May 7, 2020
01. Trump, Stop Comparing Yourself to Lincoln!
02. Reopening America: ‘Like Creating a Peeing Section in a Pool’
03. Will COVID-19 Create New Social Policies?
04. Mail-In Voting, Election Disinformation and Voter Confidence
05. The Giant Killer: The Smallest Man to Serve in the U.S. Military
06. This Doctor Challenges Moms to Just Say ‘No’ on Mother’s Day!
07. Would the U.S. Be Better off If Mothers Ran It?
08. Here’s How Marketing Will Change Thanks to COVID-19
09. What No One Tells Millennials about Being a Boss
10. How Parents Can Ensure Their Children Earn a Living Wage
11. No Job? Broke? 4 Ways to Make Extra Money
12. Make Your Own Happy During Pandemic Times
13. Are You Suffering from ‘Corona-grief’?
14. Self-Love for Surviving Social Isolation
15. Weird Things That Happened on Construction Sites
1.==> Trump, Stop Comparing Yourself to Lincoln!
At a recent town hall event held at the Lincoln
Memorial, President Donald Trump said the press treats
him even worse than Abraham Lincoln. According to Brad
Meltzer, history proves otherwise. He says Lincoln had
his issues with the press but his character was
demonstrated in his response to vitriol from his
rivals. “He was humble, self-deprecating, and gracious
to those who attacked him. He didn’t insult his
opponents; he embraced them. He insisted he was
president for all Americans, even at a time of
division,” says Meltzer. His new book, “The Lincoln
Conspiracy,” tells the story of a southern, secret pro-
slavery group that planned to kill Lincoln on his way
to the capital to take the oath of office. Meltzer will
explain how Lincoln ultimately evaded the assassins and
arrived safely in Washington, D.C., and why the
Charleston Mercury newspaper called him cowardly and
undignified for running from his own killers. Meltzer
is the host of the History Channel shows Brad Meltzer’s
Decoded and Brad Meltzer’s Lost History. He is the
author of a dozen books. Contact John Angelo at
john@premieretv.com
2. ==> Reopening America: ‘Like Creating a Peeing
Section in a Pool’
More than half of the United States has started
reopening, including many states that haven’t met White
House guidelines on when to do so. According to the
guidelines for “Opening Up America Again,” states
should wait to reopen until they have a downward
trajectory of positive cases in a 14-day period or a
“downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of
total tests within a 14-day period.” It would be smart
for states to meet those guidelines first, says
infectious disease expert Dr. Carlos del Rio, a
professor of medicine and global health at Emory
University. Otherwise, they risk a second wave of
increased infections and deaths that could overwhelm
hospitals. Even states that stick to their stay-at-home
orders can be affected by neighboring states that lift
their restrictions. “It’s like having a peeing section
in a swimming pool,” del Rio says. “All the time, we’re
crossing state lines.” He also warns that it will be
several weeks before we know the effect of reopening
because it takes time for individuals to infect others
and for them to display symptoms. Carlos del Rio, M.D.,
is chair of the Department of Global Health and a
professor of epidemiology at the Rollins School of
Public Health and Professor of Medicine in the Division
of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of
Medicine in Atlanta. Contact him at (404) 727-1557;
cdelrio@emory.edu
3. ==> Will COVID-19 Create New Social Policies?
The Great Depression of the 1930s led to President
Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, which created some of
the United States’ most important public insurance
programs including Social Security and unemployment
insurance. Will the coronavirus crisis lead to
similarly lasting advances in U.S. social policy? Lane
Kenworthy says it’s unlikely. “The main reason crises
don’t produce lasting change in social policy seems to
be that people quickly forget or turn their attention
elsewhere, so their beliefs and preferences snap back
to where they were before the emergency,” explains
Kenworthy. “In addition, economic downturns cause some
people to worry about their own financial well-being
rather than the welfare of others.” Kenworthy says
historically, when public social programs have been
enlarged for good, it tends to happen via the ballot
box: progressive parties in government, not crises,
make lasting social policy. He says if the pandemic
does push us closer to social democracy, it will be
because it boosts the electoral fortunes of the
political party currently out of power, which happens
to be one that’s already inclined to expand the social
safety net. Lane Kenworthy is a professor of sociology
at the University of California, San Diego. He is the
author of “Social Democratic Capitalism.” Contact him
at (858) 860-6124; lkenworthy@ucsd.edu or
lane.kenworthy@gmail.com
4.==> Mail-In Voting, Election Disinformation and Voter
Confidence
Even before the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic arrived in
the United States, close observers of American
democracy worried about the public’s faith and
confidence in the results of the upcoming November 2020
U.S. elections. Last week a team of election law, media
and technology experts led by University of California,
Irvine, professor Richard Hasen, released a list of 14
recommendations to ensure a fair election this fall.
