Shows
Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden#10 Mary Ryan BrownA singular, delightfully idiosyncratic voice in the world of comedy, Mary Ryan Brown is a wife, mother, writer, and comedian who leaves no moment unexamined. She’s a one-of-a-kind act known across social media for her characters and parodies of women across the South, and her standup blends punchy observations and layered storytelling with absurd impromptu crowd work. She’s relentless, neurotic, and bursting with eldest daughter energy. From writing to consulting to performing, Mary Ryan Brown delivers distinct, distilled language that resonates with readers, viewers, and live audiences.
2025-08-181h 15Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden#9 Tucker MillerEpisode 9: Duck Bands & Cotton Rows – A Conversation with Tucker MillerIn this episode of Breaking Bread, Stafford sits down with a true Delta legend—Tucker Miller from right here in Drew, Mississippi. Tucker’s a world-renowned duck hunter and a lifelong cotton consultant with nearly 60 years of stories from the fields and flooded timber. From the art of checking cotton to the thrill of the morning hunt, Tucker’s lived it all—and he's got more duck bands than years to prove it. We talk tradition, wildlife, farming, and the kind of grit it takes to keep showing up...
2025-03-241h 08Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden#8 Ryan Biles In this episode of Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden, we sit down with Ryan Biles, an architect and community developer from Lonoke, Arkansas. As the owner of Kudzu Collective, Ryan is dedicated to designing spaces that foster connection and growth. His work extends beyond Arkansas, making an impact throughout the Mississippi Delta. Join us as we discuss his passion for architecture, the role of thoughtful design in community development, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the Delta region.
2025-03-171h 19Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden#7 Jay Bradley Jay Bradley is a seasoned entrepreneur, dynamic speaker, and business strategist. As the former owner of the iconic Cowbells Bar in Starkville, MS, and the founder of Roofnuts, Jay has built a reputation for turning businesses into thriving success stories. Today, he travels the country, training and inspiring business owners on how to scale sales, maximize growth, and achieve true entrepreneurial freedom.
2025-03-101h 19Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden#6 Don JoeDon Joe and his brother Wally owned the best reviewed restaurant in the south for years, KCs.
2025-03-041h 32Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden#5 Mike EllisMike Ellis is a Musician and retired farmer. Mike Ellis and the Hometown Band have been a staple of Mississippi Delta Music for 60 years.
2025-02-1047 min
Shootin’ The Que Podcast with Heath RilesStafford Shurden - Tailgate Reviews, Gas Station Food, & Deep Fried RibsMeet former judge and farmer turned influencer Stafford Shurden! He tells Heath and Candace all about his journey from judging people to judging food, why you don't want to mispronounce names in The Delta, and the heated gumbo and duck call competition at his restaurant in this week's episode of the Shootin' The Que podcast.
2025-02-041h 03
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | Stafford ShurdenTopic: Malcolm and Carol welcome the gas station food critic, Stafford Shurden, to the show. Stafford talks about living in Drew, farming, reviewing gas station food, and producing his new podcast, Breaking Bread with Stafford Shurden. Guest(s): Stafford Shurden Host(s): Malcolm White and Carol Palmer Email: food@mpbonline.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-02-0351 minBreaking Bread with Stafford ShurdenEp 4 Jenny Smith aka Mississippi MemawJenny Smith aka Mississippi Memaw is a social media influencer with millions of views. She went viral for ordering pickles in her Dr. Pepper at Sonic landing in the top 10 most searched things on Google for 2024. She is loved for her down to earth Mississippi charm and is followed by hundreds of thousands of people.
2025-01-1228 min
Convenience MattersWhat Makes Gas Station Food Special?From our most downloaded podcast of 2024, we're revisiting conversations around finding great food at the local gas station. Hear more on these hidden gems. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stafford Shurden, Creator, Gas Station Tailgate Review Stafford is a restaurant owner and farmer from Drew, MS. Over the past four years between managing his farm and restaurant, he has traveled the southern United States in search of the best gas station food and filming it from the tailgate of his pickup truck. His popular show "Gas Station...
