In this special edition of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave sits down with his good friends Nicole Augustine and Rikki Barton to unpack the Prevention Core Competencies curriculum—why it was created, what gaps it fills in the prevention workforce, and why it’s not just for “prevention professionals,” but for anyone who cares about building safer, healthier communities.

They dig into what’s inside the training (in-person and virtual), how the curriculum supports workforce development and prevention advocacy, and why the Train-the-Trainer (ToT) experience is intentionally different than most ToTs in the field—especially with a big emphasis on facilitation skills and classroom management.

They also explore the “social entrepreneur” angle: how becoming a certified trainer can build local capacity and create sustainable revenue streams for individuals, agencies, and organizations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Prevention Core Competencies exists (and what it adds beyond SAPST + Ethics)
• The origin story: SAMHSA, the PTTCs, and the development/pilot process
• Why this curriculum is for both prevention professionals and community members
• How the training strengthens prevention “why” and helps communities choose more effective strategies
• In-person vs virtual delivery: why they’re not interchangeable (and why that matters)
• What makes this ToT different (hybrid approach + real facilitation skill-building)
• Practical classroom management: navigating over-talkers, over-sharers, disengaged participants, and resistance3
• How the curriculum can support workforce development, advocacy, and communication with decision-makers
• The entrepreneurship and sustainability angle: offering the training, charging appropriately, and building ROI

• Future Proof + intrapreneurship: creating new revenue streams inside prevention organizations

Links & Resources

• Register for the May 2026 Prevention Core Competencies ToT
• Contact Nicole
• Contact Rikki

• Nicole’s book Be Great (Amazon)

In this episode, we explore how mindset shapes the way we experience stress, recovery, resilience, and personal growth. Dave sits down with wellness coach and social worker Cynthia Conigliaro for a grounded, practical conversation about how mindset is formed, how it can shift over time, and what you can do — starting this week — to reset your thinking patterns in a healthier direction.

Together, they unpack how survival mindset can help in moments of crisis but hold us back in everyday life, why awareness is the first step in changing thought patterns, and how small daily practices can create meaningful mindset shifts. The conversation also explores the connection between physical health, emotional health, nervous system regulation, and overall wellbeing.

This episode is especially helpful for prevention professionals, helpers, leaders, and anyone navigating stress, healing, or personal change.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• What “mindset” really means and how it differs from perception
• How negative thought loops form — and how to interrupt them
• Practical tools for flipping and reframing thoughts
• The role of presence and awareness in mindset reset
• Why physical wellness habits support mental resilience
• Moving from gratitude to joy — and why that distinction matters
• Real-life stories of resilience, recovery, and growth
• Simple practices you can implement in the next 7 days

If this episode gave you a useful insight or tool, share it with a colleague or friend in prevention or helping professions. Prevention — and growth — are better together.

In this episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave sits down with licensed addiction and mental health counselor Amber Hollingsworth to challenge one of the most persistent myths in addiction recovery: that people have to “hit rock bottom” before they change.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience working with individuals and families, Amber introduces the idea of “raising the bottom”—practical, compassionate ways families and prevention professionals can help loved ones see the impact of their use before everything falls apart.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “wait for rock bottom” is harmful advice for families and loved ones
• What it really means to “raise the bottom” (and why it’s more hopeful and effective)
• How to ask for reasonable, everyday responsibilities so the person can see gaps in their own functioning
• Why empathy, not nagging or judgment, activates the part of the brain that actually learns from mistakes
• How to respond when someone says they’ll “cut back” or “only drink on weekends” (the bargaining phase)
• What to do instead of lecturing, reminding, or “I told you so”
• How to build your “credit score” with a loved one so you become the safe person they’ll actually talk to
• Practical communication moves drawn from motivational interviewing that any prevention professional or family member can use

Amber’s story:

• From high school teacher to addiction counselor by “accident”
• Growing up in an addictive family and only seeing it clearly after entering the field
• Why she gravitated toward working with people in denial or who “don’t want help”

“Put the Shovel Down” and raising the bottom

• The recovery saying behind Amber’s YouTube channel name, Put the Shovel Down
• “You hit your bottom when you put your shovel down — you don’t have to keep digging.”
• Raising the bottom: setting up ordinary, values‑aligned responsibilities (helping with homework, picking up dinner, doing the dishes) so the person can see when they’re not following through

ABOUT OUR GUEST: AMBER HOLLINGSWORTH

Amber Hollingsworth is a licensed addiction counselor, master addiction counselor, and licensed mental health counselor based in South Carolina. She has spent over two decades working with individuals and families impacted by addiction.

Amber runs the popular YouTube channel “Put the Shovel Down,” where she shares practical strategies for people in early recovery and for family members navigating denial, relapse, and boundaries.

CONNECT WITH AMBER

• YouTube: Put the Shovel Down
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Connect with Dave:

• PreventionLeaders.com
• DaveClosson.com/links

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