“The American election system is under tremendous
stress, and if nothing is done we face a potential
political crisis on top of the health and economic
crises brought on by COVID-19,” Hasen says. He’ll
explain the group’s specific recommendations to ensure
election integrity, voter access and the public’s
confidence in the system. A key recommendation is that
the media educate the public about how election counts
may take longer than past years and vote margins may
change during the count as election officials process
large numbers of mail ballots, especially in key
battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Richard Hasen is the author of “Election Meltdown.”
Contact Mojgan Sherkat at (949) 824-7937;
msherkat@law.uci.edu
5. ==> The Giant Killer: The Smallest Man to Serve in
the U.S. Military
Miami police officer David Yuzuk befriended Richard
Flaherty when Flaherty was living on the streets. After
15 years of friendship, Flaherty finally confessed,
“It’s time I tell you who I really am.” Only ten days
later Flaherty was killed in a mysterious hit and run.
Invite Yuzuk to share the incredible true story of the
smallest man to ever serve in the U.S. military —
Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty. “My three-year
journey of discovery dragged me down the rabbit hole of
CIA conspiracies and the hunt for stolen classified
weapons — stretching from the bloody jungles of Vietnam
to the dangerous streets of Iraq and Venezuela,” Yuzuk
says. “He told me not to look into his undercover work,
but I promised Richard before he was killed that I
would get his story out to the world and my soul won’t
rest until I do. He did good things, he did bad things,
but his story needs to be told.” David Yuzuk made the
award-winning documentary “The Giant Killer” in 2018.
He and his son Neil have written a companion book with
new facts and details. Contact Johanna Ramos Boyer at
(703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell);
johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
6. ==> This Doctor Challenges Moms to Just Say ‘No’ on
Mother’s Day!
Cooking, laundry, child-care, chauffeuring. Every day
of the year, mothers put their families’ needs ahead of
their own. It is only on Mother’s Day, May 10, that
women are given permission to think of themselves first
yet they still struggle to do so. Let Dr. Saundra
Dalton-Smith explain why she is encouraging mothers to
just say no to their crammed to-do lists. She’ll offer
suggestions for what women can do to get the seven
types of rest they need so they can hold the family
together without burning themselves out. Dr. Saundra’s
advice and expertise have been featured in Woman’s Day
and Prevention magazines. She is the author of “Sacred
Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore
Your Sanity.” Contact Saundra at (256) 240-0564;
Sdalton@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Would the U.S. Be Better off If Mothers Ran It?
Mother’s Day is a time to honor the women who hold our
world together. But it can also serve as a reminder
that the same qualities moms use — empathy,
collaboration, reason, and fact-gathering to name but a
few — could also be put to greater use in running the
country. From the boardroom to the White House, women
will continue to make their mark just as they are doing
around the world (i.e. think New Zealand Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern and German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
both of whom have been praised for their country’s
handling of the coronavirus). Lorri Craig is a
Certified Financial Planner, developer of the Wake the
Warrior Woman platform and author of an upcoming book
on how to shape a culture that embraces more creative,
collaborative, and receptive feminine energy that
benefits both women and men. Bring her on-air to
discuss what the country is likely to gain
economically, socially, and militarily by harnessing
the power of mothers. Contact her at (484) 453-1742;
LCraig@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Here’s How Marketing Will Change Thanks to
COVID-19
Selling, buying, advertising, seeking or offering
deals. All these aspects of marketing are dynamic and
prone to rapid change. No wonder the effects of
COVID-19 are so powerful in today’s marketing arena.
Learn more from Steve McChesney, best-selling author of
“Rearranging Change: How You Market to an Ever-Changing
World.” He’ll explore with your audience his wide
knowledge of marketing facts and fallacies. Among the
many topics he can discuss are: how COVID-19 isolation
is changing our buying and selling habits; why Amazon
is a behemoth that cannot be ignored; and whether
America’s baby boomers have been replaced as the
generation with the most buying power. McChesney will
also explain how and why marketers should sell people
what they want but give them what they need.
McChesney’s new Rearranging Change Podcast is now
available on all major channels. Contact him at (321)
414-2147; smcchesney@rtirguests.com
9. ==> What No One Tells Millennials about Being a Boss
Today’s millennials are 20-40 years old and are already
half of the country’s workforce. Many millennials are
ready to become managers and leaders within their
fields. But in many cases, they will be taking that
step without anyone having told them what to expect and
how to be successful, notes Jennifer P. Wisdom, Ph.D.,
a clinical psychologist and consultant who spent two
decades working with students at Columbia University
and George Washington University. Invite her on your
show to share tips on preparing to become a manager or
leader, how to hire and mentor strong staffers, ways to
deal with challenging staff members, and how to handle
social media at work. Jennifer P. Wisdom, Ph.D., MPH,
is the author of “Millennials’ Guide to Management and
Leadership,” and “Millennials’ Guide to Work.” Her
diverse career includes a stint in the U.S. military,
working with nonprofit health-care organizations, and
teaching in higher education. Contact her at (503)
484-5679; jennifer@leadwithwisdom.com
10. ==> How Parents Can Ensure Their Children Earn a
Living Wage
Right now college students are hunkered down at home
taking online classes, most likely until the fall. But
as former college professor Glen Dunzweiler will tell
you, a return to “normal” is not going to cut it
because the way things have been done does not lead to
a secure future for most students post-graduation.
