The Real Hernando

On The Real Hernando podcast, Derrick spotlights Mid-South Academy for Children’s Theatrics (MSACT), a youth-focused nonprofit expanding children’s access to performing arts through after-school programs, homeschool courses, summer workshops, and productions. Founder and executive director Daphne Cox, treasurer Lindsay Spencer, and secretary Susan Zeringue discuss their upcoming Disney’s Frozen Jr. performances November 6–8 at the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, featuring a 34-kid cast ages 8–18, intensive rehearsals, and ticketing via the MSACT website, www.msact.org, or at the door. They share how theater builds confidence, teamwork, and life skills, outline board roles, explain production costs and licensing/royalties, and preview December student shows including Grimm Brothers Spectaculathon, Winnie the Pooh Kids, The Velveteen Rabbit, Annie Kids, and High School Musical Jr., while emphasizing the need for sponsors, donations, volunteers, and a permanent rehearsal/performance space.

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation and Brandon Vanderburg at Shelter Insurance

The Real Hernando is on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

How YoBro Coffee Began with Faith, Community & Entrepreneurship in Hernando

In this HYPE Highlights episode, the hosts Dr. Danton Dye and Lauren McLendon welcome Nate and Whitney Russell of Yo Bro Coffee Co. and discuss how the Hernando couple went from dreaming in their kitchen to opening a coffee shop within a year. They share how the name and mission were formed around Romans 12:1, how they paused when they weren’t aligned, and how a pivotal dinner conversation led to a full commitment. The conversation highlights community support, including mentorship and equipment help from Tina Tatum of Coffee Central, construction help from Tim Marsh, and lessons learned about training, humility, avoiding “analysis paralysis,” and focusing on their mission: serve great coffee, encourage community, and enjoy the beauty of life. They also share Yo Bro’s location, hours, and favorite drinks.

www.yobrocoffee.com

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation and Brandon Vanderburg at Shelter Insurance

Interested in joining HYPE? Go to hernandoms.org or call the Hernando Chamber office at 662-429-9055

HYPE Highlights is a podcast partnership with The Real Hernando and SRP Studios Podcasting

Follow the pod at TheRealHernando.com for YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud at SRP Studios Podcasting

Derrick welcomes back Hernando native Preston Wallace to discuss his personal training business Power Up Fitness and the Team Powered Up brand, including how he customizes training and nutrition guidance around clients’ goals, emphasizes accountability and calorie deficit, and trains clients at places like the track while providing equipment. They also catch up on Preston’s character entertainment work as the Hernando Spider-Man. The conversation expands into wrestling fandom and Preston’s pursuit of pro wrestling, training with Pro Wrestling Mid-South in Dyersburg as his superhero-style character “Power Up P,” plus his future plan for a motivational, faith- and fitness-focused podcast.

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation and Brandon Vanderburg at Shelter Insurance

The Real Hernando is on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

Jourdan Ohl on Photography, Homestead Cooking, IT Consulting & Mosaic of Faith

Hosts Lauren McLendon and Dr. Danton Dye introduce the HYPE Highlights Podcast and interview Jourdan Ohl, who runs Magnolia Grace Media (photography), Magnolia Grace Homestead (a cottage food operation selling at markets), and Brilliant Systems (an IT consulting business run with her husband and a partner). Jourdan shares her background as a top wedding photographer in Las Vegas, including her “Las Vegas Strip Tour” elopement package, and explains how she pivoted after moving to Hernando, Mississippi, emphasizing relationships, authenticity, and the importance of printing photos. She discusses mentoring through photography classes, her family’s move from Vegas to Mississippi, and her new ministry project, Mosaic of Faith, a Christian art showcase returning November 14 at the Ranger Center in Southaven, with proceeds supporting the DeSoto Dream Center.

www.magnoliagm.com

Interested in joining HYPE? Go to hernandoms.org or call the Hernando Chamber office at 662-429-9055

HYPE Highlights is a podcast partnership with The Real Hernando and SRP Studios Podcasting

Follow the pod at TheRealHernando.com for YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud at SRP Studios Podcasting

Derrick welcomes returning guest Denise McElhaney of Denise’s Happy Hounds to discuss the first annual Howl-O-Weenie Pawty, a costume contest fundraiser on Saturday, October 17 from 1–4 PM at the Tractor Supply lot in Hernando (Harvest Ridge Road off Green Tea). The $10 participation fee supports the Happy Hounds Pet Pantry, a 24/7 community resource providing pet food and supplies to help families avoid surrendering pets; donations will also be collected on-site, including via a donation van. They outline event features such as vendors, three food trucks, face painting by Jenny Parvin (@parvinpaints), prizes from local businesses, and contest categories including spookiest, cutest, funniest, best group/duo, and best overall, judged by local community members. Denise also shares grooming insights and Happy Hounds’ services, community involvement, and chamber ambassador work.

