Ep 343| Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area
Thu Jan 29 2026
In this episode of Brown Water Banter, Jared Seymour and Joey Cates sit down with Chelsea Prince and RoxAnn Wicker from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area to pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked—but impactful—programs on the Coast 🌊
What starts as a conversation about heritage quickly turns into a deep dive on Gulf Coast history, culture, music, architecture, food, nature-based tourism, and the people quietly preserving it all for future generations.
Chelsea and RoxAnn break down what the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area actually does inside the Department of Marine Resources, how Mississippi ended up with THREE National Heritage Areas, and why our stretch of coastline has played a nationally significant role in American history.
Along the way, they share stories about:
🏛️ Preserving Gulf Coast culture and history across all six coastal counties
📖 The Embrace magazine and how it documents untold Coast stories
🎸 Elvis Presley’s time on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (including rarely known local connections)
🗺️ Heritage sites, passports, and self-guided cultural tours
🚣 Nature-based tourism, Blueways, and the Outpost Program
💰 2026 Heritage Community Grants ranging from $5,000–$75,000
🧠 How locals can contribute stories, photos, and ideas—no writing experience required
This episode is a reminder that Mississippi’s story is bigger, deeper, and more interesting than most people realize—and it’s happening right in our backyard.
If you care about the Coast, its people, and the history that shaped it, this one’s a must-listen.
🎧 Follow the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area online to stay up to date
📍 Visit heritage sites, grab an Embrace magazine, and explore the Coast with new eyes
📬 Got a story to tell? They want to hear it
Brown Water Banter is all about celebrating the Gulf Coast—and this episode is Coast pride, start to finish.
Watch the full episode here ⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/live/vPk9fGTz7-o?si=bYW1vWQc_n5t0ozY
Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support!
Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here.
Download our free app:
Apple: Here
Android: Here
All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter
More
In this episode of Brown Water Banter, Jared Seymour and Joey Cates sit down with Chelsea Prince and RoxAnn Wicker from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area to pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked—but impactful—programs on the Coast 🌊 What starts as a conversation about heritage quickly turns into a deep dive on Gulf Coast history, culture, music, architecture, food, nature-based tourism, and the people quietly preserving it all for future generations. Chelsea and RoxAnn break down what the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area actually does inside the Department of Marine Resources, how Mississippi ended up with THREE National Heritage Areas, and why our stretch of coastline has played a nationally significant role in American history. Along the way, they share stories about: 🏛️ Preserving Gulf Coast culture and history across all six coastal counties 📖 The Embrace magazine and how it documents untold Coast stories 🎸 Elvis Presley’s time on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (including rarely known local connections) 🗺️ Heritage sites, passports, and self-guided cultural tours 🚣 Nature-based tourism, Blueways, and the Outpost Program 💰 2026 Heritage Community Grants ranging from $5,000–$75,000 🧠 How locals can contribute stories, photos, and ideas—no writing experience required This episode is a reminder that Mississippi’s story is bigger, deeper, and more interesting than most people realize—and it’s happening right in our backyard. If you care about the Coast, its people, and the history that shaped it, this one’s a must-listen. 🎧 Follow the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area online to stay up to date 📍 Visit heritage sites, grab an Embrace magazine, and explore the Coast with new eyes 📬 Got a story to tell? They want to hear it Brown Water Banter is all about celebrating the Gulf Coast—and this episode is Coast pride, start to finish. Watch the full episode here ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/live/vPk9fGTz7-o?si=bYW1vWQc_n5t0ozY Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter