Soul Sessions Jackson

On this special episode, Chef Carla Hall may be best known as the co-host of Emmy award-winning series “The Chew” and her appearances on Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars. But her latest endeavor, a children’s book – “The Christmas Cornbread” - brought her to the City With Soul for two weekend events.

On today's show, Director of Public Engagement from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Michael Morris. Michael began as a Public Information Officer and Director of Public Relations before maturating into his current role. He offers a wealth of knowledge, and always greets you with a warm smile.

Fabian Nelson is a real estate broker, a dad and a board member of Capital City Pride, advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in Jackson. Fabian’s work as a champion for change brings to the forefront efforts to create a more equitable community. Transcript: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-fabian-nelson MS Capital City PRIDE https://mscapitalcitypride.org

On this episode, we visit with the Director of the Two Mississippi Museums, Pamela DC Junior. Pam sat down with us to celebrate the history and significance of Juneteenth – Jubilee Day – and why it is important for all people to recognize the holiday, plus, we’ll take a look at Juneteenth activities in Jackson. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-pam-junior HISTORY OF JUNET...

Patrick Harkins a musician and owner of instrument and lesson shop and venue Fondren Guitars in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood. Patrick is also part of the collaborative group who is bringing this weekend’s Memorial Music in the City – featuring 18 bands and growing – to three of Jackson’s most popular music venues. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/soulsessions/ http://www.fondrenguitars.c...

On this episode, we hear from Dr. Robby Luckett, professor for the Department of History, Director for the Margaret Walker Center, and the Director of the COFO Civil Rights Education Center at Jackson State University. Dr. Luckett is a historian and advocate for promoting the City With Soul’s Civil Rights history.

Shell Enns is the President and CEO OF Jackson Music Group and the cofounder of JXN Music Fest, a weekend long event being held may 27 through 29 at Buddy Butts Park in South Jackson. Today, Shell talks about the life of a music executive and what it takes to showcase big talent in the City With Soul. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-shell-enns/ https://www.jxnmusicgroup...

In this episode, we hear from sommelier and wine manager for BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar in Highland Village, Chuck Nix. Chuck's experience in the hospitality industry came by accident, but his expertise and intentionality has made him a star in the field, and has given BRAVO!'s 28-year-old wine program a fresh new flavor. https://bravobuzz.com https://www.instagram.com/beardedwineaux/ https:/...

Ryan Dennis, Chief Curator and Artistic Director for the Center for Art and Public Exchange at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, shares her passion for storytelling and the intersection of community and art, and her observations on Jackson. Plus, we get an inside look at the exhibition "A Movement in Every Direction: Stories of the Great Migration." Transcript: https://www.visitjackson.com...

On today's show Tamie Germany, co-owner of the Mississippi Raiders professional arena football team. Tamie is excited to bring the fastest game on turf to Jackson, Mississippi, the City With Soul. They'll kick off their season, March 26th at the Mississippi Coliseum. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-tamie-germany/ PRESS RELEASE: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/mississi...

Malcolm White is the visionary and cultural provocateur behind Hal & Mal's restaurant and the Hal's St. Paddy's Parade founded alongside his late brother, Harold White. Learn more & transcript: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-malcolm-white/ Parade: https://www.halsstpaddysparade.com Origins of the Parade: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/legacy-of-celebration Explore Jackson: http...

On today's episode is pediatric dentist and restaurateur, Dr. Jerrick Rose. When COVID-19 closed his dental practice temporarily in 2020, Dr. Rose took out his notes from years of travel and inspiration – and opened La Cour Kitchen and Bar in Jackson’s Highland Village. Learn more & transcript: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-jerrick-rose/ https://www.lacourkitchenandbar.com https:...

Gwen Harmon is the Director of Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center in Jackson’s historic Farish Street District and says the small but mighty museum is a great starting place to discover more about the civil rights story in Jackson, Mississippi. Learn more & transcript: visitjackson.com/directory/smith-robertson-museum-and-cultural-center/ Living History in February: visitjackson.com/events...

