The Mark White Show

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Wes Madrigal as he shares about the effort he and his family have started to help people in Manizales, Colombia, following a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake.

Wes lives in Colombia with his wife, who is from the area, and their recently born daughter. Although the epicenter of the earthquake was roughly 100 miles away, Wes says the shaking was strongly felt in Manizales.

When he went into the city afterward, he quickly realized the extent of the damage. Buildings had collapsed, the city’s iconic cathedral suffered significant structural damage, and members of his wife’s extended family and several of her friends experienced damage to their homes.

While Wes says no one his family personally knows had been physically injured at the time of our conversation, lives have been lost and families are facing the reality of rebuilding. That challenge is made even greater because, according to what Wes has learned locally, many people do not have the type of homeowners insurance that could help them recover from a disaster like this.

Wes and his family are now doing what they can to help their neighbors through the difficult days ahead.

If you would like to support their effort, go to GiveSendGo.com and search Manizales Colombia Earthquake.

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Tonight on The Mark White Show!

On the first two segments, I’ll be talking with Maximo “Max” Villagomez at Gabriela’s Latin Fusion in Athens, Alabama. Born and raised in the South American country of Ecuador, Max has brought the flavors of Latin America to North Alabama in a big way! We’ll talk about his journey from Ecuador, the story behind Gabriela’s Latin Fusion, and what it means to build a business and become part of the community here in North Alabama.

After that, in the Mary Faye Headrick Good Deed Segment, we’ll travel to Colombia, Ecuador’s neighbor, where I’ll be talking with Wes Madrigal following the powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the region yesterday.

Wes, his wife, and their baby daughter are in Manizales, Colombia, where they have a coffee farm. Thankfully, his family is safe and their home is intact, but others in the community have not been as fortunate. Friends and family have lost their homes, and Wes is organizing an effort to help provide food, temporary shelter, rebuilding assistance, and support for a local animal shelter.

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On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Holly Parrish as she shares about her four-year-old daughter, Ruthee, who lives with Kabuki syndrome and needs specialized care that has been difficult to access.

For Holly, one of the biggest needs right now is finding people who have already walked a similar road and can help point her toward the next step.

She has closely followed Jessica Davenport and the Kruzn for a Kure Foundation, watching how Jessica Davenport has advocated for Kruz and Paizlee, pursued specialized care, raised money for research, and kept pushing when the answers were far from home. Holly says she found herself taking notes and treating Jessica’s efforts almost like a roadmap for what she may eventually have to do for Ruthee.

That’s why hearing from another parent who has successfully navigated Medicaid denials, waivers, exceptions, or other barriers for a medically complex child could be so valuable right now.

If you believe you may be able to help Holly and Ruthee, you can email Holly at [email protected].

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Tonight, you’re going to meet a little girl who has been fighting since the day she entered this world.

Ruthee was born weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces. She spent 284 days in the NICU, and there were times her mom, Holly, didn’t know if her little girl was going to survive.

Today, Ruthee, who is a twin, is four years old and living with Kabuki syndrome, a rare genetic condition that has affected multiple areas of her life. Ruthee is nonverbal, has faced liver issues, is legally blind and continues working incredibly hard toward walking independently. Beside her is her twin sister, doing many of the things Ruthee is fighting every day to be able to do.

Right now, Holly is fighting for specialized care for her daughter.

Ruthee was referred to Kabuki specialists in Philadelphia and Cincinnati. After months of Holly, doctors and social workers working to get everything Medicaid required for the Philadelphia visit, the appointment was supposed to happen this Thursday, August 13th. Holly had to cancel it. As of today, she says the request had still not been approved or denied.

Holly believes specialized care could provide something she desperately needs, care plan specifically designed around Ruthee, where she falls on the Kabuki spectrum and the challenges she faces.

During our conversation, Holly said, “I refuse to tell her there’s nothing else we can do. I refuse.”

Tonight, you’ll hear this mother tell her daughter’s story herself. This family isn’t asking for money. They’re looking for connections, information & someone who may know how to help them navigate the system.

Maybe you know a rare-disease advocate or you understand Medicaid appeals, waivers or exceptions. Maybe you work with medically complex children, know a Kabuki specialist, or you’re another parent who has traveled a similar road.

