The Real Truth with Tommy Spina

In this episode of The Real Truth, Tommy sits down with John Archibald, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and longtime voice in Alabama journalism to continue this season's exploration of the First Amendment and the Constitution in 2026.

They explore the role of a free press in holding power accountable, the growing challenges facing journalists, and why protecting sources remains essential to uncovering the truth. From shifting media landscapes to concerns about government transparency and public trust, the conversation examines what’s at stake when credibility, access, and accountability are all under pressure.

The Real Truth Season 3: "We Th...

As The Real Truth continues exploring the status of the First Amendment (and the Constitution itself), Tommy speaks with Robert Corn-Revere, a leading First Amendment and media law practitioner and current Chief Counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). He successfully defended CBS Television and Viacom in the FCC proceeding resulting from the Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" and petitioned for a posthumous pardon for late comedian Lenny Bruce, which was granted by New York Governor George Pataki in 2003.

They discuss press freedom, reporter-source confidentiality, and the legal limits of government power over speech. The...

In this episode of The Real Truth with Tommy Spina, Tommy speaks with Lee Levine, one of the nation’s leading First Amendment attorneys. Levine has practiced, taught, and written about First Amendment law for fifty years. He has argued on behalf of the press in courts nationwide, including the US Supreme Court. They discuss the role of a free press, legal protections for journalists, and the growing tension between government power and media accountability in today’s political climate. Their conversation comes at a time of renewed national attention on press rights, following recent reports of President Donald Trum...

Part of our ongoing look at government, power, and the Constitution, Tommy sits down with former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, now a Democratic candidate for governor of Alabama, to discuss what’s happening in Washington and what it means for the state.

They explore the role of Congress, concerns over executive power, and how political pressure is shaping decision-making at the federal level. The conversation also turns to Alabama, including the governor’s race, healthcare access, and the challenges facing voters in a rapidly changing political landscape.

Welcome to Season 3 of The Real Truth with Tommy Spina: "We The People"

In the first episode of this new season, Tommy speaks with Bruce Rogow, founding professor of the Nova Southeastern University Law Center. He has argued over 450 civil and criminal cases in federal and state appellate courts, including eleven before the Supreme Court of the United States.

In his eclectic career, Bruce has represented clients ranging from 2 Live Crew to the Ku Klux Klan, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and Roger Stone.

On The Real Truth, he offers a fresh perspective...

Part 9 of The Real Truth's in-dept look into Alabama's medical cannabis program. This week, Tommy speaks with Whitt Steineker, partner at Bradley and founder/co-chair of the law firm’s cannabis industry team, for an overview of where the program stands today and how it got here. From licensing delays and legal challenges to the status of integrated facility licenses, they break down the path from legislation to rollout.

Part 8 of The Real Truth’s deep dive into Alabama’s medical cannabis program. This week, Tommy speaks with Allen Forrest of Pick Up My Things, one of the licensed transporters in Alabama’s medical cannabis rollout. They discuss the transporter’s role in the seed-to-sale process, the security and logistics involved in moving cannabis materials, and how this often-overlooked part of the program helps connect cultivators, processors, and dispensaries.

Part 7 of The Real Truth’s Alabama medical cannabis series. Tommy speaks with Dr. Brent Boyett, an addiction medicine specialist and certified recommending physician, about the doctor’s role in the program, how patients are evaluated, and why cannabis must be approached as a carefully managed medical treatment.

Part 6 of The Real Truth’s deep dive into Alabama’s medical cannabis program. This week, Tommy speaks with Brandon Biles (President) and Natalie Siracusa (Laboratory Director) of Green Health Laboratories, currently the state’s only licensed testing facility supporting Alabama’s medical cannabis rollout. They explain the critical role of laboratory analysis, how products are verified for safety and accuracy, and what must happen behind the scenes before anything reaches a dispensary shelf.

In the fifth installment looking at Alabama's medical cannabis program, Tommy speaks with Antoine Mordican, CEO of Native Black Cultivation and one of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission’s licensed cultivators. Morgan shares his path from Chicago to Alabama, his decade-long preparation for this moment, and what it really takes to grow compliant, medical-grade cannabis in Alabama.

Subscribe to The Real Truth with Tommy Spina and check out the other installments of this series and more:

Pt. 4: Jason Cobb & Dr. Rusty Sutterlin of Organic Harvest Lab

Pt. 3: Dr. Sam Blakemore - Pharmacist & AMCC Vi...

In the fourth installment of The Real Truth's in-depth look at Alabama's medical cannabis program, Tommy talks with Jason Cobb and Dr. Rusty Sutterlin of Organic Harvest Lab, a cannabis processor in Birmingham. They break down what a “processor” does, how cannabis oil is extracted and refined, the role of testing and child-safe packaging, and what this step in the supply chain means for patients as dispensaries move closer to opening.

Continuing The Real Truth’s in-depth look at Alabama’s medical cannabis rollout, Tommy sits down with pharmacist and Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission vice chair Dr. Sam Blakemore. They explore the healthcare perspective behind the program, including safety standards, packaging requirements, and the systems designed to ensure medical cannabis is dispensed responsibly to qualified patients.

