What About? with James Bell

What About Finding Your Landing Zone? with Kevin McGoff

Bonjour! Today, James asks the question, "What About Finding Your Landing Zone?" His guest is attorney and author of Find Your Landing Zone: Life Beyond the Bar, Kevin McGoff! James and Kevin's conversation leads them to the Rain Tree Inn outside of New Castle, IN, jail parking lots, epitaphs and plans for change. We close out the show with today's big winners and losers. Give the show a listen and find out why later tonight we will be pouring out a pint of Guinness for a pour wee fella!  ...

What About Going Federal? with the Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson

Today, James asks the question, "What About Going Federal?" and who better to ask than U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Indiana, Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson. James and Judge Magnus-Stinson discuss topics vital to the survival of the American justice system including mansplaining, the definition of a highway, who has the best presidential handshake, the Talking Heads, U2, Harper Lee, Jeff Sessions, John Boy, and so much more!   Finally, we wrap up the show with our "big wi...

What About? with James Bell - The Teaser Episode

James Bell returns to the mic with his new podcast, What About? with James Bell! Featuring guests based in Indianapolis to New York City, tune in every other week beginning Tuesday, April 9th to here James ask the question, "What about?"

Off the Record with Bob Hammerle

Accomplished Indy criminal defense attorney Bob Hammerle of Hackman Hulett LLP has devoted almost as much time to his love of film as he has to the legal profession. During this episode of Off the Record, host Kerry Bennett chats with Bob about his journey in the profession, some memorable experiences, advice for new lawyers and his picks and pans in the movie world.  Learn more about Bob's legal career at https://hackmanhulett.com/attorneys/robert-w-hammerle/; his movie reviews can be foun...

Off the Record with Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt

The Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt became Chief Judge of the United States District Court of for the Southern District of Indiana on March 20, 2021. She is the first person of color to serve as the Southern District of Indiana's chief judge, and the tenth chief judge in the court's history.  In this episode, host Bianca Black chats with Judge Pratt to find out how she made her way to the federal bench, her advice on trusting your instincts AND staying in your comfort zone and some lesser-know...

Litigation in the 21st Century: Off the Record with David Herzog

With more than four decades of experience, Hoover Hull Turner partner David Herzog has had a front row seat to the continued evolution of civil litigation.  Join host Eric Schmadeke of Densborn Blachly  LLP to talk about the state of jury trials, how newer lawyers can build their practices and more.

Stress, Trauma & the Legal Professional: Off the Record with Loretta Oleksy & JLAP

After of year of pandemic-related stress and challenges, people across the world are still struggling, and of course, legal professionals in our own community are no exception. When it gets to be too much, where can you go for help? Off the Record host Kerry Hyatt Bennett is here with Loretta Oleksy of the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) to help figure it all out. Together, Loretta and Kerry demystify JLAP and talk about the impact of the collective trauma we’ve all expe...

Off the Record: Meet the Team

Off the Record is back for 2021, and we're welcoming some new faces to the team! Join us as we meet three new hosts who will help bring even more stories of Indy's lawyers to life: Kerry Hyatt Bennett of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Bianca Black of Littler Mendelson PC and Eric Schmadeke of Densborn Blachly LLP. Show Notes: OnyxFest Who the Bleep Did I Marry (subscription required) 2021 Bench Bar Conference

Fourth of July Message from Off the Record

Winfield Ong: Judicial Nominations, Michael Flynn and the Rule of Law

Winfield Ong is an experienced federal litigator and the former criminal chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana. In addition, he is a President Obama judicial nominee for the U.S. District Court, and he is a current white collar criminal defense attorney at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum.  During this interview, the main topics of discussion were Winfield's journey through the judicial nomination process and Attorney General Bill Barr's decision to move to dis...

George Floyd: Race, Power & Our Community (with Jimmie McMillian and Michael Tolbert)

The death of George Floyd has sparked outrage across the country and brought the many issues surrounding systemic racism to the forefront. Our community is no exception. Difficult conversations are starting to happen, and amid the protests, anger and tears, many have questioned what they can do to help. In this special episode of Off the Record, host James Bell talks with two Indiana bar leaders, Michael Tolbert and Jimmie McMillian, who provide their perspective on the situation.  Michael ...

