ballroom, 400-seat theater), its open membership model, and its role in early physical education training.

Our conversation covers name changes during anti-German sentiment, long-running German heritage events, and how a $6 million Lilly Endowment gift led to forming the nonprofit foundation in 1991 to save the building.

Craig details today's operations, including the Turner Gymnasium with 900+ members, Coat Check Coffee, theater restoration plans, and major events like St. Paddy's Day and Germanfest, and shares local ghost stories and overnight paranormal hunts.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - The Purpose, History and Evolution of the Athenaeum - Athenaeum Festivals, Traditions and the Rathskeller - Ghost Stories and Paranormal Activity at the Athenaeum

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Overnight Takeover Tease 00:27 Meet The Athenaeum 02:18 Turners Origin Story 04:22 Building Layout And Purpose 06:53 Early Amenities And PE Roots 10:45 War Era Name Change 13:14 Athenaeum Meaning Explained 16:39 Festivals And German Traditions 20:12 Saving The Building In 1991 23:50 Rathskeller History And Virtual Tour 28:06 Athenaeum Today In 2026 34:04 Funding Preservation Ideas 36:42 New Gate Fundraiser 37:14 Name on the Plaque 38:18 Events and Crowd Size 39:33 Bathroom Pro Tips 40:55 Bands That Pack It 44:12 Biggest Days of Year 46:02 Hauntings and Ghost Hunters 50:41 Overnight Ghost Hunt 51:54 Theater Myths Explained 54:57 Indiana Home and Favorites 57:42 150-Year Vision 01:00:17 Final Questions and Wrap

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.

On today's show I sat down with Rachel Nelson, executive director of Home Repairs for Good, an Indianapolis nonprofit that helps older adults (62+) and people with disabilities living on very low incomes (about 30% AMI) stay safely in their homes through free critical repairs inside Marion County's 465 loop.

Nelson explains how the organization began in 2013 as NeighborLink Indianapolis when founder Dave Withy and friends did word-of-mouth repairs, often preventing citations, fines, liens, and potential loss of homes. She details their scale (hundreds of repairs annually, including citation-related work), volunteer pathways from low-skill projects to trained gutter and in-home "handy" teams with background checks, and funding through donors, churches, team volunteer donations, and paid subcontracting.

Our conversation also covers workforce development through BY Plus with paid jobsite experience, plus a Growth Program that earns revenue via contractor work to sustain free repairs, and future plans to expand aging-ready home modifications.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - What Home Repairs for Good Is and Who They Serve - Volunteer Opportunities with Home Repairs for Good - How Home Repairs for Good Is Funded - How Home Repairs for Good Helps with Workforce Development

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Mission And Impact 00:27 Guest Introduction: Rachel Nelson, Home Repairs for Good 01:35 The Aging In Place Problem 04:01 How It All Started 05:14 Citation Spiral Example 10:14 Scale And Eligibility 18:07 Growth With Staff 19:44 Funding Without Federal 22:04 Volunteer Paths And Training 27:19 Gutter Team And Handy Volunteers 31:26 Workforce Development Tease 31:58 Trade Worker Shortage 33:01 BY Plus Partnership 33:56 NCCER Basics Explained 35:52 Urban Access Barriers 37:44 Paid Jobsite Expectations 39:00 Legal Aid Support 39:35 Funding The Mission 41:44 Growth Program Model 44:54 Contracting With The City 47:40 Future Aging Ready Homes 49:54 Ways To Get Involved 52:27 Freedom Flyer Eagle 54:10 Favorite Indy Neighborhoods 56:27 Indiana Home Stories 59:14 Hidden Gem Floyds Knobs 01:00:25 Hoosier To Watch 01:02:40 Final Wrap And Thanks

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.

Today's show starts with a role reversal, as one of my longtime mentors and the founder of Neighbor Serve, Dan Hanrahan, asks me about Memory Bank, why I chose entrepreneurship, how Get Indiana grew through documenting adventures like the Indy 500 and learning as much as possible about Indiana, and where I hope the Get IN. Podcast and Get Indiana will be in 10 years.

Hanrahan then explains Neighbor Serve, a membership-based home service club that vets contractors, prioritizes homeowners over ad platforms, and has a 92% renewal rate. Dan details using AI to improve efficiency without losing human service, expanding to Bloomington, and thoughts on Indy tech.

The episode closes with Indiana favorites like Lake Monroe's Peninsula Trail and a Tom Petty Deer Creek concert memory.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - Why Nate Spangle Chose to Become an Entrepreneur - What Neighbor Serve Does and Why It Works - The Expansion of Neighbor Serve to Other Communities

Thank you to our partners: Jackson County St. Elmo and Harry & Izzy's

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Cold Open Lifeline 01:19 Guest Introduction: Dan Hanrahan, Neighbor Serve 02:46 Why Start A Business 03:59 Memory Bank Origin 05:33 Grandma Interview Lessons 08:13 Choosing Get IN 11:50 Content Model Vision 13:30 Quitting Day Job Math 22:04 Dreams In 10 Years 28:12 Neighbor Serve Explained 31:24 Contractor Story Garage Door 32:38 Garage Door Guy Story 33:28 Why Neighbor Serve Works 34:36 Contractor Club Community 35:27 From Concierge to Seed 37:12 AI Data Relationships Edge 39:30 Expanding Beyond Indy 42:07 Marketplace Chicken Egg 44:21 Contractor Wins And Saves 46:15 Indy Tech Scene Reflections 52:28 AI Tools Not Abuse 54:16 Indiana Favorites Rapidfire 01:03:54 Final Thanks And Wrap

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.