After The Tones Drop

Send us Fan Mail Erin and Cinnamon are taking a beat to catch their breath after a wild ride through 2024. Five weeks of non-stop travel, trainings, and conferences? Yeah, they’re officially ready to park their suitcases, hang out with their families, and enjoy the holidays without living out of a suitcase. But don’t panic—they’re not disappearing completely! While there won’t be new episodes unti...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of After the Tones Drop , we talk to Ryan Mink—former Army infantryman, law enforcement officer, and now a financial planner who actually gets it . This guy has seen it all, from the chaos of the battlefield to the mayhem of the streets, and now he’s using that hard-earned wisdom to help first responders stop screwing up their finances. Ryan’s no stranger to stress...

Send us Fan Mail Erin unpacks something that may seem straightforward but packs a huge punch: asking better questions. Whether you’re a first responder, a partner, or just trying to keep the peace over family dinner, the way we ask questions can make or break our connections. Erin walks us through the art of asking questions that aren’t just surface-level but actually open doors to understanding,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of After the Tones Drop , we share the powerful story of Chris, a deputy chief with over 30 years in the fire service, and his wife Tara, an educator with a 25-year career. Their journey has been marked by the challenges of a demanding career, mental health struggles, and the strength needed to maintain their marriage and family. Chris’s mental health struggles pea...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Cinnamon takes us through a concept that’s as frustrating as it is relatable: foreboding joy . Ever had a moment of real happiness, only to be hit with a gut-punch of worry about when it’s all going to come crashing down? Yeah, that’s what we’re talking about. Dr. Brené Brown coined the term, and Cinnamon’s here to break it down for all the first responders out th...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of After the Tones Drop! Today, we’re revisiting and re-releasing our second ever episode because, unfortunately, even after two years, the myths surrounding therapy are still holding on strong. Erin and Cinnamon dive deep into these misconceptions, especially within the first responder community. If you still think therapy is all about lying on a c...

Send us Fan Mail This episode isn’t your average fitness chat. Erin and Cinnamon sit down with Monica Crawford, the brains (and brawn) behind Five-O, Fierce, and Fit , an online fitness and nutrition coaching biz that’s all about getting female first responders strong, healthy, and thriving. Monica’s been through the ringer herself—working in a toxic police department that was tanking her mental a...

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode, Erin takes the mic to dive into the mental wrestling match we all know too well: good versus bad. Yeah, it seems simple—but let’s be real, life loves to kick us when we're down, and suddenly that “bad” can feel like the worst thing ever. But what if—hear us out—those same moments that seem impossible might just be the setup for something better? Erin doe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of After the Tones Drop , Erin and Cinnamon sit down with Keith Hanks, a retired firefighter and EMT who’s seen more chaos and tragedy than most of us can even imagine. Keith doesn't hold back. We're talking childhood trauma, losing his first wife, 21 years on the frontlines as a firefighter and EMT, and getting slammed with a diagnosis of complex PTSD. T...

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of After the Tones Drop , Cinnamon takes the mic to talk about a topic that might seem simple on the surface but is a huge issue for first responders—sleep. We all know sleep is important, but as Cinnamon explains, for those in the service, the lack of quality sleep goes far beyond just feeling tired. Sleep affects everything from mental health to decision-mak...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of After the Tones Drop, Erin and Cinnamon take on a question from a hotline caller who is a newly minted 21-year-old firefighter who's asking something we don't hear often enough: “Should I even start drinking when I see what it does to everyone around me?” We know how it goes in the first responder world—drinking is practically a rite of passage. But wh...

Send us Fan Mail Today take a moment to honor the first responders who demonstrated extraordinary courage and unwavering dedication in the face of one of our nation's greatest tragedies: the events of September 11th, 2001. Join us as we pay tribute to the heroes who answered the call on that fateful day, reflecting on their incredible commitment, bravery, and resilience. We remember those who...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we sit down with Marian Cosgrove, a law enforcement officer whose story is nothing short of extraordinary. From a childhood filled with both joy and profound trauma to navigating the complexities of failed marriages and a challenging military career, Marian faced a critical choice: succumb to self-destruction or fight with every ounce of strength she had....