In the second episode of The Real Truth's in-depth dive into Alabama's medical cannabis program, host Tommy Spina speaks with Vince Schilleci, one of the owners of CCS Alabama, a company that was awarded one of the licenses to operate a dispensary by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. They discuss the delays and developments of the program, what patients can expect once dispensaries begin operating, and the various regulations in place to protect both patients and companies.

This week on The Real Truth, Tommy Spina is joined by John McMillan, director of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, for an in-depth update on the state’s medical cannabis program.

This episode is the first in a series of podcasts looking into Alabama’s medical cannabis system, patient access, physician certification, regulatory safeguards, and what patients and providers can expect as the program develops.

For more information about the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, visit:

https://amcc.alabama.gov/

The Real Truth with Tommy Spina is back with its first episode of 2026. This week, Tommy sits down with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin for a look at the state of the city of Birmingham in 2026.

To close out the show’s “Rule of Law” series, Tommy speaks with Chief Circuit Judge William H. Pryor, Jr., discussing constitutionalism, judicial independence, and how courts are functioning in today’s polarized climate.

This week, Tommy speaks with U.W. Clemon, an Alabama attorney, civil rights pioneer, and former federal judge. Drawing on decades of experience and a history-spanning career, Clemon shares his perspective on why constitutional principles still matter, civic responsibility, and the lessons history offers in today’s political climate.

About U.W. Clemon:

Born in Fairfield, Alabama, he became one of the first black lawyers admitted to the Alabama bar and one of the first African Americans elected to the Alabama Senate since Reconstruction. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed him as Alabama’s first black fede...

This week, Tommy is joined by Jeff Brumlow, municipal attorney, former Shelby County Commissioner and current Central Alabama Water board member. They discuss the challenges the utility faces in light of recent leadership changes, audit findings, and its ongoing efforts to meet community expectations.

This week, Tommy is joined by Tony Petelos, who has served as an Alabama state legislator, mayor of Hoover, and county manager for Jefferson County. With his decades of public service, Tony shares his view on the recent changes at Central Alabama Water, including the utility's rebranding, restructuring, and controversial search for a new CEO.

Tony Petelos served as Hoover, Alabama mayor from 2004 until 2011. In 2011, he became the first county manager and CEO of Jefferson County, overseeing the largest municipal bankruptcy in United States history. In 2020, Jefferson County exited the resulting consent decree from the bankruptcy. He...

This week, Tommy speaks with former U.S. Representative Mo Brooks, who represented Alabama's 5th congressional district from 2011 to 2023. Through the lens of his experience in Washington, Brooks reflects on the complicated interplay between money, media, party politics, and the forces driving decision-making in D.C.

This week on The Real Truth with Tommy Spina, Tommy sits down with Barnett Wright, executive editor of The Birmingham Times, for a conversation about truth, community, and the evolving role of the press.

This week, Tommy talks to Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist John Archibald to discuss the state of the press, the rule of law, and what it means to seek truth in an era of noise and division. As the press faces the modern challenges of AI, social media, and misinformation, Tommy and John explore how journalism’s role as a watchdog has evolved and why a free, ethical press remains essential to democracy.

from johnarchibaldink.com:

John Archibald has been a journalist in the South for more than 35 years. He is a two-time winner of the Puli...

This week, Tommy speaks with Joellyn Beckham, founder of Bright Blue Dot and one of the organizers behind the politically-charged billboards popping up around Birmingham. Beckham recalls how Bright Blue Dot began as a response to the 2004 presidential election and evolved from a bumper sticker into eye-catching billboards aimed at sparking conversation and countering disinformation.

Together, they discuss the challenges of communicating across political divides, the influence of media bubbles, and the importance of honest dialogue in protecting and preserving democracy.

For more information about Bright Blue Dot, visit britebluedot.com

In this episode of The Real Truth with Tommy Spina, Tommy sits down with Bennet Wright, Executive Director of the Alabama Sentencing Commission, for an in-depth discussion on Alabama’s prison system, sentencing reform, and the state’s ongoing struggle to balance justice, cost, and rehabilitation.

This week, Tommy speaks with renowned trial attorney David S. Rudolf (featured in Netflix documentary "The Staircase", author of "American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System", and co-host of award-winning podcast "Abuse of Power").

David joins us to discuss "The Rule of Law", an open letter published in North Carolina and signed by more than 800 North Carolina lawyers, urging their colleagues and the public to recommit to protecting fundamental democratic principles such as due process and judicial independence.

You can read the letter at nclawyers4theruleoflaw.org

In the premiere episode of The Real Truth with Tommy Spina, Tommy sits down with former U.S. Senator Doug Jones and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin to discuss the cancellation of his previous program ("Our Issues Birmingham"), the evolving landscape of media ownership, and the growing influence of government in broadcast media.

Welcome to The Real Truth with Tommy Spina, a podcast that cuts through the noise to uncover what really matters. Hosted by Birmingham-based attorney Tommy Spina, each episode dives into the issues shaping our world nationally, across Alabama, and in our local communities. From politics and policy to stories that hit close to home, Tommy takes a deeper look by asking tough questions, connecting the dots, and challenging assumptions. Expect candid conversations, thoughtful analysis, and unfiltered perspectives that help you understand not just what’s happening, but why it matters. We're glad you're here.