PrevenTable: A PreventEd Podcast

Ben Wood, Director of Substance Misuse and Behavioral Health Services at Williams & Associates, shares more about the organization’s mission to address health disparities in marginalized communities. Ben emphasizes the importance of promoting health equity and explains the variety of health support services Williams & Associates provides to address these types of issues.

Annie O’Donoghue and Laura Silverman join Nichole for the second time to discuss the alcohol-free movement that has gained SO MUCH momentum. They explain the difference between the words that float around the AF space, like zero-proof, non-alcoholic, alcohol-free, and mocktails, and why they prefer some over others.

Brandon Anderson, Vice President of Safety at Associated General Contractors, and Ricky Reams, Vice President of Safety and Quality with Murphy Company, highlight initiatives that are addressing mental health, suicide prevention, and substance misuse in the construction industry. The pair reveal how hard discussions are saving lives and emphasize the real change that’s occurring in the field.

Acting Executive Director of MONetwork, Michelle Charbonnier, has been offering harm reduction services and recovery support to community members in South City since she began volunteering in 2017. She joins Nichole to discuss the meaning of harm reduction and how resources like fentanyl test strips and syringe services programs work to keep people who use drugs alive and safe — the basic goal of reducing harm.

When LOVEtheLOU Executive Director and Founder Lucas Rouggly moved to North St. Louis with his wife, they had a simple mission: to spread love to their neighbors. Since 2008, Lucas has brought together a team of passionate workers and hundreds of volunteers to help serve the city and restore the neighborhood of Enright. Lucas sits down at the PrevenTable to talk more about being a grassroots organization, creating future leaders, and being intentional in his mission.

High schoolers Ashok and Nick and PreventEd Associate Director of Community Strategy Kristin Bengtson join the PrevenTable to talk about Hear Us, an annual advocacy event where St. Louis area high schoolers talk to Missouri state legislators about drug prevention, policy, and advocacy. They provide perspective on navigating conversations with elected officials and finding a middle ground while keeping in mind that you don’t need political power to empower.

Matt Woods, Digital Content Producer for KMOV News, discusses his documentary, “Contaminated: The Fentanyl Crisis in St. Louis”, that breaks down the causes behind the rise in fentanyl overdose deaths in the area. Matt hits on barriers to substance use disorder treatment, erasing the stigma around substance misuse from the top down, and making the significant relevant by telling the stories of real people.

Prevention Educator Joy Carter sits down with Nichole to talk about all things Teen Institute along with former participant and intern, Jess Kagan. The pair provide insight into what Teen Institute REALLY is — four days and three nights of fun, combined with small group activities, team building, and leadership exercises that equip high schoolers for preventing substance misuse among their peers.

Andy Bowman and Jennie Payne, PreventEd’s newest peer specialists in the Lincoln County office, join us to discuss how they guide people in recovery through lived experience. They share wisdom on setting boundaries as a peer, how recovery is a conscious choice every day, and dive into launching the Lincoln County program.

Rafe Williams, local stand-up comedian, sketch comedian, improv-er, and radio personality, sits down with Annie to discuss the healing power of comedy and how it relates to mental health and his sobriety.

Amber Campbell, Yoga Teacher and PreventEd staff person, joins the PrevenTable to talk about the role yoga has played in her life, her journey in recovery, and how the Yoga of 12 Step Recovery (Y12SR) brought the two together.

Huvona Watkins and Nora Mosby from the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence join the PrevenTable to talk about the relationship between domestic and sexual violence and substance use, their root causes, and the power of prevention.

Lisa Carter, Co-Director at Mid-America ATTC, and Sherrie Watkins, Technology Transfer Specialist at Opioid Response Network, join the PrevenTable to talk about the importance of supporting service providers, upstream and downstream solutions, the resurgence of stimulants, and the power of knowledge.

What happens to a child when their parent is incarcerated? The idea for 4 Walls & Beyond came to Lisa Porter, Founder & CEO, 18 years ago when she was incarcerated in Vandalia Women’s Prison. She discusses the challenges of parenting behind bars and how her organization helps strengthen the parent-child relationship. Lisa is joined by Otis Lumpkin, Chief Financial Officer, whose lived experience drew him to the mission.

Charlie Backer sits down to discuss sobriety, hot sauce, vulnerabilities and his book, The Sober Impact. He shares how sobriety has shaped him into the man he is today; how he shares his experience and pitfalls with his two kids; and how people, just like ogres, have layers.

Therapeutic Consultant, Dr. Russell Hyken, discusses how he navigates teens and their families through residential treatment and beyond. He explains how his time as a high school principal led him to his current role working within family systems. . . including his own.

KSHE 95 Radio Host, Lauren “Lern” Elwell, pops across the hall to discuss how she prioritizes her mental health and why she chooses to use her platform to support others. Lern talks setting boundaries and how the relationship between “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll” has evolved.

Matt Bauersachs, founder of Learn to Live Recovery, describes his path to creating an innovative step-down program for males in long-term recovery. Hear how this extended care model provides a safety net for the residents by building relationships, teaching skills, and instilling knowledge.

Luka Cai, co-founder of SQSH, joins the PrevenTable to talk about the unique, non-hierarchical role that peer counselors play in supporting LGBTQIA+ community members, the importance of relationship building, and working towards a St. Louis region where people of all genders and sexualities live with power, safety, and dignity.

School Counselor Chris Allen emphasizes the need for prevention programs and support services in rural communities and talks about what it’s really like to work with teens today. He notes that while cannabis use, anxiety disorders, and suicide are prevalent, the power of peers can address these challenges head-on.

Are you working to disrupt the system and be an ally for BIPOC individuals? Do you have a friend that challenges you and pushes you to be better? Vontriece McDowell talks about why it’s important to ask the tough questions of each other, be intentional about the relationships we develop, and call out the B.S.

What do the construction industry and suicide have in common? Unfortunately, a lot. The suicide rate in the construction industry is 3x-5x times higher than the national average. Bo Cooper, Alberici Safety Director, and Brandon Anderson, Vice President of Safety for the Association of General Contractors stop by to discuss this and how they are tackling it head-on because everyone needs some HOPE in their lives.

How can we redefine norms around mental health in immigrant communities? Dr. Min Liu (Professor of Communication at SIUE) and the student members of the Asian American Civic Scholars are tackling this important question, conversation by conversation. Hear how they are bringing resources like Teen Mental Health First Aid- and creating their own- to their schools, parents, and grandparents to create positive change and save lives.

The conversation continues with bestselling author of The Addiction Inoculation, Jessica Lahey. She advocates for frequent, fact-based dialogue about drugs, beginning in pre-K and continuing through college and shares how she creates the space for convos with her kids.

Mom, teacher, and author, Jessica Lahey reveals the motivation behind her best-selling book, The Addiction Inoculation. She talks brain science, middle schoolers, and how being open and honest about her own sobriety keeps her accountable.

Join us at the Preventable with second-time guest, Jim Murphy, as he shares all the exciting details for the upcoming RecoveryFest 2022.

For almost 15 years, Stacy Clay was an advocate and leader in St. Louis Public Schools, and worked to develop comprehensive Student Support Services. When he stepped into a new role at First Bank, his fresh perspective as a non-banker and his understanding of community issues proved invaluable in furthering First Bank’s local emphasis. Stacy talks about the importance of relationships in banking, education, and community, and how technology serves as an important conduit for connection as the landscape and ways we communicate change.

Aldin Lolic has been working to address opioids and substance use disorder in the St. Louis Bosnian community for 4 years and is now the chair of the newly formed Bosnian Opioid Project. He discusses why we need to be proactive instead of reactive, the importance of community, and why stigma and shame have a devastating domino effect on fighting causes such as substance use disorder. He notes the challenges that both immigrants and refugees face when resources are needed and what St. Louis is doing to address them.

