Rich and Kevin welcome longtime political staffer and campaign strategist Jacob Orvis. From his Statesboro, GA roots to campaign war rooms across Georgia, Jake shares his journey from intern to operative and the unexpected lessons learned along the way.

The trio reflects on grits and growth: how food built campaign families, how campaigns forge lifelong relationships, and how one Google Form changed Jacob’s life—both professionally and personally. It’s part origin story, part masterclass on political mentorship, and part roast—with cameos from Cory Booker etiquette fails, HBCU food spots, and one unforgettable Dogzilla hot dog incident.

📍(00:30) - Southern Hospitality & Campaign Meals
Why feeding your people matters—and how Rich’s tradition of buying lunch helped shape Jake’s approach to mentorship.

📍(09:00) - Statesboro Stories & Georgia Southern Rejections
Jake breaks down his hometown, growing up with two chemist parents, and how Morehouse shaded Georgia Southern’s "Harvard of the South" claim.

📍(21:00) - Finding Politics at Georgia Tech
Jake opens up about switching from pre-med to politics, discovering the field through college Dems, and accidentally dressing like Tom Cruise for a Cory Booker event.

📍(25:00) - Campaign Life & Learning by Doing
From interning at the Georgia Dems to working with Rich on major campaigns, Jake shares key lessons about persistence, execution, and learning on the fly.

📍(38:00) - Finding Love in the Field
How a campaign internship form led to meeting Maria, now his wife and professional partner—and why political life is often personal too.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
Jacob Orvis gets this week’s Mamba Mentality Award for his adaptability, hustle, and commitment to getting the job done—whether it's bodying a U.S. Senator or building spreadsheets in the trenches.

In episode 25, Rich and Kevin take listeners behind the curtain of what it really takes to win a political campaign—before the race even begins. Whether you're a first-time candidate or just curious about how the political machine works, this is a masterclass in early campaign strategy. From team structure and fundraising to political infrastructure and soft launches, the Maroon Bison boys break it all down. Oh—and there’s plenty of HBCU pride, jokes, and a little smoke for overpriced bookstore merch too.

📍 00:30 - HBCU Pride and the $250 Shirt Problem
Rich and Kevin reminisce about campus life, HBCU merch, and why Jordan Brand should sponsor every Black college. They also reflect on rising enrollment and the political climate that drives students back to Black institutions.

📍 13:24 - Early Campaign Moves for 2026
With the 2026 midterms around the corner, the duo lays out the political calendar and stresses that if you're just getting started now, you're already behind. Campaigns are won long before Election Day.

📍 19:53 - Building Your Campaign Team Like a Startup
From campaign managers to finance directors, they map out the essential hires and liken campaigns to scrappy startups with high burn rates and tight timelines. It’s not about your cousin—it’s about professionals who know the game.

📍 33:50 - Fundraising, Burn Rate & Donor Geography
They dive deep into donor strategy—why in-state support matters, how to manage optics around out-of-state funding, and why Twitter doesn’t translate to real votes. Spoiler: you can’t out-message a broke campaign.

📍 40:06 - Political Infrastructure and Soft Launch Tactics
Endorsements, party politics, grassroots groundwork—this is the inside game most folks overlook. Kevin and Rich explain why soft-launching your campaign at local events and radio shows can make all the difference by Election Day.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
No Mamba Award this episode. As Kevin mentioned, not every day is a championship day—even Kobe had rebuilding seasons. But the foundation is being laid, and part two of this campaign deep dive is on the way.

In this episode of the Southern Comfort Podcast, Rich and Kevin break down the escalating redistricting drama in Texas—a political chess move with national implications. Drawing historical context from the Voting Rights Act to their personal organizing roots, the Maroon Bison duo unpacks the GOP’s latest power grab, the Democratic pushback, and what’s at stake for Black and Brown communities. From busted quorum rules to gerrymandered maps and the failure of national Democratic leadership, this is a masterclass in political realness—Southern style.

📍02:11 - The Texas Redistricting Showdown
Rich and Kevin dive into Texas Republicans' mid-decade redistricting effort—an unprecedented move to maintain House control before the 2026 elections.

📍 08:30 - Texas Dems Flee the State
To block the GOP’s map, Texas Democrats flee to blue states like Illinois and New York, denying quorum and halting the legislative process.

📍 14:18 - Where Are National Democrats?
Frustration builds as Rich and Kevin call out the absence of national Democratic leaders. While state governors like Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker show boldness, Congress remains silent and slow—despite looming threats to democracy.

📍20:38 - The Ghost of Shelby County
They reflect on the gutting of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 and its ongoing consequences.

📍 27:12 - Should Black ‘Safe’ Districts Still Exist? (27:12)
Kevin raises a tough question: Have majority-Black districts outlived their purpose?

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award

The Texas Democrats earn this week’s Mamba Mentality Award for their bold, strategic resistance. Fleeing the state to block an unjust redistricting plan shows real courage—and a deep commitment to protecting democracy, even at personal cost.