Best IEDC Podcasts (2025)

1
E21 - Leading Through Uncertainty: How IEDC Is Reshaping Economic Development, with Nathan Ohle 56:33

10d ago56:33

56:33

As economic uncertainty grows, how is the leading organization in economic development positioning its members for success? In this episode, Nathan Ohle, President and CEO of IEDC, is sharing how they're tackling today's most pressing challenges while simultaneously preparing members for tomorrow's opportunities. Key Takeaways: How the economic dev…

1
Inside the Legislature's wild session on tax breaks, hospitals, IEDC and more 1:09:09

18d ago1:09:09

1:09:09

In the early hours of Friday, April 25, Indiana legislators passed a $46.2 billion budget for state expenses over the next two years—specifically, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. Legislators knew going in that state revenue to fund the budget would be tight, and they got a nasty revenue forecast with about a week to go in the session. The last…

1
Whatever happened to downtown’s elevated People Mover? 21:56

4d ago21:56

21:56

You may have become so used to them that you no longer notice, but snaking through downtown Indianapolis’ northwest quadrant are the remains of a revolutionary public transit system that transported riders on elevated tracks 30-feet high. It was called the People Mover, developed for $44 million by Clarian Health Partners, the hospital system now k…

1
Pete the Planner on student loan collections, recessions, stagflation (and holding our breath) 34:05

11d ago34:05

34:05

These are uncertain times for the U.S. economy. We’re in a grace period for many of the Trump administration’s promised tariffs on dozens of trading partners. U.S. consumer confidence plunged again in April, hitting its lowest level since October 2011. First-quarter gross domestic product for the U.S. hit negative territory for the first time since…

1
The Bled Podcast | Hiking Bled 21:09

30d ago21:09

21:09

When I first moved to Slovenia one of the things that surprised me and left a strong positive impression was how engaged Slovenians are with the outdoors. On a sunny Saturday the roads will be lined with cyclists, and mountains filled with happy hikers making their way up to strategically placed mountain huts serving stews, tea, and strudel to rewa…

1
Indiana NIL guru says settlement threatens 'what we love about college sports' 42:46

1M ago42:46

42:46

Any day now, a federal judge is expected to give final approval to a $2.8 billion settlement of three antitrust lawsuits that could dramatically alter the landscape of college sports. And given the tumult since the creation of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness opportunities for athletes, that’s saying something. In addition to awardi…

1
UConn champion Kelley Gay applies on-court lessons as corporate VP in Indy 45:15

1M ago45:15

45:15

Comparing company employees to a sports team is a well-worn management trope, but Kelley Gay knows as well as anyone the value of translating the experience of a championship-level athlete to the corporate world. She graduated from one of the most lauded team cultures in the history of college athletics: the University of Connecticut’s women’s bask…

1
E20 - Rural Economic Development Reimagined, with Jolene Schalper 33:25

1M ago33:25

33:25

What happens when economic development spans 44,000 square miles of rural frontier? In our season two finale, Jolene Schalper, CEcD, joins us to share how Great Falls, Montana, serves as the hub for a vast region and why the upcoming IEDC Rural Retreat is breaking the conference mold by taking participants directly into the communities they're lear…

1
Maureen Weber on the importance of early learning, leadership and failure 21:29

1M ago21:29

21:29

This week’s IBJ Podcast features a conversation from our Forty Under 40 awards breakfast last week with Maureen Weber, the winner of this year’s Alumni Award. Maureen was originally a Forty Under 40 honoree in 2010. Back then, she had just finished reorganizing the Indiana Department of Education and had taken a job as director of community outreac…

1
E19 - Punching Above Your Weight: Fairfax’s Economic Development Success Story, with Chris Bruno 36:03

1M ago36:03

36:03

Surrounded by jurisdictions 50 times its size, the City of Fairfax has mastered the art of punching above its weight. In this episode, Chris Bruno shares how this 25,000-resident community competes with neighboring giants and transforms limitations into strategic advantages. Key Takeaways: How you can create strategic alliances that allow your smal…

