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 resilience, healing tools, and personal growth, designed to transform you into the best version of yourself. And it's nationwide, baby!

Alright, let's talk grounding techniques. Now, I know what you’re thinking—mindfulness, hippies, patchouli—yeah, we’ve heard it all. But here’s the deal: grounding techniques are about pulling you back into the present moment, away from all those intrusive thoughts and feelings. Think of it as getting your feet and your mind firmly on the ground. It’s not just about standing barefoot in the grass (though that’s a part of it); it’s about using the earth’s energy to stabilize your own.

Erin doesn’t sugarcoat it—some of these might feel weird or not work for everyone. But the key is to find what works for you and make it a daily practice. Don’t wait until you’re freaking out; start when things are calm, so you’re ready when the stress hits.

So, give these techniques a shot. Be curious, be skeptical, but try them anyway. And as promised here is a comprehensive list of grounding techniques and more info on how they can improve your life. Until next time, keep your feet on the ground and your mind in the present.

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

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 here’s the kicker—understanding this can help you override those automatic responses and communicate more effectively.

Our old friend, the vagus nerve, plays a starring role here. This little guy can help regulate your emotional state, and techniques like deep breathing can activate it to calm your nervous system. Erin and Cinnamon share a classic pool incident story to highlight how personal narratives can really screw with your head and lead to defensive behavior. But it’s not all doom and gloom—they introduce their new nationwide program, Copper Warrior, a 12-week intensive coaching extravaganza for personal growth and healing. It’s about time someone rolled out a program like this, right?

The conversation hammers home the power of self-awareness and self-regulation. If you can manage your biological rudeness, you can avoid a ton of unnecessary conflicts. And if you’re looking to dive even deeper, they’ve got some book recommendations for you: ‘Activate Your Vagus Nerve’ by Dr. Nawaz Habib and ‘Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve’ by Stanley Rosenberg. So, take a deep breath, calm that nervous system, and let’s get to work on understanding the behavior chain driving our emotional reactions.

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

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 than expected, she didn't slow down. She shifted gears, managing cemeteries and then working at a funeral home where she discovered her knack for helping families during their toughest times, especially as a funeral director apprentice.

It was while working with grieving families that Nicole realized she hadn't fully dealt with her own grief from leaving law enforcement. This led her to pen a children’s book, Daddy’s Home, which dives into the emotional turmoil surrounding police line of duty deaths. Writing it helped Nicole find the closure she missed out on—the "last call" she never got when her police career ended.

With her new venture, Nicole is on a mission to make the end-of-life transition as peaceful and positive as possible. Positive Passing, LLC offers education, support, and resources to those facing their final days and their families, embodying Nicole's lifelong commitment to care and service.

Nicole is also beefing up her credentials in Mental Health First Aid and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), further preparing her to support her peers in law enforcement and volunteer in hospice care. She’s a true community pillar, locally and nationally.

Interested in Nicole’s story or want to grab a copy of Daddy’s Home? Check out Positive Passing, LLC at zensmb.com, or find the book at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Tune in to hear Nicole share not just her professional experiences but also personal insights on dealing with life’s hardest moments. It’s going to be a heartfelt, eye-opening chat that offers a fresh perspective on finding healing and giving support where it’s most needed.

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