The Extra Mile Podcast
MDOT Assistant Chief Engineer – Pre-construction Colby Kimmel and Assistant State Planning Engineer Jessica Dilley

(Paul) And welcome in to another edition of The Extra Mile podcast, presented by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. I'm MDOT Deputy Director of Public Affairs Paul Katool. And as always, I'm joined by my co-host, Will Craft. He is the Director of Public Affairs here at MDOT. And listen, we took a little break from the podcast. It was a long legislative session.

I want to thank all of our guests for, uh, for coming on the show during that time. I know it's a busy, very busy time for them. The last episode we had MDOT Executive Director Brad White join the show. Go back and listen - a really great recap of the 2023 legislative session for MDOT. But we're turning the page forward. We've got two great guests from within MDOT today. We have Colby Kimmel and Jessica Dilley. Guys, can you tell us who you are, what you do with MDOT?

(Will) Yeah.

(Colby) Sure. So, like you said, I'm Colby Kimmel, and I am serving as the Assistant Chief Engineer for Pre-construction. I have a background in roadway design, um, but in my new role, I oversee roadway, bridge design, surveying, right-of-way in environmental divisions. And I’ve been doing that for about just over a year now. So, I'm slowly getting used to it and figuring out exactly what all that means.

(Will) Yeah, you got it all figured out by now, right? 12 months in -

(Colby) 100%.

(Paul) Definitely.

(Will) - no questions.

(Colby) Look, writing the manual.

(Will) I know. I know. What about you, Jessica?

(Jessica) So, I am the assistant to the State Planning Engineer, um, so I work in Planning here at MDOT. I have been in the planning sector for about 10 years. The coined term they like to call a “Plan-gineer” because I have an engineering degree, but I work in planning. I came up doing feasibility studies, and then I started in the northern part of the state and then moved over to the whole state, and now I'm over the feasibility section, our traffic data analysis and collection, and then our mapping section. I'm sure you’ll have seen some of our fabulous maps.

(Will) That's right.

(Paul) Definitely.

(Jessica) And also our Carbon Reduction Strategic Program and then our National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program.

(Will) So, wow, you guys have plenty of free time’s what I hear, huh? Nothing to do. Got all this stuff under your schedule. Well -

(Colby) Will, you may not know this, but a fun fact real quick.

(Will)Okay.

(Colby) Jessica and I not only went to the University of Mississippi together, but we also started here at MDOT on the exact same day.

(Will) Oh, really?

(Paul) Wow.

(Will) You can’t get away from each other. So, wait. All right. So knowing that, then, what was your first gig here? What was, what was getting in the door?

(Colby) My first gig? Like my first job?

(Will) Here at MDOT. Sorry, yeah. When y’all started here, what was your first?

(Colby) I was a design engineer. And my dad, who is also an engineer, -

(Will) Oh, nice.

(Colby) Yes, In northern Mississippi. I called him, and I said, “Am I supposed to know what they are talking about?” You know, I can drive on a road, but I don't know what they're talking about.

(Will) I think I asked Paul these same questions every day. What about you?

(Jessica) Um, uh, similar. So, I came in planning, um, and I sat down at this little cubicle, and I remember messaging Colby, and I was like, “So, uh, where, where do we eat?”

(Will) That's a good question because neither one of y’all are from Jackson Metro, right?

(Colby and Jessica) Correct.

(Will) Yeah. So even being in the Jackson metro, I think Jeff Altman had mentioned before when he first started, um, they kind of put you anywhere, you know, or excuse me, there were only a couple of places, and now we can kind of put you anywhere.

So, um, you know, it's just interesting that you even say that. Think about you guys moved here, came to Jackson, place you’ve never been before, um, and now we have all these positions and hirings open all across the statewide so… But we're glad you decided to come to Jackson and that you're still here, you know, running the show. So, um, I know you guys mentioned a lot of things you got going on right now, um, plenty of stuff involved with engineering and the things that are going on at MDOT, but just generally speaking, let's touch base on some things that you guys have worked a lot about, kind of from an umbrella standpoint. It touches every aspect, and that's just women in transportation. If I'm not mistaken, we've got some leadership of the, uh, of the group, right? One of you two right now?

