Videos

💥 Compartmentalization is a Lie 💥

Jason Warn drops a truth bomb that we all need to hear: “Compartmentalization is a lie.”

For years, we’ve been told we can "shut it off" when we leave work. But as Jason shares from personal experience, this just isn't true. Pushing trauma into a box and pretending it doesn't affect us doesn't work. It shows up in our relationships, our health, and our lives.

Jason goes on to share how he checked every box—ignoring the signs, pushing through, only to have everything explode years later. He’s here to tell us that we have to deal with our stuff, even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal now. Trust us, it will catch up with you.

Watch this clip for a real talk on the importance of facing your pain and taking care of yourself before it’s too late.

💬 "Compartmentalization is a lie. You’ve got to deal with your stuff." – Jason Warn

Listen to the Full Episode Here:
https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/advocates-for-change-100-episodes-of-healing-and-hope-…

Welcome back to Part B of our 100th episode celebration! If you thought Part A was powerful, you’re in for a real treat here. This episode dives even deeper into the struggles, the triumphs, and the raw honesty that our guests bring. We’re talking real change in the first responder world—personal transformation, shifting the culture, and the tough work of showing up even when it feels like the world’s against you.

We’re joined by Tim Sears, who shares his journey through inpatient treatment, retirement, and his ongoing commitment to his own wellness. Tim’s vulnerability in admitting when it’s time to take a step back and care for himself is a reminder for all of us—there’s no shame in needing help. Jason Warn brings us back to a time when everything fell apart, and he found himself at rock bottom again. It’s the kind of honesty that’s hard to come by, but that’s exactly why it matters. Monica Braun continues to be a beacon of strength, using her experience to help others—she’s speaki…

Part B of our 100th Episode Celebration is LIVE! 🎉

In this powerful continuation, we hear from Tim Sears, Jason Warn, Monica Braun, Michael Sugrue, and Vance Row as they share their stories of resilience, vulnerability, and the slow but steady journey toward real change in the first responder community.

🔥 From Tim’s decision to prioritize his wellness to Jason’s raw honesty about hitting rock bottom and rising again, this episode is full of heart and hard truths. We dive deep into why healing isn’t a destination—it’s a lifelong process, and every step forward counts.

In this episode, we explore how:

Vulnerability is a strength

Compartmentalizing our trauma only hurts us

The cultural shift in first responder wellness is happening, but it’s slow

If you’ve ever struggled with mental health, healing, or navigating the challenges of being in a high-stress job, this one’s for you. We’re in this together.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!

https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/adv…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2145031/open_sms)


Welcome back to Part B of our 100th episode celebration! If you thought Part A was powerful, you’re in for a real treat here. This episode dives even deeper into the struggles, the triumphs, and the raw honesty that our guests bring. We’re talking real change in the first responder world—personal transformation, shifting the culture, and the tough work of showing up even when it feels like the world’s against you.


We’re joined by Tim Sears, who shares his journey through inpatient treatment, retirement, and his ongoing commitment to his own wellness. Tim’s vulnerability in admitting when it’s time to take a step back and care for himself is a reminder for all of us—there’s no shame in needing help. Jason Warn brings us back to a time when everything fell apart, and he found himself at rock bottom again. It’s the kind of honesty that’s hard to come by, but that’s exactly why it matters. Monica Braun …

In this heartfelt moment from our 100th episode, Brian Gillespie shares a profound realization that changed his life—vulnerability.

Brian reflects on how opening up to himself was the turning point in his journey, and how that vulnerability has been the catalyst for the incredible work he's doing today. 💪

💬 “It all started here... I got vulnerable, and that changed everything for me.”

Brian also reminds us about the power of small acts of kindness: "Hope is help one person every day." Never underestimate the impact you have on others' lives. 🌱

Watch the clip and hear how vulnerability can be the key to breaking through and creating change. This is just a glimpse of the powerful conversations happening in our 100th episode!

🔥 Tune in to the full episode and get inspired to take your own healing journey to the next level.

https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/rising-together-100th-episode-celebration-part-a/

#AfterTheTonesDrop #VulnerabilityIsStrength #HopeAndHealing #FirstResponderW…

In this powerful moment from our 100th episode, AK Dozanti drops some wisdom we all need to hear.

When we're feeling overwhelmed, it's easy to get caught up in doing, fixing, and trying to control everything around us. But AK reminds us that to be extraordinary, we must first master the ordinary—and that starts with initiating stillness. 🌪️💭

Sometimes, it’s not about moving faster or pushing harder, it’s about pausing to reconnect with our humanity. 🧘‍♀️✨

"Never forget your humanness."

Watch the clip and hear how this simple yet profound reminder can make all the difference, especially for those in high-stress roles like first responders.

