On his retirement in 2016, Jim Shella was Indiana's longest serving television reporter.  Since then, he has been contributing to an oral history of The Indiana General Assembly, the Indianapolis government channel, a series of non partisan "town halls," and various blogs such as a monthly for The Indianapolis Business Journal.  

Here, Jim comments about other effective Indiana journalists, the decline of state house news coverage, and his weekly program, Indiana Week in Review.

Clark Kahlo comments on the tension between development and protecting sensitive lands, especially along White River, in Indianapolis.

With an extensive background in volunteer work, chamber of commerce management, and graduate-level studies, Wendy Mis was elected Clerk-Treasurer of Munster, taking office in January.

The situation of this attractive small town is discussed, especially the prospects for a new rail connection to Chicago, and meaningful cooperation with surrounding communities.

Annette Johnson is the (relatively) new township trustee with a broad view of her task which includes not only poor relief but fire and emergency services, promotion of businesses and schools in the area, expanding public transportation, and even viewing her area as a tourist destination.  

Although Line Worker Chris Anderson has a regular line job in Indiana, he also goes from state to state, pole to pole, working to recover massive systems after catastrophic events.

Dr. Kurt Gossweiller, both dentist and medical doctor, describes business and personal elements of a dental practice.  

Rick Witsken,* long-term tennis player, coach, and entrepreneur, now a national professional pickleball champion, talks about the sport, its future, and the many business and recreational opportunities it affords.  

*Rick is brother of Todd Witsken, deceased, the best professional tennis player to emerge from Indianapolis.  

With initial help from actor/poet Michael Flanders (1950s) ("The umpire, upon whom, the sun never sets."), we hear from a man who spends 70 days a year calling tennis matches, including, until recently, the U.S. Open.

In addition, Jim VanSlambrook plays six musical instruments.  His band is Slammer Jazz.

Sones de Mexico, Chicago's most popular Mexican band, was founded by our guest, Juan Dies, who learned his profession at Earlham College and Indiana University, as well as in Kenya and Malaga.

Juan is an ethnomusicologist who performs and teaches the amazing variety of music emanating from Mexico.

Artistic director Greg Sorvig returns to tell us about this year's festival.