Bigger Pie Forum Podcast

What happens when the place you couldn't wait to leave becomes the place you want to call home? Katie Ladner Hall spent a decade pursuing her Broadway dreams in New York City before returning to Mississippi, while Drew Warford found a meaningful career in music and ministry without ever leaving his home state. Joining guest host Rebecca Staples on Bigger Pie Forum, they discuss the unexpected turns that shaped their lives, the mentors who encouraged them, and why relationships, family, and a sense of belonging matter just as much as professional success. Their stories offer a fresh perspective on what it means to build a fulfilling life in Mississippi.

Can Jackson turn itself around? Wyatt Emmerich sits down with urban revitalization strategist Josh McManus to explore what Jackson can learn from the remarkable comebacks of cities like Chattanooga and Detroit. From tackling blight and rebuilding downtown to creating economic opportunity and bringing public and private leaders together, McManus lays out why he believes Jackson has the ingredients for a comeback—and why the future of Mississippi is closely tied to the future of its capital city.

What if solving Mississippi's brain drain isn't only about keeping people from leaving—but giving them a reason to come home? Rebecca Staples talks with Mary Elizabeth Stringer and Colin Caranna, two Mississippi natives who spent years building careers outside the state before returning to the Gulf Coast. They discuss career opportunities, competitive salaries, affordability, family, community, and the quality-of-life investments that could help Mississippi attract its people back home.

Is Mississippi really losing its best and brightest, or is a different story beginning to emerge? In this episode of the Bigger Pie Forum Podcast, host Rebecca Staples brings together three young professional women to discuss why they chose to build their careers in Mississippi instead of leaving the state. From mentorship and entrepreneurship to career opportunities, quality of life, and community, the conversation explores what attracts young talent—and what it will take to keep the next generation here. Whether you're a student, business leader, policymaker, or someone considering a move to Mississippi, this episode offers an encouraging look at the state's future.

Can Mississippi turn brain drain into brain gain?

In this episode of the Bigger Pie Forum Podcast, Rebekah Staples sits down with Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, Student Ambassador Hattie Heindel, and Communications Coordinator Elena Magliola to discuss why young leaders choose to stay, serve, and build their futures in Mississippi.

From mentorship and leadership development to affordability, community, and opportunity, the conversation highlights what makes the state unique—and why its best days may still be ahead.

What if Mississippi isn't a place you have to leave to succeed? In this episode of Bigger Pie Forum, a new generation of leaders shares why they chose to return home—and how they're thinking about jobs, innovation, affordability, and long-term impact. It's a candid, hopeful conversation about redefining success and building something meaningful right where you are.

What happens when a 45-year-old law blocks innovation in health care? In this reunion episode of the Bigger Pie Forum podcast, host sits down again with physical therapist Butch Slaughter and attorney Aaron Rice to revisit a legal battle years in the making.

During the height of COVID, Butch sought to open a home health agency to serve patients in their homes—only to discover that a decades-old certificate of need law and an overlooked moratorium made it virtually impossible. What followed was a constitutional challenge that led to a federal court ruling striking down Mississippi's 45-year moratorium on new home health agencies

Aaron explains the origins of certificate of need laws, the economic and competitive consequences of limiting providers, and what this ruling could mean for Mississippi—and potentially the nation. From courtroom strategy to health care innovation, this episode explores the intersection of entrepreneurship, public policy, and patient access.

The case now heads to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, with implications that could reshape how states regulate health care markets across the country.

Downtown Jackson is at a tipping point. Liz Brister, head of Downtown Jackson Partners, and her husband Bill—a retired finance professor—sit down with Wyatt Emmerich to talk population decline, property redevelopment, safety perceptions, and why one vibrant street could change everything. Hear how private developers, state leaders, and grassroots efforts are aligning for the first time in years—and what still needs to happen to make this comeback real.

In 2019, Deepa's eyebrow threading business was shut down by Mississippi's cosmetology board for not having a license to practice a skill they didn't even teach. Six years later, she's thriving with multiple locations—and a landmark legal victory behind her. Hear the full story of how Deepa, alongside Aaron Rice, took on state regulations, rewrote the law, and is now empowering other women as business owners across the South.

Zach Servis isn't your typical political candidate. In this Bigger Pie Forum conversation, he unpacks his journey from Fort Worth to Jackson, blending music, ministry, and entrepreneurship with a deep sense of public duty. With four children, a booming sourdough business at home, and a nonprofit in motion, Zach's vision for Jackson centers on systems reform, civic education, and faith-based accountability. Whether you agree or not, you'll be challenged to think differently.