Principals are scary, right? Wrong! North Kirkwood Middle School Principal (and uber-wrestling fan) Dana Liberton, sheds light on her journey from student to head principal, including the strong women and happy accidents that helped shape her. Dana lights up as she describes the significance of her role in young people’s lives, the importance of prevention programs, the strength of her team, and the eccentricities of middle schoolers.

Chris Becker, founder of Better Rhodes, reveals what drove him to create this lifestyle brand that curates alcohol-free offerings and develops community. Listen as Chris discusses the debate and nuance surrounding NA products with a critical understanding.

Alicia and Courtney, the dynamic community engagement duo, are back with more tips and tricks. They highlight some accomplishments of PreventEd’s newly-formed Community Advisory Board, including widespread installation of 100 Naloxboxes in the St. Louis Region!

What the heck does “Community Engagement” really mean? And how do you do it? Alicia Smith and Courtney Hinton provide a behind-the-scenes look at PreventEd’s newest department, Community Engagement. It’s a little art, a little science, and a lot of relationship-building and connecting the dots.

Lily Geiger stops by the PrevenTable to discuss Figlia, the alcohol-free aperitif she created, and the inspiration behind it. It’s a tribute to the power of family – the given and the chosen. And an opportunity for honest conversations: serving the good stuff while talking about the hard stuff.

What do you do when you can’t do what you’ve always done? Alexis Thurston details how she pushed forward after a life-altering car accident dashed her college rugby career and found new purpose through motherhood, recovery, exercise, and forest bathing (what the heck is that?).

Founder of Zero Proof Nation, Laura Silverman, describes how she elevates non-alcoholic options and connects people across the sobriety spectrum and across the country. Laura is a booze-free babe in many realms: “soberoke” (sober karaoke), roller derby, and Canva. Check out her new podcast, By Volume!

Dave Kuntz from R3 Development talks all things “building” in East St. Louis: Jobs. Community. Housing. Joy. Sense of Self. Assets. He discusses how to affirm dignity and build trust while pushing against the “white savior” mentality. And how.

Colton Baker describes his role as the Lead Recovery Coach in the EPICC Outreach Project and details how the project works to connect people with resources and peer support after an overdose. He describes the project’s success (e.g. high engagement rate, low response time, coordinated response) in keeping people out of the hospital system and making treatment truly accessible.

Dr. Hedva Barenholtz-Levy explains her role as a geriatric specialist pharmacist and the complexities that accompany working with older adults. Listen as she describes the risks that alcohol, cannabis, and opioids can pose to seniors and as she urges consumers to become an active part of their healthcare team.

Geraldine and Belinda of the First Ladies’ Network discuss high infant mortality rates in St. Louis’ Black community and what they are doing about it. These First Ladies of the church engage in peer-led discussions with prenatal and postpartum moms to support their mental health and provide needed services.

Jen Maness, owner of Hello Juice and Smoothie, discusses how she incorporates health and wellness into her sober lifestyle. Newsflash: It isn’t all avocado toast and acai bowls (although those are certainly delicious!) Jen also dishes on business expansion and (gasp!) ex-boyfriends.

Leslie Robinson, CEO of H.O.P.E. for the Future, describes how and why she founded the mentoring program for teen moms…during the pandemic! She addresses the shame and stigma that often are directed to young parents and speaks to the ways that her organization helps encourage, support, and empower her participants.

Zabrina and Audrey from #SmartParentsDoThis pull up a seat at the PrevenTable to talk the 6 S’s—a parenting framework that makes #momlife and #dadlife a little easier and a lot less stressful.

Brand journalist (what the heck is that?!) and non-profit founder, Kristin Tippit, emphasizes the importance of knowing who you are and what you want to be known for. She explains the difference between organizational alignment and simply drinking the kool-aid. Her authenticity shines through as she reveals how she encourages her children to “feel their feelings” and lean into their vulnerability, while she leans into her own.

