Soul Sessions Jackson

Today's episode is a Soul Sessions Extra, a shorter conversation with Jessica Walzer, curator of collections and exhibits at the two Mississippi museums about a brand new exhibition called “Mississippi Made.” In celebration of America 250, it's 250 artifacts spanning from the early 19th century to the present day. Agriculture, manufacturing, music, fashion, science, literature, film, the breadth a...

On today's show, we're talking American favorite classic foods with two people who've built their restaurants around it. Jeff Good is the owner of Sal and Mookie's New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint at The District at Eastover in LeFleur East. Since 2007, he's been making New York-style pizza in Jackson. Fresh dough every day, the kind of slice that folds just perfectly. And Scott Jackson, he's a...

On today's show, we're talking about Southern food traditions with two women who are keepers of those traditions in very different ways. Chef Enrika Williams trained at a culinary school in Atlanta and came home to Jackson, the city that's always felt like endless possibilities for her imagination and creativity. And Glenda Cage Barner opened Sugar's Place on West Griffith Street with her son, Che...

On today's show, we're talking about two of those daily rituals with two people who've built their businesses around them: Matt Flinn at Native Coffee Company and Brandi Carter at Levure Wine Shop. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-matt-flinn-brandi-carter

Today, we're talking about the HBCU Power Series coming to Trustmark Park in Pearl this February. Six tradition-rich programs, three days of games, and a weekend that celebrates everything great about HBCU athletics. And yes, your Jackson State Tigers will be playing right here at home. JSU head baseball Coach Omar Johnson joins us. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-hbcu-...

On today’s show, I stepped back and let two incredible chefs talk shop. Geno Lee, the fourth-generation owner of the Big Apple Inn on Farish Street, sits down with Simms Powell, a 15-year-old culinary and artistic prodigy who's been cooking since he was nine. Both are featured on the cover of our 2026 tour guide, and this conversation about Filipino food, fusion cuisine, and what it really takes t...

On today's season six opener, we're celebrating what makes Jackson's food scene unlike anywhere else through the voices of the chefs, restaurateurs and the food makers who bring it to life. Hear from Chefs Nick Wallace, Hunter Evans, Enrika Williams, Damien Cavichhi and Chaz Lindsay; distiller Richard Patrick and coffee roaster and expert Trey Malone. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/...

On today's show, we're talking about Mississippi's return to the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day. Last year's debut was a landmark moment. 800,000 people on the streets of Pasadena, millions more watching worldwide. This year, Mississippi goes back with a new theme celebrating the arts and Jackson's own USA International Ballet Competition will be represented on the float. TRANSCRIPT:...

On today's show, we're talking with WJTV's Kayla Thompson, who turned a scary moment in Tupelo into a career-defining revelation. Now she's the face of Live at 9, where she spotlights Jackson's creative hustle every weekday morning. Her new book, Master of the Pivot, chronicles her journey from Jacksonville State in Alabama to becoming one of Jackson's most recognizable voices. TRANSCRIPT: https:/...

On today's show, we down with Ally Durr, visual designer by day, soulful musician by calling. From singing gospel with her cousins to releasing her breakthrough single, “What You Livin' For,” to grooving for Aunjanue L. Ellis-Taylor at Tougaloo, Ally's journey through Jackson's music scene is a masterclass in creative courage and community connection. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/...

On today's show, Blaine Wade, the president and CEO of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, joins us to talk about the National Folk Festival, coming to Jackson for a three year residency, November 7th, 8th and 9th. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-blaine-wade

On today's show, we're sitting down with John Evans, the man behind Lemuria Books, one of the South's most beloved independent bookstores. Since 1975, John has been more than just a bookseller—he's been a curator of literary culture, a champion of authors, and a steadfast presence in Jackson's creative community. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-john-evans

On today's show, we're chatting with Liz Brister, the dynamo president of Downtown Jackson Partners who's been leading the charge to change perceptions about our capital city's core since February. From sunrise workouts at Pinnacle Green to five-course dinners under harvest moons in Smith Park, Liz is proving that downtown Jackson isn't just Mississippi's urban heart – it's a place worth falling i...