(Colby) Yeah.

(Jessica) So, I'm the current president, and Colby is the past president. So, she was our inaugural president.

(Will) Oh, wow.

(Jessica) So the first president for WTS Mississippi.

(Will) Awesome.

(Jessica) And then I was vice president at the time, and now I'm president of it currently.

(Will) Okay, so what are you guys trying to do with that group? Well, what is, what is this mission?

(Jessica) So, Coby and I started this in 2019. Melinda McGrath was a huge piece of it to encourage us to put together this program in Mississippi. So WTS is actually been around since 1977. It stands for Women Transportation Seminar because back in 1977, women weren’t encouraged to be part of organizations or head organizations. So, the way that this group of women, the transportation sector took on that challenge was they created Women Transportation Seminar.

Since then, it's been rebranded to just WTS to keep that history, but then also to kind of move forward past that and move to a bigger picture. It's not just for women and it's, you know, it's inclusive of everybody, but it is for, intended for the promotion of women through transportation. So, that was one thing that we felt like was missing in our state. It is - there's 83 chapters, is that right?

(Colby) Mm-hmm. That's right.

(Jessica) Um, and our state did not have a chapter, so we felt like that was something that, that our state could benefit from.

(Will) Yeah, I see that they're having the international conference coming up. So it's, it's a big organization, right?

(Jessica) It's very big. Those international – um, Colby and I have had the opportunity to go to one of the international conferences, and it was, it was very eye opening. You know, there are a lot of women transportation leaders throughout our nation, and at the time, Elaine Chao was actually the Secretary of Transportation.

So, um, you know, and it's everything from ports to airports to roadways. You know, the transportation sector is much larger than even I encompassed or would think about. Um, so for here, you know, in our state, we have kind of taken on our own little like pet project for, for, for, that we feel like accommodates our state. Um, so, you know, the thing is is we would like to promote women in transportation, and I think Colby says this very well. You know, we're not asking for any special privileges for females.

(Will) Yeah, sure. Right.

(Colby) That's been very important to us since the first day, was that we want to make sure that this doesn't look like we deserve, or feel like we deserve, something different just because we're women.

(Will) Sure.

(Jessica) But at the same time, you know, like, we want a chance to be able to connect. We want a chance to be able to have an opportunity for a seat at the table. Not even asking for a seat at the table, just an opportunity to be able to have that as even, you know, within our goal or, or something to look towards. Um-

(Colby) And on that, if you don't mind. Sorry to interrupt.

(Jessica) Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.

(Colby) I think, you know, one of the ways that we've identified that we can help with that, in our state, is when we do get that seat at the table, and we do get the opportunity to be heard or there's that promotion up, that we have been, um, providing women with the tools and the resources and the confidence to be successful when they do get that chance.

(Will) Absolutely. So that's some of the things y’all do?

(Colby) Some of the things we try to focus on, and then, um, our other big program that I know Jessica and I are so proud of is our outreach program where we have partnered with elementary schools in the local Jackson area. We've done book drives, and then we have a monthly program at the Stew Pot Afterschool Center, um, every month during the school year, and we provide all the materials, the instructions and hands-on guidance to do a STEM activity.

Um, and then, last year, we had a stem day at the AG Museum, and then this year we'll be volunteering at the Stew Pot, um, summer camp, where they have a STEM, a whole week that’s dedicated to STEM.

(Will) Wow.

(Colby) So…

(Will) Okay.

(Colby) That's one of those things that, um, you know, started as an idea during COVID. We were like, “we should do a book drive or something to help with all these students that are our home.” And we thought, “well, you know, maybe we'll get 100 books or so.” And we ended up collecting over 4000 books.

(Will) Oh, my goodness.

(Paul) Wow.

(Colby) And we were able to distribute those to kids in the, uh, metro area. And it really just took off from there, and once we saw the interest and how appreciative people were - I mean, there were people lining up at the drop-offs or the pick-ups, where they would get their packets and stuff, and they were like, “Oh, no, we don't need a packet. We're just here to get books.”

(Will) That's awesome.

(Colby) And so we were like, That's kind of where the idea was born that we really wanted to invest, um, into our community and into STEM because that's, you know, if we can get to these children early, then, you know, we're helping our industry and hopefully helping students in our community.

