In this episode of Fractured But Fearless, Dr. S. Irfan Ali sits down with Glenn Permuy, former national COO of Boys & Girls Clubs, for a powerful conversation about purpose, service, mentorship, and the life-changing impact of creating safe spaces for young people.

Glenn shares how the Boys Club became a safe place for him as a child, how he began leading others at just 12 years old, and why his life’s work became centered on helping young people find direction, confidence, and hope.

The conversation explores what it means to truly listen, how mentorship can change the course of a young person’s life, and why success often comes from patience, trust, discipline, and showing up when people need you most.

Glenn also reflects on the lessons he learned from failure, the young people who shaped his own growth, and the importance of building systems that support kids long after one conversation ends.

This episode is for anyone who believes leadership is about impact, service, and helping others see a future they may not yet see for themselves.

What You’ll Learn

• How Glenn Permuy found his purpose through the Boys & Girls Clubs
• Why safe spaces can change the direction of a young person’s life
• How listening can be more powerful than giving advice
• Why mentorship requires patience, trust, and consistency
• How setbacks, grief, and disappointment can deepen resilience

Chapters

• 00:00 Welcome to Fractured But Fearless
• 01:20 Glenn Permuy on finding his purpose
• 02:21 Why the Boys Club became a safe place
• 04:10 Starting at the club as a young child
• 05:08 Learning leadership at 12 years old
• 06:40 How coaching became a path to impact
• 08:18 Why young people trusted Glenn with their struggles
• 10:00 The power of patience and listening
• 11:37 Listening versus hearing
• 12:57 Why mentorship can’t be cookie cutter
• 13:20 Working with young people through the court system
• 15:44 Building systems that create lasting change
• 18:26 How Glenn handled disappointment and failure
• 19:59 The lesson Carmen taught him about helping others
• 23:05 Leroy’s story and the power of belief
• 28:37 How to keep going through burnout and setbacks
• 32:21 Why giving back becomes the turning point
• 34:16 The people who shaped Glenn’s values
• 37:51 Discipline, adaptability, and service
• 41:00 Choosing impact over recognition

Mentioned in this episode:

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