Indiana Success Happy Hour

Bradley Niccum
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  • Investing

A podcast about real people, real stories, and what success actually looks like. Hosted by Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum, each episode brings you candid, laid-back conversations with entrepreneurs, business owners, and interesting individuals from all walks of life. From big wins to hard lessons, we dig into the journeys behind the success—what worked, what didn’t, and what it really took to get there. It’s part insight, part storytelling, and part just hanging out—complete with laughs, honest moments, and the kind of conversations you’d have over a drink with good company.

  1. 12m ago

    Indiana Data Centers: The AI Debate No One is Talking About

    Everybody wants AI, but nobody wants a data center in their backyard. Is the backlash justified, or are we fighting against the very technology we depend on every day? In this episode of Indiana Success Happy Hour, hosts Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum dive into the heated debate surrounding Indiana's expanding data center industry, including major developments in Lebanon and South Bend. From Meta and Google to Amazon and NVIDIA, the companies powering our digital lives are investing heavily in infrastructure. But what happens when communities push back? Brian and Brad explore both sides of the conversation, including concerns about water consumption, electricity, property values, and the potential impact on retirement investments. And the conversation doesn't stop there. They also get into: Why Indiana residents are pushing back against data centers The surprising connection between AI infrastructure and your 401(k) Whether data centers actually hurt residential property values Mark Cuban's prediction about the future of AI infrastructure How artificial intelligence could change jobs, education, and retirement Whether AI could eventually eliminate the need to work Brad's growing Indiana distribution business and the surprising value of building a company Why the next generation may experience an entirely different way of living and working Along the way, Brian and Brad challenge each other's perspectives, share some laughs, and ask a bigger question: Are we resisting progress, or are we right to be concerned about where AI is taking us?

  2. Oct 25

    The Real Estate Industry is Changing: Who Will Survive?

    Will AI replace Realtors and mortgage loan officers? Keller Williams CEO Libby Johnson joins Indiana Success Happy Hour to discuss the future of real estate, today's housing market, and what it takes to succeed as an agent. Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum welcome Libby Johnson, a Realtor and leader overseeing 15 Keller Williams locations across Central Indiana, for a candid, entertaining conversation about the changing real estate industry. With higher interest rates, shifting buyer expectations, new technology, and increasing pressure on real estate professionals, is this actually one of the best opportunities for agents willing to adapt? Libby shares her journey from the corporate world into real estate, how she became a leader in one of Indiana's most recognized real estate organizations, and why resilience, relationships, and consistency matter more than ever. In this episode, we discuss: Will artificial intelligence eventually replace Realtors and mortgage professionals? Why today's challenging housing market may be an opportunity for skilled agents The biggest mistakes new real estate agents make Why watching HGTV doesn't prepare you for a career in real estate How Keller Williams approaches agent training, coaching, and leadership Whether new Realtors should join a team or build their own business Why relationships and community are essential to long-term success What separates agents who survive difficult markets from those who don't Why doing the boring work consistently is often the secret to success How the next generation of homebuyers could change the real estate transaction forever Plus, plenty of laughs, stories from the wildest days of Indiana real estate, and some entertaining detours along the way.

  3. Oct 18

    Sammy Hagar's 79th Birthday Bash in Cabo...What Really Happened

    Sammy Hagar's 79th Birthday Bash in Cabo San Lucas! Go inside Cabo Wabo Cantina for an unforgettable concert, Van Halen stories, and a look at what could be next for Sammy's legendary birthday celebration. Indiana Success Happy Hour is coming to you from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum take the podcast on the road to recap an incredible week of live music, longtime friendships, charity events, and a few unexpected adventures. We got the opportunity to see Sammy Hagar perform at his iconic Cabo Wabo Cantina, and at nearly 79 years old, the Red Rocker is still putting on one incredible show. From his unmistakable voice to an impressive performance by drummer Kenny Aronoff, this was a concert we won't soon forget. But could Sammy Hagar's 80th Birthday Bash be moving out of Cabo? Brad shares what he's heard about next year's celebration and why a change of venue could be coming. We also dig into the fascinating history of Cabo Wabo, including the original involvement of Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony, the financial struggles behind the club, and how Sammy ultimately turned it into a legendary destination. Beyond the concert, there's a lot more happening in Cabo! Brad and Wild Bill helped raise more than 217,000 Mexican pesos across three charity performances benefiting local children's organizations, including ADLN and Cabo Kids. We talk about the generosity of the Cabo community, the music, and why giving back has become such an important part of these trips. Plus, Brian experiences Cabo for the first time, from Mango Deck and Cerritos Beach to the incredible food, intense October humidity, and what it's really like exploring Mexico as a tourist. We even squeeze in a little Indiana real estate and mortgage talk while enjoying the view from Cabo San Lucas. Whether you're a Sammy Hagar fan, a Van Halen fan, planning your first Cabo vacation, or just enjoy great stories with good friends, this episode has something for you.

  4. Oct 4

    Inside One of Indiana’s Most Successful Restaurant Families | Blake Fogelsong

    Blake Fogelsong of Clancy’s Hospitality shares how his family built an Indiana restaurant legacy and why successful restaurants must constantly evolve to survive and grow. On this episode of Indiana Success Happy Hour, Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum sit down with Blake Fogelsong, third-generation owner and Director of Operations at Clancy’s Hospitality. Blake takes us through a family restaurant story that started with his grandfather opening Clancy’s Hamburgers and grew across three generations into a collection of distinctly different Indiana concepts. We get into the story behind The Pretender, a Japanese listening-bar-inspired restaurant in downtown Noblesville built around analog music, vinyl, vintage design, great food, and cocktails. Blake explains why they wanted to create an experience unlike anything else in the Indianapolis area—and why the right concept sometimes takes years to find the right location. We also dig into Grindstone Public House, Grindstone on the Monon, The Fountain Room, Michelangelo’s, and the return of the original Clancy’s brand. Beyond the food, Blake gets into the business realities of running restaurants today: higher labor and food costs, shrinking margins, evolving customer expectations, keeping concepts fresh, and knowing when a restaurant needs to change. Plus, we talk tequila, The Bear, Blake’s original plans to head to Hollywood, and what you should order when you visit The Pretender. It’s a conversation about family business, hospitality, calculated reinvention, and building restaurant experiences people actually want to come back to.

