April 24, 2024 • 27 mins
Indiana Lt. Governor, Suzanne Crouch joins host, Kevin Shook for this amazing episode of Life Unscripted. Embark on a transformative exploration of Indiana's political realm as we chat with a gubernatorial candidate dedicated to revolutionizing the state's fiscal policies. Promising relief for Hoosier families, our guest lays out a daring plan to abolish state income tax, stimulating small business vigor and economic dynamism. Their approach pivots on streamlining government expenditure, sharpening the efficiency of state operations, and championing a vision where residents retain more of their hard-earned cash. Throughout our discourse, we scrutinize Indiana's structural complexities, pondering the necessity of 92 counties, and dissect the reverberations of a financial fiasco within the Family and Social Services Administration, all while unraveling the fiscal fabric of cities poised for growth.
Our journey through Indiana's political landscape leads us to the heart of small-town resurgence and mental health's critical juncture in modern society. We spotlight Richmond, Indiana, as a beacon of transformation where investments in connectivity and downtown areas are igniting economic and lifestyle renaissance. The episode not only celebrates these strides in urban renewal but also delves into healthcare innovations reshaping patient care outside traditional hospital environments. Amidst these revelations, we confront the mental health crises exacerbated by the pandemic and underscore the necessity to sustain normalcy for the well-being of our youth and community.
Concluding our episode with a lighter cadence, we share charming tales from our encounter with the Animal Care Alliance in Richmond. Featuring live animal guests and the heartwarming tales behind their care, we showcase the critical role of local wildlife rescues. The passion and dedication of individuals like Dr. Matt, who cares for an array of exotic creatures, offers a glimpse of the community's spirit. As our conversation wraps, with turtles stealing the show, we leave our audience with a sense of anticipation for the unfolding gubernatorial journey that could redefine the future of Indiana.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Life Unscripted with Kevin Shook.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
How in the heck does this happen, that you're?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
in here I don't think that I have any time.
Well, it just worked.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Right, all right, here's where the show starts.
Three, two welcome to Life.
Unscripted.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Great to be here, Kevin.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I don't know how we're here.
This is like really cool.
I'm super thankful that you setyour just a little time for me.
I met you up at Prescott'spicnic and I talked to you there
, and what's really cool is, ofcourse, my tickets always leaned
over to the right side a littlemore.
(00:38):
I'm never identified likestrictly as a Republican or
strictly as a Democrat.
I have great relationships witha lot of people.
I've agreed to disagree withpeople before and we're adults,
but everything that you standfor and everything that you
support, I'm like 100 percent onboard and I'm like I'm excited
to see you as the next governor.
(00:59):
So well, god willing, yeah,that's going to be huge.
Well, god willing, yeah, that'sgoing to be huge.
The last governor I really likefollowed was Arnold
Schwarzenegger, because I usedto be like a meathead a long
time ago.
So when Arnold Schwarzeneggerbecame the governor, I was like
how cool is that?
He has an expo every year inColumbus Ohio called the Arnold
(01:19):
Schwarzenegger Expo and it's abig sports festival.
So when he was governor, likehis, his, uh, security was
stacked.
And then we all remember the Cword, covid, and that was one of
the first events that kind ofgot shut down.
Last time I went he's driving agolf cart around with just a
couple of people hanging out andhe's just having a good time
(01:40):
living his life.
But no, I'm excited to see whathappens.
Um, like you kind of explainedit to me the other day that, uh,
right now you're in what sec?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
yeah, this race is really kind of comes down to
brawn and me yeah, you know and,um, you know, at the end of the
day I've been outspent.
You know, three to one.
However, right now, the lastfew weeks of the day, I've been
outspent, you know three to one.
However, right now, the lastfew weeks of the campaign, when
it really counts, I've got threetimes the money they have
because I didn't waste my moneyearly.
(02:14):
I've held on to it to the end.
But I really think it's theissues that I stand for that
really are resonating withHoosiers, you know.
Hoosiers are really hurtingtoday because of inflation and
the cost of living.
And you know it costs $11,400more today than it did three
years ago just to meet basichousehold needs.
Yeah, and so you know peopleare hurting and it's why I'm
(02:38):
saying let's get rid of theestate income tax, let's tax the
tax.
You know I mean we can putthousands of dollars back into
your pocket every year.
You know, and guess what?
You'll know how to spend itbetter than the government does.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And I'll make sure you get to keep it.
And I'll tell you my opponentsand I'm the only one saying
we're going to get rid of a tax,my opponents say, oh, we can't
do it.
You know it's too much money.
But what they're really sayingis government needs more of your
money and you need less.
And I'm going to make sure, asgovernor, you get to keep your
money.
It has to be phased in.
(03:13):
We can't do it all at once?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Okay, when you mentioned that, do you have,
what are some ideas you havethat might lead to that, that
might help that, or the certainsteps, because, like you said
it's going to be, we've got tolimit government growth, we've
got to end wasteful governmentspending, and then we've got to
find efficiencies in government,and that's how we make it
happen.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I'm talking about a tax cut, I'm not talking about a
tax replacement.
So I want to be perfectly clearthis is a tax cut and we do it
by limiting how much we allowgovernment to grow.
You, you know, in the past 10years, state governments grown
by 50% our budget and from the21 to the 23 budget session,
government spending grew by 19%.
(03:51):
So I'm saying, moving forward,let's take the base we have
today and then let's limit howmuch we allow it to grow.
Maybe it's the cost of livingor rate of inflation, but let's
not let it grow at 19%.
Let's let it grow at 19%, let'slet it grow at a smaller
percent.
And then when we get thoseexcess revenues and surpluses
(04:11):
like we had in 2023, let's putthem towards eliminating the
state income tax and we can getrid of it eventually.
And when we do, we putthousands of dollars back into
Hoosier's pockets, but we helpsmall businesses grow, because
the National Federation ofIndependent Business said the
number one tax that hurts smallbusinesses is the income tax.
And then, equally importantly,we make Indiana a no-income tax
(04:34):
state, because where are peoplemoving to today?
Tennessee, texas.
Florida, south Dakota allno-income tax states which, by
the way, their rate of GDPgrowth and their rate of
population is growing at fasterrates than Indiana's.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And they're no-income tax.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
They're no-income tax states, so here's something.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I was talking to a buddy last night.
