01. Is CPAC a Conservative Cult?
02. 3 COVID Vaccines: What You Need to Know
03. Cannes Film Fest-Winning Director on ‘The Orphanage’
04. Andrew Cuomo: The Rise and the Reckoning
05. Space Expert: What’s Happening on Mars?
06. This Therapist Says Racism is a Mental Illness
07. Wanna Wander? Prepare for Post-Pandemic Travel
08. The Power of the Purse: How to Use Your Wallet for Good
09. What to Know About COVID-19 and Your Gut
10. Safety Alert: 3 Accidents That Could Derail Your Parents
11. How to Get Turned-Off Students to Tune In
12. What Americans Can Do to Stop Violence
13. Moving On: 3 Ways to Put Last Year Behind You
14. Advantages Doubters Have that Self-Confident People Miss
15. Could You Use a Mindset Reboot? Take This Quiz
1. ==> Is CPAC a Conservative Cult?
Republicans gathered in Orlando, Florida, this weekend for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Former president Donald Trump addressed the cheering, mostly mask-less crowd showing he still has a hold over his base. Cult and mind-control expert Steven Hassan, Ph.D., can explain why the former commander-in-chief continues to have so much influence in the party, how Republican leaders continue to spread Trump’s propaganda, and how the media plays into the equation. A former cult member himself, Dr. Hassan will discuss how a cult mindset leads to racist attitudes, how to spot cult-like language and behavior, and how to talk to friends, family members or colleagues who are being unduly influenced. He’ll also reveal the extreme and dangerous disinformation that some church groups are currently spreading. Dr. Hassan was recruited into the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon (the “Moonies”) at the age of 19 and spent two years in the cult until his family successfully deprogrammed him. He founded the Freedom of Mind Resource Center and for the past 40 years has helped thousands of individuals and families. His latest book is “The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
2. ==> 3 COVID Vaccines: What You Need to Know
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine for those 18 years of age and older as the federal government prepares to ship out millions of doses this week. Many are hoping the introduction of the J&J shot is a boon to the U.S. supply of vaccines. Invite Dean Fanelli, Ph.D., to discuss the differences in the currently approved vaccines, how the new vaccine could affect distribution, and when all Americans can expect access to a vaccine. Dean Fanelli, Ph.D., is a partner in the intellectual property department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s Washington D.C. office. His focus is on pharmaceutical- and chemical-related technologies. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; (919) 377-1200 or ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
3. ==> Cannes Film Fest-Winning Director on ‘The Orphanage’
Shahrbanoo Sadat’s first feature film, “The Wolf and the Sheep,” about shepherd children in the mountains of central Afghanistan, won the Jury Prize at the 2016 Cannes Film Fest. Her follow-up, “The Orphanage,” picks up the story in the 1980s and finds one of the boys, now 15 years old, living on the streets of Kabul illegally selling movie tickets by day and watching Bollywood films by night. When he is caught, he is put in a Soviet orphanage. Invite Sadat to discuss the unpublished autobiography on which the films are based, what it’s like to be the first Afghan female director and one of the youngest winners at the Cannes Film Festival, and her next film “Kabul Jane,” a romantic comedy set in Afghanistan. Writer and director Shahrbanoo Sadat is an Iranian-born writer/director living in Kabul, Afghanistan. “The Orphanage” is streaming on Amazon Prime now. Contact Kelly Hargraves at kellyhargraves@gmail.com
4. ==> Andrew Cuomo: The Rise and the Reckoning
National Republican media strategist Adam Goodman likens New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s current situation to a slow-motion car crash where the unthinkable becomes the inevitable. Goodman says Cuomo is “hurtling for a reckoning he can neither control nor stop.” In an opinion piece for “The Hill” he writes, “This is no random accident — but rather one long in the making, with devastating collateral impact. As the allegations against Cuomo escalate, we’re left feeling as if this is not accidental misfortune but personal and purposeful.” Adam Goodman is the first Edward R. Murrow Senior Fellow at Tufts University’s Fletcher School. A columnist and frequent media commentator, he leads the media group at the lobbying group Ballard Partners. Contact him at adam@victorygroup.com; @adamgoodman3
5. ==> Space Expert: What’s Happening on Mars?