🔥 Check out the full episode now – this is just a taste of the inspiration!
https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/rising-together-100th-episode-celebration-part-a/

#AfterTheTonesDrop #FirstResponderWellness #MentalHealthMatters #VulnerabilityIsStrength #InitiateStillness #BurnoutRecovery #ExtraordinaryBeginsWithTheOrdinary

We made it to our 100th episode, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with you all! For this milestone, we’re bringing back 14 incredible guests in a 3 part series who have each made a significant impact not just on our show, but in the lives of many. These individuals are true advocates—those who’ve walked through the fire and emerged with the strength, wisdom, and compassion to help others. Their stories are proof that vulnerability, resilience, and community are the key to healing and growth.

This is Part A of our 3-part anniversary celebration, and it’s packed with powerful insights. We’re catching up with these guests to find out where they are now and what they’ve been up to since their original appearances. From new books to life-changing milestones, this episode is all about reflecting on the journey, sharing wins, and offering the tough love that helps us all keep moving forward.

We’re joined by AK Dozanti a retired law enforcement officer and author who just releas…

🎙️ Celebrating 100 Episodes of After the Tones Drop! 🎉

We’re kicking off our 100th episode celebration with a powerful conversation about vulnerability, healing, and growth. In Part A, we’re joined by incredible guests who’ve shown us the strength it takes to heal from the toughest challenges—AK Dozanti, Brian Gillespie, Larry Turner, Kenny Mitchell, and Tommy Bolin.

This episode is packed with insights on overcoming personal struggles and showing up for others. 💪

This is just the beginning—stay tuned for Parts B & C of our 100th episode celebration! 🙌

🎧 Listen Now and celebrate with us!
https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/rising-together-100th-episode-celebration-part-a/

#AfterTheTonesDrop #MentalHealthMatters #FirstResponderWellness #VulnerabilityIsStrength #BurnoutRecovery #100Episodes

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2145031/open_sms)


We made it to our 100th episode, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with you all! For this milestone, we’re bringing back 14 incredible guests in a 3 part series who have each made a significant impact not just on our show, but in the lives of many. These individuals are true advocates—those who’ve walked through the fire and emerged with the strength, wisdom, and compassion to help others. Their stories are proof that vulnerability, resilience, and community are the key to healing and growth.


This is Part A of our 3-part anniversary celebration, and it’s packed with powerful insights. We’re catching up with these guests to find out where they are now and what they’ve been up to since their original appearances. From new books to life-changing milestones, this episode is all about reflecting on the journey, sharing wins, and offering the tough love that helps us all keep moving forward.


…

🔙🚨 Throwback Thursday: The Lost Files – Your Emotional Check Engine Light

Ever get that tightness in your chest? That clenching in your jaw? That pit in your stomach? Yeah, your body’s trying to tell you something.

In this lost file clip, we talk about how physical sensations are often the first warning signs that your emotional check engine light is on. Ignoring it? That’s like driving around with a flashing dashboard warning—eventually, something’s gonna break down.

Your body knows before your mind catches up. Listen to the signals, check in with yourself, and don’t wait until you’re running on empty to take action.

🎧 Catch this throwback and give yourself the tune-up you need.

#ThrowbackThursday #LostFiles #EmotionalCheckEngineLight #ListenToYourBody #SelfAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #FirstResponderWellness #MindBodyConnection #CheckInWithYourself

🚨 WATCH WITH CARE: This Might Hit Close to Home 🚨

Look, a critical incident isn’t just a call. It’s not just a “thing that happened.” It’s an object—a whole, solid thing that exists in your head. But inside that object? That’s where the real pain is.

It’s not the structure fire—it’s the second you locked eyes with the kid trapped inside.
It’s not the suicide call—it’s the sound of the mother’s scream when she realized her baby was gone.
It’s not the shooting—it’s the feeling in your gut when you saw your partner on the ground.

The incident is just the context. What actually tears you up inside is what we call subjective criticality—the part that hit you the hardest. And that’s what sticks. That’s what wakes you up in the middle of the night. That’s what makes you replay it over and over.

The good news? You’re not crazy. You’re not broken. You CAN heal! You’re carrying moments that changed you, and that’s human.

#FirstResponderWellness #TheStoryMatters #CriticalIncident #TraumaAw…

🔥 NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🔥
🚨 WHEN THE JOB TAKES OVER—HOW DO YOU TAKE YOURSELF BACK? 🚨

First responders wear their job titles like armor—firefighter, medic, cop. But what happens when that armor becomes your identity? In Part 1 of our powerful conversation with Sean McCallum, we dig into the mental toll of the job, why trauma isn’t always about the incident itself, and the struggle to shift from work mode to home life without losing yourself in the process.

🔗https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/mind-over-madness-part-1-with-sean-mccallum/

🎧 LISTEN NOW to hear:
🔥 How your job can quietly consume who you are
🔥 Why trauma is more about unfulfilled intention than the event itself
🔥 The battle between work identity & personal identity
🔥 Insights from Sean’s children's book The Joy Thief—and how it teaches kids (and adults) to understand emotions
🔥 The real first responder mental health conversation you didn’t get in training

🚑 🚓 🚒 This one hits deep—DON’T MISS IT.

Tag your crew & let’s talk—d…

🚨🏀 MARCH MADNESS EARLY BIRD SALE! 🏀🚨

FIRST RESPONDERS—You train hard, you show up, and now it's your turn to take the shot. 🎯

🔥 From NOW until March 15th, score your spot at the 2025 Tactical Tools for Thriving Symposium for ONLY $50! 🔥

💡 12 powerhouse speakers
💪 Real-world mental health tools
👊 A room full of people who GET IT

This is the ultimate huddle for first responders looking to thrive, not just survive. Don’t wait—when the buzzer sounds, the price goes up! ⏳

🔗 Register NOW: https://evenium.events/tactical-tools

Tag your crew & make sure they don’t miss out! Let’s do this! 🚔🚒🔥 #TacticalTools2025 #FirstResponderStrong #MarchMadnessDeal

🚨 New Episode Alert: Cool Story, Bro! How to Lose a Goal in 10 Excuses & the Power of YET

🎧 Listen now: https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/cool-story-bro-how-to-lose-a-goal-in-10-excuses-the-power-of-yet/

Alright folks, let’s talk about that sneaky little gremlin in your brain—self-sabotage. You know, the one that whispers "Why even try?" or "You're just gonna fail anyway." Well, news flash: that voice is full of crap.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:
✅ Why self-sabotage happens & how to spot it
✅ How fear keeps us stuck (and how to fight back)
✅ The Power of Yet—reframing failure into growth
✅ Why celebrating small wins matters (seriously, it does)
✅ Practical steps to ditch self-doubt and move forward

🔥 Challenge of the Week: Catch yourself in a self-doubt spiral? Add "yet" to the end of the sentence. "I'm not good at this… yet." "I haven't figured this out… yet." See how that one word shifts your mindset and let us know how it goes!

#SelfSabotage #OvercomingFear #MindsetShift #PersonalGro…

🚨 2025 Tactical Tools for Thriving Symposium Speaker Spotlight! 🚨

📅 May 5, 2025 | Erlanger, KY | St. Elizabeth Training Center🎟 Register now: https://evenium.events/tactical-tools

Meet William Young, a powerhouse in the world of corrections advocacy, mental health, and leadership! With three books under his belt, a mission to reshape how we support correctional staff, and the platform Just Corrections, William is a true champion for those behind the walls—on both sides of the bars.

🔥 What to Expect:
At this year’s Tactical Tools for Thriving Symposium, William will bring his no-nonsense approach, real-life experience, and powerful insights to the stage, offering game-changing strategies for resilience, mental wellness, and survival in the high-stakes world of corrections and beyond.

👀 Why You Need to Be There:
Whether you're in corrections, law enforcement, fire, EMS, or supporting first responders in any capacity, William's message is raw, real, and absolutely necessary. The chal…

🚨 New Episode: It’s Not About You! 🎙️

Taking things personally can wreak havoc on relationships—yet so many of us do it without even realizing it. This week on After the Tones Drop, we break down why we internalize others’ emotions and reactions—and how to stop.

💡 Inspired by The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, we dig into:
⚡ Why we feel the need to “fix” other people’s emotions
⚡ How pushing for answers can backfire
⚡ The power of giving people space instead of making it about us

We get real—Erin puts herself on blast for learning this lesson in her own marriage, and Cinnamon confesses to rewriting the Laverne & Shirley theme song in her head. It’s raw, relatable, and packed with tough love and laughter.

🎯 Challenge of the Week: When someone’s upset but not ready to talk—don’t pry, don’t react, and don’t take it personally. Just listen when they’re ready. See what happens.

🎧 Tune in now: https://www.afterthetonesdrop.com/Feelings-Arent-Facts/

#MentalHealth #FirstResponders …

🎙️ New Episode: Brotherhood Betrayal with Captain Ed Monroe 🚒

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 in 2021. Ed shares the unimaginable day when a colleague took the lives of two firefighters and himself—and the lasting ripple effects on the entire agency.

