Now You're Talking with Marshall Ramsey

Ryan Parker is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Film Society, a non-profit that is working to bring unique film screening experiences, film-based educational programming, and a prison screening program to Mississippi. A Brookhaven native, Ryan has been working in the film industry as a producer and marketing/PR consultant for the last 12 years. He has already made his mark this month by providing unique experiences for his statesmen and we’re excited to learn what’s next. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He’s been an attorney for nearly five decades, but he’s also a pretty darn good author. That’s right, we have entertainment attorney and 2024 Mississippi Book festival panelist X.M. Frascogna in the house. Known by his friends and family as simply Mike, X.M. has specialized in entertainment and sports law since the early seventies. He has co-authored with his sons five books about football set in his home state of Mississippi, but we’re here to chat mostly about his first full-length non-fiction work, The Saints of St. Mary’s. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is Education Week here at MPB Think Radio and most of our shows are taking part in a very important theme- education and back-to-school topics. Who better to talk about this than the 2024 Mississippi Teacher of the Year, Shauna Waters. Currently teaching English at East Lauderdale High School in Collins, Shauna Waters has been a teacher since 2001. She has taught in Indiana University’s Intensive English program, and in the Comparative Cultures department of Aichi University in Japan. Her Teacher of the Year honor joins a shelf of other awards, including a Yale Educator Award in 2019. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apologies in advance if today’s episode makes you hungry- we have Newks’ CEO Chris Newcomb in the building. Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual chain that operates and franchises just under 100 units in 16 states. Ever since it’s founding in 2004, Newk’s has been a go-to for sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza whether you live in Jackson, Atlanta, or Birmingham. Chris was inspired by his Dad to buy in to the food business and was a career college student in Oxford, Mississippi. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Vicksburg native and Ole Miss graduate, today’s guest uses incredible storytelling skills only the south can provide. Ellis Nassour has a background in Journalism and has been writing books about the history of Broadway musicals for decades. He is back home this week to sign copies and inform his statesmen of his newest book, Jesus Christ Superstar: Behind the Scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomenon. In this book Nassour shares little-known stories about the production of the record and show, a controversial re-telling of the biblical story of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus of Nazareth. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guests were recently recognized by the New York Times as some of the best pizza-makers in the United States. Leña (which translates to firewood) makes dough from scratch and brings it to life with traditional proofing practices. Located in the rural Mississippi Delta, this Cleveland staple provides pizza and bagels unlike anywhere else in the region. Today we’re talking to the masterminds behind the award-winning joint- Marisol Doyle was born and raised in Mexico and studied her art in Italy, and her husband Rory is an independent photojournalist who is capturing the complexities of the deep south when he’s not photographing bagels. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve worked in television in the state of Mississippi in any capacity, today’s guests are no stranger to you. Emmy award-winning television legends Walt Grayson and his daughter Keri Grayson Horne are joining us in the studio today to talk about what they know best- how storytelling and educational media can truly shape an entire state. Walt has spent over five decades working in the media industry and is currently with WJTV. He hosts and produces Mississippi Roads at MPB, where Keri has worked and served for over twenty years. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guests today know all about the importance of keeping it in the family. Connie Hollins and her son DeSanto Rollins will be the the guests of honor in a soon-to-come episode of Family Owned: A Legacy Leadership podcast, produced in partnership with Ole Miss and MPB. The owners of Rollins Funeral Home in Woodville, this entire family has been dedicated to serving grieving families in the state for several years. They join me today to tell the story of their family’s legacy and tell some inside baseball on what its like to run a business with your loved ones. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest today wants to talk to you about the importance of giving life. Christopher Swafford is the President and CEO of Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) based in Flowood, MS. MBS is a community based blood center that serves hospitals throughout the state of Mississippi and was established 45 years ago. Christopher is the 3rd CEO of the organization and has been at MBS since June of 2023. His background is in healthcare leadership and most recently he served as the chief operating officer at Blood Assurance headquartered in Chattanooga, TN. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have two guests this week with one mission. Big House Books is an organization that provides literature to the incarcerated, making sure those in the prison system still have access to reading materials and the right to read. The team recently won a 2024 Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence or GIVE Award. Here to discuss the success and mission of their initiative is Holly Smith, who serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Big House Books and Miranda Vaughn, a program assistant for Big House Books. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first guest in the month of June is a local activist determined to save lives. Christina Dent is the Founder & President of End It For Good, a Mississippi-based nonprofit advocating for approaches to drugs that prioritize life and the opportunity to thrive. Christina supported a criminal justice approach to drugs until her experience as a foster parent sparked her curiosity about drug policy. What she learned changed her mind about the best ways to reduce drug-related harm, and in 2019 she gave a TEDx Talk and launched End It For Good to invite others to consider a different approach. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Memorial Day! We are out of the office so in lieu of a new episode, here's an instant classic from earlier this year. We are honored to welcome an iconic Mississippian from an iconic family to the show today. Reena Evers-Everette is the daughter of civil-rights activists Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams. Born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, she studied business merchandising at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. She is now executive director of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute in Jackson, Miss., the same city where he saw her father assassinated at their home in 1963. In addition to the Institute, Reena serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Mississippi Free Press and is currently a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network fellow. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marshall welcomes director Ann Ford and long-time producer Perez Hodge to discuss the new documentary on film on the now-defunct WZZQ radio station. For a brief shining moment (the 70’s!), this free form, counterculture, FM radio station in Jackson, Mississippi rocked the mid-South. With no playlists, no rules, and very few inhibitions, the legendary WZZQ represented a way of life for its young listeners. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francine Reynolds has been the artistic director at New Stage Theatre in Jackson since 2006, and has worked as a theatre artist for 35 years. A Michigan native and current Jackson resident, Reynolds has served three terms on the board of directors for the Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for American theatre; and is on the board of directors for the Mississippi Theatre Association. She has directed and performed in a plethora of theater performances and is committed to the growth of artistic opportunities in Mississippi and beyond. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Medley is a North Carolina-based visual journalist and filmmaker documenting the American South. Her photography work explores issues of social justice, community, and the shifting politics of states like Mississippi. Her work has been featured in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and her collection “Thank You Please Come Again: How Gas Stations Feed & Fuel the American South” is currently on display at the Mississippi Museum of Art. She is originally from the Magnolia state, and received a Masters in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ana Lampton Triplett is a documentary maker and a retired attorney. In her episode of “Family Owned, a Legacy Leadership Podcast,” she discusses how she and her family have entrepreneurship running through their veins. Part of the Lampton family that owns manufacturing powerhouse Ergon in Jackson, Ana has used her talents to help with both the family business and her own project, a documentary film on the life of William Faulkner. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Currently serving as the head honcho of the Mississippi Children’s Museum, Susan Garrard has been with the museum since it’s inception, serving as a volunteer when the museum was still in its planning stages. Originally from Sebastopol, she earned her undergraduate degree at Mississippi State University before attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. She and her family eventually moved back to Jackson where she would eventually serve as the first ever executive director of the museum, which has recently been named one of the top 5 children’s museums in the country. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning: this episode of Now You're Talking contains recounts of war. Marshall Ramsey sits down this week with Mississippi Public Broadcasting's very own Chief Operations Officer Anna Neel as she discusses her career coming up in the world of media and communications. From her time as a humble intern with CNN all the way to where she is today with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, she goes over her life as a prominent and seasoned storyteller working with people from all walks of life all over the globe. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World-renowned Chef, restaurateur, and Pike County native Austin Sumrall is no stranger to the kitchen. Owner of White Pillars in Biloxi, Austin is also a former Champion of Food Network’s “Alex vs. America” in May 2023. The James Beard nominee for “Best Chef: South” and crowned “King of American Seafood!” in the 2021 Great American Seafood Cook-Off, the self-proclaimed lover of oyster aquaculture is here to discuss his grand title win, life in Biloxi, growing up on a ranch and more! Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today’s Editor-At-Large. He’s also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marshall Ramsey sits down the week with second generation jazz musician and singer Antonia Bennett, renowned daughter of Grammy Award winning jazz musician Tony Bennett as she discusses what it was like growing up surrounded by the jazz music scene and how it shaped her into the musician she is today. From growing up surrounded by greats like Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra to collaborating with her father as early as four years old she recounts her journey through the music industry and those that shaped her. Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized, Emmy award winning editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today's Editor-At-Large. He's also host of a "Now You're Talking" on MPB Think Radio and "Conversations" on MPB TV, and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.