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The Prevention Leaders Podcast

The Pulse of Resilience: Why Falling, Feeling, and Rising Matters

51 min

Guests: Dave Closson, Jen Schneeman

Listen on Spotify

Summary

This special multicast episode, originally recorded with the Dalgarno Institute for their podcast Unnecessary Harm, explores the 2026 World Resiliency Week campaign theme, "The Pulse of Resilience: Fall, Feel, Rise." Guests Dave Closson and Jen Schneeman discuss resilience as a rhythm rather than a destination, drawing on diverse fields such as trauma recovery and prevention science. They offer a hopeful conversation about navigating adversity and building stronger individuals and communities.

Key takeaways

  • Resilience involves recognizing and processing life's challenges, not just "toughing it out."
  • Understanding resilience as a rhythm helps individuals and communities navigate adversity with greater awareness and strength.
  • Practical insights on burnout, healing, and youth wellbeing contribute to effective substance use prevention strategies.
  • Creating space for both struggle and growth is crucial for developing resilience.
  • Developing awareness, tools, and support systems aids in emerging stronger from challenges.
Show notes

This special multicast episode was originally recorded with our partners at the Dalgarno Institute and their podcast, Unnecessary Harm. As part of our ongoing collaboration around World Resiliency Week, we are excited to share this conversation.


Host Shane Varcoe sits down with World Resiliency Week planning team members Dave Closson and Jen Schneeman to explore the 2026 campaign theme: The Pulse of Resilience: Fall, Feel, Rise.


Together, they unpack a powerful question: What if resilience isn't about pushing through, toughing it out, or simply "embracing the suck"?


Drawing on lived experience, trauma recovery, prevention science, military service, nervous system research, and community-building, this conversation explores resilience as a rhythm rather than a destination. Dave and Jen share practical insights on burnout, healing, youth wellbeing, substance use prevention, and the importance of creating space for both struggle and growth.


The result is a hopeful and deeply human conversation about how individuals and communities can develop the awareness, tools, and support systems needed to navigate adversity and emerge stronger.

About World Resiliency Week

World Resiliency Week is a global collaborative initiative bringing together prevention professionals, educators, researchers, community leaders, advocates, and lived-experience voices to strengthen resilience across individuals, families, and communities.


The 2026 theme, The Pulse of Resilience: Fall, Feel, Rise, focuses on helping people recognize life's inevitable challenges, develop healthy ways to process them, and build the capacity to rise with greater awareness, connection, and strength.


Get involved at: https://worldresiliencyweek.org/


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