Real Mississippi

English-Learner (EL) and immigrant students are youth that have uprooted their lives and now study in a school in the United States. Teachers and administrators have many resources available to them when it comes to providing for their EL students. Mississippi schools should go the extra mile so that their EL students are not treated as a secondary population.

Mississippi's barrier islands aren't just beautiful. They play a major role in protecting the state against hurricanes. As sea levels rise, we aren't merely losing precious natural habitats. We're becoming more vulnerable to extreme weather. Written and narrated by Jennifer Bui. Produced by Seth Armstead.

Career and Technology Education might just make Mississippi a destination state for industries that need a trained workforce and low taxes. Written by Michelle Yang and produced by Ramon Munoz-Montiel.

Driver’s education is crucial for teenage drivers in Mississippi but it is underutilized. From speeding to distracted driving, the hazards are already limitless. An emphasis on driver’s education and the implementation of road tests will save lives. It’s time to put the brakes on dangerous driving.

After the Dobbs decision, Mississippi's leaders made it next to impossible for women to get abortions. Although they legislated exceptions for rape and incest, they also put in place barriers that will discourage victims of those crimes from terminating pregnancies.

Joe Max Higgins runs the most successful economic development group in Mississippi, the LINK, which attracts investment in a three-county area known as the Golden Triangle. His secret? He never stops working. Written by Lucas Sloan and produced by Sabrina Van.

Ava Bodmer focuses on why and how Gluckstadt, Mississippi incorporated as its own town. It marked the first time in many years that the state welcomed a new municipality.

African-American women in Mississippi have learned all too well how unlikely it is that all their maternity health needs will be addressed. Fortunately, as Sydney Asowata reports, they are beginning to advocate more effectively for themselves. Produced by Aaliyah Granderson.

Most people would like to say that segregation is a thing of the past, but it still affects school districts in Mississippi--even one of the state's best. In Desoto County, movement towards the exurbs of Memphis has resulted in achievement
gaps that correlate to the racial demographics of the neighborhoods schools serve. Andrew Dowdy explains the causes of such segregation and ways to end it. Written and narrated by Andrew Dowdy; Produced by Joycelyn Barner.

As Mississippi's leaders debate expanding Medicaid, one thing is certain: it's a prickly topic that magnifies all the disparities in our state. Expansion would improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of citizens. It would also be expensive. Is healthcare a right for all? Why is the Mississippi legislature so hesitant to take the step? Is the stalling costing the state money? Written by Grace Ann Courtney and produced by Emily Barnes.

Art makes Mississippi, Mississippi, and our youth need more opportunities to dive into it. Yet an emphasis on STEM and Career education has resulted in a lack of art classes/clubs in Mississippi schools. All kinds of art, from murals to musical performances, add engagement and excitement into communities. We need to nurture art to stop Mississippi's brain drain. Written and recorded by Samar Rosas Rahimi and produced by Benjamin Breeden.

Collinsville, Mississippi's Piggly Wiggly--known locally as the Pig--is all that stands between citizens and a food desert. Unfortunately, this particular super market isn't always that super. Written and narrated by Liz Brittain, and produced by Logan Wood.

Why sleep? This question lies at the heart of Mississippi’s sleep loss epidemic. Why are Mississippi’s students increasingly sacrificing the “season of all natures”? What are the true costs of routine sleep deprivation on the developing mind? And most importantly, what can be done to remedy this? This podcast was written by Andy Chen and produced by Wadie Farewell.

Mississippi's libraries have sometimes found themselves in the crosshairs of culture wars. However, their mission and their people thrive by rising above politics. Written and narrated by Julian Wilson and produced by Thad Gilbert.

The Mississippi prison system constantly faces issues that threaten its effectiveness and the wellbeing of its inmates. The last few years have seen heightened levels of concerns regarding overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and neglect of inmates. Written and narrated by Lee Faul and produced by Jordan Rule.

The cost of college keeps too many students in Mississippi from reaching their goals. With the costs continuing to rise, Mississippi’s students are being pushed into vocational career paths that can trap them in the cycle of poverty and effectively close the door on careers that would allow them to have greater financial freedom. However, through scholarships and support programs, students are finding new resources to help them afford the cost of college and reach their fullest potential. Written by Petra Herrmann and produced by Natalie Gonzalez-Zuniga.

How are so many workers absent from jobs despite a low unemployment rate? The explanation is a decrease in workforce participation, prevalent in the state of Mississippi. A shrinking percentage of eligible workers are applying for and retaining jobs. In this episode, we explore the major causes of this lack in participation and who it affects. With input and personal experiences from job
experts working in Mississippi, we explore possible local solutions to a problem facing employers and consumers. Written by Carter Scaggs and produced by Lucas Griffith.

Chinese immigrants to Mississippi thrived despite huge
challenges. They turned found opportunities where others saw limitations. One important path to success involved grocery stores. They evolved into lively community hubs, blending the East and West seamlessly and making a
welcoming space for everyone. Written by Judy Hung and produced by Cohen Suttles.

Mississippians have notoriously unhealthy diets, and they
do little to nothing about it. This can lead to very poor gut health. One solution to this problem lies in foreign condiments such as sauerkraut and kimchi. They offer healthy alternatives or additions to southern dishes, and would create healthier diets and increase food diversity. Written and narrated by Joey Knight and produced by Jack Kirkland.

The lynching of four African Americans in Shubuta, Mississippi in 1918 forms almost no part of the understanding locals have of their own history. Looking into their deaths forces us to reckon with our relationship with our past--and the impact it has on the present. Written and narrated by Raleigh Taylor, and produced by Manpreet Singh.

"The Shaping’s of Success: Children’s Education" explores the intricate link between childhood experiences and education, emphasizing parental guidance, motivation, and home disruptions. The podcast discusses extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Showing how parents as architects shaping a child's educational foundation. The impact of disruptions, emphasized by interviews with
teacher Skylar McCann, reveals challenges like motivation drops in unstable homes. The hosts address teacher shortages and advocate for supportive environments, both at home and in the classroom, to positively shape children's mindsets. The podcast stressed the need for freedom, encouragement, and resources, crucial for a child's thriving education.

Folks in Northeast Mississippi know that unless local governments and NGOs pull together, businesses will leave, economic development will fall off, and people's lives will be ruined. The Community Development Foundation (CDF) helps coordinate talent and potential so that our part of the state can thrive. Written and narrated by Olivia Cochran and produced by Brooke Anderson.

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.