Episodi

  • How the war in Iran is impacting Mississippi Delta farmers
    May 1 2026

    On this week’s episode, we take a look at how the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is affecting the Gulf South.

    The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused the price of fuel and fertilizer to skyrocket. Senior reporter Drew Hawkins took a trip through the Mississippi Delta to talk to farmers about how rising costs are pushing many to the brink.

    This episode is hosted by Elise Catrion Gregg. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Joseph King is our social producer. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, WRKF, MPB, or WBHM.

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    14 min
  • The long road back to voting restoration in the Gulf South
    Apr 24 2026

    On this week’s episode, we take a look at how Alabama stands as a possible model of voting restoration for Mississippi — and some of the challenges that Alabama residents say make it an imperfect system.

    Community engagement reporter Elise Gregg discusses how even in states where voting restoration isn’t as complicated, practical considerations still bar people from civic life. She also breaks down what people in Alabama and Mississippi say would make the systems easier to navigate.

    This episode is hosted by Joseph King, who is also our social producer. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, WRKF, MPB, or WBHM.

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    14 min
  • Following the opioid settlement money in Mississippi
    Apr 17 2026

    On this week’s episode, we’ll dig into Mississippi’s decisions on who gets opioid settlement funding — and who doesn’t. The state’s legislature has finally appropriated millions of dollars received as a result of lawsuits with opioid manufacturers, marketers and distributors.

    Senior Reporter Drew Hawkins and Community Engagement Producer Nellie Beckett talked to hundreds of Mississippians with lived experience of addiction, asking how they think the money should be spent.

    Drew has been following along the entire process — from the advisory council forming, meeting, and making recommendations, to lawmakers appropriating funding and the state’s governor signing the bills.

    This episode is hosted by Nellie Beckett, who is also our community engagement producer. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Joseph King is our social producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, MPB, or WBHM.

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    20 min
  • Gulf South sports roundup: Teams on the move, NIL and college eligibility
    Apr 10 2026

    This week’s episode is all about sports in the region — from a minor league team moving across state lines, to Name, Image and Likeness deals.

    The Birmingham Squadron recently played its last home game in the Magic City ahead of a move to Kenner, Louisiana — just outside of New Orleans — later this year. Sports and culture reporter Joseph King went to the team’s final home game in Birmingham to talk to fans about the move.

    Also, Joseph brings us the story of an Auburn University football player using money earned from a Name, Image and Likeness deal to build a community hub in his hometown of Birmingham — and how it plays into the larger conversation on the NIL system and college eligibility. Joseph is joined by WBHM’s All Things Considered host and reporter, Andrew Gelderman, to discuss his NIL reporting.

    This episode is hosted by Joseph King, who is also our social producer. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, WRKF, MPB, or WBHM.

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    14 min
  • Did your elected official sign an NDA? If you live in Louisiana, the answer is yes
    Apr 3 2026

    On this week’s episode, we look at the legal agreements elected officials in Louisiana are signing to conceal large developments — like data centers.

    Senior reporter Drew Hawkins takes us through his investigation, what he found and what it means for communities where large developments involving public money are planned without public knowledge.

    This episode is hosted by Elise Catrion Gregg. The podcast is produced by Drew Hawkins, Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Joseph King is our social producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, WRKF, MPB, or WBHM.

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    14 min
  • Restoring voting rights in the Gulf South
    Mar 27 2026

    On this week’s episode, we look into voting restoration efforts in Mississippi.

    Community engagement reporter Elise Gregg walks us through how disenfranchisement affects Mississippians with a felony conviction, how lawmakers are pushing for automatic restoration and how Mississippi compares to the rest of the Gulf South.

    This episode is hosted by Nellie Beckett, who is also our community engagement producer. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Joseph King is our social producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, MPB, or WBHM.

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    14 min
  • Why Mississippi Delta farmers are struggling right now
    Mar 20 2026

    On this week’s episode, we take a look at some of the challenges farmers are facing in the Mississippi Delta.

    Public health reporter Drew Hawkins sat down with Kevin Draper, a New York Times reporter, about what he learned talking to rice farmers in the region.

    This episode is hosted by Ryan Vasquez. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Joseph King is our social producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, MPB, or WBHM.

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    14 min
  • How Louisiana’s LNG exports are driving out fishermen, driving up utility bills
    Mar 13 2026

    On this week’s episode, we take a look at liquified natural gas exports in the Gulf South.

    Public health reporter Drew Hawkins went to Cameron, Louisiana, to talk with fishermen about how the multibillion-dollar industry has reshaped the landscape, the economy and the daily lives of the people who have lived here for generations.

    And Paul Blest from More Perfect Union joins us to talk about a new documentary he and Drew worked on that explores the impacts of LNG.

    This episode is hosted by Drew Hawkins. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Joseph King is our social producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

    To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

    And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO, MPB, or WBHM.

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    14 min