Priority Talk

Greg and Jennifer Rash welcome Herbie Gear, who lived in Israel for 38 years, for a firsthand perspective on the October 7 attacks and their continuing impact on Israel and the Jewish people. Gear shares what he experienced that morning while living in Israel, how his ministry became an emergency relief center following the attacks, and what he witnessed as Israelis faced rocket attacks and the trauma of the hostages. The conversation also addresses rising antisemitism, the importance of standing with the Jewish community, praying for both Israelis and Palestinians, and why Christians must reject hatred while recognizing the need for vigilance and security. Gear also discusses his ministry work now serving churches and communities in Tuscaloosa County.

Greg and Jennifer Rash welcome Jill Hoven, a registered nurse and creator of Brain Boosters, a unique faith-based resource designed to encourage brain and memory wellness through education, practical tips, Scripture and 145 puzzles in each book. Jill shares the personal story behind the project, beginning with her mother's battle with short-term memory loss and her own desire to help families facing memory challenges.

Jill explains the science and strategy behind the puzzles, how repetition and engaging different parts of the brain can support cognitive activity, and why brain health is something worth addressing long before memory problems develop. She also introduces the two Brain Boosters books—Faith & Memory and Soul, Mind & Body—and explains how each combines brain-health principles with a biblical perspective on caring for the whole person.

A thoughtful conversation about memory, wellness, faith, aging and the importance of exercising both our minds and our spiritual lives.

Greg welcomes Alabama State Representative and Alabama Republican Party Chairman Scott Stadthagen to Priority Talk. They discuss his new role leading the state Republican Party, the responsibilities of serving both in the Alabama Legislature and party leadership, and the issues shaping Alabama’s political landscape approaching the Nov 3rd midterms.

After years of work, debate, and legislative battles, Alabama’s new sexual risk avoidance education law is now in effect.

Greg welcomes State Representative Susan DuBose, Joy Wassil and Jason Mann of the Alabama Sexual Risk Avoidance Coalition,for an in-depth discussion about what the new law means for Alabama students, parents, schools, and communities.

The guests explain why Alabama prohibited comprehensive sexual education and established sexual risk avoidance education as the required approach when schools choose to provide sex education. They discuss what sexual risk avoidance actually teaches—including physical, emotional, social, economic, educational, and spiritual aspects of healthy decision-making—and address common questions about abstinence, contraception, online safety, sexting, pornography, human trafficking, and social media.

The conversation also examines Alabama’s Success Sequence—graduating from high school, entering the workforce, getting married, and then having children—and why supporters believe teaching these principles can help students make decisions that improve their long-term opportunities.

Representative DuBose recounts the three-year legislative effort behind the law, including visiting classrooms and seeing firsthand the questions and challenges facing Alabama students.

Joy Wasil and Jason Mann also discuss the role of pregnancy resource centers and professionally trained sexual risk avoidance educators, as well as preliminary results from student programs in Alabama.

Then comes a major announcement: Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center’s Respect You SRAE program has received approximately $360,000 annually for three years in federal funding, allowing the program to expand its reach across Madison, Morgan, Marshall, and Limestone counties.

The discussion also explores what parents, churches, community leaders, and local advocates can do to help ensure the new law is properly implemented and that Alabama students have access to sexual risk avoidance education.

A timely conversation about children, parental involvement, education, public policy, and the values shaping Alabama’s next generation.

What does the Alabama Secretary of State actually do—and why does the office matter to every voter and small-business owner in the state?

Greg welcomes Carolyn Dobson, the Republican nominee for Alabama Secretary of State, for a wide-ranging conversation about her faith, family, legal career, political journey, and vision for the Secretary of State’s office.

Dobson shares how growing up in rural Monroe County, attending Harvard and Baylor Law School, practicing corporate and real-estate law, and becoming a mother shaped her approach to public service. She also discusses why she believes Alabama can do more to make the state attractive to businesses and corporations.

The conversation then turns to election integrity, including voter rolls, election fraud investigations, paper ballots, post-election audits, election technology, absentee-ballot harvesting, campaign-finance enforcement, and the importance of transparency and public confidence in the voting process.

Dobson also explains her proposal for an election-integrity division within the Secretary of State’s office and why she believes state agencies—including the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Ethics Commission—need stronger communication and coordination.

Throughout the interview, Dobson discusses the role her Christian faith plays in her life and her understanding of civic responsibility, limited government, local government, and public service.

Should pastors and Bible-believing Christians engage in the political process? Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice says they absolutely should—and Greg explains why his message matters as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

Greg plays and responds to Rice’s comments about the responsibility of pastors to speak into political issues that are, at their core, theological and moral issues, including immigration, abortion, marriage and human dignity. Rice argues that Christians should not retreat from public life or leave a vacuum for others to fill, but should understand the biblical “why” behind the issues that shape our culture.

What are Alabama voters really thinking as the 2026 election approaches? Greg talks with Stephanie Smith of Alabama Policy Institute and Alabama Policy Action about new polling of 800 registered Alabama voters conducted by the Neapolitan Institute, Scott Rasmussen’s polling organization.

Stephanie breaks down the latest numbers in the races for governor, lieutenant governor and U.S. Senate, including a significant lead for Republicans in the statewide races. They also discuss the public’s strong support for the Choose Act and education savings accounts, including polling showing 70% support for expanding the program to all Alabama families and 75% favoring universal availability beginning in 2027.

But perhaps most revealing is what Alabama voters identify as their most important political issues. The economy, crime, housing and education rank near the top, while issues receiving much of the political and media attention—including data centers, immigration, the lottery and cannabis legislation—rank much lower.

Greg and Stephanie also discuss why credible, neutral polling matters, why elected officials need to listen to the issues voters actually care about, and why Christians and other concerned citizens need to make their voices heard—not just at the ballot box, but throughout the legislative process.

JJ Reach joined Greg, Bishop Lowe and Pastor Randy in studio to discuss issues related to Jefferson County and his bid to the next Sherrif.

Greg is joined by Pastor Randy Williams and Bishop Jim Lowe for a lively Pastors Roundtable covering faith, ministry, culture, and civic responsibility.

The conversation begins with reflections from the Alabama Policy Institute dinner and Seth Dillon of the Babylon Bee, including the role of satire, humor, and Christians being willing to stand for truth. The pastors also share some hilarious stories about church life, preaching styles, “sword drills,” and the lessons we learn when we try to imitate someone else instead of becoming the person God has called us to be.

That leads to a deeper discussion about authentic Christian leadership and preaching the Word of God faithfully rather than simply copying another preacher’s style. The panel also talks about the common ground Christians can find despite differences in worship styles, music, and church traditions.

The second half turns toward voting as a matter of stewardship and civic responsibility. The pastors discuss why Christians should participate in elections, the importance of evaluating candidates and issues through biblical principles rather than simply voting by party, and the responsibility each citizen has to use the opportunity to vote.

They also discuss election integrity, the difference between a constitutional republic and a democracy, political leadership around the world, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence—and ask an important question: Who will teach AI morality?

On this edition Greg Davis talks with pastor, author, and former U.S. Foreign Service officer Jeff Samelson, author of Walk This Way: Political Engagement for Bible-Believing Christians. With the midterm elections approaching, Samelson offers a biblical framework for thinking through Christian citizenship, voting, political disagreements, and the tension between our earthly citizenship and our ultimate citizenship in heaven.