The Local Yokel's Podcast

On the Local Yokels podcast, Neil and guest Aubrie Johnson discuss two major controversies: Louisiana Pastor Tony Spell’s long-running conflict with neighbors and authorities after expanding his church outreach to low-income communities via dozens of buses, and a recent incident where he allegedly beat a 20-year-old neighbor after vulgar threats toward his family. They then shift to DeSoto County...

Neil interviews Horn Lake Police Department Chief Nikki Pullen about community policing, recruiting and retention, and building department culture with integrity and accountability. They highlight cooperative efforts across agencies, support for Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center and DeSoto County Search and Rescue, and community outrage driving tougher penalties for child predators. Chief Pulle...

Neil Colley interviews Josh Hocutt and Hayden Carlini of Take A Break Deliveries, a Mississippi-based delivery company expanding from Oxford to Hernando with a target opening date of June 16 and offering 50% off a first order with promo code FIRSTDELIVERY. They emphasize local, hands-on service with direct support, vetted local drivers, a 20-mile delivery radius, and delivery beyond restaurants, i...

Host Neil welcomes DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue guests Captain Johnathon Bigham (SAR director), Sergeant Shannon Baroni, and Tiffany Page to discuss the team’s new K-9 trailing unit. Shannon shares how her rescued dog Charlie—found in a roundabout—was trained locally in real-world environments and became certified in under a year, while Tiffany describes her rescued dog Har...

Host Neil interviews DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton, who says the state case involving Lindsey Whiteside is complete, that he pursued challenges to amend the sentence and unseal records, and that the federal case is proceeding at a normal pace with Whiteside held in custody and facing a 10-year mandatory minimum. Barton discusses a Southaven carjacking-related shooting involving tw...

Host Neil welcomes Judge Celeste Wilson and Intervention Court (formerly Drug Court) coordinator/field officer Jacob Bramlett to discuss DeSoto County’s program, which began in 2006 and is run alongside Wilson’s regular circuit court duties. They explain that the court serves nonviolent, high-risk/high-need participants with substance use disorders, emphasizing treatment, strict supervision, and a...

Host Neil interviews Chef Michael Patrick of Magnolia Bend Grille at Bon Terre (4715 Church Road). Michael shares his 18-year professional background (including Capital Grille) and explains the restaurant’s casual fine dining approach, Thursday date-night three-course dinners for $90, Sunday brunch (11:30–3) with bottomless mimosas and bloody marys for $25, and rotating specials like prime rib and...

Host Neil interviews Kristy and Tyler Whatley about their work in Mid-South motorsports: Kristy runs Highside Photography, covering dirt tracks and other racing events across Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri, expanding to major series like World of Outlaws and High Limit, plus car shows and custom shoots; she shares how she got started, how drivers and tracks now seek her out, and ho...

The Local Yokel’s talked to veteran advocate Drew Jones, founder of The Veteran's Veteran. Drew explains his mission to educate veterans on VA benefits beyond compensation, sparked by his own experience being diagnosed with PTSD yet denied disability. He describes common barriers like repeated denials, long timelines, inconsistent C&P exams, and lack of awareness of resources like Communit...

Joining the show today is Pastor Vincent Mathews and Executive Pastor Jackie Pruitt of Tabernacle Church Southaven (in the former Colonial Hills Baptist Church facility). They describe the Mid-South Family Stabilization Hub, offering free community resources including domestic violence/sexual assault support (Project SWAT) with emergency and transitional housing, mentoring programs for men and you...

Host Neil welcomes “Hellcat Haley,” a 23-year-old Memphis-based documentary-style racing photographer focused on capturing candid moments in grudge and street racing culture. Haley shares her socials, recent trip to a major California street race, and upcoming Grudge on the Gate 3 (May 1–2) featuring a big rim shootout and all-wheel-drive entries, praising Dennis and Kelsey Bailey, Derek, and city...

Rookie of the Year Sprint Car Driver Luke Goolsby Talks 305 Racing, Riverside Speedway & Building a Program on a Budget Host Neil opens the Local Yokel’s Podcast with Guest Luke Goolsby, a 20-year-old from Nesbit, Mississippi, races a 305 winged sprint car primarily at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis while working at Ideal Tire as an alignment and repair technician. Luke expla...

Host Neil welcomes Ashley Urban of Thistle & Bee Enterprises, a Memphis-based nonprofit that houses women survivors of human trafficking, prostitution, and addiction and provides wraparound services, including clinical care, case management, trauma therapy, and job readiness training within a two-year, four-phase model. Ashley explains how trafficking differs from prostitution, shares signs th...

On this episode of The Local Yokel’s Podcast , Neil Colley sits down with Bailey Hanna, the heart behind Life, Latch & Lens, LLC and founder of Woven in Wellness Collective. Bailey shares her powerful journey through motherhood, healing, and purpose—explaining how her work as a holistic nurse, doula, lactation consultant, and photographer is centered on restoring worn-down women. From pregnanc...

Neil talks with guest Mike “Spanky” Cooper, a North Mississippi custom car builder and creator of the Spanky’s Hot Rods and Customs. They discuss paint gun technology, learning through mistakes, why it’s often cheaper to buy a finished car than pay for a full build, and Spanky’s plan to keep building personal projects while reducing customer work. Spanky shares his background, first builds, and ho...

On The Local Yokel’s Podcast , host Neil Colley sits down with Paul and Leonard Cochran of Leah’s House to discuss their mission of restoring hope and healing broken lives through faith-based recovery. They share how their 12-month residential program supports adult women overcoming incarceration, addiction, depression, and self-harm by building a strong Biblical foundation and a sense of communit...

Host Neil opens the Local Yokels podcast by promoting a Fancy Nancy Foundation Jeep giveaway benefiting the House of Grace to fight domestic violence. He then interviews Hernando-area entrepreneur Lance Smith of XC Gear, known worldwide for a patented handlebar mount system using polymer bushings to reduce rider fatigue, with options tailored to different setups. Smith explains expanding into spri...

Neil interviews Carmen Bechel, Special Victims’ Advocate for the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office, about her role connecting victims to therapy, shelter, and other resources, especially in high-profile cases involving human trafficking and multiple victims. They discuss rising community risks, predators targeting children through phones and apps, the importance of monitoring kids’ devices,...

On this episode of The Local Yokel’s Podcast , host Neil Colley sits down with Mandy Chung, President and Founder, and Holly Dickerson, Treasurer of the Buchanan House Project in Southaven, Mississippi. They share the powerful mission behind their nonprofit organization, which provides rapid emergency shelter, essential resources, and long-term support for families escaping domestic violence. Mand...

On this episode of The Local Yokels Podcast , host Neil Colley welcomes Joe and Nathan Ricker to talk about the exciting world of competitive robotics in Northwest Mississippi. Nathan, a driven teenager and leader on Desoto Technix , shares how he got started in robotics and what it takes to compete at a high level in the FIRST Tech Challenge . He gives a heartfelt shoutout to his teammates and ex...

On this episode of The Local Yokel’s Podcast , host Neil Colley sits down with Dennis Bailey of BB&T Racing—one of the MidSouth’s premier performance shops—alongside guest Kelsey Hall to talk all things horsepower and high stakes. The crew dives into the excitement surrounding Rivergate Grudge On The Gate 2 , happening February 20–21, 3588 Paul r Lowry Rd, Memphis , TN 38109, featuring small t...

On this episode of The Local Yokel’s Podcast , host Neil Colley welcomes Claudia Nieback , Founder of the Care Center of Southaven, along with Jessi Poole , to share the heart and mission behind this life-changing organization. The Care Center is a pregnancy resource center and medical clinic providing completely free services to women and families in need, including pregnancy tests, ultrasounds,...

On this episode of The Local Yokel’s Podcast , host Neil Colley sits down with national champion open-wheel sprint car racer Dale Howard. Dale shares stories from his years behind the wheel, the adrenaline of short-track dirt and pavement racing, and what it takes to compete at the highest level with his racing team and schedule. From the roar of high-powered engines to the tight community around...

On this episode of The Local Yokel’s Podcast , host Neil Colley sits down with Mike Abbott, owner of Steel Rose Metal Co. , for a raw and unforgettable conversation about resilience, creativity, and finding purpose through craftsmanship. Mike shares his early life growing up in Southaven with his grandparents, dropping out of school at a young age, and navigating a rough family environment surroun...

On this episode of The Local Yokel’s Podcast , host Neil Colley welcomes Michael Lee and Kathleen LoSapio to talk about one of DeSoto County’s most exciting new developments—the DeSoto County Agri-Education Center . The conversation explores the vision behind this 200-acre, state-of-the-art campus designed to bring agriculture, education, and community together in one place. From hands-on learning...