About this week’s episode: A hustler doesn’t let fear get in the way of pursuing the things he or she loves. Keeping an open mind and an open heart is a part of the journey. Mike Breen shares his story of how he turned his experiences into action, and how his intellectual curiosity has served as a foundation for helping amplify issues facing our generation and the next.
About our guest: Michael Breen is President and CEO of the Truman Center and Truman National Security Project, a nationwide community of diverse leaders inspired to serve in the aftermath of 9/11 and committed to shaping and advocating for tough, smart national security solutions. Breen and his team serve and support over 1,700 veterans, frontline civilians, policy experts, and political leaders in more than 40 states, who are all united in the belief that America is strongest when we stand with our allies to lead, support, and defend a growing global community of free people and just societies.
Previously, Breen led soldiers in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Army officer, including a year as a Platoon Leader in the Pech and Korengal Valleys with the 173rd Airborne. After leaving the military, he served in the Office of White House Counsel and co-founded the International Refugee Assistance Project, working with refugee families in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Breen is a recognized leader at the intersection of national security, energy policy, and climate change, and was one of the original members of Operation Free. His writing and commentary has been featured by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, NBC’s Meet the Press, CNN’s Erin Burnett Outfront and The Situation Room, FOX’s Tucker Carlson Tonight and FOX & Friends, MSNBC’s The Last Word, NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and numerous other outlets and publications.
Breen holds a JD from Yale Law School and a BA from Dartmouth, having also studied in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the United Kingdom. A proud New Hampshire native and former ice climbing instructor, Breen’s past adventures have included climbing El Capitan, spending several months at sea aboard a tall ship, and completing a year-long overland journey across Asia from the Himalayas to the South Pacific to the Bosphorus. He now spends his time trying to keep up with his amazing daughter, who leads him on new adventures almost every day.
- The basics of the Truman Project and our direction: http://nation.time.com/2013/03/19/a-new-truman-doctrine/
- http://www.hattaway.com/podcast/michael-breen-national-security-project
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab1np9nMaio
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- International Refugee Assistance Project
- Truman National Security Project
- Pam Campos – Beyond the Choir
A note from your co-hosts:
Please use your voice and vote. Check out Rock the Vote – https://www.rockthevote.org for information on how to get registered and/or volunteer for the next elections.
You can also learn more about becoming a poll worker for election day at the U.S. Election Assistance Website at https://www.eac.gov/voters/become-a-poll-worker/
If you’re a legal professional, you can also give back during election season by volunteering with Election Protection to work at a call center or at a polling place to answer questions from voters about voter rights. Visit https://www.866ourvote.org/ for more information.
Listen to Mike’s episode here or on your favorite podcast app.
Hustle Over Entitlement is a podcast telling the stories of trailblazers and risk takers, hosted by Camille Stewart & Gabriella Ziccarelli.
Hustle Over Entitlement™ 