Indiana Success Happy Hour

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.

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.

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.

The Depot in Greenfield, Indiana transformed a historic 1912 grain elevator into one of Indiana’s most unique restaurants, live music venues, and downtown destinations. This week on Indiana Success Happy Hour, Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum sit down with The Depot owner Thomas Moore to hear how a $38,000 grain elevator became a centerpiece of downtown Greenfield. Thomas shares how his career as a master electrician wiring restaurants gave him a front-row seat to what makes restaurants succeed—and fail. Eventually, he decided to take the leap himself. They get into the massive undertaking of preserving the historic grain elevator, the original features that remain inside The Depot, its incredible views, and why the building itself has become such an important part of the restaurant’s identity. Thomas also talks about The Depot’s live music scene, Greenfield’s summer concert series and Freedom Fest, plus the growth happening throughout downtown Greenfield. And, naturally, Brian and Brad spend a little time trying to convince Thomas that another historic grain elevator might be waiting for The Depot somewhere else in Indiana. It’s a conversation about entrepreneurship, taking risks, preserving Indiana history, building something people want to experience, and what can happen when a local business becomes part of a community’s identity.

Terre Haute, Indiana real estate, affordable homes, investing, and building a real estate career at 24—Josh Rixner shares how he went from serving pizza to leading agents at Century 21. Josh Rixner joins Brian Quinlan and Brad Niccum on Indiana Success Happy Hour to talk about taking an unconventional path into real estate and quickly turning it into a career. Josh skipped college, started working, and discovered real estate after a conversation with an agent he happened to be serving at a pizza restaurant. Four years later, he’s the Sales Manager at Century 21 Elite Realty in Terre Haute, helping agents set goals, navigate transactions, and grow their businesses. Josh shares what it was like entering real estate at such a young age, how he overcame concerns that clients wouldn’t take him seriously, and why knowledge and relationships became his biggest competitive advantages. The guys also dig into the Terre Haute housing market, including the affordability difference between Terre Haute and Indianapolis, opportunities for real estate investors, lower-cost properties, rental potential, and why some Illinois residents are choosing to live across the state line in Indiana. Plus, Josh tells the story of discovering a squatter inside one of his listings, explains why moving his business back home nearly doubled his opportunities, and discusses what he’s learned transitioning from producing agent to real estate leadership.