The Shield

Addiction Prevention Coalition
  • 3.7 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The opposite of addiction is connection.We are creating connections one conversation at a time and facing addiction face to face. No topic is off limits, because there are no limits when it comes to substance abuse.For even more content, make sure you subscribe to our channel on YouTube.

  1. S2E4: Street Medicine, Housing First, and Reaching the Unhoused | Kat Cruise & Dr. Craig Borne

    MAR 19

    S2E4: Street Medicine, Housing First, and Reaching the Unhoused | Kat Cruise & Dr. Craig Borne

    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 Kat Cruise (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 navigation, addiction resources, and holistic medical care to meet the unhoused population exactly where they are. From administering joint injections out of a "soccer mom van" to navigating the complexities of the "savior complex" in social work, Kat and Craig pull back the curtain on what street outreach truly looks like. We discuss the realities of Housing First initiatives, the importance of building trust, and why true success might just mean helping someone get their state ID. In this episode, we cover: What is "Street Medicine" and why is it essential for Birmingham? Breaking the stereotype: Why some individuals choose to sleep rough while working full-time.How One Roof, Cahaba Medical Care, and Recovery Resource Center collaborate to reduce barriers to care.How to support the Care for Our Journey initiative.Thank you to our Season 2 sponsor: The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama. Resources: Learn more & view the Amazon Wishlist at One Roof: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1BSQCXXQCWBEB?ref_=wl_shareFor more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    52 min
  2. S2E3: Why 90% Leave Narcan at Home (And How N-Case is Fixing It) with Matt Bitner-Glindzicz

    MAR 5

    S2E3: Why 90% Leave Narcan at Home (And How N-Case is Fixing It) with Matt Bitner-Glindzicz

    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 stigmatized, resulting in 90% of owners leaving it behind. Matt left the space-tech industry to engineer a virtually indestructible, discreet, waterproof keychain case for Narcan. In this episode, Nichole and Matt discuss the tragic origins of nCase, the public health data proving its massive success, and how you can get one for yourself to help save lives at festivals, concerts, and in your daily life. In this episode, we cover: Why 90% of people leave their Narcan at home.The tragic event that sparked the creation of N-Case.Why the blister pack is terrible for carrying Naloxone.The engineering behind making a waterproof, crush-proof case.How the APC is distributing these in Birmingham.Thank you to our Season 2 sponsor: The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama. For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    47 min
  3. S2E2: The 3rd Grade Prison Pipeline & Putting NBA YoungBoy on Trial with Carrie Buntain

    FEB 19

    S2E2: The 3rd Grade Prison Pipeline & Putting NBA YoungBoy on Trial with Carrie Buntain

    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 grade. But this isn't just a conversation about the problems—it's a masterclass in innovative solutions, including a brilliant story about how her team used a mock trial of rapper NBA YoungBoy to keep high-risk youth out of jail. In this episode, we discuss: The reality of prosecuting child abuse cases.Why Section 8 housing shifts are causing community violence.The direct link between truancy and future murder charges.How the FRC acts as a lifeline for families in crisis.Don't forget to Subscribe to The Shield for more incredible stories from the frontlines of mental health and substance use prevention!For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    48 min
  4. S2E1: The Man in the Brooks Brothers Suit: Frank Long on Politics, Addiction, and Radical Grace

    FEB 6

    S2E1: The Man in the Brooks Brothers Suit: Frank Long on Politics, Addiction, and Radical Grace

    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 the "Brooks Brothers suits" and worked for governors, but secretly, he was wearing a mask to hide a severe battle with addiction. Frank opens up about his journey from the State House to recovery, and takes us inside the "City Within a City". With over 560 women and 120 children living on-site , The Lovelady Center is doing more than just rehab—they are rebuilding lives through dental schools, cosmetology programs, and radical community. In this episode, we discuss: The Politician’s Mask: Frank’s struggle with high-functioning addiction while working in Montgomery politics. The "City Within a City": How The Lovelady Center feeds 1,950 meals a day and houses over 600 people. Breaking Barriers: Why the center includes a daycare, extensive medical care, and vocational schools. The Impossible Story: You have to hear the story of Jocelyn James—a Lovelady graduate who donated her kidney to the police officer who arrested her multiple times. Resources Mentioned: The Lovelady Center: https://www.loveladycenter.org/ Children's Trust Fund of Alabama (Season Sponsor)  Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome to Season 2! 03:26 - Meet Frank Long 06:28 - The "Brooks Brothers" Mask: Addiction in Politics 11:58 - Finding The Lovelady Center 16:37 - A "City Within a City": The Lovelady Stats 28:21 - Why Dental Care Changes Lives 33:25 - The Miracle Story: Jocelyn James & The Kidney 36:24 - How to Get Involved For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    36 min
  5. Life on the Edge: A Conversation with George Cowgill

    10/30/2025

    Life on the Edge: A Conversation with George Cowgill

    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 a business, and making intentional choices that align with his values. Beyond the business, George talks about being straight-edge and supporting employees in recovery, creating a workplace built on respect and accountability. This episode highlights his life choices, showing how people can support a recovery community even while owning a bar and grill. Life is full of surprises—and George is only just getting started. For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    34 min
  6. Meeting the Moment: A Conversation with Rosie Stafford Smith

    10/16/2025

    Meeting the Moment: A Conversation with Rosie Stafford Smith

    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 Prevention Coalition in strengthening their mission and impact through strategic planning. Tune in for a warm, insightful conversation about leadership, authenticity, and the power of surrounding yourself with people who make you better — both personally and professionally. For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    33 min
  7. Bridging Gaps: A Conversation with Dr. Pauline Long and Dr. Jennifer Campbell

    10/02/2025

    Bridging Gaps: A Conversation with Dr. Pauline Long and Dr. Jennifer Campbell

    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 on medication management, preventive care, and innovative tools like blister packs to help patients stay on track. Together, they discuss the importance of breaking down stigma, building transparency, and fostering trust in healthcare. From mental health resources to health education, their conversation highlights the power of community and the role of pharmacists in bridging gaps in care. For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    42 min
  8. Accessible Healing: A Conversation with Liz Read

    09/18/2025

    Accessible Healing: A Conversation with Liz Read

    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 testing that were both dignified and encouraged accountability. They also talk about The Renewal Project’s upcoming soft launch this fall, the hard launch planned for January, and how the Addiction Prevention Coalition (APC) became a fiscal sponsor, aligning with APC’s mission to strengthen community well-being. Liz and Nichole also explore what The Renewal Project is looking for in partner providers and encourage community members to stay connected. For anyone who may need this type of support—or wants to help expand access to care—this conversation is an opportunity to learn how to stay informed, get involved, and be part of the movement to make treatment more accessible in Alabama. For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The opposite of addiction is connection.We are creating connections one conversation at a time and facing addiction face to face. No topic is off limits, because there are no limits when it comes to substance abuse.For even more content, make sure you subscribe to our channel on YouTube.

Information

  • Creator
    Addiction Prevention Coalition
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Shield
  • Show Website
    The Shield