01. Wildfires + Plastic Pipes = Water Contamination
02. Why Wildfires are So Destructive
03. Brace for these 4 Trends
04. New Documentary Goes Inside a Migrant Caravan
05. Emmy Awards are Sunday: Do a Show on TV Legend Lucille Ball
06. Does ‘Meeting the Beatles in India’ Tell the Whole Story?
07. Are Frozen Embryos People or Property?
08. How to Survive an Active Shooter Situation
09. What You Could Lose by Winning a Lawsuit
10. Tax Resolution Expert Shares COVID Tax Advice and More
11. Tools for Stressed-Out Homeschooling Parents
12. 5 Realistic Tips for Coping with Pandemic Overload
13. What I Learned by Facing What Most People Fear
14. Will We Run Out of Nurses?
15. How Your Disorganization Could Actually Kill You
1. ==> Wildfires + Plastic Pipes = Water Contamination
Environmentalist Michael Dorsey warns that the devastating wildfires plaguing California and other areas may be creating another problem: water contamination from melted plastic pipes. “Across the United States, melted PVC piping destroyed by intense fires has long threatened communities by exposing groundwater supplies to a litany of carcinogens and poisons, from benzene to toluene and much more.” He adds, “It could take months to determine the full scope of the damage, but one thing is certain: People returning home after evacuating may very well find themselves without certified clean, fresh water to drink. The 2018 Camp fire, which similarly melted plastic pipes in Paradise, California, forced residents there to rebuild their entire water distribution system due to widespread contamination by toxic chemicals like benzene.” Michael Dorsey sits on the board of the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, California. He is a global affiliate of the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Contact him at mkdorsey@aya.yale.edu
2. ==> Why Wildfires are So Destructive
More than 85 major fires are burning up and down the West Coast, from northern Washington to Southern California and have killed at least 17 people in three states. The fires have caused unprecedented damage in Washington and Oregon and exacerbated what has already become California’s biggest wildfire season ever. Invite wildfire expert James Moseley on your show to discuss the way we battle these wildfires and why they cause such widespread damage. Moseley can share what factors lead to wildfires and whether climate change is entirely to blame. You’ll learn why we may see new wildfire dangers in many states as well as how we can better protect firefighters and save lives. Moseley is the CEO of Sun FireDefense, a company that offers advanced fire defense and home wildfire protection products. Contact James Moseley at (818) 486-4662; jmoseley@rtirguests.com
3. ==> Brace for these 4 Trends
Gerald Celente, publisher of Trends Journal, has a 30-plus year track record of accurate and timely trend forecasting. Invite him on your show to hear four trends he sees ahead for Americans. Discuss his prediction of a market super-meltdown tied to the debt market and when he believes that will happen, whether Americans will embrace a COVID-19 vaccine once it’s approved, and why mental health issues will cripple the nation, dwarfing the physical damage done by the coronavirus. Celente developed the Globalnomic® methodology to identify, track, forecast and manage trends. Unencumbered by political dogma, rigid ideology or conventional wisdom, Celente observes and analyzes the current events forming future trends for what they are — not for the way he wants them to be. He has been featured on Oprah, all of the major network/cable morning shows and the nightly news and in newspapers worldwide. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; (919) 377-1200 or ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
4. ==> New Documentary Goes Inside a Migrant Caravan
Nat Geo’s new documentary “Blood on the Wall” takes viewers to Central America, as a caravan of migrants seeking a better life heads north to the United States, while narco-traffickers — part of the cause for the caravan — move drugs and money back and forth across the same border. The film, from Academy Award-nominated director Sebastian Junger and Emmy-winning producer Nick Quested, explores the depths of corruption plaguing Mexico and Central America and the policies of the past that have made it impossible for everyday people to find justice. Shot in the same journalistic style as their other films, “Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS,” “Korengal,” and the Oscar-nominated “Restrepo,” the documentary highlights the humanity of the migrants and shows how politics, the drug trade, violence, and the desire for safety result in unbelievable anguish happening in plain sight. Producer Nick Quested is available for interviews. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
5. ==> Emmy Awards are Sunday: Do a Show on TV Legend Lucille Ball
It won’t be at the glamourous Hollywood event we’re used to, but the show will go on this Sunday as the Emmy Awards go virtual. In anticipation of TV’s big night, celebrate the life and career of Lucille Ball, who for years was the most Emmy-garlanded woman, winning six and being nominated (if you count lifetime awards) a whopping 15 times! Her last Emmy award was given posthumously in 1989. Darin Strauss, author of “The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story,” will share fascinating facts about Lucy and how she transformed the TV industry and became the world’s first female media mogul — all while suspected of being a communist and navigating the public outcry over her interracial marriage to Cuban co-star Desi Arnaz. Strauss is the author of several books. His latest, “The Queen of Tuesday,” is a blend of history, fiction and memoir that imagines his grandfather having an affair with Lucille Ball — whom his grandfather actually did meet at a ceremony held by Donald Trump’s father, Fred Trump, in 1966. Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com
6. ==> Does ‘Meeting the Beatles in India’ Tell the Whole Story?
