February 23, 2017
01. Trump’s New Target: Transgender Students
02. A War on Leaks Might Bring More Chaos
03. Trump’s Trip to the Museum
04. Oscar Time! Talk Classic Movies
05. Kids Need Music – Teach Music America Week
06. David Cassidy and Dementia
07. Black History Month: Creating a Color-Blind Society
08. Is Trump the Kick in the Butt We Need?
09. How to Survive the Trump Presidency
10. Art Class on the Chopping Block?
11. Dumb – No Insurance for Non-Drug Pain Treatment
12. More Seniors Turn to Pot for Pain
13. Prepare Kids for Test-Taking
14. Say No to Chronic Boomer Unemployment
15. Former Vogue Editor on Life and Make-Believe
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1. ==> Trump’s New Target: Transgender Students
The White House has signaled its intent to roll back
protections for transgender students set under
President Obama. Those protections allow students to
use locker rooms and bathrooms that match the gender
they identify with. Available to comment on this
unfolding story is Seth Rainess, a transgender male and
author of the only book written for transgender teens.
He can discuss why everyone should care about this
rollback as well as Trump’s opposition to marriage
equality, his Cabinet choices’ anti-gay beliefs, and
the effect of potential Supreme Court appointments on
the transgender community. Rainess’ book is “Real Talk
for Teens: Jump Start Guide to Gender Transition and
Beyond.” His mission is to alleviate the still
prevalent fears and misconceptions people have about
the transgender people and he’s been featured in Time
and numerous media outlets. Reach him at (732) 620-4300
(cell); (732) 291-6090 (landline) or
sjrainess@yahoo.com
2. ==> A War on Leaks Might Bring More Chaos
The issue of leaks to the press has caused a public
stir once again, yet the history, the law and the
practical enforcement all seem puzzling. Experts say
leaks serve the purpose of the federal government more
often than not. Tyler Cowen, an author and professor of
an economics at George Mason University, says Trump’s
anti-leak polemics signify a few things, all consistent
with the broader thrust of his presidency. “His anti-
leaks campaign is a further symbol that direct
rhetoric, including on Twitter, will be a major
management tool, for better or worse. It also signals
that the administration is uninterested in generating a
positive flow of information through the usual
mainstream media sources.” He says, “A chaotic leaks
policy could mean the American government either a)
loses credibility altogether, or b) has to resort to
direct action, such as foreign policy interventions, to
maintain its credibility. Both of those outcomes are
worrisome.” Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg View columnist
and the author of several books including “Average Is
Over: Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great
Stagnation.” Contact him at tcowen2@bloomberg.net;
tcowen@gmu.edu or (703) 993-2312
3. ==> Trump’s Trip to the Museum
Kevin Alexander Gray, a civil rights activist and
author, says Donald Trump, Tim Scott, Ben Carson,
Omarosa Manigault and Alveda King visiting the
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History
and Culture on the anniversary of the assassination of
Malcolm X devolved into what any Trump event devolves
into: Trump’s narcissism and self-absorption on
display. He says, “The company Trump kept on this
particular photo-op reminds us of perhaps Malcolm’s
most famous speech ‘The House Negro and The Field
Negro.’ On one hand it’s good to see Trump make an
attempt to reach out to blacks in his own clumsy way
but on the other hand his bone deep stereotypical view
of black people, even in his personal relations with
those he considers friends or allies, left him once
again with his foot in his mouth.” Gray’s books include
“Killing Trayvons: An Anthology of American Violence”
and “The Decline of Black Politics: From Malcolm X to
Barack Obama.” He just completed a cross-country trip
talking to Trump supporters and will be writing about
that in The Progressive. Contact Gray at
kevinagray57@gmail.com; @kevinagray
4. ==> Oscar Time! Talk Classic Movies
With the Academy Awards Sunday night, now is a great
time to talk about classic Hollywood movies with former
insider Lenay (Marie) Rogus. She can share stories
about Cary Grant, Mae West, Raquel Welch, Robert De
Niro, Sylvester Stallone and more as well as what it
was like to work at Universal and Twentieth Century Fox
during the heyday of motion pictures. Ever wonder what
happens to a film in post-production? She can talk
about that too. Hollywood stories are featured in her
upcoming memoir, “Grief Comfort Guide: A Personal
Journey from Loss to Light,” which also details her
experience of losing seven loved ones. Contact her at
(858) 349-4917; rogus3@att.net
5. ==> Kids Need Music – Teach Music America Week
In an era when schools are forced to cut budgets, it’s
often non-essential programs like music that gets the
axe. A study compiled by the NAMM foundation found that
kids who play instruments get better grades, have
higher IQs and lower their chances of drug and alcohol
abuse later in life. Vincent James is on a mission to
promote how valuable and important music is in all of
our lives: academically, therapeutically or just
overall making us a happier society. Invite him to talk
about Teach Music America Week when over 500 music
schools from 47 states will offer complimentary music
lessons to new students. Teach Music America Week is
celebrated during the third week of March and was
founded by the Keep Music Alive organization as a way
to inspire musicians and music schools across the
country to offer one free 30-minute lesson to new
students. Vincent James is the founder of
KeepMusicAlive.org, KidsMusicDay.org, Teach Music
America week and author of the book “88+ Ways Music Can
Change Your Life”. Contact him at (610) 812-5231 (PA);
vincent@KeepMusicAlive.org
6. ==> David Cassidy and Dementia
Actor and singer David Cassidy recently revealed he has
dementia, but what exactly does this term mean?