Ever wanted to ask a religious leader questions? We did. Pastor Chris from Faith Oakville talks about what ministry really means and why it’s so critical to talk about what’s really going on with people. Forget getting butts in the seats. It’s all about accepting “brokenness,” being available, and not shying away from the tough stuff.

Chris Marshall, founder of Sans Bar, joins the PrevenTable to discuss its evolution from SXSW to its second national tour in just a few short years. He talks building community, being a Black man in the AF space, and teaching others through Sans Bar Academy.

Social justice pioneer, Joe Yancey, details his storied career in the behavioral health field and reveals how he’s been spending his retirement, working to change the system he spent so many years working for. Spoiler alert: Joe is just getting started.

Ever wonder what the DEA really does? ASAC Colin Dickey of the St. Louis Division sheds light on the role of the DEA in targeting drug networks in source countries. He describes how the DEA intervenes with drugs like fentanyl and diverts through long-standing community initiatives like Drug Take Back Days and their newest campaign, Operation Overdrive.

PrevenTable’s producer, Clay Butler, steps in front of the mic for this episode and reveals what it’s really like to transition from program participant to staff member. Clay credits Mr. Shane with getting him to Teen Institute (what the heck is that?), emphasizes the importance of “carefrontations,” and explains his motivation to nudge PreventEd forward on gender identity issues.

Listen to find out how Executive Director of H.E.A.L Stop Heroin, Ellis Fitzwalter, and his wife formed a coalition to honor their son, Michael. As one of the almost 30 community coalitions that PreventEd supports, their efforts range from distributing medication disposal bags, providing grief support, walking to raise awareness, and forming a caravan.

Modern Dope founder, Jaidev, visits the Preventable to talk about why he chooses to donate proceeds from his clothing line to support PreventEd and NAMI.

Meredith Knopp dishes about the St. Louis Area Foodbank’s efforts to increase nutritional security and minimize food waste. She details how the org sources culturally appropriate foods and provides (hunger) relief by filling bellies. #foodandhope

Ever wonder how PreventEd decides what, how, and if to comment on issues? Stacie Zellin of PreventEd describes the animation, enthusiasm, and spirited dialogue that goes on behind the scenes when a “hot topic” surfaces. Listen in real-time as the subject of “cannamoms” surfaces and hear how she and Nichole weigh whether or not we should “say something.” And if yes, then what?

Heirloom Bottling Co. Founder, Brad Zulick, details his journey from academia to craft cocktail entrepreneur. An early Sans Bar supporter, Brad explains “shrubs” and emphasizes the need for good NA alternatives.

OG Harriet Kopolow joins the PrevenTable to reminisce about the origins of “prevention.” Harriet recounts how she pushed against the scare tactics utilized in the early 1980’s and, instead, utilized the AA tradition concepts of peer supports, fellowship, goal-setting, and decision-making, to build the foundation of school-based prevention as we know it.

Chris Thetford discusses how the Better Business Bureau works to empower consumers, businesses, and donors by providing information to facilitate choice. He also underscores the power of diversity of experience in the workplace and advocates for empathetic leadership.

Brock Seals takes a trip down memory lane on the PrevenTable as he describes his journey from fashion designer, to rapper, to commissioned artivist for the St. Louis Cardinals, the NFL, the City Foundry, and, yes, even PreventEd!

Sharon Spruell, mom of 3 and CEO of Queen of Peace Center, reflects on the complexities of motherhood and highlights the unique challenges of women’s treatment and recovery services. #jugglenotbalance #momlife

Fan-girling occurs when Amy Shaw visits the PrevenTable to talk about how Nine PBS went back to its roots during the pandemic. Local, human, and relevant content are the differentiators that make public television “more than enough.”

Community coalition leader Gerald Watson stops by the PrevenTable to reflect on “mega” status, misconceptions about Black fathers, and life after active addiction.

The conversation was so good, it had to continue. Ryan and Kenajo discuss what a recovery-friendly workplace really looks like, the impact of trauma, and making amends.

Peer specialists Kenajo and Ryan drop by the PrevenTable to school Nichole on what peer support really looks like: recovery taxis; searching the woods; helping others find their worth; and putting their own oxygen masks on.

Elizabeth George from the St. Louis Community Foundation stops by the PrevenTable to talk about (gasp!) money, legacy giving, and the importance of giving your mom credit for all the good ideas.

Jordan Hampton stops by the PrevenTable to talk about the role recovery housing plays in sobriety and how he harnesses his experience, strength, and hope to refine his craft as a peer.

Interim CEO of Safe Connections, Cynthia, stops by the PrevenTable to answer questions about domestic violence and sexual assault like, “Can men be victims of abuse?” and “Why doesn’t she just leave?” She also busts myths about the role alcohol does, or doesn’t, play in issues of consent.

Cal and Djuna reminisce at this PrevenTable about the conversation several years ago around their kitchen table that led to the creation of Living With Purpose, their nonprofit that supports people with intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders. They provide insight on their positive workplace culture (dogs and kids!) and reveal what they have in store over the next 5 years.

High school senior Pooja joins the PrevenTable to talk about her new Naloxbox nonprofit, The Opioid Project, and ponders a political career. Pooja for President!

Hear what motivated mom of 2, Shavanna Spratt, to pivot from survival mode to community activist as host of “Da Hood Talks” podcast.  She and Nichole talk about elevating urban voices, podcast swag, and why sometimes you just have to shut up.

Listen as the newly-married Dr. Kanika Cunningham details why the inclusion of addiction medicine into the primary care setting is a necessary step forward in addressing substance use disorders, particularly in the Black community.

Pickleball and hiking and CrossFit. . . oh my!  Listen as Jim Murphy stops by the PrevenTable to wax poetic about the good ol’ days and to talk about his latest endeavor to support individuals in long-term recovery.

Suicide prevention expert, Elizabeth Makulec, takes a seat at the PrevenTable to talk about the power of teens, the importance of asking for help, and her desire to retire early.

How do you help formerly incarcerated people re-enter society? And actually succeed? Hint: it has a lot to do with boredom. Listen as Nichole discusses these topics and more with fellow political theory nerd, Clark Porter.

5th grader, Virginia and 3rd grader, Violet join Nichole to talk about the importance of sharing and being a good friend. And they ask the question, “What the heck does it mean to be a grown-up anyway?”

Nichole is joined by Annie, the mastermind behind Sans Bar STL, St. Louis’s first zero-proof pop-up (and to date, the largest Sans Bar in history!) Learn more about the AF life and what’s next for Sans Bar STL.

Nichole sits down with her guest, John, and discusses cabinets, construction, opioid use disorder and the loss no parent should have to go through. Hear how he worked with medical professionals at Washington University in St. Louis to reduce stigma, create change, and to ultimately have people listen to what he was saying.

Poli “sassy pants” Rijos returns to the PrevenTable for a conversation about colorism, teaching tolerance to kids, and checking privilege. Geriatric pregnancy? Nah, 40 is the new 20.

What’s it like to have a parent who has a substance use disorder?  Listen as PrevenTable guest Poli Rijos describes her dad’s journey into long-time recovery.

Take a seat at the PrevenTable with Nichole and her guest Christia DeShields.  They dish about the absurdity of “Mommy Wine Culture” and why advocating for your children is the purest expression of motherhood.

Nichole welcomes teens Annemarie and Tom back to the PrevenTable to weigh in on social norms, self-care, and “checking-in” on your friends. Don’t be surprised when they start quoting Freud.

Teens get a bad rap.  On this inaugural episode of the PrevenTable, Nichole Dawsey talks with two “normal” teens, Annemarie and Tom, about what teens are really doing these days. And the answers may surprise you.