Real Mississippi

The residents of Cleveland, Mississippi face a threat most of them don't even know about: bacterial contamination and excessive sodium in their tap water. Cleveland's water quality has become compromised due to the city's defective water filtration system. As a result, bacteria and sodium spread throughout the city. This has can cause many short and long-term illnesses across the population, particularly for those who need to avoid sodium. Written by Junron Zhou and produced by Savannah Bryant.

High school debate is a fantastic way for a student to make new friends, develop better communication skills, and acquire important soft skills, but there is a darker side to this activity: mansplaining. Follow Annadele Beckman as she delves into the world of high school debate and interviews her former debate coach about the scope of sexism in debate, as well as steps that can be taken to mitigate it.

What's that smell? In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, it may be an overflowing sewer. Updating our aging sewers is a multi-million dollar problem--and Hattiesburg isn't the only place facing it. Written and narrated by Elena Perry; produced by Chloe Wesley.

It is common to explore practices that benefit the mind and body, yet rarely is it common for one to explore how religious practices may do the same. In this episode, writer and producer Angel Viveros and guest speaker Dr. Timothy Trillet Ed.D explore the benefits of religion from a Southern Baptist perspective.

The Harlem Renaissance, an upheaval in art and music in African American culture, saw the rise of many of today's household names—Louis Armstrong, Langston Hughes, and Duke Ellington, for instance. William Grant Still, though, does not hold the same revered place in our national consciousness. A pioneer of the classical world, Still molded the genres of classical and jazz into today's shapes. While his name is forgotten, his influence is unmistakable in the music of the present.

Danger is closer to home than many of us know. In the late 1980s many neighborhoods in Columbus, Mississippi experienced danger first hand. Kerr McGee, a company that manufactured chemically treated railroad ties and telephone poles in Columbus, Mississippi, contributed contamination in the form of creosote in the soil at and around the plant. This contamination left negative impacts, such as cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, on the lives of people that worked at the plant as well as the people that lived around it. Written and recorded by Ash Taylor and produced by Cheniya Nicholson.

In this podcast, the reasons for Starkville, Mississippi's economic growth is examined. It focuses on city council's Mayor Lynn Spruill and the Board of Aldermen and their proactive policies over the past decade. Finally, it examines Starkville's connection to Mississippi State University and how the Board has capitalized on the college's successes. 

Take a deep dive into the history and legacy of American short story novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner Eudora Welty! Learn about Eudora Welty's young start to writing and her life's journey as a young female writer in Mississippi! Written and produced by Ally Mack.

In this Podcast, Alexander Allison explores the life and legacy of Dr. Theodoric James, the first Black physician from Columbus, Mississippi.

Alcorn county, the seemingly peaceful, perfect place to raise a family, has a bloody history that few seem to know. In the time of prohibition and dry states, Mississippi wanted to stay clean of alcohol, which prompted some to begin smuggling the outlawed beverage through the state line of Tennessee and Mississippi. This birthed the State Line Mob, a group of southerners determined to indulge in a beer. Run by a woman that struck fear into men's hearts and backed by the few brave enough to fight with her, Alcorn county became a terror zone filled with violence, robbery, and even murder. This podcast tells their story. 

Mississippi is a state known for having many issues, but among the many concerns in Mississippi one, in particular, is becoming increasingly prevalent: stray animals. In this podcast, we will explore how and why this issue has become so extensive and the ways the average citizen can help. Written by Vincent Wang and produced by Mehar Gill.

When Becky Watkins, a new school board member in Quitman, Mississippi, heard that the district superintendent had been charged with embezzlement at her previous job, she asked questions that nobody wanted to hear. Written by Ava Dedwylder and produced by Myia Williams.

Shalaan Hendricks is a talented and passionate kindergarten teacher at Joe Cook Elementary in Columbus, Mississippi. She has been an integral part of her schools, and her dedication to her students' education is evident in everything she does. Shalaan is also an active participant in the school's community. She collaborates with other teachers and staff to create a positive learning environment for all her students. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to excellence make her a valuable asset to the Joe Cook Elementary School community. Written by Kinsley Hendricks and produced by A'Meya Stewart.

