
Episode # 9 - Allyn T. Goodrich
In this episode of Life on the X, host Sal Cortez sits down with Allyn T. Goodrich, a veteran Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer, SWAT operator, author, and advocate for first-responder wellness. Goodrich shares his journey from small-town Nevada to nearly two decades in law enforcement, including patrol, undercover investigations, intelligence, and SWAT. He opens up about the cumulative impact of critical incidents, an officer-involved shooting that became a personal breaking point, and the importance of peer support, resilience, and finding healthy ways to heal. Goodrich also recounts responding to the October 1, 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting and the lessons that followed in tactical medicine and mass-casualty preparedness. That experience helped inspire his book, October Strong, a fictionalized story honoring the first responders, medical personnel, and everyday people impacted by the tragedy. Proceeds from the book support The Wounded Blue, which serves injured and disabled law enforcement officers. TOPICS INCLUDE: • The cumulative stress of a first-responder career can surface years later. • Peer support starts with being present and recognizing when someone is struggling. • Goodrich shares how an officer-involved shooting became a breaking point in his life. • Finding “your thing”—faith, family, fitness, therapy, writing, horses, or another healthy outlet—can be an important part of recovery. • October 1 produced lessons for tactical medicine and mass-casualty response. • Writing October Strong became an unexpected therapeutic outlet. • Goodrich’s advice: Don’t be afraid to walk through doors—and be curious, not judgmental. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 01:04 – Growing Up in Ely, Nevada 07:07 – The Road to Law Enforcement 10:31 – Patrol & Crime Saturation Team 13:19 – Jiu-Jitsu & Defensive Tactics 16:07 – Undercover, Intelligence & SWAT 19:55 – The Hidden Weight of the Job 23:23 – LVMPD Wellness & Peer Support 29:53 – “My Brother’s Keeper” 33:06 – Gates to Healing 40:59 – The Shooting That Became a Breaking Point 46:03 – After an Officer-Involved Shooting 51:03 – Life & Training on SWAT 53:42 – October 1, 2017 58:27 – Tactical Medicine & Lessons Learned 1:02:27 – Tactical Physicians & Medics 1:14:47 – Writing as Therapy 1:24:01 – October Strong & The Wounded Blue 1:35:28 – Don’t Be Afraid to Go Through Doors Life on The X: website: http://lifeonthe-x.com facebook: lifeonthexpodcast instagram: @lifeonthe_x youtube: @lifeonthe-x Life on the X podcast is sponsored by: The International School of Tactical Medicine. "The best training in the worst places" website: https://tacticalmedicine.com/ facebook: International School of Tactical Medicine instagram: @istm_tacmed youtube: @ISTM_tacticalmedicine #LifeOnTheX #SWAT #LasVegasMetro #FirstResponder #LawEnforcement #TacticalMedicine #OfficerWellness #OctoberStrong
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