On today's show I sat down with Matthew Purkey, President and CEO of Josiah White's in Wabash, Indiana, a 175-year-old nonprofit founded on 800 acres to provide opportunities for every child.

Purkey explains their Christ-centered mission and statewide services, including residential programs (PATH for behavioral issues, MAP for unhealthy sexual choices, and TREK for long-term substance abuse), serving youth ages 13–17 referred by DCS and juvenile probation, plus family preservation, foster care licensing, and fatherhood engagement.

He shares key statistics about students' family instability and trauma, describes the holistic campus approach (therapy, on-site school, work stipends, and certifications), and recounts his own journey from legal trouble to the Marine Corps and nonprofit leadership.

Our conversation highlights the need for transitional housing after age 18, the impact of hope, and why Purkey chose Indiana and Wabash as home.

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 Origins of Josiah White's and Its Mission - Josiah White's Residential Programs - Family Instability and Traumas for Students

Thank you to our partners: ClusterTruck (use code GETIN at checkout for $5 off orders of $25 or more) Berne Apparel

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Hope For Kids 01:16 Guest Introduction: Matthew Purkey, Josiah White's 02:26 Origins Of Josiah White's 03:32 Mission Today 04:13 Residential Programs 06:02 Who They Serve 10:28 Campus Life Explained 13:31 Jobs And Certifications 15:18 Matthew Backstory 16:24 Marine Corps Turning Point 17:52 Deployments And Haiti 20:29 PTSD And New Mission 27:15 Nonprofit Career Path 30:20 Travel Burnout 31:05 Finding Josiah White's 32:27 Mission and Scale 34:18 Foster Care Reality 37:51 Ethan Wells Story 40:52 Why Rural Healing 44:51 Fatherhood Engagement 48:02 Graduating From the Back 50:10 Leading With Authenticity 53:49 Indiana Home and Advice 58:08 Rapid Fire Favorites

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 Tom Askey, fair chair of the 2026 Penrod Arts Fair, and Ryan Stephens, 2025 fair chair and current president of the board, to discuss the nearly 60-year Penrod Arts Fair at Newfields, founded as a fundraiser to help build the Indianapolis Museum of Art and now the country's largest single-day art fair.

They explain how the 100% volunteer-run organization recruits members under 30, runs a juried selection process for roughly 1,000 artists (about 50% from out of state and all 50 states represented over time), hosts five stages with hundreds of performers alongside food vendors, and welcomes approximately 20,000 patrons annually.

Penrod has given nearly $5 million in grants and recently awarded over $315,000 across 90+ organizations, supporting efforts like Riley Art Therapy and school music programs. They also discuss the Legacy Fund for transformational public art projects, including the Gavin sculpture and an inventory of Broad Ripple public art.

Visit https://www.penrod.org/arts-fair/#tickets to learn more about the Penrod Arts Fair on Sept. 12.

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 History of Penrod - Penrod's Grant Program and Legacy Fund for Public Art - The 2026 Penrod Arts Fair

Thank you to our partners: Greek's Pizzeria Rohrman Automotive Group

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Art Gives Cities Soul 01:11 Meet Penrod Leaders 02:13 How Penrod Began 04:20 Why It Endured 05:01 Scale of the Fair 06:51 Volunteer Engine 10:09 Artists Nationwide 11:31 Art Sales and Fees 13:05 Why Art Matters 16:58 Grant Impact Stories 21:50 What to Expect at Penrod 24:55 Why Join Before 30 25:48 Volunteer Leadership Lessons 27:44 Fair Day War Stories 28:23 Fair Day Impact 28:53 Traffic and Parking Fixes 30:21 Volunteering Beyond Your Day Job 31:21 Where Penrod Gets Its Name 32:19 Legacy Fund Big Projects 34:45 Why Public Art Matters 41:46 Why Indiana Home 43:00 Tell City First Visit 45:00 Hidden Gems Picks 47:01 Favorite Indiana Memories 50:10 Penrod Dates and Tickets

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 Zachary Spicer, founder and CEO of Indiana-based Pigasus Pictures, about making independent films in Indiana and the upcoming feature "Little Five," inspired by the first Women's Little 500 in Bloomington in 1988.

Spicer shares his path from IU Bloomington and early acting training in New York to producing seven Indiana-shot features with major festival premieres and distribution through platforms like Netflix and Lionsgate Films.

