Real Mississippi

Take a deep dive into the ethics and morality of ghost tourism in Mississippi. Is it exploitative of the ghosts/former residents? Find out through a comparison of two vastly different ghost experiences on this episode of Real Mississippi, curated by narrators Ross Chism and Levi Williamson from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.

Often going to school in Mississippi means limited cultural exposure, but things are a little different at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS). As a boarding school for 11th and 12th graders, MSMS brings together students from different backgrounds across the state. Join us in this episode of Real Mississippi to learn about how acknowledging and celebrating our diversity can shape student life.

This podcast explores how Christian nationalism influences everyday life in subtle but impactful ways. Through personal experiences and observations, it shows how religious beliefs are pushed onto the public, especially in schools and communities. It also talks about moments where religion and politics intersect, highlighting the concerns of inclusivity and fairness. Finally, the podcast shares that protecting democracy requires maintaining clear boundaries between personal belief and public decision making.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians suffered from extreme poverty from the beginning. When Phillip Martin became chief of the tribe, he changed it for good. He used a combination of social and economic reforms to transform the tribe into how successful they are today.

This episode of Real Mississippi follows the growing issue of urban blight in Mississippi and how economic hardship, property laws, and lack of resources contribute to abandoned buildings and declining neighborhoods across the state. It highlights both the financial and the emotional toll blight puts on communities, including reduced investment and weakened community connection. Could community gardens and green spaces become simple, low-cost solutions that can improve mental well-being and spark revitalization?

When people think of Fannie Lou Hamer, they often think of her powerful and memorable speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, but her full impacts or risks have not always been completely seen or recognized. Her activism began when she tried to register to vote in Mississippi in 1962, leading to losing her job, enduring violence, systematic oppression, and constant threats. She also put her family and friends at risk. Her courage and sacrifice are not fully acknowledged today.

This episode of Real Mississippi explores the journey of a Mississippi Gulf Coast native and her reckoning with the state’s rural sociological patterns. It is an attempt to shed light on small town isolation, and it is a call to action for those who can help redirect the paths of their communities.

Alcohol and drug addiction continue to affect families across the country, specifically in rural communities. In this podcast, we take a closer look at the how addiction can have an impact on both individual users, and those around them. Looking at recent statistics for drug related crimes, we see how substance abuse has changed communities. We identify how help can be received in both rural and urban areas, and how it has become a generational issue. This podcast raises awareness about what is happening in rural communities and what can be done about it. 

In this episode of Real Mississippi, we delve into the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in both our personal and academic lives. We explore how AI can misguide users, particularly when people turn to it for emotional support or important decisions. We interviewed junior Grayson Garrick and teacher William Funderburk to bring both student and teacher perspective on the matter. We leave the audience with an important question: if we let AI do our thinking for us, what kind of thinkers and future innovators will we become?

As students, we are given the right to share our concerns, ideas, and questions freely with the support of our school; however, were institutions always supportive of their students? Did they support their students when they were using their voices to speak up about wrongful acts? In this episode, the host explores the role of universities during student-led movements as well as provides insight on the acts that took place at institutions located in the South and in Mississippi and how those establishments responded.