the Hoel Truth Podcast

In this inspiring episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Bob sits down with Zuzana “Z” Smith—Executive Director of the Love Community Center in Rushville, IN. Originally from a small farming village in Slovakia, Z shares her journey from hospitality and service work to leading one of the most ambitious community projects in small-town Indiana.

Discover how a former Walmart building became a thriving hub for fitness, food acces...

At just 22 years old, Luke Williams launched his HVAC business in Connersville, Indiana, with nothing but grit, family support, and a 1999 Chevy Lumina.

In this episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Luke shares how he transitioned straight from HVAC school to business ownership, what he’s learned about hiring, customer service, licensing, and keeping a reputation in small towns.

If you're thinking about starting...

In this episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Bob sits down with Sami DeLey—FFA advisor and Ag teacher at Rushville Consolidated High School—to talk about leadership, legacy, and her path from student to educator.

Sami shares her journey from FFA student to classroom educator, the importance of resilience, and how her students are learning real-world leadership through events like Rushville’s first-ever tractor pull.

In this episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Bob welcomes Mike Ippoliti, Strategic Implementation Lead at Leap CRM, for an emotional and insightful conversation on purpose, growth, and building better contractor businesses.

Mike shares how a print job at Staples launched his CRM career, how faith and service fuel his mission, and why empowering contractors with better tech and better culture is his life’s work. From the back...

In this episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Bob sits down with Seth Hardin, co-owner of the Chicago’s Pizza franchise in Cambridge City, Indiana. Seth and his partner Katie transitioned from mechanical contracting and pharmacy to launching their first restaurant—and crushed expectations with 72,000+ guests in their first 8 months.

Seth opens up about entrepreneurship, hiring teens, their dough-making secrets, how they'...

Jake Adams, co-owner of Jake's Heating & Cooling in Knightstown, Indiana, shares how he and his wife built and scaled their HVAC and plumbing business with a relentless focus on customer experience—not private equity.

You'll hear real stories of growth, hiring, training, ghost hunts (yes, really), and the secret to thriving in small-town markets without sacrificing service or sanity.

This episode is ...

In this episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Bob sits down with Barry Wagner from Velux Skylights to explore how education—not pressure—drives customer satisfaction and trust. From game-changing skylight technology and solar shades to real-world sales lessons, Bob and Barry get into the weeds on what homeowners really want from contractors and manufacturers today.

🚨 Discover why Velux is changing the skylight game—and why t...

In this episode of the Hoel Truth Podcast, we sit down with Zach Tressler—an 18-year-old with a remarkable story of hard work, humility, and generosity. After 10 years in 4-H, Zach sold his livestock at the Rush County Fair and donated $19,300 back to help rebuild the fairgrounds.

Why would a high school senior give back instead of cash in? What lessons has 4-H taught him about life, leadership, and losing with grace?
...

What does it really mean to live debt-free — and leave a legacy that outlives you?

In this powerful episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, we reunite with Zoe Mann for an unfiltered conversation about work, money, influence, and what it takes to make meaningful, lasting impact.

From buying her first car in cash to becoming a certified financial counselor, Zoe’s journey proves that living below your means isn’t just sm...

Want to graduate college debt-free? Meet Zoe Mann — a 21-year-old who did just that. In this episode of the Hoel Truth Podcast, Zoe returns to share her powerful story of how she beat the odds, worked through college, and graduated without a penny of debt.

Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or just trying to reset your financial future, this conversation is packed with real talk, practical tips, and finan...