Real Mississippi

Cleveland, Mississippi is known for many things, among them a desegregation case decades after Brown vs. Board. Education in Cleveland, Mississippi, was forever changed in 2016 when the U.S. District Court consolidated two high schools. With so many positive and negative aspects arising after the consolidation, Cleveland students, parents, and teachers ask: Was the consolidation a good idea? And is white flight to private schools representing inevitable segregation? Writer Adair Gaines and producer Jose Brevil explore these questions and what they mean in context to Cleveland.

This podcast shares viewpoints on the many “lack of” statements discussed by local residents from the rural area of Cleveland, MS and the small town of Columbus, MS. The podcasters and the residents all voice their opinions on what needs to change and how their hometowns could evolve and better the citizens only if there weren’t issues such as the lack of quality jobs, city officials who do poor jobs, and poor city development. Podcast by Gavin Weatherspoon and Antanae Shelton.

From expired milk and soggy pizza to bland pasta and plastic cheese, school lunches throughout America aren’t necessarily that tasty--and Mississippi lunches are no exception. Tune in to listen to why school lunches in Mississippi are sub-par, and how they affect students in the classroom. Podcast written by Dan Belingon and produced by Aarya Patel.

Hurricanes regularly hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, resulting in many homes being destroyed, yet people continue to build more and more houses on the coast. These homes are also built out of weak materials such as wood that is easily destroyed by hurricanes; this has also resulted in ever-high insurance prices that many homeowners can’t afford, which leaves them homeless. This podcast is meant to be a warning and advice for living right next to the beach it is not to be a discouragement of living in/near the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Written and produced by Dowson Aguilar.

From tainted taps to unappealing pay, young adults in Mississippi often find it hard to defend a place where they have resided their entire lives because there are so many underlying problems within the state.   To really see a difference in student outcomes, the state needs economic initiatives that boost the life quality of its residents. Recognizing that outside factors go hand-in-hand with student outcomes in classrooms and communities is the first step toward moving Mississippi out of last place.  Written by Maurice Hunter and produced by Ngoh Mobit.

Oysters have been an essential part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Environmentally and financially, oysters are one of the most important organisms on the Gulf Coast. However, in recent years, oyster populations have been rapidly declining due to hurricanes, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the Bonnet Carré Spillway way. Written and produced by Teddy Lai.

The podcast, written and produced by Jon Kidd, covers the crimes of the nationally wanted couple, Janet and Ramond Barreto, from the perspective of Jimmy Edwards, who was the lead responder when the case began in Union County, Mississippi.

This podcast offers a take on why Mississippi has the highest percentage of single mothers and teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. and examines the ramifications of Mississippi’s failed laws, tracing it all back to what is and isn’t taught in Mississippi high schools today. Written by Domini Jha and produced by Miniya Thurman.

For many years, Mississippi has ranked as one of the top states for STDs and teen pregnancy. This sad truth can be directly linked back to the state’s lackluster sex education and the failure of House Bill 999. This podcast dives into the issues that this bill causes,  the gaps in student’s knowledge on sex that it causes, and how these same students can take charge and advocate for their right to a proper sex education. Co-written and co-produced by CharLese Shields and Naomi Simpson.

COVID has taken a toll on lots of different things, from lives to businesses, to hospitals. In today's episode, we will be talking about how during the wave of covid Greenwood Lefore Hospital has been put in a financial crisis and its efforts to come out positive and keep its doors open for longer. Written by Yash Malhotra and produced by Jonathon Stancill.

Mississippi is definitely not the first place that comes to mind when one thinks about competitive robotics. However, Mississippi is home to a decently sized and thriving robotics environment. In this episode, Lilly Adcock details the successes and impact of the FIRST Tech Challenge program in Mississippi, as well as the factors that make Mississippi robotics teams unique. Podcast produced by Daniel Van.

High school students Cratin Quinnelly and Carys Peden explore the overlooked drug crisis in rural towns like Farmington, Mississippi. They delve into the intersection of expansionism, police corruption, and poverty, shedding light on how these factors fuel drug usage. Despite the challenges, the episode offers hope by highlighting potential solutions, urging action to address systemic issues and create a brighter future for communities. Tune in to uncover the hidden truths shaping rural Mississippi's communities.

The Slugburger is a southern delicacy that originated in Corinth, MS during the Great Depression and managed to stick around all these years. It's so locally loved that there's an annual summer festival held to celebrate it and the town that it's a vital part of. This Real Mississippi Podcast episode explains what the Slugburger is, where it came from, and why it still matters today. Written by Morgan Smith and produced by Alex Gabitov.

The death of Rev. George W. Lee was a pivotal moment for Black Mississippians during the 1960s. However, today it is as if his name is barely ever whispered. Some justify this fact through the cover-up of his story or just because there was “too much violence to keep up with”at the time. So come along as we help Mississippi learn and remember what a great man George was and how exactly he died.

Sanders Hutson explores the effects of his grandfather's Alzheimer's diagnosis on the whole family.

Students with learning disabilities in the Mississippi Delta face challenges in their education, especially when it comes to the identification and classification of students’ disabilities. This podcast focuses on the process from start to finish of getting a 504 or IEP plan, who is involved, and how the process has changed over time with the help of the Mississippi Department of Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Written by Jada Rosa and produced by Darshi Kher.

In this podcast we discuss not only the violence in schools that many try to keep silent but also the watering down of our curriculum. We invite everyone to not only listen to our ideas to help but to also share your stories and help fight for the schools, students, and faculties best interest for a better future. Written by Cloé Wilkes and produced by Kaylee Alford.

 In the last few decades, state assessments have become the cornerstone of education in Mississippi. Kelstin Holmes took a deep dive into understanding how state assessments affect students and teachers. The podcast explains how state assessments could affect how teachers teach and the mental health of students, which ultimately harms the learning experience of students. Kelstin interviewed a former administrator, a current administrator, a current teacher, and a student to understand the effects of state assessments. Produced by Alex Bodmer.

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 are breathtaking, complex masses of sand and sediment. They also serve as a crucial defense mechanism against severe weather. As sea levels continue to rise, we lose valuable natural habitats and become more exposed and defenseless against harsh weather. For the future of Mississippi's safety and longevity, we must find a way to combat and prevent further erosion of barrier islands. Written and narrated by Jennifer Bui. Produced by Seth Armstead.

Outside of traditional classrooms, students’ lives are transformed by hands-on learning experiences and skill-building activities through Career and Technical Education. CTE is diving headfirst into today’s ever-evolving market, and throughout Mississippi, many programs have been established to ignite interests and explore various career opportunities. From healthcare to engineering, agriculture to technology, students can gain invaluable insights and practical knowledge. College expenses are also a looming factor. CTE offers pathways to well-paying jobs without the need for a four-year college, and it seeks people who want to enter the workforce efficiently. Many industries recognize CTE programs as an alternative gateway to success through direct paths to employment. Written and reported 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.