Make It Make Sense, Alabama

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, hosts Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Matt Gentry, Cullman County Sheriff and candidate for the Alabama Public Service Commission, to discuss rising power bills, utility regulation, and what the PSC actually does.

Gentry shares his background in law enforcement, why he’s running for the Alabama Public Service Commission, and what he believes is driving high electricity costs across Alabama. The conversation also explores PSC transparency, live streaming meetings, campaign contributions, solar farms, data centers, and proposed legislation including Senate Bill 360 and House Bill 475.

We also discuss how PSC decisions affect everyday Alabamians. From energy rates and natural gas to trucking regulations and infrastructure. Gentry outlines his stance on utility oversight, government accountability, and protecting ratepayers.

Topics Covered:
• Alabama Public Service Commission explained• Why Alabama power bills are rising• PSC transparency and public accountability• Solar farms and data centers in Alabama• Senate Bill 360 and House Bill 475• Campaign finance and utility PAC money• Energy policy and ratepayer protection• What the PSC regulates in Alabama

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, hosts Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Brent Woodall, Republican candidate for Alabama Public Service Commission Place 2, to discuss the growing controversy surrounding the PSC, Alabama power rates, and proposed legislation that could reshape how commissioners are selected.

The Alabama Public Service Commission regulates utilities that impact nearly every household in the state. That includes electricity providers, rate structures, and long-term infrastructure decisions that directly affect monthly power bills. Recent reports showing Alabama among the highest electricity rates in the country have sparked renewed scrutiny of the PSC and calls for transparency, public hearings, and structural reform.

Woodall, a former Chief of Staff at the Alabama Public Service Commission and former prosecutor with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s Office, explains how the PSC operates behind the scenes, what commissioners actually do, and why some lawmakers are proposing major changes.

This conversation covers:
• Alabama Public Service Commission responsibilities• Alabama electricity rates and utility regulation• PSC transparency and public hearings• Proposed legislation affecting PSC elections• Appointed vs elected commissioners• Utility monopolies and ratepayer advocacy• Campaign finance concerns and utility influence• Why PSC decisions affect every Alabama resident• Voter turnout and statewide PSC elections• What changes candidates say are needed

If you’ve ever wondered why your power bill keeps rising, who regulates utility companies in Alabama, or how the Public Service Commission affects your daily life, this episode breaks it down in plain language.

Human trafficking is often talked about as something that happens somewhere else. Another country. Another state. To someone else’s community.

But the reality is far different.

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, we sit down with Allana Chris and Genna Van Varden of The Little Tree Project, a nonprofit working directly with survivors of human trafficking and alongside law enforcement agencies across the state.

Together, we break down what trafficking actually looks like in real life, not just the version portrayed in movies. From coercion and manipulation to the role of open source intelligence and community awareness, this conversation offers a closer look at how exploitation happens and why it often goes unnoticed.

We also talk about common misconceptions, warning signs the public should be aware of, and what to do if you suspect someone may be a victim.

This is a heavy topic, but it’s one that deserves attention.

In Beyond the Pod, Neeli and Whitney take you behind the scenes of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, breaking down what doesn’t always make it into the final cut and what’s actively unfolding in real time.

This episode covers:

• The developing allegations tied to Daphne High School and the response from parents and media
• A major new tip in the Brittany Wood case and how it was handled with law enforcement
• What it actually looks like to investigate leads, approach witnesses, and navigate boundaries
• A call for volunteers and an update on active Murder Creek Media cases

Some conversations are messy. Some stories are still developing. But this is the reality of investigative work.

Alabama’s prison system is under national scrutiny, and some say it’s becoming the incarceration capital of the world.

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, we sit down with gubernatorial candidate Dr. Will Boyd to break down the biggest issues facing Alabamians today, including prison reform, parole failures, education funding, and the ongoing debate over an Alabama lottery.

From firsthand discussions about wrongful convictions and prison conditions to policy proposals that could reshape the state’s future, this conversation dives deep into the systems impacting justice, education, and opportunity across Alabama.

Dr. Boyd outlines his plan to overhaul the prison system, expand Medicaid, and address what he calls the state’s biggest issue: the lack of a fair shot for everyday people.

This is one of the most unfiltered conversations we’ve had about Alabama’s justice system and what comes next.

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with retired Rear Admiral and former Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis for a candid conversation about veteran mental health, government accountability, and the controversy surrounding his removal from office.

Davis reflects on his military and public service career, the challenges he says Alabama veterans continue to face, and why he believed mental health and long-term care needed urgent attention during his time as commissioner. He also discusses the ethics complaint he says he was required by law to file, the allegations that followed, and why he believes his firing was an act of retaliation.

The conversation goes beyond one man’s story. It digs into larger concerns about how Alabama handles mental health funding, the role of political influence in state agencies, the barriers facing reform, and why so many people are afraid to speak out.

This is a wide-ranging episode about veterans, ethics, power, and what accountability should actually look like in Alabama.

In this episode of Make It Make Sense Alabama, Whitney Scapecchi and Neeli Faulkner speak with Beth Robley about her years-long fight to obtain custody of her niece through Alabama’s child welfare system. Beth alleges Alabama DHR denied family placement, overlooked serious concerns, applied standards inconsistently, and blocked meaningful intervention as the case moved toward adoption. This conversation examines custody disputes, relative placement, due process, and growing concerns about how Alabama DHR handles child welfare cases across the state.

What happens after the uniform comes off, and why are so many veterans left to navigate that transition alone?

In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Marine veteran Patrick Jump, co-founder and president of Warrior Legacy Ranch in Baldwin County, Alabama. Patrick shares how his military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, his transition into civilian life, and the lasting impact of trauma shaped his mission to create a space where veterans and first responders can reconnect, heal, and find support through community.

The conversation explores veteran suicide, the gaps in traditional support systems, the power of peer connection, and Patrick’s vision for Warrior Legacy Ranch as a place built by veterans, for veterans. They also discuss accountability, authentic leadership, and what real support for veterans should actually look like in Alabama.

Make It Make Sense, Alabama is a production of Murder Creek Media.

Pastor Dean Odle joins Make It Make Sense, Alabama for a wide ranging conversation that connects the dots between ballot access, party power, and the issues Odle says the state keeps trying to shove to the side.

Odle, a minister from Opelika and former statewide Republican candidate, walks through the challenge that knocked him off the 2026 ballot. He explains what he was told by party leadership, how the process played out behind the scenes, and why he believes it wasn’t really about a rule at all.

We also talk about the moment this podcast was born. A frustrated drive home from Montgomery after the DHR State Board meeting, and the decision to stop watching families get brushed off and start documenting what’s happening. From there, we get into Alabama’s child welfare crisis, why HB464 matters, and how lack of oversight and due process can change someone’s life overnight.

This episode includes political opinions, personal claims, and discussion of disturbing allegations. We encourage listeners to review public records, verify information, and come to their own conclusions.

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.