1
Could a tax credit upgrade help make Indiana a film and media hub? 34:56

2M ago34:56

34:56

In this era of online entertainment, you could switch to a steaming service this very second and watch one of many classic movies filmed in Indiana. You would be hard-pressed to find many movies and TV shows that recently were filmed in Indiana—even those where the stories are set in Indiana. Other states, including several of our immediate neighbo…

1
E18 - Beyond the Cover Story: PR Strategies for your EDO, with Mia Vaccaro 32:11

2M ago32:11

32:11

Public Relations isn’t always about chasing the spotlight and making headlines. In economic development, effective PR is about turning your narrative into a compelling message that resonates with the community you serve. In this episode, Mia Vaccaro draws on her background in lifestyle PR to help you create a strategy that goes beyond traditional m…

1
Born in Mumbai, TED expert bringing global sports leaders to Indy 41:32

2M ago41:32

41:32

Neelay Bhatt was born in Mumbai, India, and didn’t move to Indiana until 2006, after he finished a graduate degree in sports administration. But he found a home here because he speaks the language of sports and developed a strong network of local sports executives. In 2023, he founded a consultancy in Carmel that focuses in part on master planning,…

1
E17 - Small Investments, Big Impact: How to Improve Your Downtown, with Leeann Crews 43:31

2M ago43:31

43:31

The most impactful downtown revitalization strategy might just be the least expensive one… In this episode, Leeann Crews shares how the Downtown Frederick Partnership is implementing “incremental changes,” measuring community health, and turning overlooked spaces into beloved community assets. Key Takeaways: How to measure the health of your downto…

1
Pete the Planner on the Social Security cliff and potential for benefit cuts 42:14

2M ago42:14

42:14

If you’re of a certain age—or you anticipate being of a certain age—and you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, there’s a lot out there that can trigger your anxiety. Today we’re going to talk about Social Security. As you likely know, Social Security provides a modest amount of money every month to retirees from a fund that collects payroll t…

1
E16 - Raising the Bar on Your Business Attraction Strategies, with Subash Alias 37:37

2M ago37:37

37:37

What if your next big business attraction project started with a mock site visit? In Missouri, that’s not just a theory—it’s a strategy that is delivering real results. In this episode, Subash Alias shares how Missouri Partnership is helping communities prepare for economic growth with its innovative site selection training program. Key Takeaways: …

1
Former NBA exec on joining Pacers’ parent firm, Caitlin Clark’s potential, deal with Kevin Hart company 49:58

2M ago49:58

49:58

Joey Graziano was an executive vice president for the NBA with global responsibilities when he began working with Pacers Sports & Entertainment on the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. The way he tells it, Graziano soon became convinced that the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever and the city of Indianapolis on the whole presented enormous pote…

1
The Bled Podcast | Romantic Bled 19:12

2M ago19:12

19:12

Bled is clearly a romantic destination, one so beautiful and memorable that it has been the site of countless marriage proposals and honeymoons. Lake Bled's allure continues to grow among couples worldwide. In recent years, it has been recognized as a top honeymoon destination--the third best in European honeymoon according to a recent survey. For …

1
E15 - Creating a Business Resource Collective, with Sarah Mattson 38:40

2M ago38:40

38:40

Is your community’s economic potential limited because everyone works in silos? Today we’re joined by Sarah Mattson, Director of Entrepreneurship with the City of Chattanooga, who shares how simple and effective it is to create a Business Resource Collective in which entrepreneur support organizations work together instead of duplicating efforts. P…

1
Tech founder on building teams, loving pivots, fostering startup hustle in high schools 50:55

2M ago50:55

50:55

Scott Lingle grew up in Indianapolis with parents who were always looking for ways to bring in extra money and eliminate debt. Their entrepreneurial pursuits included flipping more than a dozen houses and rehabilitating a host of other products for resale. Scott Lingle knew early on that he wanted to be in sales. After a distinguished career in the…

