Who Gets What?

In a return engagement, broadcaster, columnist, political observor Jim Shella talks about the emerging organization, Indiana Town Halls, which strives to connect leading political figures in Congress directly with voters.   Town Halls are video programs, often using Zoom, in which voters ask questions directly with office holders such as Congressman Andre Carson and Senator Mike Braun.   Looking years into the future, we imagine using the platform more widely, even down to township officers.     

Over close to four decades, Steve Gerardi has brought entertainment to Indianapolis, most recently to the annual Symphony on the Prairie series at Conner Prairie. He mentions dozens of names, and describes the personal joy of dealing with them.    

The history and dynamics of opera are discussed here with David Craig Starkey, General Director of the Indianapolis Opera and CEO of The Basile Opera Center. Among many elements is the concept of performer athleticism and the cruicial role of tapping into the full resonance of a body.  Adapting to modern audiences, of course, is discussed, as well as amplification which first appeared in theatre and opera in 1968 with the musical Hair.

Curtis McManus and Guenet Williams discuss Rophe Free Clinic located on 52d Street West of Michigan Road in Indianapolis.

John and Morton employ an exercise to learn the nature of improvisation under the guidance of Will Pfaffenberger, comedian, radio broadcaster (The Smiley Morning Show on 99.5; the Bob and Tom Show), entrepreneur (Red Curb Improv Comedy Club in Avon), and former administrator of a soccer league.  This is fun.  

Manufacturers Representative Larry Wallman asks why Indiana has not attracted electronics businesses, having lost more than 120,000 jobs since the days of Western Electric, RCA, Regency, Mallory, and more.  One answer:  "we have told them we do not want them."

Jeffrey McDermott leads what well may be the Indiana performance venue with the highest number of diverse shows every year.   Here we learn how it is done, all from a man whose "previous life" was practicing law.  

While considering the nature of an "educated person," we talk with Sheila Kennedy about the voucher system, its limitation to urban areas, and how it potentially reduces quality education. Sheila is an educator with extensive experience in government, political science, civil rights, and education.  

Adam Goldstein, Director of Engineering of STAG USA, who founded and developed a 12-bay repair facility on Indianapolis' northeast side, talks about his present business:  refitting fleets with propane and natural gas. Adam says that innovation in autombile technology and style takes place in the aftermarket, and success of anything new is affirmed when included in the assembly line.  This means that a service provider and repair business must provide today while always looking ahead to tomorrow.  

Jordan Flores Schwartz, co-founder and Producing Director, describes the unique position, both culturally and geographically, of The Fonseca Theatre in downtown Indianapolis.  One unique position is that it is led by and serves Black Indigenous People of Color.  

Having traded futures contracts and other instruments since the 1970s, Gary Housman talks about portfolio insurance, hedging, crypto currencies, and the many factors affecting relative values including the recent rise of the dollar with respect to the euro. Note:  this session includes professional terms and language.

Michael Leppert's eclectic career includes opinion columnist, author, corrections department officer, utility regulator, and lobbyist to The Indiana General Assembly.   Lessons?  Many.  Here is one.  Understand time to get things done.  It will be months, and years. (Look for Michael in The State House File.Com)

Raymond Hammond is editor of The New York Quarterly, and, of course, a poet himself.   We talk about instagram poetry, advertising in poetry magazines, snobbery, the movie "Dead Poet Society" ("It tought me how to teach poetry."), and the  mailing list he would like to own (The New York Post mailing list, having people who need poetry.) Raymond moved to Indianapolis in January.  (An important previous experience was as a law enforcement office at The Statue of Liberty.)

Like Seinfeld, we talk about nothing, and everything:   mafia, credit cards, Title IX, la crosse, geese, punctuality, guns, and, well, you know.  

A balanced view of housing, bike paths, "Sundown Towns," driving priveleges for immigrants, taxes, even box stores, is covered effectively by this interview with Allan Kauffman, who, on leaving the mayor's office, now serves on the school board.   Transcribed personal oral history may be found at https://goshen.guide/2020/01/15/allan-kauffman-oral-history/

Chelsea Whittington, owner of C Whitt PR of Gary, Indiana, finds herself representing organizsations she knows and loves, such as a weight loss organization, Gary government and schools, Indiana University of N.W. Indiana, and, at one time, The Peace Corps.  She also teaches communication skills with this admonition:  "Don't Be Shy."

What do The Flintstones, Nyota Uhara, Methodist Hospital, IUPUI, teaching non profit management, and The Heartland International Film Festival, have in common? The answer is our guest, Michael Ault

Ruth Ann Marcus, epidemiologist with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,, talks about disease detectives, racial elements in public health, HIV prevention, really bad cider, and anthroplogy.  

Carl Henn III has visited and worked in 29 of Africa's 54 countries resulting in opinions about travel, national images, public health, trust in science and more.   His book, "My Two Centuries in Africa," is available on Amazon, and soon will be promoted in towns across America as Carl again embarks on a trip.  (The resulting new book might be called "Man in a Van.")  

Scholar, writer, broadcaster, collector Kyle Long talks extensively about the formidable heritage of Indiana music.   Kyle is host of "Cultural Manifesto" which can be heard Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. on public radio stations such as WFYI.