More Than A Campaign: Mandie Ledkins on Representing Everyday Alabamians

In Part 2 of our conversation with Mandie Ledkins, candidate for Alabama State Senate, District 14, we go deeper into her vision for grassroots leadership, accessible policy, and why amplifying the voices of everyday Alabamians is at the center of her campaign.

Mandie is a lifelong Alabamian, raised in Fort Payne, an Auburn University graduate, the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran, a mother of four, and a longtime community advocate who believes political leadership should be rooted in lived experience—not party talking points.

In this episode, Mandie expands on:

— What “accessible policy” really means for families and communities

— Why listening is the foundation of effective leadership

— How grassroots campaigns differ from politics as usual

— The role of volunteers, neighbors, and local voices in democracy

— What motivates her to keep showing up—even when it’s hard

This episode is about trust, accountability, and building a campaign that reflects the people it seeks to serve. Whether you’re politically engaged or just starting to pay attention, Mandie’s perspective offers a grounded look at what people-powered politics can be.

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Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

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Mandie Ledkins on Grassroots Politics and Running for Alabama State Senate

In this episode of Raised Red, Living Blue, we’re joined by Mandie Ledkins, an Alabaster resident and lifelong Alabamian who has announced her candidacy for Alabama State Senate, District 14.

Mandie grew up in Fort Payne, is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in anthropology, and is the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran. She has lived in Alabaster for more than a decade, is a mother of four, and describes herself as an activist and longtime community advocate—not a career politician.

Throughout the conversation, Mandie shares why she decided to run, what she’s hearing from people across the district, and why she believes Alabama politics needs leaders who are accessible, grounded, and deeply connected to the communities they serve.

In this episode, we talk about:— Why grassroots engagement is central to her campaign— Amplifying the voices of everyday Alabamians— Balancing family, advocacy, and public service— What accessible, people-first policy looks like in practice— How volunteers and community involvement shape real change

This episode highlights the growing movement of citizen candidates who believe democracy works best when leadership reflects lived experience—not political ambition.

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Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

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Breaking the POLITICAL MOLD in Alabama with Chad "Chig" Martin

In this episode of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Chad “Chig” Martin, entrepreneur and candidate for Governor of Alabama, to talk about why he’s jumping into one of the state’s toughest political races and what he believes Alabama needs to move forward.

Chig Martin brings a diverse business background, having founded and managed multiple companies, including Honeysuckle Hemp in Dothan. Rather than coming from a traditional political career, Martin says his experience creating jobs, managing risk, and building sustainable businesses gives him a different perspective on leadership—and one Alabama desperately needs.

Throughout the conversation, we discuss:
— Why Martin believes Alabama needs a new kind of governor
— How his business experience shapes his policy priorities
— Job creation, economic growth, and improving quality of life statewide
— The challenges facing entrepreneurs and workers in Alabama
— What “moving Alabama in a new direction” actually looks like

This episode explores the growing appeal of outsider candidates, the frustration many voters feel with career politicians, and whether a business-first approach could help elevate Alabama’s economy and opportunities for all Alabamians.

Whether you agree with him or not, Chad Martin lays out a vision rooted in experience, accountability, and change—and makes the case for why voters should take his campaign seriously.

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📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster 

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker 

BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

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Why Women Defend the Systems That HARM Them

This conversation doesn’t get easier — it gets more honest.

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we continue our conversation with Leisha Sayers — known online as @alabama.disgrace — diving deeper into the uncomfortable truths about patriarchy, religion, accountability, and why so many women continue to protect systems that harm them.

This episode moves beyond why the conditioning exists and into who benefits from it — and who pays the price.

🚨 Leisha speaks candidly about:— Why patriarchy cannot survive without women enforcing it— How religion conditions obedience, silence, and submission— Why fear is the most effective political weapon— The difference between victimhood and responsibility— Why “I was raised this way” stops being an excuse— How accountability feels like an attack to people invested in comfort— What it’s like being politically awake in deep-red Alabama— Why neutrality and silence always side with power

This episode challenges the idea that oppression only comes from “bad men” and asks a harder question:

What happens when women help uphold the system?

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📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

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Why So Many Women Vote AGAINST Their Own Rights | Raised Red, Living Blue

In Season 2, Episode 1 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Leisha Sayers, known on TikTok as @alabama.disgrace — a bold, unapologetic Southern woman challenging patriarchy, MAGA politics, and religious control from deep inside Alabama.

