March 31, 2020
01. What History Can Teach us about Coronavirus
02. COVID-19 & 2020 Election – Could Wisconsin Decide Presidency?
03. How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress and a
French Car Beat Hitler’s Best
04. Coping with the Canceled Summer Olympics
05. How the Coronavirus Is Ramping Up Addiction
06. This Silent Disease Increases Your Risk of Dying from COVID-19
07. Wedding Cancellations in the Age of Coronavirus
08. Gun Sales Surge as Coronavirus Spreads
09. What Your Insurance Company Doesn’t Want You to Know
10. How to Have Unstoppable Confidence … Even on Monday Mornings
11. Gyms Are Closed But Forget about Walking 10,000 Steps
12. Don’t Worry be Healthy: Balancing Coronavirus Facts and Fear
13. Use a Pencil, Crayon or Pen to Battle Coronavirus Anxiety
14. Finding Happiness in the Time of Coronavirus
15. Make Positive Changes and Choices During Negative Times
16. 5 Reasons You Should Write a Book Now
17. Home Alone? You Wish!
18. Do We Need Kinder, Gentler Teachers?
19. 7-in-10 Americans are Math-Phobic
20. Free Online Program Keeps Kids Smart with Art
1.==> ‘The Great Influenza’ Author – What History Can Teach us about Coronavirus
At the height of World War I, history’s most lethal
influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas,
moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing
as many as 100 million people worldwide. Invite John M.
Barry, author of “The Great Influenza: The Story of the
Deadliest Pandemic in History,” to share what lessons
we can learn from that chapter in our history. Barry
can discuss the role that fear played in the pandemic,
why it is known as the Spanish Flu even though it
didn’t originate there, and how that virus swept
through the country in waves, with the second one being
the most deadly. John Barry is a professor at the
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical
Medicine. He recently wrote “Containing the coronavirus
hasn’t worked. What do we do now?” for the New York
Times. Contact Tulane University’s Faith Dawson at
dawson@tulane.edu; (504) 247-1432 or Bari Bronston at
bbronst@tulane.edu; (504) 314-7444
2. ==> COVID-19 and Election – Could Wisconsin Decide
Presidency?
Voting Rights expert David Daley can discuss what
elections could look like in the age of COVID-19. In a
recent op-ed for Salon he explains, “President Trump
can’t cancel the presidential election. Congress sets
Election Day by statute, as the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November. Individual state legislatures,
however, could essentially nullify the results, if they
wished, by exercising the authority to appoint the
state’s representatives to the Electoral College.” Many
models suggest that the Electoral College could be so
close this fall that the winner in Wisconsin determines
the presidency. Daley asks, “Would Wisconsin’s
unaccountable legislature monkey with the state’s
electors? We don’t know. But it would be naive to put
it past them, or to think that reasonable voices inside
the Republican Party or the U.S. Supreme Court would
protect democracy if they did.” David Daley is a senior
fellow at FairVote and a former editor of Salon whose
work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic,
Slate, Washington Post, and New York magazine. His new
book is “Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to
Save Democracy.” Contact Johanna Ramos Boyer at (703)
646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell); johanna@jrbcomm.com or
Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
3. ==> How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress and a
French Car Beat Hitler’s Best
For a fascinating show, invite author Neal Bascomb to
share an incredible, true sports story your audience
has likely never heard. He’ll introduce listeners to
Rene Dreyfus, a former top driver on the international
racecar circuit who had been all but banned from the
Grand Prix by the mid-1930s because he was Jewish.
You’ll learn how he met Lucy O’Reilly Schell, the
adventurous only child of a well-heeled American
entrepreneur and Charles Weiffenbach, the head of the
down-on-its-luck automaker Delahaye, who was
desperately trying to save his company. As Nazi Germany
launched its campaign of racial terror and pushed the
world toward war, these three misfits banded together
to challenge Hitler’s dominance at the apex of
motorsport: the Grand Prix. They were so successful
that Hitler reportedly sent his henchmen to have the
car found and destroyed when he invaded France. Neal
Bascomb’s latest book is “Faster: How a Jewish Driver,
an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler’s
Best.” His other books include “The Winter Fortress,”
“Hunting Eichmann,” and “The Perfect Mile.” Contact
Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853, LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com
4.==> Coping with the Canceled Summer Olympics
For the first time in its nearly 125-year history, the
Summer Olympics have been canceled in peacetime. And
that’s a big deal. The Olympic Games are always a
bright spot in the lives of people all over the world,
for the athletes, spectators and those watching at home
as men and women push their bodies to their limits for
silver, gold and bronze medals. This year’s
cancellation of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, while
necessary to avoid contagion, is a blow to Japan and
the athletes who have been training so hard. But if we
cannot watch the Summer Olympics at least we can talk
about them. Interview Lynn Matsuoka, an artist and
authority on Japan and Japanese life and culture who
spent 40 years living in that country documenting the
traditional worlds of sumo and kabuki in drawings and
paintings. She can talk about what’s happening on the
ground in Japan and what people living in Tokyo are
thinking and feeling about the postponement. Well-known
worldwide as a TV sumo color commentator, Lynn has done
hundreds of interviews. One of her upcoming books is
“The Secret World of Sumo.” Contact her at (808)
479-5966; artist@hamptonsartist.com
5. ==> How the Coronavirus Is Ramping Up Addiction
We’ve all been told to stay at home to avoid spreading
the coronavirus, but psychotherapist and addiction
counselor Donna Marks warns that what we do in that
alone-time may be deadlier than the virus. She says the
current coronavirus crisis is ramping up addiction and
that the stress of unemployment, the fears of death,
and closed-down recovery meetings, significantly
increase addiction relapse. Dr. Marks says Americans
have significantly upped their food and alcohol
consumption during this period of forced isolation.
