How to Lead Forward in Alabama with Representative Jeremy Gray

In this week’s episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Alabama State Representative and Minority Whip Jeremy Gray. They discuss his career journey from Division 1 football to the Alabama Legislature, where he advocates for student-athletes and works on tech and innovation policy to keep Alabama’s economy competitive. Ryan and Representative Gray also discuss how financial literacy is key to building generational wealth, as well as how overturning Alabama’s three-decade yoga ban became a national story and what the experience taught him about building coalitions. Tune in to learn why policy debates are about power and equity, and the secret to finding bipartisan wins in a political environment that seems to promote polarization.

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [02:17] Discover how the Division I football landscape has changed since he played.

• [06:34] Find out why Jeremy supports structured pay for high school athletes.

• [11:00] Hear the story of how he overturned Alabama’s 28-year yoga ban.

• [15:53] What sparked his interest in public service and running for office.

• [21:21] Learn how playing organized sports prepared him for his role in office.

• [22:40] The experience and challenges of working under a Trump administration.

• [23:57] Explore how Jeremy has been able to find common ground in the legislature.

• [27:40] How Alabama can compete nationally while sharing growth equitably.

• [30:09] Alabama’s 2026 political landscape and what he has planned for the future.