(Paul) That's, that's awesome, and just from following y'all on social media, I know you guys do a lot of good work. Can you tell us the social media handle if you remember it offhand? It’s WTSMississippi, I believe.

(Colby) Yeah, that’s correct.

(Paul) That's it? Well -

(Will) Alright, yeah.

(Colby) And we're on LinkedIn and Facebook.

(Paul) LinkedIn and Facebook. We’ll follow along. So, let's back up just a little bit. I know, Colby, you said that your dad was an engineer, but so can you both tell us kind of why you decided to become engineers?

(Colby) Well, this is another thing we have in common. Both of our fathers are engineers.

(Paul) Oh, wow.

(Colby) Um –

(Will) I didn’t know that either.

(Colby) Mm-hmm. I'll answer a little bit for Jessica, so she'll have to just dance around what I don't say, but –

(Will) Yeah.

(Colby) She's from Texas, and I am from North Mississippi, but my grandfather started in an engineering firm in 1967, and so he's a civil. My dad's a civil. And I didn't really have a path of “I am going to be an engineer when I grow up.” I mean, because my dad is very, um, like, county engineer, dirt roads… like, I was like, “I am not interested in riding around, you know, and looking at dirt all day. That is probably not going to be my career of choice.” Um, but as I got older, and, um, was actually in college before I made the decision, and –

(Will) Oh, wow.

(Colby) - I realized that, you know, an engineering background is, um, for a lot more than just riding around, and you know –

(Will) Sure.

(Colby) - the outdoor part, which is… which I like to be outdoors - don't get me wrong –

(Will) No, no.

(Colby) - but I also am a big fan of the air conditioning in August.

(Will) That’s right.

(Paul) Same.

(Colby) So…

(Jessica) The air conditioning. That’s what I tell people all the time, there is a place for everybody, and mine is in my AC’ed office.

(Will) Absolutely. We can, we can remember and appreciate the past, but also love the modern future and that air conditioning.

(Paul) Great AC here at MDOT.

(Colby) Yes.

(Jessica) Yes.

(Paul) If you're looking for AC.

(Will) Well, and one thing - just touching on the, before I totally forget the WTS, all the things, the activities and whatnot you were just mentioning. Is that kind of like, on the web, on the website? Can people go – uh, the different STEM, the annual things?

(Colby) Yes, we have the events posted on the website. It's on all of our social media. You can also email us at WTSMississippi@gmail.com, and we can send you the information. You can join our mailing list. Um, so...

(Will) Okay.

(Jessica) And there's also, just to like, uh, piggyback on that a little bit, um, on our website, during - as Colby had mentioned, everything kind of stemmed up during COVID - and so, you know, initially there wasn't really a way to get these STEM activities out to the students, other than just through packets. So, we partnered with, um, some of our partners, and we, they put together these STEM videos. So, if you go to our website, there is a link to all the STEM videos, and you can download the information about it. It's like a form - you know, not really formal lesson - but kind of a lesson that goes through -

(Colby) A “How-To”. It’s a step-by-step how-to.

(Jessica) And then, it tries to link it back to something within the state. So, you know, kids can look at it, put it together and then actually see it in place.

(Will) That's awesome.

(Colby) Like an example of that is when we did the gumdrop bridges. They took the Greenville Bridge, and they do whatever you do to make it look like a coloring sheet. So, within the packet is a coloring sheet of the Greenville Bridge that goes along with the, um, gumdrop bridge -

(Will) I'm gonna need –

(Colby) – packet.

(Will) – I’m gonna need to read a copy of this so I can work it out on my own. It may be just a “color by numbers,” but, you know, we all have our challenges.

(Colby) But it's a lot of fun when it's raining, and your kids need an activity.

(Jessica) Yeah, there's, my favorite is the foil boats. So if you get on there –

(Will) I have seen that one.

(Jessica) It's really fun.

(Will) So this is just another, another, uh, engineering, a STEM, a course where you make the boat out of the foil.

(Colby) Mm-hmm.
(Will) Yeah.

(Jessica) And try to see like, I try to compete with my kids to see who can, it can hold the most.

