Who Gets What?

Distribution of goodies in our society is determined by families, firms, and governments. Attempts to change how rewards and punishments, benefits and costs, are spread through the population cause conflict. The hosts are an economist, Morton Marcus, and a financial advisor, John Guy. Expect whimsy.

Janet Flanner 08/11/2026

Janet Flanner Indianapolis native Janet Flanner (1892-1978) was a journalist and author who wrote more than 50 years for The New Yorker magazine. The funeral service organization Flanner Buchanan, and the community center Flanner House were formed by members of her family. Our guest, Scott Keller, is her relative, producer of a play about her ("They Call Me Genet") and a scholar who spent personal time with her. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/42391315

Coaching dance and history 06/26/2026

Coaching dance and history Jeanette Watts is a performer, author, seamstress, and all-around motivator of groups wanting to enjoy life by dancing through history. We met her at the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri. We, in company with dozens of others, enjoyed her immensely. Here are relevant links: dancingthroughhistory.com, or, googling "History Is My Playground." Also, . She also has been named "The Johnny Appleseed of Dance." /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/41830630

RAGTIME, Youth Takes Over 06/08/2026

RAGTIME, Youth Takes Over High School Student Anderson Pries describes his appreciation for Ragtime, plus its history and various forms. Mr. Pries is founder of a new ragtime festival in South Elgin, Illinois, August 22, 2026: FOX RIVER RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Google Fox River Trolley Museum or look at ) /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/41577330

The Business Consultancy: The Steele Group 05/01/2026

The Business Consultancy: The Steele Group David Steele manages a world-wide consultancy usually involving how to manage relationships with customers. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/41122350

Issues in Government with Rhonda Cook 04/18/2026

Issues in Government with Rhonda Cook Rhonda Cook, President of Cook Government Advisors, talks about her experiences at a meeting of The Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute which highlighted important issues in local government. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/40919955

Becoming a Commercial Pilot 04/11/2026

Becoming a Commercial Pilot Our guest, Walter Barbary, who is studying aviation at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, has just started a formal program to become a commercial pilot. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/40812050

Reporting Sports, Almost Half a Century 02/28/2026

Reporting Sports, Almost Half a Century Bill Benner brings his experience to a discussion of a new stadum for The Bears, arrival of The Baltimore Colts, and much more, even including volleyball. Bill reported 31 years for The Indianapolis Star, 14 years for The Indianapolis Business Journal, and many months on the weekly television show, "Inside Indiana Business." /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/40262590

Life of Benjamin Harrison 02/19/2026

Life of Benjamin Harrison Life of Benjamin Harrison with Charles Hyde, President and CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, the number one Indianapolis visitors site by Trip Advisor (out of more than 370 experiences available in Indianapolis.) /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/40167840

Please, Artificial Intelligence, Let Me Choose 02/15/2026

Please, Artificial Intelligence, Let Me Choose Podcast co-host Morton Marcus does not want suggestions. He wants to turn where he wants to turn. He wants to choose the correct and appropriate word. Leave him alone! /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/40116045

Documentaries, Classic, and Contemporary, such as "Melania" 02/08/2026

Documentaries, Classic, and Contemporary, such as "Melania" Clayton Taylor is a televison producer with almost 5 decades under his belt. We last interviewed him in July, 2021. He talks about one of his favorites, "Finding Superman," and one not so favored, "Melania." /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/40037050

A Perspective on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, from former Indianapolis Urban League President 01/30/2026

A Perspective on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, from former Indianapolis Urban League President First black deputy mayor, president of The Urban League, leader of The Indiana Sports Corporation, and business executive, Joe Slash is more than qualified to speak about race relations, DEI, and dynamics of interracial history and circumstances. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/39939820

Preserving And Distributing Historic Films 01/14/2026

Preserving And Distributing Historic Films Eric Grayson is a film historian and collector who lends 16mm and 35mm films, and, when asked, projects those films for interested audiences, including at scheduled public audiences at Garfield Park in Indianapolis. He has two web sites: filmeric.com; Drfilm. net. He also has a periodic blog accessible at no charge through the first web site. Among his many gems are films from the original Milan basketball team, real games, that became the subject of the film "Hoosiers." (Now stored in Bloomington.) [A weak broad band connection caused interruptions in this recording without affecting the essence.] /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/39733395

Maximum Ages for Congress and The Presidency? 01/12/2026

Maximum Ages for Congress and The Presidency? In this summary of a recent column, Morton says we need to evaluate age and competence among our public officials. This is a 5-minute mini podcast. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/39700460

Christina Hale, Candidate, Speaker, Motivator and Author 01/07/2026

Christina Hale, Candidate, Speaker, Motivator and Author Having previously served in public office, and having sought higher offices such as Lt. Governor of Indiana and Congress person from Indiana's Fifth Congressional District, Christina has a lot to say about public issues as well as suggestions for persons starting their careers. In this context, her book, "Why Not You," is right on target. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/39650495

The Indianapolis Local Improvement Bond Bank Does Not Listen 12/30/2025

The Indianapolis Local Improvement Bond Bank Does Not Listen Morton attended an "open" meeting that voted on a budget, without explanation, without discussion, without public testimony, and authorized payments beyond its stated purpose. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/39565215

Evictions in Indiana 11/18/2025

Evictions in Indiana Rabbi Dr. Aaron Spiegel directs GIMA, The Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance, an ecumenical organization advocating for a legal envornment more friendly to tenants, starting with the premise that Indiana is in the top five of the most unfriendly states. In Indiana, a tenant can be one-day late, prosecuted the next day, out within the month, with a total debit rising 200 % due to legal fees and related costs. If unpaid, with 8 % interest, the tenant might not qualify for a future apartment or even for a mortgage. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/39075215

