01. A Veteran’s Story: The Mythology of War and Patriotism
02. Can Alec Baldwin Ever Recover?
03. Will Britney Spears’ Be Free on Friday?
04. ‘King Richard’ and the Black Tennis Revolution
05. Free Casserole Sweaters? Listeners Will Eat This Up!
06. She Shares the Recipe for a Peaceful Holiday Meal with Kids
07. Weather Disasters Are Costing the U.S. Big Time
08. A Guide to Mix-and-Match COVID Boosters
09. How We Criminalize Black Children
10. Can Shy People Be Good Leaders?
11. Junk Food: Are You Making It Special Enough?
12. Dead Parents Haunting You? Exorcise Childhood Trauma, for Good
13. Everything You Wanted to Know about Frozen Embryos but Were Afraid to Ask
14. Go from Crises to Calm in 30 Seconds or Less
15. Do Southerners Know the Secret to Happiness?
1. ==> A Veteran’s Story: The Mythology of War and Patriotism
Discuss military life, the mythology of war and the ideas surrounding American patriotism with Jerad Alexander. While much attention has been paid to military dramas about the upper ranks of highly specialized fields, Alexander shares the story of the average American soldier. Alexander grew up on military bases, from the East Coast of the United States to Japan and was raised on masculine fantasies of heroism and patriotism. As soon as he was old enough, he enlisted in the Marines and was deployed to the Mediterranean, East Africa, and Iraq. Once there, though, he says he learned that much of what he had spent his childhood dreaming about was a mirage. Invite him to discuss the motivations that drive young men and women to enlist in the military, the representations of war in American media, and the closed culture that creates our warriors. Jerad Alexander’s new book is “Volunteers: Growing Up in the Forever War.” 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)
2. ==> Can Alec Baldwin Ever Recover?
Actors shoot guns all the time on movie sets. Usually, nothing bad happens. But as you know, Alec Baldwin recently pulled the trigger on a prop gun that led to the death of one individual and the wounding of another. Will Baldwin ever recover? And if so, what would it take? Vern Mathis, a man who spent years on hundreds of Hollywood movie sets as a cameraman, editor, post-production supervisor and as the son of a vice president of MGM-United Artists in Culver City, says he could read the anguish and cry for help in Baldwin’s face during recent media interviews. He says Baldwin’s past addictions and this recent trauma put him in great danger. Vern can talk about how Baldwin is likely to suffer from this horrible traumatic event. He’ll also discuss how Baldwin is already showing signs of PTSD, and how important it is for him to seek help now. In addition, Vern will say that the other actors and crew members who were on set are also susceptible to the after-effects of the event. Vern worked in the film industry for years and co-hosted a weekly TV show in Vegas. He is the author of the physician-recommended book “PTSD: Living On Edge: A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery.” Reach him at (514) 700-9015; vmathis@rtirguests.com
3. ==> Will Britney Spears’ Be Free on Friday?
The drumbeat over the conservatorship of Britney Spears continues to mount in advance of the next hearing on Friday, with lawyers for both sides urging it be lifted immediately — for different reasons. David Glass, a certified family law specialist and former clinical psychologist, will be at the courthouse on Friday and says even if Judge Brenda Penny terminates the conservatorship of Jamie Spears’ hold over her estate, it doesn’t mean that Britney will be free, altogether. David Glass has appeared on AP television and “ABC News” to explain the intricacies of the Britney Spears conservatorship story. He’s a regular legal analyst for “Good Morning America” and ‘ABC News Live” and has also appeared on other newscasts including NBC’s “Extra” and “Good Day L.A.” Contact Cherie Kerr at (714) 271-2140; Cherie@kerrpr-execuprov.com or Shannon Dugger at (303) 619-3949; Shannon@Kerrpr-execuprov.com
4. ==> ‘King Richard’ and the Black Tennis Revolution
The highly anticipated movie “King Richard,” starring Will Smith as the father of Serena and Venus Williams, hits theaters next week. The film chronicles the sisters’ amazing journey of overcoming the odds to become tennis royalty, in large part due to the guidance and skill of their sometimes-controversial father. Sportswriter Cecil Harris has interviewed all three and can share his insights on the family, the athletes and the history of race in tennis. Hear the story of how Richard Williams decided his daughters would be tennis champions before they were even born and wrote a 78-page plan to coach them when they were four years old, and why he referred to them as his “Ghetto Cinderellas.” Cecil Harris is the author of “Different Strokes: Serena, Venus, and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution.” Contact him at (914) 643-7622; CecilHarris2008@gmail.com
5. ==> Free Casserole Sweaters? Listeners Will Eat This Up!
The folks at Green Giant have come up with an interesting holiday giveaway campaign that reimagines popular Thanksgiving side dishes —green bean and corn casseroles — as ugly holiday sweaters. Jordan Greenberg, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for B&G Foods, says, “We are quite literally giving Americans the opportunity to wear their love of all things casserole on their sleeves!” The company says there are “three stylish casserole designs” in all, and that they’ll give hundreds away randomly, before Thanksgiving. Get details on the sweater giveaway (registration ends November 17) and how listeners can also help raise money to end childhood hunger this Thanksgiving by posting pictures of their holiday table on social media using #PasstheCasserole and tagging @GreenGiant. Contact Lisa Marcellari at (201) 526-4977; lisa@gilliansmallpr.com
6. ==> She Shares the Recipe for a Peaceful Holiday Meal with Kids
Thanksgiving is arguably the biggest “meal” holiday of the year, and nowadays more of us are opting to do away with the Thanksgiving “kids’ table.” Kids sitting through a meal is a big problem for many parents, and whether you have a kids table or not, if your child can’t sit still long enough to join in Thanksgiving dinner, you’re likely to stress about the situation and how it reflects on you. Parenting expert Rebecah Freeling can share ways to solve the problem, whether you have a kids’ table or not, but she says you need to begin the process now, and not on Thanksgiving Day. Rebecah Freeling specializes in kids with problem behaviors. She’s the owner of Wits End Parenting and the author of “Your Rules Are Dumb: How to Maintain Your Parental Authority While Creating a Partnership With Your Spirited Child.” Contact her at (510) 619-5920; witsendparenting@gmail.com
7. ==> Weather Disasters Are Costing the U.S. Big Time
According to a new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information, 2021 is likely to be one of the costliest years ever for the U.S. thanks to weather disasters. The report listed 18 separate weather and climate disasters that have cost us at least $1 billion. Among those increasing disasters have been wildfires that at the moment are burning in California, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Available to talk about the impact increased wildfires are having on the country and ways we can be better prepared to fight them is Jim Moseley, whose company, Sun FireDefense, has developed technology whose widespread use could save property and lives. Contact James Moseley at (818) 486-4662; jmoseley@rtirguests.com
8. ==> A Guide to Mix-and-Match COVID Boosters
Millions of American adults are now eligible for COVID booster shots and health officials have approved a mix-and-match approach. But they’ve declined to make specific recommendations beyond that. Should you stick with what you got the first time around? And if you change it up, what’s your best bet? Ask Colleen Kelley, an associate professor in the division of infectious diseases with Emory University School of Medicine. She’ll explain the differences between booster shots, why health officials approved mixing vaccines, and what you should consider in choosing your booster. Ultimately, she says, it’s up to you. “As far as mixing and matching, are you going to achieve any noticeable benefit as far as protection if you had Pfizer and switched to Moderna or vice versa? I don’t think we can say at this point in time — except that they’re both fantastic vaccines,” Kelley says. Contact Colleen Kelley, M.D., MPH, at (404) 712-1823; colleen.kelley@emory.edu
9. ==> How we Criminalize Black Children
Kristin Henning spent more than two decades defending Black children prosecuted for offenses like horseplay on the Metro, throwing snowballs at a passing police car and playing catch with a teacher’s hat. She’s seen kids as young as 9 handcuffed, and counseled countless teens living in persistent anxiety that police will stop, search and interrogate them as they simply take a walk with friends or go for a bike ride. “We live in a society that is uniquely afraid of Black children,” says Henning, who served as a public defender in Washington, D.C., before joining the Georgetown Law faculty in 2001. Now the director of Georgetown’s Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative, she’ll talk about the ways our society criminalizes Black adolescence and highlight the traumatic effects of policing on Black children. Listeners will hear about dehumanizing practices like shackling as she traces the roots of current school-based policing to civil rights protests, not Columbine. Henning’s new book is “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth.” Contact her at (202) 662-9592; hennink@law.georgetown.edu
10. == > Can Shy People Be Good Leaders?
Must good leaders be loud and confident? Or can someone quiet, calm, and introverted be good at inspiring others? Reserved people are often misunderstood in the American workplace, observes workplace specialist Marc A. Pitman. He can talk about why it’s a mistake to assume that quiet people are less ambitious or charismatic and although the way they lead may look different it can be very effective. He can discuss the difference between reserved people and active people who tend to be loud and don’t always think before they speak and how both types can understand each other more. Marc has a master’s degree in organizational leadership and 30 years of studying leadership to his credit. He’s been featured in “Real Simple” and “SUCCESS,” and on NBC, and Fox News. Marc is the author of seven books, the latest of which is “The Surprising Gift of Doubt: Use Uncertainty to Become the Exceptional Leader You Are Meant to Be.” Contact Marc Pitman at (317) 751-1610 (SC); mpitman@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Junk Food: Are You Making It Special Enough?
Who doesn’t love junk food? Yes, we know it’s bad for us and we expect experts to tell us to give it up. But that’s not what Stavros Mastrogiannis says. Rather, he says that we need to make junk food special! Bring him on your show to explain what he means by that along with the other simple habits that will allow your audience members to shed weight and live healthier lives. Also, be sure to ask Stavros about what happened when he recreated Morgan Spurlock’s experiment about eating McDonald’s food (burgers, fries, and Cokes) that became the basis of the 2004 movie “Super Size Me.” In 2011, Stavros did the same thing but unlike Spurlock, Stavros’ blood work was just as good as it had been before he spent two months working and exclusively eating at McDonald’s. He’ll tell you why this experiment proves it’s not what you eat but how you eat that matters! Stavros is the creator of the Live Your Way Thin System. Contact him at (203) 733-0109; stavros@liveyourwaythin.com
12. ==> Dead Parents Haunting You? Exorcise Childhood Trauma, for Good
Adults may continue to experience the effects of a toxic parent long after that parent is dead, without even realizing it. “This may manifest as an ongoing pattern of unhealthy romantic relationships, dead-end jobs and debilitating low self-esteem,” says Arnoux Goran. His horrific childhood led Arnoux to create the “7 Steps to Reprogramming Yourself” program, which has helped countless people to overcome their childhood trauma to achieve lasting health, wealth and happiness. He is the author of three upcoming books including “The 5 Secrets of Ending Drama in Relationships,” and an online workshop. Contact Arnoux at (878) 203-8231; agoran@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Everything You Wanted to Know about Frozen Embryos but Were Afraid to Ask
How long does it take to defrost a frozen embryo? (Answer: as little as 30 seconds!) Why would someone choose frozen embryo adoption over IVF or standard adoption? (Answer: Frozen embryo adoption can be cheaper and more likely to “take.”) How many years can an embryo be frozen yet viable? (Answer: up to 27, and the number might actually be higher.) Let Nate Birt answer the questions you were afraid to ask (or didn’t know you wanted to ask) about the newest form of adoption. For example, are all frozen embryos screened for genetic issues? How costly is it to adopt this way? What is involved? Contact Nate Birt at (417) 221-9045; Nbirt@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Go from Crises to Calm in 30 Seconds or Less
Even in the best of times, living with anxiety is a way of life for many people. How can someone go from an anxious state to one of peace in a matter of seconds? Interview Reiki Master and energy work expert Rhonda Harris-Choudhry to find out. Rhonda will talk about ways to use self-healing energy work she calls “Feel Good Reiki” to help people calm down so they can focus on improving their lives. Ask her: What are the connections between anxiety and adrenaline addiction? How can people identify the source of their anxiety? How can people stay calm and focused throughout the day? Rhonda is the author of “You Are Not Broken: How to Retrain Your Brain, Clean Up Your Energy and Use Emotional Shapeshifting to Raise Your Vibration and Manifest Your Desires.” Contact Rhonda Harris-Choudhry at (505) 239-7729; azjua7@gmail.com
15. ==> Do Southerners Know the Secret to Happiness?
As many Yankees may have noticed, Southern folks have a unique, laid back charm, colorful ways of expressing themselves and a deep love of humor. According to former Miss America contestant, best-selling author and humorist Jane Jenkins Herlong, y’all could learn how to be happier by emulating our Southern kinfolks. “Southerners remember their heritage and all that makes us unique and curious to others,” says the native of South Carolina. “We hold on to our traditions like we grip moon pies.” Jane is the award-winning author of numerous books including the upcoming “Sweet Tea Secrets from the Deep Fried South,” and has recorded music CDs and personal growth and comedy DVDs. As a humorist, her comedy is featured on Sirius XM 97. Contact Jane at (803) 599-2941; JHerlong@rtirguests.com