Listen To The Latest
Welcome To The Empower Podcast
Empower Mississippi is committed to helping all Mississippians rise by removing barriers to opportunity. In this podcast, we talk with state and national experts about ways the Magnolia State can grow and thrive. These conversations help shape the debate for future legislative sessions and highlight policy changes that are necessary to make Mississippi the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family.
Subscribe below to The Empower Podcast on your favorite podcast platform to stay updated on our latest episodes. Join us as we explore some of Mississippi’s biggest challenges and brightest opportunities!
Interview Library
State Senator Daniel Sparks, Chairman, Economic and Workforce Development Committee First elected to the State Senate in 2019, Senator Sparks has distinguished himself as one of the smartest and most hard-working lawmakers in the building. In this conversation, Senator Sparks discusses the intersection of policy and people, emphasizing the importance of human-centered governance. We explore…
Listen NowDr. Matthew Ladner: What Can Arizona Teach Mississippi about empowering parents? In this episode, Dr. Matthew Ladner, Senior Advisor at the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, shares about Arizona’s journey with school choice. Arizona passed the first education savings account (ESA) program in the nation in 2011 for students with special needs,…
Listen NowState Auditor Shad White: Fatherlessness, Labor Woes, School Choice, and Public Safety In this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with Mississippi’s 42nd State Auditor, Shad White. They discuss Mississippi’s incredible cultural and economic advantages and our challenges, like our low Labor Force Participation Rate and our high number of unwed mothers. White advocates for…
Listen NowDenisha Allen: Firsthand experience with the life-changing power of a great school Host Grant Callen welcomes Denisha Allen in this episode, unraveling her remarkable journey from childhood struggles in Jacksonville, Florida to her current role as a national advocate for school choice. The conversation highlights the transformative impact of school choice on Denisha’s life and emphasizes…
Listen NowElyse Marcellino: Microschools on the Move in the Magnolia State Join us as we explore the transformative world of education with Elyse Marcellino, the director of Embark: New Schools for Mississippi.. Listen in as Elyse shares her work guiding ambitious individuals through the process of opening charter schools and microschools in Mississippi. She reveals how…
Listen NowSecretary of State Michael Watson: Removing Barriers to Education and Work This week host Grant Callen sat down with Mississippi’s 36th Secretary of State Michael Watson to talk about removing barriers to opportunity, especially those related to education and work. Sec. Watson has been a longtime advocate for school choice, so they discussed why he…
Listen NowCapitol Chat Library
Capitol Chat: Special Session Lawmakers were called into Special Session to adopt a $7.135 billion budget for State Fiscal Year 2026 after failing to adopt a budget during the 2025 regular session. Although it lasted only two days, the Special Session was not without drama and excitement. We break down all the action in a…
Listen Now Capitol Chat: Week 13 In the Sine Die episode of Capitol Chat, we’re wrapping up the 2025 legislative session, which finished a bit ahead of schedule. However, lawmakers did not agree on a budget before adjourning, which means a special session is on the horizon. We break down the key details, potential impact, and…
Listen Now Capitol Chat: Week 12 The countdown is on! Only 9 days remain in the legislative session. This week, the Governor signed House Bill 1 into law, and this weekend is crunch time on appropriations and revenue bills. All that, and more, on this week’s episode of Capitol Chat.
Listen Now Capitol Chat: Week 11 A little luck of the Irish helped push an income tax elimination bill over the finish line this week. We’ll dive into House Bill 1 and what it means for you, as well as what’s next in the legislative session, on this week’s episode of Capitol Chat.
Listen Now Capitol Chat: Week 10 Week 10 was filled with excitement and acronyms! On this week’s episode we cover DEI, PBMs, and THC, as well as everything else you need to know from this week at your state Capitol.
Listen NowCapitol Chat: Week 9 Dead or alive? That’s the key question this week as another big deadline has come and gone. With yet another key deadline on the horizon, we’ll highlight some of the bills that are still moving forward this session – at least for now.
Listen Now