Rick Brennan spent two decades inside the world's worst humanitarian crises — including managing the response to Ebola outbreaks — later serving as a Regional Director of Emergency Operations at the World Health Organization. He's met Mother Teresa. He once called a 350-year-old house in France home. And later in life, he found love — a self-described "late bloomer", building a personal practice around travel to the world's most remote places, spirituality, and mindfulness.
In this episode of Crescendo Conversations, Rick shares the pieces of music that trace his journey — where his sense of purpose was first formed, the weight of decisions made under pressure, what remains unchanged beneath systems, policies, and global complexity, and what he hopes still matters, and endures, beyond him.
Three of his four songs are heard here as original piano interpretations by host Zen Zeng. The fourth belongs to the full conversation on YouTube — a moment better watched than described.
Crescendo Conversations is an interview series where senior leaders in high-stakes, high-pressure careers reveal the human being behind the title, through the music that shaped their identity, career and life.
Hosted by Dr. Zen Zeng, concert pianist, conference interpreter, and Amazon best-selling author.
Watch the full episode, including the piece not featured here, on
Instagram @crescendowithzen
What is Crescendo Conversations?
Titles describe, music reveals.
Crescendo Conversations is an interview series hosted by concert pianist and space-curator Zen Zeng, in which senior leaders share four pieces of music that shaped their identity, career, and life. In choosing four pieces, guests reveal something no CV or keynote ever could: the fear behind a decision, the doubt before a breakthrough, the ordinary humanity inside an extraordinary life. Each conversation moves through four territories: origins, interior moments of change, core values, and present direction. What emerges is not a leadership masterclass. It is something rarer: honest, unhurried conversation that reduces the distance between people and inspires listeners to step forward in their own lives.
Season One features a former Chief Medical Officer, a Global Senior Partner at KPMG, a former Australian Ambassador, a former WHO Director, a leader of global energy sector, and an award-winning Australian conductor. For high-functioning professionals who value depth, joy, and purpose, and who have outgrown ordinary content.