Send us Fan Mail This one’s gonna hit close to home, so if you’re easily offended, you might want to sit this one out. Thanks to a brave listener who reached out via email sharing her personal experience as a corrections officer, we’re taking a hard look at something that’s been festering in the world for too long—ageism and gender bias. Yeah, it’s not a comfortable topic, but that’s exactly why w...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode is a masterclass in mental toughness and leadership straight from the mouth of a firefighter-turned-Marine-turned-firefighter who’s making waves in the world of first responder wellness. Meet Chief Jason Corthell—a guy who’s not just walking the walk, but kicking down doors to get the mental health conversation started where it matters most: in the firehouse, on th...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for a powerful new episode of After the Tones Drop . This week, we’re diving into the raw, unfiltered reality of what it means to be a first responder on the edge. We’re bringing you a call from the other side of the world—from a fourth-generation first responder who’s staring down the barrel of uncertainty, fear, and the haunting question: “Who am I without this job?” T...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt like life’s a never-ending grindhouse flick? Well, buckle up, because this week we’ve got Chris Perry, a retired law enforcement officer who took the ultimate journey from the darkness of PTSD to the liberating high of motorcycle racing. Yeah, you heard me right. Chris talks about hitting rock bottom, where his emotions were as numb as a statue and fear was just a word i...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the fast lane of trauma recovery, where we're not just talking about any old therapy—we're spotlighting Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and believe me, it's as revolutionary as it sounds. Picture a therapy that's the Tesla of mental health: sleek, speedy, and effective, cutting through the noise without dragging you through the mud of your past...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the show where we dive deep into the unseen world of 911 dispatchers with none other than Ricardo Martinez II, the storyteller and force behind 'Within the Trenches' and the #IAM911 movement. Today, Ricardo joins us to shed light on his 13 years on the front lines as a dispatcher and supervisor, his ongoing efforts to highlight the critical role of dispat...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is for anyone who’s faced the darkness and found the courage to seek the light. It’s for the warriors, the wounded, and anyone who believes in the power of second chances. Today’s guest is the ultimate comeback kid, Rocco Besednjak—a retired cop and Navy vet who stared down the barrel of despair and came out the other side swinging. Rocco’s story isn’t just a tale of...

Send us Fan Mail Erin is back with a solo episode and it’s a wild ride. Today she’s diving headfirst into something that might sound a bit “woo woo” to some of you: grounding techniques. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, Erin’s got some exciting news. She and Cinnamon are rolling out Copper Warrior , a 12-week intensive coaching program for first responders. This program is all about resili...

Send us Fan Mail Ever been in a situation where you expected someone to react a certain way, and when they didn’t, you found yourself ready to go into fight mode? Yeah, that’s biological rudeness for you. It’s your autonomic nervous system flipping the switch to defense mode when your expectations aren’t met, and it’s a surefire way to create misunderstandings and conflicts in relationships. But h...

Send us Fan Mail Grab your headphones! In today’s episode, we sit down with Nicole Junkerman, whose incredible journey from police officer to certified Death Doula and Grief Recovery Specialist is nothing short of inspiring. She’s here to talk about her transformation and how she's helping others find peace in their final moments through her venture, Positive Passing, LLC.  Nicole started her...

Send us Fan Mail Gear up for a stellar episode of After the Tones Drop where we're hanging out with Ryan Dedmon. Ryan isn't just any guy; he's a retired police dispatcher turned big-time educator at the 911 Training Institute. Back in 2012, he snagged the title of “Telecommunicator of the Year,” and since then, he's been all about teaching first responders how to handle the rou...

Send us Fan Mail In this special solo episode, Cinnamon takes over the podcast, bringing energy and heartfelt insights. Reflecting on a whirlwind 2024 of travel and engagements, she shares the wisdom she's gathered. Cinnamon expresses initial nervousness but quickly finds her groove, enjoying the comfort of home and life's little joys. The episode centers on Cinnamon's top 25 life l...