After The Tones Drop

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If You’re Not First, You’re Last (And No, This Isn’t About NASCAR)

We’ve all heard the line “If you’re not first, you’re last.” It was meant to be a joke in a ridiculous movie, but what if there’s real truth buried inside the absurdity?

In this solo episode, Cinnamon unpacks what it means to quietly slide into last place in your own life—not because someone pushed you there, but because of a dozen tiny, well-intentioned “yeses.” From over-functioning to people-pleasing, Cinnamon explores how we slowly erase ourselves in the name of being helpful, capable, and dependable… until burnout becomes the background music.

This isn’t a call to be selfish. It’s a call to be strategic.
Because putting yourself first doesn’t mean you matter more—it means you remember that you matter too.

🎧 Listen in for a short, honest wake-up call that might just help you reclaim your time, your peace, and your place at the top of your own priority list.

Ready to stop living in last place? 🎙️ Tune into this special Solocast of After the Tones Drop, Episode #114, now.

📩 For therapy or trauma-informed coaching with Cinnamon, visit https://whole-house.com/therapy

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

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Episode 113 – Cindy “Ci” Rodriguez: Unpacking the Armor: Childhood Trauma, Leadership, and Life After Law Enforcement

How a Retired Lieutenant Turned Trauma Into Peer Advocacy and Personal Power

What happens when a career in law enforcement collides with a lifetime of unprocessed trauma?

In this episode of After the Tones Drop, retired Las Vegas Police Lieutenant Cindy “Ci” Rodriguez gets honest about the cost of carrying pain you never named—and the power of finally facing it.

From her early years in one of the country’s most intense sex crimes units to her healing journey after retirement, Ci shares a raw, no-BS look at what it takes to move from survival mode to conscious living. She opens up about discovering her ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), what that revealed about her leadership style, and how unresolved energy and trauma show up in the body whether we want to admit it or not.

This is part life story, part leadership clinic, and part soul-check.

You’ll hear:
 ✔️ How childhood adversity shaped her career in law enforcement
 ✔️ The moment she realized healing had to come from the inside out
 ✔️ Why she shifted from command leadership to coaching and peer advocacy
 ✔️ What "slow living" really looks like after decades of nonstop service

Ci’s not here to sugarcoat anything. She’s here to offer truth, tools, and a new lens for every first responder stuck between burnout and breakthrough.

Listen now if you're ready to lead and live with more intention, less suppression, and a hell of a lot more self-respect.

Contact Cindy at [email protected]. 

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

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Let’s get honest. In a profession where courage is worn like a badge and burnout is considered a side effect of the job, nutrition usually ends up on the back burner—or worse, dictated by Instagram gurus and protein powder ads.

In this episode of After the Tones Drop, Cinnamon sits down with Megan Lautz—a registered dietitian who doesn’t do fluff, fad diets, or fear-based wellness. She serves up real talk on what first responders actually need to fuel their bodies, manage stress, and lower their long-term health risks.

We bust the myth about artificial sweeteners (spoiler: aspartame isn't the villain), call out the hypocrisy at “wellness” events pouring free beer, and put the spotlight where it belongs—on actionable nutrition strategies that fit a chaotic, shift-based lifestyle.

Megan’s not here to preach. She's here to equip. Because when your job is to save lives, yours shouldn’t be sacrificed in the process.

🎧 Listen now to get:

• The truth about aspartame, alcohol, and actual cancer risk
• Tactical food tips that work in 24-hour shifts
• Why cultural competence in nutrition could save careers—and lives

This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a wake-up call. And it might just be the most important conversation you’ve had all week.

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

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In this episode of After the Tones Drop, Cinnamon sits down with Matt Griffin—U.S. Navy veteran, former undercover cop, and member of the Attorney General’s Drug Task Force—to talk about the unspoken weight of service and what it takes to come out the other side. From high-adrenaline training as a SAR swimmer to the slow burn of emotional fallout, Matt opens up about the identity crisis that can hit when the uniform comes off—and the long road to healing that follows.

We dig into how early experiences shaped his worldview, including the culture shock of leaving the inner-city public school system to enter an elite private prep school, the disappointment that came at the end of his Naval career, and—most devastating of all—the catastrophic loss of a fellow brother’s young son, a tragedy for which Matt still carries a deep sense of responsibility. Through it all, he speaks to the miracles found in friendship and faith that ultimately saved him. Matt shares why vulnerability—not stoicism—may be the bravest move of all.

He also offers insights from his book, The Journey to Midnight, where he chronicles the raw, redemptive process of rediscovering who you are when everything else falls away.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of recovery—or what it takes to face your darkness and live to tell the story—this one’s for you.

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

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Season 3 Is Here
After the Tones Drop is back for Season 3! Host Cinnamon Reiheld shares a quick update on what's ahead—including new guests, real conversations, and the community that keeps growing. If you’ve been wondering what’s next, here’s your answer. 

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of After the Tones Drop, we sit down with Jo Terry of the Chip Terry Fund to talk about the hidden cost of healing for first responders. Jo shares the deeply personal story behind the fund’s creation and her mission to ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of someone getting the help they need. We also explore the promising impact of the Stellate Ganglion Block as an emerging treatment for post-traumatic stress—and the urgency of making it accessible.

Jo reminds us that healing should never depend on someone’s ability to pay. That’s why she’s leading a critical fundraiser now through June 11th—to ensure she never has to say “no” to a first responder ready to take their first step toward recovery.

This episode is a testament to advocacy, action, and the belief that no one should have to suffer in silence—or alone.

