June 23, 2020
01. Amidst Record-Breaking Unemployment, Some are Thriving
02. Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalists Profiled in New Vietnam Doc
03. ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ Actor Caz Anvar
04. Actor Nathalie Kelley on Cancellation of ‘The Baker and The Beauty’
05. Where are All the Minority Journalists? Racial Bias in Journalism
06. From ‘Snowflake’ to ‘Nazi’ and ‘Racist’ – How Generalizing Isolates Us
07. Time to Address Racism in the Wine Industry
08. Another Reason to Protect Yourself from UV Rays This Summer
09. How to Help Teens Navigate Social Distancing Stress
10. Love: Is That Really The Secret Most Leaders Are Missing?
11. How We Can Be the Change We Need Right Now?
12. What Jesus, Moses, Buddha and Muhammad Did That You Can Do Too
13. Fitness and Nutrition Pro Says Motivation is Overrated!
14. How to Deal with Pandemic Stress Better
15. Time for a Short, Safe, Summer Road Trip?
1. ==> Amidst Record-Breaking Unemployment, Some are Thriving
Three months after the viral outbreak shut down
businesses across the country, U.S. employers are still
shedding jobs at a heavy rate, a trend that points to a
slow and prolonged recovery from the recession. But
there’s one group of people in America who are making
more money than ever. U.S. billionaires saw their
wealth “increase by 20 percent, or $584 billion,
roughly since the beginning of the pandemic, as 45.5
million Americans lost their jobs and the economy
cratered,” according to a new report by Americans for
Tax Fairness (ATF) and the Institute for Policy Studies
— Program on Inequality. The report also finds the top
five billionaires — Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark
Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett and Larry Ellison — saw
their wealth grow by a total of $101.7 billion, or 26
percent. Chuck Collins, co-author of the study
“Billionaire Bonanza 2020: Wealth Windfalls, Tumbling
Taxes, and Pandemic Profiteers,” can explain the
findings, including the addition of 29 new billionaires
since March. “The last thing U.S. society needs is more
economic and racial polarization,” says Collins. “The
surge in billionaire wealth and pandemic profiteering
undermines the unity and solidarity that the American
people will require to recover and grow together, not
pull further apart.” Chuck Collins is program director
at the Institute for Policy Studies, a progressive
multi-issue think tank. Contact him at chuck@ips-dc.org
or Bob Keener at bobk@ips-dc.org
2. ==> Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalists Profiled in New Vietnam Doc
“Dateline-Saigon” tells the inspiring story of a small
group of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists — David
Halberstam, Neil Sheehan, Malcolm Browne, Peter Arnett,
and the photojournalist Horst Faas — reporting on the
Vietnam War. The film follows the group’s fight to
report the truth, which was vastly different than the
rosy version put forth by the White House during the
early years of the war … all as the American
government sought to discredit them. Director Tom
Herman can discuss the parallels between that turbulent
time in America and today, and the role of journalists
in serving society and shaping history. Narrated by Sam
Waterson, the film is set for on-demand and DVD release
July 14. Herman was a co-producer of the Emmy-award
winning feature film “Live from Baghdad” starring
Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham-Carter. Before that,
Herman was a freelance producer for CNN as well as a
correspondent for National Public Radio. When he’s in
between films, Herman practices law in Boston. Contact
Kelly Hargraves at Kelly.Hargraves@firstrunfeatures.com
3. ==> ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ Actor Caz Anvar
If you’ve been watching a lot of Amazon Prime while
social distancing you may recognize Caz Anvar as pilot
Alex Kamal from the network’s popular series “The
Expanse.” He also plays the love interest of Viola
Davis’ alter-ego, Annalise Keating on this season’s
“How To Get Away With Murder” on ABC, and there’s buzz
around Hollywood that he may take home Emmys for BOTH
shows! Invite Anvar to talk about shooting two shows at
the same time, what it was like playing opposite Davis
in the highly acclaimed ABC series, and why he thinks
his Amazon show has become a fan favorite. Contact
Monique Moss at (310) 858-8230; monique@integrated-
pr.com
4. ==> Actor Nathalie Kelley on Cancellation of ‘The Baker and the Beauty’
Fans of ABC’s “The Baker and The Beauty” are lobbying
hard and petitioning the network after it abruptly
canceled the show last week. The series about a hard-
working Cuban American family with strong values and
love for one another in the face of adversity won the
hearts of Latin and non-Latin viewers from Miami to
Melbourne. It also garnered critical praise, especially
for its positive portrayal of LGBTQ communities and
immigrant families. Nathalie Kelley, who plays Noa
Hamilton on the show, says “At a time when minorities
