In 1906, U.S. Steel built a city from the ground up along Lake Michigan. Gary, Indiana quickly became a symbol of industrial power and opportunity. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie explore how the city rose fast and what its story says about Indiana and the American dream.

On any given Friday night in Indiana, high school basketball isn’t just a game — it’s an event. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie spotlight the seven largest high school gyms in the state and explore why small towns built arenas that rival small colleges. From packed bleachers to deafening student sections, we take you inside the buildings that define Hoosier basketball culture.

During the Civil War, Indianapolis became home to one of the largest Union prisoner-of-war camps in the North. Camp Morton held thousands of captured Confederate soldiers inside the capital city. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie explore what life was like behind the fences, how the camp affected Indianapolis, and what its legacy still reveals about Indiana’s role in the war.

In July 1863, the Civil War crossed the Ohio River and stepped onto Indiana soil. Confederate cavalry moved through southern Indiana, local militia rushed to defend their towns, and the Battle of Corydon became the only Civil War clash fought in the state. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie tell the story of the day Hoosiers realized the war was no longer far away.

He grew up in Indiana. He became Public Enemy Number One. In Public Enemy: The Indiana Kid, we explore John Dillinger’s rise during the Great Depression , from prison to crime spree, from folk legend to federal target and the lasting legacy of the outlaw who put Indiana in the national spotlight.

For days, the rain fell without mercy. Then the rivers took over. Homes floated away. Downtown streets became waterways. Families climbed to rooftops waiting for rescue. In “The Week Indiana Went Under,” we tell the story of the Great Flood of 1913 — the storm that changed Indiana and tested the resilience of an entire state.

Indiana didn’t just grow in the 1880s it ignited. When natural gas erupted from the ground, it sparked one of the fastest economic booms in state history. Towns exploded with opportunity and industry thrived. For a moment, it felt limitless. Then the pressure dropped. In “When Indiana Burned Bright,” we tell the story of ambition, excess, and the fire that changed Indiana.