Make It Make Sense, Alabama

Murder Creek Media
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Make It Make Sense, Alabama is a podcast focused on accountability, justice, and civic understanding across the state of Alabama. Hosted by two Alabama residents who believe people deserve clear, accurate information, the show breaks down how systems actually work. From state and local decisions to education, public institutions, unsolved cases, and citizen rights. We look at what’s happening, who is responsible, and why it matters.

  1. E14 The Bills That Could Push Kids Out of School: Talking HB7 and SB31 with James Gallini

    1D AGO

    E14 The Bills That Could Push Kids Out of School: Talking HB7 and SB31 with James Gallini

    In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Whitney Scapecchi and Neeli Faulkner sit down with special education and civil rights attorney James Gallini of The Gallini Group to unpack two bills moving through the Alabama Legislature: HB7, which has already passed the House, and its Senate companion, SB31. Both bills expand the legal definition of what qualifies as a “terrorist threat,” increase penalties, and require school principals to involve law enforcement when certain conduct is alleged. They also create a minimum one-year suspension tied to a charge, not necessarily a conviction.  Gallini explains how broad language like “reasonable perception” can shift discipline decisions inside schools, and why students with disabilities, including those with IEPs and 504 plans, may be especially vulnerable to misinterpretation and over-punishment. He walks through how school discipline and juvenile court proceedings can stack consequences, and why existing special education safeguards do not undo the damage caused by arrest, stigma, or time out of the classroom. We also examine the larger system behind this conversation. The shortage of appropriate placements for students with complex needs. The pressure on schools without regional support programs. And the policy choices that shape how districts respond when behaviors escalate. If you are a parent, educator, or advocate in Alabama, this is a conversation worth hearing. Make It Make Sense, Alabama is produced by Murder Creek Media. To learn more about our work or listen to other episodes, visit murdercreekmedia.com.

    1h 10m
  2. E13 Candidate Conversations: Chad “Chig” Martin on His Citizens-Driven Run for Alabama Governor

    1D AGO

    E13 Candidate Conversations: Chad “Chig” Martin on His Citizens-Driven Run for Alabama Governor

    In this Candidate Conversations episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, hosts Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Chad “Chig” Martin, a Democratic candidate for governor. Chig shares his path from a blue-collar upbringing in Enterprise to building Thunder Industrial Supply, then launching Alabama’s first hemp dispensary, Honeysuckle Hemp Company. He lays out what he calls a citizens-driven movement, powered by small-dollar donations and volunteers. He argues Alabama needs less party-line politics and more problem solving that puts everyday people first. The conversation covers big-picture priorities and specific proposals. Economic development and workforce training. Healthcare access and funding ideas, including a gambling-based revenue concept aimed at lowering costs and supporting rural hospitals. Prison reform through trade programs, parole and recidivism, and concerns about contracting and accountability inside the correctional system. Environmental protections, land use, and local pushback on major industrial projects, including carbon pipeline storage plans. Plus the political reality of campaign finance, media influence, and why voters across the state are paying closer attention than they used to. This episode is part of our ongoing Candidate Conversations series, where we give voters space to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. It contains personal opinions and perspectives shared by our guest. Statements made during this conversation reflect the views of the speaker and have not been independently verified by Make It Make Sense, Alabama or Murder Creek Media. We are not endorsing any candidate or position. This interview is presented so listeners can hear directly from the guest and are encouraged to consult primary sources, public records, and multiple viewpoints when forming their own conclusions. Make It Make Sense, Alabama is produced by Murder Creek Media. To learn more about our work or listen to other episodes, visit murdercreekmedia.com.

    1 hr

  3. 1D AGO

    E12 Candidate Conversations: Austin Sidwell on "America First" Priorities and His Run for Alabama's 1st Congressional District

    In this Candidate Conversations episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Austin Sidwell, an America First Republican candidate running for Congress in Alabama’s First Congressional District. Sidwell is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and served as a Major in the United States Air Force, where he trained as an HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue pilot and deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He also holds a law degree from Faulkner University and an MBA from Liberty University. He says he is running as a non career politician focused on restoring accountability, fiscal discipline, and conservative leadership in Washington. The conversation moves from the big picture to what South Alabama is feeling right now including a rising cost of living, wage pressure on small businesses, distrust in institutions, and the gap between citizens and the systems meant to serve them. Sidwell shares how he views “the establishment,” why he supports term limits, and what he would prioritize around economic freedom, energy independence, and national security. Neeli and Whitney also press into topics voters are actively debating. His alignment with President Trump, where he disagrees, congressional stock trading and transparency, immigration enforcement and humanity, and how he thinks about the tradeoffs between security and personal freedoms. They close with what he wants voters to remember most: that he is running to serve South Alabama, and wants to stay accessible to constituents if elected. This episode is part of our ongoing Candidate Conversations series, where we give voters space to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. It contains personal opinions and perspectives shared by our guest. Statements made during this conversation reflect the views of the speaker and have not been independently verified by Make It Make Sense, Alabama or Murder Creek Media. We are not endorsing any candidate or position. Listeners are encouraged to consult primary sources, public records, and multiple viewpoints when forming their own conclusions.

    1h 24m

  4. 5D AGO

    E11 Candidate Conversations: Jamel Jermaine Brown on Controversy, Authenticity, and His Pitch to Alabama Voters

    In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with JaMel Jermaine Brown. He is a Montgomery based pastor, community activist, and Democratic candidate for Alabama governor in 2026. Brown is also the pastor of House of Chosen. He founded the JaMel J. Brown Foundation and hosts The JaMel Brown Show. Brown describes himself as a conservative Democrat, or what he also calls an independent Democrat. He argues for a blend of labor and economic reforms alongside socially conservative positions. We talk through his core priorities, including fully legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, establishing a lottery and expanding gambling, a 32 hour work week, criminal justice reform focused on nonviolent offenses and sentencing, and a public safety model that supports law enforcement while demanding stronger training, mental health resources, and accountability. We also discuss one of the most talked about parts of Brown’s public persona. His social media presence is extremely active, and it can draw strong reactions. In this conversation, he explains why he believes authenticity matters more than fitting the traditional expectations of how a candidate “should” look or sound. This episode is part of our ongoing Candidate Conversations series, where we give voters space to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. It contains personal opinions and perspectives shared by our guest. Statements made during this conversation reflect the views of the speaker and have not been independently verified by Make It Make Sense, Alabama or Murder Creek Media. We are not endorsing any candidate or position. This interview is presented so listeners can hear directly from the guest and are encouraged to consult primary sources, public records, and multiple viewpoints when forming their own conclusions. Make It Make Sense, Alabama is produced by Murder Creek Media. To learn more about our work or listen to other episodes, visit murdercreekmedia.com.

    51 min

  5. 5D AGO

    E10 Vets to Cowboys: How C-4 Cattle Company Is Revitalizing Alabama’s Agriculture Industry One Veteran at a Time

    In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Jeremy and Heather Clark, the husband and wife team behind C.4 Cattle Company and Vets to Cowboys in Grand Bay, Alabama. What started as a way to feed their special needs son clean, tolerable food grew into a working cattle operation. It also grew into a nonprofit mission. Vets to Cowboys focuses on bridging a real gap in Alabama agriculture. An older generation of farmers is aging out, too many family farms are disappearing, and first generation landowners often have no clear path to learn the basics safely and sustainably. Jeremy, a retired Army veteran, and Heather, with a background in healthcare and animal husbandry, explain what mentorship looks like in practice. They walk through the “blueprint” they wish they had. Soil studies before cattle. Fence and handling systems before buying animals. Rotational grazing, local networks, and why organizations like the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association matter even for people who do not own cattle yet. This conversation is about more than cattle. It’s about food, land, workforce, veteran transition, and what it takes to keep Alabama’s country roots alive while helping people build something real. Make It Make Sense, Alabama is produced by Murder Creek Media. To learn more about our work or listen to other episodes, visit murdercreekmedia.com.

    51 min

  6. 5D AGO

    E09 Candidate Conversations: Jodie Minor on Rural Hospitals, Public Schools, and Who Alabama Government Really Serves

    In this Candidate Conversations episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Jodie Minor, a Carrollton native, retired U.S. Army officer, and candidate for Alabama State Senate District 21. Jodie shares the personal losses that shaped him, including the murder of his father when he was a child, and how those experiences pushed him toward public service. He walks through his career path from Army intelligence to becoming an officer, two combat tours in Iraq, and his time on Capitol Hill as an Army Congressional Fellow. He also discusses serving as Human Capital Director at the White House National Security Council under both the Biden and Trump administrations, and why he chose to step away in early 2025 to return home and focus on Alabama communities. The conversation digs into what Jodie calls the difference between “audio and video” in government: what’s said publicly versus what policy actually does. Together, they unpack school choice and public education funding, the closure of Pickens County Medical Center during the 2020 pandemic and what it has meant for rural families, and why hospital access is tied to economic survival in small counties. They also connect the dots between rising utility costs, PAC influence, and the push to change the Alabama Public Service Commission from an elected body to an appointed one. Neeli and Whitney keep it grounded in how these decisions hit real families, from monthly bills to poverty being criminalized. This episode is part of our ongoing Candidate Conversations series, where we give voters space to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. It contains personal opinions and perspectives shared by our guest. Statements made during this conversation reflect the views of the speaker and have not been independently verified by Make It Make Sense, Alabama or Murder Creek Media. We are not endorsing any candidate or position. This interview is presented so listeners can hear directly from the guest and are encouraged to consult primary sources, public records, and multiple viewpoints when forming their own conclusions. Make It Make Sense, Alabama is produced by Murder Creek Media. To learn more about our work or listen to other episodes, visit murdercreekmedia.com.

    1h 5m

  7. FEB 12

    E08 Candidate Conversations: Kaycee Cavender on Health Freedom, Education, and Running for Alabama House District 40

    In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner sits down with Kaycee Cavender, Republican candidate for Alabama House District 40, which covers Cleburne County and parts of Calhoun County. Cavender is a small business owner, homeschool mother of four, and longtime grassroots advocate. In this conversation, she discusses her background in legal advocacy, her work to license midwives in Alabama, and her role in health freedom legislation including HB 12 and the Alabama Right to Refuse Act. The discussion also covers rural infrastructure concerns, property and grocery taxes, education policy, school choice, disability accommodations in testing, and the role of campaign finance in state politics. As with all Candidate Conversations episodes, this interview is presented to inform voters about a candidate’s positions in her own words. Make It Make Sense, Alabama provides a platform for candidates across the political spectrum. Views expressed by guests are their own. Listen on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.Visit murdercreekmedia.com/makeitmakesensealabama for links and episode resources.

    44 min

  8. FEB 10

    E07 Candidate Conversations: Ken McFeeters on Residency, Power, and His Bid for Alabama Governor

    In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Whitney Scapecchi and Neeli Faulkner sit down with Ken McFeeters, a Republican candidate for Governor of Alabama in the 2026 race. McFeeters is an insurance agency owner, former president of the Mid Alabama Republican Club, and a 2024 GOP primary candidate for Alabama’s 6th Congressional District who now describes his campaign as a grassroots, outsider push for “local control” and a reset in governance. McFeeters shares what he says pulled him from political involvement into running for office, including his views on COVID era shutdowns and government authority. He lays out his core priorities for Alabama: food independence, education reform, and what he calls a top to bottom rethink of the medical system. He also discusses property taxes, the role of state government under the Alabama Constitution, and why he believes a “virtuous population” is essential to long term freedom and economic growth. The conversation also touches on Alabama election culture and political fundraising, plus McFeeters’ recent public challenge to Tommy Tuberville’s residency claims, which he argues should be examined under Alabama’s residency requirements for governor. McFeeters explains his unconventional campaign strategy, including taking his message directly to the public with a bike pulled campaign sign, and he closes with the headline he wants voters to remember. This episode is part of our ongoing Candidate Conversations series, where we give voters space to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. It contains personal opinions and perspectives shared by our guest. Statements made during this conversation reflect the views of the speaker and have not been independently verified by Make It Make Sense, Alabama or Murder Creek Media. We are not endorsing any candidate or position. This interview is presented so listeners can hear directly from the guest and are encouraged to consult primary sources, public records, and multiple viewpoints when forming their own conclusions. Make It Make Sense, Alabama is produced by Murder Creek Media. To learn more about our work or listen to other episodes, visit murdercreekmedia.com.

    49 min
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About

Make It Make Sense, Alabama is a podcast focused on accountability, justice, and civic understanding across the state of Alabama. Hosted by two Alabama residents who believe people deserve clear, accurate information, the show breaks down how systems actually work. From state and local decisions to education, public institutions, unsolved cases, and citizen rights. We look at what’s happening, who is responsible, and why it matters.

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