He served on council years agoup here and now he lives down in
Arizona.
But he brought this up lastnight because I was like, do you
have any questions?
I should ask LG.
So he was talking about doesIndiana really need 92 counties
with 92 courthouses?
Because Arizona is kind of like15 counties and it's like three
(05:19):
times the size of Indiana.
So could there be, could therebe merges?
I mean, and on a very locallevel, city of Richmond sees
five police departments.
Is that stuff?
We need that?
So?
So taking that is that wheresome of our tax is, some things
could be more efficient together.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Well, I think, when it comes to state government,
when it comes to localgovernment, perhaps, when it
comes to state government, Ialready have I'm on my third
iteration of a plan to downsizeour state agencies.
So we have 100 agencies, boardsand commissions in Indiana.
So I want to get it down toabout a third that size and when
we do that we'll realize costsavings and efficiencies that
(06:04):
will be able to put towardseliminating the income tax.
You know, I also want to getrid of any rule and regulation
that is unnecessary.
You know, did you know that thecost of a new home, the cost of
a new home, 25% of the cost ofa new home is because of rules
and regulations that buildershave to follow?
So let's get rid of some ofthem that are 100, 200 years old
(06:26):
.
Yeah, let's get rid of all thoseunnecessary rules and
regulations.
And then I want to have outsideindependent audits of our state
agencies so we don't have abillion-dollar mistake like we
had in December when FSSA made abudgeting error.
And so what do they want to doto try to make up for that money
?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Take it out of our pocket.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
They cut the services to the parents who take care of
their severely disabled,medically complex children.
I'm talking about children withfeed tubes and tracheotomies
and on respirators, kids thatneed 24-7 care, and who better
to take care of them than theirparents?
And so we make a billion-dollarerror and then we say we're not
(07:08):
going to give that much moneyto you parents that are taking
care of these children.
It's really unconscionable andat the end of the day, kevin,
we're going to be judged by howwe care for the most vulnerable
among us.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
No, you're absolutely right, and that was a lot, but
that's, that's spot on.
There's just like you said.
They're like we are overtaxed.
You know, from our income taxto property tax, everything's a
tax.
Your dollar gets taxed down toI don't know what percentage.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, the federal government, you die and they
take taxes off your estate Right.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Or you know you're someone famous, you die.
Then the government says you'reactually worth more, so then
they try to raise your royalties, taking that from your family.
I learned that through anattorney out in Indianapolis
that he actually represents veryfamous people and he gets to
know them before they pass,obviously, but then he protects
(08:12):
their family from the governmentonce they pass.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Well, when it comes to the income tax, think about
it, Kevin.
We pay people not to work.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Right.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Then we tax the people that do work so we can
pay the people that don't work.
I mean, let's let people thatwork keep their money.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You got my vote, so shifting gears a little bit.
Is there stuff you can tell meabout this?
Ready 2.0 grants that's coming.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
We just received right, you just received uh,
what was it?
35 million right which is oneof the which is the top level,
uh for your region.
And now what will happen isthat now they'll determine which
projects that money is going togo towards.
So that'll be something thatwill be done with the counties
(09:02):
in the region along with the.
Indiana Economic DevelopmentCorporation.
But the Ready Grants havereally been a huge quality of
life investment and, Kevin, Ibelieve that private sector
drives progress.
I don't believe it's thegovernment I mean government can
be a catalyst.
Government can be a partner,but you've got to have somebody
that wants sector drivesprogress.
Oh, absolutely I don't believeit's the government.
I mean government can be acatalyst.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Government can be a partner, but you've got to have
somebody that wants to dosomething.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
But the private sector drives progress, but when
it comes to government being acatalyst, the Ready Grants are
doing that Because, let me tellyou, the first round of Ready
Grants, which was $500 million,which was made in 2021, that $
500 million investment that thestate made is going to attract
12 billion of private and localinvestments.
(09:46):
So that's an example of thegovernment being a catalyst 12
billion in money, 12 billion ininvestment in projects yes, and
the same thing will happen thisgo around with the $500 million
that we are investing all overthe state.
We're the only state that ismaking these kinds of
investments in quality of lifeprojects, and we're doing it
(10:06):
because we want Hoosiers to stayhere and we want to be able to
attract talent and population toIndiana.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
So it's a game changer.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
So that leads me to another question how does
Richmond not being a donut toIndianapolis?
What are some suggestions Like?
Where would we start?
Okay, because I attended thelast city council meeting and
I've seen a project get denied.
They didn't seem to have allthe facts when they proposed for
(10:38):
this rezoning and the land'sowned by a nonprofit healthcare
network, so there's all kinds ofweird stuff in here.
But the city council ultimatelyturned it down because there
wasn't even a master plan inplace.
And they're asking for 6million, and a lot of that
included tiff money, which thenlater on I hear and I'm not an
(11:01):
expert on this, or I'd be yourassistant, I'd be the lg when
you're the g, so I'm not anexpert in this, but I was
explained that a lot of thosetip dollars right now go to
school systems.
So if we were to kind of push alot of TIF out to this new
development, then it might lackon the school systems a little
(11:21):
bit.
Is that true that you know of?
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Well, you know, I'm a former county commissioner down
in Vandenberg County and let metell you, I know what it's like
to be ignored by theIndianapolis establishment.
Indianapolis establishment, andso you know what TIF does is
TIF takes dollars, tax dollarsand keeps them within that area,
(11:48):
to put in place.
Improvements to be able tobring in more development and
generate more revenues.
And so when you do have thosetax dollars stay within that
district, then that does takeaway from other taxing units.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
So you know, but on the other hand it does create
more economic development inthat area, and then that in turn
creates additional revenues.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, I know there's a cycle, but it's kind of like
because in that city councilmeeting but it's kind of like
because in that city councilmeeting they were they're
comparing the proposed projectto Westfield and you know as
well as I know like whatWestfield's like because I
(12:30):
paramedic over on the west sideof Indiana, so I drive through
there and stuff and it's kind ofattached to Marion County in a
little ways.
So it's kind of hard to comparethat to here because a lot of
people that live in Westfieldmight work in downtown Indy,
vice versa, or whatnot.
