Indiana 250: Off the Record with Nate Feltman

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.

Pete Ward, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Colts, joins host Nate Feltman for a deep dive into his 45 seasons with the franchise. In this episode of Off the Record, Ward recounts how an unpaid internship turned into a lifelong career and what it was like to experience the team’s midnight move from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. He shares behind-the-scenes details of working with Jim Irsay, building Lucas Oil Stadium, and helping bring the 2012 Super Bowl to Indy. Ward also reflects on the Colts’ civic impact, the growth of Indianapolis, the rise of the NFL, and the transition to new ownership under the Irsay daughters. Get a rare insider look at four decades of football, leadership, and community-building in Indiana.

On this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Peter Dunn, better known as Pete the Planner, one of America’s most trusted voices on personal finance. Dunn shares how a sixth-grade stock market contest launched his career, how he blends comedy and financial coaching to help people build better habits, and why the psychology of money matters more than math. He opens up about building Your Money Line, a fast-growing financial technology company using AI to deliver personalized advice to more than 800,000 people, and how leading a startup taught him hard-earned lessons about leadership, responsibility and giving back. A former columnist for USA Today and author of 10 books, Dunn discusses his national media presence, his roots in Indianapolis, and why financial wellness is critical in today’s workplace.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Al Hubbard, president of E&A Industries and a veteran of two presidential administrations. Hubbard shares how a sixth-grade classroom sparked his lifelong interest in public policy, leading to high-level roles with Vice Presidents Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush. He discusses his experience running businesses across diverse industries, his work on education reform—including Indiana’s charter and voucher expansion—and his efforts to lower hospital costs through Hoosiers for Affordable Healthcare. Hubbard also reflects on leadership, legacy, and why he passed on a role in the Trump administration.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment.   From leading the ATP Tour during the golden era of American tennis to overseeing the 1987 Pan Am Games, 2012 Super Bowl and the Indianapolis 500, Miles traces his remarkable career that helped shape modern Indianapolis. Miles shares candid stories of working with Fidel Castro, John McEnroe, Senator Dick Lugar and Roger Penske and also offers insights into the future of IndyCar, downtown Indianapolis, and the city's place among its national peers.