Innovate or Evaporate with Toph Day

IBJ Media Podcast Network
IBJ Media Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Explore the relentless pace of change and the innovators who drive it. Each episode, we dive deep into the world of cutting-edge ideas, breakthrough technologies, and fearless pioneers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

  1. Jul 22

    Kenny Moore II: From Undrafted to Pro Bowl

    Kenny Moore II turned an undrafted start and a preseason release into a Pro Bowl career, then built a community mission that reaches far beyond football. Moore traces his path from Valdosta, Georgia, where he grew up as the only boy among seven children, to Valdosta State and the NFL. He explains how his mother's work ethic shaped him, why playing several sports helped him recognize patterns, and how film study became the foundation of his success as a defensive back. He recounts nearly losing his place in college over poor grades, hearing an administrator tell him football would lead nowhere, and deciding to leave school before his final season to pursue the league. After all-star games, regional combines and three pro days in five days, he signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. A roster cut did not end the plan. The conversation also covers grief, Moore's reconciliation with his father, and the chest tap he uses as a tribute. Through the Love One Foundation, he says community service is an obligation rooted in the people who invested in him. His work has included youth mentorship, foster care outreach and hurricane relief that helped deliver 13,000 meals in Valdosta. Moore and host Toph Day examine youth sports specialization, the classroom work behind professional football, handling doubt without resentment, creativity as a form of relief, honest self-evaluation and mental wellness. Moore, a three-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, explains why proving supporters right matters more than proving critics wrong. Episode 45 of Innovate or Evaporate is hosted by Toph Day. Learn more at loveonefoundation.org and follow @mooreii.

    Kenny Moore II: From Undrafted to Pro Bowl

  2. Jul 8

    Katie Lucas on Leading Lucas Oil's 300-Product Empire

    Katie Lucas built her credibility in a hyper-traditional industry from scratch, starting as an outside marketing consultant before rising to president of Lucas Oil Products, one of America's most iconic industrial brands. The company ships more than 300 products across 48 countries, holds a multi-year NFL global partnership, and recently completed a historic headquarters relocation from California to Indiana. Lucas walks through the full arc of the business, from founder Forrest Lucas mixing his first fuel additive in frustration during cross-country trucking runs in 1989, to the operational discipline required to scale a privately held company past 600 employees without ever taking on debt. She discusses how she and her husband Morgan Lucas divide leadership responsibilities, why they brought Jim Collins in to work through organizational structure, and how closing California operations, though painful, was the clearest business decision they faced. Lucas also details Lucas Oil's long-running support of Ascension St. Vincent and Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, a new shoe bank partnership with Wheeler Mission and New Shoe Day, and her belief that corporate giving works best when companies stop competing for credit and start combining resources. On growth, she addresses the EV transition, a 23 percent spike in cost of goods, expanding the R&D team, and the tension between playing it safe and taking the kind of risk that produces something bigger than incremental gains. #LucasOil #InnovatePodcast #IndianaBusinessLeader 0:00 Introduction and Katie Lucas Overview 1:52 Childhood, Resilience, and Early Influences 3:45 Kelley School of Business and the Colts Dream Job 5:55 Lessons in Corporate Sales and Relationships 7:00 The Naming Rights Deal Built on Trust 7:55 How Forrest Lucas Started Lucas Oil in 1989 10:00 From Fuel Additive to 300-Plus Products 11:00 Katie's Path From Consultant to Lucas Oil 13:50 Walking the Plant Floor and Learning the Business 15:45 Drag Racing, Monster Trucks, and Brand Ambassadors 18:45 Joining Full Time and Building Strategy 20:45 Restructuring the Team and Jim Collins 23:30 Recruiting Talent to a Family Business Culture 26:00 The Railroad, the Ranch, and the Golf Course 28:00 Chief Administrative Officer to President 30:30 Co-Leading With Morgan and Defining Swim Lanes 32:00 What Keeps Katie Up at Night 34:00 AI, R&D, and the Physical Economy 35:20 Moving Headquarters From California to Indiana 37:30 Philanthropy, Tithing, and Community Commitment 39:30 New Shoe Day and Wheeler Mission 42:00 Advice on Mentorship and Continuous Learning 43:30 Rapid Fire: Embracing Change and Esther 4:14 45:00 Fixing Childhood Hunger and Final Thoughts

