In this raw and fearless conversation, James sits down with Si Hearn – a former police officer who turned personal collapse into an extraordinary new chapter.
Si doesn’t sugarcoat his story. From a tough childhood and years of bullying, to climbing the ranks in the police force and facing the darkest toll of the job, he opens up about the breaking point that forced him to stop, reset, and rebuild. What others might call a breakdown, Si calls a breakthrough – a circuit breaker that propelled him out of an institution that had drained him and into a world brimming with possibility.
You’ll hear Si reflect on:
- 🚨 Life inside the police – from frontline action to dealing with riots, terrorism, and life-or-death situations.
- ⚡ The personal struggles behind the uniform – toxic relationships, loss, and the mental health battles that nearly derailed everything.
- 💡 How he reinvented himself through relentless learning, resilience, and digital entrepreneurship.
- 🛠️ The transferable skills of policing – and how they set him up to thrive in marketing, AI, and business.
- 🌍 Why he believes life’s too short for staying stuck in the wrong job – and how freedom, growth, and purpose are always within reach.
This episode is equal parts harrowing, inspiring, and brutally honest. Si’s story is proof that you can crash, burn, and still rise higher than before – if you’re willing to learn, adapt, and never stop moving forward.
Key Takeaways
- A breakdown can be a breakthrough. Sometimes life has to burn down before you can build it back stronger.
- Institutional jobs don’t define you. Leaving the police wasn’t the end of Si’s story — it was the start of something far bigger.
- Skills transfer, identity doesn’t die. Networking, communication, and resilience are assets you can carry into any new career.
- Mental health isn’t weakness. Ignoring the signs nearly destroyed him; facing them saved him.
- Progress > perfection. You don’t need to know it all — just stay one page ahead and keep moving.
- Freedom beats security. The “safe” option can be the most dangerous thing for your happiness.
- Reinvention is possible. From digital marketing to AI to building networks — Si proves you can create a whole new chapter.
Soundbites
- “Some people call it a breakdown — I call it my circuit breaker.”
- “In the police, you see the worst in everyone. Outside, I’ve learned to see the best.”
- “If you’re not learning, you’re dying.”
- “Your uniform doesn’t make you — your skills do.”
- “I’ve locked up 1,500 people, but the biggest prison was my own life.”
- “Security isn’t safety. Freedom is.”
- “The only person who can stop you… is you.”
👉 Whether you’re in the police, grinding in a career that feels like a dead end, or simply searching for your next breakthrough – this one’s for you.
Connect with Si:
On Instagram
