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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 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

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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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

This week, we're giving you a behind-the-scenes pass to the Tactical Tools for Thriving First Responders Symposium. (And spoiler alert—it’s not just another conference.) Erin and Cinnamon pull Kenny Schroeder—firefighter, peer supporter, all-around behind-the-scenes wizard—into the studio to talk about how this event was born, why it still matters, and how it's changing lives four years later.

We get real about the explosion of first responder wellness events lately—(which, yes, we’re thrilled about)—but also dig into the real gap that still exists: the everyday conversations, the rookies who don't know what they don't know yet, and the people stuck in the trenches thinking this is “just the way it has to be.”

Kenny talks about what it takes to shift the culture, how a single symposium literally helped him save his own life, and why it’s not about fancy vendors or swag bags—it’s about hope. It's about getting out of survival mode and into living.

Whether you're a responder, a spouse, a chief, a rookie, or someone trying to find your way back to yourself, there’s something here for you. Come for the pizza, stay for the healing.

Tactical Tools for Thriving happens May 5th in Erlanger, KY—and if you’re feeling the FOMO after this episode, there’s still time to grab your seat. Bring a friend. Grab a rookie. Grab your damn self. Let’s go.

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

This week, we sat down with our friend Giovanni Rocco, the undercover FBI agent who infiltrated the real-life DeCavalcante crime family—the same mob crew that inspired The Sopranos. But let us be clear: this episode is not just about mob takedowns and wiretaps. This is about what happens after the mission is over—when the badge comes off, the ring comes off, and the world you thought you were serving forgets your name.

From the moment Giovanni joined us, he pulled back the curtain—not just on the operation, but on the emotional wreckage that followed. He shared what it was like to live under five different identities, lie to the people he cared about most, and wake up years later unable to recognize the man he’d become. He talks about raising kids in hiding, being forced out of the home he loved, and watching the system he served treat him like a liability after his usefulness expired. If you’ve ever felt abandoned by the very thing you gave your life to—you’re going to feel this one deep in your chest.

Giovanni doesn’t just sit in the pain, though. He’s done with pity. Instead, he talks about what it means to invest in yourself—mentally, emotionally, and physically. He shares how he rebuilt himself using breathwork, reframing trauma, and staying connected to the people who could meet him where he was. He reminds us that the hardest switch isn’t going from undercover to civilian—it’s going from protector to partner, from armored up to emotionally available. And he tells us why, to this day, he still takes the ring off when he pulls into the driveway.

This is one of those conversations we’ll be thinking about for a long time. It’s gritty. It’s gut-wrenching. It’s funny in that dark, only-cops-and-clinicians-would-laugh kind of way. And most importantly—it’s real. Giovanni may have taken down the mob, but his real legacy is what he’s building now: honest connection, mental wellness, and the reminder that no one gets out of this job untouched—but no one has to heal alone either.Book

Title: Giovanni’s Ring: My Life Inside the Real Sopranos
Available at: giovannisring.com — Signed copies available

Podcast: Inside the Life
Website: insidethelife.org
Status: Season 2 currently in production

Social MediaGiovanni is available and responsive via Instagram and other social platforms (specific handles not listed but implied to be under his name).

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