01. Go Inside the Secret Service with Former Female Agent
02. Weirdest White House Antics
03. The Lost Story of President Madison’s Black Family
04. Pulitzer Prize-Winner’s New Malcolm X Biography
05. COVID Long Haulers: What We’ve Learned So Far
06. Need-to-Know Vaccine Info
07. Lessons from First ER Doc to Die of COVID
08. How to Find a Job in the Post-COVID World
09. Lennon, the Beatles and the Maharishi
10. Can You Spot Propaganda?
11. What Happens in Vegas … No Longer Stays There
12. Former Stuntman Takes Listeners Behind the Scenes
13. New Amazon Documentary: Superbugs Are the Next Health Battle
14. How to Find Calm and Clarity During Chaotic Times
15. Interview Host of PBS’ ‘Simply Delicious Living’
1. ==> Go Inside the Secret Service with Former Female Agent
Melanie Lentz was a fresh-faced 22-year-old woman when she became a United States Secret Service special agent back in 2007. Invite her on your show and get an inside, behind-the-scenes look at the elite agency tasked with protecting our nation’s leaders and their families and hear what it was like to be one of the youngest female agents ever hired in the historically male profession. Lentz can discuss a typical day on the job, her most memorable assignments and what Former First Lady Nancy Reagan taught her that eventually led to her leaving the profession. Melanie Lentz is the author of “Agent Innocent: A Secret Service Love Story.” Contact her at media@melanielentz.com
2. ==> Weirdest White House Antics
Did you know James Monroe used to enjoy swimming nude in the Potomac River? Or that doctors once held a press conference to announce Dwight Eisenhower moved his bowels? Or that Calvin Coolidge often conferred with a raccoon? Or that First Lady Florence Harding gave press interviews in her negligee? Or that George H.W. Bush took showers with his dog? Author Hal Marcovitz can talk about the many strange stories that have been circulating around the White House since John and Abigail Adams occupied the Executive Mansion, including some very odd stories about the last occupant. Marcovitz, a longtime journalist, is the author of the novel “Painting the White House,” which tells the story of an ordinary house painter who finds himself at the center of White House intrigues and misadventures. Contact him at (215) 718-6807; hmarcovitz@rtirguests.com
3. ==> The Lost Story of President Madison’s Black Family
Author and physician Bettye Kearse is the great-great-great-granddaughter of an enslaved woman and her enslaver, and half-brother, President James Madison. Invite Dr. Kearse to share her perspective on being a descendant of both one of the Founding Fathers and also of a slave. She’ll share her family story and explore the issues of legacy, race, and the powerful consequences of telling the whole truth. Bettye Kearse is the author of “The Other Madisons: The Lost Story of a President’s Black Family” and the subject of a documentary film. She presented her story at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and has been featured by NPR, podcasts, and radio stations across the country. Contact her at (617) 640 4803; bettye@bettyekearse.com
4. ==> Pulitzer Prize-Winner’s New Malcolm X Biography
Americans know that Malcolm X was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil rights movement. But a new biography greatly expands our understanding of Malcolm X’s life and contextualizes it, not only within the Nation of Islam but within the larger arc of African American history. Researched and written by Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Les Pane and his daughter Tamara, and published after Les Pane’s death in 2018, “The Dead Are Rising” incorporates material culled from hundreds of hours of interviews with Malcolm’s then still-living immediate family and contemporaries. Tamara Pane can discuss her father’s first witnessing Malcolm X’s galvanizing oratory at a rally in 1963 and how that affected his life and career and what it was like working with her father on the book. Les Payne was an investigative journalist, foreign correspondent, and editor at Newsday. A founder of the National Association of Black Journalists, he also wrote an award-winning syndicated column. Tamara Payne served as her father’s principal researcher. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
5. ==> COVID Long Haulers: What We’ve Learned So Far
