On today's show, we're sitting down with John Evans, the man behind Lemuria Books, one of the South's most beloved independent bookstores. Since 1975, John has been more than just a bookseller—he's been a curator of literary culture, a champion of authors, and a steadfast presence in Jackson's creative community.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-john-evans

On today's show, we're chatting with Liz Brister, the dynamo president of Downtown Jackson Partners who's been leading the charge to change perceptions about our capital city's core since February. From sunrise workouts at Pinnacle Green to five-course dinners under harvest moons in Smith Park, Liz is proving that downtown Jackson isn't just Mississippi's urban heart – it's a place worth falling in love with all over again.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-liz-brister

On today’s show, we're talking with Dr. Tonja Murphy, the community engagement director for the Mississippi Book Festival, about what she calls their "Super Bowl" - the annual literary lawn party happening September 13 at the Mississippi State Capitol. From debut novelists to cookbook characters like Swamp Dog, from writing workshops to children's poetry sessions, Tonja's helping to orchestrate a day that can help anyone fall back in love with reading.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-tonja-murphy

On today's show, Alex Davis is the visionary behind the HBCU Labor Day Classic Battle of the Bands. He's bringing an unprecedented celebration of band culture to Jackson, complete with food trucks, VIP field access, and the chance for high school musicians to rub shoulders with collegiate legends like JSU's Sonic Boom of the South.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-alex-davis

On today's show, we're talking with Sade Meeks, a registered dietitian and founder of Growing Resilience in the South—GRITS—an organization fighting for food justice here in Mississippi. She's making a documentary called "Food as Resistance" that challenges everything we think we know about Southern foods, and she's proving that catfish and greens aren't just comfort food—they're weapons against food inequality.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-sade-meeks

On today's show, we're talking with Alexis Noble, the powerhouse gallery owner and creative director who's transforming an unexpected location in a University Boulevard shopping center into Jackson's creative hub. She's the founder of Vibe Studio and the Mashup and a Change Collective fellow who's proving art doesn't have to be elitist. It just has to be accessible.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-alexis-noble

On today's show, we're talking with Thabi Moyo, the local director for the National Folk Festival, coming to Jackson November 7th through 9th. She left her beloved job at the Mississippi Film Office to take on this massive three-year cultural celebration. And she's here to tell us why this free festival will be unlike anything Jackson has ever experienced.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-thabi-moyo

On today's show, we talk with Maya Kyles, a dynamic drummer and Jackson native who's carved out her own space in the city's vibrant music scene. From the gospel roots of the Mississippi Mass Choir to the spotlight at the Chicago Blues Festival, Maya's journey is as soulful as it is steady. We'll dive into her influences, her evolution as a musician, and that moment she stepped out from behind the drums and into the mic, literally. We spent a little time together at the Chicago Blues Festival.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-maya-kyles

On today's show, we're sitting down with Jackson author Gerry Wilson, who published her first novel at the age of 82. She shares how her life in Mississippi

Her years as a teacher and her lifelong love of writing all came together to shape her book, "That Pinson Girl," and what it means to find your voice at any stage in life.

TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-gerry-wilson

On today's show, we’re celebrating the roots and rhythms of Mississippi blues and its powerful connection to the Chicago Blues Festival with Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo. From the local legends to their lasting legacies, Michelle will help us explore how Mississippi continues to shape—and share—the soundtrack of the south.

TRANSCRIPT and SHOW NOTES: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-michelle-mcadoo