Caffeinated Trauma

In Episode 13 of Caffeinated Trauma , I sit down with Courtney, a registered nurse at Fort Hood, Texas, and the wife of a police officer. Courtney shares her unique perspective on life as both a healthcare professional and the spouse of a first responder. During the conversation, Courtney reflects on her experience working at Fort Hood during the 2014 active shooter attack, a tragic event that cla...

In Episode 11 of Caffeinated Trauma , we welcome Kim Pastore for one of the most powerful and emotional conversations to date. Kim’s husband, Jorge Pastore, was killed in the line of duty during a hostage rescue on November 11, 2023. What followed was every law enforcement family’s worst nightmare—sudden loss, unanswered questions, and a grief that reshapes everything. In this episode, Kim speaks...

Jimmy Wise started his career in New York City as an EMT with the FDNY, running into some of the toughest calls you can imagine. Eventually, he packed up and made his way to Texas, where he became a police officer and continued his life of service. Along the way, Jimmy has faced his own battles with mental health, something many first responders can relate to. Instead of hiding from it, he’s chose...

This week on Caffeinated Trauma , I sit down with Tatiana Rivera, a seasoned dispatcher with over a decade of experience behind the radio. Throughout her career, Tatiana has been the calm voice during some of Austin’s most critical moments—including six officer-involved shootings and the Austin bombing. Her dedication to first responders and the community has shaped her into not only a leader but...

Sara Stoutamire is an 18-year veteran dispatcher with the Austin Police Department, bringing nearly two decades of experience behind the radio. Throughout her career, Sara has been the calm voice guiding officers through some of the city's most critical and traumatic moments,including officer-involved shootings and high-stakes emergencies. Unlike those on scene, Sara's world was shaped by...

In episode 7, I sit down with Jeff Hutchison. Jeff is a seasoned law enforcement officer with 13 years of dedicated service. One of the most defining moments of his career came during a critical hostage rescue operation that would test both his training and resilience. In the face of overwhelming gunfire, Jeff played a pivotal role in navigating the chaos and helping to bring the situation to a re...

In this powerful episode of Caffeinated Trauma , we sit down with Colin Guzman—a former LAPD officer who carries on a proud family legacy of service. During his 5 years with LAPD, Colin served on patrol and the gang unit. Colin has faced some of the city's harshest realities head-on. But nothing could prepare him for the night he found himself off duty at a bar when an active shooter stormed i...

Brad Ray has spent 17 years in law enforcement, serving in some of the most high-stakes assignments in the profession. Throughout his career, he has worked patrol, SWAT, and homicide, eventually rising to the rank of sergeant over a violent crimes task force. He has been directly involved in two officer-involved shootings and supervised a third, experiences that have left lasting impressions on hi...

Javi Rodriguez has served with the Austin Police Department for six years, facing more in that short time than many do in an entire career. Having been involved in three officer-involved shootings, Javi has experienced firsthand the toll that critical incidents take on mental health and personal well-being. His journey hasn’t been easy, but he refuses to let trauma define him. Through therapy and...

In this deeply personal episode, I take you on a journey through the pivotal and often painful moments that shaped my life before stepping into the world of law enforcement. From navigating complex family dynamics to experiencing the profound loss of loved ones, I share the raw, unfiltered truth of how these events impacted me and ultimately prepared me for the traumatic events I would face in pol...

In this episode, I welcome Jesse Rodriguez, who has dedicated 28 years to law enforcement. During his long career, Jesse has navigated some of the most intense and traumatic events imaginable. With a career marked by resilience and courage, Jesse’s experiences have left a lasting impact on him. In this episode, we explore his journey through these challenges and dive deep into how he has managed t...

In this episode, I sit down with Garrett Miller, a police officer whose journey of resilience began long before he wore a badge. As a child, Garrett faced unimaginable adversity after the tragic murder of his mother, leading to his time in foster care. These early experiences shaped his perspective on life and survival. Now, as an officer, Garrett has confronted a new wave of traumatic events, nav...

Welcome to the pilot episode of the Caffeinated Trauma podcast. In this episode, I give a short background about myself and a layout of the podcast.