The IBJ Podcast with Mason King

A weekly take on business news in central Indiana from the Indianapolis Business Journal. The IBJ Podcast is brought to you by Taft.

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Business News
276
Pete the Planner on the five deadly sins of mon...
Managing money should be relatively easy, right? It's just math. Of course, we all know it's actually math plus a bunch of emotions and even baggage. Fear, envy, greed all play into our financial decisions—and sometimes our lack of action. This week, Peter "Pete the Planner" Dunn and host Mason King talk about the five deadly sins of money management, how to spot them and how to manage them. And both admit to some of their own foibles. Plus, Dunn talks about the biggest problem he sees today in money management—and it has a lot to do with all those delivery trucks buzzing around town. You can also read Dunn's latest column for IBJ, which focuses specifically on shame and how it impacts our financial lives.      
23 min
277
Have you seen this guy painting on the Circle? ...
If you've spent any time on the Circle this summer, you've probably seen Justin Vining painting the Soldiers & Sailors Monument or the surrounding buildings or even the downtown streets and people. It's part of an effort the attorney-turned-artist is making to raise his profile as he prepares to move out of the popular Harrison Center for the Arts and into his own studio and gallery space in a building he and his brother, an attorney, have purchased. The marketing tactic has worked. People stop, take Vining's card, shoot photos they post on social media and even buy paintings on the spot. Vining then adds data about the painting or the sale to what he calls the "hot sheet," a record of his paintings, their sizes, prices and how long they take to sell—even details about who's buying them. It's part of his data-driven effort to boost his art business. Vining talks to podcast host Mason King about his process—both in creating art and running his business. For more, read Sam Stall's profile of Vining for IBJ.    
26 min
278
The latest on Indy's downtown restaurant scene:...
Some of downtown Indy's most prominent restaurant locations are empty with the recent closings of Palomino, Hard Rock Cafe, Scotty's and Granite City. But brokers tell IBJ that the restaurant scene is healthy and the closings have more to do with problems at those individual chains. In fact, they say those spots should fill up fairly quickly. In this week's podcast, IBJ real estate reporter Mickey Shuey describes the downtown restaurant scene, with details about what's closing, what's opening and what's coming in the future. Plus, find out where you're likely to spy some IBJ reporters the next time you're out for lunch. To learn more, read Shuey's story in this week's IBJ.    
19 min
279
Is it time to abandon the 'amateur' model for c...
California Gov. Gavin Newsome two weeks ago signed a bill into law that allows college athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness. And the law expressly prohibits the Indianapolis-based NCAA, its member conferences and schools from barring players from doing so. That's a huge change for college sports, but it didn't come out of the blue. Talk about how to compensate athletes—some of whom play a crucial role in driving ticket sales and alumni donations—has been building for several years. Still, the NCAA has struggled to deal with the issue. In this week's podcast, host Mason King talks through the pluses and minuses for the NCAA, college athletes and universities with reporter Anthony Schoettle, who wrote a story about the impact of the California law in the latest issue of IBJ.    
24 min
280
The story behind one of Brown County's newest a...
When Jeff McCabe and his partners first decided to go into business together, the goal was pretty simple: Nashville, Indiana, needed a brewery and they might as well be the ones to open it. So was born Big Woods, the first in a series of related companies that also includes Quaff ON! Brewing Co. and Hard Truth Distilling Co. Big Woods now has restaurants open or getting ready to open in Nashville, Bloomington, Speedway, Franklin, Noblesville and Westfield, while Quaff ON! brews some 10,000 barrels of beer annually, primarily for Big Woods eateries. But the crown jewel is Hard Truth Hills, a distillery/restaurant/entertainment complex on 325 wooded acres just east of Nashville. It opened in July 2018 and brought in 267,000 visitors in its first year.   Podcast host Mason King talks with McCabe, who is executive chairman of the brands' umbrella company, about how the business has evolved, what makes Hard Truth Hills special and what's coming in the future. To learn more about Hard Truth Hills, read Sam Stall's story at IBJ.com.    