So it's kind of like we have alot of opportunity we have.
So there's the ready.
And then we have the lily, youknow, coming through Earl on the
(12:52):
lily grant and that's, that'sall part of Main Street.
So we we've had developers downhere.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
You've got a lot of work going on your Main Street.
I know, so we've had, I know Infact, you have a nationally
accredited Main Street and it'scrazy.
You're over it, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Gaving it down right now, but we know good stuff's
happening.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
They're investing money in it.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, a lot of good stuff's happening right here.
So now that I mean we'renationally accredited already,
can you imagine what's going tohappen once this is all?
Speaker 1 (13:19):
well, and you know you, you can't have a vibrant
community unless you have avibrant downtown, right, you
know.
And so the money that, eventhough you know I was on your
main street earlier this weekand it is kind of full of
construction, but you know thatmeans money's being invested and
that means that's going todrive economic development.
(13:39):
I remember when I was a Countycommissioner down in Vanderburgh
County and I was complainingone day to a realtor about all
the orange cones on the road.
And he said Suzanne, don't ever,ever complain about orange
cones, because when you seeorange cones barricades money's
being invested in infrastructure, and infrastructure drives
(14:00):
economic development.
So, even though it is a bit ofan inconvenience to motorists,
well and you know what's great.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So I lived downtown indy for a while 2008-12 and I
was emt over there and I livedon highland avenue you a mile
off of the circle and I lovedevery bit of it.
So when I move here, I moveback here.
You do hear people make themention like there's no parking.
There's no, and I'm like, butwe'll go to Indianapolis and
(14:29):
park and walk blocks and noteven think about it.
We got a free parking garageright here.
But I'm excited to see whatthis hat.
What happens?
Um, because when you see, like,uh, green castle, rushville,
all these smaller towns, justjust a handful of people that
invest in their downtown, um,you see some crazy changes.
(14:50):
And now we got the willie grantcome.
Um, I think the elder beermanproject's about to take place.
I don't know if it's completelyfinalized, but it'll be
apartments.
They're talking aboutrevitalizing the gorge, where
there's activities like ziplines, kayaks in our gorge.
That's going to be crazy,because that kind of takes to
the whole cycle of like, how dowe get people here?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Yeah, you know you have to have housing, but you
also have to have something.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
You got to have good Wi-Fi.
You have to have Because youhave to have housing, but you
also have to have something.
You've got to have good Wi-Fi,you've got to have.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
That's right.
That's why that expandingbroadband.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Something going on, you know.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
As lieutenant governor I've led the effort to
expand broadband throughoutIndiana because we recognize
that, particularly for ruralIndiana and our small rural
communities.
Being connected unlockseconomic opportunity.
So you know Indiana's aninteresting state.
We aren't a very big statewe're 38th in size
geographically but we know thatwithin Indiana 90% of Hoosiers
(15:51):
either live in metropolitanareas or within 45 minutes of
metropolitan areas.
So as we get broadband expandedout into our more rural areas,
that's going to allow people tolive in those rural areas.
Because people want that qualityof life like they have here in
Richmond, but they want to beconnected, want that quality of
life like they have here inRichmond, but they want to be
(16:12):
connected.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
They have to be connected for educational
reasons, for healthcare reasons,for economic development
reasons for quality of life,everything, like you know, and I
hear people, some people saythat, well, there's nothing to
do or I can't get a job.
It's like, look, I didn't go tocollege, I don't have a degree,
I use YouTube to learneverything.
I did study my paramedicinethrough IUPUI, which is Eskenazi
Health, and I got my licensethrough them.
But if you got Wi-Fi, you have,like, no reason not to learn,
(16:40):
no reason.
You can't run an e-commercebusiness, drop ship from New
York, make money.
You can do everything with goodWi-Fi good internet.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
You can live anywhere and work full time.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Uh-huh, everything.
With good wi-fi internet, youcan live anywhere and work
full-time, yeah so, and then youdo get to go live wherever you
want you know the backwoods oflaurel or wherever there's so
much beautiful property aroundyou know, um, but shifting gears
up a little bit.
So I paramedic I've been in EMSfor 20 years almost One thing
(17:11):
that I kind of want to seemoving forward with health care.
What we're kind of running into, especially in Indiana, we see
a lot of OBGYN deserts, andthat's what we call it.
Where I'm a paramedic at, it'svery rural, so that hospital
doesn't even have the stuff toproperly take care of a baby
after it's born, type situation.
(17:33):
So what we're moving into?
Have you heard of a mobileintegrated health or community
paramedicine?
Yeah, yeah.
So it's kind of like right nowthere are grants that go to a
(17:58):
fire department based EMS, butwe're trying to get it to county
based too, because a lot ofservices are county provided, so
there's a nurse with aparamedic and suv and they can
actually go or a nursepractitioner and take care of
people on site um crawfordsvilledoes has a very robust yeah
system like that and andnoblesville yeah that they're
going to move towards that.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Um, and I think that makes sense.
We have to.
We have to see people wherethey are oh, treat well, it's
called treat and play.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
so I'm very well connected with, uh, the officer
out there that I work for andwe're very rural and very big.
Um, we have aggressiveprotocols so we're able to
really treat our patients up tothe national standard of a
paramedic, but we still need totransport.
So there's a lot of time,there's a lot of things that's
(18:39):
trying to be built to, where wecan treat our CHFers, our
COPDers, and actually take careof the problem and then contact
their physician and get them outof the emergency rooms, which
drive up costs health care costsand, quite honestly, you're
getting people help before itbecomes a crisis too.
(19:00):
Yeah, and a lot of it isbehavioral.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, oh, my goodness .
Well, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
You've talked about.
You've got family.
Oh my, gosh, yes.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
And as governor, you know, helping those Hoosiers
that struggle with oh my gosh,yes.
And as governor, you know,helping those Hoosiers that
struggle with mental illness andaddiction is a top priority for
me.
Since COVID, we've seen a 20%increase in anxiety and
depression among our population,but a 60% increase among young
people.
Suicide is the second leadingcause of death among our youth,
and they are the future ofIndiana and that's why, if I'm
(19:32):
governor and we ever findourselves in a COVID situation
again, there'll be no maskmandates or lockdowns because of
what it's done to all of us,including our children.
