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.

Episode 11: Feeding Mississippi with Martha Allen Price of Extra Table
In this episode, Stafford sits down with Martha Allen Price, Executive Director of Extra Table, a Mississippi-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger across the state. Serving food pantries in more than 60 counties, Extra Table is redefining how communities support their neighbors in need. Martha shares inspiring stories of lives changed through this mission and how your donations can make a real difference in putting healthy food on tables across Mississippi. 

A singular, delightfully idiosyncratic voice in the world of comedy, Mary Ryan Brown is a wife, mother, writer, and comedian who leaves no moment unexamined. 

She’s a one-of-a-kind act known across social media for her characters and parodies of women across the South, and her standup blends punchy observations and layered storytelling with absurd impromptu crowd work. 

She’s relentless, neurotic, and bursting with eldest daughter energy. From writing to consulting to performing, Mary Ryan Brown delivers distinct, distilled language that resonates with readers, viewers, and live audiences.

Episode 9: Duck Bands & Cotton Rows – A Conversation with Tucker Miller

In this episode of Breaking Bread, Stafford sits down with a true Delta legend—Tucker Miller from right here in Drew, Mississippi. Tucker’s a world-renowned duck hunter and a lifelong cotton consultant with nearly 60 years of stories from the fields and flooded timber. From the art of checking cotton to the thrill of the morning hunt, Tucker’s lived it all—and he's got more duck bands than years to prove it. We talk tradition, wildlife, farming, and the kind of grit it takes to keep showing up season after season. Pull up a chair—this is Southern storytelling at its finest.

 In this episode of Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden, we sit down with Ryan Biles, an architect and community developer from Lonoke, Arkansas. As the owner of Kudzu Collective, Ryan is dedicated to designing spaces that foster connection and growth. His work extends beyond Arkansas, making an impact throughout the Mississippi Delta. Join us as we discuss his passion for architecture, the role of thoughtful design in community development, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the Delta region.