are marching in the streets demanding visibility, the
decision to cancel the show is a setback for diverse
and inclusive representation on television. I remain
hopeful that another platform will welcome the
opportunity to send the right message to our
communities that our stories do matter and deserve to
be told.” Fans are circulating an online petition
asking ABC to reconsider the cancellation. Ask Kelley
about the petition and why she believes fans feel so
connected to the show. Contact Jeff Gulko at (617)
304-7339; jeff@thegulkogroup.com
5. ==> Where are All the Minority Journalists? Racial Bias in Journalism
One issue being raised during the coverage of the Black
Lives Matter protests is where are the minority
journalists? During many discussions about “systemic
racism,” people of color are missing from the anchor
chair and the plum journalism jobs. How similar is
discrimination in hiring journalists of color to the
incendiary situation on the streets? Thirty years ago,
cub reporter Nita Wiggins won the RTNDF Michele Clark
Fellowship, given annually to a success-bound, up-and-
coming. minority journalist. What does Wiggins say
about equal opportunity in the media? What is the
career reality for people of color? She’s the author of
“Civil Rights Baby: My Story of Race, Sports, and
Breaking Barriers in American Journalism.” Contact Nita
Wiggins at NWiggins@rtirguests.com
6. ==> From ‘Snowflake’ to ‘Nazi’ and ‘Racist’ – How Generalizing Isolates Us
The truth seems to be in short supply these days. But
is it? “Most people accuse whoever is on the opposite
side of a political debate with lying or dishonesty
when an honest evaluation of the situation is that they
disagree with their opinion about something,” says
author and leadership expert Steven Mays. Mays can talk
about why we toss around labels like “racist,”
“tyrant,” “Nazi” and “Snowflake,” as a way of
disavowing other people’s experiences and opinions and
why poor leadership leads to catastrophic unintended
consequences like riots and pandemics. Mays is the
author of “Power of 3 Leadership, Lessons in
Leadership.” A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at
Annapolis who served on nuclear submarines, he was a
mathematician, electrical engineer, and nuclear
engineer who worked in private industry and at the
Nuclear Regulation Commission. Contact him at (703)
552-5672; smays@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Time to Address Racism in the Wine Industry
People of color have long been shut out of the wine
industry. Even today, a black or brown face at a wine
tasting or wine seminar is an uncommon sight. Yet wine
has been part of the total human condition across
cultures and races for thousands of years. Join writer
Jim Laughren, CWE, for an honest assessment of the
current situation and some thoughts on how we can all
take a stand to turn the tide toward greater
inclusiveness. Jim is the author of two popular wine
books, “50 Ways to Love Wine More” and “A Beer
Drinker’s Guide to Knowing and Enjoying Fine Wine.”
Contact Jim Laughren at (954) 317-9623;
JLaughren@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Another Reason to Protect Yourself from UV Rays This Summer
True or False: You can be born with cataracts. They are
the most common cause of vision loss in people over 40.
There is no way to protect yourself from getting them.
Black people and Hispanics are more likely to get them
than white people. The average age for cataract surgery
is 60. Find out which of these statements are true when
you interview vision educator Linda Odubayo Thompson
for Cataract Awareness Month in June. Learn how to
protect yourself this summer and why you just might
want to wear better sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
as you spend time outdoors as well as gain information
on symptoms, diagnosis, surgeries and more. Linda knows
not to take her vision for granted; she has suffered
from glaucoma for more than 30 years. Contact Linda at
(914) 229-9184; lthompson@rtirguests.com
9. ==> How to Help Teens Navigate Social Distancing Stress
Isolation caused by social distancing has been
difficult for most of us. But according to Steven Hall,
M.D., this has been especially hard on teens.
“Interacting with their peers is very important to
teenagers,” he says. “This is a normal stage of
development. The COVID-19 lockdown and quarantine is
interfering with that, and may be creating some
especially powerful feelings in teens.” Trained in
traditional Western medicine, Dr. Steven combines
alternative, integrative medicine into his practice to
simultaneously treat patients’ bodies, minds and
spirits. He can share simple yet powerful advice to
help your teen get through these challenging times. He
is the author of “The 7 Tools of Healing: Unlock Your
Inner Wisdom and Live the Life Your Soul Desires.”
Contact him at (425) 531-3684, shall@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Love: Is That Really The Secret Most Leaders Are Missing?