Leisha shares her deeply personal journey — from growing up apolitical, to a brief period of Christian conservatism, to becoming a fierce advocate for reproductive freedom, social justice, and women’s autonomy. After the devastating loss of her daughter, higher education, lived experience, and psychological insight reshaped how she sees power, control, and manipulation in American politics.

✨ Together, we unpack:

— Why women vote Republican — even when it harms them

— How religion is used as a tool of political control

— Why reproductive freedom is about power, not morality

— The role white women play in upholding patriarchy

— Why MAGA politics rely on fear, enemies, and submission

— Why women’s rights are always “on the chopping block”

This conversation is raw, emotional, honest — and necessary. You are not alone. And we are not going back.

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?👉 https://forms.gle/1sn85LWHVm22KNMH6

America Is Being Groomed — And Too Few Are Paying Attention

In Episode 54 of Raised Red, Living Blue, host Jason Will delivers his third solo episode — a raw, unfiltered deep dive into the politics of fear, media misinformation, and the accelerating erosion of democratic norms in America.

This episode confronts how bad-faith actors in media and politics weaponize tragedy, distort facts, and dehumanize entire groups of Americans to consolidate power. Jason methodically breaks down viral talking points, conservative media narratives, and commentary surrounding ICE operations, political violence, Venezuela, and the dangerous normalization of authoritarian behavior.

At the center of this episode is a critical question:What happens when fear replaces facts — and nobody in power is held accountable?

✨ Topics covered include:

— The deliberate spread of misinformation by political commentators

— Why outrage and fear are profitable and dangerous

— The misuse of “patriotism” to silence dissent

— ICE use-of-force narratives and the killing of Renee Good

— The illegal and unethical implications of U.S. actions in Venezuela

— The collapse of journalistic standards in political commentary

— How America is being slowly conditioned to accept the unacceptable

This is not a “both sides” episode. It’s a call for critical thinking, moral clarity, and adult leadership in a moment when too many are choosing comfort, clicks, and compliance over truth.

If you’re tired of being told what to think — and ready to examine what’s actually happening — this episode is for you.

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📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

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The REAL Story Behind Alabama’s Book Bans

In Episode 53 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Angie Hayden, Co-Founder of Read Freely Alabama, and Krysti Shallenberger, Public Policy Director, for an urgent and wide-ranging conversation about the growing censorship crisis facing Alabama’s public libraries.

Read Freely Alabama is a statewide, volunteer-led coalition of concerned citizens pushing back against coordinated efforts to remove books, intimidate librarians, and defund libraries under the guise of “protecting children.” As attacks on libraries escalate across the state, Read Freely Alabama has become a central resource hub—connecting local chapters, library advocates, and national partners to defend intellectual freedom and constitutional rights.

In this episode, we unpack:

— Why books like Sold by Patricia McCormick are being falsely labeled as “pornography”

— How vague, unconstitutional policies are being used to strip libraries of state funding

— The role of political operatives and astroturf groups in driving book bans

— Why librarians are being forced to choose between the Constitution and their livelihoods

— How censorship historically precedes authoritarian control

— The dangerous weaponization of “parental rights” to control everyone’s children

This conversation goes beyond left vs. right. It’s about power, fear, and who gets to decide which stories are allowed to exist in public spaces. From Fairhope to communities across Alabama, citizens are standing up—raising money, organizing locally, and saying enough.

If you care about free speech, libraries, democracy, or the future of education in Alabama, this episode is essential listening.

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📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

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Freedom of Speech is NOT Free | The Silencing of Jerry Lee Clarke

In this premiere episode of Alabama Injustice, we sit down with Katherine Shelton, the daughter of Jerry Lee Clarke, to tell the story of how her father’s exercise of free speech turned into a life-altering nightmare.

Jerry Lee Clarke, a 66-year-old Alabama man, placed an anti-Trump sign on his own private property. What followed was months of harassment, vandalism, threats, and escalating pressure from neighbors and law enforcement. Instead of protection, Jerry was arrested, charged, and jailed — where he remains on an extraordinarily high bond, raising serious questions about due process, First Amendment rights, and unequal treatment under the law.