(Colby) Like you get a little, a little, well, we have the little G.I. Joe and stuff. Y’all probably don't, but

(Will) I might.

(Colby) Um, still from childhood?

(Will) That's right.

(Colby) Still hanging on?

(Will) That's right.

(Paul) Yeah.

(Will) So, I mean, to put a cap on that right there. So, uh, all of the great things that we're talking about with women in transportation, but throw in the top of it there, check out the website. Sounds like they've got all kind of great tools and things to get involved with your kids, um, or show them outside, give them some videos. You know, there's some great stuff. Some of that's really interesting. Cool. Thank y’all for mentioning all that, for sure.

(Paul) Absolutely.

(Will) Um, I, so, one thing you just mentioned, uh, with the, with about being a, uh, the children of engineers. So, uh, Colby was telling us a little bit about her story. What’d your dad say when you decided to get into engineering?

(Jessica) So, I'm not going to tell you exactly what he said, but he basically said “you can do engineering or you can do engineering.”

(Will) Ah, nice! So he was -

(Paul) Wow.

(Will) – very encouraging.

(Paul) Good.

(Will) Yeah, he was encouraging.

(Jessica) No I, my dad, my parents were very supportive of whatever I decide to do. They just, um, as my dad is a mechanical engineer, what they actually call a pipe stress engineer.

(Will) Okay.

(Jessica) And, um, that really wasn't what I had in mind for what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

(Will) Do you have to have a parent that was an engineer to go into engineering?

(Jessica) Absolutely not.

(Will) No? Okay. Just curious.

(Jessica) But what I, I wanted to do, I, I did like math, and I did like problem solving, and I did like the idea of engineering, but I wanted to… I wanted my career to be in something that would improve the, our quality of life, that would give back to the community, but also be in like a collaborative way. So, not just siloed, but also, you know, be able to work as part of a team and be able to collaborate and create something.

And so, whenever I was introduced to civil engineering, that kind of checked all those boxes. It kind of gave the opportunity to - you know, you see the infrastructure that we use on a daily basis, from our drinking water to our road system to our buildings. You know, all that falls in civil engineering and all of that works to improve our quality of life.

Also, you know, whenever we're doing projects like that, it takes a team effort. It's not just one person. There's lots of parts and pieces and people involved and, um, collaboration that's required to get those things done, and that's part of my job that I enjoy the most is, is doing that as part of a team.

(Will) That’s awesome.

(Paul) Love that, love that. So, you kind of, y’all have kind of talked about it a little bit, but – so, you're talking to a young girl, young, young woman, and she says, “I maybe want to be an engineer.” What would, what's the elevator speech? What would you tell her?

(Colby) Well, I want to circle back to one thing Will just said that I think, it, it actually got mentioned the other day to me, and I never really thought about it - and you may have been there because I don't remember where it was - but somebody said that so many students, um, that are in engineering are engineers because one of their parents was an engineer, and that if you don't, if you aren't exposed to that at a younger age, it's not a career that, women specifically, but that a lot of people think about.

Um, and like Jessica said, it is a very rewarding career and that kind of ties back to the WTS. It ties to a lot of things that MDOT does as a whole, I think, as far as recruiting, is that, um, it is, like, it's very rewarding, and you get to see it. Like, for example, this morning I had a little fender bender.

(Paul) Uh-oh.

(Colby) Um, very minor. Very minor. Um, and no, I did not have my phone in my hand. My child had it, and –

(Will) There you go.

(Colby) - therein lies the problem. But, you know, where we had the opportunity to pull over, I was able to tell my children, “Oh, look, I was the project manager on this right here.”

(Will) Oh, nice!

(Colby) “Right here where we are, um, on the side. Look at these nice wide shoulders that we are able to pull off on.”

(Will) It is a great example that worked out right there.

(Paul) It is.

(Colby) So that's all, you know, that was really cool that, um, even though we were detained, and they were late for school and all those things, um, that I was able to just, you know, show them like, you know, I was part of this, and that was really cool. Um -

(Will) That was a great point.

(Paul) That is cool.

(Will) That is exactly kind of what I was, you know, looking for. I think it is one of those things where you see a lot of women that maybe are in the industry and you see that now, um, but probably did have some type of parent or, you know, relative or something that... But, you know, you don't have to have that connection.

