01. Let’s Talk about Trump’s Twitter Ban
02. Presidents Who Snubbed Their Successors
03. Former Staffer: How to Fix Our Crippled Congress
04. Inside the Latest Jobs Report
05. How to Cope with 2020 Losses
06. Could COVID End the War on Drugs?
07. What to Do If Shots Erupt
08. Why We Think People are Lying When They’re Not
09. The Secret Skill Missing from Most Leaders
10. The Nursing Shortage is Here
11. Do a Funny Show on Caring for Aging Parents
12. College and COVID: Is Virtual Learning Better than YouTube?
13. Learning from Home: Tips to Keep Kids Tuned In
14. Sick and Misunderstood: Mother of Four with Rare Disease
15. Award-Winning Medium Answers Your Questions
1.==> Let’s Talk about Trump’s Twitter Ban
In the wake of the Capitol riot last week, Twitter, Facebook and several other tech giants have banned Donald Trump from the platforms, some permanently. But Michael Brennan says, “While people may laugh at the absurdity of the Twitter President being put in permanent timeout, it raises a serious question about decision-making.” Brennan warns, “There is an ongoing constitutional crisis occurring within and between the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Citizens depend on media to communicate events and narratives as they unfold in real-time, but the means of communication have long been unaccountable to users, workers, or governments. What are the implications of platform monopolies’ direct intervention in political conflict?” Brennan can also discuss why debate on the issue of tech monopolies is still narrowly focused on “increasing competition” rather than a full-scale re-imagination of the platform economy away from surveillance capitalism and toward democratic control. Brennan is a policy organizer at the Democracy Policy Network and a research fellow at The Democracy Collaborative, a non-profit, American think-tank and research center at the University of Maryland. Contact him at mb@democracypolicy.network; @mrbrnn
2. ==> Presidents Who Snubbed Their Successors
The presidential election of 2020 is already one for the history books. President Trump’s term expires at noon on January 20, but Trump, who challenged the results of the election for two months, says he will not attend his successor’s inauguration. Presidential historian Thomas Balcerski says Trump isn’t the first sore loser to skip the proceedings. “John Adams in 1801, John Quincy Adams in 1829 and Andrew Johnson in 1869, refused to attend their successors’ inaugurations. Poor form even then, they all the same provide an apt example for what may follow in today’s divided political climate.” He’ll describe the circumstances of each snub, how the acts played out afterward, and why Trump’s recalcitrance is no surprise and shouldn’t bother Democrats. Thomas Balcerski teaches history at Eastern Connecticut State University. He is the author of “Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King.” Contact him at (860) 465-4005; balcerskit@easternct.edu
3. ==> Former Staffer: How to Fix Our Crippled Congress
Even before last week’s chaos, one look at the way Capitol Hill operates shows how crippled the U.S. political system is. Former deputy chief of staff to Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Adam Jentleson will map out the U.S. Senate’s decline from a great deliberative body to the nexus of partisan gridlock. He traces the gridlock back to the early 20th century when southern senators fought to protect Jim Crow laws and instituted the filibuster. He’ll explain how the filibuster and entrenched party loyalties became a “kill switch” that cuts off broad-based solutions and shuts down our democratic process. He can discuss the history of the Senate and how reform is necessary, reforms that “fix” filibuster rules to allow real debate, and the challenges of advancing popular policy in a minority-controlled Senate. Jentleson is the public affairs director at Democracy Forward, a columnist for GQ and a frequent political commentator on MSNBC. His new book is “Kill Switch The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
4. ==> Inside the Latest Jobs Report
According to the latest government job report, the U.S. lost 140,000 jobs in December as the pandemic continues to ravage consumer demand and lockdowns limit business operations. “The longer the pandemic continues — the longer it takes for vaccines to be administered — the greater the destruction of jobs and businesses, particularly small businesses, will be,” says Andrew Challenger, of the global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. “The job-letting will not end before the pandemic. In fact, we likely will not see the full ramifications of this downturn until years after the pandemic ends, when we get a better picture of just how many jobs were wiped out completely during this period.” He’ll discuss which sectors of the economy have been hardest hit, where and when jobs may return, and what will determine which companies survive. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074; (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
5. ==> How to Cope with 2020 Losses
2020 might be described as “the year of losses.” As a result of the pandemic, people endured the pain of losing loved ones, jobs and marriages, and the death of the idea that they are safe from harm. For many, their world is standing still as they try to grapple with what happened and how to live again. After coping with the loss of two husbands and other close relatives, Emily Thiroux Threatt has become a guide for others who need support to find positivity in grieving. The author of “Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief” can discuss how to find joy and gratitude in dark moments, what people can say to others so that they can better understand and help them in their recovery journey, and what “mindful grieving” is and the role meditation can play in its practice. Emily Thiroux Threatt is an author and lecturer who taught writing and composition at the college and university level for over 30 years. Contact her at (661) 428-3610; emily@lovingandlivingyourwaythroughgrief.com
6. ==> Could COVID End the War on Drugs?
