PrevenTable

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Season 6 of PrevenTable premieres with Nichole Dawsey, former Executive Director of PreventEd and now Executive Director of the Addiction Prevention Coalition. Nichole reflects on the camaraderie and connection that define PreventEd and what it meant to transition into leading the only organization in Alabama providing prevention education in schools. She also discusses cultural differences between Missouri and Alabama in both workplace dynamics and substance use prevention efforts, closing with a candid look at navigating the 36-hour federal funding freeze in January and the resilience required to lead through uncertainty.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our Season 5 finale, Jenny sits down at the PrevenTable with Joyce Kariuki, PreventEd Associate Director of Community Strategy, for a conversation about what truly supports young people as they grow. Joyce breaks down the developmental assets that act as building blocks for youth success, explores the impact of both adverse and positive childhood experiences, and highlights why trauma-informed approaches matter. Through it all, she reminds us that there’s no rulebook for raising kids, but there are tools that can help us show up better for them.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're back with another episode of the PrevenTable! Jenny sits down with Brenda Schell, Public Health Analyst and Liaison for the state of Missouri’s Overdose Response Strategy, and Brad Germann of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. They discuss the encouraging decline in overdose rates across Missouri since 2022 and highlight the impact of statewide naloxone distribution, with more than 630,000 kits provided to partners across 15 counties between July 2024 and June 2025. The conversation covers the signs of an overdose, emerging drug use trends, and the innovative strategies being implemented both in Missouri and nationwide to save lives and strengthen communities.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We welcomed Tasha Skouby, Grant Coordinator at Jefferson Franklin County Community Action Corporation, to the PrevenTable this week for a conversation about the partnership between The Collective and JFCAC’s EZMO program, which provides transportation for those in the county seeking recovery. Tasha addresses the three biggest community needs: transportation, housing, and childcare and what providing such resources means for recovery support. The two also discuss what the buzzword “collaboration” really means and how this partnership is its true definition.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’re talking about one of biggest barriers to recovery—housing—and how one organization is working to change that. Our guest, Maggie Sullivan, is the executive director of Gratitude House, a sober living home for women that’s redefining what aftercare can look like. She shares how her team is elevating the recovery experience, building positive community culture, and how each person’s unique recovery journey still shares a few powerful universals.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've got some familiar faces on the pod this week—Jenny's three kids! Lucy (14), John (15), and Alex (11) bring some young wisdom to the table as they share their experience and insight about drug use in elementary, middle, and high school. They describe the attitudes and behaviors around vaping and cannabis use as well as their understanding of how to help a peer that may be struggling with substances.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meet Matt Bitner-Glindzicz, founder of nCase Technologies, who—along with his fiancée—created a naloxone keychain to make carrying the lifesaving medication simple and accessible. After witnessing multiple overdose tragedies, Matt and Dani recognized the difficulty of regularly carrying naloxone due to its size and packaging, and decided to take matters into their own hands by creating a pocket-sized case for it. Now, they’re partnering with community groups to get naloxone into more hands, one keychain at a time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the PrevenTable, Callan Montgomery, director and co-founder of Haven Recovery, shares the inspiring story of starting the organization with her husband eight years ago. Since then, Haven Recovery has provided safe and supportive housing for more than 1,000 people on their recovery journeys. Callan highlights the essential resources they offer to those seeking stability and healing, as well as the impact of community support. She also shares ways listeners can get involved during Recovery Month to make a difference.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Olivette mayor Sidney Clark joins to give the inside scoop on his time working in politics for the city—the same city that PreventEd’s main office is located! Born and raised in the area, Sidney gushes about the way he’s seen the Olivette community grow, discusses the nonprofit footprint in the town, and even dishes on new spots and fun events for residents and visitors alike.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Studies show Gen Z is using substances at lower rates than any other generation. But is that really true? Jenny welcomes Abigail and Audrey Brown to the PrevenTable this week for some insight into what's going on in the world of Gen Z and substance use. Abigail, a server at a college bar, dishes the truth on what it's like to navigate the drinking scene amongst young adults, and the pair discuss recent health trends and prevention efforts surrounding abstaining from substances.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the PrevenTable, we talk with Ashley Johnson from the Missouri National Guard’s Counterdrug Program about her work supporting community prevention efforts. From distributing Narcan kits to schools to teaching mental health first aid, she’s helping make a difference across Missouri. Ashley shares what it’s been like to collaborate more closely with PreventEd and what’s ahead for this growing partnership.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amanda Ruback, Community Outreach Coordinator with the Missouri Poison Center, says cases of accidental cannabis overdose in children have been on the rise in Missouri since the legalization of the drug two years. This week, we welcomed her to the PrevenTable for a show and tell, where she discusses cannabis safety and storage and explains her role with the center.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In honor of The Collective’s grand opening, we brought in certified peer specialist John Singer to provide insight into his motivation for creating a recovery community center in Jefferson County. He explains the ability of RCC’s to lower barriers to recovery, our partnership with Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation, and why transportation services to treatment are so important in JeffCo. Come visit us at The Collective now!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Executive Director x Executive Director today at the PrevenTable! Aaron Laxton with Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA) details his background in social work, the story of ARCA’s beginnings, and the challenges of leading an organization right now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we're headed back into the weeds with certified substance abuse counselor and clinical social worker Jay Winig! For the last 17 years, Jay has been a valued part of Saint Louis University’s Counseling Center, beginning the “Sober at SLU” support group for students in recovery, as well as the SHARP and CARRP programs intended to reduce the harm of alcohol and cannabis on campus. Jay and Jenny talk about how cannabis use has evolved since recreational-use legalization in Missouri, plus Jay's efforts to support students in managing the demands of college without drug use interfering. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill Whitney joins Jenny at the PrevenTable for a lesson on Recovery Community Organizations, independent centers focused on helping individuals achieve long-term recovery. Bill and his wife, inspired by their own recovery journeys and the feature documentary “The Anonymous People,” opened their own RCO in Georgia after witnessing the success of peer driven models. He tells the backstory of the RCO’s founding, plus discusses his goal to reduce barriers to recovery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the U.S. military, masculine gender norms and an emphasis on mental toughness have traditionally been practiced to enforce stoicism within troops. But, mental health and masculinity often clash during the effort to reduce stigma surrounding veterans’ abilities to cope with trauma. Chris Mendes, Director of Operations at Veterans Community Project, directly speaks to his and others’ experience with this military mentality, the crossover between veteran populations with substance misuse, and the VCP’s attempts to connect veterans to behavioral health services.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Susan Bradford of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health is here to give us the scoop on current rates and trends of drug use among young people. She shares what’s working—and what’s not—plus describes the impact of and takeaways from the Missouri Student Survey.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lakesha Robinson, Sr. Advisor on Children, Youth, & Families to the St. Louis city mayor, joins Jenny to share more about her “heart” work. Focusing on resource access for families and community collaboration, Lakesha explains the impact of the Mayor’s Youth Cabinet, describes how connection helps reduce risk factors for youth, and dives into the details of several initiatives she runs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.