You can stumble upon this career just like me and Paul stumbled into ours. Um, we don't have any parents or, or I don't, any relatives that are in the communications world, but similarly jump out there in engineering. Just because somebody’s not doing it or you don't see a bunch of maybe ladies in engineering today, doesn't mean they can't be tomorrow, right?

(Colby) Well, right. And I'm not even like a traditional, um, engineering candidate. Like, I got through calculus, but that is, that is it.

(Will) Sure.

(Colby) I got through it. I spent more semesters in Cal II, than I would care to admit. Um, so, I, it wasn't like everybody’s like, “oh, let's look at, you’re, look at your ACT scores and your math grades. You are, you know, you should be an engineer.”

Um, so even, it's not just that your parents were or were not. Um, and you do, um. There is a lot of math. I'm not saying –

(Will) Sure, sure.

(Colby) - that there's not, but you can get through it. You don’t, you know, to me, what I do is like putting a puzzle together. And because, and all the different parts are the community you're in, your design constraints, your budget, your timeline, um, things like that, and figuring out how it's all going to work together, um, and how you can be, you know, at least at MDOT, how you're, um, efficiently using the taxpayers money to provide economic benefit, safety, all those types of things.

So, it's a lot more than what you traditionally think about when you think about an engineer. I mean, yes, I know that I am a nerd. I don't admit that lightly, but I know that I am. But it is, um, it's a lot broader and it's a lot of, more, it's a lot more different personalities than you might typically think of.

(Will) Sure.

And I think as more like, women are being exposed to engineering, there's more opportunities for mentors –

(Will) Oh, yeah.

(Jessica) - and more opportunities for leadership that you can look to and help kind of navigate some of those nuances when you start than there has been in the past. So, I think that that’s, you know, it just sometimes takes some time for a lot of that to develop. But that's, you know, back to what we're hoping WTS is able to help bring to the industry.

(Will) That's awesome.

(Colby) At lunch today, I heard a story, and they weren't even talking about engineering or anything like that, but I thought it was really neat. And this guy was, um, talking about golf and asking me and the other lady if we, that I was at lunch with, if we played golf. And she said, “well, you know, I get to be on a lot of golf teams because I get to go from the ladies’ tee, which is so far up, you know, as compared to the, uh, other tees.”

And the gentleman said, “well, you know that” - he started talking about diversity in teams and teams at work and how you need diversity and the benefits of that. And I thought, “well, I've never really thought…” You know, we talk about diversity a lot and the importance of it and having different opinions and different strengths and things like that.

But I thought that was a neat analogy, and I've never really thought about it that, you know, diversity is important because different people have different strengths and, um, -

(Will) Absolutely.

(Colby) - different advantages that, um, help make a team more cohesive and bring out the best ideas and get the best product.

(Will) And, I mean, I guess -

(Paul) True.

(Will) – that would be a parallel for the industry, right? Getting diversity in the industry and getting some, some more, uh, diverse in females, males and all the above in there. Diversifying it, uh, entirely for sure. Yeah, that's a great tie in.

(Colby) I thought it was.

(Will) It is.

(Colby) And I'd never considered it like that before.

(Paul) Yeah.

(Will) And, I mean, to be honest, we were talking about, you know, giving the elevator speech. I mean, I think you guys just did it, uh, for more than just women, right? Just anybody - talking about the abundance of diversity between employees and work responsibilities and duties and things that you're actually doing here. What, what about you? Did, were you surprised kind of by the breadth of things that went on in engineering?

(Jessica) Um, so, being on like, the planning side is definitely the front end, and kind of the seeing it, um, we're looking very far into the future. We're looking like 25, 30 years into the future, which seems crazy because you're like, we're talking 2050 numbers at this time.

(Will) Wow.

(Paul) That's awe – it’s amazing.

(Jessica) I’m like, I’m gonna be close to retirement.

(Colby) We hope so.

(Jessica) Yeah, so, you know, but it is great to also like, see that project go, go all the way through. And so, that, that's really nice to see like, kind of how those pieces fall into place as it's like, you know, falling through the path to construction and where people enter in at certain parts of the project. And it just kind of how, it like snowballs, and it actually gets to be put into place.