Perseverance, NASA’s most sophisticated rover to date recently landed on the surface of Mars and has begun sending back images. Invite space expert Rod Pyle to discuss NASA’s first astrobiology mission since the Viking landers of the 1970s. “The ultimate goal is to search for signs of ancient life on Mars, but Perseverance will also study Mars’ climate and geology and collect samples that will eventually be returned to Earth by the 2030s,” he says. “The cargo included an experiment to create oxygen from the Martian atmosphere to support human missions in the future and a Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, the first flying machine on another planet.” Rod Pyle worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Johnson Space Center and has produced numerous documentaries for the History Channel and Discovery Communications. A media veteran, he appears regularly on radio and TV and is the author of more than a dozen books including “Destination Mars” and “First on the Moon: The Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Experience.” Contact him at (626) 399-4440; rodpyle@yahoo.com; Skype: rodpyle106
6. ==> This Therapist Says Racism is a Mental Illness
Are hate crimes a mental health problem? How about the behavior of those who make racist comments? Explore this timely controversial issue with Howard Bronson, a marriage and family therapist and author of 16 books. Bronson says we already have the means to end racist thinking through sensitivity training, but we need to coordinate. Ask him: How did we get to this place where gossip and divisiveness have gotten so out of hand? What is gossip and what is its relationship to racism? With over 40 years of therapy experience, Howard Bronson has appeared on “CBS This Morning” and NBC’s “Today” show and done more than 1,000 radio interviews. His new book is “Speak Up: How Gossip Has Transformed Racism and Misinformation into a Primary Mental Illness.” Contact him at (802) 373-2921; howard_bronson@yahoo.com
7. ==> Wanna Wander? Prepare for Post-Pandemic Travel
You may not be able to travel right now but the pandemic won’t last forever. When we do start moving about the world freely again, you’ll want to make the most of it, right? Travel and culture journalist Judith Fein can explain a different way of traveling and how it will make your future trips better than ever. She says, “Following advice from Trip Advisor and guidebooks and relying on 10-Best lists is old-school! If you make a checklist of sites and reserve all the recommended hotels and restaurants, you’ll just return with the same photos and experiences as everyone else!” Judith will explain how listeners can develop a new traveler mindset and share ways to get started right away. You’ll also hear ways the pandemic has changed how we’ll travel in the future and how to nurture your wanderlust while stuck at home. Judith Fein is an author and TEDx speaker with extensive media experience. Contact her at (505) 982-9248; judie@GlobalAdventure.us
8. ==>The Power of the Purse: How to Use Your Wallet for Good
You’ve heard of dark money, PAC money, and corporate money and their undue influence on elections and public policy. Ordinary people don’t have that kind of influence … or do they? Certified Financial Planner Lorri Craig says they could. “When we think of each dollar we spend as a vote for the environment, fair treatment of workers, ethics, and integrity, or oversight of their supply chains — we are positively altering an egregiously-imbalanced economic and political power system,” she says. “We can make choices that boost ourselves, our communities, and our planet.” Lorri has simple advice on how to implement this strategy. She has a master’s degree in finance and is a subject matter expert for the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. She offers an Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) investment platform on her website for socially conscious investors who want to make a positive impact. Ask her what are some examples of voting with your discretionary dollars? How can ordinary people have an outsized influence on the world? Contact Lorri at (484) 453-1742; LCraig@rtirguests.com
9. ==> What to Know About COVID-19 and Your Gut
COVID-19 has righty been blamed for everything from deadly lung issues and brain fog to the loss of taste and smell. But what about the coronavirus’ effects on your digestive system? Can your gut protect you from COVID-19? What do people with inflammatory bowel disease need to know about the virus? How is COVID-19 leading to more gut issues for more people? Explore this timely topic with Stanford-trained physician Jeff Lazarus, M.D., who will educate your audience about gut responses to the pandemic, plus possible solutions. Dr. Lazarus has developed the “Controlling Your Gut Feelings” program using a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, medical hypnosis, and motivational interviewing techniques to assist young patients and adults. Contact Dr. Lazarus at (216) 202-3112; jlazarusmd@rtirguests.com
10. Safety Alert: 3 Accidents that Could Derail Your Parents
