Just Say Something Podcast

In this episode, CEO of Just Say Something Phil Clark introduces two of the organization’s summer interns, Jocelyn and Sebastian, who lead the intern team this year. Jocelyn shares her journey from volunteering in high school to now preparing for medical school, while Sebastian discusses how the internship aligns with his goal of becoming an adolescent psychiatrist. They talk about the impactful w...

In this week’s episode, Phil Clark welcomes back Stacey Ashmore to give an exciting update on the Impact Youth Sports Program. Impact is a vital initiative helping local kids stay active, build confidence, and form lasting connections through soccer, basketball, and now, flag football! Stacey shares the current focus on soccer, where up to 30 kids train weekly with long-time coach Ariana from CESA...

In this episode of The Just Say Something Podcast , host Phil Clark talks with with David McNease, co-founder of Greenville Transitions Recovery Center, to discuss supporting young men on the path to recovery. David shares how his personal journey through substance use and early sobriety inspired him to help others facing similar struggles. They talk about the center’s holistic approach to long-te...

In this episode of The Just Say Something Podcast , host and CEO Phil Clark sits down with Alan'a Thornton and her mother Volori Thornton, the powerhouse duo behind The Girls Academy SC. Launched in January 2025, this nonprofit is on a mission to build confident, capable young women through leadership training, etiquette classes, mental health support, and even AI-driven entrepreneurship tools. Al...

In this episode of The Just Say Something Podcast , host Phillip Clark is joined by Nick Nacchia and Tyler Burgess for a real and honest conversation about addiction, recovery, and what it takes to rebuild your life. Tyler, a CEO and father, talks about the moment his wife gave him a life-changing choice: get help or move out. Now nine years sober, he shares how that turning point led to a new sen...

CEO Phil Clark sits down with Richard Yeargin III - Clemson football champion turned professor and bestselling author - to discuss the upcoming Take It Back! Youth Summit.   Discover how to help middle schooler students navigate social media overload, find their voice, and build authentic connections in our digital world. Richard shares powerful strategies for "peeling back the layers" and helping...

In this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, host Phillip Clark talks with Heather, a certified youth resilience coach and former special education teacher, who will be leading the girls track at the upcoming Take It Back! Youth Summit. Heather shares her journey from teaching to life coaching, and how her work focuses on building confidence, self-worth, and emotional resilience in middle an...

On this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, host Phillip Clark is joined by team member Nick Wolff to talk about the upcoming Take It Back! Youth Summit , happening July 22–23, 2025 at Carolina High School. This two-day event is designed for middle schoolers, but it’s also a unique opportunity for high school and college students to step up as interns. Nick shares how interns will play an e...

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast , host Phillip Clark welcomes community activist and team member Derrick Quarles to the show. Derrick shares how a tragic news story first inspired his journey into advocacy and community organizing back in 2011. Now deeply involved in tobacco policy work with Just Say Something , Derrick talks about the challenges of balancing public health with b...

In this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, CEO Phil Clark is focusing on National Prevention Week 2025 (May 11-17). This SAMHSA-hosted observance week promotes substance use prevention and positive mental health across communities nationwide. Clark shares statistics: nearly 40 million Americans aged 12+ struggle with substance use disorder, while mental health challenges affect one in five...

In this episode, host and CEO Phillip Clark explores Mental Health Awareness Month, observed annually in May. Nearly one in five American adults experience mental illness each year, representing about 52.9 million people. The pandemic has worsened these conditions, with global anxiety and depression rates increasing by over 25% in the first year alone. There is hope found in treatment success rate...

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, CEO Philip Clark discusses National Minority Health Month, highlighting the critical health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority communities across the United States. He explores how these disparities intersect with factors like disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, geographic location, and socioeconomic status. Key P...

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, CEO of Just Say Something Phillip Clark discusses National Alcohol Awareness Month (April) and its importance. He covers: The purpose of Alcohol Awareness Month, established in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency Alarming statistics: nearly 15 million Americans have alcohol use disorder, and alcohol is the third leading...

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, host Philip Clark discusses Stress Awareness Month (April) and provides valuable insights on recognizing and managing stress in our daily lives. Phil discusses the physical, mental, and behavioral signs of stress, shares practical strategies for stress management, and offers helpful resources for those needing additional support. Key topics covere...

In this episode of the Just Say Something's Podcast, Phillip Clark discusses the upcoming Youth Summit for students in Greenville County scheduled for July 22-23, 2025! Phil's guest this week is Richard Yeargin III, who shares his powerful personal story of overcoming challenges in middle school and his passion for youth empowerment. The two discuss their partnership for the upcoming Youth Summit,...

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, host Phillip Clark welcomes Nick Nacchia, a new board member for Just Say Something and the founder of Recovery 413. Nick shares his personal journey through addiction recovery, which began in 2009, and his subsequent work in the addiction treatment field. Nick discusses his background in addiction recovery services, including his work with Safety...

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, host Phillip Clark discusses World Bipolar Day, observed annually on March 30th, which coincides with Vincent Van Gogh's birthday. The International Society of Bipolar Disorders leads this global initiative to raise awareness about bipolar disorders and combat stigma and discrimination. Philip explains that bipolar disorder affects millions worldw...

In this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, host Phillip Clark discusses National Poison Prevention Week, which takes place during the week of March 17th. This year's theme is "When the Unexpected Happens, Poison Help is Here for You." Phillip shares alarming statistics about poisonings in America, noting that someone calls a poison center every 15 seconds, resulting in over 2 million calls...

In this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, host Phillip Clark explores the significance of the International Day of Happiness, celebrated annually on March 20th. The origin story of this global observance, which was not initiated by major world powers but championed by the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan—a nation that pioneered the concept of Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic...

In this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, host Phillip Clark discusses National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW), taking place March 17-23. This annual health observance, created by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and supported by partners like the DEA, focuses on promoting science-based dialogue about substance use among youth. Phillip explains that what makes NDAFW specia...

In this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, host Phil Clark discusses the critical connection between sleep and mental health during National Sleep Awareness Week. Phil shares compelling research showing that 90% of American adults with good sleep health report no significant depressive symptoms, while 70% of those dissatisfied with their sleep experience at least mild depressive symptoms....

In this episode of the Just Say Something podcast, host Philip Clark talks with Maureen Gavin, a team member at Just Say Something. Maureen shares alarming insights from her recent work conducting vaping and tobacco education in Greenville County Schools. The discussion reveals disturbing trends about youth vaping, including administrators finding seven, six-year-olds vaping on an elementary schoo...

This episode of the Just Say Something podcast, hosted by CEO Philip Clark, continues the series on mental health awareness days by discussing National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 24th through March 2nd). The statistics about eating disorders are alarming, with someone losing their life every 52 minutes to an eating disorder. These conditions have the second highest mortality rate amo...

In this episode of Just Say Something's podcast, CEO Phil Clark discusses the significance of Random Acts of Kindness Day, celebrated on February 17th, emphasizing that kindness should be practiced daily, not just for 24 hours. The episode explores how small gestures of kindness can significantly impact someone's day, from a stranger holding a door to a coworker buying coffee. The biological benef...

In this episode of The Just Say Something Podcast, CEO Phil Clark examines Safer Internet Day, observed globally on February 11th. Phil notes Tim Berners Lee's invention of the World Wide Web in 1990 and traces how Safer Internet Day evolved from a 2004 EU project to its current status as a globally recognized initiative observed in nearly 130 countries and supported by major tech companies. The e...