Choices Unfiltered

What does online safety look like when you move from high school to college? In this Teen Talk return episode of Choices Unfiltered , Mike Stackhouse sits down with Laela — a former Montgomery County high school senior and now a college freshman — to talk about navigating digital life during one of the biggest transitions young people experience. Laela reflects on her senior year of high school, w...

In this episode, Mike takes listeners inside Prevention Academy’s Adult Working Group — a cohort designed to shift professionals from a downstream, crisis-focused mindset to an upstream, prevention-centered one. He walks through each session’s insights and shares a brief but meaningful conversation with clinician Max Masino , who reflects on how data and new perspectives reshaped his approach to s...

In this special episode of Choices Unfiltered , Editor-in-Chief of the EmpowerED Library, David Sherrell, shares a powerful and personal message for the senior class—one filled with honesty, humor, and the kind of real talk every soon-to-be graduate deserves. Through stories from his own senior year, lessons in leadership, and a surprising moment of clarity a decade later, David explores what it r...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , Mike talks with Michael Anthony , Community Mobilizer for the Pottstown Community Coalition for Youth , one of the newest members of the Montgomery County Alliance for Prevention. Michael shares how PCCY is beginning its prevention work in Pottstown — from listening to residents and building community partnerships to connecting with other MAP coalitions and...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , Mike sits down with Wendy Rosenfeld and Charla DeValia Walker from Cheltenham Communities That Care, part of the Montgomery County Alliance for Prevention. Together, they explore how community partnerships are driving prevention forward — from connecting with students to building programs that strengthen families and promote resilience. Wendy and Charla shar...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , host Mike Stackhouse is joined by Kiersten Simon, Executive Director of Prevention Academy, and Juliette Louer, Prevention Specialist and master’s level public health student at Temple University. Together, they sit down with Hallie Weaver and Tanesha Outterbridge from Family Services of Montgomery County to explore how collaboration, prevention education, a...

In this episode, host Mike Stackhouse and Prevention Academy's Executive Director Kiersten Simon sit down with Jeff Hanley, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance (CPA). Jeff shares his prevention story — from his early days in the field to leading one of Pennsylvania’s most influential prevention organizations. Together, they discuss the evolution of prevention, the power...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , host Mike Stackhouse sits down with Prevention Academy ’s Executive Director Kiersten Simon and intern Carly Janco for a conversation about mentorship, learning, and prevention in action. Carly shares her experience stepping into the prevention world for the first time and what she’s learned working alongside Kiersten on new parent-focused resources. Togethe...

This week on Choices Unfiltered , we’re sharing a story straight from our EmpowerED Resource Library . Written by our Editor-in-Chief, David Sherrell, “Have You Met Prevention Academy Yet?” invites listeners into the Prevention Academy classroom — a space built on learning, curiosity, and connection. Through this narrated feature, discover how Prevention Academy works to empower students to make i...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , host Mike Stackhouse sits down with Caroline Heffernan , Social Media Manager for Prevention Academy, and Taylor Moran , Assistant Director, for a behind-the-scenes look at Prevention Academy’s growing social media presence. Together, they discuss the creative process behind prevention messaging, the impact of connecting with students and families online, an...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , Mike sits down with Maura Farrell of Maura Farrell Counseling, LLC and Aubri Smith, a counselor who works with her. Maura provides Equine Assisted Therapeutic Services through a partnership with Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Perkasie, PA, where she incorporates horses and nature into the healing process. Together, they discuss how equine therapy...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , Mike sits down with Kristen Harootunian, Education Alliance Specialist with the Caron Foundation, Young Adult Speaker for Minding Your Mind, and mentor to student athletes at La Salle University. Kristen shares why working with athletes is such a unique and powerful opportunity in prevention, how she connects with young people on and off the field, and the l...

Senior Prevention Specialist Erin Ryan joins Choices Unfiltered to talk about the role of community-informed prevention and how it shapes her work at Prevention Academy. Erin shares insights from her classroom experiences, including the meaningful conversations she’s had with students that continue to strengthen her cultural competence and her approach to prevention. This episode highlights the po...