If leadership coach and expert Tim Winders had only one
message to share right now — and he has many — it would
be that businesses and organizations need to inject
more love in their day-to-day operations to reduce
racism, sexism, divisiveness, turnover, and
productivity problems. Invite Winders, who has over 25
years’ experience as a coach for business owners,
executives, and leaders, to share ways employers can
utilize kindness and skillful communication to motivate
employees to do better and increase the bottom line.
Encouraging individuals and corporations to act out of
love is one of the themes of Winders’ debut novel, “A
Time To Act,” which tells the story of Cooper Travis,
an executive who contemplates ending his life after
personal failures and business problems that could
potentially send him to jail; as the story unfolds, the
executive learns three acts to gain clarity that can be
useful and bring peace to anyone. Especially in the
chaotic world that we live in today. Winders, who along
with his wife, lives and works in a large RV while
traveling around the country, survived several business
failures before finding a better path in life. He hosts
the “SeekGoCreate” podcast. Contact him at (404)
846-4639; twinders@rtirguests.com. Ask about last-
minute availability
11. ==> How We Can Be the Change We Need Right Now
The worst global pandemic in a century. Economic chaos
that echoes the Great Depression. Worldwide protests
due to police brutality against minorities. How do we
survive and even thrive in these perilous times? “To be
the change this world needs right now, we have to live
our truth,” says best-selling author and intuition
expert Kim Chestney. “Intuition is the key to that
truth; it shows us who we really are and what we stand
for in this world.” Kim can discuss how being true to
oneself is the greatest form of rebellion, and the only
way to bring about positive change in the world. Kim is
an international best-selling author and artist who
founded the popular CREATE! Festival in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Her Intuition Masterclass is part of her global online
school, Intuition Lab. Her new book “Radical Intuition:
A Revolutionary Guide for Using Your Inner Power” will
be released on November 3. Contact her at (412)
214-9502; KChestney@rtirguests.com
12. ==> What Jesus, Moses, Buddha and Muhammad Did That You Can Do Too
Many world religions have had their core concepts
shaped by individuals that undertook one unusual
practice — a practice still available today. Can you
guess what it is? At a time when differences between
religious groups seem so wide, interview Sparrow Hart
to learn the impactful, life-changing events that link
these spiritual leaders together. Sparrow’s varied
career includes being a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of
Stanford, a brief stint working in a slaughterhouse,
adventures in the Amazon, and over 30 years of leading
workshops on shamanism, conscious dreaming, and vision
quests in nature. He is the author of several books
including “Letters to the River: A Guide to a Dream
Worth Living.” Contact him at (801) 516-0740;
SHart@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Fitness and Nutrition Pro Says Motivation is Overrated!
Stop beating yourself up for not losing weight and
exercising more. Or for deciding that you will always
be someone who doesn’t feel like getting off the couch.
Motivation is overrated, says exercise physiologist and
certified nutrition coach Kristen Carter. “It is not
something that you either have or you don’t. And, it
doesn’t mean you have some sort of moral failing if you
can’t find it!” Kristen explains that motivation comes
in four varieties, each with their own unique solutions
to make them work for you. 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.” Ask her: What are the four varieties? What
simple solutions can you offer people who want to
change a few behaviors for healthier ones? Contact
Kristen Carter at (267) 930-2547;
kacarter@rtirguests.com
14. ==> How to Deal with Pandemic Stress Better
People’s differences can create stress at the best of
times. Living in lockdown, these stresses can explode.
Leadership expert Marc A. Pitman can tell you why
people act the way they do. Using an easy-to-understand
system, he can provide insight into why your team,
staff, or family may be harder to live with right now.
He can explain the different ways people react to
stress and how to help you get through the pandemic and
come out even stronger than before. His forthcoming
book, “The Surprising Gift of Doubt,” provides a
framework for people to move past feeling like a fraud
and manage teams more effectively. Contact Marc Pitman
at (317) 751-1610; mpitman@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Time for a Short, Safe, Summer Road Trip?
The Appalachian mountain range covers an area of
205,000 square miles and is home to more than 25
million Americans. Yet, the special culture of the
region is quite different from the image commonly
conveyed by the media. With families looking to
vacation safely this summer, Nancy Brown Diggs says the
region is a great option and just a car ride away for
many. Consider this: Appalachia encompasses all of West
Virginia, parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama,
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Mississippi, Maryland and even
a small part of western New York State! Diggs, a
scholar and author of “In Search of Appalachia,” can
share great stories and suggestions for visitors this
summer, from historic spots to natural wonders and
more. Hear about former coal mine tours, a rock ledge
overhang thought to be the earliest site of human
habitation in North America, and the largest space
museum in the country. Contact Johanna Ramos Boyer at
(703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell);
johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
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