Hear why addiction is far more deadly than the current
virus and, in fact, increases the lethality rate.
She’ll discuss the role of fear in addiction, share
tips and strategies to make healthy sober choices, and
ways to support a loved one struggling with addiction
during this difficult time. Dr. Donna Marks has been in
private practice for more than 30 years. She helps
clients break unwanted patterns of behavior by
combining psychoanalysis and spirituality. She’s the
author of “Exit the Maze – One Addiction, One Cause,
One Cure.” Contact her at (561) 436-9360;
drdonnamarks@gmail.com
6. ==> This Silent Disease Increases Your Risk of Dying
from COVID-19
You have probably heard that people with certain health
conditions are more likely to fare poorly if they
contract coronavirus. But did you know that among those
diseases is one that many people do not even know they
have? It’s true; more than 7 million people don’t know
they have diabetes out of the 30 million adults who
have the condition. That is why it is more important
than ever to educate the public about diabetes and how
to manage it with the expert guidance of Nadia Al-
Samarrie, a leading patient advocate in the diabetes
community. Nadia is editor-in-chief of Diabetes Health,
a 400,000-circulation magazine used in hospitals,
diabetes classes and doctors’ offices as an educational
resource for patients, and her AskNadia column is
ranked No. 1 by Google as is her DiabetesHealth.com
website. Nadia is also the author of “Sugar Happy: Your
Diabetes Health Guide in Achieving Your Best Blood
Sugars and Letting Go of Your Diabetes Complication
Fears.” She has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and
other major cable networks. Contact her at (415)
741-3545; nalsamarrie@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Wedding Cancellations in the Age of Coronavirus
Couples spend months or even years planning their big
day, but the coronavirus has put the kibosh on many
upcoming ceremonies and events. What’s a couple to do?
Invite wedding and event planner Lynne Goldberg to
discuss the options, from postponing the event to
having a scaled-down version or canceling altogether.
Goldberg will share tips for dealing with vendors, what
to do with decorations and food and even how to notify
your guests. Lynne Goldberg is the president of Boca
Entertainment, a full-service wedding and event
planning company that specializes in theme
entertainment. She’s appeared on reality TV and her
work and commentary have been featured in the New York
Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post and Wall Street
Journal. Contact her at (561) 212-6024;
Lynneggoldberg@gmail.com
8. ==> Gun Sales Surge as Coronavirus Spreads
The coronavirus has a lot of people scared,
particularly residents in states where the virus is
gaining the most ground. While some people buying guns
are old-hands worried that supplies might dry up, many
of these buyers are first-timers. Invite Chris Bird to
educate your audience about gun safety and self-
defense. A sought-after expert on gun rights and
personal protection, Chris can answer: Why are gun
sales skyrocketing? Do we really need guns more than
ever? Why are methods of observation as important as
one’s weapon? With 30-plus years of firearm safety
experience, Chris Bird is the author of several books
including “Surviving a Mass Killer Rampage,” “The
Concealed Handgun Manual” and “Thank God I Had a Gun!”