Podcasting from Isolation: Writer Tom Chiarella on Roger Penske, IMS & COVID-19

Roger Penske assumed ownership of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January 2020. Just three months later, the greatest spectacle in racing was rescheduled from May to August amid this unprecedented public health crisis. Writer Tom Chiarella talks about a recent interview with Penske, plus his own personal experience with the COVID-19 pandemic during this episode of Off the Record with James Bell.

Off the Record: Podcasting from Isolation (And Talking Baseball) with Judge PJ Dietrick

Before he took his seat on the Marion Superior Court bench, Judge PJ Dietrick had a decidedly different career as a minor league baseball player. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 6th round of the 1984 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Judge Dietrick made his way from Medford, Oregon to Tacoma, Washington (with a few stops along the way) as he chased his baseball dreams. Join us as host James Bell chats with Judge Dietrick about his past baseball life, including run-ins with stars l...

Off the Record: Podcasting from Isolation with Judge Marc Rothenberg

Thanks to the wonders of technology, we're bringing you new episodes of Off the Record with James Bell during this time of isolation and social distancing. In this episode, James talks with Judge Marc Rothenberg of Marion Superior Court.

Best of Off the Record: Monica Foster

Enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Off the Record, where host James Bell talks with Monica Foster of the Indiana Federal Community Defenders about arguing at the U.S. Supreme Court, her experience defending 15-year-old death who was sentenced to death, the Buffalo Bills and more.  Plus, enjoy a brand new intro that explores a question every attorney has pondered: would a Hufflepuff make a good lawyer? 

Impeachment: Hanging with Dershowitz. An Interview with Esquire Writer Tom Chiarella

One writer got a chance to follow attorney to the stars and Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz as he prepared for his historic argument against the impeachment of President Donald Trump. That writer was Tom Chiarella, Esquire columnist and Professor Emeritus at DePauw University. In addition to Dershowitz, Chiarella has interviewed and profiled celebrities like Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, James Franco, Clive Owen, Kate Beckinsale, Ryan Gosling, Guy Ritchie, Halle ...

Off the Record with James Bell: Dean Andy Klein, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Join us as we chat with America's favorite law school dean, Dean Andy Klein of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Dean Klein shares his path to academia, what's happening in law schools these days and his plans for the future after he steps down as dean later this year. 

Off the Record with James Bell: Andy Campbell, Faegre Baker Daniels

It's a new decade for the IndyBar, and leading the association into it is President Andy Campbell, a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels (soon to be Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath). In this episode, we talk law firm mergers, political science and life at the University of Montana, work/life balance, what's next for the IndyBar and more.

Off the Record with James Bell: Andy Campbell, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

It's a new decade for the IndyBar, and leading the association into it is President Andy Campbell, a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath. In this episode, we talk law firm mergers, political science and life at the University of Montana, work/life balance, what's next for the IndyBar and more.

A Message from the Host

Tune in for important IndyBar updates and musings on celebrities and second chances. 

Off the Record: Philip "Skip" Kappes, Lewis Kappes PC

A number of notable things happened in 1948. One of them? Indianapolis lawyer Philip "Skip" Kappes passed the bar and became a practicing attorney. Since then, he's lived through countless changes in the profession and in our community. Some things have stayed the same, though. Join us on this episode as we chat with one of Indy's legal legends. 

Off the Record: Heather Wilson, Frost Brown Todd

Female representation on the bench appears to be at an all-time high in Indiana, with women leading the Indiana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the  U.S. Bankrupcty Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Marion Superior Court and more. But where do we stand with women in private practice? Frost Brown Todd Indianapolis office Member in Charge Heather Wilson joined us to talk about leading a large law firm in ...

Off the Record: Larry Pozner

Attendees at the 2019 IndyBar Bench Bar Conference were treated to several sessions presented by one of the nation's foremost experts on cross examination, civil litigation and criminal defense, Larry Pozner. After wrapping up his presentations, Pozner was kind enough to sit down with Off the Record host James Bell to talk about growing up in Indianapolis, the stress of trial work, criminal practice versus civil practice and much more. Pozner is the author of "Cross-Examination: Science and...

