Do you start your day with the local news? If you’re like me, you catch up on the latest in North Alabama every morning while getting ready for the workday — and you’re probably already familiar with my next guest.

Joining us today is Melissa Riopka, co-host and anchor for WHNT 19 News this Morning. We had the exciting opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes glance at her story as a mom and journalist.

In this episode, we talked about:

• The (very) early morning routine of a news anchor...including a 1:30 AM alarm! 
• What a typical day in the life looks like at a broadcast news station
• How the impact of social media and technology has changed journalism
• Why the local news matters to communities — and how it differs from national news
• Melissa’s all-time favorite interview from the last 20 years

How often do you look over the car beside you at an intersection and the driver has a phone in their hands? Or do you hear a news story about a drunk driving incident?

Distracted and impaired driving is something that affects us all on the roads — and it needs our attention. 

That’s why I’m honored to speak with today’s guest, Mike Lutzenkirchen. As part of the Lutzie 43 Foundation, Mike is on a mission to empower young people to become safe drivers. His story is a very personal one. Tune in to learn more about how he’s inspiring others to make better decisions as drivers and friends.

• The tragic car accident that took his son Philip Lutzenkirchen’s life 
• What events led up to the car accident that evening in late June 2014
• How the Lutzie 43 Foundation is continuing Philip’s legacy
• The significance of a key becoming the symbol for safe driving
• How the nonprofit is getting kids to embrace their message

In this Mo Show Live, we are speaking with Dominique Mallory. We’ll discuss his passion for social work, basketball coaching, and his non-profit B3ating Th3 Oddz Mentoring, a youth mentoring program for teen males.

Dominique's purpose is to become a positive light in the lives of teens facing challenges today. His non-profit was founded on the mission to prepare young men to live a life of persistence and integrity.

In this episode, we talk with Dominique (aka DMal) about what he's doing to spread hope in the community and inspire teens to keep going.

Today we’re joined by award-winning music artist and community influencer, Jordan #ChillCity Moore. Not only does Jordan work with local entrepreneurs and nonprofits to help them brand their businesses, but he’s passionate about being involved in community outreach. 

In this episode, the young influencer from Huntsville shares how he’s making a difference in the community.

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the latest court appointment to the US Supreme Court. But what the media isn’t covering is the role of the Supreme Court in our government. 

In this episode, we’ll be speaking with attorneys Alycia Kinchloe and Ryan Locke. I invited my good friends on the show to talk about what types of cases the court hears — and how a judge gets appointed to the highest court in the land.

David Faulk is a young man who is already leaving his mark on our community. As a teenage entrepreneur, David and his brother Lamir Whitlow are bonding in business. The siblings founded The Bro Shop 256 in Madison, Alabama earlier this year. 

I’m super excited to have David on the podcast today. In this episode, we’ll get to know David and Lamir’s story better. We’ll talk about what they’ve learned running a business during COVID-19 — and where they’re headed in the future.

• The inspiration behind The Bro Shop brand’s motto “Get Through It” 
• How the brothers were motivated by their parents’ businesses
• What products they began selling (and how COVID forced them to pivot)
• What David and Lamir learned about running a business in the last year
• How they’re getting the word out there about their message
• Their vision for the future — and what new products they’re planning for

If you tune into the Mo Show regularly, you already know how proud I am to live here in North Alabama. Not only is our community thriving, but we’ve also been blessed to have a booming economy.

Tons of great companies are looking to build jobs and facilities here in Huntsville. 

And one of the biggest partnerships in recent years has been the joint venture between Mazda and Toyota. The two automotive companies partnered together to create Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, a huge plant that will be built right here in North Alabama.

That’s why I’m excited to have our guest, Toni Eberhart, back on the show today. She represents the corporate communications team with Mazda Toyota, and will be chatting with us about the scope of the project. 

Toni is the co-founder of the nonprofit, Urban Engine, which has helped over a hundred startups here in Huntsville. Today, we’ll chat with Toni about the jobs that are coming to the plant, types of suppliers tied to the facility, and when we can expect the plant to be completed.

- What the Mazda Toyota partnership has in store beyond the manufacturing plant

-How many people will be employed directly at the facility in North Alabama

- A sneak peek at the upcoming vehicle models being developed

- What types of jobs will be directly available (in production and administration)

- The unique interview process for hiring job candidates on the production floor

- Mazda Toyota Manufacturing’s projected opening (and when the first vehicles are planned to roll off the assembly line)

Sports play a huge role in our culture. If you know me, you’ve already learned that I’m a big believer in playing sports during your school years — or if you’re not a sport person, participating in extracurricular activities. 

Why? Because of the life lessons it teaches us. And even if you’re not a big sports fan, you’ll want to tune into this episode.

In this episode of Mo Show Live, we’re speaking with Coach Wade Waldrop. The head coach of the James Clemens Jets football team joined us to discuss his coaching philosophy and share some of the life lessons learned through sports.

• The reason why Wade’s football team practices during traditional class times
• How technology has changed the game for coaches & players in the last 20 years
• What lessons parenting taught Wade about his coaching philosophy
• How playing football can guide players about decision making in life 
• The #1 thing that Wade would change in society if he had a magic wand
• How COVID-19 has changed team sports this season

Did you know 85% of the country is served by volunteer fire departments?

Volunteer firefighters are a group of first responders that sometimes get lost in the mix. In this episode of Mo Show Live, we’ll learn more about these brave men and women serving the community. 

That’s why I’m excited to talk to our guest today, Captain Blake Mathis. He’s a local leader with the Monrovia Fire-Rescue. Blake joined us to talk about the role of volunteer fire departments across the country and what we can do to support them. 

The typical number of active volunteer firefighters in a department

What types of emergency calls firefighters respond to — you might be surprised!

How 911 calls are dispatched (and which department responds)

The reason why new volunteer firefighters shouldn’t respond to every call

How emergency calls get covered when volunteers can’t answer 

What happens when responders answer a call with their personal vehicle

The reason why you don’t need to become a firefighter to volunteer

How volunteer fire departments are really funded

How the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting first responders

What we can do to support our local volunteer fire department

Today’s topic is a tough one for many people but it’s not one we talk about often enough.

In this episode of Mo Show Live, we’re diving into mental health awareness. Our guest is basketball player and mental health advocate, Trey Moses.

After playing for the Ball State University basketball team for four years, Trey recently graduated with a degree in child development. He was an all-time leader in games played, second in blocks, and fourth in rebounds. 

Trey is also a supporter for mental wellness. In this episode, we cover:

• How Trey became a role model for mental health advocacy
• The myth of the invincible athlete (and why it’s okay to struggle)
• Why social media has given mental health awareness a platform
• What we can do to look out for signs of depression in others
• The reason why it’s important to be vulnerable 
• Why parents have to let their college-aged children make mistakes
• Where Trey’s passion for child development developed from