Katherine shares the devastating impact this has had on their family, including concerns about Jerry’s deteriorating health while in custody, limited access to medical care, and the emotional toll on his wife, children, and grandchildren. This episode walks through the events leading up to his arrest, the charges he faces, and why the family believes this case is about silencing dissent rather than public safety.

This series is for educational purposes and relies on publicly available news reporting, court records, and firsthand interviews. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and details may evolve as the legal process continues.

📌 For additional context, read the AL.com article: https://www.al.com/news/2025/12/how-did-an-anti-trump-sign-dispute-escalate-and-send-an-alabama-man-to-jail.html

📌 Jerry Lee Clarke remains incarcerated while legal expenses and daily living costs continue to mount for his family. If you are able and willing to help, Katherine Shelton and her family are accepting support through the following verified donation links:

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/PleasehelpJerryClarkefreethedemocrat

Cash App: $CleanSlateKS

Venmo: @CleanSlateKS

Every contribution — and every share — helps bring awareness, support, and accountability to this case.

If you believe in the Constitution, free speech, and justice for all, this is a story that deserves to be heard.

🎧 Listen +. Subscribe on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker

BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?👉 https://forms.gle/1sn85LWHVm22KNMH6

Democracy Is More Than Voting: Inside the Fight for Fair Maps in North Carolina

In this powerful Episode 51 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Marques Thompson, Organizing Director at Democracy North Carolina, to unpack what’s really happening to voting rights — and how everyday people can fight back.

With roots in the civil rights movement, Democracy North Carolina works across the state to ensure voters are informed, empowered, and able to access the ballot box. Marques breaks down modern voter suppression tactics — from gerrymandering and photo ID laws to shrinking mail-in ballot windows — and explains why these issues disproportionately impact Black, Brown, rural, and working-class communities.

This conversation goes beyond elections. We explore why so many people feel their vote doesn’t matter, how organizing restores collective power, and why democracy doesn’t stop at the ballot box. Marques also shares his personal journey into organizing, the importance of community-driven leadership, and his vision for a future where the people choose their representatives — not the other way around.

If you care about voting rights, fair representation, grassroots power, and the future of democracy in America, this episode is a must-listen.

Learn more about The Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ), mentioned early in the episode, at https://www.socialjusticeleadership.org

📌 Learn more or get involved: democracync.org

🎧 Listen +. Subscribe on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason WillAlabama NativeProgressive Podcaster Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker BluePrint Realty Co.Licensed Since 2004☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

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Book Bans, Libraries & Liberty: Inside Alabama’s Fight Against Censorship

In Episode 52 of Raised Red, Living Blue, we sit down with Angie Hayden, Co-Founder of Read Freely Alabama, and Krysti Shallenberger, the organization’s Public Policy Director, to examine the growing effort to remove books from public libraries under the banner of “parental rights.”

What began as a handful of book challenges in local libraries has evolved into a coordinated, statewide censorship campaign targeting LGBTQ+ representation, books on race, sex education, and materials that foster empathy and critical thinking. Angie and Krysti break down how these efforts are connected to national organizations, why public libraries—not schools—are being targeted in Alabama, and what’s really at stake when the government decides what information is “acceptable.”

This conversation goes beyond books. It’s about liberty, small government, free speech, and who gets to belong in public spaces.

✨ In this episode, we discuss:

— How book bans spread from local library boards to state-level power

— The weaponization of “parental rights”

— Why censorship disproportionately targets marginalized communities

— The real impact of restricted access on kids, families, and literacy

— Why the freedom to read is a foundational American value

Whether you’re conservative, progressive, or politically exhausted, this episode asks a simple question: Who decides what you’re allowed to read—and what happens when fear replaces freedom?

🎧 Listen +. Subscribe on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts 

📲 Follow the show on social media: @raisedredlivingblue

Jason Will

Alabama Native

Progressive Podcaster 

Subscribe on Substack: https://raisedredlivingblue.substack.com/

Alabama Real Estate Broker 

BluePrint Realty Co.

Licensed Since 2004

☎️ Direct/Call/Text: 251-583-9728

🏠 Shop AL Real Estate: https://jasonwill.com

💦 Shop AL Lake Merch: https://alabamalakecompany.com

Wanna Be a Guest on the Show? Connect? Got Feedback?

👉 https://forms.gle/1sn85LWHVm22KNMH6