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation and Brandon Vanderburg at Shelter Insurance

The Real Hernando is on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

The launch of the new HYPE Highlight podcast for the Hernando Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs Group, shares that the board has been restructured, and highlights upcoming events, including a Sharpening the Saw Lunch and Learn with Sheriff Tuggle on October 8 from 12:00–2:00 at the Hernando Golf and Racquet Club. Lauren McLendon previews additional plans: an after-hours event at Sweet Fizz in the last week of October (around October 28, details TBD), free Pictures with Santa on the Chamber of Commerce porch in early December, and future Lunch and Learns featuring Robert Foster (District 5 supervisor and Cedar Hill Farms owner) in late January/early February and Steven Hodges (Hernando Public Works) in Q2. They thank SRP Studios and invite listeners to join via the chamber website or social media.

Interested in joining HYPE? Go to hernandoms.org or call the Hernando Chamber office at 662-429-9055

HYPE Highlights is a podcast partnership with The Real Hernando and SRP Studios Podcasting

Follow the pod at TheRealHernando.com for YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud at SRP Studios Podcasting

Sweet Fizz: Hernando’s Soda Shop | Wesley & Heather Callahan

In this episode of The Real Hernando, Derrick spotlights Sweet Fizz Hernando, a locally owned family soda shop at 2362 McInvale Road offering dirty sodas, lemonades, energy drinks (including Alani, Red Bull, and Monster), frozen treats like Dippin’ Dots, and sugar-free options with thousands of custom combinations. Owners Wesley and Heather Callahan share their Hernando-area roots, Wesley’s corporate sales background and layoff that helped spark the business, how they secured and renovated the former Market 23 space, and how demand far exceeded expectations, including a 750-drink grand opening day and 15,000 drinks in six weeks. They explain how dirty sodas are built from base drinks plus syrups, creams, cold foams, boba, and purees, discuss staffing and customer service culture.

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation and Brandon Vanderburg at Shelter Insurance

The Real Hernando is on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

DeSoto Hope Returns: A Night of Hope “Giving Cancer the Boot” + Survivor Stories & How to Get Screened

Host Derrick Michaud welcomes Tracy Gallagher, Ashleigh Parker, and Tina James from DeSoto Hope to reintroduce the DeSoto County nonprofit’s mission to ensure no one feels forgotten during their cancer journey through Hope Baskets, $500 travel grants for second opinions, and $2,500 scholarships for students impacted by cancer. They are promoting the 6th annual “A Night of Hope: Giving Cancer the Boot” on Tuesday, October 27 at the DeSoto County Agri-Education Center (doors 6:00, food 6:30), featuring photo booths, a petting zoo, silent auction, raffles (including a diamond necklace), wine/bourbon pulls, a cash bar, and live music by the Side Street Steppers, with Derrick emceeing. The conversation also covers the guests’ cancer experiences, prevention and early detection, genetic testing and BRCA risk, ctDNA tests like Signatera/Guardant, second opinions, and mental health support.

TICKETS - https://wedoauctions.com/app/public/bidapp/desotohope/tickets/tickets?fbclid=IwY2xjawUaT6FwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTJ1bWJQM2Y0N0dSYjNCSk1zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe3A0AJ7dHnpatbGmBboNQ7cwt9rORuR-uUIGrVIY3-LJIxRZ0ZDKXBAMVMvU_aem_I1tEs_NuEBw7d4EaCc6Jkw

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation and Brandon Vanderburg at Shelter Insurance

The Real Hernando is on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

Hernando Planning Commissioners Jarrett Mashaw and Kevin Thorn Explain the 2nd McDonald’s, Traffic Concerns, What it Means to be a Commissioner, and What’s Coming Next

The Real Hernando welcomes planning commissioners Jarrett Mashaw and Kevin Thorn to explain why a proposed second McDonald’s near the McIngvale/Green Tea area and the I-269 interchange roundabout has become controversial, outlining how plats move from preliminary review to final plat and how the planning commission’s recommendation goes to the aldermen for a vote. They discuss concerns about traffic flow, queueing, and long-term growth around a roundabout already seen as a bottleneck, along with how zoning limits what the city can stop versus what it can regulate. The commissioners also cover recent denials of a conditional-use liquor store and a proposed second dispensary location, share business updates including Baskin-Robbins, Jersey Mike’s, Captain D’s, new hotels, and progress at Delta Landing and its YMCA, and explain commissioner appointment, meeting schedules, and the commission’s four core responsibilities.

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation and Brandon Vanderburg at Shelter Insurance

The Real Hernando is on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

Host Derrick Michaud welcomes Jody Woody, an insurance producer at Boren & Hawkins Insurance, to discuss her work selling and servicing home, auto, life, business, and farm policies across Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas, plus how to reach her at 662-429-5115. They trade Hernando-centric hot takes on local roundabouts, the coming second McDonald’s, and community buzz, then dive into Jody’s deep involvement with the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce—starting as an ambassador in 2013, serving on the board, and becoming president for two years. Jody explains the value of ribbon cuttings, relationship-building, and community support, and shares behind-the-scenes insights into rewriting outdated chamber bylaws and managing ARPA-funded downtown and park improvement projects, including Panola lights, ADA upgrades at Kuykendall Park, wayfinding signs, and planned square speakers. She also reflects on stepping back from commitments to refocus on her business and urges residents to work with honest local insurance agents.

Sponsored in part by Electrical Repair and Installation

The Real Hernando is on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting