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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!

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Interview Library

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Former Speaker Philip Gunn: Faith, Resilience, and Leadership

July 22, 2025

 Former Speaker Philip Gunn: Faith, Resilience, and Leadership In this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn to trace his journey from Clinton’s small-town roots to state leadership. Gunn shares how a personal tragedy at Ole Miss Law upended his life, yet God’s faithfulness sustained him, strengthened his faith,…

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Dr. Keri Ingraham: Industry-Specific High Schools

July 8, 2025

Dr. Keri Ingraham: Industry-Specific High Schools Join us on the Empower Podcast as we dive into the transformative world of industry-specific high schools with Dr. Keri Ingraham, whose recent policy brief at the American Enterprise Institute, “The Case for Industry-Specific High Schools,” is sparking conversation. In this episode, Dr. Ingraham explains why these specialized schools…

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Rep. Lee Yancey: Kratom, Underground Markets, and the Demon Chipmunk

June 17, 2025

 Rep. Lee Yancey: Kratom, Underground Markets, and the Demon Chipmunk In this episode, host, Grant Callen sits down with State Representative Lee Yancey, a seasoned lawmaker with 11 years of service in the Mississippi Legislature. A one-time Senator, Rep. Yancey now chairs the House Business and Commerce Committee and serves on eight other committees…

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Rep. Jansen Owen: Special Session Report and 2026 Preview

June 3, 2025

 Rep. Jansen Owen: Special Session Report and 2026 Preview Representative Jansen Owen is a key leader in the Mississippi House of Representatives. In his six-year legislative career, he has already seen several of his bills signed into law. In this episode of the Empower Podcast, host Grant Callen speaks with Rep. Owen about the…

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Senator Brice Wiggins: Justice, Education, and Mississippi’s Future

May 20, 2025

Senator Brice Wiggins: Justice, Education, and Mississippi’s Future State Senator Brice Wiggins (R-Pascagoula), Chairman of the Judiciary-A Committee, joins Grant Callen to discuss his journey from prosecutor to legislative leader. Representing Jackson County since 2011, Senator Wiggins shares insights into his proudest legislative achievements, including 2014’s House Bill 585 that reshaped Mississippi’s criminal justice system,…

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Russ Latino: A Political Potpourri: From Trump’s First 100 Days to Mississippi’s Momentum

May 6, 2025

 Russ Latino: A Political Potpourri: From Trump’s First 100 Days to Mississippi’s Momentum In this jam-packed episode, host Grant Callen serves up a buffet of political topics with Russ Latino, Founder & CEO of Magnolia Tribune. From the highs and lows of President Trump’s first 100 days—covering tariffs, taxes, and the “Big Beautiful Bill”—to…

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Capitol Chat Library

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Capitol Chat: Week 8

February 28, 2025

 Capitol Chat: Week 8 Taxes, taxes, taxes. That and other news from the Capitol this week, including a new entry on “how a bill really becomes law – or doesn’t.”

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Capitol Chat: Week 7

February 21, 2025

Capitol Chat: Week 7 Halfway through the legislative session, we’re covering tax cuts, direct wine shipment, critical deadlines, and a scary situation in the Senate. Tune in to learn more on this week’s episode of Capitol Chat.

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Capitol Chat: Week 6

February 14, 2025

Capitol Chat: Week 6 Roses are red, violets are blue, lawmakers are busy, and we break it down for you on this week’s episode of Capitol Chat! Tune in to hear about the latest happenings from week 6 of the 2025 legislative session.

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Capitol Chat: Week 5

February 7, 2025

Capitol Chat: Week 5 With a big deadline on Tuesday, floor action on DEI and school choice, and the death of a high-profile bill to limit the power of the State Auditor, Week 5 of the 2025 session was action-packed! Tune in to this week’s episode of Capitol Chat to hear about all this and…

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Capitol Chat: Week 4

January 31, 2025

Capitol Chat: Week 4 What do a critical deadline, State of the State address, and Presidential Executive Order all have in common? They’re all a part of this week’s episode of Capitol Chat! Be sure to tune in for the latest on all this and more from Week 4 of the legislative session.  

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Capitol Chat: Week 3

January 24, 2025

Capitol Chat: Week 3 Things got crazy in a subcommittee hearing, some new and interesting bills were introduced, and the House passed PBM reform. Hear about all this and more as host Wil Ervin breaks down what happened in Week 3 of the legislative session.  

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