26 min
281
This vice principal's 'barber shop' helps turn ...
Fred Yeakey learned early in his teaching career that one way to have in-depth conversations with his students was to cut their hair. Something about the give-and-take that occurs during that interaction allowed kids to open up in ways he hadn't seen before. And so was born Mr. Yeakey's barber shop—a program the educator has taken with him as he's changed schools.  Today, at Providence Cristo Rey High School, where Yeakey is vice principal of culture and mission, a handful of students gather weekly after school. Some get their hair cut. Others are just there for the conversation about sports, school, trauma, jobs and life. Mr. Yeakey talks with host Mason King about why the barber shop works, what he's learned from his students and how the program could be used at other schools.    
20 min
282
This AI whiz chose Indy over Silicon Valley. He...
Luke Zhang had offers from the biggest tech firms in the country when he graduated with three degrees—in computer science, software engineering and mathematics—from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. But Zhang chose to take a job instead with DemandJump in Indianapolis, a move he attributes to the people he met during a TechPoint internship program and the desire to be in a place where he could make a difference. Zhang, who came to the U.S. from China as a teenager, talks with podcast host Mason King about what makes the Indy tech community special and how it could market itself better. And he explains why he takes people skills as seriously as he does his math skills. To read more about Zhang, check out this story by IBJ reporter Anthony Schoettle, who talked to Zhang's colleagues, including his boss at DemandJump who called Zhang a "generational talent." IBJ photo/Eric Learned
26 min
283
How a former cop came to lead the area's top-se...
Dennis Nottingham was on a police run when he met a house flipper who piqued his interest in real estate. Not long after, Nottingham took some classes and got his real estate license. And for awhile, he sold houses on the side, while working the night shift for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. But after his daughter was born, Nottingham knew something had to give. So he moved into real estate full time, with a focus on selling foreclosures and homes in need of major rehab.  Today, he owns a RE/MAX franchise — the Indy Home Pros Team — which has taken the No. 1 spot on IBJ’s All-Star team rankings for the fourth straight year. The team had sales volume of $316 million in 2017-2018 on 1,957 transactions. Nottingham talks with podcast host Mason King about why he's assembled such a big team and why they focus on moderately priced homes, unlike most of the other teams on the IBJ list. And he explains how his police work helped him be a better real estate agent. Click here to see the full list of real estate teams on IBJ's list and find out who made the list of top-selling solo agents. IBJ photo/Eric Learned
23 min
284
How to prepare for the next recession
History tells us that a recession is all but inevitable. But just when the next slowdown will strike is a mystery. So is there something you should do now to prepare? IBJ columnist Peter Dunn—aka Pete the Planner—says yes. But unless you're within 10 years of retirement, resist making big changes to your investments. Pete talks to host Mason King about how to look at your budget and evaluate your readiness for a recession, and he offers advice about the kinds of changes that can help. Plus, he explains why you're making a mistake if you try to time the market's ups and downs. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.   
23 min
285
Upland expands Indiana footprint as it sends be...
Upland Brewing Co. opened its main brewery and first brewpub in Bloomington in 1998 and this year will produce 16,000 barrels of beer a year, making it the state's third-largest brewer. It now operates two brewpubs in Indianapolis and one each in Carmel, Columbus and Bloomington, as well as tasting facilities at its two Bloomington breweries. Host Mason King talks with Pete Batule, Upland’s chief operating officer, about the company's growth, including its busy new brewpub in Fountain Square, and the line of sour beers that its selling across the country and overseas. For more info, read IBJ reporter Susan Orr's story about Upland in the most recent issue of IBJ. This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.   
19 min
286
Don Brown's newest venture combines his two pas...
Don Brown is best known in Indy tech circles for launching and selling high-profile tech companies, including Software Artistry, which he sold to IBM for $200 million, and Interactive Intelligence, which  sold to Genesys for $1.4 billion. What many don't know is that he's also a doctor. That's right, Brown has a medical degree from Indiana University and and a master’s in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. (He earned the former while simultaneously earning a master's of computer science and the latter just a few years ago while running Interactive Intelligence.) Today, he's running a company that combines his health and technology passions—LifeOmic, which operates a cloud system for precision health data.  Host Mason King talks with Brown about he has juggled all of that work (he also has eight kids) and how is interest in intermittent fasting has led LifeOmic down a new path. To learn more about LifeOmic's new consumer app, read John Russell's story in this week's IBJ. This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.   
31 min
287
Is the historic Drake building worth saving?
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis last month announced it planned to demolish the Drake, a nearby, 91-year-old apartment building it owns, with the goal of using the space—at least for now—for additional parking. But historic preservationists want to save the building, and urbanists say the region needs more affordable housing, especially given that the Drake sits near a stop for the soon-to-open Red Line rapid transit route. IBJ reporter Hayleigh Colombo talks about the controversy—the possibilities for the building—with podcast host Mason King. They explore whether moving the building is an option, whether Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission might step in and what the role the city could play in the process. To read more, check out Colombo's story here.  This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.   
17 min
288
How Indy will use tax incentives to combat low ...
Soon companies will need to pay at least $18 an hour and offer other benefits—like health insurance or help with child care, transit or other worker needs—to be eligible for tax incentives and training grants from the city of Indianapolis. The change is part of an effort by the city and Indy Chamber to combat poverty and help move more lower-income residents into the middle class. Host Mason King talks with Ian Nicolini, vice president of Develop Indy, the city's economic development agency, about the new policies, which will take effect Jan. 1. To learn more, read reporter Hayleigh Colombo's story detailing the policy. This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.  
21 min
289
Profitability for Blue Indy still 'a few years ...
The Blue Indy electric-car-sharing service launched in Indianapolis in 2015. It had its detractors, but you couldn’t fault the service’s backers for being timid.Basing Blue Indy on a service that had tens of thousands of subscribers in Paris, they predicted that by 2020 the company would be profitable and have at least 15,000 members, 200 charging stations, and 500 electric cars on the road.Wholeheartedly supported by the Ballard administration, Blue Indy carved out curb-side stations for its vehicles in some of the city’s busiest areas. The city of Indianapolis invested $6 million to help get it off the ground, with a profit-sharing plan that would kick in once the company was profitable and its own considerable investment was recouped.That won’t be in 2020, or at any time soon. While Blue Indy has grown significantly since its inception and its numbers are on the upswing, it’s still not close to the results it initially projected.In this week’s edition of The IBJ Podcast, Blue Indy’s local market chief admits that the original predictions for Indianapolis were too optimistic, being based on the performance in Paris. It won’t be in the black next year, and profitability “is going to be a few years away,” he said.“The mobility industry is a tough industry to make money at, and it really is a long-term project to offer members the different services they want, the locations they want and the use cases they want,” said James Delgado, managing director for Blue Indy.   This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.  
26 min
290
Country clubs make updates from age of Cadillac...
This isn’t your just father’s weekend retreat or mother’s opportunity to binge on bridge. Not anymore.Country clubs across the nation are in the midst of a transformation as the latest generation of breadwinners decide how they want to spend their leisure time and disposable incomes.As the conventional wisdom goes, millennials are fiercely independent, burdened by college debt and skeptical of traditional institutions. But research by the golf and country cub industry indicates that some in the demographic are looking for a local place to get away with their children for secluded family time, as well as the traditional advantages of forging career and social connections.To attract millennials, clubs in the Indianapolis area are updating their facilities, beefing up their recreational offerings for kids, adding activities that would appeal to young adults and adjusting the way they charge for memberships. They’re also trying to air out any remaining whiffs of snob appeal, so delightfully skewered by the classic film comedy “Caddyshack.”In the latest edition of The IBJ Podcast, host Mason King gets the lowdown from reporter Samm Quinn on how central Indiana’s clubs are changing, while they get the national perspective from Jeff Morgan, CEO of the Club Management Association of America.This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.
