Coping Conversations: What Prevention Has Been Missing, with Shayla Wilson

Some of the best recovery work happens before a kid ever picks anything up.
In Eastern Tennessee, my friend Shayla Wilson is leading it.

Shayla is the executive director of ASAP, and she knows this world from the inside. She grew up with a dad in recovery, a mom still finding her way.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• The reason Shayla’s dad got sober
• The one question a teenager asked that started a brand new program
• A small, unexpected tool kids asked for
• Why “just don’t start” doesn’t help the kid who already has
• What’s really behind Tennessee’s drop in overdoses (it’s not one thing)

If you’re worried about a kid or a loved one, stay to the end. Shayla shares one simple first step you can take today.

🆓 Free guide: Recovery Strong Parenting (5 practical tips)
📖 Grab the book: When You Love Someone in Recovery

ABOUT SHAYLA:
Shayla Wilson serves as the Executive Director of ASAP of Anderson, a drug prevention coalition in Anderson County, TN. She has a Bachelors of Science in Education with a major in Kinesiology, a Masters in Education, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. Her focus is bridging gaps and building connections with community partners, youth, and adults. Through evidence based practices, strategic plans, and grant funding she and her team are making an impact to reduce substance misuse in Anderson County. She has served the volunteer state in many capacities starting in education, state level work, and in the nonprofit sector. Shayla uses her combined background and childhood experiences to provide a varied perspective. She seeks to help our most vulnerable populations by expanding programs and partnering to ensure wrap around services are provided on a continuum.

New book from Caroline Beidler:

Pre-Order: When You Love Someone in Recovery

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, was released Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

This might be my favorite episode of the whole series.

For years, prevention has centered on one tiny two letter word. That word matters. But if it's the only thing we teach our kids, we're leaving out the part that actually protects them.

I'm sharing what was missing in my own childhood, and the shift that I think changes how we parent, caregive, and show up for the youth in our lives.

In this episode:

• Why I believe prevention conversations should not start with substance use
• The thing I knew how to say no to as a kid, and the thing nobody taught me
• The five yeses I want every family to know about
• A 15 second practice we use in our house when someone is off
• Creating a coping menu
• The question to ask your kids this week instead of asking about their behavior

Set the guilt down before you press play. This isn't a list of rules. It's a door.

If this series has been helpful, send me a message. I read them all.

🆓 Free guide: Recovery Strong Parenting (5 practical tips)
📖 Grab the book: When You Love Someone in Recovery

New book from Caroline Beidler:

Pre-Order: When You Love Someone in Recovery

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, was released Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

Recovery Strong Parenting: Why Connection Beats Fear
Episode 2 in our series of How to Talk to Kids About Addition.

For decades, we've been told the way to protect our kids is to scare them. I don't think that has worked the way we hoped.

In this episode, I'm sharing what I've learned as a mom, a social worker, and someone in recovery about building the kind of trust that makes hard conversations possible before you need them.

In this episode:

• The one thing I got completely wrong the day my daughter told me something hard
• Why knowing better has never been the problem, for our kids or for us
• The myth about talking to kids about addiction that research flat out disproves
• A question I ask my kids all the time that opens more doors than any lecture
• The small morning routine we started that changed how our whole day goes

If this one encourages you, will you share it with someone who needs it?

🆓 Free guide: Recovery Strong Parenting (5 practical tips)
📖 Grab the book: When You Love Someone in Recovery

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, was released Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com