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hearing from anonymous attendees after the Symposium, this episode is a heart-to-heart about surrender, letting go of outdated stories, and finally deciding that you’re worth the work.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.

Novus Hometown Heroes Program

In partnership with Hometown Heroes, Novus supports community champions by making homeownership more accessible and affordable. This collaboration underscores Novus's role as a catalyst for change in the mortgage industry, aiming to simplify and improve the home-buying journey for those who serve our communities. Click HERE to connect with a branch manager.

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.

Novus Hometown Heroes Program

In partnership with Hometown Heroes, Novus supports community champions by making homeownership more accessible and affordable. This collaboration underscores Novus's role as a catalyst for change in the mortgage industry, aiming to simplify and improve the home-buying journey for those who serve our communities. Click HERE to connect with a branch manager.

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