Grief Episodes

In this powerful episode of After the Tones Drop , we sit down with Captain Ed Monroe, a 16-year veteran of the LA County Fire Department, whose life and leadership were forever changed by a tragic critical incident within his department in 2021. Ed opens up about the unimaginable day when a colleague took the life of one of their brothers, shot another and permanently wounded him, then took his life—and the lasting ripple effects on the entire agency. From navigating grief and leadership under ...

Warning: This Episode discusses suicide, so please listen with caution. We were supposed to be on a podcast release break, but this one couldn’t wait. Sometimes, life throws you those days where grief and loss show up uninvited, and the weight of it all just feels too big to hold alone. So, we hit record. Raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart, this episode is all about what we’ve been feeling—and what you might be feeling too. We dive into the Anniversary Effect —how our bodies seem to re...

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 career wearing a badge, dedicated to serving and protecting. But after an injury forced her to hang up her uniform sooner ...

In this special episode, "After the Tones Drop" is delighted to feature Episode 008: Time to go Home from Operation Yellow Tape Podcast, hosted by the exceptionally articulate Kenny Mitchell. Kenny challenges first responders to prioritize action over excuses, emphasizing that if first responders are still suffering, no excuse is valid. Kenny, known for both his potent advocacy and his tech tips (he even taught our hosts a few iPhone tricks!), delivers invaluable guidance on how first respond...

Kerrie understands the culture of first responders from her upbringing as a daughter of a firefighter, and growing up with first responders. Kerrie’s brother was also a firefighter for 11 years before his death in 2012. Kerrie’s personal and professional experience allows her to offer understanding and compassion in her therapist role. Kerrie Murphy, LMSW has been a social worker for over 20 years and has a wide variety of experience in working with emergency services and the first responder pop...