1
E14 - Social Media for EDOs: Building Two-Way Communication, with Kayla Sherry 36:41

3M ago36:41

36:41

Do you feel like you’re shouting into the void every time you post on social media? Today we’re sharing how you can transform your EDO’s approach from broadcasting information to creating meaningful two-way conversations that drive engagement *and* results. Key Takeaways: Understand your audience while working within your capacity constraints Strat…

1
Third-gen Indy hotelier on industry ups and downs, $43.5M Ball State project 47:33

3M ago47:33

47:33

Based in Indianapolis, the Schahet family has been managing and developing hotels since the 1960s. The family firm Schahet Hotels currently has nine properties in its portfolio, mostly in central Indiana, with a 10th hotel under construction in Muncie and an 11th in the final planning stages. There’s still room in the lodging industry for mom-and-p…

1
E13 - Strategic Plans: Your EDO’s Roadmap or its Roadblock? With Alex Dadok 46:48

3M ago46:48

46:48

Is your EDO’s strategic plan a short-term to-do list? Or just a vague vision that leaves employees with more questions? In this episode, Alex Dadok and I discuss why having the courage to question assumptions – and take real action – is the key to community transformation. Key Takeaways: Why most EDOs use strategic plans wrong (and how to turn them…

1
Marsh Davis on a career saving Indiana landmarks, bringing right people to the table 49:36

3M ago49:36

49:36

Indiana has been a national leader in historic preservation for decades. Hoosiers have a strong record for studying, cataloguing and saving homes, churches, farms, factories, covered bridges, monuments, courthouses, hotels, libraries and even entire commercial districts and neighborhoods deemed to have historic value. Since being founded in 1960, t…

1
E12 - Building Organizational Capacity, with Joi Cuartero Austin 35:18

3M ago35:18

35:18

You can take inspiration from other communities and things you learn at conferences, but you simply can’t copy/paste what others are doing…it just won’t work. And that’s where Main Street America comes in, to help historic downtowns re-energize! Joi Cuartero Austin and I discuss Main Street America’s hyper-local support, strategic doing vs. strateg…

1
The risks tariffs pose to Indiana’s manufacturing-heavy economy 32:34

3M ago32:34

32:34

Podcast listeners might remember about three months ago when regular guest Pete the Planner predicted that President Donald Trump’s plans for tariffs could have a pronounced effect on some elements of Indiana’s economy. Trump wasted little time once his second term began last month, imposing or thratening to impose a barrage of tariffs on many of A…

1
E11 - AI’s Role in Economic Development: Maintaining Humanity in Innovation, with Jonathan Aberman 41:31

3M ago41:31

41:31

Jonathan Aberman is an internationally recognized thought leader in technology and innovation. In this episode, we discuss Washington D.C.’s focus on the service economy (vs. Silicon Valley’s focus on product) and the delicate balance of utilizing AI while maintaining real connections with humans. He also shares what he’s learned from teaching in I…

1
With billions at stake, hyperscale data centers become charged issue in Indiana 33:59

3M ago33:59

33:59

You don’t need to be too technically savvy to pick up on the charged atmosphere surrounding large-scale data centers. Various technology-heavy industries need data centers as a kind of way station and storage point for all the electronic information they generate and process. As technology evolves at a breakneck speed, the size of these centers gro…

1
A preschool, a church, a pickleball palace—tracking the transformations of Indy’s vacant Marsh supermarkets 33:52

4M ago33:52

33:52

Founded in central Indiana, Marsh Supermarkets Inc. at its peak operated well over 100 stores, with a critical mass in the nine-county Indianapolis metro area. In 2017—11 years after a private equity firm took ownership—just 63 stores remained. Marsh declared bankruptcy in May 2017. From those 63 stores, Marsh closed the majority and sold 26 to Kro…

1
The latest on downtown soccer stadium, $78M Fever facility and Simon hotel/concert venue 42:06

4M ago42:06

42:06

It’s time to unpack the latest developments in Mayor Joe Hogsett’s plan to establish a Major League Soccer team in downtown Indianapolis. Among other things, the team needs a stadium to play in. The city earmarked about 16 acres in the southeast quadrant of the Mile Square and held discussions with MLS officials. We were left with a cliffhanger: Ca…