He explains how a long-standing friendship led Anne Hathaway and her company to join "Little Five". They discuss turning Bloomington into 1988, the economic impact of film production, Indiana's limited tax incentives, and Spicer's goal to grow the state's film ecosystem, plus his favorite Indiana memories and local 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: - The Founding and Filmmaking of Pigasus Pictures - Film Premieres and Distribution Through Netflix and Lionsgate Films - Anne Hathaway's Involvement in "Little Five" - What Makes Indiana an Underrated Place to Film

Thank you to our partners: NCW

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Women's Sports Breakthrough 01:18 Guest Introduction: Zachary Spicer, Pigasus Pictures 02:17 Indiana Roots and DePauw 02:43 From Archaeology to Acting 03:52 Early Filmmaking Spark 04:58 New York and Anne Hathaway 08:48 Little Five Movie Story 12:23 Full Circle Indiana Moment 17:21 Anne's Role and Big Cast 20:09 Shooting on Film in 1988 23:24 Why Film in Indiana Anyway 25:15 Indiana Film Workforce 27:01 Economic Ripple Effects 28:26 First Breakthrough Film 30:05 Indie Film Economics 30:53 The Duel Premiere Magic 31:51 Little Five Premiere Plans 32:47 Release Timeline Reality 33:27 Make Great Work 34:48 Dreams Aren't Dumb 35:50 Stars Love Bloomington 38:55 Love Letter Details 40:37 Why Indiana Home 42:41 Hidden Gems Picks 47:21 Favorite Indiana Memory 50:12 Where to Follow

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 Indiana native Steve Wright, a former producer/editor on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette who spent 16 years with the franchise after starting as a logger in post-production.

Steve explains how reality TV is not scripted but heavily edited through storytelling choices, outlines the split between field production and post, and describes the night-one filming schedule and long edit timeline. He shares memorable entrances (including a helicopter on Emily Maynard's season), secrecy mishaps while filming, and reflections on notable leads like Ben Higgins, Chris Soules, and Sean Lowe.

Steve also discusses his indie puppet film Allan the Dog, plans for a future Indiana-based comedy-horror puppet movie, and ends with an in-studio appearance by the Allan puppet.

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 Steve Wright Went From Film School to The Bachelor/Bachelorette - The Secrets of Reality TV - Memorable Entrances and Leads on The Bachelor/Bachelorette - Allan the Dog and an Upcoming Puppet Movie Featuring Allan

Thank you to our partners: Elements Financial Kelley Evening MBA Program

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Reality TV Hook 01:37 Guest Introduction: Steve Wright 02:45 From Film School 03:37 Logger Life Explained 05:02 Fast Track Promotions 05:58 Story Producer Breakdown 07:00 Casting And Selection 07:44 Side Scripts And Hustle 11:20 Creating Allan The Dog 14:49 Selling Distribution Rights 16:57 Next Puppet Horror 22:46 Bachelor Editing Secrets 24:21 Night One Timeline 26:50 Memorable Entrances 28:26 Secrecy Van Prank 29:31 Favorite Leads Stories 32:39 Love Show Timeline 33:24 Reality TV Comparisons 34:19 Season Pulled Fallout 35:43 Secrecy And Notes 38:38 Post Air Gap 39:50 Human Nature Examples 43:19 Confidence And Casting 46:35 Budget And Future 47:55 Hometowns And Ben 49:46 Allan The Dog Visit 52:12 Famous Dogs Draft 53:20 Enemies List Bits 55:36 Where To Find Allan

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 FOX59 feature reporter and producer Sherman Burdette, creator of the weekly "Where is Sherman?" segment spotlighting Indiana's people, small businesses, and local experiences.

Sherman shares his path from Broad Ripple High School and Ball State into TV, starting as a videotape editor at WISH-TV, then leaving for Los Angeles to pursue acting before returning to journalism through small-market jobs, a breakthrough lifestyle role in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and finally coming back to Indianapolis in 2009 as his mother battled pancreatic cancer.

He explains how "Where is Sherman?" was branded in a Panera meeting, why he focuses on stories rather than food criticism, and how the segment's visibility has helped over 2,000 businesses while energizing him personally.

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: - Sherman Burdette's Media Career - The Start of "Where is Sherman?" and Its Growth in Popularity - Businesses and Hidden Gems Featured on "Where is Sherman?"

