The Real Hernando

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

On the Real Hernando podcast, Derrick welcomes back Coach Camp to discuss Hernando and DeSoto County youth sports after 30+ years of coaching. Camp outlines local rec baseball/softball leagues at the Robertson Gin Road fields, explains age-group tiers from T-ball through 16U, and contrasts today’s landscape with earlier years as travel/competitive ball has pulled top players from rec leagues. He shares why he values rec coaching for building confidence, life skills, and positive core memories, offers approaches for handling slumps and emotions (including differences between coaching boys and girls), and gives advice to parents about keeping kids’ sports in perspective and not undermining coaches. They also discuss Hernando’s need for upgraded facilities, efforts to expand fields, and how Camp kept a struggling age group alive by creatively forming rotating teams.

Check out Coach’s platform at MotivateWithCoachCamp.com

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

Host Derrick Michaud welcomes Brian Couch back to The Real Hernando to talk about his real estate business, Team Couch under the Burch Realty Group, including team structure, office location at Robinson & 51, and how to contact him. Brian shares his 22-year path into real estate, explains why the market is currently a buyer’s market due to higher interest rates and reduced urgency, and notes rising home prices with Hernando averaging $450K+. They discuss Hernando growth, community culture, and local events, plus challenges for businesses due to regulations and the need for more tax base. Brian highlights concern over delayed I-69/Commerce interchange improvements and their impact on traffic and commerce, touches on local sports and broadcasting, and shares favorites like The Parish and new spot Sweet Fizz.

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

Derrick welcomes back Ward 4 Alderman Chad Wicker to discuss current Hernando topics and growth. Chad shares that he filmed a video explaining results from a forensic audit related to issues in the city’s utility fund earlier in the year. They talk about Hernando High School Principal Case’s retirement and road work tied to the newer high school site, including the roundabout and repaving. Chad highlights development around McIngvale and a coming McDonald’s, a new water tower to support future growth, and major projects like Delta Landing, including Casa Mexicano and a YMCA expected to start construction soon. They cover stalled commercial property near the Holly Springs roundabout, Jersey Mike’s nearing opening and community plans, the long-term $140M I-55/Commerce interchange rebuild, and how the city prioritizes and funds paving through road studies and infrastructure funds.

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

Host Derrick welcomes back Dr. Vivian Lo and Melinda Winchester of Aftrglo Medical Aesthetics in Hernando, a physician-led beauty and wellness spa focused on expert care over trends. They share updates for Aftrglo’s five-year milestone, including continued injectables and laser services, added microneedling (including Morpheus), and new esthetic services like facials, dermaplaning, waxing, lash lift/tinting, and chemical peels with their new esthetician, Alana. The conversation highlights their expansion into wellness with hormone replacement therapy through Revive MD and discussions around supervised peptide therapy, stressing lab work, safety, and avoiding unsupervised online purchases. They emphasize personalized consultations, conservative “restraint,” human connection, and community support through local donations, while also discussing the importance of supporting local businesses and handling public complaints responsibly.

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