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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.
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Interview Library
Written by Empower Mississippi Kevin Parkinson: Choosing Jackson Why would a family put down roots in Jackson when so many others have left? In this episode of The Empower Podcast, Grant sits down with Ward 7 City Councilman Kevin Parkinson, an educator who came to Mississippi for a two-year teaching assignment and stayed. Kevin shares why…
Written by Empower Mississippi Jack & Elizabeth Coleman: Betting on the Delta For decades, communities across the Mississippi Delta have watched people, jobs, and opportunity leave. Jack and Elizabeth Coleman decided to go the other direction. After successful careers in Washington, D.C., and Texas, they returned to Jack’s hometown of Rosedale, Mississippi, and made an extraordinary…
Written by Empower Mississippi Rep. Celeste Hurst: When Helping Hurts Good intentions are not always enough. Sometimes the help we offer can create dependency, reinforce brokenness, or make it harder for people to move forward. In this episode of The Empower Podcast, Grant sits down with State Representative Celeste Hurst to discuss what years of ministry…
Written by Empower Mississippi Dayton Duncan: The Story Behind America’s National Parks In this episode, Grant sits down with award-winning writer and filmmaker Dayton Duncan, longtime collaborator of acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and co-creator of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Drawing on decades of research and storytelling, Dayton explains how America became the first…
Written by Empower Mississippi Sen. Jeremy England: Neighbors Before Opponents Politics works best when we remember we’re neighbors before we’re opponents. But in an age of polarization, is that still possible? In this episode, Grant sits down with State Senator Jeremy England to discuss the experiences and convictions that have shaped his approach to public service.…
Written by Empower Mississippi Andy Taggart: The Ideas That Made America As America approaches its 250th anniversary, what exactly are we celebrating? In this episode, Grant sits down with attorney, writer, and student of history Andy Taggart to explore the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence and why they remain relevant nearly two and a half…
Capitol Chat Library
Written by Empower Mississippi 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.
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol 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.
Written by Empower Mississippi 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.”
Written by Empower Mississippi 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.
Written by Empower Mississippi 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.
Written by Empower Mississippi 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…