And I feel like everyone here at MDOT plays such a large role in everything that we do and is, you know, so important in how we meet our deliverables that it's just, it's great to see that interaction from beginning to end.

(Will) Absolutely.

(Paul) Absolutely. So, listen, we've, we always have some fun questions on the show. We got one more. So, another elevator speech. Uh, we're all big MDOT, MDOT people here, and I know we all love working at MDOT. So, why work at MDOT?

(Jessica) So, I will say kind of all the things that, that I previously said about, you know, the collaboration and teamwork and kind of getting to work on projects holistically. But then also, um, you know, MDOT’s always been great to me in regards to like support. It's always been very supportive of me and my career, and I feel like it is supportive of people, you know, everyone in their careers and in making sure that they have the tools and resources to be successful. And I think that that's really important because, you know, that, that is what we need to be able to do our jobs. But to do our jobs well, but then also to be happy in doing our jobs –

(Will) Sure.

(Jessica) – um, and then I also like that we do, you know, collaborate well and work well together as a team. The environment just lends itself well to have that open communication and to be able to, to work together. So…

(Colby) I totally agree.

(Paul) It's good.

(Colby) And, I mean, the other part to me, on top of all that, which is so important and so true, is the support of our families, and, you know, being there when like, I’m going to my sister's graduation Wednesday, or the kids have a play or whatever. There's always tremendous support for that.

And then, um, I mean, to me, the most exciting and best thing about MDOT right now is that, um, the industry is just kind of breaking open, at least here in Mississippi, and we are getting the opportunity to work on projects and types of things that we have not been able to do in at least the last decade. And that has been due to the tremendous efforts by Senator Wicker for the reauthorization of Federal Highway, um, to our state legislators for their huge investment in our infrastructure here in the state.

Um, Jessica and I got to work really closely together during this legislative session to work on putting together a spreadsheet and maps and stuff to show them what we can do, what we have ready or almost ready to go to construction and things that they would actually be able to see. And, um, we were, I think anyway, that we were very successful, um -

(Will) I would agree.

(Colby) – thanks to, you know, the commissioners and Director White’s leadership and we, you know, that is – I’m not gonna lie, this is where I get to be a real nerd because that's really cool that –

(Will) Yeah, no, you’re right.

(Paul) Definitely.

(Colby) – you know, we worked on it so hard, and then they said, yes.

(Will) Yeah.

(Colby) You know, and now we are, you know, working very, very hard to make sure that, you know, we honor our commitment to get these projects on the street and, um, seeing just the MDOT team come together, you know, recognize the goal, commit to the goal, and seeing all the things, the way they're thinking outside the box and coming together and communicating, it's been really neat, and I'm very excited about the next year or two, as we get these projects to construction.

So, we are very grateful for this opportunity, and it's, I mean, like I said, we've been doing maintenance and repairs and things like that –

(Will) Right.

(Colby) – since we've been here.

(Jessica) And I think like, to your point, you know, whenever you get into engineering, I, I know at least, I would think most engineers like, they want this big project.

(Will) Sure. Right.

(Jessica) You want that. You want to say like, you were part of the Greenville bypass –

(Will) Right.

(Jessica) – or you were part of the like, Mississippi River crossing or, or something to have in, in your boxes during your career. And this is the time that I feel like that is really, like, opening up –

(Will) That’s awesome.

(Jessica) – and that is the time to be a part of these large projects statewide, and, you know, something that we've looked forward to, you know, for ten years, so…

(Will) That is really neat.

(Paul) It is neat. Those are some great sound bites. So come work with us at MDOT, come work on some really cool projects coming up.

(Will) That's right. That's right. And then we'd like to send you guys home with the, the most important question. Absolutely.

(Paul) Definitely.

(Will) Of course, you know, transportation podcast, but we're here to talk about food. Let's be honest. Um, well, you know, you guys spend a lot of time traveling around, uh, doing things in the, in the Jackson metro. Sure. But maybe even far and wide. Uh, maybe a home place. Is there a, is there a spot? Is there a stop in, a burger joint somewhere that, you know, maybe you don't get to go by very often, but any time you're in the neck of the woods, you got to go there. Where's the hole in the wall?