From navigating grief and leadership under pressure to embracing vulnerability, Ed’s journey is a testament to resilience and growth. Once skeptical of mental health support, he’s now a strong advocate for therapy and peer support, helping break down stigmas in the fire service.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:
🔥 Leading through personal and organizational grief
🔥 The long-term impact of trauma in the fire service
🔥 The transformative power of therapy and peer support
🔥 Cultural shifts around mental health in first responder communities

Listen now: https://www.aftert…

🔥🚔 On this episode of Fun Friday, we bring you: ‘Oh yeah, this job is super boring.’ 🙄☕

POV: Someone asks if first responder work ever gets dull… meanwhile, you’re knee-deep in non-stop adrenaline, chaos, and enough coffee to power a small city. ☕⚡

Boring? Only if your definition includes sirens, stress, and split-second decisions. 🤷‍♂️

#FunFriday #CalmIsRelative #AdrenalineJunkie #NotYourAverageOfficeJob #FirstResponderReality #EmergencyLife #firstresponders #silly #firefighters #medic #lawenforcement #igreenscreenthings

On this clip of Throwback Thursday: The Lost Files 🎥:

We’re taking a look at the all-too-familiar spiral of isolation. 🚪➡️🚫 Avoiding tough conversations, retreating to the bunkroom, and sitting in your own ‘pee pants’ 🩳 (yep, we said it). Avoidance might feel like control, but it only keeps you stuck in the spin cycle. 🌀

Let’s break the habit and find better ways to cope. 💪✨

#ThrowbackThursday #LostFiles #MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheCycle #FirstResponderWellness #IsolationIsntHealing #PeePantsToProgress

🔥 One Week Later: Reflecting on an Honor 🧠

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a week since we had the privilege of being the keynote speakers at the 28th Annual Jackson Fire Expo! 🙌

We were honored to deliver our ACEs in the Hole presentation, teaching first responders about the profound effects of childhood adversity. Even more humbling? We were the first-ever speakers to bring mental health to this incredible event.

Thank you to the Jackson Fire Expo for trusting us to start this conversation. Here’s to breaking barriers and building stronger, healthier first responder communities! 💪🔥

#JacksonFireExpo #ACEsInTheHole #MentalHealthMatters #FirstResponderWellness #BreakingBarriers #HonoredAndGrateful #AdverseChildhoodExperiences #ACES

🧘‍♂️ Meditation: Not Just for Hippies 🌟

“Honestly, I used to think meditation was a total joke—just some hippie thing. But now? I get it.”

Our guest, Brad, breaks down how he went from a skeptic to seeing all the real-life benefits of meditation. From calming the chaos in your head to handling stress better, it’s not about sitting on a mountain—it’s about finding your balance in the everyday grind.

If Brad can give it a shot, maybe it’s time you do, too.

#MeditationBenefits #StressRelief #NotJustForHippies #MentalHealthMatters #FindYourCalm #firstresponders #lawenforcement

🛌 Sleep Hacks You Need 😴

Your body’s bedtime cues aren’t just about darkness.

🌡 Cool Down: Keep your room at 67-68°F and take a warm shower 1-2 hours before bed to trigger melatonin release.
🧠 Calm Your Mind: Balanced serotonin helps relax racing thoughts and ease you into sleep.
🕒 Reset Your Clock: Your circadian rhythm relies on specific chemicals that thrive when you’re well-rested.

Set your body up for better sleep!

#SleepBetter #RestIsRecovery #SleepHacks #CircadianRhythm #MelatoninMagic #SerotoninSupport #HealthyHabits #OptimizeYourSleep #firstresponders #firefighters

In this heartfelt "drop-in/special release" episode, Erin and Cinnamon step into the deeply personal and universal experience of the Anniversary Effect—the way our bodies and minds hold onto grief, even when the calendar doesn’t remind us. 💔

The conversation weaves through:

How grief and trauma live in the body (because, yes, the body does keep the score).
The parallels between shared human experiences, like childbirth or the death of a loved one, and how personal significance amplifies the weight of these moments.
The frustration and heartbreak of losing someone to suicide—and the power of showing up with love, empathy, and a willingness to fight alongside those who are struggling.
Why reaching out, whether you’re hurting or supporting, matters more than you know.
Erin and Cinnamon reflect on the moments that stick with us, the lessons grief teaches, and the importance of having someone to walk through it with. For them, it’s about creating space—for yourself, for others, and for t…

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 there who know the dance all too well. For first responders, foreboding joy is almost second nature. You finally get a quiet shift, a thank-you from someone you helped, or even a solid moment with your family—and bam! You’re already bracing for the next big hit. Cinnamon doesn’t sugarcoat it: this constant “waiting to get hit across the head by that proverbial 2x4” isn’t just annoying; it’s exhausting. But here’s the twist—she’s got some ways to help you actually enjoy those moments instead of worrying about when they’ll end.

Cinnamon starts with the survival mode trap, something first responders know all too w…