It’s been a year since the U.S. began seeing its first cases of the coronavirus and experts are still learning about the disease and its effects on the human body. Dr. Natalie Lambert’s COVID-19 Health Lab works to understand the multitude of ways in which COVID impacts patients’ health including the underlying health factors that affect health outcomes and why some “long haulers” suffer from COVID symptoms for months. She’ll share signs you may have already had the disease and commonly overlooked symptoms that could indicate an infection and discuss what doctors are learning about long-term health issues that can follow a bout with the virus. Dr. Natalie Lambert is an associate professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Survivor Corps. Contact her at nalamb@iu.edu; @nataliejlambert
6. ==> Need-to-Know Vaccine Info
A massive push to inoculate the country against COVID-19 is on. Invite pharmaceutical technologies expert Dean Fanelli to answer your vaccine questions He’ll discuss the currently approved vaccines, what’s happening with other vaccines in development, and whether Americans should be worried about the new mutated strains of the virus. Dean Fanelli, Ph.D., is a partner in the intellectual property department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s Washington D.C. office. His focus is on pharmaceutical- and chemical-related technologies. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; (919) 377-1200 or ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
7. ==> Lessons from First ER Doc to Die of COVID
Last March Renae Baker was working as a Lyft driver when she picked up Dr. Frank Gabrin after his shift at East Orange Hospital in New Jersey. Five days later he was dead from COVID-19, becoming the first ER doctor in the country to die from the virus. Baker says they talked the entire 35-minute ride to his home in New York City and some of what they discussed may have saved her own life in the following days. Dr. Gabrin developed his first symptoms later that morning. Baker developed hers shortly after and has since recovered. She will reveal what Dr. Gabrin told her about life inside the ER during the earliest days of the pandemic, the surprising thing he and other doctors were seeing at the moment of COVID-19 deaths, and why he thought this could be an important spiritual moment in our history. Baker says they discussed everything from morale among health-care workers to what happened when nurses got sick and how doctors were being treated by hospital administrators. Renae Baker is an author and speaker who has managed a professional caroling company in New York City for decades. She has been featured on Fox News and many more media outlets. Contact her at (917) 509-9022; ismileny@gmail.com
8. ==> How to Find a Job in the Post-COVID World
The world of work has changed exponentially this past year. High-rise office spaces are empty with many employees working from home. Millions of people lost their jobs or had hours cut and the future of entire industries remains uncertain. Many experts agree the COVID vaccine could spur recovery, bringing people back to work safely and consumers back to businesses. That said, can your company mandate it? Ask Andrew Challenger, of the global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. He can discuss post-COVID workplace issues, the employment outlook for 2021, and give advice to anyone looking for a job right now. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074; (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
9. ==> Lennon, the Beatles and the Maharishi
It’s hard to “Imagine” what John Lennon would be like as an 80-year-old. After all, he was only 40 when he was murdered by Mark David Chapman outside Lennon’s Manhattan apartment house 40 years ago. For a fascinating show that celebrates Lennon’s legacy invite Susan Shumsky to discuss John, the Beatles, and their relationship with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation (TM.) You’ll hear why Lennon was the Beatles’ unofficial leader, leading the way in all things, including their love affair with psychedelics and their spiritual seeking. Learn the hidden significance of the Lennon-penned song “Across the Universe,” why Lennon fell out with Maharishi, and the devastating remark Maharishi made when he tried to reconcile. Susan spent 22 years in the ashrams and six years on the personal staff of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. She’s appeared on more than 1,200 programs and is the author of 18 books including “Maharishi & Me: Seeking Enlightenment with the Beatles’ Guru.” Contact her at (917) 336-7184; SShumsky@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Can You Spot Propaganda?
