The Shield

SEASON FINALE What happens when early addiction recovery, pandemic isolation, and an obsessive love for dough collide in a home kitchen? You get Uncle G’s Pizza, Birmingham’s favorite Detroit-style pizza brand. In this episode of The Shield , host Nichole Dawsey sits down with George Gilliam, the culinary mastermind behind Uncle G’s. George shares his honest journey through substance use recovery,...

Hepatitis C is often called a "silent disease" because thousands carry it for decades without experiencing a single symptom—until liver damage has already begun. But medical science has reached an unprecedented milestone: Hepatitis C is now completely curable in as little as 8 to 12 weeks with simple, well-tolerated oral pills. In this episode of The Shield , host Nichole Dawsey is joine...

What happens when someone is ready to enter substance use treatment, but has nobody to care for their pets? In this heartwarming and eye-opening episode of The Shield , host Nichole sits down with Sonya King , Founder and Executive Director of Two by Two Rescue (accompanied by special guest Muffin Man, a pup saved from under a bridge in Birmingham). Sonya shares the incredible journey of building...

Frontline recovery work isn’t about accolades—it is about showing up daily for people who feel forgotten. In this episode of The Shield , host Nichole is joined by two remarkable leaders being honored at the upcoming Addiction Prevention Coalition Gala on September 24th: Yvonne Thomas , Executive Director of East Lake Recovery Drop-in Center (Community Service Award), and Dani Sims , Assistant Dir...

Are mission-driven organizations expected to solve society’s hardest problems on shoestring budgets? In this episode of The Shield , host Nichole Dawsey sits down with Danielle Dunbar, Executive Director of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits (AAN), to break down the economic reality, structural challenges, and common misconceptions surrounding charitable organizations. Together, they dive into...

How should parents and educators respond when teens experiment with modern vaping, edibles, or gas station synthetics? Dr. Stacy Marshall (Emergency Medicine Physician, Medical Toxicologist, and Adolescent Addiction Specialist at Children's of Alabama) joins Executive Director Nichole to break down the medical reality of adolescent substance use. They explore how high-potency products impact...

There is a massive amount of pressure to have your entire life figured out at 18 years old. But what happens when your original plan falls apart? This week on The Shield , Nichole is joined by Charles Johnson, a recent graduate of Jefferson State Community College who is starting at UAB this fall. Charles shares his incredibly raw, motivational journey of losing his father to cancer, stepping away...

Are you looking for a way to make a tangible impact in your community? APC Junior Board President Anna Lynn and Vice President Gracie join Executive Director Nichole to share the deeply personal reasons they dedicate their time to addiction prevention. We discuss the power of turning your focus outward, the importance of creating inclusive, alcohol-free spaces in Birmingham, and how serving on a b...

What does it take to change the statistics in a county that ranked #1 in the nation for opioid overdoses? In this episode of The Shield , Executive Director Nichole sits down with Paige Britton, the founder and Executive Director of the Recovery Den in Walker County, Alabama. Paige shares her raw, first-hand experience of surviving active addiction in a rural community with virtually no resources,...

Raising a teenager is the hardest job in the world, and there is no playbook for it. In this episode of The Shield , Executive Director Nichole sits down with Dannette Bivins, a licensed mental health therapist and the owner of Intentional Healing. Dannette specializes in family therapy and working with adolescents in the juvenile court system, particularly those dealing with problematic sexual be...

What does it take to finally surrender after 22 years of addiction? In this episode of The Shield , Nichole sits down with the fierce and inspiring Misty Gomel. Misty is a Career and Life Coach at Hope Inspired Ministries (partnering with The Foundry) and the host of "The Fixed Fight" podcast. Misty shares her incredible journey from spending over two decades in active addiction to now h...

What happens after you get sober? Quitting the substance is just the beginning; building a life you actually want to live is the next step. Welcome back to Season 2 of The Shield ! Today, Nichole sits down with Heidi Moos, the founder of Creative Compass and a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. Heidi shares her incredible journey from being a middle school teacher for the "quiet kids" t...

