Teen anxiety is everywhere right now—but it doesn’t have to define our kids’ stories. In this conversation, teen and parent wellbeing coach Laura Ollinger joins Dave to unpack what everyday “living room” anxiety really is, why it shows up so strongly for teens, and how parents can respond in ways that build connection, emotional skills, and a positive sense of identity.

Laura shares what she’s seeing in her coaching work and at home with her four teens, then walks through practical ways parents can normalize emotions, support teens in working with anxiety (instead of avoiding it), and shift from “fixing” to truly connecting. This one’s especially for prevention leaders who are also parents—and for anyone coaching parents in their communities.

About Laura:

Laura Ollinger is a teen and parent wellbeing coach based in Austin, Texas. She combines a master’s in health and wellness education, health and life coach training, and years of parenting four teenagers to help families navigate stress, anxiety, and relationship challenges. She also hosts the “Positively Healthy Mom” podcast.

Connect with Laura: https://www.positivelyhealthycoaching.com/

Listen to her daughter's podcast: Cavaliers and Conversations

Share this episode with a colleague, coalition partner, or fellow parent who’s walking alongside teens.

Lead with intention, not reaction. Dave talks with Louise Montag (Montag Forward Solutions; former ED, Prevention Network) about moving from whack‑a‑mole to values‑aligned leadership in prevention.

What you'll learn:

• Make mission–vision–values a usable North Star
• Turn strategy into action with 90‑day cycles
• Choose funding without mission drift
• Build healthy team norms: focus blocks, urgency vs importance, scheduled send

Links:

https://montagforwardsolutions.com/

https://www.preventionleaders.com/

Joy Journal: A 90‑Day Path to Everyday Joy & Mindful Growth

We've invested heavily in youth prevention, but what happens when those young people enter the workforce? In this eye-opening conversation, Joel Bennett from Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS) challenges us to think beyond traditional prevention approaches.

Joel and Dave explore why adult prevention has been overlooked, how workplace culture can be either a risk factor or protective factor, and practical strategies for building resilience in professional settings. From the "drinking culture" in military and first responder communities to the power of simple check-ins and reflection exercises, this episode offers concrete tools for prevention leaders ready to expand their impact.

Whether you're a prevention professional, coalition leader, or someone passionate about workplace wellness, you'll walk away with actionable strategies for cultivating resilience in adult populations.

Meet Joel:

Joel Bennett is President and CEO of Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS). His evidence-based programs have been recognized by the Surgeon General and included in the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. Joel works with organizations nationwide to promote adult prevention and wellness, with specialized programs for military veterans and first responders through the Safe Project.Connect:

• Website: https://www.preventionleaders.com/
• Website: www.daveclosson.com/links
• Connect with Joel:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbennettowls/

• Website: ⁠https://organizationalwellness.com/⁠

When it comes to prevention, it’s easy to get lost in the deliverables — checking boxes, meeting grant requirements, and rushing to get things done. But the coalitions that thrive are the ones with a clear identity, a shared purpose, and a framework guiding every decision they make.

In this episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie Patton, a coalition coordinator and prevention leader from Massachusetts, who has spent years integrating the Science of the Positive into her coalition’s work.

Together, we talk about:

• Why frameworks like Science of the Positive and the Strategic Prevention Framework are more than just compliance tools

• How to make frameworks visible in everyday work (including a powerful tip about what to put on the back of every agenda!)
• Simple ways to build trust and relationships that fuel buy-in and sustainability
• How coalition coordinators can embrace facilitative leadership to share the workload and avoid burnout

🎧 Listen now and get inspired to make your coalition meetings, strategies, and partnerships more intentional and impactful.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

🌟 Science of the Positive: https://www.montanainstitute.com/science-of-the-positive

📖 Joy Journal – Start & end your day with intention: https://www.daveclosson.com/books

What if the emotions we avoid are the very keys to growth and connection?

In this episode, Dave sits down with teen mental health speaker and author Brittany Richmond to explore practical, down-to-earth tools for navigating tough emotions—both in our personal lives and in the prevention field. From drawing out feelings to using the “feelings wheel,” Brittany shares simple strategies to help teens (and adults) identify, express, and manage what’s really going on beneath the surface.

