Meet Dustin Goodroad | Actor & Spear fisher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dustin Goodroad and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dustin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I find the idea of interpersonal risk to be extremely subjective, outside of obvious things like running around in a storm with metal on, swimming around sharks with chum in the water, betting on the Vikings in the Super Bowl etc.. (lol)

It depends who’s telling me what I’m doing is risky.!

Are they living a life I would want to live?

Do they believe what they’re saying, or are they saying what they’ve heard?

Finding out just the truth in-between that alone has led me to many great places. And for that reason, to a lot of people, it seems like I do take a lot of risks! But to me, they are never seemingly risky. Just manifestations of what my heart truly desires most..

And along with that, I will also say – never misconstrue positive & purposeful risk, with risk driven by temptation!

– There is a very fine line. And the truth is written on all of our hearts!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We have a new movie coming out!
It’s written, produced, directed and created by me and my friend Nicole, with the help of our friends Rodrigo, Stevie and John .
It’s called “Found by Intelligence”
Which is a fun play – completely hyperbolically – on a story about two Mormons doubling as fbi agents.. Our main protagonist stumbles upon some information and they come knocking and asking questions. I’m a massive Stanley Kubrick fan – so just know – almost every scene, manipulation, variable, sound that comes with this movie – has an ultimate purpose.
There’s a ton of layers, I worked extremely hard at making the script all align, making sure it makes sense to some people that aren’t looking too deeply at it lol

As for myself, I started acting in Minnesota around 2012 – I found some small work in print ads, tux rentals, IPR student films, etc, but ultimately felt stuck.. I fell out of a tree in 2015 trying to take it down, fell 30 feet and struggled for a few years following it.
I popped my spleen, broke a rib, got some cte and was bed ridden for a while.. I got my CNA certificate while I was recovering, worked hospice as a cna at a retirement center, was an LPN for a while..

Then decided I desired less.

And that is when my life opened up, ironically.

I was no longer afraid of anything but wasting my life.

I decided to move to California in 2018 and I’ve been working hard out here ever since – only wanting less and being so happy with anything I do get.

I started spearfishing around 2021 and absolutely love it. CTE is clearing.
I am happy. And I have less.

It’s wild how this world works.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food wise I love Howlin rays hot chicken – absolutely insane chicken sandwiches and fries – in n out is classic, there’s a few ice cream shops and arcades at the pike in LB that are fun – Nickel arcades in DTLA – I’ve skating rinks during the winters..

I would have them snorkel Laguna, La Jolla, Catalina, Palos Verdes – or if they were up to it – grab a Hawaiian sling spear and come get a fish with me!

We could get crab, lobster, scallops, fish – whatever out there

We could go down the main strip on sunset if they prefer drinking (I don’t), see a comedy show, bike around the beaches, play frisbee golf – the options are endless. Totally up to what they’re into!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother and her father (my grandpa)!!

At a very young age my mom taught me that “the only thing that’s constant is change” and that we can do and be whatever we wanted! And she wouldn’t judge us (??) – biblically she was just an excellent mom. Which tested my nerves!! lol

My grandpa was an inventor and my best friend, which is why when he passed, me understanding the bit about change was so helpful..
He taught me about machines, minerals, mechanics, his hobbies, the power of will (his name and its fitting) – god – just one of the best men to look up to..

One of the best examples I can give you of their spirits / my grandpa in particular – is how my grandpa was an inventor and made the fastest spring machine on the market.. He made springs for the health industry, pace makers, claw machine springs, etc.. misc companies around MN..
One day he was offered a massive contract that would ultimately use his springs in explosives.. He was in the Korean army. He said no. He sold his company, sold his house, and built a home for my grandma and him to retire in safely.
(Flat home, easy cabinets, close to grandkids, etc) – when he died a few years after – we were not rich in wealth – but we are RICH IN SPIRIT! 🙂

I believe he saved my families collective soul.
& I can never repay him.

Instagram: HTTP://instagram.com/dustingoodroadof

Youtube: https://YouTube.com/dustingoodroad

Other: I have 2 main pages across all platforms –

Dustin Goodroad (personal)
&
Reef to Reef (spearfishing page)

Image Credits
Rhett and Link, Always sunny in Philadelphia, Sex lives of college girls (tv show (ballpit))