Electronic music, heavy bass, and... Narcan? In this episode of The Shield , Nichole sits down with Anthony Phillips, Sam, and Parker—the team behind Birmingham’s own Slinger Entertainment. Slinger isn't just throwing immersive EDM and bass music events; they are actively working to keep their community alive and safe. We discuss how Slinger partnered with APC to distribute over 600 Narcan ca...

How does the addiction crisis affect our oldest generations? You might be surprised. Welcome back to Season 2 of The Shield ! In this episode, Nicole sits down with Morgan Rhodes, a program coordinator at the Area Agency on Aging (based out of the United Way of Central Alabama). Morgan pulls back the curtain on the unique mental health challenges older adults face and the incredible, free resource...

10 years ago, the End Addiction Walk was born out of a desperate need to take to the streets and let Birmingham know that help was available. Today, as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are preparing for our most impactful event yet—and our final one. Nicole and board member Alabama Cole (The Q 103.7) discuss the evolution of the walk, the new resources available this year (including HIV/Hep C...

What happens when you take healthcare out of the clinic and bring it directly to the streets? Welcome back to Season 2 of The Shield Podcast!  In this episode, Nicole sits down with Cat Cruz (One Roof) and Dr. Craig Bourne (Cahaba Medical Care) to discuss a groundbreaking new initiative in Birmingham: Care for Our Journey . This interdisciplinary street medicine coalition combines housing navigati...

Welcome back to The Shield Podcast! Today we have our first-ever virtual guest: Matt Bitner-Glindzicz, the aerospace engineer and co-founder of nCase Tech. After his fiancée tragically lost a childhood friend to an opioid overdose simply because their life-saving Narcan was left at home, Matt realized there was a massive gap in overdose prevention. The medication is too bulky and highly stigmatize...

Welcome back to Season 2 of The Shield ! Today, we are joined by Carrie Buntain, former prosecutor and current Executive Director of the Family Resource Center, located right inside the Jefferson County Family Court. Carrie pulls back the curtain on the brutal realities of the juvenile justice system, intergenerational trauma, and why a child's life trajectory is often decided by the 3rd grad...

Welcome back to Season 2 of The Shield! We are kicking things off with a story of massive transformation—both personal and community-wide. In this episode, host Nicole reaches out to Frank Long, the Development Director at The Lovelady Center. Before Frank was helping lead the largest transitional center for women in the country, he was navigating the high-stakes world of Alabama politics. He wore...

In the season finale of The Shield , Nichole sits down with George Cowgill, a true Birmingham native and the owner of the Black Market Bar + Grill. George reflects on his experience as a firefighter and how it shaped the way he approaches life, work, and community. He shares insights from his journey of building one of Birmingham’s most popular bar and grills, navigating the challenges of running...

In this episode of The Shield , Nichole sits down with Rosie Stafford Smith, Founder and CEO of Zadie & Co. — a nationally recognized consulting firm that helps nonprofit leaders and philanthropists reach their greatest potential. Although a Birmingham native, Rosie first connected with Nichole through St. Louis, where their paths crossed. She has since supported Nichole and the Addiction Prev...

On this episode of The Shield with Nichole Dawsey , Nichole is joined by Dr. Pauline Long and Dr. Jennifer Campbell, co-owners of MedsPLUS Consulting in Birmingham. With more than 20 years of experience working side by side, Dr. Pauline and Dr. Jennifer lead their pharmacy with a mission to provide personalized health support, especially for underserved communities. They share how MedsPLUS focuses...

In this episode, Nichole sits down with Liz Read to discuss The Renewal Project, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating financial barriers to mental and behavioral health treatment for Alabama residents. Liz shares her journey to becoming the Executive Director, including her past experience leading Clearlee, a startup focused on creating new and innovative approaches to drug testin...

This week on The Shield, Nichole sits down with Micah Andrews, Executive Director of The Foundry, as they celebrate 55 years of helping people rebuild their lives.  From its beginnings as a rescue mission to becoming a faith-based residential recovery program, The Foundry has evolved to meet people where they are. Micah opens up about his personal journey, the role faith has played in shaping his...

For today’s episode, Nichole sits down with Gaines Johnson, president and creator of The World Baseball League. Inspired by conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, Gaines developed the league as a way to combine baseball and entertainment at an affordable price. He shares his passion for the sport, his vision for creating a community-centered experience, and how he hopes to make the ga...