Invite Glen to discuss ways educators, parents and
others who care about the next generation have to teach
every college student about entrepreneurship so they
can hold their future in their own hands and earn a
living wage. He’ll share why all students need an exit
strategy and a clear idea of how they intend to
monetize their skills once they graduate. Glen is a
former college professor, a documentarian and the
author of two books. His latest is “A Degree In
Homelessness? Entrepreneurial Skills For Students.”
Contact Glen Dunzweiler at (702) 703-2219;
GDunzweiler@rtirguests.com
11. ==> No Job? Broke? 4 Ways to Make Extra Money
Many of your listeners have lost jobs — or taken
salary and hours cuts — as a result of COVID-19
measures. With so many people unemployed and bills
mounting up, people are anxious to hear about ways they
can make money now and continue to do so once stay-at-
home restrictions are lifted. Patricia Davis, author of
“Going Broke Is No Joke,” wants to help with fresh
ideas. She’ll talk about ways to bring in extra bucks
by doing things like selling their cellphone images,
agreeing to test websites and products, and selling
their opinions to focus groups. Patricia can also
prepare your audience for spotting scammers trying to
tempt them with bogus job opportunities and offer tips
on what household goods could be sold for needed cash
without being missed. An experienced guest, she holds
an MBA from Stanford, a master’s degree in personal
financial planning from Golden Gate University and a
certificate from Georgetown University’s Stonier
Graduate School of Banking and Finance. Contact her at
(301) 517-6304; pdavis@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Make Your Own Happy During Pandemic Times
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 can 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 is making
available to your audience for free. Contact Elana at
(413) 225-4758; elanadavidson@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Are You Suffering from ‘Corona-grief’?
Missing your old life and the people who used to
populate it? Saddened by the growing list of people who
have passed away from COVID-19? Unable to help those
who mourn grieve properly because of social distancing?
Unsure what life will be like once the pandemic is
over? If you are, you are probably suffering from
“corona-grief,” says Rev. Meghan Smith Brooks, an
expert on recognizing and moving through all types of
loss. Rev. Meghan will explain why a willingness to
feel the pain is required to heal as is permitting
yourself to reach out for support and to be gentle with
yourself. Rev. Meghan can also share some of the tools
that helped her after her son was murdered seven years
ago this May. She is an ordained Unity Minister and
certified grief coach. She is the author of the
upcoming book “Unraveling Grief: A Mother’s Spiritual
Journey After Losing Her Son.” Contact Meghan at (816)
844-6783; mbrooks@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Self-Love for Surviving Social Isolation
Social distancing may help slow the spread of the
coronavirus, but it has left many people feeling
isolated and lonely. We crave the comfort of friends
and family during difficult times, yet we can’t embrace
them right now, which can be distressing and
disorienting. “It’s hard to stay grounded when the
world seems to be spinning out of control,” says Joffre
McClung. “That’s why it’s more important than ever to
be kind to yourself and practice habits that support
you and promote a positive outlook.” Whether you’re an
essential worker on the frontlines, holed up with kids
and a spouse, or you’re quarantined alone, Joffre can
share tips to practice self-love during this pandemic.
Learn ways to incorporate meditation into your daily
life, how to get to know yourself better, and why
having fun and experiencing joy should be considered
life-sustaining needs right now. Joffre McClung has
appeared on numerous radio and TV programs. She’s a
former media producer, independent filmmaker, and the
author of “The Heart of the Matter.” Contact Joffre
McClung at (917) 994-0225; JMcClung@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Weird Things That Happened on Construction
Sites
Most of us love to watch new buildings going up.
There’s something about the whole process and the
cranes, earthmovers, and daredevil nature of scaffold
climbing that appeals on a primal level. That same
fascination is likely to extend behind-the-scenes to
the unusual things that actually happen on construction
sites; particularly when matched with the storytelling
skills of 40-year construction professional Charles
(Charlie) Garner. He’ll entertain your audience with
true stories from his career that began right after
high school and literally started off with a bang. Ask
him: Why was it necessary for you to kill six poisonous
snakes a day in the swamps of Louisiana? What happened
to the worker who fell into a tank of raw sewage? What
strange incident occurred on the first day of your
first job? Charlie is a senior project manager for a
large construction company in Atlanta and is a civil
engineer who has worked in heavy construction for 40
years. His memoir “I Got This” contains amazing
adventure stories from his life and career. Contact
Charlie at (650) 995-5626;
charlesgardner@rtirguests.com
Don’t see any guests or topics for your show? Search
through past RTIR Newsletters and find hundreds of show
ideas and possible guests at www.rtironline.com
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