In the 2020 election, nine out of nine measures to decriminalize or legalize drugs passed with clear margins. What will 2021 bring? Attorney Colleen Cowles will share the myths about addiction held by both political parties and discuss what’s ahead for drug policy in the U.S. thanks to COVID and the election. Ask her: Will the rampant spread of COVID in overcrowded prisons bring further scrutiny to mass incarceration? Will movements to defund police result in less punitive measures for those with substance use disorders, or will decreases in law enforcement personnel lead to increased crime rates and other issues? Will public sentiment and fiscal concerns brought on by COVID lead more states to legalize cannabis in 2021? Will the federal government end cannabis prohibition? Cowles is an attorney, advocate, and the author of “War On Us: How the War on Drugs and Myths About Addiction Have Created a War on All of Us.” She also created the online class “Protecting Your Assets When Addiction Finds Your Family.” Contact her at (715) 828-0293; Colleen@WarOnUs.com
7. ==> What to Do If Shots Erupt
Last week’s Capitol riot reminds us that violence can erupt anywhere. Would you know what to do if you were in a public place and someone started shooting? Whether you’re on public transportation, at work or sitting on your front stoop, you could unwittingly find yourself in an active shooter situation. How can you and your loved ones stay safe when shots ring out? Would you be able to react, escape, find cover, seek help, or shield others? Would you notice dangers before they put anyone at risk? What actions should you always take or never take? Explore the vital answers with personal protection specialist Allen Banks, CEO of Proactive Protection Agency. He’s the developer of Active Shooter Prevention and Workplace Violence Prevention Training, plus special programs for schools and other locations. Contact him at (661) 417-0786; abanks@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Why We Think People are Lying When They’re Not
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,” 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
9. ==> The Secret Skill Missing from Most Leaders
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. 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
10. ==> The Nursing Shortage is Here
Thanks in no small degree to the pandemic, burnout, and an older workforce, rural areas and small hospitals are scrambling for nurses with some ERs operating with fewer nurses than they should. How can we help prevent these nursing shortages which are likely to worsen as our aging population needs more care? 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 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
11. == > Do a Funny Show on Caring for Aging Parents
In tough times, a laugh can help keep our spirits up. Kathleen Lenane is here to explore the humorous side of family caregiving. Yes, even in a pandemic. Kat is the creator of the hilarious website The Clueless Caregiver and blog. Expect to chortle and guffaw as she answers, in an entertaining Q&A format, questions like: How do I tell my 85-year-old father he shouldn’t be driving anymore? And: Where does Mom hide the hearing aids, iron supplements and medical alert pendant she should be using — but insists “she doesn’t really need”? Kat’s mix of wit and tips includes personal stories of, for instance, rounding up discarded hospital meal-tray bananas for a Super Bowl party her father threw in the Intensive Care Unit (way before COVID times). Kat has worked as a book ghostwriter and staff writer and editor for SELF and Cosmopolitan — in addition to caring for two mischievous parents who refused to act old into their 90s. Contact Kat at (860) 500-1524; klenane@rtirguests.com
12. ==> College and COVID: Is Virtual Learning Better than YouTube?
With U.S. college campuses dealing with COVID outbreaks and many classes taking place online the time is right to think about the value of a college education, the debt that is typically involved in acquiring one and whether a trade school or associate degree may be a better fit for high school seniors contemplating their future. Former college professor Glen Dunzweiler wants to help parents frame this discussion, thereby helping Gen Zs to plot a well-paying, satisfying future that puts their needs ahead of those of a future employer, college bursar or loan officer. Glen will explain why a traditional college education does not lead to a secure future for most students, why trade schools and work experience can be a better option and ways students can monetize their skills once they graduate. In addition to his former role as a college professor, Glen is a documentarian and the author of two books. His latest is “A Degree in Homelessness? Entrepreneurial Skills for Students.” Contact Glen at (702) 703-2219; GDunzweiler@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Learning from Home: Tips to Keep Kids Tuned In
Education has been profoundly affected as today’s pandemic drags on. From kindergarten to college, for many school administrators, the alternative to spreading COVID-19 has meant the introduction of virtual classrooms. Educator, speaker, and author Barbara Daniels will discuss virtual teaching options and whether students benefit from them. Author of the award-winning Timmy Teacup book series, Daniels will reveal how to eliminate common school problems, engage students more and encourage teachers to be more compassionate. She’ll discuss how to keep order and minimize distractions in virtual classrooms, what’s currently missing and what’s more effective, and how we can help teachers improve. Contact Barbara Daniels at (636) 220-5495; BDaniels@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Sick and Misunderstood: Mother of Four with Rare Disease
Having one child with a rare, incurable and often misunderstood genetic disease is tough enough but Ann S. Woodbury has four children — and a husband — with myotonic dystrophy ((Dystrophia Myotonica, DM), a disease that is characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. Ever since their diagnosis in 1998, Woodbury has been advocating for families like hers and educating physicians about the symptoms that can vary from individual to individual and affect multiple organs. Invite her on your show to learn why as many as 50% of those with this disease remain undiagnosed, and how symptoms of the disease can alienate sufferers because of their “different” behavior. Ann Woodbury has been caregiving and advocating for her family since their diagnoses in 1998, at a time when even doctors didn’t know all of the effects of DM or that it was a brain disorder. She has shared her knowledge of the disease and its treatment as the former head of Utah’s DM support group. She is the author of “Surviving Myotonic Dystrophy.” Contact her at (801) 554-1258; annswoodbury@gmail.com
15. ==> Award-Winning Medium Answers Your Questions
What does a medium really do? How can a psychic help people who are struggling in life? Find out when you bring Beth Lynch on your show. She’ll reveal how a deeper sense of spirituality can heal us at any age. Learn what’s missing in modern life, the surprising benefits of prayer and meditation, and spiritual-based remedies for anxiety and loss. Whether your show is about relationships, news, family, business, money, health, or the unexplained — there’s an audience for Beth Lynch! Ask her: What do dreams often signify? How do you strengthen your ideals in such a difficult year? How does spirituality enhance wellness, relationships, and even finances? What does it take to communicate with the afterlife? Beth Lynch has been practicing and teaching spiritual principles and meditation for over 25 years. She is a popular author, speaker and media guest. Contact Beth at (484) 705-2818; BLynch@rtirguests.com