Cassidy, who is 66, told People magazine on Monday that
he has dementia, and will stop touring as a musician
because of his diagnosis. The actor also said that both
his mother and grandfather suffered from dementia.
Invite senior health adviser Janet Rich Pittman to
discuss dementia, which is not a specific disease, but
rather a group of symptoms resulting from changes in
the brain that affect people’s ability to carry out
everyday activities. She’ll discuss how to prevent
dementia, the role genes play, and how to beat your
odds regardless of family history. She’ll also share
ways to fight the disease once diagnosed.
A former political operative and activist, Janet is now
known as The Brain Nerd, specifically a Dementia
Prevention Specialist, based on her years of experience
as a Dementia Practitioner and Dementia Administrator.
Janet is author of the upcoming book “It’s There: 5
Simple Ways to Find Your Memory and Prevent It from
Leaving.” Contact her (251) 648.0325; Janet
@TheBrainNerd.com
7. ==> Black History Month: Creating a Color-Blind
Society
The issue of skin color has plagued society for
centuries. Nowadays, it is undeniable that the same
issue persists. Invite Lupita Samuels to break the
barriers between skin colors and explain how to move
forward from this negative mind-set. Samuels will put
into perspective the misconceptions about skin color.
Using metaphors and comparison, Samuels will explain
how skin color does not dictate a person’s worth.
She’ll include several reflective exercises to help
guide listeners toward a peaceful resolution of their
issues and struggles on the matter. Lupita Samuels was
born in Costa Rica. She worked as an educator in the
New York City public school system for over twenty
years. She’s the author of the Color Blind book series
which includes her latest release, “Think Folks Are
“Too Dark?” Think Again!” Contact her at (718)
654-7010; lusamuels@hotmail.com
8. ==> Is Trump the Kick in the Butt We Need?
When it comes the environment, Donald Trump seems to be
doing everything he can to return the country to its
fossil fuel-burning polluting past. But could there be
an upside to his anti-environment, anti-science cabinet
picks? Dr. Ellen Moyer, author of “Our Earth, Our
Species, Our Selves: How to Thrive While Creating a
Sustainable World,” says there is; people are getting
fired up. Moyer maintains that we can keep the economy
rolling even as we green the environment and find new
jobs for ex-coal miners. She’ll explain why this is a
lot simpler than you might think and share the two
actions that could have the most impact. She’ll also
say that while President Trump’s reckless environmental
policies have our species heading straight for the
rocks even faster than before we can change course,
more easily than we might think. Moyer is an
environmental consultant and registered professional
engineer with an MS in environmental engineering and a
Ph.D. in civil engineering. She’s a regular contributor
to The Huffington Post. Contact her at (413) 862-3452;
ellenmoyer@em-green.com
9. ==> How to Survive the Trump Presidency
Every minute of every day there are a barrage of
tweets, posts, articles and conversations about the
latest actions and musings of President Trump. How can
you stop yourself from feeling helpless and being
caught up in a tailspin of anxiety, worry, fear, and
anger (and having your health depleted in the process)?
“While there are many things happening in the world
today that are beyond your control to change,” says
Joan Posivy, “there are several clear and simple
strategies you can use to safeguard your mental and
physical health and well-being during this time of
uncertainty and turmoil.” Have Joan uplift and inspire
your audience with her “Top 5 Tips for Surviving (and
maybe even Thriving!) the Trump Presidency.” Joan
Posivy is an international speaker and bestselling
author of “The Way Success Works: How to Decide,
Believe, and Begin to Live Your Best Life.” As an
expert in mind power and human potential, Joan guides
today’s young adults in understanding the connection
between one’s thoughts and their results in life.
Contact Joan at (250) 551-5626;
joan@globalyouthproject.org
10. ==> Art Class on the Chopping Block?
People who care about education including teachers,
parents, students and taxpayers are concerned about
what may happen to arts education with the Trump
administration and Betsy DeVos as education secretary.