With the release of the filmmaker Paul Saltzman’s new documentary, “Meeting The Beatles in India,” now is the time to meet Susan Shumsky, who spent 22 years in the ashrams and six years on the personal staff of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation (TM). This multi-award-winning author exposes the complete, uncensored, unapologetic, behind-the-scenes story of the Beatles in India. Susan’s fascinating version of events digs deeper to unearth much more than Saltzman’s film. Produced by David Lynch (founder of the TM-based David Lynch Foundation), the film paints TM as the hero. In contrast, Susan, a rare insider, spills stunning, behind-the-curtain secrets about what it was really like at the ashram, and how Maharishi influenced the Beatles and their song lyrics. She has participated in more than 1,200 interviews including for the Sunday Express of London, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, GQ, Woman’s World, and Fox News with Alan Colmes. Susan has 18 books in print in English, 36 foreign editions, and has won 40 prestigious book awards. Reach her at (917) 992-5175; divinerev@aol.com
7. ==> Are Frozen Embryos People or Property?
Recent news stories have explored the issue of frozen embryos caught in the crossfire of couples who have uncoupled. Fertilized during happier times, these embryos may remain in limbo forever and rack up storage fees if the couples cannot agree on their future. Or, as Nate Birt advises, the couple can agree to let the frozen embryo be adopted by someone else, a possibility they may not have considered. Learn more when you interview Nate, whose daughter began life as another couple’s frozen embryo. Nate is the author of “Frozen, But Not Forgotten: An Adoptive Dad’s Step-by-Step Guide to Embryo Adoption.” Ask him: What are some of the controversies that surround frozen embryos? Are fertilized embryos people or property? How costly is it to adopt such an embryo? Contact Nate Birt at (417) 221-9045; Nbirt@rtirguests.com
8. ==> How to Survive an Active Shooter Situation
Gun violence is on the rise in cities across the country. In Chicago, ten people were killed and 43 injured in gun-related incidents this past weekend. Baltimore reported more than 40 shootings last week with dozens killed. How can we protect ourselves and loved ones from becoming unintended victims of the violence? What should you do if you find yourself in an active shooter situation? Explore the answers with personal protection specialist Allen Banks, developer of Active Shooter Prevention and Workplace Violence Prevention Training, plus special programs for schools and other locations. Ask him: How should people observe, react, find safety, shield others, or fight back during an active shooting incident? Which survival tips work best in different settings? Allen Banks is CEO of Proactive Protection Agency. Contact him at (661) 417-0786; abanks@rtirguests.com
9. ==> What You Could Lose by Winning a Lawsuit
Talk about initiating a lawsuit and most people think: Hefty settlement! Getting justice! (Or retribution.) Healing and starting over. But legal trouble is stressful and expensive, and lawsuits can last years, taking more out of you than you gain. So warns attorney Francine Tone, who’s been educating the public for years about getting the right legal help, asking prudent questions, making wise decisions, and proceeding with caution as legal challenges unfold. Invite her to explore realities about suing and being sued, myths and truths about the law, and how even winning lawsuits can jeopardize your business, marriage or health. Francine is the author of “What Every Good Lawyer Wants You to Know.” Contact Francine Tone at (531) 208-1297; FTone@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Tax Resolution Expert Shares COVID Tax Advice and More
Even before the pandemic, there were more than 14 million taxpayers who ended up in the collection division of the Internal Revenue Service. Now with COVID-19 affecting just about every taxpayer, both personal and business, there are likely to be many more Americans facing the wrath of the IRS. David Bradley, a CPA specializing in IRS tax resolution, says the IRS is the most brutal collection agency in the world so it’s important to know your rights. Bradley will explain the rules the IRS must abide by when conducting an audit or inquiry, share tips for interacting with IRS agents and answer questions on everything from personal tax issues to small business ones. David Bradley, CPA, has represented hundreds of clients with the IRS negotiating offers for discounted settlement, audit defense, abatement of penalties, filing multi-year delinquent returns, removal of wage garnishments, bank levy’s, payroll tax problems, and release of tax liens. Contact him at (214) 710-1255; dcb@cpafirmdallas.com
11. ==> Tools for Stressed-Out Homeschooling Parents
