Southside Voices

The Real Work Behind Downtown Franklin - Danny Causey - Discover Downtown Franklin

Franklin has become one of those places people want to be. But that kind of growth comes with real challenges. Bigger events. Higher rents. Parking pressure. Volunteer burnout. Weather-dependent revenue. And the constant work of keeping small businesses supported. On this episode of Southside Voices, Danny Causey from Discover Downtown Franklin talks about what it really takes to build a downtown people love. Welcome to Southside Voices, the show that spotlights the business owners and community leaders shaping Johnson County and the Southside of Indianapolis. Each week, your hosts Jennifer Denney and Scott Gilcrest sit down for candid conversations about what it really takes to build, run, and grow a business today. Real stories. Real challenges. Real lessons.

What a Chamber Really Does - Rosie Chambers - Franklin Chamber of Commerce

A chamber is not just networking, and Rosie Chambers makes that clear fast. For the Franklin Chamber, the work is part business support, part community connector, and part steady voice when things get messy. In this episode of Southside Voices, Rosie talks about the 31 Corridor project, the pressure of leading in public, and why Franklin’s growth has to stay centered on people. It is a candid conversation about construction, collaboration, hard decisions, and what it really takes to build trust year after year. Welcome to Southside Voices, the show that spotlights the business owners and community leaders shaping Johnson County and the Southside of Indianapolis. Each week, your hosts Jennifer Denney and Scott Gilcrest sit down for candid conversations about what it really takes to build, run, and grow a business today. Real stories. Real challenges. Real lessons.

How Johnson County Gives Back - Kim Kasting - Johnson County Community Foundation

There is a lot of good work happening quietly in Johnson County, but quiet does not always help people understand where money goes, how decisions get made, or what problems are still left unsolved. In this episode, Jennifer and Scott sit down with Kim Kasting, president and CEO of Johnson County Community Foundation, to talk about the real work behind giving, grants, scholarships, childcare, housing, mental health, and the pressure of deciding where limited dollars can make the biggest difference. Welcome to Southside Voices, the show that spotlights the business owners and community leaders shaping Johnson County and the Southside of Indianapolis. Each week, your hosts Jennifer Denney and Scott Gilcrest sit down for candid conversations about what it really takes to build, run, and grow a business today. Real stories. Real challenges. Real lessons.

Risk, Revenue, and Reinvention - Mark Clark - Whits Inn

Some businesses grow because everything goes right. Mark Clark’s story is more honest than that. From radio sales and publishing to buying Whits Inn, Mark has learned that growth usually exposes the problems you did not know were there yet. More revenue can help, but it can also put pressure on your people, systems, kitchen, margins, and patience. In this conversation, Jennifer and Scott talk with Mark about taking over a longtime local spot, moving from dive bar to fast casual restaurant, letting go of control, trusting managers, testing breakfast, expanding catering, and learning when a “win” still comes with hard truths. It is a candid look at ownership, timing, risk, and the unglamorous decisions that keep a business alive. Welcome to Southside Voices, the show that spotlights the business owners and community leaders shaping Johnson County and the Southside of Indianapolis. Each week, your hosts Jennifer Denney and Scott Gilcrest sit down for candid conversations about what it really takes to build, run, and grow a business today. Real stories. Real challenges. Real lessons.

Trades, Trust, and the Cost of Ownership - Kent Beeson - Beeson Mechanical Service

“The biggest myth about being your own boss is that you can do whatever you want whenever you want.” Kent Beeson does not sugarcoat business ownership. In this episode, he talks about the real cost of being responsible for customers, employees, family, and a company with your name on it. It is honest, practical, and full of lessons you only learn by living them. Welcome to Southside Voices, the show that spotlights the business owners and community leaders shaping Johnson County and the Southside of Indianapolis. Each week, your hosts Jennifer Denney and Scott Gilcrest sit down for candid conversations about what it really takes to build, run, and grow a business today. Real stories. Real challenges. Real lessons.