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/

In this energizing episode, Dave Closson chats with Carla Ritz about the transformative power of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). Carla shares how focusing on strengths, rather than solely on adversity, can reduce risk factors and help build more resilient kids, families, and communities.

Carla dives into the research behind PCEs, explains how prevention professionals can apply this science in practical ways, and explores the synergy between PCEs and Positive Community Norms. Plus, there’s a heartfelt (and hilarious) reflection on parenting, community traditions, and how small actions can have big ripple effects.

What You’ll Learn:

• What Positive Childhood Experiences are—and why they matter
• How PCEs buffer against the long-term effects of trauma and ACEs
• Actionable ways prevention professionals can promote PCEs
• Why community traditions are more powerful than we give them credit for
• How PCEs and Positive Community Norms work together to change culture

“We’re not just preventing what’s bad—we’re growing what’s good.” – Carla Ritz

• https://www.montanainstitute.com/msi

What if one act of presence could change the course of a life—and a family?

In Part 2 of Bryan Flanery’s gripping journey, we move from despair to transformation. After surviving a suicide attempt, Bryan didn’t find healing in a formal program or protocol. He found it in something far more human: a knock at the door, a low-barrier invitation, and a community that saw him—not just his symptoms.

Now a national leader in peer-based recovery, Bryan shares how peer support, faith, and the Reboot Recovery community helped him heal from trauma and reconnect with his identity, his purpose, and his family.

In this episode, host Dave Closson unpacks:

• The power of peer connection in post-traumatic growth
• How prevention can restore—not just reduce—harm
• What low-barrier entry points into healing really look like
• How one person’s healing can change an entire family’s future

This isn’t just about Bryan’s story—it’s about what’s possible when we reimagine prevention as a long game of healing, trust, and transformation.

Ask yourself—*Are we building systems that people can walk into when they’re at their lowest?* What’s one way we could make healing more accessible?

Learn more at: https://rebootrecovery.com/

What if the person who looks the strongest is the one closest to the edge?

In this first episode of a powerful two-part series, we hear the raw and unfiltered story of Bryan Flanery—a decorated soldier, husband, and father—whose pain was hidden behind years of performance, productivity, and pride. His trauma went unnoticed and untreated until it erupted into a suicide attempt that nearly ended his life.

This episode isn’t just about Bryan. It’s about the Bryans in your community—the ones who seem “fine” but are quietly falling through the cracks.

Join host Dave Closson as he explores:

• How trauma hides behind competence and confidence
• Where systems fail when efficiency overrides empathy
• The crucial early signs we often miss in prevention
• Why hope and connection must be more than buzzwords

This is a must-listen for prevention and mental health professionals seeking to understand what’s at stake when we fail to look beneath the surface.

💬 Listener Challenge:

Reflect on this question: Who in your work might be hurting behind their high performance? What would it look like to check in?

Learn more at: https://rebootrecovery.com/

In this special episode of Prevention Leaders with Dave Closson, we’re celebrating the official launch of the Tennessee Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (TADEC) and Handle With Care Guide—a groundbreaking resource designed to support professionals across education, law enforcement, healthcare, child welfare, and beyond.

Recorded shortly after its debut at the 2024 RX Summit, this episode features a heartfelt conversation with two key leaders behind the initiative: Tabatha Curtis, Tennessee Statewide DEC Coordinator, and Evangeline Watanabe, Handle With Care Coordinator.

Together, we explore how this guide was created, why it matters, and how communities can begin using it immediately to strengthen collaboration and protect vulnerable children.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Tennessee combined two national models into a unique, unified approach
• How coalitions can use the guide to assess readiness and build capacity
• Practical tools and templates included in the guide for implementation
• Lessons learned from real-world Handle With Care deployments
• How cross-sector collaboration leads to lasting impact

Resources & Links:

• Download the TADEC & Handle With Care Guide
• Visit the Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force site
• Visit Tennessee Handle With Care site
• Learn more about DJC Solutions’ work in prevention: https://daveclosson.com

Have questions or want support implementing the guide?
Reach out—we’re happy to help your coalition or agency take the next step.

In this powerful and practical conversation, Dave Closson welcomes back communication strategist and suicide prevention advocate Susie Reece to explore how everyday communication can be one of our greatest tools in substance misuse and suicide prevention.

From redefining active listening to rethinking the way we write emails and approach social media, this episode is full of insight, strategy, and real-life examples. Susie and Dave dig into how curiosity builds connection, how reflection creates trust, and how prevention professionals can use every interaction to make a meaningful impact.

If you’re a trainer, consultant, coalition leader, or anyone working to create safer, healthier communities—this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What true active listening really means (and why it’s so rare)

• How to use curiosity and presence to build authentic relationships

• Why communication style matters—even in your email signature

• How social media can support prevention when it’s strategic

• Why prevention needs unified, memorable messaging to grow as a movement

  
  

  Links

  https://susiereece.org/

  https://www.daveclosson.com/

Do you ever walk out of a coalition meeting with a solid plan—only to feel completely stuck once you’re back at your desk? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dave Closson introduces the Five Pillars of Tactical Capacity—a powerful framework to help prevention leaders bridge the gap between strategy and execution.

Whether you’re managing shifting priorities, struggling to keep partners engaged, or just feeling overwhelmed by all the moving parts, this episode offers practical tools to help you move from planning to progress with clarity and confidence.

You’ll Learn:

• What it really means to execute prevention strategy effectively

• Why adaptability beats rigidity in ever-changing communities

• How to keep people engaged and energized—even in long-haul efforts

• The value of precision and alignment over doing “all the things”

• How resilient leadership fuels sustainable, meaningful change

The 5 Pillars of Tactical Capacity:

1. Strategic Execution – Turning vision into visible action

2. Situational Adaptability – Flexing without losing focus

3. Sustained Engagement – Keeping people in the game

4. Precision and Alignment – Choosing what matters most

5. Resilient Leadership – Leading well when it gets hard

Challenge from Dave:Pick one pillar that resonates most and take one intentional action this week to strengthen it. Small steps lead to big shifts.