In this powerful episode, we sit down with Leah Shepherd, Executive Director of Victoria's Voice Foundation, to explore how one family’s tragedy became a national movement for drug prevention education and naloxone awareness.

Founded by David and Jackie Siegel after the loss of their daughter Victoria Siegel in 2015, Victoria’s Voice works to equip youth, parents, and communities with tools to prevent substance use and overdose from happening.

We also discuss the evolution of drug prevention in today’s world — including the influence of social media, changing perceptions, and the importance of creating safe spaces for honest conversations between parents and teens. This episode is about prevention, compassion, and action. Because awareness saves lives.

About the Guest:

Leah Shepherd serves as Executive Director of Victoria’s Voice Foundation, the national nonprofit dedicated to drug-prevention education, overdose awareness, and substance-use disorder prevention for families, youth, and communities. In this role, Leah leads the Foundation’s strategic efforts to expand and deepen its impact across programs including youth education (Save Our Kids), parent/caregiver/educator support (VITAL SIGNS), naloxone- access and awareness initiatives (Get. Give. Save.), and outreach to parents, schools, correctional institutions, and community networks. Under her leadership, Victoria’s Voice has helped positively impact the lives of more than one million students, parents, educators and community members nationwide through its evidence-based prevention and education efforts. Leah spearheaded the creation of National Naloxone Awareness Day, along with public-policy and advocacy efforts that support expanded access to lifesaving overdose-reversal medication. As a key public representative of Victoria’s Voice, she frequently engages in media interviews, public-speaking events, and high-visibility partnerships that amplify the Foundation’s mission. In her leadership capacity, Leah implements impactful events that drive the mission across partner channels and oversees all operational and financial controls in collaboration with the Foundation’s Board of Directors. She develops national partnerships, cultivates donor and government-grant opportunities, and directs a team of dedicated professionals committed to executing the Foundation’s life-saving work. Her leadership fosters passionate teamwork, strategic growth, and a steadfast commitment to protecting youth, empowering families, and strengthening communities nationwide.

Links:

• Website: https://victoriasvoice.foundation/
• Social Ha

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

What does responsible gambling actually mean—and who is responsible for it?

Suzanne Trainor, Communications Manager and Public Information Officer for the Arizona Department of Gaming, joins this episode to explore the intersection of regulation, responsibility, and real-world impact. Suzanne shares her journey from working at DraftKings to now overseeing communications and public information for a state agency responsible for regulating casino gaming, sports betting, fantasy sports, and more. Together, we unpack the complexity of gambling regulation—from public concerns before legalization to the ongoing challenge of balancing access, consumer protection, and prevention.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level definitions. Suzanne challenges the idea that responsible gambling and problem gambling are separate conversations—highlighting instead how deeply connected they are. Whether you work in behavioral health, policy, gaming, or simply want to better understand the systems shaping gambling in the U.S., this episode offers a grounded and thoughtful look behind the curtain.

About the Guest:

Suzanne Trainor is the Communications Manager and Public Information Officer for the Arizona Department of Gaming, where she leads communications for the agency and its Division of Problem Gambling. Her work focuses on raising awareness around responsible gambling and connecting individuals and families with prevention and treatment resources.

In her role, Suzanne helps communicate important information about Arizona’s gaming landscape, which includes tribal casinos, event wagering, fantasy sports, unarmed combat sports, and horse racing. Before joining the Department, she worked in corporate communications at DraftKings, giving her a unique perspective on both the industry and responsible gaming.

Originally from Massachusetts, Suzanne now lives in Phoenix with her husband, Scott. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University.

Links:

• Email: strainor@azgaming.gov
• Free, online, and self-paced responsible gaming training offered by the Arizona Department of Gaming: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arizona-responsible-gaming-training-webinar-tickets-1985855803165?aff=oddtdtcreator
• Visit gaming.az.gov/responsiblegaming to learn about RG.
• Follow Arizona Division of Problem Gambling's new social media accounts including on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arizona-division-of-problem-gambling/

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

With the expansion of sports betting and prediction markets - the question we often get asked is, “What about young men?” Christina Cook, founder of the Broke Girl Society podcast, talks about the critical gaps in how gambling harm is recognized, treated, and represented—especially for women.

Christina shares her lived experience of problem gambling and the barriers she faced in finding recovery spaces that reflected her reality. The conversation explores why women are often missing from gambling harm narratives, how caregiving roles and stigma create unique access barriers, and why traditional treatment and mutual aid spaces often fail to meet women where they are.

Together, we unpack systemic issues in prevention messaging, the lack of gender-responsive treatment options, and the urgent need for lived experience leadership in shaping recovery systems. Christina also highlights the rapid expansion of gambling in Oklahoma, the disconnect between revenue and treatment funding, and the rise of her peer-driven recovery community supporting thousands of women globally.

This episode challenges how we think about gambling harm—and who we imagine when we talk about recovery.

About the Guest:

Christina Cook, IGRS, is a lived-experience advocate dedicated to supporting individuals affected by gambling harm. Drawing from her own recovery journey, she uses her story to help reduce shame, build connection, and remind others that healing is possible. Through her podcast and the safe, empowering spaces she creates for women, Christina offers a platform for storytelling, community, and honest conversations about recovery and resilience. She currently serves on the board of the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Board (IPGGC) as Executive Secretary.

Links:

• Links to the BGS: https://thebrokegirlsociety.com/
• E-mail: Christina@thebrokegirlsociety.com

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.