I said there were bad thingsthat came from COVID.
There were some good things.
One of the bad things is we allsuffered a mental health
challenge.
One of the good things is weall suffered a mental health
challenge.
One of the good things is weall suffered a mental health
challenge.
So today there's more awarenessand, I think, an acceptance
(19:56):
that you know it's okay not tobe okay all the time, and so a
sense of urgency to to dosomething.
And that's why, you know, Iwant to be sure that we have
help for those that struggle,that we make that healthcare
accessible and affordable, andfor me it's very personal.
My mother struggled withdepression.
My older brother, larry, was analcoholic and he drank himself
(20:18):
to death.
My younger sister, nancy, 18months younger, died by suicide
in her early 20s, and then ourdaughter, courtney, is 16 years
sober, and so you know when youhave lived with Hoosiers that
have inherited genes andpredispose them to these
conditions.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
None of us pick our genes.
It's in the DNA.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Hey, if I could pick my own genes, I'd be a little
different than I am today.
But we inherit genes that makeus who we are, and so, for those
Hoosiers that you know strugglewith mental illness and
addiction, we've got to givethem good cards.
You know, one of my familymembers said they got all the
bad genes in the family and Isaid you know, it's not the hand
(20:58):
you're dealt, it's how you playit.
It's how you deal with it, butwe've got to give people good
cards to play.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
We've got to give them help.
They have to have theopportunity.
Yeah, we have to give them help.
You know they do, and then thechoice is theirs, but we at
least have got to give them thatopportunity to be helped.
I've been on that end just inthe past four or five years.
Growing up I always wanted tobe a fireman.
You know every kid wants to bea fireman.
So I was a fireman inWinchester, came down here to
(21:26):
Richmond, got busy yourparamedic school.
A lot of trauma.
Before that too, you know, I'veseen a tube in my sister's
throat.
I had to take her to thehospital because she overdosed
on pills.
Other sister was meth.
They're both recovered anddoing really well and one of
them helps with teach theprogram that helped her recover.
So Good for them.
(21:46):
But then I got hit with all thelabels, the mental health labels
, and then, instead of doingwhat I should have done, I
relied on alcohol and I wentdown this crazy to a suicide
attempt and and just like so.
I've been on so far both side,taking care of these people and
being these people.
I'm very empathetic because Iremember when rushville pd came
(22:08):
in that hotel room, they foundme and they were.
Instead of just dragging me bymy ears to the hospital and
putting me on a psych ID, thatchief down there just talked to
me like a human being and hungout and they de-escalated
everything.
And then I had to do therapyand stuff at the EMDR with your
eyeballs, like they do for PTSDin the military.
(22:30):
They do it.
It's intense, but it helps.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
But you know, thank you for your service and you
know I always worry about thepeople that care for us.
You know, because, as a firstresponder, first responders are
more likely to die by suicidethan they are to die in the line
of duty, and so the people thattake care of us, we got to take
care of them too.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I've watched so and what happens is and it's never
just an instant suicide, likeit's always they'll start
relying on some alcohol.
They'll start we're chasingdopamine.
Basically, you're chasingdopamine to mask everything
that's actually going on.
So one of one of ours shothimself in the park down the
street.
You know, and I'm looking athim like well, this sucks, but I
(23:17):
kind of like I can't blame you.
I wish, I wish we could havehelped you, but you know, at
that point in time it seemedlike the world was a worse place
to him and it was sad.
I wouldn't say we like failedon our part as a society, but
it's just sad that, like, thehelp wasn't there.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
I know, I agree, you know, and that's why we've got
to do a better job and that'swhy, as governor, I want to make
a priority of helping thosethat struggle with mental
illness and addiction, you know,because it affects all of us,
it affects our families itaffects our friends, it affects
our neighbor, it affects ourbudgets.
It affects our friends, itaffects our neighbors, it
affects our budgets.
I mean, 60% of absenteeism canbe attributed to those employees
(23:55):
that struggle with mentalillness or addiction, either
themselves personally or withfamily members, and so we've got
to do a better job.
Today, it costs over $4 billionannually for untreated mental
illness in this state alone.
So we can't afford not to domore.
Sorry.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Yeah Well, you're right about the stigma thing too
.
After COVID, pretty mucheveryone's like looking at each
other Like you're messed up, I'mmessed up.
Hey, what's up?
How are you Like I'm so I, Ilike today's 385 days sober from
alcohol.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Thank you, and it's really cool because it's like I
can't blame stuff on alcohol.
But that was the commondenominator of me screwing up.
I lost a bunch of business,everything else way down here,
and now I'm hanging out with theLG.
You know what I mean.
So it's just crazy Do good, getgood.
So it's kind of like straightenmy shit up and people come hang
out and we have a good time anda business.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Is is crazy cool and I'm meeting people and yeah, and
so we've got to be able to dothat for everyone.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
I know.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
You know, cause you know we can't afford to waste
any lives.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
And that's kind of I like to.
Um, I would like for yousometime to meet Honey, which is
IUPD, their therapy dog.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Oh, I'd love to.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
So the same group of guys you had lunch with the
other day.
We all came together anddonated some money to IUPD for
the therapy dog to help growtheir program to multiple dogs
across all campuses.
But Officer Skiba has Honeydown to Bloomington but they go
to every campus.
Oh nice, and it's just therapydog.
Uh, so the dog was myValentine's date and this and we
(25:36):
did a podcast and they were uphere.
So, um, I'd like you to meetthem because they're in the
colleges all day long.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
That's great, and you know there's something about
pets that you know we have alittle Norfolk terrier and, uh,
you know I live in indian applesduring the week and then I go
home to evansville on theweekend, that's my home.
My husband says he's not surewho I'm happier to see him or
the or little luna.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
I love good what kind of this is a?
Speaker 1 (26:05):
little norfolk terrier.
Oh, 13 pounds of attitude.
Where'd she get that from?
You know, I think that's theirbreed.
It's a genetic Is that aroommate?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
No, animals are cool, like um, when?
And what's really funny is,this show is goes right up
against uh, animal care Alliance.
They're going to do a show andevery time they come they bring
an animal.
I tell them not to tell meahead of time, but I've seen it
and it's not a snake, so we'regood.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Oh, are they going to put it in?
