Soul Sessions Jackson
Society & Culture
About
Be it our people, music, food, history or culture, there’s always something good to talk about in the City With Soul, Jackson, Mississippi!Visit Jackson is the destination organization charged with connecting, engaging and inspiring the city with a rewarding sense-of-place for visitors and an economically beneficial and an enhanced quality-of-life for residents.
Episodes
- Aisha Carson | Third Space JXN
On today's show, we recorded live on location at the Mississippi Museum of Art during Third Space JXN's Soulfood Sunday event this April with our guest, Third Space founder Aisha Carson. We find out what it actually takes to build intentio…
- Andrea Patterson | MS Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
On today's show, we're talking with Andrea Patterson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum about 30 years of preserving Mississippi's greatest sports legacy, a $4 million renovation that's redefining what th…
- Soul Sessions EXTRA: Jim Currie | Coffee Festival
On this EXTRA, we're talking about Jackson Coffee Festival. One day, one location. More than a dozen of the region's best specialty coffee producers all under one roof in Jackson, MS on May 2 at the Mississippi Trade Mart. https://www.visi…
- Dr. Robby Luckett | Farish Street
On today's show, Dr. Robby Luckett, President of the Farish Street Main Street Association Board of Directors, shares insights on reigniting a legacy of resilience and cultural pride in Jackson, Mississippi. Discover how this historic dist…
- Soul Sessions EXTRA: Stranger Than Fiction Film Series
This is a Soul Sessions Extra, a shorter form episode focused on one thing we think you need to know about right now. And today, that's the second annual Stranger Than Fiction film series. Four documentary screenings at the Capri across th…
- Jasmine Michel | Chef, Farmer, Food Writer
Our guest today is a chef, farmer, and writer who covers food and Southern culture for Local Palate magazine out of Charleston. On today's show, Jasmine Michel brings an outsider's eyes to Jackson — fresh off the JXN Food & Wine Festival —…
- Soul Sessions Extra: A Guide to Hal's St. Paddy's Parade and Festival
On this podcast extra, it's just a quick rundown of one of my favorite weekends of the year. The 43rd annual Hal's St. Paddy's Parade and Festival is this Saturday, March 28th and here's how to make the most of it. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.…
- Mississippi on the Map: Nick Wallace and Hunter Evans
On today's show, we're putting Mississippi on the Map with Nick Wallace and Hunter Evans, two chefs cooking at the highest level, both part of this weekend's sold out third annual JXN Food & Wine Festival.
- Mississippi Made
Today's episode is a Soul Sessions Extra, a shorter conversation with Jessica Walzer, curator of collections and exhibits at the two Mississippi museums about a brand new exhibition called “Mississippi Made.” In celebration of America 250,…
- Jeff Good - Sal & Mookie's | Scott Jackson - The Pig & Pint
On today's show, we're talking American favorite classic foods with two people who've built their restaurants around it. Jeff Good is the owner of Sal and Mookie's New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint at The District at Eastover in LeFleur E…
- Chef Enrika Williams and Glenda Barner (Sugar's Place)
On today's show, we're talking about Southern food traditions with two women who are keepers of those traditions in very different ways. Chef Enrika Williams trained at a culinary school in Atlanta and came home to Jackson, the city that's…
- Matt Flinn - Native Coffee | Brandi Carter - Levure Bottle Shop
On today's show, we're talking about two of those daily rituals with two people who've built their businesses around them: Matt Flinn at Native Coffee Company and Brandi Carter at Levure Wine Shop. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/…
- EXTRA: HBCU Power Series Baseball
Today, we're talking about the HBCU Power Series coming to Trustmark Park in Pearl this February. Six tradition-rich programs, three days of games, and a weekend that celebrates everything great about HBCU athletics. And yes, your Jackson…
- Geno Lee with Simms Powell
On today’s show, I stepped back and let two incredible chefs talk shop. Geno Lee, the fourth-generation owner of the Big Apple Inn on Farish Street, sits down with Simms Powell, a 15-year-old culinary and artistic prodigy who's been cookin…
- JXN, A Culinary Town featuring Nick Wallace, Hunter Evans, Enrika Williams and More
On today's season six opener, we're celebrating what makes Jackson's food scene unlike anywhere else through the voices of the chefs, restaurateurs and the food makers who bring it to life. Hear from Chefs Nick Wallace, Hunter Evans, Enrik…
- Rochelle Hicks, Katie Coats, and Mona Nicholas | 2026 Rose Parade
