Sen. Rod Hickman: Rural revitalization, public safety, and education opportunity

On this episode of The Empower Podcast, host Grant Callen sits down with Mississippi State Senator Rod Hickman, a lawyer, educator, and public servant representing a stretch of communities across East Mississippi from Macon to Louisville to Meridian. Sen. Hickman shares how growing up in Noxubee County shaped his passion for public service, why he left a law career in Jackson to return home, and the opportunities he sees for rural communities like his. In this conversation, we unpack the intersection of justice reform, education policy, and economic mobility—and how each plays a role in helping more Mississippians rise. We dive into crime, clearance rates, the realities of prosecution, the public defender system, and Mississippi’s Fresh Start Act, breaking down what these issues mean for families. Senator Hickman also walks through several of the bills he authored this past session, including efforts tied to dyslexia research among inmates, and criminal justice reform. Tune in for an engaging conversation.