Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden

The Breaking Bread Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stafford's Market in Drew, Mississippi. If you're passing through the Delta, stop by, grab something good to eat, and help us keep these conversations coming. Today's guest is my longtime friend, Chef David Crews, owner of Crews Culinary Investments, culinary instructor at Mississippi Delta Community College, and the driving force b...

Breaking Bread Podcast with Stafford Shurden Episode 26 | Special Guest: Brooks Bishop In this episode of Breaking Bread, Stafford sits down with his friend Brooks Bishop, owner of Southern Summit Roofing in Cleveland, Mississippi. Brooks is a young entrepreneur with an interesting story and a wide range of experiences. He's been a regular supporter of the Success Supper Club, has introduced...

In this episode of Breaking Bread , Stafford sits down with entrepreneur, firefighter, martial arts instructor, coach, and leadership expert Ian O'Leary for a powerful conversation about purpose, perseverance, faith, and helping others discover their gifts. Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, Ian was raised in a close-knit family where faith played a central role. The son of a minister, he sp...

In this episode, Stafford sits down with Terry Roberts, a man who spent decades navigating the corporate world with companies like IBM, Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic only to walk away and bet on himself. After realizing in his mid-50s that corporate advancement had a ceiling, Terry made a hard pivot. No safety net, no guarantees. Just a decision to learn re...

In this episode of Breaking Bread, Stafford sits down with Jesse Phillips, a Marine, filmmaker, photographer, writer, and what can only be described as a true warrior poet. Jesse is the kind of man you don’t forget after you meet him. He’s got a quiet intensity, a natural charisma, and a presence that feels like it belongs on screen. But underneath all of that is something deeper. Jesse is a man o...

In this episode of Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden , I sit down with Dakota Greer, better known as The Apizza Guy . Originally from Grenada and now based in Oxford, Dakota started out reviewing pizza but quickly built a following by expanding into full restaurant reviews across North Mississippi and beyond. Outside of content, Dakota is also a nurse, which gives him a unique perspective on ba...

In this episode of Breaking Bread , Stafford sits down with Brian Hadad , one of Mississippi’s most recognizable voices in sports media. Known for his work covering Mississippi State athletics, Brian has built a reputation for thoughtful analysis, honest commentary, and a deep understanding of college sports in the South. Over a plate of good food and real conversation, Stafford and Brian talk abo...

In this episode of Breaking Bread, I sit down with my good friend Bart Davis, owner of 360 Marketing and the FloBama in Florence, Alabama AKA the Shoals. Bart and I met at a Whiskey & Wisdom event in Nashville, and we quickly realized we share a lot of the same values: think bigger, build better, and do it with purpose. Bart has become a true student of marketing through his experience in the...

James Downs is a true creative in every sense of the word. From sketching original furniture designs by hand to building the finished piece himself, he lives at the intersection of craftsmanship and imagination. James has upholstered furniture for the Oval Office under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, designed dining chairs for U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, and created custom pieces for cl...

Matt Wyatt is a former Mississippi State quarterback who played for the Bulldogs from 1996 to 1999,  Matt  was right in the middle of one of the most important eras in Mississippi State football history. During the 1998 season, Mississippi State won the SEC West, earning a trip to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. That game matched State up against Tennessee Volunteers and quarterback Tee Mart...

On this episode of Breaking Bread, I sit down with Hayes Dent, a Republican strategist and lobbyist from Yazoo City, Mississippi, and one of the most fascinating political minds I’ve ever met. Hayes has lived a lifetime of history. While still a young man, he worked on Ronald Reagan’s 1984 re-election campaign, went on to serve in the George H. W. Bush administration, and later played a key role w...

In Episode 16 of Breaking Bread, Stafford sits down once again with good friend, mentor, and serial entrepreneur Will Bradham. Will returns to the podcast to talk candidly about business, life, and the everyday realities of building companies in Mississippi. He currently owns and operates Right at Home, a home-care service that provides nurses and professional caregivers to families in need, Delta...

Matt Callahan aka Matt's Adventures is a social media influencer that made his name as the Brisket King but has branched out into lots of content most notably his take on the 6.5 Creedmoor. 

Roy Waldrup is a local Drew, Mississippi farmer who spent his teenage years in the Alaskan Bush hunting and trapping. His family and the Shurden's have been friends for a long time. Roy is also one of the best storytellers I know. 

Chis Lynn grew up on the Mississippi River in Vicksburg hunting and fishing with his father and selling the fish they caught on the weekend. Now Chris makes a living on social media and is famous for his line, "y'all get up and do something". 

David Ellis aka Yawt Yawt. On any given week he might be setting traps, tracking hogs or beavers, heading into the woods under thermal scopes  all with grit, and respect for the land.. But he’s more than a trapper. He’s a man of faith who believes that what you take from the land comes with a responsibility. Which brings us to what he’s doing now: giving back. Yawt Yawt has started a food pantry i...

Episode 11: Feeding Mississippi with Martha Allen Price of Extra Table In this episode, Stafford sits down with Martha Allen Price , Executive Director of Extra Table , a Mississippi-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger across the state. Serving food pantries in more than 60 counties, Extra Table is redefining how communities support their neighbors in need. Martha shares inspiring stories...

A singular, delightfully idiosyncratic voice in the world of comedy, Mary Ryan Brown is a wife, mother, writer, and comedian who leaves no moment unexamined.  She’s a one-of-a-kind act known across social media for her characters and parodies of women across the South, and her standup blends punchy observations and layered storytelling with absurd impromptu crowd work.  She’s relentless, neurotic,...

Episode 9: Duck Bands & Cotton Rows – A Conversation with Tucker Miller In this episode of Breaking Bread, Stafford sits down with a true Delta legend—Tucker Miller from right here in Drew, Mississippi. Tucker’s a world-renowned duck hunter and a lifelong cotton consultant with nearly 60 years of stories from the fields and flooded timber. From the art of checking cotton to the thrill of the m...

 In this episode of Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden , we sit down with Ryan Biles, an architect and community developer from Lonoke, Arkansas. As the owner of Kudzu Collective, Ryan is dedicated to designing spaces that foster connection and growth. His work extends beyond Arkansas, making an impact throughout the Mississippi Delta. Join us as we discuss his passion for architecture, the role...

 Jay Bradley is a seasoned entrepreneur, dynamic speaker, and business strategist. As the former owner of the iconic Cowbells Bar in Starkville, MS, and the founder of Roofnuts, Jay has built a reputation for turning businesses into thriving success stories. Today, he travels the country, training and inspiring business owners on how to scale sales, maximize growth, and achieve true entrepreneuria...

Don Joe and his brother Wally owned the best reviewed restaurant in the south for years, KCs. 

Mike Ellis is a Musician and retired farmer. Mike Ellis and the Hometown Band have been a staple of Mississippi Delta Music for 60 years. 

Jenny Smith aka Mississippi Memaw is a social media influencer with millions of views. She went viral for ordering pickles in her Dr. Pepper at Sonic landing in the top 10 most searched things on Google for 2024. She is loved for her down to earth Mississippi charm and is followed by hundreds of thousands of people. 

This was such a fun episode for me as a restaurant guy. Robert is a salt of the earth all around good man and I feel inspired just by being around him. Robert has written 13 books and owns several restaurants including, Crescent City Grill, Tabella, Ed's Burger Joint, Enzo, The Midtowner, Loblolly Bakery, and The Mahogany Bar. Robert also was instrumental in founding Extra Table, a non profit...