“I Thought About Ending It”—Joe’s Battle With PTSD and What Saved Him

Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms

Cut The Tie Podcast

Episode 274

What happens when a former police officer turns mental health advocate and entrepreneur? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich speaks with Joe Smarro—CEO and Owner of Solution Point+—about the urgent need for emotional intelligence, leadership reform, and how the power of presence can change everything.

Joe shares his transformation from a decorated crisis negotiator to an advocate for change within public safety and corporate culture. Together, they explore how real transformation begins with inner work, vulnerability, and cutting ties to outdated systems of authority and success.

About Joe Smarro

Joe Smarro is the Owner and CEO of Solution Point+, a training and consulting company focused on mental health, leadership, and emotional intelligence. A former Marine and decorated member of the San Antonio Police Department's Mental Health Unit, Joe rose to national attention through the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops. Today, he travels globally, helping teams create cultures rooted in humanity and courage.

In this episode, Thomas and Joe discuss:

• The evolution from cop to consultant
  Joe explains how his experience on the front lines of mental health crises inspired him to co-found a company dedicated to systemic change.
• Cutting ties with emotional suppression
  From the military to law enforcement, Joe reflects on how emotional armor becomes a trap—and why vulnerability is the real strength.
• The power of emotional intelligence in leadership
  Joe unpacks why the best leaders are present, emotionally aware, and willing to have hard conversations with grace.
• Why police and corporate cultures need the same thing
  Joe draws a powerful parallel between dysfunction in law enforcement and burnout in business—both demand new tools, not just new rules.
• Challenging the "tough guy" mindset
  Through storytelling and self-awareness, Joe offers a blueprint for how men can lead with heart, not just hardness.

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional armor can become your cage
  Suppressing emotion might help you survive—but it keeps you from truly living.
• Leadership is presence
  Being fully present is one of the most underrated leadership tools in high-stress environments.
• Inner work creates outer impact
  True change in systems starts with personal responsibility and deep self-reflection.
• Mental health is operational readiness
  Teams that prioritize wellness aren't soft—they're strategic.
• Transformation starts with courage
  Whether it’s law enforcement or leadership, courage today means being real, not just resilient.

Connect with Joe Smarro:
🌐 Website: solutionpointplus.com
💼 LinkedIn: Joe Smarro

🎥 Featured in: Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops (HBO)

Connect with Thomas Helfrich:

🐦 Twitter: @thelfrich
📘 Facebook Group: Cut the Tie
💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: cutthetie.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
🚀 Ins

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Joe Smarrow (00:00:00)

2. Hitting Rock Bottom and Finding Help (00:06:05)

3. Building a Business from Personal Growth (00:12:30)

4. [Ad] PodMatch (00:12:30)

5. (Cont.) Hitting Rock Bottom and Finding Help (00:13:09)

6. Gratitude Through Business Challenges (00:18:20)

7. Valuing Your Worth (00:22:57)

8. Facing Your Inner Self (00:27:35)