The Shield

SEASON FINALE

What happens when early addiction recovery, pandemic isolation, and an obsessive love for dough collide in a home kitchen? You get Uncle G’s Pizza, Birmingham’s favorite Detroit-style pizza brand.

In this episode of The Shield, host Nichole Dawsey sits down with George Gilliam, the culinary mastermind behind Uncle G’s. George shares his honest journey through substance use recovery, leaving healthcare to work gig delivery, catching wild sourdough yeast in a mason jar, and running an underground home pizza pop-up that felt a little too much like dealing drugs before going legit.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Autonomy & Recovery: Why traditional 9-to-5 structures often stifle creative entrepreneurs in recovery.
• The Pandemic Pivot: How delivery app driving gave George the taste of freedom needed to start his own business.
• The Craft of Fermentation: Catching airborne yeast over 30 days and the science behind authentic Detroit-style dough.
• From Porch to Food Truck: Navigating county regulations, leaving the home kitchen behind, and building a community staple.
• Nostalgia & Pizza Culture: Paying homage to Book It! personal pans, caramelized cheese crusts, and reviving the community pizza experience.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Uncle G’s Pizza: unclegspizza.com
• If you enjoyed this conversation, rate and review The Shield on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help share more stories of local resilience!

For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube!

https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/

https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

Hepatitis C is often called a "silent disease" because thousands carry it for decades without experiencing a single symptom—until liver damage has already begun. But medical science has reached an unprecedented milestone: Hepatitis C is now completely curable in as little as 8 to 12 weeks with simple, well-tolerated oral pills.

In this episode of The Shield, host Nichole Dawsey is joined by infectious disease and addiction medicine physician Dr. Ellen Eaton (UAB Beacon Clinic) alongside family nurse practitioner Sarah Hewitt. Together, they discuss why 1 in 4 community members screened at local Birmingham clinics are testing antibody-positive, how the opioid crisis shifted the transmission landscape across Alabama, and how community organizations like APC are removing clinical barriers by bringing free, non-invasive screenings directly into the neighborhood.

In this episode, we break down:

• From Toxic Interferon to an 8-Week Cure: How modern Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) transformed Hep C treatment into an accessible, side-effect-free therapy.
• Universal Screening Guidelines: Why the CDC now recommends that every adult get screened at least once in their lifetime, along with pregnant women during every pregnancy.
• The Alabama Reality: How provider shortages, lack of Medicaid expansion, and syringe access barriers fuel transmission rates across rural and southern communities.
• Demystifying the Test: Why a simple finger-prick screening at a church or community resource fair can save lives before liver damage occurs.
• Empowering Nurse Practitioners: How mid-level providers and community-based nonprofits can screen and link patients to care without waiting months for specialist referrals.

For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube!

https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/

https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

What happens when someone is ready to enter substance use treatment, but has nobody to care for their pets?

In this heartwarming and eye-opening episode of The Shield, host Nichole sits down with Sonya King, Founder and Executive Director of Two by Two Rescue (accompanied by special guest Muffin Man, a pup saved from under a bridge in Birmingham).

Sonya shares the incredible journey of building a 100% foster-based animal rescue operating across 40 states, busting myths around local shelter euthanasia rates, and explaining why Two by Two considers itself a frontline "ministry of intervention".

Topics Discussed:

• Muffin Man's Rescue: Coordinating with peer recovery teams to save animals living in encampments.
• The Seven-Year Chase: The unforgettable, legendary tale of "Dingo," a feral mama dog in Helena.
• Alabama’s Pet Crisis: The sobering statistics of purebred overbreeding and shelter euthanasia in central Alabama.
• Removing Treatment Roadblocks: How Two by Two steps in with temporary or permanent foster homes so individuals can enter detox and inpatient recovery with complete peace of mind.
• No More Bad Days: The radical veterinary care policy that refuses to give up on seniors, amputees, and hospice pets.

How You Can Help:

• Become a foster parent or donate directly: twobytworescue.com
• If this episode touched you, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help The Shield reach more families!

For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube!

https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/

https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition

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

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.org
• Learn more about NELI and AAN Resources: alabamanonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-leadership-institute

Support 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

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

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

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

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

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