Minority Deposit Institution, (or, Mission Driven Institution) 11/14/2025

Minority Deposit Institution, (or, Mission Driven Institution) Rafael Sanchez, "Chief Impact Officer" of Old National Bank in Indianapolis, is working to open a "Minority Deposit Institution" in Indianapolis, at two locations, by the first quarter of 2026. This work is from a man who has served on more than 35 boards, profit and non profit, including groups assisting minorities. MDIs are explained, and we learn about his background having been born in Puerto Rico. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/39040915

The Fonseca Theater in Haughville 10/22/2025

The Fonseca Theater in Haughville With seven years under its belt, The Fonseca Theater has become an important part of The Haughville Community located west of down town Indianapolis. Its wide variety of programs and neighborhood services are the highlights of this conservatiion with Jordan Schwartz, its leader. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/38747285

The Nature of Poetry with Amanda Bradley 10/14/2025

The Nature of Poetry with Amanda Bradley Forgive this please: Want to learn about poetry from a poet? This podcast will do it. Amanda J. Bradley is an accomplished poet. She has three published collections plus scores of individually published poems while also serving as a writer and as a teacher, including at Butler University. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/38581035

Recycling Both People and Materials 10/09/2025

Recycling Both People and Materials Speaking to us from an office having two million COVID tests--with lithium batteries--stored just outside, Gregg Keesling tells us about recycling, fire hazards, land fills, vapes, and more. What to do? One idea is the new Indianapolis curbside recycling program. Equally important, education, especially for people who bring peanut butter containers, with residue of peanut butter, expecting it to be recycled. Nope. Food does not work. (Gregg is founder and president of Recyle Force.) /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/38525830

Artificial Intelligence Meets Natural Talent 10/02/2025

Artificial Intelligence Meets Natural Talent That is the corner from which June Rochelle expands her work, joys, and opportunities to teach. While a good share of her life is singing, such as a periodic vocalist at The Cole Porter Room of The Indiana Historical Society, and as a back up singer for Diana Ross and Celine Dion, she also teaches in library and schools. The subject? Use of artificial intelligence in many contexts, such as teaching non-reading five year olds how to play Scrabble. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/38434305

Proposals to Improve Education 09/20/2025

Proposals to Improve Education Keep teachers happy, expel disruptive kids or place them together in one classroom, establish a choice of education tracks such as the college track and the vocational track, and end grade inflation,* are discussed in this conversation with Indianapolis author Richard W. Garrett. His book is "U.S. Education is in Trouble, Let's Fix It!: 22 Reform Proposals." *47 % of high school graduates get A grades, giving parents a false sense of satisfaction. Meanwhile, only 35 % or less pass standard examinations. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/38291410

Grants Awarded; Grants Withdrawn, with grant writer Anne Laker 09/04/2025

Grants Awarded; Grants Withdrawn, with grant writer Anne Laker United States withdrawal of programed funds is a challenge for grant-writer Anne Laker. In this conversation, she lists specifics, while also stating that future applications must not contain certain words that guarantee rejection. Yet we must not forget: "funders are people too." /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/38088260

Roads, The Electronics That Guide You 08/26/2025

Roads, The Electronics That Guide You Improvement in traffic control/flow, and advances in methods to recognize whether a vehicle, bicycle, or human, is in the intersection, will improve safety and comfort of trips. Our guest, Darcy Bullock, is Lyles Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of the Joint Transportation Research Program with Courtesy Appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/37972280

Mid-Decade Redistricting 08/18/2025

Mid-Decade Redistricting To increase the number of Republican seats in The House of Representatives, certain states have been asked to re-district, or, perhaps better expressed, to "gerrymander" in favor of the Republican administration. Julia Vaughn, Executive Director of Common Cause Indiana, which long has campaigned that districts should be drawn impartially, with no original bias. If successful, parties in the future could re-district at will instead of just after the decennial census. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/37869160

Reducing Gun Violence 08/15/2025

Reducing Gun Violence As co-president of Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence, Jerry King thinks daily about use of guns in violent situations. Generally, gun violence has been declining in The Untied States except among young men for whom his organization conducts camps and seminars. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/37842975

Mobile Integrated Health in Pike Township 08/07/2025

Mobile Integrated Health in Pike Township After a brief discussion of DNR orders (Do Not Resuscitate), we learn about the Mobile Integrated Health Service of The Pike Township fire department. Out guest is Wendy Utzig who is an Emergency Medical Technician, Registered Nurse, with advanced training in hospice and palliative care, who serves as Community Resource Paramedic. Services include fall prevention education, home safety evaluations, medication reconciliation and chronic disease support. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/37716170

Indiana Towns, More Than Two Hundred, with Jeff Rasley 07/31/2025

Indiana Towns, More Than Two Hundred, with Jeff Rasley As part of a retired/covid activity, Jeff Rasley and his wife Alicia visited, photographed, and wrote about more than 200 Indiana towns. Their reports are on his Facebook page, as well as at JeffreyRasley,com. (Kokomo, Marion, Converse, Winona Lake, Clay City, Linton, Lawerenceburg, Tell City, West Baden and Princeton are mentioned.) /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/37626795

How Environmental Groups Collaborate 07/18/2025

How Environmental Groups Collaborate Sam Carpenter, Executive Director of The Hoosier Environmental Council, visits us again to discuss working with other groups to achieve common goals. /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/37454410

Our Economist: Morton Marcus 07/11/2025

Our Economist: Morton Marcus What is an economist? Who was the first? What is a "just price?" Is the Finance Department different and separate from The Economics Department? Should economists provide moral leadership? Do/should economists predict? Consulting? Effects of consulting? Will people do "the right thing?" /episode/index/show/mortonjohn/id/37372430

Who Gets What?

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