We’re all influenced by propaganda every day. Learning to recognize techniques people use to influence your opinions and actions can help you evaluate the flood of information you get each day. Layman “Buzz” Allen will explain how learning to identify propaganda is as easy as playing an online game (the aptly named The Propaganda Game) and explain why propaganda can be a good thing. “The fascinating thing is that propaganda is used by all sides in most controversial issues. Our role in pointing out the actual mechanics is neutral as far as ideology is concerned. We are seeking to raise the level of discourse and appreciation for everyone involved,” Buzz says. Used in schools, The Propaganda Game was co-invented by Buzz’s late uncle, Robert W. Allen, and Bonanza actor Lorne Greene in the 1960s. Ask him: How did propaganda get a bad reputation during the Cold War? What would people be surprised to know about Lorne Greene and comedian Leslie Nielsen? Contact Michael Clever at (515) 412-0419; MClever@rtirguests.com or lallen@rtirguests.com
11. ==> What Happens in Vegas … No Longer Stays There
Las Vegas has earned its reputation as Sin City. And back in the early 1980s when Mark Rusin was a young police officer there, his job brought him face-to-face with some crazy situations which he’ll detail on your show. Ask him about the role his uniformed partner played in a bar’s wet T-shirt contest, about the time a john showed him what $70,000 in cash looked like, and about the “small” detail he missed while interviewing a stabbing victim. On a more serious note, he can also share the police call that has haunted him every day since he was called to the MGM Grand Hotel on Nov. 21, 1980. Rusin is a former ATF special agent who knows what “really” happened at Waco and has met several U.S. presidents while protecting them. Rusin has also been a consultant to “CSI” and other shows. He is the author of the upcoming book “METRO: Sin City Chronicles” and an earlier novel, “Justice For Dallas,” which was based on real events. Contact Mark Rusin at (520) 205-1113; msrusin@comcast.net
12. ==> Former Stuntman Takes Listeners Behind the Scenes
Steve McChesney knows what it was like to put his life on the line for the sake of entertainment. As a Hollywood stuntman, actor, or extra he appeared in more than 350 TV shows and movies, Part of that time, Steve earned money by falling off of high places, being knocked off of walls, performing stunts in automobiles and other things designed to make the audience’s hearts race. To the delight of baby boomers and others who love classic TV and movies, he can talk about the work he did on “Star Trek 6,” the last movie with the show’s original cast, “Starsky and Hutch,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Wonder Woman” and more, and why professional stunt people are the safest people to hang around with. Now a marketing expert, Steve McChesney has been on CBS, ABC, NBC, and other large media outlets. His new book is “Rearranging Change: How You Market to an Ever-Changing World” and his podcast with the same name is available on all major channels. He is available as a last-minute guest. Contact Steve McChesney at (321) 414-2147; smcchesney@rtirguests.com
13. ==> New Amazon Documentary: Superbugs Are the Next Health Battle
While the world has been focused on conquering the COVID-19 virus, another health threat has been building. Some experts predict that if unchecked by mid-century, antibiotic-resistant superbugs could surpass cancer as the No. 1 cause of human death worldwide. The new documentary “Beating Superbugs: Can We Win?” examines the health crisis and provides a sober yet optimistic view of some of the most ingenious solutions to superbugs that are already in place or are emerging. Invite director Bill Mudge to discuss what he learned making the film and why people should pay attention to the issue. “Beating Superbugs” begins streaming on Amazon in February. Contact Ryan Davis at (206) 491-3738; ryan@smarthousecreative.com
14. ==> How to Find Calm and Clarity During Chaotic Times
When times are tough, most people look for external sources of comfort. But best-selling author and intuition expert Kim Chestney claims we have it backward. “When we learn to recognize and follow our inner guidance, it reconnects us with the fullness of our intended existence,” she says. “In this way, intuition is not only our line to higher awareness but the cure for our pains — our imbalanced bodies, worried minds, broken hearts and defeated spirits.” Kim will share specific ways to tap into our “inner guidance” and discuss how to remain at peace while surrounded by chaos. Kim Chestney 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. Contact her at (412) 214-9502; KChestney@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Interview Host of PBS’ ‘Simply Delicious Living’
As the host of PBS-TV’s “Simply Delicious Living,” Maryann Ridini Spencer inspires her viewers to live their bliss and best life every day. Invite her to share her top mood-boosting solutions, simple strategies to get happier and healthier, and how to find balance in your life both personally and professionally. She can also share her top five tips for simply delicious living and how gratefulness can lead to happiness. She is a TV/film producer, screenwriter, and the author of the award-winning Kate Grace Mystery books, “Lady in the Window” and “The Paradise Table.” Her work has appeared on “Hallmark Hall of Fame” (CBS-TV), the Hallmark Channel, CNN, USA, SyFy, Showtime and many other outlets. Contact Maryann Ridini Spencer at (818) 492-9135; mspencer@rtirguests.com