1
Pete the Planner on Trump's second term, rising inflation and the impact of the LA wildfires on housing 31:45

4M ago31:45

31:45

The official release date of this episode is Jan. 20, which not coincidentally is Inauguration Day. President Trump will outline his vision for second term, but we already have a sense of what to expect in terms of economic policy. Four of the biggest themes are prioritizing tax cuts, decreasing regulation in several major industries, increasing ta…

1
Inside the mind of a rising Indy apartment developer 43:36

4M ago43:36

43:36

After five years leading apartment development for Indianapolis-based real estate firm Birge & Held, Jarod Brown decided he wanted a business with his name on the door. So he struck out on his own in late 2022 and soon hung his shingle for Brown Capital Group on an historic building in Broad Ripple. As a developer, he hit the ground running with an…

1
Dave Lindquist previews can't-miss entertainment in 2025 29:46

5M ago29:46

29:46

2024 was a big year for entertainment in Indianapolis. Taylor Swift came to town for three concerts of course. But major sports events including NBA All-Star Weekend, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and Indianapolis 500 included multiple concerts and arts events. Even celebrations around the eclipse featured music and the arts. So will 2025 be a l…

1
The Bled Podcast | Christmas Bonus Episode: The “Adventure of a Lifetime” Behind the Scenes 12:42

5M ago12:42

12:42

Ever found yourself in a surreal situation with friends, pizza, and a stunning lake? This special Christmas bonus episode takes you behind the scenes of our epic adventure filming Adventure of a Lifetime, a unique cinematic project showcasing the magic of Bled. Plus, we’re excited to introduce our new book Bledology, a deeper dive into this extraor…

1
Mission of Indy furniture maker ‘is about building other people up’ 37:13

5M ago37:13

37:13

Indy-based Furniture maker Purposeful Design LLC—which lives under the umbrella of the nonprofit Sagamore Institute—works with local relief organizations to recruit people who have struggled with addiction, homelessness, incarceration and other obstacles to self-sufficiency. As apprentices and craftspeople, the workers learn skills that can help th…

1
Josef Newgarden, Indy 500 champ and avid investor, also races against S&P 500 33:48

5M ago33:48

33:48

IndyCar and Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden doesn’t take his hands off the steering wheel when he leaves the cockpit of his No. 2 Chevy. He enjoys being a very hands-on caretaker of his career, business interests and financial life. As he says in his IBJ Podcast interview this week, “Maybe I’m just too type-A, but I want to know where every dolla…

1
E10 – Expediting the RFI Process, with Dane Carlson 31:10

6M ago31:10

31:10

For the season finale of EDO Breakthrough, we’ve invited Dane Carlson to be this week’s guest! Dane is the Host of the Econ Dev Show podcast and CEO of Sitehunt. We discuss all things podcasting, how to deal with change in the workplace, and the impetus behind creating Sitehunt, an AI platform that helps economic developers. Key Takeaways: What it’…

1
Why size matters when it comes to concert venues in Indy 42:53

6M ago42:53

42:53

Indianapolis-based concert company MOKB Presents recently announced plans to open a 1,200-capacity venue in early 2026 at the former site of Well Done Marketing in Fountain Square’s Murphy Arts Building. The plans for a new indoor venue means outdoor concerts at shows at the Hi-Fi Annex — located in the parking lot outside the Murphy building — wil…

1
E09 – Integrating Arts & Culture for Economic Success, with Ash Hanson 44:43

6M ago44:43

44:43

Ash Hanson is a rural arts advocate and in this episode, we discuss the four themes of rural community development: Activate, Connect, Nurture, and Support. She also shares how arts & culture can intersect with economic development, how she creates opportunities for connection through her roles at DoPT and PlaceBase Productions, and her thoughts ab…

1
Inside jeweler’s decision to close one of downtown’s oldest businesses 37:28

6M ago37:28

37:28

Windsor Jewelry has operated within a stone’s throw of Monument Circle since the year 1919. Some of its client relationships go back five generations. It has been owned by only three people: its founder, Sig Asher; then Asher’s son-in-law, Herman Logan; and then Greg Bires, an employee who bought the business from Logan in 1998. It has survived the…

1
E08 – Infrastructure & Inclusivity, with Clarence Hulse 32:42

6M ago32:42

32:42

Clarence Hulse is one of the few individuals in the industry who actively sought out a career in economic development. In this episode, we discuss lifelong learning, reverse mentorship, and the programs Michigan City is implementing to attract and develop its workforce. Key Takeaways: How being in the private sector of real estate has made him a be…

1
Pete the Planner on Trump’s potential impact on investors, taxes, inflation and the auto industry 34:48

6M ago34:48

34:48

Donald Trump is headed for a second term in the White House. The pundits have had ample opportunity to dissect the political implications of his victory. For this week’s podcast, we wanted to explore the potential financial repercussions of a new Trump administration. There’s no mystery about his fondness toward tariffs—the taxes applied by the gov…

1
Inside the plan to extend life expectancy for residents of five Indy neighborhoods 38:27

7M ago38:27

38:27

One way you can gauge the health of a city is the number of cranes on its skyline. One of the biggest contributors of cranes over downtown in the last two years has been the $4.3 billion IU Health hospital campus under construction just south of Methodist Hospital. It’s a generational development for that side of downtown, but IU Health officials w…

1
E07 – Mentorship in Economic Development, with Sandy Castor 42:07

7M ago42:07

42:07

Sandy Castor shares her perspective on how transportation and economic development work together, professional development opportunities, and the power of mentorship. We also discuss “soft” skills, saying yes more, and her accidental path to economic development. Key Takeaways: Why access to transportation *is* economic development The difference b…

1
What Indy tourism guru Chris Gahl learned from his father’s murder, surviving cancer 43:41

7M ago43:41

43:41

Last week’s edition of the IBJ Podcast featured Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Visit Indy, unpacking the strategy for promoting Indianapolis to a worldwide audience during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. As promised, we have a follow-up interview with Gahl this week that is so different from last week’s that we neede…

1
E06 – Leveraging an Economic Development Week to Tell Your EDOs Story, with Sandy Dubay 16:02

7M ago16:02

16:02

This week’s episode is all about Economic Development Week, and how you can leverage it to share your EDO’s story with your local community. Economic Developers rarely promote their efforts or teams, and this is the perfect opportunity to do that! Key Takeaways: Best practices and tips for a successful event, including using Earned and Owned media …

1
How Taylor Swift will give Indy a massive platform to promote itself 38:45

7M ago38:45

38:45

Does anyone need reminding that Indianapolis is less than two weeks away from hosting Taylor Swift and the last U.S. dates for the Eras Tour? There of course are three shows scheduled Nov. 1, 2 and 3 in Lucas Oil Stadium, and more than 50 related events planned across the city to entertain fans over what essentially will be a major holiday downtown…

1
The Bled Podcast | Episode 12: Slovenia's First Woman of Business: Danica Purg and IEDC-The Bled School of Management 35:13

7M ago35:13

35:13

Bled is full of surprises, some that fly under the radar, and some that are highly prominent if you know where to look. Did you know, for instance, that one of the world’s best and most unique business schools is right here in Bled? IEDC, or the Bled School of Management, was called by the Financial Times “the school with one of the most beautiful …

1
E05 – Networking and Building Relationships in Economic Development, with Ebonie Atkins 30:54

7M ago30:54

30:54

Ebonie Atkins, Managing Director of Henrico Economic Development Authority, shares tips for networking and creating relationships. We also discuss business retention tactics, regionalism, partnerships, and teaching economic geography. Key Takeaways: Tips for creating relationships in a people-focused industry How to work with local partners for bus…

1
What’s the potential impact of Lilly’s $4.5B ‘medicine foundry’ in Lebanon? 28:48

7M ago28:48

28:48

The LEAP Research and Innovation District under development near Lebanon represents a shift in the way economic development officials are working to attract companies to Indiana and create jobs. Its detractors have objected to the strategy by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to corner thousands of acres of rural land for the project. Some are…

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IEDC Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen