Episodes

  • Craig Huse on St. Elmo, Growth and Stewarding an Iconic Brand

    Craig Huse on St. Elmo, Growth and Stewarding an Iconic Brand
    May 14 2026
    In this special episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks on stage with Huse Culinary CEO Craig Huse, winner of the third annual Mickey Maurer Entrepreneur Award at IBJ’s Fast 25 event. Huse reflects on his path from washing dishes in Bloomington at age 14 to leading a hospitality company with nine restaurants, including the iconic downtown St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy’s and the 1933 Lounge, along with a consumer products business now sold in 40 states. He discusses growing an 84-year-old brand without compromising its standards, the decision to bottle St. Elmo’s famous cocktail sauce, why Harry & Izzy’s first location outside Indiana is opening in Scottsdale, Arizona and what it means to steward a brand he sees as part of Indianapolis.
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    26 mins
  • Tiffany Sauder on Building Element Three and Designing a Life That Fits with Life of And

    Tiffany Sauder on Building Element Three and Designing a Life That Fits with Life of And
    Apr 30 2026
    Tiffany Sauder, founder of Element Three and creator of Life of And, joins host Nate Feltman to discuss growing up in an entrepreneurial family in a small town in northwest Indiana, going into business with her father at a young age and navigating the 2008 recession, and then launching what has become a nationally recognized marketing agency. Sauder takes a deep dive into Life of And’s focus, the difficult lessons on risk and leadership she learned along the way, as well as key themes of balance, alignment and negotiation for busy, professional women juggling a career and family.
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    52 mins
  • Jeff Harrison, Citizens Energy Group CEO, on Water, Indy's Future

    Jeff Harrison, Citizens Energy Group CEO, on Water, Indy's Future
    Mar 26 2026
    Jeff Harrison, president and CEO of Citizens Energy Group, joins Nate Feltman on Off the Record to discuss the organization's unique public charitable trust model, the completed 28-mile Dig Indy Deep Tunnel project, the landmark deal to supply 25 million gallons of water per day to Lebanon for Eli Lilly and the LEAP District, and his 50-year planning philosophy aimed at making central Indiana drought-proof. Jeff also traces his path from Jeffersonville, where he grew up as the son of a bricklayer, to becoming the first African American to lead an Indianapolis-based utility.
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    56 mins
  • Off the Record with Jeff Smulyan: Emmis, WFAN and the Seattle Mariners

    Off the Record with Jeff Smulyan: Emmis, WFAN and the Seattle Mariners
    Mar 12 2026
    Jeff Smulyan joins Nate Feltman on Off the Record to discuss growing up in Indianapolis, studying at USC and returning home to build Emmis Communications into a national media company. He recounts buying his first stations, hiring David Letterman at WNTS and helping create major radio brands including Power 106 in Los Angeles, Hot 97 in New York, Q101 in Chicago and KSHE in St. Louis. Smulyan also explains why he pushed for sports talk radio at WFAN, what he learned from owning the Seattle Mariners and how he approached disruption in radio, television and publishing. He closes with lessons from his memoir, “Never Ride a Rollercoaster Upside Down,” and his views on risk, resilience, leadership, culture and civic engagement in Indianapolis.
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    57 mins
  • Off the Record: Brad Benbow on marketing, mentorship and leading with faith

    Off the Record: Brad Benbow on marketing, mentorship and leading with faith
    Feb 12 2026
    Brad Benbow, chairman and CEO of Prolific, joins IBJ Media CEO Nate Feltman on Off the Record, featuring leaders from IBJ Media’s Indiana 250 list. Benbow discusses his journey from growing up in Muncie to building a career in communications and consulting, including leadership roles at Ackerman McQueen, Rudder Communications Network and JDA Worldwide before launching Prolific. He also shares how faith shapes his leadership, highlights from his book Spiritual Graphics, the Prolific Growth Summit, partnerships with Israeli tech leaders and the Benbow Family Legacy Grant supporting families in Eaton, Indiana.
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    54 mins
  • UIndy President Tanuja Singh on UIndy Online, workforce partnerships and women’s leadership

    UIndy President Tanuja Singh on UIndy Online, workforce partnerships and women’s leadership
    Jan 22 2026
    University of Indianapolis President Tanuja Singh joins IBJ Media CEO Nate Feltman on Off the Record to discuss her path from growing up in India studying physics to banking, business education and university leadership. She highlights UIndy’s expanding options for learners through UIndy Online, stackable certificates and employer-focused programs for post-traditional students. Singh takes a deep dive into the Women’s Leadership Institute, including skill areas such as negotiation and financial strategy. The discussion also highlights recent gifts supporting the university’s business school, honors college and engineering programs as well as a Lilly Endowment-backed innovation center partnership with Perry Township Schools and a partnership with Indiana Sports Corp tied to student internships.
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    42 mins
  • Mel Raines on leading Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Indianapolis’ sports future

    Mel Raines on leading Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Indianapolis’ sports future
    Dec 30 2025
    On this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The discussion takes a deep dive into Raines’ unexpected career journey as she traces her upbringing in South Bend to studying telecommunications Indiana University leading to an unanticipated entry into politics, including work for U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, multiple Republican National Conventions, and the White House under Vice President Dick Cheney. Raines reflects on returning to Indiana to help deliver Super Bowl XLVI, her leadership experience in Washington, and her transition into professional sports. She also shares insights from leading the $400 million Gainbridge Fieldhouse renovation and discusses plans for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center now under construction downtown.
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    59 mins
  • Dennis Bland of the Center for Leadership Development on their role in shaping future leaders

    Dennis Bland of the Center for Leadership Development on their role in shaping future leaders
    Dec 9 2025
    In this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Dennis Bland, president of the Center for Leadership Development in Indianapolis. Bland reflects on his journey from growing up in a family of eight, raised by a single father, to becoming a standout student and attorney before returning to CLD as a volunteer, board member and ultimately its president. He explains how CLD has expanded from one program to 21 offerings beginning in fourth grade, along with a College Prep Institute that serves thousands of students and parents each year. Bland outlines CLD’s “no assumptions” approach to teaching youth core skills such as studying, leadership and understanding the value of education. He also discusses his focus on service, the example set by his father and what it means to receive IBJ Media’s Michael A. Carroll Award for his long-standing commitment to empowering Indianapolis youth.
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    55 mins