The Stafford Shurden Podcast

Chis Lynn grew up on the Mississippi River in Vicksburg hunting and fishing with his father and selling the fish they caught on the weekend. Now Chris makes a living on social media and is famous for his line, "y'all get up and do something". 

David Ellis aka Yawt Yawt. On any given week he might be setting traps, tracking hogs or beavers, heading into the woods under thermal scopes  all with grit, and respect for the land..

But he’s more than a trapper. He’s a man of faith who believes that what you take from the land comes with a responsibility. Which brings us to what he’s doing now: giving back. Yawt Yawt has started a food pantry in his hometown of Mathiston, Mississippi, using the influence and resources he’s gained to feed neighbors and share what he believes God has provided.

Today, we talk with David “Yawt Yawt” Ellis about the wild-hog hunts, the heavy lifting, the traps and the thermal nights and about hope, community, and feeding people who need it. So grab a seat, hold your hat — and let’s get into Episode 12 of Breaking Bread.

Episode 11: Feeding Mississippi with Martha Allen Price of Extra Table
In this episode, Stafford sits down with Martha Allen Price, Executive Director of Extra Table, a Mississippi-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger across the state. Serving food pantries in more than 60 counties, Extra Table is redefining how communities support their neighbors in need. Martha shares inspiring stories of lives changed through this mission and how your donations can make a real difference in putting healthy food on tables across Mississippi. 

A singular, delightfully idiosyncratic voice in the world of comedy, Mary Ryan Brown is a wife, mother, writer, and comedian who leaves no moment unexamined. 

She’s a one-of-a-kind act known across social media for her characters and parodies of women across the South, and her standup blends punchy observations and layered storytelling with absurd impromptu crowd work. 

She’s relentless, neurotic, and bursting with eldest daughter energy. From writing to consulting to performing, Mary Ryan Brown delivers distinct, distilled language that resonates with readers, viewers, and live audiences.

Episode 9: Duck Bands & Cotton Rows – A Conversation with Tucker Miller

In this episode of Breaking Bread, Stafford sits down with a true Delta legend—Tucker Miller from right here in Drew, Mississippi. Tucker’s a world-renowned duck hunter and a lifelong cotton consultant with nearly 60 years of stories from the fields and flooded timber. From the art of checking cotton to the thrill of the morning hunt, Tucker’s lived it all—and he's got more duck bands than years to prove it. We talk tradition, wildlife, farming, and the kind of grit it takes to keep showing up season after season. Pull up a chair—this is Southern storytelling at its finest.

 In this episode of Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden, we sit down with Ryan Biles, an architect and community developer from Lonoke, Arkansas. As the owner of Kudzu Collective, Ryan is dedicated to designing spaces that foster connection and growth. His work extends beyond Arkansas, making an impact throughout the Mississippi Delta. Join us as we discuss his passion for architecture, the role of thoughtful design in community development, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the Delta region. 

 Jay Bradley is a seasoned entrepreneur, dynamic speaker, and business strategist. As the former owner of the iconic Cowbells Bar in Starkville, MS, and the founder of Roofnuts, Jay has built a reputation for turning businesses into thriving success stories. Today, he travels the country, training and inspiring business owners on how to scale sales, maximize growth, and achieve true entrepreneurial freedom.

Don Joe and his brother Wally owned the best reviewed restaurant in the south for years, KCs. 

Mike Ellis is a Musician and retired farmer. Mike Ellis and the Hometown Band have been a staple of Mississippi Delta Music for 60 years. 

Jenny Smith aka Mississippi Memaw is a social media influencer with millions of views. She went viral for ordering pickles in her Dr. Pepper at Sonic landing in the top 10 most searched things on Google for 2024. She is loved for her down to earth Mississippi charm and is followed by hundreds of thousands of people.