Thank you to our partners: NCW

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Small Business Impact 01:16 Guest Introduction: Sherman Burdette, FOX59 02:12 Broad Ripple to Ball State 03:02 Old School Tape Editing 05:02 Acting Dreams and LA 11:21 Back to TV via Small Markets 15:52 Breakthrough and On Air Persona 19:52 Returning to Indy at FOX59 22:12 Birth of "Where is Sherman?" 24:41 Food Focus and On-Camera Eating 27:08 How Segments Get Chosen 30:00 Not a Food Critic Story First 33:03 Beyond Restaurants Experiences 34:21 From Restaurants to Small Biz 34:39 Dog Jobs and Dress Up 35:23 Connection Drives the Show 36:42 How the Segments Work 39:08 Research and Story Criteria 40:32 Handling Pitches and DMs 42:57 Preparing for the Sherman Bump 44:50 Impact Stories and Criticism 46:56 Stickers and Favorite Moments 50:30 Unexpected Gems and Misconceptions 54:17 Travel Highlights and Career Pride 57:00 Indiana Lightning Round 58:57 Storytelling Advice for Media 01:01:48 Food Emporium and Indy Lore 01:03:36 Bucket List and Final Three 01:06:43 Favorite Indiana Memory 01:09:06 Where to Follow

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 for another edition of Hoosier Headlines with Lindsey Erdody of Free Press Indiana News, covering severe storms that caused historic power outages in northwest Indiana, a 100-year flood impacting central and east central Indiana, displacement of Hoosiers, infrastructure damage, and reminders that homeowners insurance typically excludes flood damage with only about 1% of Hoosiers carrying flood insurance.

We discuss safety tips for returning home, community relief efforts, and how Indiana's suspended gas tax through September 6 affects delayed reimbursements for local road funding, plus Indianapolis' wheel tax increase to secure state matching road dollars. Our conversation also covers rural homelessness amid a new July 1 law criminalizing sleeping on public property, rural sidewalk funding challenges, and Speedway's Indy 500 wastewater violations.

My second guest is Emily Norwich of Em's Coupon Clips, who explains modern couponing, stacking store and manufacturer coupons, CVS rewards "rolling," Kroger digital deals, rebate apps like Ibotta and Upside, and how she grew a large creator following.

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: - Historic Power Outages in Northwest Indiana - 100-Year Flood Impacts on Central and East Central Indiana - Community Relief Efforts for the Flooding - Rural Homelessness - Modern Couponing, Digital Deals, and Rebate Apps

Thank you to our partners: Pence Media Group Berne Apparel

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Welcome to Hoosier Headlines 00:21 Subscribe and Review Plug 02:13 Floods and Outages Overview 03:41 NIPSCO Wind Outages 06:29 Floodwaters Reach Indy 09:11 Floodgates and Close Calls 11:17 Flood Insurance Reality Check 16:01 Infrastructure Damage Updates 18:49 Flood Safety and Recovery Tips 23:08 Gas Tax Suspension Explained 29:25 Wheel Tax and Road Funding 33:42 Homeowners Insurance Rising 34:49 Billion Dollar Storm Surge 35:46 Google Earth Growth Check 36:19 Roof Coverage Fine Print 38:27 Rural Homelessness Reality 43:25 Camping Law Consequences 46:06 Small Town Sidewalk Struggle 50:11 Indy 500 Wastewater Problem 55:40 Meet Em's Coupon Clips 56:51 Extreme Couponing Then Now 01:02:28 Drugstore Rewards Rolling 01:06:02 Kroger Loss Leaders Basics 01:10:40 Walmart vs Kroger Strategy 01:11:40 Stacking Store and Manufacturer 01:14:08 Pickup Orders and Weekly Cycles 01:14:49 Rebate Apps Level Three 01:17:49 Biggest Savings and Limits 01:19:15 ChatGPT Meal Planning Hack 01:19:54 Why She Started Creating 01:23:23 Viral Deals and Growth 01:25:23 Going Full Time Creator 01:27:26 Where to Follow and Start 01:28:37 Indiana Home and Local Spots 01:32:04 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.

On today's show I sat down with Fred Payne, President and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, about his path from Louisiana to Indiana, meeting his wife in Bloomington, and his career spanning labor law, nearly a decade at Honda's plant in Greensburg, and serving almost five years as Indiana's Commissioner of Workforce Development.

