The Cultural Development Firm GANGGANG has been around for less than two years, but it has already made a big impact on Indianapolis’ community and arts scene. Founders Alan Bacon and Mali Jeffers each have many years of leadership experience here in Indianapolis, and they joined forces in 2020 to create opportunities for Indianapolis artists of color. They partnered with the Arts Council and others to create the SWISH festival, which curated over 200 works of public art and performance in conjunction with the 2020 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. They hosted BUTTER, a visual art festival at the Historic Stutz Building in 2021. And these are just two examples of a much larger portfolio created by Alan and Mali to create opportunities for artists and to tell the Indianapolis story to audiences locally and nationally. Hope you enjoy this conversation with Alan and Mali to hear more about GANGGANG’s vision for Indianapolis.

Keisha Gray has been in Indy a relatively short time, but she is already making a big impact. The Chicago native became Executive Director of Indianapolis City Market in November of 2020 and is making moves to re-invent City Market at a challenging time for the Indianapolis (and world, for that matter) economy. Keisha is a former librarian and library administrator who brings with her a real passion for history, and a desire to tell City Market’s unique story. In this conversation, you’ll hear about Keisha’s life and her ambitions to make City Market a vital, healthy, inclusive public space to be celebrated by Indianapolis residents and out-of-town guests.

Architect and real estate developer Craig Von Deylen has made a huge impact on Indianapolis’ built environment and neighborhoods. His companies include Blackline Studios and Deylen Realty, and his project portfolio includes a long list of ambitious historic re-use projects and new mixed-use structures. Craig views his role as an architect and developer as his life’s vocation more than as a job. A generous supporter of Indianapolis arts and music, shares his views about how developers have a responsibility to support a more creative, and more inclusive, Indianapolis. I hope you enjoy this conversation with one of Indianapolis’ most influential people impacting economic and community development: Craig Von Deylen.

Robert Vane is a U.S. Army veteran, expert in political communications and public relations, and is the CEO of Veteran Strategies, Inc., a strategic public relations firm in Indianapolis. In early 2019, Robert launched the Leaders & Legends podcast, in which he interviews men and women who have made their mark on the City of Indianapolis and on the State of Indiana (and a growing list of leaders with national and international accomplishments). Robert has interviewed nearly 150 individuals, over 100 of whom had a significant impact on Indianapolis and/or Indiana. I was curious as to what common threads or themes Robert has uncovered, as he has conducted so many interviews.

I highly recommend the Leaders & Legends podcast, and I hope you’ll enjoy this discussion with (one of the most interesting people I know) Robert Vane.

Professional soccer returned to Indianapolis in 2013, with the founding of the Indy Eleven soccer club. The Indy Eleven immediately became a strong part of the Indianapolis sporting culture, selling out every game of its inaugural 2014 season at IUPUI’s Michael Carroll Stadium. After a few seasons at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indy Eleven make a return this year to Carroll Stadium, with plans for a new Eleven Park soccer stadium in the works.

This episode features conversations with two of the leaders of Indy Eleven: CEO Greg Stremlaw and Head Coach Martin Rennie.

Greg Stremlaw has served as CEO of Indy Eleven since 2019, bringing an international background as former Head of Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) Sports, overseeing programs including Hockey Night in Canada, and previously as CEO of Curling Canada.

Coach Martin Rennie has led Indy Eleven on the pitch since 2018, bringing a long coaching career which includes head coaching experience in Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Korean K-League.

Both Greg and Martin have become great ambassadors for Indianapolis, and I hope you enjoy the conversations.

This episode was the most intense interview I’ve done, to date! Ed Rudisell is one of Indianapolis’ best-known restaurateurs and entrepreneurs, and I have known him for over a decade. Ed has spent over two decades in restaurants and hospitality, launching successful restaurants including Siam Square, Black Market, Rook, and the Inferno Room. He is one of Indianapolis’ great ambassadors, as the host of the national podcast Shift Drink, in which he interviews innovators in the wine & spirits industry. He also hosts the new podcast A440, in which he profiles independent musicians in various heavy metal genres.

Ed has documented his struggles throughout COVID-19, which resulted in his decision to close two of Indy’s beloved restaurants, Black Market and Rook. In this conversation, Ed talks about what happened, what we have learned about independent restaurants, and how all of us can support the restaurants that have made a difference in our neighborhoods.

How can we look at politics in 2021 from different angles? OR, maybe politics in 2021 isn’t as hopeless as we think (my words, LOL)? Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson is Professor of Political Science at University of Indianapolis, and is frequently featured as a political analyst and panelist in the Indianapolis news media. Her areas of focus include gender and racial gaps in campaign finance, state legislatures, and taxation and public budgeting.

Dr. Wilson has a real gift for analyzing and explaining our complex political systems, in ways that both engage people and challenge us to think differently about our political systems. In this conversation, she talks about issues including the underrated impacts of state and local government on our lives, and ways to think more critically about how we and the media characterize the polarization of the American electorate.

Fr. Peter Marshall is the pastor of St. Jude Catholic Parish on the south side of Indianapolis. Before entering the priesthood, Fr. Peter worked for many years as a therapist and social worker. He has been a friend of mine for nearly 20 years, and is he someone I seek out for advice and spiritual insights on a regular basis. I was excited to record this recent conversation of ours, in which we reflect on the past year of COVID-19. Fr. Peter always helps me and others look at things from different angles and perspectives. In this conversation, he encourages people to look at not only the pain and loss of the past year, but at the blessings and gifts which are often hidden to us (certainly to me, speaking for myself). When we look back on this tumultuous year in 10 years, 20 years, or even further in the future, maybe there are benefits, societal and spiritual, that are not obvious to us at present?

Paulette Fair is an Indianapolis community leader whose influence continues to grow, and I am grateful for the impact she has had on me. Paulette Fair is a co-founder of the Kheprw Institute (KI). She has a passion for empowering black youth to succeed academically and gain valuable life skills that will serve them and their community into adulthood. In the summer of 2003, Paulette, Imhotep Adisa and Pambana Uishi founded Kheprw Institute, and since then she has served as KI's program director and overseen its growth, to serve a broad group of youth and community who work to improve themselves and change the world. In this conversation, we discuss how Paulette’s view of leadership and community were shaped by her upbringing, and what inspires her every day to empower and develop young people.