  3. Jun 24

    David Becker: Building the First Internet Bank From Scratch

    David Becker saw friction where others saw stability, and in 1998 he built the first fully online bank in the United States with no branches, no tellers, and a safe full of candy bars to satisfy regulators. Becker, founder and CEO of First Internet Bank, traces the entire arc of his entrepreneurial career, from a childhood newspaper route in Indianapolis to five Inc. 500 companies spanning financial software, real-time ATM processing, educational technology, and point-of-sale systems. He describes the three-year regulatory gauntlet required to charter First Internet Bank, including a late-night phone call from a Washington official who had never made a business decision in his life, and how a full-page "Bank Naked" ad in USA Today helped land the bank's ideal customer: a high-net-worth, frequent traveler with an 780 average credit score. The conversation covers Becker's work bringing Switzerland's apprenticeship model to Indiana through the NCAPS program, his view that 70 percent of Indiana high school graduates have no credential post-graduation, and why he believes the Midwest dairy-farm work ethic remains a competitive advantage. He also addresses board construction, capital strategy for early-stage founders, and how First Internet Bank's AI-powered customer service bot answered 45 percent of incoming calls in one quarter with a net promoter score of 68. 0:00 Introduction and David Becker's Origin Story 3:50 Paper Routes, Hay Bales, and Early Business Lessons 5:50 Economic Development and the Missouri Recruitment Story 9:55 RDS, ViFi, and Becker's Other Inc. 500 Companies 13:45 Quitting the Boardroom to Start RDS 15:50 The ATM Fraud Problem That Inspired a Bank 17:45 Deciding to Start the First Internet Bank 18:55 Three Years of Regulatory Battles 22:45 The Friday Phone Call That Changed Everything 24:00 Launching the Bank: PR Blitz and USA Today Ads 30:50 First Internet Bank's Fishers Headquarters 31:55 Recruiting Talent and the Swiss Apprenticeship Model 40:45 Indiana Talent Pipeline and the 60 Percent Drain 43:50 AI, Customer Service Bots, and NPS Scores 53:30 Board Construction and Advice for Entrepreneurs 1:03:55 Rapid Fire Questions 1:07:45 How to Find First Internet Bank

    David Becker: Building the First Internet Bank From Scratch

  4. Jun 10

    Craig Gunckel, CEO of ODP, on Transforming Office Depot and OfficeMax

    Craig Gunckel took a receipt paper company no one believed in and delivered a 15X return for investors. Now he's doing it again as CEO of ODP, the parent company of Office Depot and OfficeMax, after Atlas Holdings completed its acquisition in December 2025. Gunckel, speaking with host Toph Day at the NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis, explains how he thinks about innovation in traditional industries, why strategy matters more than culture, and what it means to lead 18,000 coworkers through a business turnaround. He also reflects on his eight years as CEO of Iconex, where he built the largest manufacturer of receipt paper and linerless labels in North America, including the label on your Starbucks cup, before selling the business in two separate strategic transactions. The conversation covers how Gunckel went from career corporate executive to Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, why he visited 36 Office Depot stores in his first four months on the job, and what he looks for when hiring: curiosity, authenticity, and strategic thinking as a process rather than a one-time exercise. He also discusses his work on the advisory board of the Daniels School of Business at Purdue University and his Silver Beaver Award from Scouting America. For leaders at any stage, his framework is direct: know where you will play, know how you will win, and revisit that strategy every month, not once a year. #InnovateOrEvaporate #ODP #OfficeDepot 0:00 Introduction and Craig Gunckel's Background 1:50 How Iconex Redefined Innovation in Paper 4:00 The Case for Paper Receipts in a Digital World 5:10 From Corporate Executive to Private Equity CEO 7:05 Selling Iconex: Two Deals, One 15X Return 9:10 Semi-Retirement, Atlas Holdings, and ODP 10:55 Taking Office Depot Private 12:00 Four Months In: 36 Stores and Counting 13:30 Strategy Over Culture: Leading a Turnaround 16:00 Earning the Red Shirt at Office Depot 18:30 Giving Back: Purdue, Scouting America 20:45 What Gunckel Looks for When Hiring Talent 22:30 Retail's Biggest Mistake and How to Avoid It 24:10 Strategy as a Monthly Process, Not a Plan 25:45 Rapid Fire: One Problem Worth Solving

    Craig Gunckel, CEO of ODP, on Transforming Office Depot and OfficeMax

  5. May 27

    How David Meltzer Lost Everything — and Found Purpose

    David Meltzer lost over $100 million, his mother's home, and nearly his marriage before rebuilding his life around faith, gratitude, and intentional living. The chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute and former CEO of Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, the agency that inspired the film "Jerry Maguire," Meltzer joins host Toph Day at the Rally conference to discuss the turning points that reshaped his life and business philosophy. Meltzer traces his path from a working-class upbringing in Akron, Ohio, through early success selling legal research on the internet in 1992, to becoming CEO of Samsung's first data phone division. He speaks candidly about the moment his wife told him she was leaving, the day he had to tell his mother he had lost her home to foreclosure, and how both moments forced a reckoning with who he had become. The conversation covers the role faith plays in daily decision-making, the difference between seeking equality and appreciating difference, and the framework Meltzer uses to structure his time around non-negotiable behaviors: sleep, movement, nutrition, family, finance, and faith. He also shares the philosophy behind his mission to empower more than one billion people to be happy, a goal rooted in his belief that generosity and receiving are both acts of faith. Meltzer's book "Connected to Goodness" is available at no cost, including shipping, by emailing david@dmeltzer.com. #BusinessPodcast #DavidMeltzer #PersonalDevelopment