24 min
291
Avoiding the icebergs that can sink your startup
Husband-and-wife team Kim and Todd Saxton, both professors at the IU Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, have spent a lot of time inside and outside the classroom serving as mentors to startup founders trying to make their way through the choppy waters of entrepreneurship. So they recently teamed up with Michael Cloran, a local entrepreneur and partner at DeveloperTown, to write a book of advice about what NOT to do when you're starting a company. The book—“The Titanic Effect: Successfully Navigating the Uncertainties that Sink Most Startups”—uses the tragedy of the Titanic as its outline, detailing some of the icebergs (which the authors call "debtbergs") that founders face in their journeys to success or sometimes failure. Host Mason King talked to the Saxtons about the biggest problems that entrepreneurs face and how to tackle them—and they explain how they faced some of those same problems as they crafted their book. You can learn more about one of the key problems startups face—finding a match between a product and customers—in this week's IBJ. This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.  
24 min
292
Pete the Planner on the magic of a 15-year mort...
In residential real estate, the 30-year-mortgage is king. But why? A 15-year mortgage saves you money, reduces your expenses later and helps you be more realistic about how much house you really need, says Peter Dunn, better known as Pete the Planner. Pete talks with guest host Lesley Weidenbener about all things mortgages—determining how much house you can afford, why you shouldn't put down less than 10% and why the idea of starter homes and family homes is silly. And Pete explains why those mortgage calculators you can get online are one of the worst things to happen to family finances. You can also read Pete's column about the 15-year mortgage at IBJ.com. This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.    
20 min
293
Morales Group wants to get you a job—then a bet...
Morales Group launched in 2003 with a focus on placing Hispanic workers into jobs, but the company has grown and expanded—both in geography and in the people it serves. Today, about half of the people Morales Group places are migrants, immigrants or refugees. In fact, 37 countries are represented by Morales Group’s internal employees and the associates the company has placed. That means the $100 million firm spends more money upfront to solve language barriers and provide training. But Seth Morales—the company's president and the son of the founder—says that investment pays off later for the workers, Morales Group and the manufacturers, distributors and other companies that are its clients. Morales talks to podcast host Mason King about the company's culture and mission, the challenges and opportunities presented by the tight labor market, and how his standout college football career at Purdue University impacted his career. To read more about Morales Group, check out this story by IBJ's Sorell Grow.  IBJ photo/Eric Learned This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.    
24 min
294
This IU pediatrician is a health care myth buster
Should you avoid red meat? No. Will gum last in your stomach seven years? No way. Should you strive for 10,000 steps a day? Not unless you just want to. So says Dr. Aaron Carroll, a pediatrician and researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine who sees it as his life’s calling to debunk what he considers health myths and weak medical research. He writes books and a column for The New York Times, hosts "Healthcare Triage" on YouTube and tweets at @aaronecarroll, all with the goal of educating the public about health issues.  Dr. Carroll answers questions from podcast host Mason King about probiotics, sodium, sunscreen, marijuana and more, and he explains why we all—doctors included—misinterpret health care research. To learn more about Dr. Carroll, read IBJ reporter John Russell's profile at IBJ.com. IBJ photo by Daniel Axler This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by Krieg DeVault.    
27 min
295
Scott Wise talks Scotty's, starting over and hi...
Two-and-a-half years after selling his namesake restaurant chain Scotty's, entrepreneur Scott Wise is launching another eatery. Roots Burger Bar will be located in the same Muncie location as his original restaurant but will have a more casual feel and tighter menu. Wise tells IBJ Podcast host Mason King that he's both emotional and excited about the new start, which he says has been like hitting control-alt-delete on his career. But it hasn't been an easy path. Wise explains why he believed selling Scotty's was a good move, why he planned to stay with the company that bought it for five years and what happened to make him leave so quickly. He also talks about the impact his parents and a near-death experience had on his life. Scotty’s Holdings LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December and has closed several restaurants, did not return a request for comment about Wise's comments in the podcast.  IBJ reporter Susan Orr has more about Wise's new Roots restaurant.  This edition of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by the Office of Minority and Women Business Development.    
29 min
296
How offering PTO for volunteering can boost ret...