You’ll hear about:

• Why naming emotions matters
• How conversation and connection break the power of isolation.
• Creative ways to help youth express emotions they can’t yet put into words.
• Why self-care and therapy should be seen as prevention, not just crisis response.

Whether you work with young people, lead prevention efforts, or are simply looking for healthier ways to process your own emotions, this episode is packed with insight and encouragement.

Links:

Learn more about Brittany Richmond:

• https://www.brittanyrichmond.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/thebrittanyrichmond/

Connect with Dave Closson:

• www.daveclosson.com/links
• Get the Joy Journal: https://amzn.to/4m0d7Pr

In this powerful episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave Closson is joined by Rikki Barton—prevention strategist, national trainer, and founder of Onward Consulting—to explore one of today’s most pressing topics: youth, social media, and mental health.

Rikki shares her insights from training thousands of youth, parents, and prevention professionals across the country on how to navigate the digital world with awareness, intention, and prevention science. Together, they unpack the latest research on screen time, online risks like sextortion, the dopamine effect of algorithms, and the physical and mental toll of excessive device use.

But this conversation isn’t just about the risks—it’s about solutions.

You’ll learn:

• How to have meaningful conversations with youth about their online experiences
• What parents and caregivers can do to model healthy digital habits
• How prevention professionals can apply the Strategic Prevention Framework to digital wellness
• Resources and tools for building family media plans and creating positive online spaces
• Ways to engage youth as collaborators in shaping safe, supportive digital environments

Whether you’re a parent, prevention leader, or passionate advocate for youth well-being, this episode is packed with actionable ideas and real-world examples you can use right away.

LINKS

• https://www.onwardconsulting.biz/
• https://www.facebook.com/onwardconsultingllc
• http://www.linkedin.com/in/rikki-onward
• https://www.instagram.com/onward_consulting/
• https://www.daveclosson.com/links

In this episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave Closson sits down with trainer, consultant, and motivational interviewer Jason Anderson for a conversation that every facilitator, speaker, and prevention professional needs to hear.

Jason shares his journey from corrections officer to nationally recognized trainer, unpacking how he transformed dry, technical content into dynamic, human-centered learning experiences.

Together, Dave and Jason explore:

• Why adult learning is different—and how to teach accordingly
• The role of emotion, authenticity, and storytelling in training

• How to use simple tools like sticky notes to boost engagement

• Why less on your slide deck can mean more in the room

• Strategies for avoiding “death by PowerPoint”

• Ways to make every participant feel heard, seen, and respected

• And the one question to always ask before designing a session

Whether you’re a new trainer or a seasoned pro, this episode offers powerful takeaways to elevate your delivery and create learning experiences that stick.

Let’s go beyond the slide deck—because effective training starts with connection.

Links:

• https://www.thejasonanderson.com/
• https://www.daveclosson.com/links

What if we treated resilience the same way we treat prevention—something to build before the crisis hits?

In this powerful conversation, Dave Closson sits down with Shane Varcoe, Executive Director of the Dalgarno Institute, to unpack a deeper, more actionable understanding of resilience. Together, they explore how resilience isn’t about being unshakable, but about bouncing back—and why it’s essential to build it ahead of time, not just after the fall.You’ll hear:

• Why the common definition of resilience is missing the mark
• How identity, emotions, and purpose shape our ability to bounce back
• The danger of tying resilience to emotional control or personality
• What it means to have an “anchor” and a “why” in your personal toolkit
• The role of resilience in substance misuse prevention—and how to foster it in young people and communities

Whether you're a prevention professional, educator, or simply someone navigating life’s challenges, this episode offers insight, tools, and a fresh perspective on how to live—and lead—with resilience.Explore more about Shane’s work: dalgarnoinstitute.org.au Listen to Shane’s podcast: Unnecessary Harm : https://unnecessaryharm.com.au/Learn about World Resiliency Week: https://worldresiliencyday.com.au/