2024-12-3028 minConvenience MattersWhat Makes Gas Station Food Special?In rural areas, locals know the best meals come from gas stations. In this episode, Stafford Shurden shares his tips for finding great c-store and gas station food. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stafford Shurden, Creator, Gas Station Tailgate Review Stafford is a restaurant owner and farmer from Drew, MS. Over the past four years, between managing his farm and restaurant, Stafford has traveled the southern United States in search of the best gas station food and filming it from the tailgate of his pickup truck. His...
2024-08-1927 minBreaking Bread with Stafford ShurdenEp 3 Robert St JohnThis was such a fun episode for me as a restaurant guy. Robert is a salt of the earth all around good man and I feel inspired just by being around him. Robert has written 13 books and owns several restaurants including, Crescent City Grill, Tabella, Ed's Burger Joint, Enzo, The Midtowner, Loblolly Bakery, and The Mahogany Bar. Robert also was instrumental in founding Extra Table, a non profit committed to ending hunger in Mississippi. Today's lunch was from Roberts restaurant, The Midtowner.
2024-06-281h 07Breaking Bread with Stafford ShurdenEp 2. Dr. Michael ManningDr. Michael Manning is both a Doctor and serial entrepreneur. Dr. Manning co owns several clinics including the Men's Clinic in Madison, MS. He is also a land developer and owns the property where the Half Shell Oyster House is located in Madison. He also co owns the Mississippi Vein Institute and Mississippi Medical Ascetics. Dr. Manning grew up in Drew, MS. Lunch today came from The Half Shell in Madison.
2024-06-191h 11Breaking Bread with Stafford ShurdenEpisode 1, Will BradhamWhat happens when a serial entrepreneur with over 160 employees prefers a cheeseburger over renowned barbecue? Our meal on this episode is from Abe's BBQ in Clarksdale and has been open since 1924! Join us as we share a meal with my dear friend Will Bradham. We chat about our favorite dishes and swap stories from the Delta, reminiscing about local favorites like Rest Haven and Ramon's. The episode takes flight, literally, as we dive into the thrills and challenges of piloting a small aircraft. But that's not all—Will and I explore the future of employment with AI and...
2024-06-082h 31
The Will Bradham PodcastEpisode 157 Sit Down with My Man Stafford ShurdenAnytime we get together to conversation just automatically derails into something completely off topic. Enjoy
2024-02-061h 29Convenience MattersThe Power of Road TripsThree acclaimed road warriors share their stories from the road and their ideas on how your stores can be "discovered" by more people travelling on highways -- or even in your neighborhood. Hosted by: Don Rhoads, President/CEO, The Convenience Group LLC and 2022-23 NACS Chairman About our Guests: Stephanie Stuckey, Chair, Stuckey’s Corp. Four years ago, Stephanie purchased Stuckey's Corp., the company her grandfather founded in 1937 and grew to nearly 400 roadside stores. She and her business partners restored it to profitability, tying its future to a celebration of...
2023-11-0628 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | Le Bakery (Biloxi) & Stafford ShurdenTopic: Today on the show, we welcome back our good friend Stafford Shurden from up in the Mississippi Delta, not only a farmer, a restaurateur, and judge, but he travels up and down the road searching for the best gas station grub. Also, from Biloxi, Sue Nguyen from the legendary Le Bakery - the po boy place with the Asian flare on a traditional po boy.Host(s): Malcolm White, Carol Palmer, and Java ChatmanGuest(s): Sue Nguyen, and Stafford ShurdenEmail: food@mpbonline.org. Hosted on Aca...
2023-08-2849 minConvenience MattersExploring Exceptional Community Stores and Their FoodSouth Louisiana is one of the best areas in the United States to find amazing food and people at the gas station. We'll talk about what we saw and ate during a recent road trip. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Stafford Shurden, creator and host of “Tailgate Gas Station Review" A “serial entrepreneur,” Stafford currently is a farmer (president of Stafford Shurden Farms), restauranteur (proprietor of Stafford’s on Main) and oversees a media company (founder of Shurden Media). He is the creator and host of t...
