Human trafficking isn’t something that only happens somewhere else. It’s happening in communities across Alabama, often hidden in plain sight. In this episode, we sit down with The Little Tree Project to break down what trafficking actually looks like, how victims are identified, and what everyday people can do to help.

Alabama’s prison system, education funding, and public policy took center stage in a recent Make It Make Sense, Alabama interview with gubernatorial candidate Dr. Will Boyd. The discussion examined prison reform, the lottery debate, and what Boyd calls Alabama’s biggest issue. a lack of a “fair shot” for residents across the state.

Kent Davis discusses his firing from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, the ethics complaint at the center of the controversy, and ongoing issues impacting veterans in Alabama, including mental health and access to care.

Beth Robley spent more than three years fighting to obtain custody of her nieces after they were removed from their parents’ home by Alabama’s Department of Human Resources. Her experience sheds light on larger questions about transparency, due process, and how placement decisions are made within the state’s child welfare system.

War veterans often face isolation and difficult transitions after leaving the military. In this conversation with Marine Corps veteran Patrick Jump, we explore how Warrior Legacy Ranch in Baldwin County, Alabama is creating a space for veterans and first responders to reconnect, build community, and support one another through shared experience.

Pastor Dean Odle joins us to discuss what pushed him from the pulpit into Alabama politics. He shares how COVID-era shutdowns of churches and schools, while other businesses remained open, raised constitutional concerns for him and sparked his decision to run for office. We also cover ballot access, government accountability, election reform, and why he believes citizen engagement is more critical than ever.

Whitney Scapecchi and Neeli Faulkner break down HB7 and SB31, two Alabama bills expanding the definition of “terrorist threat” in schools. Joined by special education attorney James Gallini, they examine how a charge, not a conviction, could trigger a one-year suspension and why students with IEPs and 504 plans may be especially vulnerable under the proposed changes.

In Episode 13 of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Chad “Chig” Martin, a Democratic candidate for governor running a citizens-driven campaign. Martin discusses economic development, prison reform, healthcare funding, environmental concerns, and special interest money, outlining why he believes Alabama voters are ready for structural change and broader accountability in state government.

In this Candidate Conversations episode, Austin Sidwell, Republican candidate for U.S. House in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District, joins Neeli and Whitney for a candid conversation about affordability, government accountability, immigration policy, and the role of faith and service in leadership. Drawing from his background as a U.S. Air Force pilot and small business executive, Sidwell explains why he believes Washington needs non career politicians and stronger financial

Jamel Jermaine Brown, a Montgomery based pastor, activist, and Democratic candidate for Alabama governor in 2026, joins Make It Make Sense, Alabama for a candid conversation about rural investment, marijuana legalization, criminal justice reform, education control, and the policies he believes could shift the day to day reality for working Alabamians.

Jeremy and Heather Clark of C-4 Cattle Company share how Vets to Cowboys is helping revitalize Alabama’s agriculture industry by mentoring veterans and first-generation farmers. From preserving family farmland to building practical education for new producers, this episode explores how veteran leadership, community networks, and hands-on training are shaping the future of farming in Alabama.

Retired U.S. Army officer and Alabama State Senate candidate Jodie Minor joins Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi for a deeply personal conversation about loss, service, and civic responsibility. From the murder of his father in childhood to leadership roles in the Army and at the White House, Jodie shares how lived experience shaped his commitment to justice, rural communities, and public accountability across Alabama.

In Episode 8 of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner interviews Kaycee Cavender, candidate for Alabama House District 40. Cavender discusses health freedom, HB 12 and the Alabama Right to Refuse Act, education policy, rural infrastructure, property and grocery taxes, and campaign finance transparency, outlining her priorities for Cleburne and Calhoun Counties ahead of the upcoming election.

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, hosts Whitney Scapecchi and Neeli Faulkner speak with Ken McFeeters, a Republican candidate for Alabama governor in 2026. McFeeters discusses food independence, education reform, healthcare priorities, and how COVID-era policies shaped his decision to run. He outlines a vision centered on local governance, self-reliance, and civic responsibility.

JR Bowling joins Make It Make Sense, Alabama to talk about public service, legislative accountability, and why many voters feel disconnected from state government.

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, we sit down with Dale Deas, a cardiac surgeon and biomedical engineer running in Alabama’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. Deas explains why he left medicine to enter politics, shares allegations of whistleblower retaliation, and outlines how hospital consolidation, healthcare costs, and lack of accountability affect everyday Alabamians.

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Whitney Scapecchi and Neeli Faulkner speak with Latoya Garrett, a mother who has spent nearly a decade fighting to reunite with her children after Alabama DHR removed them under allegations later deemed unfounded. Her story exposes the emotional toll, systemic barriers, and unanswered questions families face when navigating Alabama’s child welfare system.

At just 22 years old, Elijah Davidson is challenging assumptions about youth engagement in Alabama politics. In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Davidson, a candidate for Alabama House District 95, discusses cost of living, the grocery tax, political accountability, and why many Gen Z voters feel shut out of the system.