The Empower Podcast

For most of the 20th century, Mississippi was essentially a one-party state. Today, Republicans control nearly every lever of state government. How did we get from there to here?

In this episode of The Empower Podcast, Grant sits down with Andy Taggart and Jere Nash, longtime political strategists and friends from opposite sides of the aisle, to discuss the new edition of their book, Mississippi Politics: The Struggle for Power, 1976–2026.

They revisit some of the moments that shaped modern Mississippi politics: a Speaker's race decided by a single vote, the rise of the Tea Party, the Republican takeover of the House, and a U.S. Senate primary so wild that people are still arguing about it more than a decade later.

They also explore Mississippi's role in the Dobbs decision, the creation of the Two Mississippi Museums, the 2020 state flag change, and what 50 years of political fights, shifting alliances, and colorful characters can teach us about Mississippi today.

The Mississippi Legislature Changes the State Flag by Jere Nash

https://www.mississippihistory.org/sites/default/files/admin/content/files/Nash%2C%20Jere_The%20Mississippi%20Legislature%20Changes%20the%20Flag_SpringSummer%202022.pdf

Why would a family put down roots in Jackson when so many others have left? In this episode of The Empower Podcast, Grant sits down with Ward 7 City Councilman Kevin Parkinson, an educator who came to Mississippi for a two-year teaching assignment and stayed. Kevin shares why he chose Jackson, what led him to run for office, and what he has learned during his first year on the City Council. They discuss the city services Jackson must get right, its progress on water and public safety, and the challenges that remain. Kevin explains how population loss and perceptions of the city reinforce each other, while Jackson's neighborhoods, culture, and people give him hope for its future. The conversation also explores Kevin's experience as a school principal, the value of giving families more education options, and why he believes Jackson is a place worth investing in.

For decades, communities across the Mississippi Delta have watched people, jobs, and opportunity leave. Jack and Elizabeth Coleman decided to go the other direction.

After successful careers in Washington, D.C., and Texas, they returned to Jack's hometown of Rosedale, Mississippi, and made an extraordinary bet on its future. Through Rosedale Distilling Company, they are investing millions of dollars, restoring historic buildings, creating jobs, attracting visitors, and building the first legal distillery in the Mississippi Delta.

In this episode, Grant talks with Jack and Elizabeth about what brought them to Rosedale, why they believe struggling communities can come back, the importance of entrepreneurship and risk-taking, and what it takes to restore hope in a place too many people have written off.

It's a conversation about the Delta, but even more, it's about what can happen when people stop asking who is going to fix a problem and start asking: If not us, who?

Good intentions are not always enough. Sometimes the help we offer can create dependency, reinforce brokenness, or make it harder for people to move forward.

In this episode of The Empower Podcast, Grant sits down with State Representative Celeste Hurst to discuss what years of ministry taught her about poverty, compassion, foster care, and the limits of government. Celeste shares why real help must be rooted in relationships, dignity, accountability, and a willingness to walk alongside people rather than simply provide for them.

They also discuss the role of the church, her family's experience opening their home to others, and how those lessons now shape her work in the Mississippi Legislature.

In this episode, Grant sits down with award-winning writer and filmmaker Dayton Duncan, longtime collaborator of acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and co-creator of The National Parks: America's Best Idea. Drawing on decades of research and storytelling, Dayton explains how America became the first nation to preserve its most extraordinary landscapes for everyone rather than reserving them for the wealthy or politically connected. He shares the remarkable stories behind Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and the birth of the National Park System. Along the way, the conversation explores why the national parks are more than beautiful destinations—they are a uniquely American idea rooted in the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the responsibilities of self-government, and the obligation every generation has to preserve something greater than itself. Whether you've visited one national park or fifty, this conversation offers a deeper appreciation for one of America's greatest achievements and what it reveals about the American experiment.

Politics works best when we remember we're neighbors before we're opponents. But in an age of polarization, is that still possible? In this episode, Grant sits down with State Senator Jeremy England to discuss the experiences and convictions that have shaped his approach to public service. From growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and becoming the first in his family to attend college to serving in the Mississippi Senate, Jeremy explains why relationships, humility, and trust are essential to good government. The conversation explores America's founding principles in the wake of the nation's 250th anniversary, Mississippi's recent momentum in education and workforce development, and the challenges of labor force participation, benefits cliffs, and strengthening families. Whether discussing policy or politics, Jeremy returns to a simple but often overlooked idea: lasting progress begins when we see one another not as enemies, but as neighbors working toward a common good.

In this episode, Grant sits down with attorney, writer, and student of history Andy Taggart to explore the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence and why they remain relevant nearly two and a half centuries later. They discuss the revolutionary claim that all people are created equal, the belief that rights come from God rather than government, and how those principles launched the American experiment. The conversation explores the contradictions of the founding era, the nation's long struggle to live up to its ideals, the meaning of American exceptionalism, and the responsibilities that come with liberty and self-government. Along the way, they discuss Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil War, free speech, political polarization, and what it will take to preserve America's founding principles for future generations. As the nation prepares to celebrate America 250, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at where we have been, where we are today, and what kind of country we hope to leave behind.

For years, Empower Mississippi has focused on removing external barriers to opportunity. But what if some of the barriers holding people back aren't external at all? In this episode, Grant sits down with licensed professional counselor Dr. Brandon Henry to explore the internal obstacles that often prevent people from flourishing: trauma, shame, addiction, fear, loneliness, and destructive patterns that can keep people stuck even when opportunity is available. Drawing on his work as a counselor and founder of Red River Counseling, Brandon explains how adverse childhood experiences shape adult behavior, why relationships are essential for healing, what many people misunderstand about trauma, and how real personal change happens. The conversation also explores the growing crisis facing men, the importance of vulnerability and community, and why both personal responsibility and healthy systems matter if we want individuals and communities to thrive. Whether you're interested in psychology, faith, public policy, family, or personal growth, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what it takes for people to heal, grow, and move forward. Show Notes: Red River Counseling Rocks to Rivers

On this episode of the Empower Podcast, State Rep. Otis Anthony joins Grant for a wide-ranging conversation about poverty, work, education, economic development, and the future of the Mississippi Delta. Anthony shares how growing up in Indianola shaped his view of public service, why he believes the Delta's greatest asset is its people, and what it will take to create more opportunity in one of Mississippi's most challenged regions. The conversation explores workforce participation, the decline of manufacturing, fatherlessness, school choice, and whether Mississippi's economic investments are reaching every corner of the state. Grant and Rep. Anthony also discuss political polarization, redistricting, and why friendships across party lines are more important than ever. Even where they disagree, both share a commitment to helping more Mississippians rise.

What does it take for a struggling city to turn the corner? In this episode of The Empower Podcast, Grant Callen sits down with urban strategist and entrepreneur Josh McManus to discuss the rise, decline, and revitalization of American cities, and why he believes Jackson still has enormous potential. Drawing on decades of work in places like Chattanooga, Detroit, Cleveland, and New Orleans, Josh explains the long-term forces that have reshaped cities across America and why Jackson's challenges are not unique. He argues that the key to renewal is restoring "the right to rise" — helping people believe they can build a better life where they are. Cities thrive when people embrace a culture of abundance rather than scarcity, rejecting the idea that one group's success must come at another's expense. They also discuss the redevelopment of the former Chastain Middle School campus on Northside Drive and how projects like The Redeemer's School can help anchor neighborhood renewal. If you care about the future of Jackson, Mississippi, and the future of American cities, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.