Have your listeners call in during the interview with
their gun questions. Contact Chris Bird at (210)
686-4440; cbird@rtirguests.com
9. ==> What Your Insurance Company Doesn’t Want You to
Know
Most people buy insurance from a friendly agent for a
specific purpose and time frame. But did you know that
90% of all policies end up lapsing before maturity? Or
that when you don’t need your policy any longer you
could sell it for cash? Chances are you have no idea
about the hidden cash value of your policy or that you
are paying more than you should be for the policy you
have. Interview David Kottler, the Insurance Doctor™,
about these and other secrets insurance companies don’t
want you to know! He can explain what you need to ask
to figure out exactly what your policy is worth. David
is the author of “The Best Kept Secret in Your
Insurance Policy,” which details everything people need
to know to get the most value out of their insurance
policies. Contact David Kottler at (216) 532-1221;
DKottler@rtirguests.com
10. ==> How to Have Unstoppable Confidence … Even on
Monday Mornings
What is it about Monday mornings that makes going back
to work so hard? So anxiety-producing? Is it you? Or is
it the job? Interview Jean-Paul Gravel, founder of
ThroughConversation Personal Development, Inc., and
Mondays will never feel the same! He will share three
simple steps to raise your confidence, conviction, and
persuasiveness – important tools both at work and at
home. Let Jean-Paul show your listeners how to
instantly raise their “inner value,” that intangible
something that makes them stand out and others take
notice. With a success rate of over 98%, Gravel has
spent 15 years showing people from all walks of life –
including high achievers, entrepreneurs and pro
athletes — how to unlock their deep-seated power and
potential to experience extraordinary results in
business and life. Contact Olga Kniazeva at (604)
265-7469; JGravel@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Gyms Are Closed But Forget about Walking 10,000
Steps
For almost 55 years, it has been accepted as fact that
keeping fit meant taking 10,000 steps a day. But, as
Kristen Carter will tell you, until recently, there had
never been any research refuting or backing up this
claim. So why did this myth persist for so long and
what other myths are we still holding on to? What are
some more realistic guidelines for daily fitness
particularly with gyms closed? You’ll find out when you
talk with Kristen, a Certified Precision Nutrition
Coach with a master’s degree in exercise physiology.
She is the author of “Lose Weight? Exercise More? I
Don’t Think So! What to Do When Your Doctor Tells You
to Make Changes for Your Health.” Contact Kristen
Carter at (267) 930-2547; kacarter@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Don’t Worry be Healthy: Balancing Coronavirus
Facts and Fear
Erasing stress is not only critical to success but also
critical to our survival, says Janet McKee, a former
Fortune 500 executive who nearly died from massive
stress and burnout. But how can we erase stress in the
midst of a pandemic? McKee knows. Allow her to explain
how to balance fear with facts to reach a place of calm
acceptance, how to maintain positive energy to get your
power back amid the chaos and to self-regulate the news
you take in. She’ll also share four ways to build a
strong immune system and even discuss the good that is
coming out of the epidemic. Janet McKee, MBA, CHPC,
CHHC, is a High-Performance™ success coach, wellness
expert, and CEO of SanaView. She is the author of the
No. 1 bestseller “Stressless Success: The Surprising
Secrets to a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity.”
Contact her at (724) 417-6695; janet@janetmckee.com
13. ==> Use a Pencil, Crayon or Pen to Battle
Coronavirus Anxiety
Most people today are feeling some degree of overwhelm
as daily routines are suspended and social distancing
becomes the norm. But, according to Carol Edmonston,
aka The Doodle Lady, there is a unique, simple and
creative way to deal with this intense stress: take
some paper, a pencil or pen and … doodle! The niece
of the late cartoonist and children’s book author Syd
Hoff, who wrote “Danny and the Dinosaur” and “Sammy the
Seal,” among others, Edmonston says doodling is a fun
form of mindfulness which allows our spirits to rest,
recover and regroup. Edmonston, who attributes
overcoming breast cancer twice to what she calls her
doodling therapy, has just released the pioneering new
book “The Healing Power Of Doodling: Mindfulness
Therapy To Deal With Stress, Fear & Life Challenges.”
Contact her at (714) 609-4654;
carol.edmonston@gmail.com
14. ==> Finding Happiness in the Time of Coronavirus
It’s hard to remember a time when life was as hard as
it is now for so many people. And being happy may seem
to be taking a backseat to keeping your head above
water. But happiness and mental health coach Elana
Davidson says you can start your journey to happiness
now, even if you have tried hard and failed at it
before. That pretty much describes Elana’s own journey
despite decades of exploration and study in the fields
of consciousness, psychology, personal development and
kinesiology. For anyone who has wondered why other
people are happier than they are or what is wrong with
them, Elana may be the perfect balm. She’s the author
of the eBook, “Finding Your Own Happy: The Soul-
Searchers Guide to Peace and Happiness in Everyday
Life,” published by Morgan James, which she’ll make
available to your audience for free. Contact Elana at
(413) 225-4758; elanadavidson@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Make Positive Changes and Choices During
Negative Times
Remember when you dreaded rush-hour traffic, thought
how sweet it would be to stay home instead of going to
work, or dreamt of taking a sick day and playing hooky?