Sarah Story became executive director of Mississippi Arts Commission in November 2020 and leads the state agency in its mission to be a catalyst for the arts and creativity in Mississippi. Having spent much of her career in museum administration, Story previously served as the executive director of the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum in Austin, Texas. In this episode: arts.ms.gov | VisitJackson.c...

From the oil fields of his native Oklahoma to the auction world, J.D. Pass has his hands in several ventures, not the least of which is his 150,000 square foot warehouse in Jackson’s Industry Park neighborhood – The Vault, full of classic cars, to his community events that draw thousands. Pass is focused on giving back to the community through The Vault and by inspiring the neighborhood around him...

Salam Rida is the operations director and co-founder of Carbon Office and Ecoshed in the Industry Park neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi. A native of Detroit, Rida worked as part of the team that established the Long Range Planning team at the City of Jackson Planning Department and, more recently, led notable projects like ONELINE: Multi-Modal Corridor, the JTRAN Rebrand, the Downtown Design D...

A Florida by-way-of San Francisco native, Tim Bennett was a driving force behind the Mississippi Braves in Pearl and the Biloxi Shuckers on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In his latest venture – managing Smith Wills Stadium and the Hank Aaron Sports Academy located there - Bennett believes baseball can help write the “comeback” story in Jackson, too, empowering youth through education and America’s p...

Tim Mask is the president and CEO of MWB, a 50 year-old creative firm in Jackson, whose mission is to “create for good.” Saying he “never had a real job” prior to coming here in 1999, Tim worked on political campaigns before finding his niche in the agency world. In this episode: www.mwb.com | Instagram.com/mwbcreate | visitjackson.com/safertravel | sippjackson.com/tasteoftheislands

Jordan Hillman is the Director of the City of Jackson’s Planning and Development Department. In her role, Jordan is the city’s problem solver and systems analyst, and her work ranges from community development to transit and business licensing. A decade-long resident here, Jordan and husband Matt are raising two boys in the City With Soul. In this episode: www.jacksonms.gov | www.jacksonms.gov/con...

From former teacher to musician and barista to baker, Cody Cox (along with wife, Molly West) are owners of Urban Foxes, the small batch bakery and coffee shop in Jackson’s Belhaven Heights neighborhood where food, family and community are all intertwined. Cody sees the city as fertile – “if you want to put the work in” – through grassroots championing for change alongside fellow Jacksonians, from...

In this episode: Lauren Rhoades is the director of the Eudora Welty House & Garden in Jackson. Originally from Colorado, Lauren moved to Jackson in 2013 to work with FoodCorps, an AmeriCorps program. Prior to her work at the Welty House, Lauren founded and operated Sweet & Sauer, Mississippi’s first fermentation company. Her kimchi received a 2018 Southern Living Food Award. Outside of work, Laure...

As a teen, Jeff Good moved to Jackson from Salt Lake City and went on to attend Millsaps College and stayed put, planting deep roots in the city. As owner/operator of Jackson restaurants BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar, Broad Street Baking Company and Sal & Mookie’s New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint, Good’s face and welcoming persona is one that’s ever-present in the City With Soul. His most recent...

Cindy Ayers Elliott is CEO of Foot Print Farms, a 68 acre specialty crop vegetable and livestock farm, with a focus on agri-tourism for community development in the City of Jackson. She spent years in New York as an investment banker but has traded in her high heels for a pair of work boots and a different type of investing: Cindy believes that planting seeds in the earth will grow fresh vegetable...

Creative Design Manager Reshonda Perryman is the artistic mind responsible for Visit Jackson´s new image and the visionary behind Pixels & Paint, LLC. Perryman is a graduate of Jackson State University and received her Master´s of Fine Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design. She is a self-described lifelong creative that specializes in many aspects of art and graphic design. visitjackson.com |...

We’ve got a slate of future episodes lined up in the coming months, but we’re taking a pause for now during COVID-19. In the meantime, head to My City Jxn MS on IGTV and Facebook, and look for a new series, My City TV!