If you want to stand with first responders everywhere, please take a moment, pull out your wallet and make that much needed contribution to the Chip Terry Fund here! 

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

Send us Fan Mail

This one has been a long time coming, and so worth the wait.

Conrad Weaver is not just a filmmaker. He’s not just a podcaster. He’s a storyteller for the soul of public service. A man who took his lens and his heart straight into the fire of our first responder world and came out carrying the stories we didn’t know how to tell ourselves.

In this episode, we dig deep with Conrad about his journey from filming agriculture documentaries to capturing the gut-wrenching, raw realities of PTSD in the 911 world. From ride-alongs gone real to that pivotal overdose call that cracked him open, Conrad shares how the powerful documentary PTSD911 was born. Not from theory, but from lived experience, heartbreak, and a cop named Desiree who said, “If you wanna make a movie about this, I’ll help you.”

We talk about the resistance that comes with telling the truth, especially in a culture that still whispers (or shouts) “suck it up.” We also talk about what happens when someone finally lets the story out—and how healing doesn’t always come in silence, but in sharing.

Whether you’re an admin still clutching your “this doesn’t happen here” badge or a responder carrying your weight in silence, this episode is your sign. Pull up a chair. Let this one sink in. The power of storytelling might just be what saves us all.

In this episode, we cover:

• The behind-the-scenes making of PTSD911
• Pushback from leadership—and why some still won’t “get it”
• How storytelling creates healing and accountability
• Why the suck-it-up culture is a public health crisis
• Leadership, legacy, and why it all starts at the top
• What’s next for Conrad (spoiler: he’s just getting started)

Want to host a screening of PTSD911?
Visit: https://www.ptsd911movie.com
(And bring tissues. And maybe a chief or two.)

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

Send us a text

Okay, y’all...this episode is exactly what it sounds like. A straight-up mind dump. No outline, no script, no co-host. Just Erin, raw and rambling with a million things swirling in my head that felt too important not to share.

I’m talking about what happens when we let our thoughts convince us we’re too broken, too messy, too much. I’m talking about the lie we tell ourselves that if people really saw us—the real us—they’d leave. I’m talking about the brutal truth that healing isn’t soft. It’s loud and gritty and uncomfortable as hell. And I’m reminding you that just because a thought shows up in your head doesn’t mean it gets to run the show.

From watching women rise at Save A Warrior to hearing from anonymous attendees after the Symposium, this episode is a heart-to-heart about surrender, letting go of outdated stories, and finally deciding that you’re worth the work. Worth the discomfort. Worth the love.

If you’ve been walking through the fire lately, I hope this reminds you that you’re not alone in the flames—and that what’s waiting on the other side is real freedom.

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop has been presented and sponsored by Whole House Counseling. After the Tones Drop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute for medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional health care advice diagnosis or treatment. Please contact a local mental health professional in your area if you are in need of assistance. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):

• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

Send us a text

Hey friends, this episode is different.

It’s just me, Erin. No Cinnamon, no guests, no clever banter. Just me, a mic, and a story I’ve spent years living and carefully deciding how (and when) to share. I realized recently that we throw around the word “recovery” a lot on this show. Cinnamon and I both reference it, we nod to it, but not everyone really knows what that means. So today, I’m letting you in a little deeper.

This is the Cliff’s Notes version of how I got here. How I grew up in an alcoholic home, lost my mom to the disease, watched my dad find sobriety, and still somehow ended up unraveling in my own addiction. It’s messy. It’s nonlinear. It involves some hard truths about my relationships, the darkness I waded through, and the moments that cracked me wide open.

But it’s not just about pain. It’s about purpose. It’s about the voice I heard...twice...that told me, “You can’t do this anymore.” It’s about the people who showed up when I couldn’t stand on my own. And it’s about what happens when you stop being afraid of your own light and finally decide to step into it.

If you’ve ever felt like you were too far gone, too broken, too messy, or just plain too much...this one’s for you. You’re not alone. Me too, friend. Me too.

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop has been presented and sponsored by Whole House Counseling. After the Tones Drop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute for medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional health care advice diagnosis or treatment. Please contact a local mental health professional in your area if you are in need of assistance. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):

• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE

Send us Fan Mail

You’re gonna need a box of tissues, because this episode with Captain Chris Moore is equal parts gut-wrenching and soul-restoring.

Chris has over 30 years in the fire service—he’s seen it, lived it, and most importantly, survived it. From hurricanes to heartbreak, Lewis the legendary service dog to losing everything but finding himself—this isn’t just a story about calls and chaos. It’s a testimony of what happens when you finally stop trying to hold it all together and admit you’re falling apart. He walks us through the moment he hit rock bottom, the call he made that saved his life, and the healing that came with EMDR, journaling, Save A Warrior, and leaning into faith.

We talk grief, divorce, addiction, what it means to be a real leader, and why smashing the stigma might still be a little premature (but we’re coming for it). He also drops some serious wisdom about first responder mental health, writing to your new recruits, and what it means to actually be a good human being.

If you’ve ever questioned your strength or felt like maybe it was just you—you’re gonna want to hear what Chris has to say. Because he’s walking proof that sometimes "broken" people make the best builders.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

• You can carry trauma for decades and still heal.
• “I’m fine” is the biggest lie we tell each other.
• Asking for help is the bravest damn thing you can do.
• Safe people matter. The size of your circle doesn’t.
• Service animals save lives—in more ways than one.

DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information. 

ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat): 

•  Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat
•  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
• https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
• https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
• https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
• https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
  License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR
• https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
  License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE