The Mark White Show

Tonight on The Mark White Show, I'm joined by Fran Birdwell for a deeply personal conversation about grief, hope, and learning how to live with both. Fran has been living with stage IV colon cancer and has endured the unimaginable loss of two sons. Through profound heartbreak, she has discovered that grief is not something we simply get over. It’s something we carry. It’s not easy. In fact, it can...

On this Make A Difference Minute, we share an important update about 4-year-old Miyanna Edmiston and her urgent need for a kidney transplant. As her kidney function continues to decline, her family is searching for a living donor in hopes of finding a match before dialysis becomes necessary. This segment highlights the medical, emotional, and financial challenges they are facing, while also remind...

On tomorrow’s Make a Difference Minute, I reflect on a word we don’t hear very often, but perhaps need more than ever: magnanimous. It means having a greatness of heart. It describes people who are generous in spirit, gracious in disagreement, and unwilling to let bitterness or resentment define them. Being magnanimous doesn’t mean ignoring wrong or pretending hurt doesn’t exist. It means choosing...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I share a message for those walking through grief and loss. This segment encourages listeners to honor their loved ones by continuing to live, grow, and find joy while carrying their love forward. This MADM is brought to you by Bama Estate Planning by Attorney Harlan D. Mitchell, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong. Real stori...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I’m remembering my friend, Chad Collins. Chad and I grew up together around Sanders Street and Second Avenue in Athens, Alabama. As the years passed, life took us in different directions, but the memories and friendship remained. Over the last several weeks, many people followed Chad’s battle with pancreatic cancer. Through it all, one thing remained constant, Cha...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Nona Adams, principal of Cedar Hill Elementary School in Ardmore, Alabama, sharing what it means to have a Connie’s Cabinet on campus. Created in memory of Connie Ridgeway, Connie’s Cabinet provides a way for families to receive help with dignity and without shame. Principal Adams explains that many families quietly struggle and often don’t let others know...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Steffenie Jenkins sharing the journey she and her family have faced as they searched for answers for their son, Jacob. Now 21 years old, Jacob is battling bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare and irreversible lung disease, and is receiving treatment through Mayo Clinic in Arizona. As Jacob’s health declined, Steffenie found herself in a position many families k...

On tonight's show, I'm joined by Steffenie Jenkins as she shares the story of her 21-year-old son, Jacob, and the medical battle that has changed their family’s life. After years of unanswered questions, Mayo Clinic diagnosed Jacob with Bronchiolitis Obliterans, a rare and irreversible lung disease. More recently, doctors determined the condition was likely caused by rheumatoid arthritis affecting...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Andy Esser with Edward Jones sharing why 529 education savings plans can be a valuable tool for families planning for future education expenses. While many people associate 529 plans with college savings, today’s plans offer more flexibility than ever before. Funds can be used for qualified educational expenses ranging from K-12 programs and trade schools t...

Tonight, we’re bringing you two conversations centered on investing in the future, whether that’s through education planning or meeting practical needs within our schools and communities. In the first segment, I’m joined by Andy Esser with Edward Jones, for a national conversation tied to 529 Day, which took place last Friday. We’ll discuss new research showing many families are concerned about ri...

On this Make A Difference Minute, we’re remembering Joe Negri, the beloved musician and actor known to generations of children as Handyman Negri on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. While many remember him as the friendly neighbor who walked through Fred Rogers’ television neighborhood, Joe’s contributions went far beyond a television role. An accomplished jazz guitarist and educator, he became an impo...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Marlee Phillips with the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy sharing how the Girls Inc. Eureka program is introducing young women to career paths they may have never considered before. For many students, exposure is everything. If they've never met a woman working in construction, design, architecture, marketing, project management, or the skilled trades, th...

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 simple: the little things matter. A surprise package in the mail filled with items to help during chemotherapy. A bag...

Tonight, I'm joined by Ashley Russell of Athens, Alabama. What started as a back injury and time away from work quickly turned into something much more serious when doctors discovered a mass on her kidney and adrenal gland. Since then, Ashley has faced countless doctor visits, scans, testing, surgery, chemotherapy treatments, and the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Ashley is not on...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Dr. Tommy Davis, Executive Director of the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy, sharing why their mission goes far beyond preparing people for careers in the skilled trades. While the academy was created to help address workforce needs, Dr. Davis quickly realized something even more important was happening. Lives were being changed. He shares the story of a...

Tonight, I’m joined by Dr. Tommy Davis of the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy and Marley Phillips as we highlight a partnership focused on creating opportunities and building futures for young people in our community. Dr. Davis will share how the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy is helping prepare the next generation workforce through hands-on skilled trades training, while Marley Phillips wi...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Keri Morrison, Executive Director of Live Like Jake, sharing why swim lessons and water competency can save lives. Through Live Like Jake, thousands of swim lesson scholarships have been provided to families across the country, helping children gain critical self-rescue swimming skills. Keri also shares a heartbreaking reality many families may not realize:...

On this edition of TMWS, I’m joined by Keri Morrison, Executive Director of Live Like Jake, for a conversation every parent, grandparent, caregiver, teacher, and community member needs to hear. After the heartbreaking loss of her son Jake, Keri turned unimaginable grief into a mission focused on childhood drowning prevention, water safety awareness, and helping families protect their children thro...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Yash Patel with Joe’s Pharmacy in East Limestone sharing what keeps him motivated as a business owner in healthcare. In a world where many people feel rushed or treated like a number, Yash believes helping people still matters. Sometimes, it’s saving someone money on prescriptions, seeing relief on a customer’s face, or simply caring enough to listen. Inspi...

At Joe’s Pharmacy, healthcare is about more than prescriptions. It’s about relationships, trust, and making sure people feel cared for. Tonight, I’m joined by Yash Patel, along with Betheny Turner and Liz Drake, as we talk about personalized patient care, supporting families and seniors, the challenges independent pharmacies face, and why local businesses still play such an important role in stren...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Ronald Piester, Vice President of Membership and Personnel Certification with the International Code Council, sharing a perspective many people may never think about. Behind every safe home, school, business, and public building are professionals dedicated to protecting lives and strengthening communities. Ronald shares how a family background in architectu...

On tonight’s show, I’m continuing the conversation surrounding Building Safety Month with a group of guests helping shape the future of building safety, workforce development, and community growth across North Alabama and beyond. Joining me are Ronald Piester, Vice President of Membership & Personnel Certification for the International Code Council, Steve Woodard, Director of Inspections for Madis...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I’m honored to share a special recording from my friend, the late Sgt. George Mills, a World War II veteran, former prisoner of war, and a man who dedicated his life to serving others. Captured during the Battle of the Bulge and later liberated in 1945, Sgt. Mills understood sacrifice in ways few ever will. For years, he shared something he called “Toast to the Fl...

On this Make A Difference Minute, I’m sharing a reflection about something many of us eventually come face to face with. For a lot of years, we can carry an unspoken belief that difficult things happen to other people. Then life has a way of getting our attention through loss, health struggles, unexpected news, or simply realizing time seems to move faster than it once did. This conversation is no...

Heavy rain during today's Building Safety Month celebration in Huntsville, Alabama, made some of the messages inside difficult to hear, so I wanted to make sure the content was preserved and shared. This audio includes remarks from Larry Durham, Representative Rex Reynolds, Representative Andy Whitt, Senator Sam Givhan, Ronald Piester with the International Code Council, Michael Valenzuela with Ma...