It looks like turtles.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
No, we'll get out and play with it a little bit.
Last time they brought ared-tailed hawk, but I thought
it would be cool you meet themwhen we're done.
I would love to Animal CareAlliance here in Richmond.
It's a local rescue.
They do a lot of vet care.
But Dr Matt she's got her backfacing to us but she just
recently started and she's outhere four or five days a week
(27:06):
and she takes care of exoticsand everything else.
So they come up and do apodcast about once a month and
they'll bring a cool an animal.
They'll just bring.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
I can't wait to see what it is the animal.
I see it right there.
Let's wrap this up so I can go.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Alright, well, we'll wrap up with a hug thank you so
much and good luck on the racethank you, you're the governor,
we gotta do.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
If God means for it to happen, it's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
We've got to do a part two.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Yeah, you bet.
Life Inscripted with KevinShipp.
Life Unscripted with Kevin Shook.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
How in the heck does this happen, that you're?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
in here I don't think that I have any time.
Well, it just worked.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Right, all right, here's where the show starts.
Three, two welcome to Life.
Unscripted.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Great to be here, Kevin.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I don't know how we're here.
This is like really cool.
I'm super thankful that you setyour just a little time for me.
I met you up at Prescott'spicnic and I talked to you there
, and what's really cool is, ofcourse, my tickets always leaned
over to the right side a littlemore.
(00:38):
I'm never identified likestrictly as a Republican or
strictly as a Democrat.
I have great relationships witha lot of people.
I've agreed to disagree withpeople before and we're adults,
but everything that you standfor and everything that you
support, I'm like 100 percent onboard and I'm like I'm excited
to see you as the next governor.
(00:59):
So well, god willing, yeah,that's going to be huge.
Well, god willing, yeah, that'sgoing to be huge.
The last governor I really likefollowed was Arnold
Schwarzenegger, because I usedto be like a meathead a long
time ago.
So when Arnold Schwarzeneggerbecame the governor, I was like
how cool is that?
He has an expo every year inColumbus Ohio called the Arnold
(01:19):
Schwarzenegger Expo and it's abig sports festival.
So when he was governor, likehis, his, uh, security was
stacked.
And then we all remember the Cword, covid, and that was one of
the first events that kind ofgot shut down.
Last time I went he's driving agolf cart around with just a
couple of people hanging out andhe's just having a good time
(01:40):
living his life.
But no, I'm excited to see whathappens.
Um, like you kind of explainedit to me the other day that, uh,
right now you're in what sec?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
yeah, this race is really kind of comes down to
brawn and me yeah, you know and,um, you know, at the end of the
day I've been outspent.
You know, three to one.
However, right now, the lastfew weeks of the day, I've been
outspent, you know three to one.
However, right now, the lastfew weeks of the campaign, when
it really counts, I've got threetimes the money they have
because I didn't waste my moneyearly.
(02:14):
I've held on to it to the end.
But I really think it's theissues that I stand for that
really are resonating withHoosiers, you know.
Hoosiers are really hurtingtoday because of inflation and
the cost of living.
And you know it costs $11,400more today than it did three
years ago just to meet basichousehold needs.
Yeah, and so you know peopleare hurting and it's why I'm
(02:38):
saying let's get rid of theestate income tax, let's tax the
tax.
You know I mean we can putthousands of dollars back into
your pocket every year.
You know, and guess what?
You'll know how to spend itbetter than the government does.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And I'll make sure you get to keep it.
And I'll tell you my opponentsand I'm the only one saying
we're going to get rid of a tax,my opponents say, oh, we can't
do it.
You know it's too much money.
But what they're really sayingis government needs more of your
money and you need less.
And I'm going to make sure, asgovernor, you get to keep your
money.
It has to be phased in.
(03:13):
We can't do it all at once?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Okay, when you mentioned that, do you have,
what are some ideas you havethat might lead to that, that
might help that, or the certainsteps, because, like you said
it's going to be, we've got tolimit government growth, we've
got to end wasteful governmentspending, and then we've got to
find efficiencies in government,and that's how we make it
happen.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I'm talking about a tax cut, I'm not talking about a
tax replacement.
So I want to be perfectly clearthis is a tax cut and we do it
by limiting how much we allowgovernment to grow.
You, you know, in the past 10years, state governments grown
by 50% our budget and from the21 to the 23 budget session,
government spending grew by 19%.
(03:51):
So I'm saying, moving forward,let's take the base we have
today and then let's limit howmuch we allow it to grow.
Maybe it's the cost of livingor rate of inflation, but let's
not let it grow at 19%.
Let's let it grow at 19%, let'slet it grow at a smaller
percent.
And then when we get thoseexcess revenues and surpluses
(04:11):
like we had in 2023, let's putthem towards eliminating the
state income tax and we can getrid of it eventually.
And when we do, we putthousands of dollars back into
Hoosier's pockets, but we helpsmall businesses grow, because
the National Federation ofIndependent Business said the
number one tax that hurts smallbusinesses is the income tax.
And then, equally importantly,we make Indiana a no-income tax
(04:34):
state, because where are peoplemoving to today?
Tennessee, texas.
Florida, south Dakota allno-income tax states which, by
the way, their rate of GDPgrowth and their rate of
population is growing at fasterrates than Indiana's.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And they're no-income tax.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
They're no-income tax states, so here's something.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I was talking to a buddy last night.
He served on council years agoup here and now he lives down in
Arizona.
But he brought this up lastnight because I was like, do you
have any questions?
I should ask LG.
So he was talking about doesIndiana really need 92 counties
with 92 courthouses?
Because Arizona is kind of like15 counties and it's like three
(05:19):
times the size of Indiana.
So could there be, could therebe merges?
I mean, and on a very locallevel, city of Richmond sees
five police departments.
Is that stuff?
We need that?
So?
So taking that is that wheresome of our tax is, some things
could be more efficient together.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Well, I think, when it comes to state government,
when it comes to localgovernment, perhaps, when it
comes to state government, Ialready have I'm on my third
iteration of a plan to downsizeour state agencies.
So we have 100 agencies, boardsand commissions in Indiana.