Amazing programs and flourishing businesses probably do not come to the forefront of people's minds when thinking of Mississippi. However, Petal, Mississippi manages to overcome stereotypes with great teachers and a top-ranked school district. Mrs. Robin Rector is one of the teachers and mentors out of many that make Petal so special. Written by Gracyn Young and produced by Komal Patel.

Another cross has been erected along Highway 25 near Starkville, Mississippi. Its presence sparked an argument among the people of Starkville: does it represent good-natured evangelism or an effort to intimidate people of different religious backgrounds. Starkville is one of Mississippi's most diverse communities. The Cross of Christ may be an important symbol for Christians, but it may not be perceived in the same way by people of different faiths. How might it affect Starkvillagers' impressions of the place they call home? Written and produced by Vivian Peng.

In the not too distant past, blue collar jobs abounded in Columbus, Mississippi. A person could graduate from high school, start working as, say, a machinist, and retire comfortably a quarter century later. NAFTA effectively did away with that kind of opportunity at the turn of the century. Manufacturing jobs have returned for skilled laborers since then. But will those be enough to keep people here?

In the literary world of Oxford, Mississippi, hidden gems can be discovered on every corner. Jill Moore, who runs Square Books, Jr., is one of them. She knows what it means to think--and to read--like a child, and that makes all the difference. Written and recorded by Ava Grace Noe and produced by Levi Stevens.

Covid-19 caused thousands of businesses across the nation to close down and ruined the economy. But members of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission found a way to combat these issues. Vicki Taylor, the wife of the Commission's executive director, turned the alleyway behind the Saenger Theater into The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum. Since then, the museum has had over 100,000 visitors and contributed over $17 million to Hattiesburg's economy. Written by Asher Rials and produced by Justin Doan.

When Anne Moody and other activists sat down at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi, they were taunted and abused by white supremacists and the police. Fred Blackwell, a photographer for the Jackson Daily News, captured the intensity--and the horror--of the moment in a photograph that helped to galvanize support for Civil Rights. Because Anne Moody's face was in the image, she could not go to her home in south Mississippi again. Her name and accomplishments have almost been forgotten there as a result. Written by Keyonna Griffin and produced by Ben Billa.

Media coverage of the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis has focused on the blame game. Whose fault was it? Where did all the money for infrastructure go? Who should be in charge of making sure it doesn't happen again? As usual, when "adults" argue during moments like these, children suffer the most. Whether there isn't water at home or at school, Jackson's students are being hurt.

When Robert St. John was a young man, he didn't think he'd live to be 25. He knew he had a substance abuse issue, but didn't know how or where to get help until he got arrested and ended up in rehab. Now, as one of Mississippi's most successful restauranteurs, he hires members of the recovery community. It's not mere charity. It's good business. Written by Jaqueline Smith and produced by Max Flaschka.

Queer culture been demonized in Mississippi since the 1830s. In recent years, the state has slowly improved its environment for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Some denominations have been especially progressive in making the state friendlier to members of the community. Unfortunately, anti-trans bills have outweighed the inclusive laws. Written and recorded by Victoria West.

Biloxi Beach was constructed in the middle of the 20th Century to prevent erosion and for the recreational use of everyone in the city--everyone who was white. The city neglected to see African Americans as equals and restricted their access to the "public" beach. This podcast, written and produced by Julia Nguyen, retells the story of Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Sr., the lead organizer of the Bloody Sunday wade-ins and a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.

Mrs. Edwina William's passion for reading to children is rooted in the belief that reading is not just a means of acquiring knowledge, but also a way to stimulate the imagination and foster creativity. Mrs. William's alter ego, Mother Goose, loved by children all over Mississippi's Golden Triangle, hopes to instill a love for reading and self-confidence in children. Written by Bethany Setiawan and produced by Tony Bradley.

Lots of smart people don't like going to school. At its worst, it seems to exist to make students feel bad about what they don't know. It also emphasizes knowledge and skills that were important two generations ago--not today. Written by Adalberto Estrella and produced by Kermit Oville.

Southaven, the third largest city in Mississippi, is known for being a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee. In recent years, Southaven's economic development has dramatically increased its population as well as its diversity. Ironically, Southaven now faces a surprising issue: white flight. This time, white people are moving from Southaven to whiter suburbs including Hernando and Olive Branch, forcing the city to grapple with a delicate issue of perception: Do its residents see it as a continually appealing place to live? Written by Iris Xue and produced by Marqueveon Quinn.

The home of the University of Mississippi and William Faulkner, Oxford, Mississippi is a southern town filled to the brim with history. You can find that history etched in stone. With Confederate monuments, memorials and sculptures; looking closer and then taking a step back, the statues of Oxford, Mississippi paint the bigger picture. Written by Ava Wilson and produced by Colt Sorey.

What has become of Mississippi's capital and metro area, and the state as a whole? Is it worthy of being called the "Hospitability State" or is the motto just a tired piece of marketing? Dylan Wiley speaks with a friend and fellow swimmer about the disparities they see in schools and in neighborhoods in the Jackson metro area. Produced by Dorothy Virges.

The Mississippi Delta is not renowned for its education system. A recent school consolidation in Cleveland, Mississippi offers an opportunity to study the dynamic relationships between race, class, public education, and perception. Written and produced by Rushyendranath Reddy Nalamalapu.

Theater is an extracurricular many students take for granted. That used to be the case in Northwest Mississippi. Former high school director Ms. Judy Defrehn paved the road of opportunity for this theatrical community to its current destination: a massive success. Written by Noah Curtis Lee and produced by Andrew Grieve.

Luke Woodham killed his mother and two students at Pearl High School a quarter century ago. How did the school and the city recover? They started by coming together and supporting one another. Looking at the last 25 years closely, we can see that healing is a process. Written by Sabrina Sims.

Dr. Clara Reed is an African American woman from Belzoni, Mississippi who has given so much back to her town. She is a trailblazer who has created available and affordable healthcare for her hometown. Founding Mid-Delta Home and Hospice in 1978. Reed's strong will and faith led to the success of her business. Written by Kelvin Pool and produced by Atticus Ross.

The mayor of Starkville, Mississippi, Lynn Spruill, was the first woman to land on a U.S. navy aircraft carrier. While this alone is enough to make her a hero, she went on to pursue a career in business and politics that greatly benefitted Starkville. Written by Maddie Brain and produced by Nick Nagle.

Florence Mars was a white activist in Philadelphia, Mississippi. She testified in the FBI investigation of the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner--the Philadelphia Three--who were attempting to register African-Americans to vote. Klansmen and local police officers murdered all three and his their bodies in an earthen dam. The whole town wanted to cover the crime up. Except Florence Mars. When the residents discovered her involvement with the investigation, they burned down her barn, poisoned her livestock, and boycotted her farm. Written by Laykin Dixon and produced by Kinsley Collum, with Bridget Pieschel voicing the words of Florence Mars.

Chief Phillip Martin was the elected leader of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians from 1979 to 2007. His military service led him to decide that if Europe could be rebuilt after WWII, then Mississippi's Choctaws could have better schools and lives, too. Members of the tribe still feel the effects of his work today--fifteen years after his death. Written by Iysiahs York and produced by Emma Potts.

It's not impossible to overcome generational curses set out by Mississippi's old standards. John Grisham, world-renowned legal thriller author, proves just that. Stereotypes can be broken, and voices will be heard. He continues to do what's right and fights for justice despite the way he was raised. Written and produced by Lisa Seid. Interviews and quotes credited to Today, France 24, Cato Institute, and Centurion.

The fast-growing town of Starkville, Mississippi, invites people to the vibrant culture of Mississippi State University football games, art galleries, music and more. However, a dark shadow lurks in the interstices of these bright celebrations. Like many other college towns, Starkville has a population of homeless people whose needs often go unaddressed. We dove into this issue, learning that the problem is much deeper than we initially thought. Written by Max Feng and produced by Ethan Liao.

There is a problem with the representation of black youth. Our most common forms of media reduce black adolescents to one-dimensional characters made solely for entertainment. This type of representation affects how young black people think of themselves, which is why Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, is flipping the script. Thomas, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, understands the experience of a black teen in a white world. She has made it her purpose to show the world things from the perspectives of black youths, and most importantly, prove to them they can surpass any obstacles thrown at them. Written by Ivie Kirkland and produced by Rusleen Bhalla.

