Playmakers with Dave Calabro

IBJ Media Podcast Network
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IBJ Media's Playmakers With Dave Calabro features behind-the-scenes conversations with athletes, coaches, executives and leaders connected to Indiana sports. Host Dave Calabro spent 32 years in local TV sports and continues as a track announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each episode digs into the turning points, pressure and decisions behind the wins, plus what these playmakers do beyond the spotlight. New episodes publish twice a month. Presented by Indiana Members Credit Union.

Episodes

  1. 3D AGO

    Kyle Hupfer on ScatterGun Lodge, Indiana Politics, and Hard Work

    Kyle Hupfer built a career spanning law, Republican politics, and business before purchasing ScatterGun Lodge, a 2,200-acre pheasant hunting operation in South Dakota, in 2025. He talks with host Dave Calabro about what drew him to the property, his plans to grow the lodge, and why he believes land is one of the most reliable long-term investments a person can make. Hupfer traces his path from working on Mitch Daniels' gubernatorial campaign to running the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, serving seven years as Indiana Republican State Chairman, and taking on the role of General Counsel for the Republican National Committee. Along the way, he reflects on what Daniels and former Gov. Eric Holcomb taught him about leadership, and why he describes hard work, not ingenuity, as the defining factor behind most people's success. Hupfer also discusses his playing days at Pendleton Heights, his time at Manchester University under coach Steve Alford, and the lessons from competitive athletics that still shape how he thinks about business and parenting. He talks candidly about running for the Indiana State House and losing, and why he treats setbacks as data points rather than defining moments. ScatterGun Lodge hosts corporate and private groups for full-service pheasant hunts on property that includes nearly a million planted trees. Hupfer says bookings for the season fill quickly. More information is available at scattergunlodge.com. Learn more about Indiana Members Credit Union at https://www.imcu.com/business

    27 min

  2. APR 3

    Adam Vinatieri on the Hall of Fame, Super Bowls and IndyCar

    Adam Vinatieri reflects on his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, the kicks that defined an era, and his new venture as an IndyCar team owner. The greatest kicker in NFL history sat down with host Dave Calabro at a race shop in Carmel, Indiana, to discuss a career that spanned 24 seasons, four Super Bowl championships, and some of the most pressure-filled moments in football history. Vinatieri revisits the 2001 AFC Divisional playoff game against the Raiders, known as the Tuck Rule Game, where he drilled a field goal through heavy snow to keep the Patriots alive. He also recalls winning Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts, beating the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game along the way, and what that victory meant to the city of Indianapolis. Off the field, Vinatieri opens up about co-owning an IndyCar team with the goal of winning the Indianapolis 500, coaching his sons at Zionsville High School, and the preparation habits that made him one of the most clutch performers in NFL history. He also shares what it was like to get that Hall of Fame knock on the door after falling short in his first year of eligibility. Playmakers is brought to you by Indiana Members Credit Union: https://www.imcu.com/personal/auto-loans-leases

    17 min

  3. MAR 27

    Don Fischer on 53 Years as the Voice of the Indiana Hoosiers

    Don Fischer has called Indiana Hoosiers games for 53 years, from a chaotic first broadcast to a football national championship. The longtime play-by-play announcer reflects on the moments that defined his career and the program's transformation. Fischer traces his unlikely path to the broadcast booth, from factory work and railroad night shifts to a correspondence course ad in the back of a sports magazine that changed his life. He recalls his first game calling Indiana football under Lee Corso, his famously awkward first meeting with Bob Knight, and what made the 1976 undefeated national championship team so remarkable. He also addresses Indiana basketball's current rebuild under Darian DeVries, explaining why the roster's mid-major backgrounds make the Big Ten grind especially difficult this season. On football, Fischer is direct: Curt Cignetti is the best coach in the country, and he knew it after watching one spring practice. Fischer credits the NIL era and transfer portal for making the program's rapid rise possible, and he sees no reason to stop calling games. This podcast is brought to you by Indiana Members Credit Union - https://www.imcu.com/personal/mortgage 0:00 Introduction 0:45 Calling Indiana University of Indiana 2:10 How Fischer Got Into Broadcasting 4:00 Railroad Night Shifts to Radio Career 5:45 Landing the IU Play-by-Play Job 7:00 Lee Corso's First Game at Indiana 8:30 The 1976 Undefeated Championship Run 9:45 First Meeting With Bob Knight 12:00 Fischer's Impact on Hoosier Fans 13:30 Indiana Basketball's Current Rebuild 15:45 The Football Championship Run 17:30 Recognizing Curt Cignetti's Potential Early 19:00 Fondest Memory After 53 Years

    22 min
  4. Tamika Catchings on the 2012 WNBA Title, Caitlin Clark, Kobe Bryant and Life After Basketball

    MAR 18

    Tamika Catchings on the 2012 WNBA Title, Caitlin Clark, Kobe Bryant and Life After Basketball

    WNBA legend Tamika Catchings joins host Dave Calabro for the first episode of IBJ Media's Playmakers at Tea's Me tea shop in Indianapolis to reflect on her decorated career, including the Indiana Fever's 2012 WNBA championship, four Olympic gold medals and her time as Players Association president. Catchings discusses her friendship with Kobe Bryant, her hearing impairment and how Coach Pat Summitt helped her embrace it, and her thoughts on the current Fever roster and Caitlin Clark. She also talks about owning Tea's Me, hiring more than 200 young people since 2018, and her work with the Catch the Stars Foundation. Presented by Indiana Members Credit Union. Learn more at https://www.imcu.com/business/

    24 min

  5. FEB 20

    Dave Calabro joins IBJ Media with new podcast, Playmakers

    IBJ Media owner and CEO Nate Feltman is joined by Dave Calabro to announce a new podcast hosted by the longtime Indiana sports broadcaster. Calabro joins IBJ Media to tell the stories behind the stories, featuring in-depth conversations with sports icons, business leaders and recognizable names in Indiana sports. Episodes will focus on pivotal career moments, life beyond the game and the people behind the headlines. New episodes will be published twice a month.

    16 min

  6. FEB 13

    Introducing IBJ Media's Playmakers with Dave Calabro

    IBJ Media's Playmakers With Dave Calabro features behind-the-scenes conversations with athletes, coaches, executives and leaders connected to Indiana sports. Host Dave Calabro spent 32 years in local TV sports and continues as a track announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each episode digs into the turning points, pressure and decisions behind the wins, plus what these playmakers do beyond the spotlight. New episodes publish twice a month.

    1 min

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

IBJ Media's Playmakers With Dave Calabro features behind-the-scenes conversations with athletes, coaches, executives and leaders connected to Indiana sports. Host Dave Calabro spent 32 years in local TV sports and continues as a track announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each episode digs into the turning points, pressure and decisions behind the wins, plus what these playmakers do beyond the spotlight. New episodes publish twice a month. Presented by Indiana Members Credit Union.

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