Among them is middle school teacher Red Rohl, who works
with at-risk students and knows firsthand the value art
plays in enhancing the way his students pay attention
and grow into independent thinkers. Even if art
disappears as a standalone class, Red can explain how
it can continue to be part of reading, science and math
classes through the use of a technique called
sketchnoting. He’ll share what is involved in this
purposeful type of doodling and why he encourages his
students to draw on their notes and homework. He’s the
author of “Heavy Sketches,” a collection of 30 years’
worth of his own sketchnote-inspired art combined with
creative literacy. Red appeared on WLOS-TV to discuss
his new book. Reach him at (828) 284-1973 or
redrohl9@gmail.com
11. ==> Dumb – No Insurance for Non-Drug Pain Treatment
New pain treatment guidelines from the American College
of Physicians (ACP) recommend that low back pain be
treated with alternative therapies including massage,
acupuncture, spinal manipulation and exercise and only
if these treatments fail should drug treatment be
considered, preferably with nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs. Chronic pain expert Cindy Perlin
says the recommendations are long overdue but… “These
new guidelines won’t help most pain patients because
health insurers refuse to pay for the recommended
treatments and few patients can afford to pay for them
out of pocket. Perlin is the author of “The Truth
about Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst
Strategies for Becoming Pain Free.” She is a licensed
clinical social worker, certified biofeedback
practitioner and chronic pain survivor and has been a
guest on multiple TV and radio networks including PBS,
SiriusXM, and RadioMD. Contact Cindy Perlin at (518)
439-6431; cperlin@nycap.rr.com
12. ==> More Seniors Turn to Pot for Pain
From retirement communities to nursing homes, older
Americans are increasingly turning to marijuana for
relief from aches and pains. Many have embraced it as
an alternative to powerful drugs like morphine, saying
that marijuana is less addictive, with fewer side
effects. Invite Frank Shamrock, co-host of The Bake
Out, a new, weekly online TV talk show about today’s
controversial world of cannabis, to talk about the
issue. He’ll discuss why older Americans are turning to
marijuana for pain relief, whether pot use can lead to
harder drugs as well as the future of marijuana
legalization in America. Popularly known worldwide as
the first UFC Middleweight Champion and the first
champion to retire with his belt, Shamrock provides
broadcast color-commentary on MMA. He also runs
Shamrock Way, a non-profit organization that serves at-
risk youth. Contact Erin Dean at (661) 255-8283;
erin@steveallenmedia.com
13. ==> Prepare Kids for Test-Taking
Whether your child is taking the Common Core State
exams or other state testing, the heat is on in the
classroom and everyone involved is totally stressed out
and frazzled. Invite Heather Arabadjis to share ways
to beat this year’s testing season with inside tips and
concrete strategies everyone needs to know. She’ll also
help with ways to make sure your kid doesn’t become a
victim of testing anxiety, and a growing culture of
students who are failing at a young age. Heather
Arabadjis has 14 years of experience in the education
industry and is the author of the children’s series
Monster Mas. Contact her at (718) 510-3736;
MonsterMasmedia@gmail.com
14. ==> Say No to Chronic Boomer Unemployment
There may be high employment today, but you wouldn’t
know it by boomer standards. Many business
professionals over 50 still struggle with long-term
unemployment, under-employment, lower pay and
traditional job search techniques that produce nothing.
Good reasons why more boomers are turning to the gig
economy, notes Spunk Burke, author of “The GIG
Solution,” which drops next month. Spunk will explain
how boomers are learning to target prospects whose
problems they could solve as a contractor or on a
project basis. He’s a staffing veteran who provides
coaching to help boomers build rewarding gig practices.
He also helps companies link to contractors who can
address their immediate needs. Spunk can be reached at
(978) 801-9010 or spunk@thegigsolution.com
15. ==> Former Vogue Editor on Life and Make-Believe
Joan Juliet Buck was the first—and only—American woman
to fill the coveted position of Editor-in-Chief of
Paris Vogue, and she quickly became a force in the cult
of fashion and beauty. Buck, the only child of film
producer Jules Buck, was born into a world of make-
believe. Her childhood was a whirlwind of famous
faces: John Huston, Peter O’Toole, Lauren Bacall,
Federico Fellini, Angelica Huston, and many more; ever-
changing home addresses: London, Paris, Cannes, Los
Angeles. In her new memoir, “The Price of Illusion,”
she says the cues she gleaned early in life from her
family were about how things looked and where they came
from. When her fantasy life at Vogue came to an end,
she had to find out who she was after all those years
of make-believe. Invite Buck to discuss the journey of
discovering the difference between glitter and gold,
fantasy and reality, and what merely looks like
happiness from the thing itself. Contact Johanna Ramos-
Boyer at (703) 646-5137; johanna@jrbcomm.com