The Mark White Show

Tonight, I’m coming to you from The Butcher - Meat Co. in Vinemont, Alabama, with Kadi Lee Smith! We’re talking about The Butcher’s 4th Annual Smoke & Flames Barbecue Cookoff coming up October 24th at the Vinemont Sports Complex. Kadi shares how the event got started, what it means to have a KCBS-sanctioned competition, and what they have planned with BBQ teams, People’s Choice, arts & crafts vend...

On this Make a Difference Minute, I’m coming to you from The Butcher Meat Co. in Vinemont, AL, with Kadi Lee Smith as she shares a message for anyone thinking about starting a business: Just jump! Kadi shares how she and Justin took that leap with The Butcher - Meat Co., what they’ve learned along the way, and why sometimes you have to move beyond what’s comfortable to pursue what you believe in....

Tonight on The Mark White Show, we’re going inside the work of The Long Way Home Rescue with Maggie Chandler Tucker. Four boxers recently came into their care after living in what Maggie describes as horrendous conditions. Two of the females are pregnant, meaning four rescued dogs could soon become many more. Maggie shares what these dogs experienced, what happens when neglected animals finally re...

On this Make a Difference Minute, I’ll have Maggie Chandler Tucker of The Long Way Home Rescue in Limestone County, AL. For 18 years, Maggie and her team have taken in animals others often didn’t want, including hundreds of abuse and rehabilitation cases. She’ll share what happens when a terrified animal finally realizes it is safe, and how rescuing four neglected dogs from a breeder could prevent...

Tonight, I’ll introduce you to little Luca and his grandmother, Elena Oliver Terry. Luca is only four months old and was born with complex congenital heart disease, including tricuspid atresia with D-transposition of the great arteries. In his first few months of life, he has already spent significant time in the hospital, and his family knows this will be a lifelong heart journey involving specia...

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Elena Terry as she shares about her grandson, Luca, who was born with a rare congenital heart defect and is currently facing complications that have him back in a children’s hospital in Oklahoma. Elena describes Luca as the happiest little baby, always smiling despite everything his young body has already endured. His family had no idea anything was wrong w...

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Paul Bruyneel, better known to many as Santa Paul, as he shares about his recovery following his third shoulder replacement surgery. After decades of physically demanding work, degenerative arthritis took a devastating toll on Paul’s shoulder. Finding a surgeon willing to perform such a complex revision surgery wasn’t easy, and by the time the procedure cou...

On this Make a Difference Minute, I’m coming to you from Gabriela’s Latin Fusion in Athens, Alabama, where owner Maximo Villagomez “Max” shares a message for anyone trying to build something of their own. For Max, there’s real value in starting at the bottom. He believes learning the basics of a business firsthand gives an entrepreneur something that cannot be replaced. The work that may not seem...

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...

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 b...

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 t...

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 m...

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 b...

On this MADM, Julie Garner is sharing about Project Yellow Light as they seek to educate everyone on distracted driving. This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Bankston Motor Homes, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong. Real stories. Real people. Real impact. News That Unites!™️

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 wa...

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, pregna...

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...

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...

On this edition of The Mark White Show, I'm talking with Jewell Brown, a mother and grandmother who is courageously living with end stage kidney failure and searching for a living kidney donor. Twenty years ago, Jewell received a kidney transplant from her mother, a gift that allowed her to raise her sons, build a life, and become the proud Mimi of three grandchildren. That transplant gave her yea...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I’m sharing Jewell Brown’s journey and her need for a kidney donor. After facing kidney challenges since childhood and receiving a transplant from her mom that has lasted 20 years, Jewel is now in renal failure and searching for a living donor. This segment highlights both the reality that transplants are not always permanent and the opportunity for someone to mak...

On this edition of The Mark White Show, I’m sharing the story of Rory Amos, a husband, father, and hardworking provider who continues to push forward in the face of serious health challenges. Rory has been on peritoneal dialysis for the past three years and is currently on the transplant list for a kidney at UAB and St. Thomas in Nashville. His journey has included life-changing complications from...

On this Make a Difference Minute, I’m sharing a portion of a conversation I had with my Uncle Sewell Hall, who passed away last Sunday at the age of 96. This interview was recorded in the spring of 2019. As Uncle Sewell reflected on his childhood, he remembered a family that moved often because his father was a preacher. Though money was tight, he never spoke of hardship with bitterness. Instead,...

Some of you have asked if I would re-air my conversation with my Uncle Sewell Hall. Tonight, I’m honored to do just that. Originally recorded in the spring of 2019 for the Athens Bible School graduating class & beyond, this conversation has taken on a much deeper meaning following Uncle Sewell’s passing. You’ll hear him reflect on the family that shaped him, the lessons he learned through decades...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I’m sharing the story of Rory Amos, a husband, a father, and a hardworking man who is in need of a kidney donor. Rory addresses one of the biggest concerns people have about donation, the cost, and explains how his insurance covers it. He also shares how even if you’re not a direct match, you can still help through paired donation programs that connect donors and...

On this Make a Difference Minute, I have Jamie Gatlin as she shares about her husband, Jeff Gatlin, and his search for a living kidney donor as he lives with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Jeff has known since his teenage years that he had PKD, a hereditary disease that also claimed his father’s life and affects one of his sisters. For years, he was able to live a relatively normal life, but now...