In the United States, one in nine households is without a checking account. Black and Hispanic households represent 64% of the country’s unbanked and 47% of its underbanked. Last year, Americans paid an estimated $33.4 billion in overdraft fees. There is a direct relationship between inequality and the lack of a bank account. Sheena Allen, who in 2019 launched CapWay, a neobank and fintech startup aimed at the unbanked and underbanked, witnessed this a lot in her hometown of Terry, Mississippi. With only one bank in the small community of about 1,000 residents, Terry is considered a bank desert. Per capita, Mississippi leads the nation in the unbanked. Knowledge, she said, is the key to change. “My grandmother had this saying that it is hard to blame people for what they don’t know.”

Representation matters, especially when it comes to Mississippi politics. Jarvis Dortch, former Mississippi state representative for the 66th district and current executive director for the ACLU stops by the YG&E podcast to share some of the legislation and politics that are affecting every day citizens in Mississippi, what we can do to have better representation that's in tune with our needs and how the ACLU advocates for Mississippians.

In the U.S., the CDC reported that Black women experience maternal mortality two to three times higher than that of white women. The estimated national maternal mortality rate in the United States is about 17 per 100,000 live births––but it is about 43 per 100,000 live births for Black women. In this week's podcast, Maternal Health and the Black Woman: Myths, Facts and Advocacy, Dr. Nakeitra Burse gets straight to the facts. Dr. Burse, the owner and principal strategist for Six Dimensions, LLC and executive produce of Laboring With Hope, a short documentary that addresses that national maternal mortality crisis among Black women, joins host Merc B to talk about why Black women are more likely to die during childbirth than any other race.

Medicinal marijuana, also known as cannabis, is now legal in Mississippi. This emerging industry is creating a lot of new opportunities for the state and its citizens. Melvin C. Robinson, III, executive director, for the MS Cannabis Trade Association, stopped by the YG&E Podcast to drop some knowledge about this BILLION dollar industry, minority participation and overcoming barriers to entry.

Dr. Brian C.B. Barnes is the co-founder and CEO of TandemED, a nonprofit that recently invested $300,000 in Jackson nonprofits and organizations. TandemED works alongside the Black community to reclaim our stories and elevate reinvestment. TandemEd’s Own Your Story (OYS) initiative collectively constructs forward-facing media campaigns to capture knowledge, celebrate named community leaders, and protect Black culture.

Rita Brent is funny. She's really funny and when you get her and host Merc B together... it makes for a hilarious podcast. Rita stopped by the YG&E Podcast to talk about writing for the Emmy Awards, touring with Cedric the Entertainer, hoochie daddy shorts and headlining her own tour, Raised In The Sipp.

He's got next! Akeem Ali is the next big Hip Hop star coming out of Mississippi. In our very first episode, he chops it up with host Merc B about how he got his start and what's next.