On today's show, we're talking about Mississippi's return to the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day. Last year's debut was a landmark moment. 800,000 people on the streets of Pasadena, millions more watching worldwide. This year,…
- Kayla Thompson | Author, TV Personality
On today's show, we're talking with WJTV's Kayla Thompson, who turned a scary moment in Tupelo into a career-defining revelation. Now she's the face of Live at 9, where she spotlights Jackson's creative hustle every weekday morning. Her ne…
- Ally Durr | Singer-Songwriter
On today's show, we down with Ally Durr, visual designer by day, soulful musician by calling. From singing gospel with her cousins to releasing her breakthrough single, “What You Livin' For,” to grooving for Aunjanue L. Ellis-Taylor at Tou…
- Blaine Wade | National Folk Festival
On today's show, Blaine Wade, the president and CEO of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, joins us to talk about the National Folk Festival, coming to Jackson for a three year residency, November 7th, 8th and 9th. TRANSCRIPT: h…
- John Evans | Lemuria Books
On today's show, we're sitting down with John Evans, the man behind Lemuria Books, one of the South's most beloved independent bookstores. Since 1975, John has been more than just a bookseller—he's been a curator of literary culture, a cha…
- Liz Brister | Downtown Jackson Partners
On today's show, we're chatting with Liz Brister, the dynamo president of Downtown Jackson Partners who's been leading the charge to change perceptions about our capital city's core since February. From sunrise workouts at Pinnacle Green t…
- Dr. Tonja Murphy | MS Book Festival
On today’s show, we're talking with Dr. Tonja Murphy, the community engagement director for the Mississippi Book Festival, about what she calls their "Super Bowl" - the annual literary lawn party happening September 13 at the Mississippi S…
- Alex Davis | HBCU Classic
On today's show, Alex Davis is the visionary behind the HBCU Labor Day Classic Battle of the Bands. He's bringing an unprecedented celebration of band culture to Jackson, complete with food trucks, VIP field access, and the chance for high…
- Sade Meeks | Growing Resistance in the South
On today's show, we're talking with Sade Meeks, a registered dietitian and founder of Growing Resilience in the South—GRITS—an organization fighting for food justice here in Mississippi. She's making a documentary called "Food as Resistanc…
- Alexis Noble | Vibe Studio JXN
On today's show, we're talking with Alexis Noble, the powerhouse gallery owner and creative director who's transforming an unexpected location in a University Boulevard shopping center into Jackson's creative hub. She's the founder of Vibe…
- Thabi Moyo | National Folk Festival
On today's show, we're talking with Thabi Moyo, the local director for the National Folk Festival, coming to Jackson November 7th through 9th. She left her beloved job at the Mississippi Film Office to take on this massive three-year cultu…
- Maya Kyles | Musician
On today's show, we talk with Maya Kyles, a dynamic drummer and Jackson native who's carved out her own space in the city's vibrant music scene. From the gospel roots of the Mississippi Mass Choir to the spotlight at the Chicago Blues Fest…
- Gerry Wilson | Author
On today's show, we're sitting down with Jackson author Gerry Wilson, who published her first novel at the age of 82. She shares how her life in Mississippi Her years as a teacher and her lifelong love of writing all came together to shape…
- Michelle McAdoo | MS Blues Trail featuring Chicago Blues Festival and Jesse Robinson
On today's show, we’re celebrating the roots and rhythms of Mississippi blues and its powerful connection to the Chicago Blues Festival with Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo. From the local legends to their lasting legacies, Michelle wi…
- Austin Evans and Richard Patrick | Cathead Distillery
We're catching up with Austin Evans and Richard Patrick, co-founders of Cathead Distillery. With bourbon, gin, and liqueurs, plus a music festival that's just as soulful as their spirits. They're here to talk Cathead Jam, community, and th…
- KIMBERLEE COOPER MAKERS FEST
We're catching up with Kimberlee Cooper from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the organization behind Mississippi Makers Fest, a free family friendly celebration of local art, music and food. From pottery demos to Americ…
- Maureen Scott | Metro Master Gardeners
On today's show, we're talking with Maureen Scott, a certified Master Gardener and member of the Metro Master Gardeners Association. From her work at Greenwood Cemetery and the Ag Museum Herb Garden to a touching award-winning project at S…
- Ryan Parker | Stranger Than Fiction Film Festival
On today's show, we're talking with Ryan Parker, the executive director of the Mississippi Film Society, bringing Hollywood to Mississippi's capital city. Ryan accomplishes this through special screenings and the upcoming Stranger Than Fic…
