Show notes
On today's show I sat down with Fred Glass, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and former Indiana University athletic director and government leader, about how growing up in his father's Indianapolis tavern shaped his empathy and perspective. Glass looks back on the turning points of his career, including DC internships with Birch Bayh, law and clerkship decisions, serving in Governor Evan Bayh's office, leading the Capital Improvement Board through efforts that helped secure Lucas Oil Stadium and convention center expansion, and helping Indianapolis win a Super Bowl bid. He also describes rebuilding the culture and facilities of IU Athletics and the difficult decisions of firing coaches. Now at Gleaners, Glass explains the organization's large-scale food distribution model, its nationwide reach, and argues food insecurity is driven by poverty, rising housing and grocery costs, stagnant wages, and declining support. He urges volunteering and donations to help address hunger affecting about one million Hoosiers. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Fred Glass' Career Path - The Capital Improvement Board in Indianapolis - Gleaners Food Bank's Food Distribution Model - The Reasons for Food Insecurities Thank you to our partners: NCW Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Feeding the Line 01:20 Guest Introduction: Fred Glass, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana 02:44 Invisible Strings and Mentors 04:57 Growing Up in a Skid Row Bar 06:34 Only Child Lessons and Perspective 09:45 Alcoholism and Hard Truths 11:01 High School Hustle and Hitchhiking 13:08 Parenting and Building Empathy 16:58 Why Law School 19:23 Comfort Zone to DC Internship 26:32 Career Choices Create Options 30:30 Governor's Office Rise 33:30 Fighting Brain Drain in Indiana 34:39 What a Chief of Staff Does 35:12 Say Yes to Big Jobs 35:55 Term Limits and Transitions 37:06 Clinton Gore Campaign 37:42 Choosing Upside Over Pay 39:25 What the CIB Does 41:47 Why Indy Owns Venues 43:03 Keeping the Colts 46:23 Building Lucas Oil Deal 52:13 Stadium Taxes Explained 53:06 Super Bowl Bid Story 58:54 IU Athletic Director Leap 01:04:15 Rebuilding IU Athletics 01:06:55 Hardest Calls as AD 01:07:44 Discernment Under Fire 01:09:25 Firing Coaches Publicly 01:10:54 Leaving Before COVID 01:11:44 Hoosiers Title Reflection 01:14:00 From IU to Gleaners 01:15:07 Inside Modern Food Banking 01:18:38 Hunger Myths and Reality 01:21:20 Why Need Keeps Rising 01:28:02 Solutions and Policy Levers 01:31:00 How You Can Help 01:34:38 Indiana Rapid Fire Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.