One of the hottest trends in employee retention and recruitment isn't ping pong table and kegs of beer in the break room; it's giving workers paid time so they can volunteer their time with local charities. Josh Driver, founder of Selfless.ly, which sells cloud-based software for managing corporate social responsibility programs, says volunteer PTO is an increasingly important part of benefits packages. In fact, nearly one quarter of companies now pay employees to spend their time and energy with a not-for-profit. Host Mason King talks with Driver about why workers—especially millennials—are so interested in volunteer PTO and why it's good for companies, too. Plus, he offers tips for setting up a volunteer PTO program and says no company is too small to do it. You can learn more about corporate volunteerism in IBJ's latest Impact Indiana section. The photo for this week's podcast is courtesy of Pepper Construction. This edition of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by the Office of Minority and Women Business Development.    
24 min
297
It's not your grandfather's library system anymore
The Indianapolis Public Library system is in a growth tear—in terms of both its buildings and its programming. Three library branches have recently opened or are under construction and three more are in various planning stages. That's in addition to five branches that have or will soon undergo significant renovations. Host Mason King talks with the library system's CEO, Jackie Nytes, about the construction binge and how it will actually help the library better balance its budget. And Nytes also describes the how the new buildings and renovations better support the needs of neighborhoods and the people who live there. The books are still there of course. But Indy libraries are about much more: Think job training, video streaming, live animals and a seed library. King and Nytes get into all the details in this week's episode. If you need even more, check out IBJ reporter Hayleigh Colombo's story about the library changes.      
22 min
298
Exploring artificial intelligence, learning fro...
Science fiction has made many of us cautious about artificial intelligence and what it could mean for our future. But AI is already in use in many industries and could soon be prominent in most. That's why IBJ has made AI the focus of its 2019 Innovation Issue, an annual exploration of disrupters across the business world. In this week's podcast, IBJ Managing Editor Lesley Weidenbener and technology reporter Anthony Schoettle discuss what they learned while researching artificial intelligence, how it could change industries such as transportation and health care and why the technology raises so many ethical questions. The podcast also explores other stories in the issue—which cover Indiana's role in developing hypersonic weapons, what entrepreneurs learn from failure and how The Heritage Group has developed a culture of innovation by focusing on people. Plus, Weidenbener explains why IBJ publishes an Innovation Issue at all. Check out the full issue at www.IBJ.com/innovation-2019. Music in this episode—"Also Sprach Zarathustra," composed by Richard Strauss—is from Kevin MacLeod and licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. A different version of the song was the theme of AI-inspired film "2001: A Space Odyssey."    
21 min
299
Pete the Planner talks about paying for college
IBJ personal finance columnist Peter Dunn talks with podcast host Mason King about three key components of paying for college: saving in advance, paying some expenses in the moment and preparing your kids to make good choices. All three take planning, Dunn says. And that last one takes some tough and ongoing conversations about choosing an affordable college, the amount you'll be contributing as parents and making good decisions about debt. But his most important piece of advice for parents? Prioritize saving for retirement over saving for your kids' college costs—no matter what your heart is telling you. Read more from Pete the Planner at IBJ.com.
25 min
300
Oliver Winery makes big business of sweet wines...
Bloomington's Oliver Winery started as a hobby but has grown into the 44th largest winery in the country. And it's done it by playing into an unexpected niche—sweet wines. That's not all Oliver makes, of course. It offers a full range of traditional dry and semi-dry red and white wines as well as specialty products from its Creekbend Collection, which is made from grapes grown at Oliver's vineyard in Ellettsville.  The winery expects to produce more than 450,000 cases (1.1 million gallons of wine) this year and expects to ship as many as 1 million cases in five years. This summer, it will put the finishing touches on an $8 million, 28,000-square-foot building that will help make room for that expansion. CEO Bill Oliver, the son of the founder, talks with host Mason King about the winery's beginnings and its future and explains how its distribution has grown to 27 states. For more information, see reporter Samm Stall's story.   This episode of the IBJ Podcast is sponsored by nimboIP, your solutions in the cloud.  
21 min