Off the Record: Brian Paul, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

First Monday is coming, and you know what that means...all eyes will be on the United States Supreme Court as it opens its new term. Brian Paul of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP joins us on this episode of Off the Record with James Bell to provide an update on where the court is and a preview of where it might go in this term. Plus, hear a moving tribute to former Dean Norman Lefstein of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, who passed away on August 29, 2019. To subscribe to...

Off the Record: Brian Paul, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

First Monday is coming, and you know what that means...all eyes will be on the United States Supreme Court as it opens its new term. Brian Paul of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP joins us on this episode of Off the Record with James Bell to provide an update on where the court is and a preview of where it might go in this term. Plus, hear a moving tribute to former Dean Norman Lefstein of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, who passed away on August 29, 2019. To sub...

Off the Record: Judge Carr Darden

For many, the era of Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights Movement are topics learned in school. Others, like Judge Carr Darden, experienced the struggle for social justice firsthand. On this episode of Off the Record, host James Bell speaks with Judge Darden about his life, his experiences and his words of advice for the future. Judge Darden was named to the Court of Appeals of Indiana by Governor Evan Bayh in October 1994 and was retained on the Court by election in 1998 and 2008. Prior to ...

A Quick Update From Our Host

Wondering where new episodes of Off the Record with James Bell have been? Never fear! We're taking a little summer break but will be back with brand new episodes this fall. We've already got four episodes recorded and are excited to feature guests from a more diverse range of backgrounds and practice areas. Have an idea for a guest or want to share feedback? Contact our host by email at [email protected] or tweet him at @jamesjbell.

Off the Record: Rick Kammen, Kammen & Moudy (Part 2)

When we last left Rick, he was facing uncertainty about his representation of alleged USS Cole bombing mastermind Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. Get the latest on this stranger-than-fiction story, including a bombshell decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in April 2019, as James Bell talks to Rick again almost a year later. 

Off the Record: Rick Kammen, Kammen & Moudy (Part 1)

In November 2017, Indy lawyer Rick Kammen made headlines when he refused to return to Guantanamo Bay after his request to withdraw from representation of alleged USS Cole bombing mastermind Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri was rescinded. Rick had served as lead defense attorney for Nashiri, who is facing the death penalty, since 2008. Rick's experience in Guantanamo is a tale that includes torture, classified information, and CIA Director Gina Haspel.   Don't miss this inside look at a stranger-tha...

Off the Record: Doug Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Greetings Race Fans! It's May in Indy, and we all have one thing on our minds: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Don't miss this opportunity to meet the man behind the month of May at IMS. We're talking to Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles about his first Indy 500, what it's like to come to work at IMS every day, his experiences as a racing team owner and in politics, and how he balances being a lawyer AND a promoter.  Doug Boles was named ...

Off the Record: Jim Reed, Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP

On this episode of Off the Record, we'll talk with Jim Reed, a divorce lawyer, a family lawyer, and a relationship transition lawyer at Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP in Indianapolis. Jim has been involved with divorce cases with some of the largest marital estates in Indiana. In this podcast, Jim talks about farming, hairdos, food, how the practice of law has changed over the years, what he learned from his mentor Jim Buck, and importantly, how to handle clients and how to transition relations...

Off the Record: Jim Reed, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum

On this episode of Off the Record, we'll talk with Jim Reed, a divorce lawyer, a family lawyer, and a relationship transition lawyer at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum in Indianapolis. Jim has been involved with divorce cases with some of the largest marital estates in Indiana. In this podcast, Jim talks about farming, hairdos, food, how the practice of law has changed over the years, what he learned from his mentor Jim Buck, and importantly, how to handle clients and how to transition relationsh...

Off the Record: Monica Foster, Indiana Federal Community Defenders

On this episode of Off the Record, we'll talk to Monica Foster of Indiana Federal Community Defenders. A nationally requested expert and lecturer, Monica assumed the leadership of the Indiana Federal Defenders in 2012. She joined the Federal Defender Network following a distinguished career in private practice, providing representation to indigent persons charged with the death penalty, both at trial and on appeal.    Monica has argued in state and federal courts throughout the country, inc...