01. Biden’s One-Year Grade: Incomplete
02. A Campaign Against COVID Health Measures
03. Flat-Earthers and Conspiracy Culture Explained
04. The Psychology of America’s Deep Divide
05. What’s Next for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency?
06. Tick Tock: Retired General on Russia/Ukraine Situation
07. True Crime: KGB Wanted Him Dead. He Lived to Tell His Story
08. Don’t Waste Your Time Writing to Congress
09. Why We Need to Bring Back ‘Elevator Music’
10. Why are So Many Families Estranged?
11. Dying to Smell Good? Cologne May Be Killing Us
12. The Best Way to Improve Your Family’s Health
13. The Epidemic of Struggling Teens
14. 6 Self-Care Tips for Busy, Stressed-Out Parents
15. You’ve Been Brainwashed to Believe Weight-Loss Lies
1. ==> Biden’s One-Year Grade: Incomplete
As pundits and politicians unleash a flood of report cards on Joe Biden’s first year in office, Jonathan Bernstein cautions that they should all come with warning labels. The Bloomberg political opinion writer says the most important thing to remember is that while presidents are the single most important players in the U.S. political system, that’s all they are — single players. “Evaluations that ignore the context that presidents work in, including the constraints they face, are useless,” Bernstein says. “A second caution is to be sure that any evaluation is clear about the differences between the president, the presidency and the larger political system.” He adds, “Remember that the real grade most presidents deserve after one year is ‘incomplete.’ Some processes haven’t played out yet, and there may be important information that has yet to become public.” Jonathan Bernstein taught political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University and wrote A Plain Blog About Politics. Contact him at jbernstein62@bloomberg.net; @jbview
2. ==> A Campaign Against COVID Health Measures
An investigative report is shedding light on “a nearly two-year campaign by right-wing and big business interests to force a return to normalcy to boost corporate profits amid the pandemic. “How the Koch Network Hijacked the War on COVID” tells the story of how that corporate-bankrolled campaign originally started, and how it has continued to supplant public health experts and hijack the governmental response to the pandemic. The authors of the report, Walker Bragman and Alex Kotch, say business-aligned groups — particularly those connected to fossil fuels — began targeting the public health measures threatening their bottom lines. The report was produced by a partnership of the Center for Media and Democracy and The Daily Poster. Walker Bragman is a reporter for The Daily Poste” and co-founder of OptOut Media Foundation, a nonprofit charity that promotes independent media and produces the OptOut news. Alex Kotch is senior investigative reporter at the Center for Media and Democracy. Contact Bragman at walkerbragman@gmail.com; @walkerbragman or Kotch at alex@prwatch.org; @alexkotch.
3. ==> Flat-Earthers and Conspiracy Culture Explained
Since 2015, the long-running conspiracy theory of a flat Earth – that we live on a flat plane, under a flat dome, or on a planet circled by a ring of ice – has increasingly gained a foothold in the mainstream. What was once a concept on the fringes of society, seen as a long-running joke and kept to niche message boards, pamphlets, and blogs, is now a widespread idea held by millions of people, including politicians, media personalities, athletes, and celebrities. Where did this theory come from and why is it suddenly everywhere? Daily Beast extremism and internet journalist – and leading voice on online conspiracy theories – Kelly Weill offers a definitive, humane and compelling history of the Flat Earth movement, from its origins in a 1800s English commune to its spread in the early 2000s with the rise of Facebook and YouTube to the recent disinformation campaign of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Weill’s new book is “Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or johanna@jrbcomm.com or Briana Caywood at (703) 646-5188 (office)
4. ==> The Psychology of America’s Deep Divide
“Kiss goodbye the fact-based ‘Age of Reason’ that began in the 18th century —along with democracies — and gave us the sciences that helped us put men on the moon. Welcome instead our strange epoch of pandemics and global warming, where facts are no longer king, though we need them now, more than ever!” So says psychologist Gary Rosenthal, author of “Re-Visioning Narcissism: Healing Heresies for Polarized Times.” He believes our nation is more divided now than any time since the Civil War, and that our democracy, and the fate of our planet, now hang by a thread. How did we get here — where we can’t even agree on such basic facts as who actually won the last presidential election? And how do we proceed? Discuss these and other questions with Gary. Find out why he believes the Capitol attacks were enabled by narcissism but led by something more perilous. He’ll discuss the traits of a psychopath, why you won’t find them in the official diagnostic manual of American psychiatry, and whether Donald Trump is both a narcissist and a psychopath. Gary Rosenthal has been a clinical psychologist and licensed therapist for nearly 40 years. Contact him at (510) 232-8701; cell: (415) 342-3090 or garysroses@gmail.com
5. ==> What’s Next for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency?
You’ve likely heard of bitcoin, but do you really understand what cryptocurrency is or how it works? Attorney JR Lanis can explain what you need to know about digital currency and why it isn’t going away. “Just as with the development of other technologies — which emerged with the advent of the internet—such as email and social media, Twitter, Instagram — this is yet another ‘futuristic’ technology that is now changing the way money is exchanged for just about anything and everything,” says Lanis. He’ll explain how cryptocurrency works for consumers and businesses, whether the government is likely to step in and regulate the digital currency, and how the technology is evolving. JR Lanis is one of only a handful of U.S. attorneys who fully understand the rapid development of cryptocurrency and has completed major transactions in this space. He’s frequently quoted and interviewed by national news outlets including “The Wall Street Journal,” Bloomberg, CNBC, and Law360. Contact Cherie Kerr at (714) 271-2140 (cell); cherie@kerrpr-execuprov.com or Shannon Dugger at (303) 619-3949; Shannon@kerrpr-execuprov.com
6. ==> Tick Tock: Retired General on Russia/Ukraine Situation
Russia’s build-up of tens of thousands of troops along the Ukrainian border has the world wondering what Vladimir Putin is up to. Is he planning an invasion or merely flexing his muscles? At a time when Ukrainian and Russian troops are as close as 50 yards from each other, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Peter Zwack, who spent two years as the United States senior defense official and attaché to the Russian Federation including the recent 2014 Russia-Ukraine crisis, can share whether the Russians have boxed themselves into a precipice of their own doing. Brig. Gen. Zwack, who recently appeared on the international Russian-language TV network RTVI on this topic, can share why the current troop numbers at the border are formidable but not enough for a full Ukraine-wide operation and whether the Putin regime oligarchs and moneyed interests would be willing to endure the sanctions and other fallout that would likely occur should an invasion take place. Brig. Gen. (Ret.) currently serves as a Wilson Center Global Fellow within the Kennan Institute and frequently discusses national security and leadership issues in the media. Among his books is “Swimming the Volga.” Contact Terri Beavers at (434) 979-7438; BG.PBZ.r@gmail.com
7. ==> True Crime: KGB Wanted Him Dead. He Lived to Tell His Story
Imagine what life would be like if the KGB was after you, threatening your life? And if you had no idea you were even taking them on at first? John Christmas does not have to imagine … he lived it. While heading up an international banking group he tried to expose fraud he uncovered without realizing that the bank in question was a KGB front. Now Christmas has co-authored a new geopolitical thriller inspired by his story, “KGB Banker.” Invite Christmas on your show to talk about his experience, why it’s particularly relevant given today’s political environment, and what happened to the players he exposed. Contact John Christmas at (514) 700-9015; jchristmas@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Don’t Waste Your Time Writing to Congress
We’ve all been indoctrinated to reach out to our elected officials when we want to affect change. But award-winning author, screenwriter and former Universal Studios executive John Thibault says that’s futile. “Members of Congress get 10,000 emails and physical mail a month,” he says. “But you will get a canned response. You need to reference specific bills, clarify your issue, build your coalition and appeal to higher authorities. Trade associations and lobbyists do this, but average people don’t.” He will share how to decipher specific issues, build a coalition of like-minded citizens in your community and effectively appeal to higher authorities. John is the author of the critically acclaimed book “How to Change a Law.” Contact John at (650) 761-7564; Jthibault@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Why We Need to Bring Back ‘Elevator Music’
Do you listen to elevator music? You know, the wordless instrumental musical pieces you used to routinely find when you got in an elevator or visited your local mall or doctor. Once ubiquitous, instrumental music is less common today but perhaps we need to bring it back. Interview Dave Combs to learn about the health benefits of elevator music, including its calming nature, and why we might need to listen to more of it during current chaotic times. In addition, Dave can talk about the power of music — even music without words — to change lives and share the inspiring story behind his most successful composition, “Rachel’s Song.” Dave Combs’ music has been played millions of times on radio, satellite, and internet streaming media. He is also the author of “Touched By the Music: How the Story and Music of Rachel’s Song Can Change Your Life.” Contact him at (336) 655-8320; dave@combsmusic.com
10. ==> Why are So Many Families Estranged?