2023-04-1023 minConvenience MattersSmall Towns With Big Food FindsFrom rural Mississippi to Key West and New Orleans, Stafford Shurden knows where to find delicious and authentic food at local gas stations in c-stores. Related Link: Stafford Shurden Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stafford Shurden, host of "Gas Station Tailgate Review" Stafford is a farmer, restaurant owner and former justice court judge. In between farming and cooking, he tours the south giving inspirational speeches and reviewing gas station food.
2022-08-2926 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | LeAnne Stops ByAs one of the architects of the Cooking & Coping Facebook group, LeAnne Doss Gault has always been a key part of Deep South Dining. With Carol visiting Aspen and joining the show via Skype, LeAnne joins Malcolm in the studio and comes bearing gifts. Also in the show, we check in with a true renaissance man Stafford Shurden about his tailgate gas station reviews, life on the farm, and the latest at his restaurant. Let's eat y'all! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-07-2549 minConvenience MattersReally Good Gas Station ChickenHow a convenience store food favorite inspired a song and a YouTube channel. Related Links: Tailgate Gas Station Review "Gas Station Chicken" by The Nighthawks Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Stafford Shurden, Host of “Tailgate Gas Station Review” Stafford is a farmer, restaurant owner and former justice court judge. In between farming and cooking, he tours the south giving inspirational speeches and reviewing gas station food. Mark Stutso, Musician Mark is the drummer for The Nighthawks, which has...
2022-05-3031 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | Mardi Gras in DrewJust before all the King Cake is put away Malcolm White, Carol Puckett, and Java Chatman recall their time in the town of Drew for the 1st Lawnmower Mardi Gras Parade. Farmer, restaurant owner, gas station foodie, and former judge Stafford Shurden invented the trio to be a part of the festivities and a very delicious time was had by all. Also, as Black History Month comes to a close we hear from Adrian Miller about the role of African American chefs in the White House and highlight other black culinary figures such as Abby Fisher and Edna Lewis....
2022-02-2850 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | Fresh Eggs & Stafford Shurden Friend of the show Stafford Shurden joins Malcolm and Carol to talk about his latest adventures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-01-2450 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | BBQ The Wright WayEddie Wright from Eddie Wright BBQ and Catering rejoins the show to talk about the upcoming grilling season as outside temperatures heat up. Utilizing the 3 T's of good barbeque: time, temperature, and technique, Eddie states you can achieve delicious barbeque no matter your equipment. As a recent award recipient from the Kingsford Charcoal: Preserve The Pit program Eddie also talks about the new recognition this award brings to his brand. Also, Malcolm asks the question of all barbeque questions: Does Mississippi have its own barbeque style? Later in the show, Stafford Shurden drops in to talk about his latest gas...
2021-05-1750 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | Hanukkah DelightsHanukkah is a Jewish holiday that should not be compared to Christmas unless you want to analyze the food dishes that seem to only come around this time of year. In this episode of Deep South Dining, Malcolm and Carol speak with the author of the books Matzah Ball Gumbo and The Edible South Dr. Marcie Cohen Ferris. She talks about the intersection of southern and Jewish traditions through Hanukkah foods and how her youth in Arkansas shaped her southern Jewish palate. Also, we hear from the one and only Stafford Shurden about his highway foodie adventures.
2020-12-1449 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining | Holiday Look BackThe holidays are here and today Malcolm and Carol are taking a look back at some of their favorite moments of 2020 so far. There is still a month to go but this year has been full of great guest and callers. From bacon to banana peppers and cookbooks to tailgates this show covers just a sampling of all the great moments that have been heard on Deep South Dining. Show LinksBenton BaconStafford ShurdenLarrison Campbell - Vanity Fair Article Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-11-2353 min
Deep South DiningDeep South Dining: Gas Station FoodieIn the South the gas station is much more than your place to fill up your car. In many communities it is a mix between the morning coffee house, lunch counter, and evening hangout. There are so many stories to be told at these meeting places, especially about some of one of a kind dishes only found in these particular gas stations.Today on the show Malcolm and Carol welcome former Mississippi Judge Stafford Shurden and documentation Kate Medley to the show to share there experiences in these uncommonly delicious spaces. Also several listeners call in to...
2020-01-1351 min