PrevenTable: A PreventEd Podcast

On this week’s episode of the PrevenTable, Jenny Armbruster sits down with St. Louis native and Missouri Senator Brian Williams. During his tenure, Sen. Williams has championed legislation that delivers meaningful, measurable impact for Missouri communities. His work revolves around public health, including the expansion of access to lifesaving care for sickle cell anemia patients. His fierce tenacity for serving the under-represented aligns instantaneously with PreventEd’s mission of combatting the harms associated with alcohol and substance use.

In this week’s episode of the PrevenTable, Jenny Armbruster sits down with Patty Morrow, Vice President of Behavioral Health at Mercy Hospitals and a fellow Board Member of the Behavioral Health Network (BHN). Drawing on more than 20 years at Mercy, Patty shares her perspective on closing gaps in behavioral health services, the importance of transparency, and why staying curious about mental health can make a difference. She highlights the intersections where substance and alcohol use disorders meet behavioral health and how each of us can help reduce stigma by reaching out, starting conversations, and supporting one another.

This week, PreventEd’s Director of Advocacy Adam McBride sits down with Jenny Armbruster to explain the current state of cannabinoids in Missouri. He mentions the need to advocate at all levels of government for true regulation of these products. While licensed dispensaries are the go-to for most, people are still able to purchase misleading and commercially camouflaged cannabinoids at a local gas station. The call to action on this issue has been around since 2018, and, thankfully, Missouri legislation is starting to head in the right direction. Through educational and advocacy opportunities, PreventEd’s mission aims to empower young adults to continue to make smart decisions about cannabis use, especially with school starting up soon.

Sritha Rathikindi pulls up a chair at the PrevenTable this week with host Jenny Armbruster to talk about advocacy, especially the promise young people hold. Involved since eighth grade, Sritha has felt a strong calling to prevention and substance misuse. She attended Hear Us: PreventEd’s annual advocacy event at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. She has seen the initiative grow from 6 to almost 30 people over the past year. Currently, she serves on the board of directors as our teen representative. The perspective she provides, not just for PreventEd’s board of directors but also for our state legislators, is a crucial element in advocating in our communities for those dealing with substance and alcohol use disorders.

For its 46th year in a row, PreventEd is preparing to debut it’s longest running youth leadership program, Teen Institute. Co-directors of this program, Grace DeClue and Ali Stambaugh, sit down with Jenny to showcase the exciting experiences TI will bring to those that sign up. From breakout sessions and drug-specific conversations to camp tie-dye, scavenger hunts, and nature hikes, participants can expect a weekend packed with critical team building and youth leadership development, with fun thrown into the mix. Grades 9-12 are eligible to register, and PreventEd aims to make Teen Institute an accessible and unforgettable leadership retreat for all of its participants.

They’re back! Luka Cai sits down with PrevenTable Host and Executive Director Jenny Armbruster to discuss all things SQSH, or St. Louis Queer Support & Healing. At SQSH, several new initiatives are rolling out in the coming months to help promote and facilitate queer safe havens across the St. Louis metro area. Luka makes mention of how, as an organization, they are keen on feedback and letting that fuel the direction they see SQSH going in when it comes to addressing public concern for LGBTQIA+ population in St. Louis. Listen more for how you can stay connected with all the events happening during this years’ Pride Month at SQSH!

Brittney Bonds pulls up a chair at the PrevenTable with Executive Director and Host, Jenny Armbruster, to unpack one of life’s most powerful feelings; grief. While it has made itself abundantly present early on in her life, Brittney is using grief as fuel to make change in her life, and others’ too. Bridging the gap that grief can carve in someone’s life with compassion and understanding sparked Brittney’s life long promise of giving back to those that gave to her. PreventEd recognizes and follows this commitment, especially when it comes to serving the community and aiding in practical, long-term recovery.

He’s back! James Pursell joins Jenny on the PrevenTable to recap all the groundbreaking work he’s been doing since his debut episode in season three. Mentioning several coalitions across the St. Louis region. James shares his impact and how it can be measured across recovery services within the substance use, mental health, and labor recovery fields. Additionally, his time of three years as a Peer Support Specialist brings together the importance of being vulnerable with the fundamentally crucial mantra of simply showing up for your tribe. Navigating situations along the spectrum of recovery aligns with PreventEd and our mission statement of providing accessible resources to all.

2025 Pioneer Award Recipient Dr. Fredrick Echols joins Jenny to highlight the significance of relationships, and how nurturing them can last a lifetime. Sharing both personal and professional anecdotes from his wide array of leadership opportunities, Dr. Echols discusses that his affiliation with PreventEd has empowered him to build a meaningful network, and rise to the role as a significant mentor throughout his community. Inspiring young people to be fueled by education and help incite change wherever they go is a crucial part of PreventEd’s mission statement, and people like Dr. Echols serve as pioneer’s for just that.

Ben Holtmeyer, Howard Potratz Alumni Leadership Award recipient and dedicated PreventEd supporter, joins Jenny to discuss the importance of being aware and staying connected to community in Saint Louis. Making mention of his close involvement with PreventEd spanning several years, Ben highlights the significance of how his time with the team has equipped and empowered him to serve as a pillar of advocacy in all areas throughout his professional and personal development.

Natalie Garrett, Director of Admissions and Outreach at Harris House Foundation, joins Jenny to discuss how Harris House supports individuals across the full continuum of care in recovery. They explore the organization’s programs, the importance of staying connected throughout the recovery journey, and the challenges posed by today’s insurance landscape. The conversation also highlights the value of honesty and having difficult conversations with loved ones—while emphasizing that hope remains at the heart of recovery and positive outcomes are always possible.

PreventEd interns, Liz Smith and Austin Nico, share their reflections on their time at PreventEd as they enter their final semester at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. During their time at PreventEd, they have practiced applying what they’ve learned and shared their thoughts on the latest cannabis trends and on how we communicate this information to our teens.