According to research from Cornell University, one out of four people are estranged from their families, burdened by bad memories, hurt feelings, and the prospect of yet more separation and misunderstandings. What can they do to find forgiveness? To begin a new era of communication, sharing, understanding and family affection? Discuss the negative effects of estrangement and how it’s possible to heal when you interview author and educator Peter Colman, Ph.D. Dr. Colman will reveal what can be done to change family dynamics and save often-fragile relationships. Invite callers to share and explore (even anonymously) their own family challenges. Ask him: Why do relatives often drift apart? How can family healing begin and last? What is so sacred about the bond between father and son? How does wartime service impact family relationships? What is so powerful about saying you’re sorry? Contact Judith Colman at (847) 912-4481; jcolman@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Dying to Smell Good? Cologne May Be Killing Us
As the demand for personal grooming products is exploding, the perfume/fragrance industry rakes in a whopping $32.5 billion in revenue per year. But there’s a potential dark side to those delightful aromas. “Products with fragrances may contain anywhere from 100 to 1,000 chemicals,” Zodiac Denton says. “But they don’t have to be listed due to trade secret policies.” Zorica should know. She developed asthma, a gastric ulcer and other long-term debilitating health problems as a result of working as a perfume model, and almost died. She is the founder of the natural personal care products company Zorica of Malibu and the author of an upcoming book about toxic chemicals in products. Contact Zorica at (213) 616-7904; zdenton@rtirguests.com
12. ==> The Best Way to Improve Your Family’s Health
You may see your doctor regularly, take your prescriptions, exercise, eat a good diet and avoid bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking. But what else should you be doing to keep yourself and your family members healthy? Interview Anne McAwley-LeDuc to learn about the simple health-promoting activity most people ignore: keeping fully accurate records of medical histories, doctor visits, procedures and treatments, medications, vaccinations, and more for all family members. She’ll explain why keeping records is essential, especially during challenging times like COVID. Anne is a retired nurse practitioner (APRN) and the award-winning author of “Personal Health Organizer.” Contact her at (860) 300-1603; AMcAwley@rtirguests.com
13. ==> The Epidemic of Struggling Teens
Last year was especially tough for teenagers whose lives typically include one challenge, change, and charged-up problem after another. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the proportion of mental health-related emergency room visits for adolescents jumped 31% during the pandemic. That’s why you’ll want to interview Paul Bernabei, an educator, trainer and author of the popular “Top 20” book series — including “Top 20 Teens” — who can discuss the many factors behind teens’ increasing anxiety and depression. He will explore what parents and mentors need to know as teens struggle amid the turmoil of adolescence. Ask him: What often takes the brightest teens off the path to excellence and on the road to poor behavior, disengagement in school, and even suicidal thoughts? Which conversations, activities and programs help teens enjoy life and feel hopeful? Contact Paul Bernabei at (651) 470-3827; PBernabei@rtirguests.com
14. ==> 6 Self-Care Tips for Busy, Stressed-Out Parents
Parents have many challenges as they try to negotiate the demands on their time and attention and plenty of moms and dads end up putting their own needs last. That’s why Natalie Bonfig wants parents to resolve to put self-care at the top of their list so they can give the best of themselves to their demanding roles. Natalie can offer six self-care tips to put into practice that will benefit their entire family. For instance, she’ll explore how to find quiet time to center yourself, how to stay in the moment and how to be kind to yourself even as you give generously to others. Natalie is the author of “Everyday Self-Care and Your High Needs Child.” Contact Natalie at (651) 419-3137; nbonfig@rtirguests.com
15. ==> You’ve Been Brainwashed to Believe Weight-Loss Lies
Each new year tens of millions of people resolve to get healthier and lose weight. Many will go on diets because they’ve been brainwashed to believe diets and exercise are the only ways to lose weight. Most people have no idea there are other options for shedding unwanted pounds. Ruth Houston can discuss research-backed, no-cost, easy-to-implement weight-loss tips and tricks — things the diet industry hopes the public will never find out. The author of “Eat Smart and Lose Weight: Scientifically Proven Ways to Lose Weight without Diets or Exercise” will share table tactics, kitchen tricks, binge prevention and more. Ruth has appeared on more than 500 radio and TV news and talk shows. Contact her at (718) 708-9799; EatSmartWeightLossExpert@gmail.com