On today’s show, we're talking with Dr. Tonja Murphy, the community engagement director for the Mississippi Book Festival, about what she calls their "Super Bowl" - the annual literary lawn party happening September 13 at the Mississippi State Capitol. From debut novelists to cookbook characters like Swamp Dog, from writing workshops to children's poetry sessions, Tonja's helping to orchestrate a...

On today's show, Alex Davis is the visionary behind the HBCU Labor Day Classic Battle of the Bands. He's bringing an unprecedented celebration of band culture to Jackson, complete with food trucks, VIP field access, and the chance for high school musicians to rub shoulders with collegiate legends like JSU's Sonic Boom of the South. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-alex-d...

On today's show, we're talking with Sade Meeks, a registered dietitian and founder of Growing Resilience in the South—GRITS—an organization fighting for food justice here in Mississippi. She's making a documentary called "Food as Resistance" that challenges everything we think we know about Southern foods, and she's proving that catfish and greens aren't just comfort food—they're weapons against f...

On today's show, we're talking with Alexis Noble, the powerhouse gallery owner and creative director who's transforming an unexpected location in a University Boulevard shopping center into Jackson's creative hub. She's the founder of Vibe Studio and the Mashup and a Change Collective fellow who's proving art doesn't have to be elitist. It just has to be accessible. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitja...

On today's show, we're talking with Thabi Moyo, the local director for the National Folk Festival, coming to Jackson November 7th through 9th. She left her beloved job at the Mississippi Film Office to take on this massive three-year cultural celebration. And she's here to tell us why this free festival will be unlike anything Jackson has ever experienced. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/...

On today's show, we talk with Maya Kyles, a dynamic drummer and Jackson native who's carved out her own space in the city's vibrant music scene. From the gospel roots of the Mississippi Mass Choir to the spotlight at the Chicago Blues Festival, Maya's journey is as soulful as it is steady. We'll dive into her influences, her evolution as a musician, and that moment she stepped out from behind the...

On today's show, we're sitting down with Jackson author Gerry Wilson, who published her first novel at the age of 82. She shares how her life in Mississippi Her years as a teacher and her lifelong love of writing all came together to shape her book, "That Pinson Girl," and what it means to find your voice at any stage in life. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-gerry-wilso...

On today's show, we’re celebrating the roots and rhythms of Mississippi blues and its powerful connection to the Chicago Blues Festival with Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo. From the local legends to their lasting legacies, Michelle will help us explore how Mississippi continues to shape—and share—the soundtrack of the south. TRANSCRIPT and SHOW NOTES: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-se...

We're catching up with Austin Evans and Richard Patrick, co-founders of Cathead Distillery. With bourbon, gin, and liqueurs, plus a music festival that's just as soulful as their spirits. They're here to talk Cathead Jam, community, and the culture that keeps them rooted in Jackson. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-cathead

We're catching up with Kimberlee Cooper from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the organization behind Mississippi Makers Fest, a free family friendly celebration of local art, music and food. From pottery demos to American Idol headliners, Kimberly shares how this growing festival turns downtown Jackson into a showcase of Mississippi creativity.

On today's show, we're talking with Maureen Scott, a certified Master Gardener and member of the Metro Master Gardeners Association. From her work at Greenwood Cemetery and the Ag Museum Herb Garden to a touching award-winning project at St. Dominic's, Maureen shares how gardening can be both personal therapy and public service. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-maureen-s...

On today's show, we're talking with Ryan Parker, the executive director of the Mississippi Film Society, bringing Hollywood to Mississippi's capital city. Ryan accomplishes this through special screenings and the upcoming Stranger Than Fiction Film Festival, bringing a passion for creating shared experiences to our local movie screens.