If you don’t fit in any of those categories, what you can do is listen and share Ruthee’s story until it reaches the person who can help. As we have seen so many times before, one connection can change everything.

Let’s help Holly find the right door for Ruthee!

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On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Ashley Russell of Athens, Alabama, sharing how small acts of kindness have helped carry her through cancer treatments and chemotherapy.

When people hear about a cancer diagnosis, they often wonder what they can do to help. Ashley's answer is that it’s the little things matter. A surprise package in the mail filled with items to help during chemotherapy. A bag prepared by friends with snacks, blankets, fuzzy socks, and comfort items. Head wraps given with love after losing her hair. Help with her child when she needed support.

None of these acts could take away the diagnosis, but each one reminded Ashley that she wasn't facing the journey alone.

Sometimes encouragement doesn't have to be grand or expensive. A thoughtful gesture, a helping hand, or simply showing up can make a difficult day a little easier.

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On this MADM, Julie Garner is sharing about Project Yellow Light as they seek to educate everyone on distracted driving.

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On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Mrs. Alabama 2025 Brianna Sistrunk as she shares about Chasing the Rainbows, an organization supporting families experiencing infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and infant loss.

For Brianna, the mission is deeply personal. After losing her daughter Madison, she eventually began sharing her experience through a series of videos on YouTube. Her goal was simply to help other women who had experienced a similar loss.

After that, women she had never met began reaching out. Some found her through YouTube and then searched for her on social media. Others were friends who knew her story and felt comfortable turning to her after experiencing a miscarriage of their own.

Brianna began that series in 2016. Ten years later, women are still finding those videos and reaching out to tell her, “I’ve been through this too.”

It’s a powerful reminder of what can happen when we’re willing to share the difficult parts of our stories. Something you experienced years ago may become exactly what another person needs to hear today.

To learn more about Chasing the Rainbows and its work supporting families through infertility and pregnancy and infant loss, visit ChasingTheRainbows.org.

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Tonight, I’m joined by Brianna Sistrunk, Alabama State Ambassador for Chasing the Rainbows.

For Brianna, this work is personal.

In 2015, Brianna was 19 weeks pregnant when she lost her daughter, Madison. A year later, she experienced an ectopic pregnancy. Those losses became part of her story and, over time, part of her desire to help other families walking through infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, & infant loss.

Tonight, Brianna will share Madison’s story, her own journey through grief, and why she has chosen to use her voice to help others know they’re not alone.

We’ll also talk about her new role as Alabama State Ambassador for Chasing the Rainbows and the effort to connect families across our state with support, resources, and others who understand.

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On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Johnny Owens, son of country music legend Buck Owens, as he reflects on his father’s life, music, and the legacy he left behind.

For Johnny, one word captures much of what mattered to his father: true.

Buck Owens helped define the Bakersfield Sound, bringing a distinctive California edge to country music while remaining committed to what he believed country music should be. Johnny says his father appreciated many different kinds of music, but staying true to country remained at the heart of his work.

That influence stretched far beyond Bakersfield. Buck’s recording of “Act Naturally” became a country classic, and The Beatles later recorded the song with Ringo Starr singing lead, introducing it to another enormous audience.

Decades later, Johnny still sees his father’s influence in the music people are discovering, streaming, and making today. Songs like “Made in Japan” continue to connect with listeners and inspire artists who came long after Buck first recorded them.

For Johnny, that’s an important part of his father’s legacy. Buck Owens knew his sound, believed in it, & stayed true to it.

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Tonight, I have the privilege of talking with Johnny Owens, son of country music legend Buck Owens, for an in-depth conversation about one of the most influential figures in country music history.

We’ll take a deep dive into Buck Owens’ remarkable career, the Bakersfield Sound that changed country music forever, the story behind the timeless classic “Act Naturally,” and Johnny’s decision to record a brand-new version of the song, releasing tomorrow, August 7th!

This year marks the 60th anniversary of The Buck Owens Show: Live at Carnegie Hall and the 20th anniversary of Buck Owens’ passing, making this a special tribute to a man whose music continues to inspire generations.

Whether you’ve been a Buck Owens fan for decades or you’re discovering his music for the first time, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

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