Somewhere in life, our parents go from watching over us to being watched over by us, a role that many adult children are ill-prepared for. Interview Kathleen Lenane, a former staff writer and editor for “SELF” and “Real Simple” who runs The Clueless Caregiver website and blog, to learn the three most likely accidents that could derail your parents’ health and how they can be avoided. Known for her humor and entertaining stories as well as her practical information, Kat can also share what to do if your parents view themselves as invincible as her parents did. Contact her at (860) 500-1524; klenane@rtirguests.com
11. ==> How to Get Turned-Off Students to Tune In
Countless students across America are feeling disengaged and uninspired. Their schools are not deliberately creating a negative, tune-out atmosphere. So what’s happening and how can educators, administrators, coaches and parents help our centers of learning improve? Educator and author Paul Bernabei is spearheading a movement to encourage and benefit students, which ultimately boosts our nation’s future. Ask him: What has become seemingly invisible for school students these days? How has an epidemic of “I’m neither good enough nor smart enough” started attacking student populations nationwide? What easily implemented strategies will create a safe environment for students, especially during stressful times? Bernabei is the author of “Why Students Disengage in American Schools and What We Can Do About It.” Contact him at (651) 470-3827; PBernabei@rtirguests.com
12. ==> What Americans Can Do to Stop Violence
America is in the midst of a spiritual crisis, with violent young Americans destroying, looting and abusing each other because they don’t know how to stay centered to avoid bullying others or becoming victims of bullying. So says 40-year crime and violence prevention consultant Stephanie Mann, the author of “Empowerment Parenting: How to Raise Resilient Children Who Become Happy, Self-Reliant Adults.” “They never learned how to develop the 3Cs: Courage, Character and Conscience,” she says. “Let’s discuss why and what we can do to wake up American values, restore faith in our country and keep our citizens, neighborhoods and cities safe and healthy.” Contact Stephanie Mann at (925) 451-3654; safeneighborhoods@gmail.com
13. ==> Moving On: 3 Ways to Put Last Year Behind You
A contentious election. Unarmed Black people shot by police. A pandemic claiming the lives of several hundred thousand loved ones. Record unemployment and social isolation. Although most people were glad to see last year end, they still need some help to deal with the lingering grief of loved ones gone too soon, their deferred or shattered dreams and feelings of hopelessness. Meghan Smith Brooks can address these issues as well as share the hidden gift contained in all we have been through and how forgiveness, acceptance and gratitude can help us put things in perspective. She is a certified grief expert, ordained Unity Minister, and licensed spiritual educator whose younger son was murdered. She is also the author of “Unraveling Grief: A Mother’s Spiritual Journey of Healing and Discovery.” Contact Rev. Meghan Smith Brooks at (816) 844-6783; mbrooks@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Advantages Doubters Have that Self-Confident People Miss
In our culture, self-confidence is lauded as a virtue. So what happens when doubt creeps in? Does that mean you’re broken? Or could you have an advantage others lack? Invite leadership expert Marc A. Pitman to reveal why doubt can be a surprising gift that forces leaders to look inward to gain special insight. You’ll learn how words in your head can sabotage your efforts and why people who experience doubt are some of the strongest leaders. Pittman’s new book, “The Surprising Gift of Doubt,” provides a framework for leaders to move past feeling like a fraud and manage teams more effectively. Contact him at (317) 751-1610; mpitman@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Could You Use a Mindset Reboot? Take This Quiz
If there is anything good about the contentious election, COVID-19 epidemic and growing economic uncertainty, it is that some people are using them as catalysts for change. Invite Rev. Arthur Mackey on your program to share the fuel for that change by giving your audience an eye-opening quiz and helping them interpret their answers. He will inspire us all as he explores everything from family and workplace influences on our lives to health and social services, faith-based resources, and education programs worth knowing about. He’ll have your audience members thinking about ways they would answer such questions as: What is (and should be) your biggest priority right now? Are you most concerned about relationships, career, health, or finances? How would you describe your current mood: stressed, hopeful, serene, bored? Which people could you help? Rev. Mackey is a sought-after media guest and a researcher who has authored several books including “Overcoming the Spirit of Depression.” Contact him at (516) 219-8392; AMackey@rtirguests.com