PrevenTable: A PreventEd Podcast

Jennifer Massie Fadler, Founder and Executive Director of Life House Youth Center, discusses her organization’s objective to provide a safe and loving space outside of the home for children to spend time. Jennifer talks about building relationships with kids, the various ways the organization serves children, and her vision for Life House to exist in communities around the U.S.

Terran Rome, Executive Vice President of Legacy Institute, sits down at the PrevenTable to describe his organization’s mission to teach kids essential skills and knowledge for navigating adulthood. Terran explains the origin of the idea, which came about during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizes the need for extracurricular alternatives beyond music and sports, and stresses how beneficial it is for people to learn about their history and identity.

Labor recovery specialists James Pursell and Aaron Walsh join us from Lean STL to talk about their work providing resources for mental health and substance misuse for laborers. The duo describes the power of having a peer to confide in, the overlap between work and being in recovery, and the challenge of making prevention appealing to workplaces.

Hubbard Radio-KSHE 95 promotions coordinator Rian Gilkerson joins the podcast this week to talk about the reality check she faced during her time in the Marine Corps. Rian discusses her experience as a woman in the military, covering topics such as intimate partner violence, military ranking power dynamics, and how military members often fail to recognize substance misuse. (TW // Sexual Harassment and Assault)

John Gaal, Joseph Whiteman, and Scott Greenhaus join us this week to discuss their knowledge of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), an issue responsible for 25% of fatalities in the construction industry. The trio shares the importance of having good coping mechanisms, improving physical and mental health, and setting new standards for wearing safety helmets.

Reann Hines, founder of the Behind It All Foundation, takes a seat at the PrevenTable for a conversation on promoting mental health wellness and entrepreneurship opportunities in underserved communities. She describes a few key initiatives encompassed in the foundation, talks about the role of life coaching, and explains her goal to create leaders that spread their impact both far and wide.

Missouri Excel Centers Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost joins us for a conversation about his educational journey and current work helping adults obtain their high school diploma. He discusses how The Beatles kickstarted his passion for education, explains the necessity of providing opportunities for education for all ages, and shares insight on making a difference in students’ lives.

Kevin Harris joins the PrevenTable for a conversation about his journey to recovery as a former DJ, identifying himself as a functioning alcoholic — a term he and Nichole help break down. Kevin also discusses his book, “From DJ to Deacon: The Life of an Alcoholic,” praises the mentors in his life, and shares more about his current role as a harm reduction coordinator.

Shima Rostami, Executive Director of Gateway Alliance Against Human Trafficking, talks about how her organization works to both prevent and educate people about human trafficking. She and Nichole discuss why it can be hard to detect elements of trafficking, how domestic trafficking is often not heard about, and the power behind knowledge.

Dr. Hedva Barenholtz Levy sits down at the PrevenTable to talk about her book, “Maybe It’s Your Medications.” She takes us through the process of writing and publishing the book and hits on some of its major topics, including healthy aging, medication use, being an educated consumer, and how to discuss medicine and supplements with a physician.

St. Louis native Kelly McGowan joins Nichole at the PreventTable for a conversation about the importance of local politics. McGowan, the founder and executive director of Transform 314, discusses her entrance into advocacy, breaks down structural racism as an issue in St. Louis, and talks about boosting civic engagement.

Jim Murphy, former board president of NCADA, sits down at the PrevenTable to share more about this year’s RecoveryFest STL, which he founded last year. He explains how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for connection between people in recovery, details some of the food vendors and live music you’ll see this year, and describes how St. Louis is one of the hotbeds in the U.S. for people in long term recovery.