  5. Sep 27

    Indiana Real Estate Is About to Change — Here’s What Buyers & Sellers Need to Know

    Indiana real estate is changing fast. New appraisal rules, higher mortgage rates, low housing inventory, and home prices could reshape the Indiana housing market. This week on Indiana Success Happy Hour, Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum sit down for a wide-ranging conversation about what buyers, sellers, Realtors, and mortgage professionals could be facing next. Brad breaks down upcoming changes to conventional appraisals, including additional data requirements and why the process could become more detailed, time-consuming, and expensive. Brian and Brad also dig into mortgage rates, Indiana housing inventory, affordability, and why waiting for the “perfect” market may not play out the way buyers expect. Then things take a turn—as they usually do. Brad recaps his Vegas trip, including the wildly different sides of the Strip, Vegas prices, and riding in a Zoox autonomous vehicle. The guys also get into Buc-ee’s coming to Greenwood, Indiana, how technology is changing everyday life, what’s happening in education, and whether AI is about to make our lives dramatically better…or get a little weird. It’s real estate, business, technology, Indiana growth, and two guys following the conversation wherever it goes.

  6. Sep 20

    Indiana Housing in 2026: More Homes for Sale, So Why Can’t People Afford Them?

    Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum start with a look at what’s happening in housing and mortgages, including the 10-year Treasury, interest rates, Indiana real estate inventory, the nationwide housing shortage and one of the biggest challenges facing buyers today: affordability. There may still be millions fewer homes than America needs, but that doesn’t mean buyers can afford the homes that are available. Add higher home prices, mortgage rates, $1,000 car payments and increasingly long auto loans, and the math gets difficult quickly. Then things go off the rails—in the best way. Brian and Brad move from housing economics into the everyday things that make absolutely no sense: unnecessarily complicated car wash modes, Tesla and Range Rover problems, endless paperwork when buying a house, painfully slow car dealerships, getting older, people who refuse to return shopping carts, and the special brand of chaos that only seems to happen at airports. It’s part housing market discussion, part personal finance reality check and part airing of grievances. Welcome to another Indiana Success Happy Hour.

  7. Sep 13

    How Haberdasher Is Making Some of Indiana’s Most Unique Spirits

    Indiana craft spirits, whiskey, bourbon, and distilling take center stage as Brooks Bemis of Haberdasher Artisan Distillery in Franklin, Indiana, shows us what makes his spirits different. Brooks joins Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum to taste through some of Haberdasher’s most interesting creations—from rye and wheated bourbon to locally sourced brandy, barrel-aged gin, and one of the wildest ideas of the episode: a spirit made by distilling an IPA from an Indiana brewery. But there’s a bigger story behind what’s in the glass. Brooks had no formal distilling background when he started. He taught himself the craft, built Haberdasher as a side business while working a full-time job, and eventually made the jump to running the distillery full time. Now, Haberdasher is preparing for a major expansion in downtown Franklin that will increase production and add food, beer, wine, and more space for customers. We also dive into the science behind fermentation, small-barrel aging, pot stills, how different grains and barrels affect flavor—and whether something as crazy as playing Metallica or Mozart during fermentation could actually change the finished spirit. It’s part tasting, part science experiment, and part Indiana success story with a guy who turned his obsession with spirits into a growing business.

  8. Aug 30

    Behind the Camera: Building a Video Production Business in Indianapolis | Joe Toth

    ndianapolis video production, content marketing, photography, and brand storytelling take center stage as Joe Toth of Toth Media joins Indiana Success Happy Hour. Joe built Toth Media into a family-owned video production and photography company serving organizations locally, regionally, and nationally. He joins Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum to talk about how he got started, what businesses actually need from professional video, and how the content-production world continues to change. Joe's path started with music and percussion before a high school radio and TV class opened the door to visual storytelling. That journey eventually took him through Ball State and Indiana University, where sound production and sound design became specialties—and ultimately helped lay the foundation for Toth Media. The guys get into commercial video production, product photography, brand content, product launches, working alongside marketing and PR teams, and the difference between having an in-house content team and bringing in an outside production company. They also touch on AI voice tools versus professional voice talent and where Joe believes the human element still matters. And because this is Indiana Success Happy Hour, the conversation doesn't stay on business forever. Joe happens to be a serious tequila enthusiast and collector, which sends Brad and Joe down the agave rabbit hole. They talk about what separates traditionally made tequila from the mass-market stuff, the connection between the people, land and production process, and some memorable bottles—including an old-school Cabo Wabo that brings Brad's tequila journey full circle. Throw in Indiana University stories, Little 500 memories, Brian's PA announcing career, a few questionable college stories, and some exceptional bottles, and you've got a Happy Hour.

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About

A podcast about real people, real stories, and what success actually looks like. Hosted by Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum, each episode brings you candid, laid-back conversations with entrepreneurs, business owners, and interesting individuals from all walks of life. From big wins to hard lessons, we dig into the journeys behind the success—what worked, what didn’t, and what it really took to get there. It’s part insight, part storytelling, and part just hanging out—complete with laughs, honest moments, and the kind of conversations you’d have over a drink with good company.

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