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. 6d ago

    Servant Leadership on the Frontlines: Yvonne Thomas & Dani Sims (2026 Gala Honorees)

    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 Director of the Recovery Resource Center (Carrie J. Wimberly Impact Award). In this episode, we cover: Filling the Gaps: How East Lake Recovery transformed from a simple drop-in center into a life-saving daily resource offering meals, hygiene, ID assistance, and treatment pathways for individuals battling fentanyl.Street Medicine in Action: Danny Sims details the collaborative effort behind Care for Our Journey, bringing doctors, peer specialists, and nutrition directly to Birmingham encampments.Radical Compassion & Boundaries: The reality of rehousing pets so clients can enter detox, balancing motherhood with mission work, and knowing when to protect your own mental health.Veteran Wisdom: Essential advice for anyone entering the behavioral health and recovery field today.For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    Servant Leadership on the Frontlines: Yvonne Thomas & Dani Sims (2026 Gala Honorees)

  2. Sep 3

    Why the “Scarcity Mindset” Is Breaking Nonprofits (with Danielle Dunbar)

    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 why 84% of Alabama nonprofits operate on under $1 million annually, how the sector quietly generates $16.9 billion in economic impact, and why nonprofit leaders must leave "martyr syndrome" behind to build truly sustainable community organizations. In this episode, we discuss: The Reality of Nonprofits: Why Alabama ranks 40th per capita in nonprofit density and the truth about southeastern philanthropy.Scaling Beyond Scarcity: Breaking the myth that administrative overhead is bad and why professional staff deserve competitive pay.Real Outcomes: How the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) helped local organizations build $1M endowments and multi-agency collaborations.Board Governance & Ownership: Understanding that a 501(c)(3) belongs to the community, not the founder.Connect with Our Guest: Alabama Association of Nonprofits: alabamanonprofits.orgLearn more about NELI and AAN Resources: alabamanonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-leadership-instituteSupport the Show: If you found this episode valuable, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Subscribe to The Shield YouTube channel for full video episodes and highlights.For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    Why the “Scarcity Mindset” Is Breaking Nonprofits (with Danielle Dunbar)

  3. Aug 20

    S2E14: Understanding Teen Substance Use: Vaping, Edibles, and Harm Reduction (with Dr. Stacy Marshall)

    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 developing brains, what parents need to know about accidental edible ingestion, and how Children's of Alabama's Adolescent Substance Use Assessment Clinic is providing low-barrier support for families. You can contact the Adolescent Substance Use Assessment Clinic at Children's Hospital at 205-638-9231 and the poison center number at 1-800-222-1222. For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    S2E14: Understanding Teen Substance Use: Vaping, Edibles, and Harm Reduction (with Dr. Stacy Marshall)

  4. Aug 6

    S2E13: Overcoming Depression and Finding Purpose (with Charles Johnson)

    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 from high school football, and battling suicidal thoughts. He explains how failing at a traditional four-year college forced him to reset, lean on his faith, and eventually find an incredible support system through Phi Theta Kappa. Now studying psychology, Charles is on a mission to build his own mental health hospital to serve the less fortunate. We also discuss the upcoming Gala happening on September 24th at Jefferson State. Tune in for one of our most inspiring conversations yet! For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    S2E13: Overcoming Depression and Finding Purpose (with Charles Johnson)

  5. Jul 9

    S2E12: Finding Purpose and Building Community (Inside the APC Junior Board)

    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 board surrounds you with people who are truly locked into the mission. We also dive into all the exciting details for the upcoming Mahjong & Mocktails event on August 23rd at Allgood Beverage Company! For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    S2E12: Finding Purpose and Building Community (Inside the APC Junior Board)

  6. Jun 25

    S2E11: Building the Recovery Den and Changing the Statistics with Paige Britton

    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, and how that fueled her mission to become the change she wanted to see. From patching a leaky roof she learned how to fix on YouTube, to building a 100% peer-run recovery board, Paige’s story is a masterclass in grassroots community building. We also discuss how the Recovery Den is breaking down stigmas, providing everything from business clothes to Narcan, and even bringing the first Recovery Cafe into the local sheriff's office. In this episode, we cover: The Walker County Crisis: The reality of living in a county deeply impacted by the opioid epidemic.The Recovery Den: How a free building and a lot of YouTube tutorials led to a life-saving central hub for recovery.Peer-Led Support: Why it is so critical that people seeking help are met by those with real lived experience.Upcoming Events: Details on the Overdose Awareness Walk (Aug 31) and the "Recovery Roundup" Sober Fest.Thank you to our Season 2 sponsor: The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Connect with the Recovery Den and learn more about their resources.For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    S2E11: Building the Recovery Den and Changing the Statistics with Paige Britton

  7. Jun 11

    S2E10: Parenting Teens, Early Intervention, and the LIFT Program with Dannette Bivins

    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 behaviors like sexting. We dive deep into the reality of parenting teenagers today. Dannette breaks down why traditional discipline (like grounding) can sometimes backfire, how to separate typical teen angst from actual mental health red flags, and why you need to let go of your parenting guilt. In this episode, we cover: Family Therapy: Why treating the individual isn't enough if you don't treat the whole family system.Juvenile Court & Sexting: How education and early intervention change behavior better than punitive measures.Parenting Guilt: Why your teenager's mistakes are not a reflection of your failure as a caregiver.The LIFT Program: Everything you need to know about the Learning and Interventions for Families with Teens program (Sponsored by the Children's Trust Fund).Thank you to our Season 2 sponsor: The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Connect with Dannette Bivins at Intentional Healing.For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    S2E10: Parenting Teens, Early Intervention, and the LIFT Program with Dannette Bivins

  8. May 28

    S2E9: The Gift of Desperation and Finding Your Purpose with Misty Gomel

    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 helping others discover their hidden talents, build sparkling resumes, and step into their true purpose. We also tackle some of the hardest conversations in the recovery space: the reality of "hitting bottom," breaking codependency, and why we should focus on "choosing yourself today" rather than just counting the years. In this episode, we cover: Work Ready: How Hope Inspired Ministries helps people in recovery dream big again.The Turning Point: The two words a life coach said that changed Misty's life forever.Family Dynamics: Why you cannot force your loved one to hit rock bottom.The 3 F's of Recovery: Faith, Focus, and Fellowship.The Fixed Fight: Why we need to stop fighting and start surrendering.Thank you to our Season 2 sponsor: The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Listen to Misty on The Fixed Fight podcast (Live Thursdays at 5:30 PM on TV Studios).Learn more about Hope Inspired Ministries & The Foundry: https://hopeinspiredministries.org/For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/ https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

    S2E9: The Gift of Desperation and Finding Your Purpose with Misty Gomel
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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
    84
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Shield
  • Show Website
    The Shield