Now You're Talking with Marshall Ramsey

Growing up in a military family, George Fondren knows very well what it means to have loved ones overseas for the holidays. That’s why he and his family are hosting the 8th Annual Christmas for the Troops party on December 9 in Ridgeland. This event has grown considerably over the years and now includes scouts and veterans from central Mississippi. George and his two sons use the event to send care packages to military personnel from Mississippi who are deployed and teach young Mississippians that not all families are together during the holidays. Partnering with Mississippi Project Package, the event has shipped thousands of packages to veterans, and director Rickey Pope calls in to educate us on how MPP supports deployed military personnel.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.

Joining us today is Michael Farris Smith. He is an award-winning writer whose novels have appeared on Best of the Year lists with Esquire, NPR, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, Oprah Magazine, Book Riot, and numerous other outlets. He lives in Oxford, Mississippi, with his wife and daughters, and the state he knows so well serves as a backdrop for his recently critically acclaimed novel, “Salvage This World.” A prolific master of the Southern noir, Rough South, and Grit Lit traditions who has published seven novels in the past decade, Michael has two of his novels coming to the screen this fall from Lionsgate.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.

Our guest today is Paul Elias, who recently made history as the very first bass fisherman to be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Paul Elias said he was too small to play football, was “pretty good” at baseball but “was really, really good” at fishing while growing up. A Mississippian thru and thru, Paul is a native of Laurel and a Southern Miss graduate. He turned pro in 1979 and won the Bassmasters Classic in Montgomery in 1982. Twenty-six years later, he set a record that still stands for the largest four-day five-bass limit of 132 pounds, 8 ounces in a tournament at Lake Falcon in Texas.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.

The 6888 postal battalion was the only predominantly-black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II, and serves as the subject for filmmaker James Williams Theres’ 2019 film “Six Triple Eight,” which will have a free screening tonight in Nachez. James is also an award-winning Executive Writer for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington D.C., and joins us on this Veterans Day-centric episode to talk about the importance of immortalizing Mississippian veterans.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.

My next guest’s boots are made for walking, the son of a fourth generation farming family, growing up on Double B Farms in Randolph, Mississippi, Benjamin Bowen spent his childhood riding horses, and going to football games,  all while wearing his favorite pair of boots. Fast forward to today, he not only still wears his favorite pair, he is the founder of celebrity loved, Double B Boots Company, and is here to discuss all things boots, in addition to growing up in Randolph, life on Double B Farms, and future projects.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.

Filmmakers Willy Bearden, and George Larrimore join me today to discuss their 4-part docuseries: The Rolling Fork Tornado of 2023, premiering on MPBTV this Thursday at 7 p.m. In the film, Director Willy Bearden returns to his hometown of Rolling Fork, to document the destruction from the March 24th tornado. Damage was catastrophic, fourteen died and hundreds had to find shelter elsewhere. Then neighbors and volunteers began to come together to help Rolling Fork rise from the rubble. It’s a story of terror, struggle and of unlikely heroes. This is Now You’re Taking on MPB Think Radio. 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.

My next guests, Richard & Dr. Tamika Bradley, work as President and Exec. Director, respectively, of Metro Booming Workforce Training Academy. It’s a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide workforce training certifications, accredited by U.S. Department of Labor. They have both joined me today to discuss that, in addition to, Richard’s work as Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Jackson State University, President of MBAR Sports Lounge, President of A3 Consulting Real Estate Holdings Enterprise, and Dr. Bradley's tenure at J.S.U., and more… This is Now You’re Taking on MPB Think Radio. 

Hailing from Laurel, my next guest has risen to online viral fame discussing topics like, what is lollygagging, the difference between nekkid and naked, and exactly what is a come to Jesus’ meeting. Landon Bryant, aka “Landon Talks,” has delighted audiences with his glossary style invitation to southern colloquialisms and captivated students at Laurel Magnet School of the Arts, as Visual Art instructor, and Mississippi’s Arts Educator of the Year. He is here to discuss the latter, in addition to his work as Mississippi’s Youth Arts Coordinator, his “Let’s Discuss” breakout session at this year’s State Arts Conference 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.