In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark explores the growing and evolving pressures teens face today and how those pressures differ from previous generations. While stress has always been part of adolescence, Phil explains that what’s changed is the intensity, visibility, and constant nature of it. From social media comparison and academic performance demands to nonstop connectivity and real-time exposure to global crises, teens are navigating an environment that rarely offers true downtime.

Phil discusses how chronic stress can intersect with mental health challenges, sleep issues, and unhealthy coping behaviors, emphasizing why early support and prevention matter. Rather than minimizing teen experiences or comparing generations, he encourages adults to listen without judgment, validate what teens are feeling, and create emotionally safe spaces for honest conversations.

The episode serves as a reminder that teens don’t need perfect adults. They need present ones. Understanding the pressure they’re under is the first step toward reducing it and building stronger, healthier relationships.

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark explores why prevention work is often overlooked, underfunded, and misunderstood, even though it quietly saves lives every single day. Unlike crises or emergencies, prevention doesn’t come with breaking news alerts or dramatic moments. It happens before the overdose, before the hospital visit, and before a family experiences loss.

Phil uses the work of Power Collective to illustrate what real prevention looks like in practice. From safe medication storage and proper disposal to education and harm reduction, he explains how many substance use disorders begin not with illegal drugs, but with unsecured or misunderstood prescription medications. When harm is prevented, there is no headline, only a safer outcome.

The episode challenges the idea that prevention has failed, arguing instead that prevention often fails to receive the investment, understanding, and visibility it deserves. Phil closes by reminding listeners that prevention is not about control or punishment, but empowerment, connection, and early action. Even when it goes unseen, prevention is working, and its impact adds up in lives protected and futures changed.

In this milestone episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark reflects on what prevention really looks like and why it rarely happens in one big conversation. Instead of a single “talk,” Phil explains that prevention is built through everyday reactions, quiet check-ins, and the way adults respond when kids share something uncomfortable, confusing, or hard.

Phil challenges the idea that perfect words or timing keep kids safe, emphasizing that trust is formed in small, consistent moments. He explores how curiosity, mistakes, stress, and questions are often early signals, and how calm, present responses create emotional safety long before a crisis ever appears.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder that prevention is not about control or perfection. It is about connection, presence, and showing up again and again. Every response matters, every conversation counts, and prevention lives in a thousand small moments that shape how safe kids feel telling the truth.

Learn more about Just Say Something here: justsaysomethingsc.org

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark talks with Laura Allen Kerlin from Communities In Schools of South Carolina about how surrounding students with consistent, caring support helps them stay in school and succeed in life. Laura explains how Communities In Schools partners directly with Title I schools to provide on-campus support through site coordinators who address attendance, basic needs, mental health, and long-term student success.

Laura shares what a typical day looks like inside schools, from one-on-one case management to small groups and school-wide initiatives, and why relationships are at the heart of everything they do. She highlights the importance of being a trusted adult for students who may be facing barriers at home, at school, or in their communities.

The conversation also touches on success stories, including graduation outcomes, workforce connections, and students giving back to their schools. The episode closes with a look at Communities In Schools’ future growth across South Carolina and a reminder that when communities come together, students do not have to navigate challenges alone.

#CommunitiesinSchools #JustSaySomething #WorkforceConnections #SouthCarolina

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark welcomes back Tiffney Davidson-Parker, Executive Director of NAMI Greenville, for an in-depth conversation about mental health support, advocacy, and community impact across the Upstate.

Tiffney explains how NAMI is structured nationally, statewide, and locally, and why every dollar raised by NAMI Greenville stays right here in the community to support free education, support groups, and outreach. She also shares updates on new and expanding programs, including a Youth Advisory Board, peer-to-peer and family-to-family education classes, weekly support groups, veteran-focused services, and on-demand resources for families navigating the school system.

Tiffney addresses common misconceptions about mental health, emphasizing that support is not just for those with a diagnosis, but for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, life transitions, or caregiving challenges. The episode highlights upcoming NAMI Greenville events, including the NAMI Walk, golf tournament, and awareness-building community gatherings, and closes with a powerful call to advocacy. Listeners are reminded that mental health support is a community responsibility, help is available at no cost, and no one has to navigate these challenges alone.

To learn more about NAMI Greenville, visit: https://namigreenvillesc.org/

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark welcomes back Norma Jean Suarez from Unity Health on Main to talk about what’s new, what’s growing, and what’s next for community-based health care in Greenville. Norma Jean shares updates on Unity Health on Main's services, including expanded mental health care, primary care access, and a new satellite location at Upstate Circle of Friends, all focused on making care accessible and affordable for uninsured and underinsured families.

Phil and Norma Jean also discuss Unity Health’s holistic, wraparound approach, from behavioral health and psychiatry to case management and the “Food Is Medicine” program that supports patients managing chronic conditions. The conversation looks ahead to a shared vision for a community nonprofit hub in Greenville, a collaborative space designed to reduce barriers, strengthen partnerships, and better serve families in one central location.

The episode closes with a reminder that trusted, compassionate care and strong nonprofit collaboration are essential to building healthier communities, and that Unity Health on Main remains a safe, welcoming medical home for families across the Upstate.

#unityhealthonmain #normajeansuarez #justsaysomethingpodcast

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark shares an exciting announcement about a brand-new fundraiser coming to Greenville in 2026. The Sip Off is a first-of-its-kind mocktail competition designed to bring the community together for a fun, creative, and high-energy evening without alcohol.

Set for Thursday, February 26, 2026, at The Schoolhouse in Travelers Rest and catered by Southern Way Catering, The Sip Off will feature talented local mixologists, community celebrities stepping behind the bar, live entertainment, food pairings, and a lively auction. Phil explains how this inaugural event is about more than great zero-proof drinks. It’s about connection, creativity, and supporting prevention programs that help young people and families thrive.

Save the date, watch for tickets after the first of the year, and consider getting involved as founding sponsors as The Sip Off begins what Just Say Something hopes will become a new Greenville tradition!

Buy tickets and become a sponsor here: https://givebutter.com/TheSipOff

In this episode of the Just Say Something Podcast, Phil Clark offers a refreshing and compassionate take on New Year goal setting. Instead of pushing rigid resolutions, planners, or pressure to “get it right” by January 1, Phil invites listeners to slow down and consider what growth could look like with more grace and flexibility.

He explores simple, meaningful ideas such as staying connected with loved ones, parenting with presence instead of pressure, taking anxiety seriously, and allowing plans to change without labeling it as failure. Drawing on insights from the American Psychological Association, the Child Mind Institute, Harvard Health, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Phil reminds listeners that progress often begins with one honest conversation or small step, not a perfect system.

The episode encourages listeners to define success on their own terms and to choose goals rooted in compassion, rest, and connection. Phil closes with a powerful reminder that worth is not measured by checklists or resolutions, and that moving into the new year with curiosity and kindness can be more impactful than any perfectly planned goal.

Happy New Year!