Payne explains the Department of Workforce Development's training role and its administration of unemployment insurance, highlighting COVID's surge that saw $10.2 billion paid to 900,000 Hoosiers over about two years.

He then became President and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana in 2022 and describes a five-year strategy targeting basic needs, early learning, housing, and economic mobility, aiming to distance 10,000 households from poverty, using partner accreditation, data tools like the Impact United dashboard and ALICE report, and volunteer pathways such as Volunpair and Read Up.

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: - Fred Payne's Path to United Way of Central Indiana - United Way's Five-Year Strategy - What an ALICE Report Is - Volunteer Opportunities Via Volunpair and ReadUP

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Poverty Sets the Stage 01:48 From Bayou to IU Law 03:03 Gas Station Meet Cute 05:14 Choosing Indy as Home 06:48 Honda Comes to Greensburg 10:21 Building a Startup Plant 11:50 Governor Call to Serve 13:29 Next Level Jobs Explained 23:21 COVID Unemployment Surge 30:23 Why United Way Fit 34:59 Privilege and the Ride Story 37:03 Privilege And Community 37:28 Cancer Care Village 40:03 United Way Explained 40:43 Policy And Partners 45:03 Dashboards And ALICE 48:14 Need And Accreditation 51:46 Turning Data Into Action 53:57 Strategic Plan Goals 01:03:46 Volunteering With Volunpair 01:07:54 Connection Builds Communities 01:11:01 Indiana Rapid Fire 01:13:31 How To Help

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 Tod Minnich, president and CEO of Honeywell Arts and Entertainment in Wabash, Indiana, a nonprofit that has grown from the historic Honeywell Center into a multi-venue quality-of-life engine for a town of about 10,000.

Minnich traces the legacy of thermostat inventor Mark Honeywell and the community center he founded in the 1940s, the 1994 performing arts expansion, and his own arrival in 2003 to stabilize finances and expand programming from 12 concerts a year to about 50 pre-pandemic.

Minnich explains acquiring and renovating key properties, including the Eagles Theatre, Honeywell House, the 13-24 Drive-In Movie Theater, Charley Creek Inn, and the Clarkson House, emphasizing philanthropy, hospitality, and community revitalization through arts access like Arts for All, drawing participants from counties across the state.

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 Legacy of Mark Honeywell - How the Honeywell Center and Honeywell Arts & Entertainment Drive Visitors to Wabash - Honeywell's Arts for All Program

Thank you to our partners: Greek's Pizzeria

Check out these great clips from the show: 01:13 Guest Introduction: Tod Minnich, Honeywell Arts & Entertainment 02:35 Honeywell Origins Story 04:10 Community Center Legacy 06:36 1994 Expansion and Big Acts 09:07 Tod Joins and Stabilizes 11:27 Growth Playbook 13:12 Saving the Eagles Theatre 17:02 Cook Cup Renovation Win 20:00 Eagles Today Arts for All 21:54 Honeywell House Revival 26:09 13-24 Drive-In Expansion 26:55 Saving the Drive-In 27:19 Throwbacks and Sound Setup 28:14 The Hard Economics 29:57 Quality of Life Pitch 31:43 Scaling Beyond Wabash 32:29 Eagles Renovation and Pandemic 33:04 Charley Creek Inn Revival 36:24 Ford Meter Box Legacy 39:48 Arts Academy and Clarkson House 41:34 Arts as Community Soul 43:45 Programs and Regional Reach 47:09 Visit Wabash Weekend Pitch 49:17 Rapid-Fire Indiana Round 53:51 Final Thanks and Where to Find More

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 Fred Glass, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and former Indiana University athletic director and government leader, about how growing up in his father's Indianapolis tavern shaped his empathy and perspective.

Glass looks back on the turning points of his career, including DC internships with Birch Bayh, law and clerkship decisions, serving in Governor Evan Bayh's office, leading the Capital Improvement Board through efforts that helped secure Lucas Oil Stadium and convention center expansion, and helping Indianapolis win a Super Bowl bid.

He also describes rebuilding the culture and facilities of IU Athletics and the difficult decisions of firing coaches.

Now at Gleaners, Glass explains the organization's large-scale food distribution model, its nationwide reach, and argues food insecurity is driven by poverty, rising housing and grocery costs, stagnant wages, and declining support. He urges volunteering and donations to help address hunger affecting about one million Hoosiers.