Starting a new school year means big transitions—whether it’s entering a new grade, heading off to college or trade school, or stepping into the workforce. In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , Mike talks with David Sherrell, Editor-In-Chief of The Empowered Resource Library at Prevention Academy, about why these moments of change can feel stressful and how students and families can manage that...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , host Mike Stackhouse sits down with Taylor Moran, Assistant Director of Prevention Academy, to explore what prevention programming looks like behind the scenes. From program design to classroom delivery, Taylor shares how Prevention Academy equips students with the tools to make healthy choices and how she plans to bring her vision to life as she joins stude...

Season 2 of Choices Unfiltered is here! To kick things off, host Mike Stackhouse sits down with Kiersten Simon, Executive Director of Prevention Academy, to talk about the exciting changes and opportunities ahead. From expanding into Montgomery County while continuing strong in Delaware County, to welcoming new prevention specialists and preparing for the upcoming Pennsylvania Youth Survey, there’...

Season One of Choices Unfiltered is in the books! In this special wrap-up episode, host Mike Stackhouse takes a moment to reflect on an incredible first year—filled with powerful guests, honest conversations, and real prevention in action. Prevention Academy reached over 10,000 students in Delaware County last year, and this year we’re expanding into Montgomery County as well. Mike also shares wha...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , host Mike Stackhouse welcomes Lucy, a rising 6th grader, along with Kiersten Simon, Executive Director of Prevention Academy. Together, Kiersten and Lucy dive into an honest and age-appropriate conversation about social media —from what’s fun about scrolling, to what feels tricky, to how kids can start making healthy digital choices early on. Blending a real...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , we sit down with Christine, a school counselor and person in long-term, healthy recovery, to talk about what real prevention looks like in schools and in life. From her personal journey to the work she does every day with students, Christine shares how risk and protective factors shape outcomes—and how small, consistent support can make a big impact. It’s a...

In this episode of Choices Unfiltered, we sit down with Caroline Heffernan, a recent Saint Joseph’s University graduate and Prevention Academy’s Social Media Manager. Together, we explore Caroline’s popular mini-series “Mindfulness Mondays,” the power of being present, and how simple mindfulness practices can support healthier choices. Caroline also opens up about her personal use of DBT (Dialecti...

What students think their peers are doing often matters more than what’s actually true. In this episode of Choices Unfiltered , we sit down with David Sherrell, Editor-in-Chief of the EmpowerED Library , to explore how social norms shape the way middle and high school students see substance use—and themselves. We dig into why misperceptions about peer behavior are so common, how media and culture...

Laela, a high school senior who recently graduated at just 16, returns to Teen Talk to share what it’s like to navigate one of life’s biggest transitions. In this episode, we talk about the emotions, uncertainties, and growth that come with closing one chapter and stepping into the next — whether that’s college, work, or the unknown. Laela opens up about the support systems, protective factors, an...

In this episode, we're back with Taylor Moran, Assistant Director of Prevention Academy , to continue our conversation on emotional well-being—this time with a focus on the summer months. While summer often brings a break from school and more free time, it can also create new emotional challenges for middle and high school students. Taylor shares insight into how young people can stay emotiona...

This special episode of Choices Unfiltered is our heartfelt tribute to an incredible year of growth, connection, and prevention. Join us for an Audio Yearbook that celebrates the inaugural school year of Prevention Academy , where we reached over 10,000 students with substance use prevention programming across Delaware County. You'll hear powerful reflections from our faculty leaders, Prevention S...

As the school year comes to a close, Choices Unfiltered takes a pause from its usual format to honor the Class of 2025 with a special episode just for them. In this tribute, Editor in Chief of The EmpowerED Library , David Sherrell, shares two powerful letters written to graduates—one for those surrounded by proud families, and one for those who may have walked a lonelier road. These letters, read...