So I want to get it down toabout a third that size and when
we do that we'll realize costsavings and efficiencies that
(06:04):
will be able to put towardseliminating the income tax.
You know, I also want to getrid of any rule and regulation
that is unnecessary.
You know, did you know that thecost of a new home, the cost of
a new home, 25% of the cost ofa new home is because of rules
and regulations that buildershave to follow?
So let's get rid of some ofthem that are 100, 200 years old
(06:26):
.
Yeah, let's get rid of all thoseunnecessary rules and
regulations.
And then I want to have outsideindependent audits of our state
agencies so we don't have abillion-dollar mistake like we
had in December when FSSA made abudgeting error.
And so what do they want to doto try to make up for that money
?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Take it out of our pocket.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
They cut the services to the parents who take care of
their severely disabled,medically complex children.
I'm talking about children withfeed tubes and tracheotomies
and on respirators, kids thatneed 24-7 care, and who better
to take care of them than theirparents?
And so we make a billion-dollarerror and then we say we're not
(07:08):
going to give that much moneyto you parents that are taking
care of these children.
It's really unconscionable andat the end of the day, kevin,
we're going to be judged by howwe care for the most vulnerable
among us.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
No, you're absolutely right, and that was a lot, but
that's, that's spot on.
There's just like you said.
They're like we are overtaxed.
You know, from our income taxto property tax, everything's a
tax.
Your dollar gets taxed down toI don't know what percentage.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, the federal government, you die and they
take taxes off your estate Right.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Or you know you're someone famous, you die.
Then the government says you'reactually worth more, so then
they try to raise your royalties, taking that from your family.
I learned that through anattorney out in Indianapolis
that he actually represents veryfamous people and he gets to
know them before they pass,obviously, but then he protects
(08:12):
their family from the governmentonce they pass.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Well, when it comes to the income tax, think about
it, Kevin.
We pay people not to work.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Right.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Then we tax the people that do work so we can
pay the people that don't work.
I mean, let's let people thatwork keep their money.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You got my vote, so shifting gears a little bit.
Is there stuff you can tell meabout this?
Ready 2.0 grants that's coming.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
We just received right, you just received uh,
what was it?
35 million right which is oneof the which is the top level,
uh for your region.
And now what will happen isthat now they'll determine which
projects that money is going togo towards.
So that'll be something thatwill be done with the counties
(09:02):
in the region along with the.
Indiana Economic DevelopmentCorporation.
But the Ready Grants havereally been a huge quality of
life investment and, Kevin, Ibelieve that private sector
drives progress.
I don't believe it's thegovernment I mean government can
be a catalyst.
Government can be a partner,but you've got to have somebody
that wants sector drivesprogress.
Oh, absolutely I don't believeit's the government.
I mean government can be acatalyst.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Government can be a partner, but you've got to have
somebody that wants to dosomething.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
But the private sector drives progress, but when
it comes to government being acatalyst, the Ready Grants are
doing that Because, let me tellyou, the first round of Ready
Grants, which was $500 million,which was made in 2021, that $
500 million investment that thestate made is going to attract
12 billion of private and localinvestments.
(09:46):
So that's an example of thegovernment being a catalyst 12
billion in money, 12 billion ininvestment in projects yes, and
the same thing will happen thisgo around with the $500 million
that we are investing all overthe state.
We're the only state that ismaking these kinds of
investments in quality of lifeprojects, and we're doing it
(10:06):
because we want Hoosiers to stayhere and we want to be able to
attract talent and population toIndiana.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
So it's a game changer.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
So that leads me to another question how does
Richmond not being a donut toIndianapolis?
What are some suggestions Like?
Where would we start?
Okay, because I attended thelast city council meeting and
I've seen a project get denied.
They didn't seem to have allthe facts when they proposed for
(10:38):
this rezoning and the land'sowned by a nonprofit healthcare
network, so there's all kinds ofweird stuff in here.
But the city council ultimatelyturned it down because there
wasn't even a master plan inplace.
And they're asking for 6million, and a lot of that
included tiff money, which thenlater on I hear and I'm not an
(11:01):
expert on this, or I'd be yourassistant, I'd be the lg when
you're the g, so I'm not anexpert in this, but I was
explained that a lot of thosetip dollars right now go to
school systems.
So if we were to kind of push alot of TIF out to this new
development, then it might lackon the school systems a little
(11:21):
bit.
Is that true that you know of?
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Well, you know, I'm a former county commissioner down
in Vandenberg County and let metell you, I know what it's like
to be ignored by theIndianapolis establishment.
Indianapolis establishment, andso you know what TIF does is
TIF takes dollars, tax dollarsand keeps them within that area,
(11:48):
to put in place.
Improvements to be able tobring in more development and
generate more revenues.
And so when you do have thosetax dollars stay within that
district, then that does takeaway from other taxing units.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
So you know, but on the other hand it does create
more economic development inthat area, and then that in turn
creates additional revenues.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, I know there's a cycle, but it's kind of like
because in that city councilmeeting but it's kind of like
because in that city councilmeeting they were they're
comparing the proposed projectto Westfield and you know as
well as I know like whatWestfield's like because I
(12:30):
paramedic over on the west sideof Indiana, so I drive through
there and stuff and it's kind ofattached to Marion County in a
little ways.
So it's kind of hard to comparethat to here because a lot of
people that live in Westfieldmight work in downtown Indy,
vice versa, or whatnot.
So it's kind of like we have alot of opportunity we have.
So there's the ready.
And then we have the lily, youknow, coming through Earl on the
(12:52):
lily grant and that's, that'sall part of Main Street.
So we we've had developers downhere.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
You've got a lot of work going on your Main Street.
I know, so we've had, I know Infact, you have a nationally
accredited Main Street and it'scrazy.
You're over it, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Gaving it down right now, but we know good stuff's
happening.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
They're investing money in it.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, a lot of good stuff's happening right here.
So now that I mean we'renationally accredited already,
can you imagine what's going tohappen once this is all?
Speaker 1 (13:19):
well, and you know you, you can't have a vibrant
community unless you have avibrant downtown, right, you
know.
And so the money that, eventhough you know I was on your
main street earlier this weekand it is kind of full of
construction, but you know thatmeans money's being invested and
that means that's going todrive economic development.
(13:39):
I remember when I was a Countycommissioner down in Vanderburgh
County and I was complainingone day to a realtor about all
the orange cones on the road.
And he said Suzanne, don't ever,ever complain about orange
cones, because when you seeorange cones barricades money's
being invested in infrastructure, and infrastructure drives
(14:00):
economic development.
So, even though it is a bit ofan inconvenience to motorists,
well and you know what's great.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So I lived downtown indy for a while 2008-12 and I
was emt over there and I livedon highland avenue you a mile
off of the circle and I lovedevery bit of it.
So when I move here, I moveback here.
You do hear people make themention like there's no parking.
There's no, and I'm like, butwe'll go to Indianapolis and
(14:29):
park and walk blocks and noteven think about it.
We got a free parking garageright here.
But I'm excited to see whatthis hat.
What happens?
Um, because when you see, like,uh, green castle, rushville,
all these smaller towns, justjust a handful of people that
invest in their downtown, um,you see some crazy changes.
(14:50):
And now we got the willie grantcome.
Um, I think the elder beermanproject's about to take place.
I don't know if it's completelyfinalized, but it'll be
apartments.
They're talking aboutrevitalizing the gorge, where
there's activities like ziplines, kayaks in our gorge.
That's going to be crazy,because that kind of takes to
the whole cycle of like, how dowe get people here?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Yeah, you know you have to have housing, but you
also have to have something.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
You got to have good Wi-Fi.
You have to have Because youhave to have housing, but you
also have to have something.
You've got to have good Wi-Fi,you've got to have.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
That's right.
That's why that expandingbroadband.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Something going on, you know.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
As lieutenant governor I've led the effort to
expand broadband throughoutIndiana because we recognize
that, particularly for ruralIndiana and our small rural
communities.
Being connected unlockseconomic opportunity.
So you know Indiana's aninteresting state.
We aren't a very big statewe're 38th in size
geographically but we know thatwithin Indiana 90% of Hoosiers
(15:51):
either live in metropolitanareas or within 45 minutes of
metropolitan areas.
So as we get broadband expandedout into our more rural areas,
that's going to allow people tolive in those rural areas.
Because people want that qualityof life like they have here in
Richmond, but they want to beconnected, want that quality of
life like they have here inRichmond, but they want to be
(16:12):
connected.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
They have to be connected for educational
reasons, for healthcare reasons,for economic development
reasons for quality of life,everything, like you know, and I
hear people, some people saythat, well, there's nothing to
do or I can't get a job.
It's like, look, I didn't go tocollege, I don't have a degree,
I use YouTube to learneverything.
I did study my paramedicinethrough IUPUI, which is Eskenazi
Health, and I got my licensethrough them.
But if you got Wi-Fi, you have,like, no reason not to learn,
(16:40):
no reason.
You can't run an e-commercebusiness, drop ship from New
York, make money.
You can do everything with goodWi-Fi good internet.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
You can live anywhere and work full time.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Uh-huh, everything.
With good wi-fi internet, youcan live anywhere and work
full-time, yeah so, and then youdo get to go live wherever you
want you know the backwoods oflaurel or wherever there's so
much beautiful property aroundyou know, um, but shifting gears
up a little bit.
So I paramedic I've been in EMSfor 20 years almost One thing
(17:11):
that I kind of want to seemoving forward with health care.
What we're kind of running into, especially in Indiana, we see
a lot of OBGYN deserts, andthat's what we call it.
Where I'm a paramedic at, it'svery rural, so that hospital
doesn't even have the stuff toproperly take care of a baby
after it's born, type situation.
(17:33):
So what we're moving into?
Have you heard of a mobileintegrated health or community
paramedicine?
Yeah, yeah.
So it's kind of like right nowthere are grants that go to a
(17:58):
fire department based EMS, butwe're trying to get it to county
based too, because a lot ofservices are county provided, so
there's a nurse with aparamedic and suv and they can
actually go or a nursepractitioner and take care of
people on site um crawfordsvilledoes has a very robust yeah
system like that and andnoblesville yeah that they're
going to move towards that.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Um, and I think that makes sense.
We have to.
We have to see people wherethey are oh, treat well, it's
called treat and play.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
so I'm very well connected with, uh, the officer
out there that I work for andwe're very rural and very big.
Um, we have aggressiveprotocols so we're able to
really treat our patients up tothe national standard of a
paramedic, but we still need totransport.
So there's a lot of time,there's a lot of things that's
(18:39):
trying to be built to, where wecan treat our CHFers, our
COPDers, and actually take careof the problem and then contact
their physician and get them outof the emergency rooms, which
drive up costs health care costsand, quite honestly, you're
getting people help before itbecomes a crisis too.
(19:00):
Yeah, and a lot of it isbehavioral.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, oh, my goodness .
Well, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
You've talked about.
You've got family.
Oh my, gosh, yes.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
And as governor, you know, helping those Hoosiers
that struggle with oh my gosh,yes.
And as governor, you know,helping those Hoosiers that
struggle with mental illness andaddiction is a top priority for
me.
Since COVID, we've seen a 20%increase in anxiety and
depression among our population,but a 60% increase among young
people.
Suicide is the second leadingcause of death among our youth,
and they are the future ofIndiana and that's why, if I'm
(19:32):
governor and we ever findourselves in a COVID situation
again, there'll be no maskmandates or lockdowns because of
what it's done to all of us,including our children.
I said there were bad thingsthat came from COVID.
There were some good things.
One of the bad things is we allsuffered a mental health
challenge.
One of the good things is weall suffered a mental health
challenge.
One of the good things is weall suffered a mental health
challenge.
So today there's more awarenessand, I think, an acceptance
(19:56):
that you know it's okay not tobe okay all the time, and so a
sense of urgency to to dosomething.
And that's why, you know, Iwant to be sure that we have
help for those that struggle,that we make that healthcare
accessible and affordable, andfor me it's very personal.
My mother struggled withdepression.
My older brother, larry, was analcoholic and he drank himself
(20:18):
to death.
My younger sister, nancy, 18months younger, died by suicide
in her early 20s, and then ourdaughter, courtney, is 16 years
sober, and so you know when youhave lived with Hoosiers that
have inherited genes andpredispose them to these
conditions.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
None of us pick our genes.
It's in the DNA.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Hey, if I could pick my own genes, I'd be a little
different than I am today.
But we inherit genes that makeus who we are, and so, for those
Hoosiers that you know strugglewith mental illness and
addiction, we've got to givethem good cards.
You know, one of my familymembers said they got all the
bad genes in the family and Isaid you know, it's not the hand
(20:58):
you're dealt, it's how you playit.
It's how you deal with it, butwe've got to give people good
cards to play.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
We've got to give them help.
They have to have theopportunity.
Yeah, we have to give them help.
You know they do, and then thechoice is theirs, but we at
least have got to give them thatopportunity to be helped.
I've been on that end just inthe past four or five years.
Growing up I always wanted tobe a fireman.
You know every kid wants to bea fireman.
So I was a fireman inWinchester, came down here to
(21:26):
Richmond, got busy yourparamedic school.
A lot of trauma.
Before that too, you know, I'veseen a tube in my sister's
throat.
I had to take her to thehospital because she overdosed
on pills.
Other sister was meth.
They're both recovered anddoing really well and one of
them helps with teach theprogram that helped her recover.
So Good for them.
(21:46):
But then I got hit with all thelabels, the mental health labels
, and then, instead of doingwhat I should have done, I
relied on alcohol and I wentdown this crazy to a suicide
attempt and and just like so.
I've been on so far both side,taking care of these people and
being these people.
I'm very empathetic because Iremember when rushville pd came
(22:08):
in that hotel room, they foundme and they were.
Instead of just dragging me bymy ears to the hospital and
putting me on a psych ID, thatchief down there just talked to
me like a human being and hungout and they de-escalated
everything.
And then I had to do therapyand stuff at the EMDR with your
eyeballs, like they do for PTSDin the military.
(22:30):
They do it.
It's intense, but it helps.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
But you know, thank you for your service and you
know I always worry about thepeople that care for us.
You know, because, as a firstresponder, first responders are
more likely to die by suicidethan they are to die in the line
of duty, and so the people thattake care of us, we got to take
care of them too.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I've watched so and what happens is and it's never
just an instant suicide, likeit's always they'll start
relying on some alcohol.
They'll start we're chasingdopamine.
Basically, you're chasingdopamine to mask everything
that's actually going on.
So one of one of ours shothimself in the park down the
street.
You know, and I'm looking athim like well, this sucks, but I
(23:17):
kind of like I can't blame you.
I wish, I wish we could havehelped you, but you know, at
that point in time it seemedlike the world was a worse place
to him and it was sad.
I wouldn't say we like failedon our part as a society, but
it's just sad that, like, thehelp wasn't there.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
I know, I agree, you know, and that's why we've got
to do a better job and that'swhy, as governor, I want to make
a priority of helping thosethat struggle with mental
illness and addiction, you know,because it affects all of us,
it affects our families itaffects our friends, it affects
our neighbor, it affects ourbudgets.
It affects our friends, itaffects our neighbors, it
affects our budgets.
I mean, 60% of absenteeism canbe attributed to those employees
(23:55):
that struggle with mentalillness or addiction, either
themselves personally or withfamily members, and so we've got
to do a better job.
Today, it costs over $4 billionannually for untreated mental
illness in this state alone.
So we can't afford not to domore.
Sorry.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Yeah Well, you're right about the stigma thing too
.
After COVID, pretty mucheveryone's like looking at each
other Like you're messed up, I'mmessed up.
Hey, what's up?
How are you Like I'm so I, Ilike today's 385 days sober from
alcohol.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Thank you, and it's really cool because it's like I
can't blame stuff on alcohol.
But that was the commondenominator of me screwing up.
I lost a bunch of business,everything else way down here,
and now I'm hanging out with theLG.
You know what I mean.
So it's just crazy Do good, getgood.
So it's kind of like straightenmy shit up and people come hang
out and we have a good time anda business.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Is is crazy cool and I'm meeting people and yeah, and
so we've got to be able to dothat for everyone.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
I know.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
You know, cause you know we can't afford to waste
any lives.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
And that's kind of I like to.
Um, I would like for yousometime to meet Honey, which is
IUPD, their therapy dog.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Oh, I'd love to.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
So the same group of guys you had lunch with the
other day.
We all came together anddonated some money to IUPD for
the therapy dog to help growtheir program to multiple dogs
across all campuses.
But Officer Skiba has Honeydown to Bloomington but they go
to every campus.
Oh nice, and it's just therapydog.
Uh, so the dog was myValentine's date and this and we
(25:36):
did a podcast and they were uphere.
So, um, I'd like you to meetthem because they're in the
colleges all day long.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
That's great, and you know there's something about
pets that you know we have alittle Norfolk terrier and, uh,
you know I live in indian applesduring the week and then I go
home to evansville on theweekend, that's my home.
My husband says he's not surewho I'm happier to see him or
the or little luna.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
I love good what kind of this is a?
Speaker 1 (26:05):
little norfolk terrier.
Oh, 13 pounds of attitude.
Where'd she get that from?
You know, I think that's theirbreed.
It's a genetic Is that aroommate?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
No, animals are cool, like um, when?
And what's really funny is,this show is goes right up
against uh, animal care Alliance.
They're going to do a show andevery time they come they bring
an animal.
I tell them not to tell meahead of time, but I've seen it
and it's not a snake, so we'regood.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Oh, are they going to put it in?
It looks like turtles.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
No, we'll get out and play with it a little bit.
Last time they brought ared-tailed hawk, but I thought
it would be cool you meet themwhen we're done.
I would love to Animal CareAlliance here in Richmond.
It's a local rescue.
They do a lot of vet care.
But Dr Matt she's got her backfacing to us but she just
recently started and she's outhere four or five days a week
(27:06):
and she takes care of exoticsand everything else.
So they come up and do apodcast about once a month and
they'll bring a cool an animal.
They'll just bring.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
I can't wait to see what it is the animal.
I see it right there.
Let's wrap this up so I can go.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Alright, well, we'll wrap up with a hug thank you so
much and good luck on the racethank you, you're the governor,
we gotta do.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
If God means for it to happen, it's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
We've got to do a part two.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Yeah, you bet.
Life Inscripted with KevinShipp.
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