The Shawn Ryan Show #268 Mike Waltz - Special Forces Green Beret Turned UN Ambassador Warns About China
54 snips
Jan 5, 2026 
Mike Waltz, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, former Congressman, and current U.S. Ambassador to the UN, shares his insights on military strategy and international diplomacy. He discusses using humanitarian efforts as counterterrorism tactics, the importance of discipline in leadership, and the need for reform within the United Nations. Waltz highlights the Chinese Communist Party as a major global threat while advocating for increased U.S. engagement in international bodies. His unique experiences offer valuable lessons on resilience and strategic thinking.
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Practice Bottoms-Up Leadership
- Empower teams at the edge and practice bottoms-up leadership by asking what decisions and resources they need.
- Waltz uses this in military, business, and political roles to improve outcomes.
Lead By Serving Others First
- Demonstrate moral leadership by serving others first and living the values you claim, not just earning them.
- Waltz recounts a ranger instructor who told him "earning it was the easy part; living it is the hard part."
40 Hours Of Kinetic Escape
- Waltz tells a 40-hour escape-and-evasion where Scott Mann guided air support and exfil under heavy attack in Helmand province.
- The episode included medevac, AC-130 strikes, and fighting through multiple ambushes to safety.