Parenting is never easy, but families have been stuck together for months now and things have gone a little haywire in many homes. September usually brings relief with kids going back to school, but this year many students are sitting at the kitchen table instead of a desk in a classroom. How can we keep on keeping on without completely losing it? Families will welcome the creative suggestions of educator Laurie Marshall, suggestions that will help everyone get along better and safely blow off stress. She’ll share why parents and kids should put paper bags over their heads to convey emotions such as anger and silliness, why families should make a practice of singing and dancing together, and how taking three deep breaths when they feel out of control can center parents and interrupt impulsive behavior that can lead to harming family members. Marshall is a bullying prevention expert and the author of multiple books. She has trained over 6,000 teachers in project-based learning and facilitated 125 bully-prevention, nature-based murals with over 25,000 people in schools, nonprofits, and government agencies (NASA, FEMA, U.S. Botanical Gardens). Contact Laurie Marshall at (415) 360-3304; lmarshall@rtirguests.com
12. ==> 5 Realistic Tips for Coping with Pandemic Overload
More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic people are starting to get antsy for a return to normalcy. Rami Odeh (Oh-DAY), an author, certified exercise physiologist, personal trainer and corporate presenter, has found that his corporate clients are now seeking his advice on coping strategies they can offer their employees to lessen information overload and feelings of isolation. Odeh, who is also an on- and off-road marathoner, says, “Surviving in the age of COVID-19 is akin to running a marathon … and there are five daily steps you can take to train for living in pandemic times.” Odeh’s suggestions include reading the news instead of watching it, focusing on what’s going on in the moment instead of worrying about the future, and spending time on things you can control like your health and wellness. He’ll also discuss the benefits of soaking in a little sunshine sans sunscreen and ways to keep active, no matter what your schedule or circumstance. Odeh is the author of the three-volume series “Quiet The Noise.” Contact him at (770) 773-6970; rami@quietthenoisebook.com
13. ==> What I Learned by Facing What Most People Fear
Pandemic. Wildfire. Tornado. Earthquake. Hurricane. Tsunami. When it comes to inspiring fear, Mother Nature can sure dish it out. No one knows that better than Sana Brauner, who nearly died in a tsunami that came out of nowhere, claiming her mother and young daughter. In the 16 years since then, Sana has learned a lot about facing sudden, unexpected events and the fear they engender and can share lessons we need as we face the continued disruption of our lives from COVID-19. She can inspire audience members to see the future and create the life they need to get there. She is the author of “The Borrowed Daughter.” Contact Sana Brauner at s.brauner@ihr-einkauf.at Skype: sanabr
14. ==> Will We Run Out of Nurses?
Right now, we need nurses more than ever, but what kind of career can you expect in the profession? What should you know as you enter nursing school, graduate, become registered, and begin a nursing career? What will it take to keep you on the job? How can we all help prevent nursing shortages since the aging population needs such professionals more than ever? You’ll want to explore this timely topic and the nursing experience with all its implications by interviewing Nancy Congleton. In addition to offering solutions to help today’s nurses and ultimately everyone they serve, she will reveal the unexpected realities of the nursing profession, five relationship dynamics that nurses face, legal issues, and the concerns everyone should have when nurses feel so unprepared and overworked that they leave. An outspoken registered nurse known as Nurse Nancy, Nancy Covington has worked in the NICU, ER and case management. She’s the author of “Autopsy of the NP: Dissecting the Nursing Profession Piece By Piece.” Contact Nancy Congleton at (918) 992-4616; NCongleton@rtirguests.com
15. ==> How Your Disorganization Could Actually Kill You
In the middle of the coronavirus crisis, keeping your own medical records in order is more important than ever. In a medical emergency, anyone can be rattled enough to forget important details, finding themselves unable to answer physicians’ important questions about their health or that of a loved one. Anne McAwley-LeDuc, a retired nurse practitioner APRN), learned this the hard way after her husband fell down the stairs and showed signs of paralysis. At the hospital, physicians sought answers about his medical history, but she couldn’t answer vital questions. McAwley-LeDuc wants to help others — especially ordinary folks with no medical background — advocate for themselves and their loved ones for better and safer health care. She’ll discuss the role patients play in reducing medical errors, ways disorganized medical records can be deadly, and why so few patients keep good medical records or grasp the need to do so. Anne McAwley-LeDuc developed the “Personal Health Organizer” to keep essential medical information in one place and provide a snapshot of your health history. Contact her at (860) 300-1603; AMcAwley@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