PrevenTable

For it's 46th year in a row, PreventEd is preparing to debut it's longest running youth leadership program; Teen Institute. Co-director's 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...

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...

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 B...

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...

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 mento...

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 a...

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...

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....

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 betwee...

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...

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 k...

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 providi...

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...

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 subs...

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-si...

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...

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 a...

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 r...

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 g...

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://ar...

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 Jeff...

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...

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 RC...

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 w...