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: - Fred Glass' Career Path - The Capital Improvement Board in Indianapolis - Gleaners Food Bank's Food Distribution Model - The Reasons for Food Insecurities

Thank you to our partners: NCW

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Feeding the Line 01:20 Guest Introduction: Fred Glass, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana 02:44 Invisible Strings and Mentors 04:57 Growing Up in a Skid Row Bar 06:34 Only Child Lessons and Perspective 09:45 Alcoholism and Hard Truths 11:01 High School Hustle and Hitchhiking 13:08 Parenting and Building Empathy 16:58 Why Law School 19:23 Comfort Zone to DC Internship 26:32 Career Choices Create Options 30:30 Governor's Office Rise 33:30 Fighting Brain Drain in Indiana 34:39 What a Chief of Staff Does 35:12 Say Yes to Big Jobs 35:55 Term Limits and Transitions 37:06 Clinton Gore Campaign 37:42 Choosing Upside Over Pay 39:25 What the CIB Does 41:47 Why Indy Owns Venues 43:03 Keeping the Colts 46:23 Building Lucas Oil Deal 52:13 Stadium Taxes Explained 53:06 Super Bowl Bid Story 58:54 IU Athletic Director Leap 01:04:15 Rebuilding IU Athletics 01:06:55 Hardest Calls as AD 01:07:44 Discernment Under Fire 01:09:25 Firing Coaches Publicly 01:10:54 Leaving Before COVID 01:11:44 Hoosiers Title Reflection 01:14:00 From IU to Gleaners 01:15:07 Inside Modern Food Banking 01:18:38 Hunger Myths and Reality 01:21:20 Why Need Keeps Rising 01:28:02 Solutions and Policy Levers 01:31:00 How You Can Help 01:34:38 Indiana Rapid Fire

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 went into the trenches on today's show and sat down with Indiana natives and current Iowa Hawkeyes offensive linemen Trevor Lauck (returning starting left tackle) and Leighton Jones (projected starting left guard) about their paths from Roncalli and Brownsburg to Iowa City.

Lauck and Jones discuss early signs they could play Division I, first recruiting calls and offers, and how recruiting snowballs through visits, with emphasis on choosing Iowa for coaching stability, O-line development, and culture.

They describe freshman realities, from taking scout team reps and learning from NFL-bound veterans to daily routines, limited time at home, and the true time commitment of college football.

Our conversation also highlights the Kinnick Wave to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital as one of the greatest traditions in sports, portal retention, integrating transfers, the Joe Moore Award, best rivalry environments, and their outlook for a younger Iowa team this fall, plus quick hitters on Indiana vs. Iowa and favorite spots in Iowa City and the Hoosier State.

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

You are going to learn about: - The College Football Recruiting Process - Why Trevor Lauck and Leighton Jones Chose Iowa Football - Time Commitment of Playing College Football - The Kinnick Wave - Advice for D1-Aspiring Athletes

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Recruiting Visit Madness 00:29 Guest Introduction: Trevor Lauck and Leighton Jones, Iowa Hawkeyes Football 01:36 Early D1 Belief 05:49 Lineman Mindset 08:28 First Recruiting Calls 12:49 August 1 Text Flood 16:48 Choosing Iowa Factors 20:40 Freshman Reality Check 22:31 NFL Draft Pipeline 23:03 NFL Standard Culture 23:51 Scout Team Reality Check 24:45 Practice Fights Balance 26:11 Recruiting Advice NIL 27:58 NIL Pressure Shift 31:14 Best D1 Perks 31:39 Kinnick Wave Tradition 35:42 O-Line Life 37:09 Season Outlook 40:32 Time Commitment Grind 44:52 Workouts Misconceptions 49:06 Indiana Recruiting Twist 51:18 Big Ten Respect Debate 52:16 Recruiting and Staying Home 53:28 Iowa and Notre Dame Linemen 53:54 Brownsburg vs. Roncalli 55:39 Loudest Stadiums and Rivalries 58:36 Corn and Tenderloin Talk 59:02 Iowa City Weekend Guide 01:00:39 Weight Checks and Food Spots 01:01:39 Advice for D1 Athletes 01:05:18 Indiana Hidden Gems 01:06:36 Wrap Up and Joe Moore Trophy

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.