(Jessica) So, I know, for me, we went to Ole Miss –

(Will) Okay.

(Jessica) – and, you know, that's where my heart lies, and whenever –

(Colby) Hotty Toddy.

(Jessica) Hotty Toddy.

(Paul) Hotty toddy, indeed.

(Will) We’ll allow it.

(Jessica) Um, and, you know, whenever I'm in Oxford, I always go to The Bottle Tree.

(Will) Bottle Tree?

(Jessica) Yes. Is on the square. It’s this little deli/coffee shop. They make their own bread. They get there at, like, crazy, like 2:00 in the morning and just start baking. So, all the bread that they serve is fresh - they made. They have this sandwich called the Van Buren.

(Will) Okay.

(Jessica) So good. It is, um, on sourdough bread. It's a turkey sandwich, but then they have this like, I don’t, this jelly they put on it.

(Will) I’m hungry.

(Jessica) It’s just, it's delicious.

(Will) Oh, yeah.

(Jessica) And then I always get it with a cup of soul, which is this, this giant cup of coffee, and it has chocolate milk in it, and it's just…

(Will) That sounds good too.

(Paul) Oh, yeah.

(Colby) Sounds like I need to bring you back one Wednesday when I go to Oxford.

(Jessica) Yes.

(Paul) Hint hint.

(Will) The Bottle Tree. Is that what it’s named?

(Paul) Bottle Tree Bakery. Oh, yeah.

(Jessica) I've tried to remake it so many times.

(Paul) Definitely.

(Jessica) It’s just not the same.

(Colby) Well, if you can’t remake it, then it must, can’t be done.

(Will) Paul’s Keeping them in business, he said. Let’s hold –

(Paul) For sure.

(Will) – the fort down. What about you, Colby?

(Colby) I'm not as much fun. Um –

(Will) It's okay.

(Colby) The noodles at Gia in Biloxi.

(Will) Okay.

(Colby) That is, I mean -

(Paul) That's a good one.

(Colby) – they -

(Will) The Noodles?

(Colby) No, it's called Gia –

(Will) Oh! I thought you…

(Colby) but it's, they make this –

(Will) I thought the restaurant was The Noodles. Okay, sorry. Here we go.

(Colby) I mean, it could be, but –

(Will) Fair enough.

(Colby) – it’s, um, they have this, like, stir fry, wok fries, what - I don't know. I'm not a –

(Will) It's called Gia?

(Colby) That's the name of the restaurant, and it is this chicken, stir-fried noodle something. I don't know, but it is delicious, and it's meant to be for two people, and I get one, and I eat the whole thing, and then I’m miserable.

(Will) See, most of the time people are like, fried food, you know, “where’s the catfish at?” And then y’all have, you know, these, uh, wonderful, healthier options, so…

(Colby) Oh, no. This is not healthy. There is, I'm certain that there is some MSG in this.

(Will) Okay. We’re alright with that.

(Colby) Well, my answer was gonna be my mother’s spaghetti, but then you said like, hole in the wall, in the state, and I was like, well, I guess I need to come up with –

(Will) Your mother’s spaghetti. That's fair. We want, we want, we want places that we can actually go enjoy the dish afterwards.

(Paul) That’s for sure.

(Colby) Well, I adapted my answer, but next time she's here, I'll bring you some leftovers.

(Will) There we go. We got a podcast for mother’s spaghetti on the books.

(Paul) There you go. I think we might be on the coast soon, so we have to hit that up.

(Colby) It's not open on Mondays.

(Paul) Not open on Mondays. Heard that.

(Will) Good to know.

(Paul) Okay. Okay.

(Jessica) Noted.

(Paul) Well, lots of great conversation today, lots of, uh, fantastic information. Colby and Jessica, thank you so much for joining us.

(Colby and Jessica) Thank you for having us.

(Paul) No doubt. So, let's go ahead and wrap things up. We want to thank our listeners out there for tuning in to the Extra Mile podcast. You can listen and watch episodes by visiting GoMDOT.com/theextramile. Follow us on social media - @MississippiDOT is the handle. We want to thank our producer, Katey Hornsby, our editor Drew Hall. They do a lot of work behind the scenes. And remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.