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.

Brandon Boos from Faith Oakville joins us for a conversation on PreventEd’s partnership with the church and the third annual Stomp Out Addiction walk on October 1st. Brandon dives into the church’s mission to connect people, how they strive for community beyond church, and Faith’s deep roots in service.

Darcy Glidewell and Clay Jenkins describe their organization, The Next Step, which aims to provide tuition assistance for people in long term recovery. They explain the story of their kitchen table idea that bloomed into $1.93 million in funding student education, comment on the way education empowers those in recovery, and share the satisfaction of witnessing the support network that develops for students through their work.

Radio personality Donny Fandango joins the PrevenTable for a refreshing reality check about being open with your mental health and emotions. He talks about being real for the radio, provides wisdom about dealing with grief, and shares more about his philanthropic work for the Ronald McDonald House.

Steve Ewing, businessman and frontman for The Urge, joins Nichole to talk about his two greatest endeavors: music and food. He describes how his restaurant, Steve’s Hot Dogs, fed nearly 10,000 people when schools closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, shares insight into working in the music industry, and delves into his longtime passion for fitness.

PreventEd Process Analyst Intern Justin Boyle joins the PrevenTable to share the backstory of how he entered the prevention education space as an intern this summer. He reflects on what motivates him, describes a few community-engaged learning experiences in both his college and home community, and explains his goal of seeing basic awareness and knowledge of injustice lead to positive change.

KSHE 95 Morning Show Host A.D. Rowntree joins us for a conversation on how he utilizes his radio platform to advocate for change. A.D. describes his attempts to break down mental health stigmas in a relatable way, discusses everyday management of his mental health, and talks with Nichole about the benefits of exercise and meditation.

Alicia Jenkins from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services joins Nichole for a discussion about public health and community. She shares the extensive variety of work she does as a public servant, emphasizes the department's goal of getting Missourians access to health services from anywhere, and praises the power of digital media in dispersing public health information to large audiences.

Co-founder and Executive Director of Foster Together, Laura Storm, sits down to explain more about the organization, which provides essential items to foster children and families in St. Louis. She talks about her mission to restore dignity to kids, seeing foster children as more than a statistic, and how lucky she feels to have passionate volunteers.

Sports radio host Anthony Stalter joins Nichole at the PrevenTable for a conversation about St. Louis’s medication bag disposal project, which Anthony currently promotes on 101 ESPN St. Louis. The pair discuss mental health and substance use in sports, the value of going to therapy, and the importance of extending empathy, not judgment, to all.

Former NCADD Director of Affiliate Relations Leah Brock sits down at the PrevenTable to share her experience of working for the organization for 30 years. Leah and Nichole discuss the history of NCADD, the importance of relationship building, and the balance of maintaining the integrity of their mission while still continuing to grow and evolve with the times.

After tragically losing her best friend to an act of sexual violence, Rachel Ebeling began to grow hope from grief. On a mission to help other victims through the healing process, she started The Angel Band Project. She joins the PrevenTable alongside music therapist Tracie Sandheinrich to share more about the organization’s music therapy program, the power of peer support, and finding solace through music.

Research Assistant Professor Alexander Hatoum joins the PrevenTable to share more on his collaborative study on human genomes and substance use disorder. He talks about the heritability of substance use disorder, explains the addiction risk factor model, and even gets into a more recent development — the risk of using artificial intelligence for certain treatment methods.

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.