In this Candidate Conversations episode of Make It Make Sense, Alabama, Neeli Faulkner and Whitney Scapecchi sit down with Jodie Minor, a Carrollton native, retired U.S. Army officer, and candidate for Alabama State Senate District 21.

Jodie shares the personal losses that shaped him, including the murder of his father when he was a child, and how those experiences pushed him toward public service. He walks through his career path from Army intelligence to becoming an officer, two combat tours in Iraq, and his time on Capitol Hill as an Army Congressional Fellow. He also discusses serving as Human Capital Director at the White House National Security Council under both the Biden and Trump administrations, and why he chose to step away in early 2025 to return home and focus on Alabama communities.

The conversation digs into what Jodie calls the difference between “audio and video” in government: what’s said publicly versus what policy actually does. Together, they unpack school choice and public education funding, the closure of Pickens County Medical Center during the 2020 pandemic and what it has meant for rural families, and why hospital access is tied to economic survival in small counties.

They also connect the dots between rising utility costs, PAC influence, and the push to change the Alabama Public Service Commission from an elected body to an appointed one. Neeli and Whitney keep it grounded in how these decisions hit real families, from monthly bills to poverty being criminalized.

This episode is part of our ongoing Candidate Conversations series, where we give voters space to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. It contains personal opinions and perspectives shared by our guest. Statements made during this conversation reflect the views of the speaker and have not been independently verified by Make It Make Sense, Alabama or Murder Creek Media. We are not endorsing any candidate or position. This interview is presented so listeners can hear directly from the guest and are encouraged to consult primary sources, public records, and multiple viewpoints when forming their own conclusions.

Make It Make Sense, Alabama is produced by Murder Creek Media. To learn more about our work or listen to other episodes, visit murdercreekmedia.com.