- Anna Traylor | Eudora Welty House & Garden
Think great writers are all serious business? Not in Jackson, where literary legend Eudora Welty left her mark with both brilliance and playful spirit! On today's show, we're celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Eudora Welty House with…
- Amanda FitzGerald | Jackson Food & Wine
From appetizers to entrées, Jackson's culinary scene is serving up a feast for the senses that's as rich as our Mississippi soil. On today's show, we're dishing with Amanda Fitzgerald from the local palate about the much-anticipated JXN Fo…
- Eddie Wright | Eddie Wright BBQ
Sometimes losing your tech job leads you straight to your calling – just ask the man who turned his weekend hobby into Jackson's hottest food truck. On today's show, we visit with Eddie Wright of Eddie Wright BBQ. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.v…
- Chef Enrika Williams | Fauna Foodworks
From Beatles inspired dishes to family style feasts, Chef Enrika Williams proves that nostalgia can be deliciously innovative. From nerding out about Apple varieties with Chef Hunter Evans at Elvie's to watching him shine at the James Bear…
- Chef Chaz Lindsay | Rowan's
On today's show, restaurateur Chaz Lindsay takes us inside his newest venture, Rowan's - a neighborhood pub that's 'family-friendly by day, a little loose at night.' From fried bologna sandwiches to weenie martinis, we'll explore how this…
- Trey Malone: Northshore Specialty Roasters
Think coffee is just a quick caffeine fix? Think again—it's an art, a science, and a connection to the world around us. We’re diving in with Trey Malone—coffee aficionado and CEO at Northshore Specialty Roasters—about how a great cup of co…
- Dr Roderick Little And Katie Coats | 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade
In this episode of Soul Sessions, we celebrate Mississippi's cultural spotlight at the Tournament of Roses Parade. Dr. Roderick Little, Director of the Sonic Boom of the South, discusses the band's preparation and significance in represent…
- Sharbreon Plummer | MS Museum of Art
In this episode of Soul Sessions, host Paul Wolf talks with guest curator Sharbreon Plummer to explore the Mississippi Museum of Art's exhibition 'Of Salt and Spirit: Black Quilters in the American South.' The conversation delves into the…
- Lynsie Armstrong | Capital City Lights
In this episode of Soul Sessions, host Paul Wolf speaks with Lynsie Armstrong, the event coordinator for Capital City Lights, a holiday event in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. They discuss the event's evolution, community engagement, and t…
- Kamel King | MS Trails Program
In this episode, Kamel King, the director of cultural tourism for Visit Mississippi, discusses the state's cultural trails program, which includes the Mississippi Blues Trail, Country Music Trail, Freedom Trail, and Writers Trail. King sha…
- Douglas Loftin And Carter Hood | Mistletoe Marketplace
On today's show, we talk Mistletoe Marketplace, organized annually by the Junior League of Jackson. Douglas Strahan Loftin and Carter Whitehood share insights about the event's history, its impact on the community, and the various activiti…
- Sophie McNeil Wolf | Community Foundation for Mississippi
In this episode, meet Sophie McNeil Wolf, the Director of Communications and Insights for the Community Foundation for Mississippi. We discuss Sophie's journey in community work, the role of community foundations, and their impact on local…
- George Gillespie | Wing Mouth
On today's show, Belhaven residents George and Ann Elizabeth Gillespie just opened Wing Mouth at Belhaven Town Center, a simple concept that specializes in wings, tenders and fries. And after years in the restaurant business, George says t…
- Nellie Neal | Fondren Garden Tour
On today's episode, the Garden Mama, Nellie Neal talks about the upcoming Fondren Garden and Bottle Tree Tour and the importance of community in gardening, innovative practices in Jackson, and advice for aspiring gardeners. Transcript and…
- Conner Reeves | Belhaven's Bright Lights
On today's episode, we talk to Conner Reeves about Belhaven's Bright Lights, a celebration of the artisans, musicians and creators of the Greater Belhaven neighborhood that features music, food, and local vendors.
- Ellen Daniels | MS Book Festival 2024
Today, Ellen Daniels, the executive director of the Mississippi Book Festival, discusses the ten-year-old festival's history and what makes it special. The festival brings together authors and book lovers from all walks of life, creating a…
- ENCORE: De Shannon Williams | Food Truck Friday
Today in this encore presentation, De Shannon Williams is one of the owners of Smokey's Meal on Wheels food truck, and she's an organizer of Food Truck Fridays, which have returned to Smith Park in downtown Jackson every first, third and f…