From Police Officer to Entrepreneur: The Fight to Rebuild a Life (Full Episode)

David Kadun was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer by age 23. By 34, PTSD had brought him to his knees. In this raw and unfiltered interview on Forged Into Man, David shares the full story of how a quiet childhood in a small Canadian farm town shaped his grit, discipline, and sense of responsibility—and how that same mindset led him into a career that would ultimately cost him everything he thought defined him. As an RCMP traffic analyst, David spent years immersed in the aftermath of violent crashes—documenting death, reliving scenes frame by frame, and standing in court beside grieving parents while offenders walked free. What he was never taught was how to process the weight of it all. In November 2013, the dam broke. David collapsed in his own home, shaking and crying, his mind and body finally giving out. What followed were some of the darkest days of his life: heavy medication, memory loss, isolation from fellow officers, and suicidal thoughts. He credits his wife, his two young daughters, and his ingrained training to "fight until you die" for keeping him alive. Losing his badge—especially after his father had proudly idolized him for wearing it—cut deeper than anything else. But that loss also forced David to confront a question many men never stop to ask: Who am I without the title? This interview explores: Growing up isolated and learning independence early The psychological toll of repeated exposure to death and trauma The culture of silence around PTSD in law enforcement Hitting rock bottom and surviving it Rebuilding identity, purpose, and confidence after losing the badge Today, David is a husband, father, and businessman who openly speaks about PTSD, masculinity, and healing. He's building a new life in real estate—not because he has to, but because purpose still matters. This is not a story about quitting. It's a story about becoming forged through loss. 👉 Listen to the full interview and hear the story in David's own words.