In the "Real Mississippi" podcast, Kyle Lin and Sam Smith dive into whether sugar-free products are healthier or not. They discuss how studies show that artificial sweeteners can raise the risk of heart problems and strokes, especially when people overdo it. They further mention that sugar-free products cost more and that big companies have used marketing and social media to make them seem healthier than they are. In the end, Kyle and Sam remind listeners that, just like with regular sugar, moderation is the real key to staying healthy. 

 The Canton Public School District has, in the past, received low accountability ratings from the Mississippi Department of Education. However, within the past few years, the district has been seeing improvements within its accountability ratings. Canton High School finally achieved a "B" accountability rating. Other schools in the district have seen similar improvements in their ratings within the past decade. This podcast explores opinions on what is aiding the district's academic rise. 

As one of the lowest ranked states in America, Mississippi is having a generational struggle with a “brain drain”, a phenomenon in which the state’s homegrown educated students leave to find better opportunities elsewhere. In “Plugging the Drain”, MSMS-student Ashton Spence focuses on what is causing this brain drain in Mississippi, what the brain drain is doing to the state, and how its citizens can help reverse the crisis with inputs and interviews from various Mississippi residents and entrepreneurs. By the end, listeners get a better sense of the brain drain issue in Mississippi and its possible solutions.

High school football is deeply rooted in Mississippi culture, which puts immense pressure on coaches and players to succeed. This pressure sometimes leads to dangerous training conditions, especially in extreme heat, where athletes are pushed beyond safe limits. The culture of toughness discourages players from speaking up about exhaustion or illness, increasing the risk of heat-related injuries and fatalities. This podcast emphasizes the need for better safety measures, such as more hydration breaks, adjusting practice times, and ensuring coaches are properly trained to prevent unnecessary harm to young athletes.

After years of being stuck at the bottom of the list, Mississippi made significant improvements and climbed up from 49th to 30th place on America’s educational ranks. It was mainly supported by the 2013 Literacy Based Promotion Act, as it helped support children who were struggling with academics and provide them with more attention to ensure their success. However, Mississippi is still not considered in the top 25, so in order to figure out what issues prevent education in Mississippi to be even greater, a comparison with New York was made. Studies showed that poverty and low-funding played an important part in the success of students, which was why Mississippi’s education couldn’t reach its full potential. As policies continue to change, these issues in Mississippi may soon be resolved, allowing Mississippi to continue to climb up the ranks for best education in America. 

This podcast delves into the world of Civil Rights tourism by analyzing the problems with the status quo and providing solutions for making it a better and more ethical industry. 

In this podcast, Mirae Nishikawa delves into the importance of the Korean Church for the Korean population of Starkville Misssissippi. She chose this topic because of her connection to the Korean Church. The church has become a haven for Korean families such as hers to get together and share the struggles of living in a foreign country where they are unfamiliar with the customs. These churches hold a special place in rural states such as Mississippi because of the seclusion racial minorities often experience. 

In this episode of Real Mississippi, hosts Aanya Banga and Rebecca Sun explore the pressure college women face to conform to beauty standards, especially in Greek life communities across Mississippi. Through an interview with Grace Fruge, a Phi Mu member at Millsaps College, they discuss how cosmetic procedures are often considered necessary for social acceptance but still carry stigma. Grace’s story highlights both the empowerment and risks tied to cosmetic surgery. The hosts reflect on how true confidence should guide these decisions, not societal expectations, and call for a more open, judgment-free conversation around beauty and self-expression.

In Mississippi, getting kids into sports isn’t as simple as lacing up sneakers. In many Delta and rural towns, fees for leagues, gear costs, and travel miles make joining a team feel impossible—especially for families on tight budgets. Black and Latino kids are hit hardest, with fewer local programs and less community funding compared to wealthier, whiter areas. Girls face extra hurdles too, since there are often fewer teams and coaches paying attention. As club-based, year-round models become the norm, the divide only grows, leaving tons of Mississippi youth cheering from the sidelinesinstead of getting in the game.

Dungeons and Demons, written by John Paul Willhoite, is a short podcast produced as a part of Real Mississippi that analyzes the history of the satanic panic in Mississippi. It lays out a timeline and discusses the rise of satanic fear mongering, the tragic incidents that started its rise, the origins of Dungeons and Dragons as a whole, and how the satanic panic has affected the larger Dungeons and Dragons community as a whole. It includes interviews from those who have been through the satanic panic.