What happens when the person trained to save everyone else needs saving?

This week, we sit down with Mark, a retired Glendale Firefighter Paramedic who spent his career at the front lines of other people's worst days. Mark opens up with raw honesty about his personal battle with PTSD and the heavy toll of a life in emergency services.

But this isn't just a story about the struggle—it’s a deep dive into the unconventional paths to healing. Mark shares his transformative experiences with:

• Ayahuasca: The profound journey of plant medicine and spiritual reconnection.
• Ketamine Therapy: How clinical psychedelic treatments are shifting the landscape of mental health for first responders.
• Early Intervention: Why "toughing it out" is a relic of the past and how the new generation can build resilience from day one.

Mark is now dedicated to guiding the next wave of first responders, proving that getting help isn't a sign of weakness—it’s a tactical advantage for a long, healthy career.

This week on After The Call, the OG crew is back and absolutely unfiltered.

Join Patrick, Veronica, Tori, and Josh as they dive headfirst into the current events shaking the first responder community — including the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two DPS troopers. It’s real talk about real loss, the weight the job carries, and the ripple effects these incidents have across the badge family.

But because this is After Watch… it doesn’t stay serious for long.

Expect sharp takes, inappropriate timing, uncomfortable laughter, and at least three moments where someone should’ve said, “maybe don’t.” The crew balances honoring the fallen with the dark humor that first responders use to survive the job — and yes, there’s a solid chance this episode gets us canceled.

Grief, gallows humor, and absolutely no HR department in sight.

You’ve been warned.

From the big cheese to “Forrest” 🐎
Veronica, CEO and one of the founders of After Watch Foundation, sits down to share her why and the road that led her here.

This episode is raw and real. Veronica opens up about the tough realizations, the hard fights, and the moments that could have broken her but didn’t. She made it out alive, stronger, and more determined than ever.

Now she’s focused on one thing. Going back into the trenches she once stood in and pulling others out with her. This is a story about survival, purpose, and choosing to turn pain into something that changes lives.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, exhausted, or alone after the fight, this one is for you.

Some stories don’t just get told.
They hit you right in the chest.

Patrick Kreuzer, COO of After Watch, shares his why, the calls that never leave you, and what ultimately led him into retirement. He opens up about gut-wrenching moments that would stop most people in their tracks and how he still found a way to keep moving forward in life.

This is not just a story about stepping away from the job.
It is about turning pain into purpose and choosing to build something meaningful from the weight you carry.

Patrick is a true inspiration to the first responder community and a powerful reminder that what you have been through does not have to define you. It can fuel what you are called to do next.

🎙️ Listen in
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Christy Perez recently retired after an incredible career as a 911 dispatcher in Tennessee, and she didn’t just do the job — she changed it for the better. Known for her leadership, heart, and relentless commitment to doing things the right way, Christy left her center as a true legend.

In this episode, Christy pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to be a dispatcher. She shares unforgettable stories from behind the headset, the pressure of being the calm voice in chaos, and how dispatchers quietly shape outcomes every single day. We also talk about the transition into retirement — the emotions, the identity shift, and what life feels like after years of serving on the front lines without ever being seen.

This is a must-listen for dispatchers, first responders, and anyone who wants to understand the unseen heroes who answer the call before anyone else.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jorge Castro, a paramedic with over 30 years of service who has spent his career showing up for people on the worst days of their lives. From his early years with AMR to his current role with San Bernardino County Fire, Jorge has built a reputation that’s rare in emergency services: unwavering kindness, humility, and genuine compassion for every patient and coworker he encounters.

After three decades of trauma, heartbreak, and relentless calls, the question becomes unavoidable. How does someone stay this good for this long? Jorge opens up about how he has managed to protect his heart without hardening it, the mindset that has sustained him, and why choosing kindness is a daily, intentional act in a profession that often rewards emotional armor.

One of the most moving moments of this conversation is the story of Jorge being fired from AMR and what happened next. Coworkers, firefighters, hospital staff, and agencies across the region united to sign a petition demanding his return. It wasn’t about politics or procedure. It was about character. That collective response says more about who Jorge is than any résumé ever could.

This episode is a reminder that how you treat people matters, that legacy is built in small moments, and that even in the darkest environments, light can still lead the way.

🎧 Listen in for a conversation about service, resilience, humility, and what it truly means to be respected by an entire community.

This week, we sit down with local firefighter-turned-paramedic Josh Grandinetti, who opens up about the injury that ended his fire career, the transition that followed, and the deep work he’s done to stay grounded through it all. Josh gets candid about trauma, coping, and what real mindfulness looks like in the life of a first responder.

He’s so dialed in on helping others rise above their struggles that he launched Foundation Fortified—a powerful resource for building resilience and mental strength.

Give this episode a listen, reach out to Foundation Fortified, and tell them After Watch sent you.

On this episode of After the Call, we sit down with two of the coolest women in the game—Guided Journeys.
They’re changing the lives of first responders every day through ketamine therapy, helping break cycles of trauma, depression, and burnout in ways traditional treatment often can’t.

If you’ve ever wondered how ketamine therapy actually works, why it’s helping so many responders heal, or how to get connected with a team that truly gets it, this episode is for you.

Tune in, learn something new, and if you’re ready to see the impact for yourself, reach out to Guided Journeys.
Your healing deserves a starting point.