Some people find the quiet, slow pace of Carrollton, Mississippi to their liking. However, when Jeremiah McClain moved there from a Chicago suburb, he found himself longing for the comforts of noisy trains, loud music, and busy streets--especially after he realized that his high school was named after one of the architects of legalized segregation, J.Z. George.

Fanny Lou Hamer's formal education might have ended in grade school, but she knew how to make a point. Her speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention helped change the course of American history through its logic and insight. Written by Arika Gardner and produced by Gabe Skinner.

The magnitude and heroism shown by civil rights activists in the 1960s gets even clearer when you look at the villains. Their actions show how deeply embedded racism was within the institutions of MIssissippi, as an examination of Robert Boyd Patterson's life will show. Written by Ann Grace Donahue and produced by Gabe Skinner.

Elvis Presley was only a boy from a small town in Mississippi. He had lived a hard life during a harsh time. He came out of it as a rock-star pioneer for American music, which has created more fans and influence than any other solo artist. Even years after his passing, he remains popular. Written by Krish Patel and produced by Sophia Williams.

It didn't start with Taylor Swift or Ke$ha: women have been fighting for recognition as artists in the music industry for years. Amazing ladies like Cordell Jackson, the first woman to open her own record label and publish her own rockabilly music, show just how far women have come in entertainment. Yet her experiences, along with the experiences that female artists face today, reveal how much work is still left to do in the entertainment industry. Written by Jenna Riggle and produced by Andrew Liu.

Cleveland, Mississippi, has gone through a change of a lifetime: just five years ago, its school district finally desegregated. By all accounts, this made the town a better place. Take a look into the heart and soul of the delta, as we dive into the repurcussions of the most controversial event in this town's history. Written by Dyllon Martin and produced by Gordon Welch.

History is filled with extraordinary people who accomplished mind boggling heroic feats. These legends often serve as our inspiration and our teachers. This podcast seeks to examine an incredible individual who influenced Mississippi history for the better. Without him the state, and everyone who lives in it would not be able to enjoy the freedoms and luxuries that we do today. From the harbor of the Gulf coast to the ragging battlefields of the American Civil War, let's learn about Joseph Thomas Jones. Written and produced by Daniel Caton.

The life of reconstruction hero Charles Caldwell was cut short by an assassin's bullet during the 1875 election. Hear the story of his fight for racial equality--and a place in Mississippi history.

"Cultural Activist" tells the story of poet, writer, and archivist Margaret Walker Alexander who founded the first institute for African American studies in Jackson, Mississippi. It includes excerpts from her journals and follows her journey through life, displaying her struggles and triumphs. Written by Chauncy Jordan and produced by Willem Arnoldus.

You've already heard stories of the groundbreaking achievements of Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Malcom X in the fight for African American civil rights. But have you heard Richard E. Holmes' small-town story with much bigger implications? Delve deeper into the adversity he faced and challenges he overcame as he became the first African American to integrate Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. Written by Nicholas Popescu and produced by Jeremy Dawe and Elliot Mathers.

Richard Howorth is the owner of three local and iconic bookstores in Oxford, MS. It's one of the first places that visitors to the small college town go. Richard Howorth was also Mayor of the town and was the president of the American Booksellers Association. He has certainly left his mark on Oxford--and on Mississippi. Written and produced by Isaac Riggins and Aaron Sharp, with samples from "Morning Routine" by Ghostrifter.

Everyone has something that they like, maybe something that they love. But what happens when that thing you find comfort in becomes a crazed delusion? What happens if that thing leads you to abandon everything you have known? What if it destroys the life of those around you affected by the mess? This is the story of Paul MacLeod, who proclaimed himself the world's number Elvis fan. Written by Shonice Oswalt and produced by Makenzie Brannon.

Julia Evans Reed was an author, journalist, and humorist from Greenville, Mississippi. She often wrote about things that she enjoyed, such as cooking and entertaining, and had a gift for explaining what she knew in ways that nobody else would have considered. Her life teaches two important lessons: you do not always have to have a boring career to be successful, and you can often make a living out of the things you love. Written by Sophie Hines and produced by Andrew Liu.