Retirement Episodes

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, and he’s using his unique background to show Ohio’s public servants how to plan for the future without losing their...

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 and physical health—so she knows a thing or two about what it takes to pull yourself out of the gutter and level up. M...

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. The guy’s been through hell, and he’s still standing, fighting to break the stigma around mental health, addiction, and suicide ...

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 a special feature during their season break, After the Tones Drop presents an insightful episode from "The Next Shift Podcast" entitled "YOU ARE NOT ALONE," hosted by Jess Flores. This episode delves into the complex emotions and experiences that many first responders face when transitioning out of active service. Jess, drawing from her personal journey of leaving law enforcement 7.5 years ago, shares the profound sense of isolation she encountered—an experience echoed by her former colleague...

Many first responders find themselves forced to retire or leave their careers due to injury or other circumstances, and this can lead to feelings of uncertainty and a lack of purpose. Jess, however, took her own experience of losing her job and turned it into an opportunity to help others in similar situations. Our guest, Jess Flores started her career in law enforcement at the young age of 21, but just ten years later, her career was abruptly taken away due to an injury. Uncovering a story that...

Sometimes, asking for help can be one of the hardest things a person will do. It requires a certain level of vulnerability, surrender and trust. However, that’s just what Marine Corps veteran and retired law enforcement officer, Brian Gillespie did. Brian, born and raised in Jersey City, came to terms with his own struggles with substance abuse more than eight years ago and hasn't looked back. Brian has been involved in the first responder world since 1982, when he joined the US Marine Corps fr...