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 about sports, media, Mississippi culture, and the passion that fuels college athletics across the state.

Brian shares insights from his career covering the Bulldogs, what it’s really like inside the world of sports media, and how the landscape of college athletics has changed dramatically in recent years.

The conversation also explores the power of sports to unite communities, the unique role Mississippi plays in the national sports conversation, and what fans often don’t see behind the scenes.

It’s an honest, engaging conversation about sports, media, and Mississippi.

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 restaurant business, learning firsthand how brand personality, consistency, and customer experience drive growth. We talk about entrepreneurship in smaller markets, building businesses with vision, and why your values matter just as much as your strategy.

Bart was also a guest of Success Supper Club at Stafford's in Drew, MS. 

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 clients including Nick Saban.

Tested with a 138 IQ in high school and once invited to meet President Ronald Reagan, James has always blended intellect with artistry. He’s written short stories and poetry, traveled to nearly every state in America, built his own high-end furniture line, and gathered stories along the way that range from celebrity encounters to gritty moments behind Atlanta dumpsters.

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 Martin, who would go on to lead Tennessee to a national championship later that season.
That ’98 team helped elevate Mississippi State onto the national stage, and Matt was one of the leaders inside the huddle during that run — playing for a program that was redefining itself in the late ’90s and setting a foundation that fans still talk about today.

Matt is also  one of the most recognizable voices in Mississippi sports media. After his playing days, Matt built a career behind the mic and on camera: he’s the host of The Matt Wyatt Show on The Zone 105.9, and he’s also long been part of Mississippi State football coverage as a radio color analyst. 
On top of sports, Matt’s got a deep Mississippi outdoors streak—he hosts the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, where he talks hunting, fishing, conservation, and the people who live it. 
And he’s not just a broadcaster—he’s a creator. Through Matt Wyatt Media, he does professional photography and video production, documenting life, sports, and the outdoors across Mississippi and beyond. 

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 working for Kirk Fordice, Mississippi’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction.

In the middle of all that, Hayes also answered the call to serve his country, deploying during the original Desert Storm. He eventually finished his degree at University of Mississippi, though politics and military service understandably slowed that journey along the way.

What makes Hayes truly unique isn’t just his résumé but the respect he’s earned on both sides of the aisle. He’s one of those rare people who is genuinely well-liked by Republicans and Democrats alike. Hayes believes deeply in collaboration, mutual respect, and working together for the common good of Mississippi, and that spirit comes through in every story he tells.

This conversation was fun, thoughtful, and packed with incredible behind-the-scenes stories from Mississippi and national politics. There’s no doubt we’ll be doing a round two.

You’re going to enjoy this one.

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 Maids, a statewide cleaning company, and Bradham’s Collectibles, a sports memorabilia and baseball card shop in downtown Oxford, Mississippi. This conversation feels more like two friends catching up than a formal interview, touching on lessons learned, relationships, and the value of community. Will also reflects on being the most recent guest at the Success Supper Club, an event that was a big success and continues the mission of bringing entrepreneurs together around the table.

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 in his hometown of Mathiston, Mississippi, using the influence and resources he’s gained to feed neighbors and share what he believes God has provided.

Today, we talk with David “Yawt Yawt” Ellis about the wild-hog hunts, the heavy lifting, the traps and the thermal nights and about hope, community, and feeding people who need it. So grab a seat, hold your hat — and let’s get into Episode 12 of Breaking Bread.