    How David Meltzer Lost Everything — and Found Purpose

  6. May 20

    Dave Neff on Leading the 500 Festival and Building Trust

    In this episode of Innovate or Evaporate, host Toph Day sits down with Dave Neff, CEO of the 500 Festival, to explore how relationships, trust, and innovation shape one of Indiana’s most iconic civic traditions. Dave shares his journey from the Indiana Pacers to EDGE Mentoring, the Boilermaker Alliance, and now the 500 Festival, revealing how leadership, mentorship, and community engagement create lasting impact. He also breaks down the full scope of what the 500 Festival actually produces: the Indianapolis Mini Marathon, which drew more than 33,000 participants this year including an 11-year-old who set a half marathon world record, the Indy 500 Parade presented by Lucas Oil, Kids Day on Monument Circle, a STEM-based education program reaching one-third of all Indiana fourth graders, and a 2,500-person volunteer corps with members who have served for decades. Neff also addresses what he calls the loneliness epidemic among men in their 30s and 40s, the case for Indianapolis embracing the "Speed City" identity, and why feedback is the most underrated tool for anyone trying to lead or innovate. Dave is also the host of Talent Scout, a podcast on the IBJ Media podcast network.

    Dave Neff on Leading the 500 Festival and Building Trust

  7. May 13

    Ed Carpenter on Building ECR and Racing the Indy 500 at 45

    Ed Carpenter has spent more than two decades competing in the Indianapolis 500 while simultaneously running the team that fields his car. The owner-driver of Ed Carpenter Racing discusses what it takes to survive and compete as an independent team in a sport increasingly dominated by manufacturer programs and private equity. Carpenter traces his path from quarter midgets at age 8 to three Indy 500 pole positions, reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including his 2003 Freedom 100 victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the decision to co-found ECR in 2012. He breaks down how the team operates with roughly 60 people, six engineers per car, and more than 100 sensors generating real-time telemetry data during every race. The conversation also covers IndyCar's new charter system and what it means for team valuations and long-term stability, the evolution of driver safety technology from SAFER barrier walls to windscreens, the role Chevrolet plays as a technical partner, and why Carpenter believes pit stop athleticism is now as important as car setup. Carpenter also reflects on the sport's broader growth, including a 44 percent increase in television viewership since moving to Fox. Follow Ed Carpenter Racing at ecrind.com and on social media at ECRIndy. #IndyCar #Indy500 #IndyCarPodcast

    Ed Carpenter on Building ECR and Racing the Indy 500 at 45

  8. Apr 29

    Mark Miles on the Indy 500, Roger Penske, and Building Big

    Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp., built a career out of pulling off events that other cities couldn't. From negotiating with Fidel Castro to land Cuba's athletes at the 1987 Pan American Games to restructuring global television rights for the ATP Tour to chairing Indianapolis's 2012 Super Bowl bid, Miles has spent four decades turning civic ambition into international spectacle. Miles traces the through line of his career: a restless curiosity that led him from Senate campaigns alongside Mitch Daniels and Dick Lugar to the boardrooms of professional sports. He explains what made Indianapolis's volunteer-driven model for major events unlike anything else in the country, why fragmented television rights were strangling professional tennis, and how a billion-dollar rights deal with a sports marketing agency nearly collapsed into bankruptcy before a letter of credit saved the day. The conversation turns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar, where Miles describes working alongside Roger Penske and the obsessive attention to detail that defines Penske's leadership style, from restroom paint schemes to full-scale styrofoam mockups of a yacht's interior. Miles also addresses how the sport is building community, both physically in the infield and digitally among fans who argue, connect, and pass traditions across generations. His advice for anyone preparing for a high-stakes negotiation: walk in more prepared than anyone else in the room, think as big as the idea can realistically go, and never accept the first framing of a problem. #IndyCar #Indy500 #InnovateOrEvaporate 0:00 Introduction and Guest Background 2:05 From College to Political Campaigns 6:45 Building Relationships Through Campaigns 8:10 Landing the Pan American Games 13:45 Negotiating with Fidel Castro 18:30 Lessons from the Castro Meetings 21:00 Running the Indianapolis Tennis Tournament 23:30 Restructuring the ATP Tour's TV Rights 27:00 Indianapolis and the Super Bowl Bid 30:45 The Indianapolis Volunteer Model 36:30 Joining Penske Entertainment and IndyCar 40:00 Fan Experience at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 44:30 Roger Penske's Attention to Detail 48:30 Rapid Fire Questions

    Mark Miles on the Indy 500, Roger Penske, and Building Big
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Explore the relentless pace of change and the innovators who drive it. Each episode, we dive deep into the world of cutting-edge ideas, breakthrough technologies, and fearless pioneers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

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