Break It Down Show

Nick Leisure is an American filmmaker, director, and producer known for crafting grounded, character-driven thrillers with commercial appeal and global reach. Founder of Leisure Films Ltd., Leisure has built a reputation for delivering elevated independent features that blend gritty realism with high-stakes storytelling. His latest feature, Golden (Level 33 Entertainment), starring Brian Austin Green, Massi Furlan, Robert Miano, Glenn Plummer, Alena Savostakova, and Josh Gilmer, marks his most ambitious theatrical release to date, opening nationwide on March 20. The action-thriller follows a struggling print shop worker who discovers he can create flawless counterfeit money, only to be pulled into a dangerous cross-border criminal world he can't escape. Leisure's expanding slate includes The Last Bride (starring Charlotte Kirk, 2026) and New Year's Absolution (starring Michael Copon, 2026). He previously directed Last The Night starring Brian Austin Green and A Clear Shot starring Mario Van Peebles, both of which achieved successful theatrical releases and helped establish his voice in the independent action-thriller space.

Dr Amber Brittain-Hale returns to the Break It Down Show with Pete A Turner. Joining Pete and Amber is Mike Cote. Both Amber and Mike are credentialed policy folks who are regulars on the Break It Down Show. As the Iran conflict continues to evolve, we're looking to Amber and Mike to help get us on the right track. They argue the bullshit-to-fact ratio exceeds 50/50, driven by legacy media spin, selective sourcing (e.g., Hamas-run health ministry or anonymous U.S. officials), and anti-Trump narratives that downplay staggering U.S./Israeli operational successes in degrading Iran's regime, missiles, and nuclear assets. Mike emphasizes military effectiveness, tactical ambiguity in messaging for operational security, and the need to ignore detached "failure" spins. Amber highlights Trump's psyops (e.g., "talking to someone in Iran"), appropriate pacing, and the value of primary sources while warning against cynical framing that undermines the effort. Both stress pre-existing detailed contingency plans, regional realignment (Gulf states, Ukraine, Japan partnering against Iran), and the war's role in broader stability—contrasting it with media-driven impatience over the Strait of Hormuz or "day after" scenarios. They critique media hypocrisy, anonymous leaks benefiting opponents, and politicized analysis (e.g., from figures like Mehdi Hasan or Joe Kent). Antisemitism ties into anti-Americanism, often funded by Iranian proxies. Mike Coté: rationalpolicy.com (Substack on geopolitics and history). Dr. Amber Brittain-Hale: brainstatesinc.com (foreign policy and strategic analysis). brainstatesinc.com

Recently retired after 25 years with the United States Secret Service, Brad brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career. In his final position as an instructor at the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA), he trained thousands of federal law enforcement and intelligence agents in credibility assessment and elicitation techniques. Brad also served on the protection detail for former president George H. W. Bush and various foreign heads of state. As a federal polygraph examiner for 17 years, he secured numerous confessions in high-profile investigations and conducted the most criminal polygraph examinations in the agency's history. With a master's degree in criminology, he was honored as the U.S. Secret Service Special Agent of the Year for combating crimes against children. Recognized globally as a communications expert, Brad has delivered sought-after presentations to law enforcement and intelligence agencies worldwide. Get Tell Me Everything on Amazon at amzn.to/4bOG7qI Mastering communication isn't just a skill—it's the cornerstone of trust, influence, and success. Imagine effortlessly connecting with anyone—whether a colleague, client, or loved one—leaving them feeling valued, understood, and willing to open up. Brad Beeler, a retired Special Agent with 25 years in the U.S. Secret Service, is one of the agency's most experienced and decorated polygraph examiners. Over decades, he honed his communication expertise in high-stakes environments, extracting confessions in high-profile cases and fostering trust in delicate interactions. In Tell Me Everything Brad blends field-tested strategies from years of real-world, high-pressure scenarios with practical tools that anyone can use in everyday conversations.

Dr. Salvatore R. Mercogliano is an associate professor of history at Campbell University in North Carolina and adjunct professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He holds a bachelor of science in marine transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College, along with a merchant marine deck officer license (unlimited tonnage 2nd mate), a master's in maritime history and nautical archaeology from East Carolina University, and a Ph.D. in military and naval history from the University of Alabama. Sal has robust social media accounts on YouTube, X etc.... Be sure to check out @wgowshipping on YouTube

Xander Bullock is a USMA grad who spent a long and successful career fighting wars in foreign places. Xander penned a recent article discussing a famous war game. In the scenario, retired USMC 3-Star General Van Riper played the opposing force. His team, a "thinly veiled Iran" failed to cooperate with the overwhelming force. Read Xander Bullock's piece on Van Riper at dailywire.com/news/america-lost-an-infamous-wargame-to-iran-thats-why-were-winning-now Van Riper's oppo forces played the game small and out of scope. His approach was so successful the game had to be halted. Van Riper was cheating, they cried...yet Van Riper's plan was legitimate. It began a change in how we see modern combat. Pete A Turner welcome Xander Bullock to the Break It Down Show.

Retired federal economist Mitch Ferguson returns to the Break It Down Show with Pete A Turner. Mitch's experience working in the federal sphere provides experience and insight on the influence of money on foreign policy decisions.

Bill Conroy, M.A. in Mass Communications/Journalism (Marquette University), is a veteran journalist with 40 years of experience working as a staff reporter, editor-in-chief, and freelance correspondent at print and online publications across the United States and in Mexico. Get Bill's book The Great Pretense on Amazon at amzn.to/4cF89pG His journalism has been cited in more than 35 books to date. Conroy also is the author of the nonfiction books The Great Pretense: A Tour Through the Boneyard of the CIA's War for Drugs; Dispatches from the House of Death: A Juarez Cartel informant, a DEA whistleblower, mass murder and a coverup on the edge of the Empire; and Borderline Security: A Chronicle of Reprisal, Cronyism and Corruption in the U.S. Customs Service.

In this Break It Down Show episode, host Pete A Turner and guest Brad Hutchings discuss AI's promises versus realities. They critique overhyped tools that fail at simple tasks (mic switching, reliable outputs), "vibe coding" creating technical debt, AI-generated spam eroding trust, and lack of accountability when automation fails. They emphasize human effort in communication, ethical responsibility, and skepticism toward exaggerated claims, while acknowledging AI's value for mundane work when used thoughtfully. (89 words) Brad Hutchings - AI Hype vs Real Reliability

With the current situation in Iran between the US and Israel. Beyond this, the 5 EYES relationship is also interesting to examine. Let's get Mike Cote and Amber Brittain-Hale on the Break It Down Show with Pete A Turner Here's Amber's site for all of her work brainstatesinc.com Here's Mike Cote's substack rationalpolicy.com

Amber Brittain-Hale joins Pete A Turner on the Break It Down Show to discuss current events and foreign policy. The Trump administration's foreign policy approach, fronted by Marco Rubio remains on the cutting edge of world events. Rubio gave a house busting speech in Munich. His speech urged Europe to reject the same mistakes the US has made in the recent past. He acknowledged the link between Europe and the US as being an unbreakable history of success. Rubio's speech stood out from the recent messages from President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Their more forceful tone was not received in the same way as Sec Rubio's. This sets the stage for an interesting conversation between Pete and Amber.