In this powerful Veterans Day episode of The Daily Helping, Dr. Richard Shuster speaks with Marine combat veteran and mental health advocate Joe Smarro. Joe, a former police officer and crisis intervention leader, shares his deeply personal journey from a troubled childhood to military service and ultimately to his work as the CEO of SolutionPoint+, where he focuses on eradicating suicide among first responders.
Joe opens up about his past struggles with trauma and his mission to bring empathy and compassion into policing. His story, featured in the Emmy-winning documentary Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops, underscores the importance of connection over authority when serving communities. Joe shares his unique "connection before correction" approach and discusses how empathy can transform crisis response, ultimately helping both first responders and the communities they serve.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
Not only are you loved– and I know that's like, oh, you just say that– man, woman, it doesn't matter to me. When we can understand that love is just like empathy, it's our superpower. I love you all. I love you, Dr. Richard, I just met you. Why? Because you're a person on your journey, trying to do good for other people and that's worthy and deserving. And I just wish all people would understand that you deserve to be loved, regardless of the thoughts you've had, the choices you've made, the mistakes you've made, the people you've hurt, the wrong you've done, regardless of all of it, you deserve to be loved. And you have to start by accepting that and acknowledging that and understanding that for yourself. Because when you accept your own truth of “I am worthy and I am lovable,” it makes it so much easier to connect with other people and love them as well.
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