Times have changed. Now many of us wish we didn’t have
to stay at home and long to have more choices. But, as
former radio host and award-winning author Rico Racosky
will tell you, we all have the power to change our life
stories and form new habits even during the most trying
times. Known as the New Story Guy, Rico can share his
“Just 2 Choices” concept with your listeners. In
addition to his work in radio, this upbeat guest is a
keynote speaker and thought leader on overcoming
personal and work-related obstacles. Ask about his free
downloads for clear thinking! Contact Rico at (730)
572-1322; rracosky@rtirguests
16. ==> 5 Reasons You Should Write a Book Now
An estimated 80 to 90 percent of Americans would like
to write a book someday. Most of them let their dream
die without ever acting upon it. Let Fabi Preslar,
president of custom publishing house SPARK Publications
and an author herself, explain what’s involved in
writing and publishing a book. She’ll reveal five
powerful reasons to write your book today including the
importance of letting others learn from your hero’s
journey. She can also answer such questions as what’s
the biggest roadblock to getting a successful book
written? And, book publishing isn’t what it used to be,
what does a new author need to know? Articulate, smart
and honest, Fabi (Fay-Bee) is the author of “Fabulous F
Words of Business Ownership: Redefining Choice Words to
Fuel Your Small Business” and winner of Charlotte
Business Journal’s 2018 First-Generation Family
Business of the Year Award. Contact Fabi at (704)
291-3566; FPreslar@rtirguests.com
17. ==> Home Alone? You Wish! 3 Coping Tips for Too
Much Family Time During COVID-19
What happens when family members are forced to
congregate together for long periods in small spaces?
Arguments, bickering, door slamming. As communication
expert Raj Girn will point out, nuclear families
weren’t created to handle unlimited close contact with
multiple personality types. With few alternatives for
the moment, what can we do? Raj, who has been working
lately with clients who have been grappling with the
suffocation of being stuck at home with spouses, kids,
grandparents, and even pets, can offer three tips for
boosting your emotional intelligence around effective
communication while being stuck in isolation. Raj is a
well-known media personality in Canada and a serial
media entrepreneur who has worked in many
communication-intensive industries with thought
leaders, celebrities, and multinational corporations.
Contact her at (647) 490-3158; Rgirn@rtirguests.com
18. ==> Do We Need Kinder, Gentler Teachers?
Everyone knows that teachers can have a hard time
maintaining order in the classroom today. But is there
ever an acceptable reason for teachers to bully, shame
or otherwise embarrass students? Uh-uh, says Barbara
Daniels, who maintains that too many teachers are
making it harder for their charges to learn by
intimidating their students. Daniels, a sought-after
speaker and author of the award-winning “Timmy Teacup”
book series, can talk about ways to eliminate this
problem and turn out teachers who can do the job but
remain compassionate. Ask her: How common are bullying
classrooms? How can teachers ramp-up compassion without
risking burnout or losing respect? Contact Barbara
Daniels at (636) 320-5495; BDaniels@rtirguests.com
19. ==> 7-in-10 Americans are Math-Phobic
Many people wish they were better at math and look back
at their math education with anything but fondness. Why
are so many of us math-phobic? Why do we rely so much
on calculators and try to let someone else be the one
to figure out the restaurant bill? Interview Teruni
Lamberg, Ph.D., who knows all about the fear of math
and the challenges educators face in teaching the
subject. She says there is a better way for more people
to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of math. Author
of the new book “Work Smarter, Not Harder: A Framework
for Math Teaching and Learning,” Dr. Lamberg can talk
about ways to improve the teaching of mathematics and
the way students absorb it. She says math can be fun
and is ready to prove it on your show. Contact Teruni
Lamberg at (775) 451-3086; TLamberg@rtirguests.com
20. ==> Free Online Program Keeps Kids Smart with Art
Parents across the country have now become their kids’
classroom teachers as schools shutter their doors to
contain the coronavirus. How about some help from the
Boca Raton Museum of Art in the form of a new series of
free online programs? Keep Kids Smart with ART is a
visual arts program created by the museum’s art
schoolteachers for kids at home and seniors who are
social distancing and feeling isolated. “Art, culture,
and creativity have always made a difference in
powerful ways, especially during challenging times,”
says Irvin Lippman, executive director of the Boca
Raton Museum of Art. “While the Museum is temporarily
closed, we will continue to give back to the community.
Being inspired and creative have not been canceled.”
The new program resulted from consulting with an
American father who lives abroad with his family and
shared the challenges they’ve faced while staying home
due to school closures. Invite Lippman to share tips on
how parents can use art at home to keep kids engaged.
Contact Jose Lima at (305) 910-7762;
editorial@newstravelsfast.com