01. The Problem With the Supreme Court’s New Code of Conduct
02. This Land Is Their Land: The Troubled History of Thanksgiving
03. Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
04. How to Take the Anxiety out of Holiday Gatherings
05. It’s Official: Everyone’s Confused About Tipping
06. Before You Write A Check: A Charitable Giving Guide
07. Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation
08. The Upside of Returning to the Office
09. She Teaches Women How to Speak to Be Heard
10. How to Find Hope Amid War and Disasters
11. Cruising Is Back! How to Choose Your Next Adventure
12. Prep Now to Beat the Winter Blues
13. Get Better Faster: Harness Your Mind’s Healing Power
14. Has Informed Consent Gone Too Far?
15. This Guest Loves to Talk About the Elephants in the Room
1.==> The Problem With the Supreme Court’s New Code of Conduct
The Supreme Court has come up with its own code of conduct in an attempt to bolster the public’s confidence in the panel amid months of news stories highlighting possible ethics violations. But Supreme Court expert Steven Vladeck says rules are just empty words if there’s no hope they’ll be followed. “What’s needed is some mechanism for obtaining the justices’ compliance with the rules,” he says. “One possibility is the creation of an Article III inspector general.” He says the position would be an ostensibly neutral ombudsperson. “It’s the least-worst alternative to the problem the Constitution necessarily creates: how to have an independent Supreme Court that is nevertheless at least loosely accountable to the political branches.” Steve Vladeck has been thinking and writing about the Supreme Court for over 20 years, both as a law professor at the University of Texas and as a Supreme Court Analyst for CNN. He, along with his wife Karen, also writes the newsletter “One First” about the High Court. Contact him at (512) 475-9198; svladeck@law.utexas.edu
2. ==> This Land Is Their Land: The Troubled History of Thanksgiving
You’ve probably heard the story about the first Thanksgiving held in Plymouth, Massachusetts more than 400 years ago but you may not have heard the full version. Invite David Silverman to explore the history of the holiday from the perspective of the Native Americans who participated in the 1621 feast and challenge some of the common misconceptions and stereotypes about them. David Silverman is a professor of history at George Washington University and the author “This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving. Contact him at djsilver@gwu.edu; (202) 994-8094
3. ==> Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
Why do we have a roast turkey on our table every year at Thanksgiving? While it was probably served at the first feast, Troy Bickham says it wasn’t the centerpiece of the meal like it is today. That happened in the late 1800s, around the time when President Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday. “Turkey became irrevocably linked with Thanksgiving when Sarah Hale used her position as editor of the nationally popular “Godey’s Lady’s Book” to campaign to make Thanksgiving, which was primarily a New England holiday, a national holiday in the mid-19th century,” explains Bickham. “She and her supporters created much of the mythology that surrounds the modern Thanksgiving—family-focused, prayerful. That mythology included eating turkeys, which were in abundance during fall in Hale’s native New England.” Bickham, a professor of history at Texas A&M University. Contact him at (979) 845-7151; tbickham@tamu.edu
4.==> How to Take the Anxiety out of Holiday Gatherings
Regardless of your family type, the holiday season tends to create more complications and tensions than usual. But Dr. John Delaney says there are a few things you can do in advance to make sure your time with family is filled with less stress, less conflict and less awkwardness — and more laughter joy, and connection. He’ll share five tips for navigating family dynamics this holiday season including setting boundaries, remembering the ‘why’ of the event, and remembering that you can’t control everything. He’ll also remind listeners that this time of year is challenging and lonely for a lot of folks. “Don’t be shy about inviting others to spend the holidays with you too, even if you don’t know them well,” he says. “The more laughter and joy around a table, the better.” Dr. John Delony is a bestselling author and mental health expert. He hosts “The Dr. John Delony Show” and serves as co-host of “The Ramsey Show” where he helps unpack the psychology behind finances. His books include “Own Your Past, Change Your Future,” “Redefining Anxiety,” and the upcoming “Building a Non-Anxious Life.” Contact Samantha Ellis at (615) 850.1543; samantha.ellis@ramseysolutions.com
5. ==> It’s Official: Everyone’s Confused About Tipping
According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, a 72% majority of Americans say they’re being asked to tip in more places than they were five years ago. But relatively few have a great deal of confidence about when and how to do so. Etiquette experts such as Thomas Farley — also known as Mister Manners — call the phenomenon “tipflation.” “People are really feeling imposed upon,” Farley says. “We’re already living through inflationary times. Everything is crazy expensive. And on top of that, you’re being asked, every time you turn around, ‘How much would you like to tip?’ It feels pushy, it feels needy and almost every customer I speak with says, ‘Why aren’t businesses just paying people more?’” Farley can help unravel who to tip and when, and share scenarios where a tip is not required, such as professionals, counter service, open-bar events, and self-service. Thomas Farley has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and is a regular guest on the NBC “Today” show. He writes the syndicated weekly column, “Ask Mister Manners.” Contact him at (877) 332-9262
6. ==> Before You Write A Check: A Charitable Giving Guide
It may be the season of giving, but you should know where your dollars go. Those who donate to charities that are dear to their hearts always have the best of intentions but are the funds actually making an impact? “There are more than 1.7 million public charities in our country, and many of them overlap services with others and need to compete for donor dollars and grants,” says nonprofit expert and author Michele Whetzel. “People need to do their homework before donating to organizations. Charities should be findable and transparent and should register and share their financials on sites like Guidestar.org and CharityNavigator.org.” Michele is a veteran of the nonprofit arena, founder of Your 501 Guide consulting and author of the book “So, You Want to Start a Nonprofit, Now What?” Contact Michele Whetzel at (302) 407-0513; Mwhetzel@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation
Evangelical Protestants are often portrayed as foaming-at-the-mouth Christian insurrectionists, but Jon Ward gives listeners an inside look at the church and his life growing up as the son of a pastor within the evangelical movement. The author of “Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation,” believes White evangelicals have been led astray by their political thirst. “There’s a lot of really great people in these evangelical churches,” he says. “But there’s a whole culture of political beliefs and cultural practices that have been added on to the faith that I was indoctrinated in.” Ward can discuss who is attracted to this fusion of religion and politics and what it would take for evangelicals to lose their allegiance to Donald Trump. John Ward is the chief national correspondent at Yahoo! News. Contact Kelly Hughes at kelly@dechanthughes.com
8. ==> The Upside of Returning to the Office
Disney, Starbucks, and Salesforce are the latest corporate giants to call workers back to their cubicles and data indicates that, starting in 2024, a staggering 90% of companies will require employees to resume working from the office at least three days a week. While some see this as a regressive move driven by corporate profit rather than employee welfare, data scientist and lawyer Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio offers a different perspective. She contends that a return to the office could be particularly advantageous for women and minorities. “Current data suggests that these groups have faced career stagnation during remote work periods due to decreased visibility and the ensuing missed promotional opportunities,” she says. Paola can discuss the potential upside of returning to the office and how to make a hybrid model work. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio holds dual appointments at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Law School, where she serves as faculty chair of the Executive Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority Attorneys. Her new book is “Diversity Dividend: The Transformational Power of Small Changes to Debias Your Company, Attract Diverse Talent, Manage Everyone Better—and Make More Money.” Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com or @Lissa_Warren
9. ==> She Teaches Women How to Speak to Be Heard
It’s no secret that women struggle to be heard. Society teaches girls to be polite and agreeable and not make a fuss, even when a situation is challenging — or just plain wrong. If your audience is looking to reclaim their power in the workplace, at home, and beyond, you need to hear from Francesca Burack. The author of “Women Are Special: 123 Reasons Why” can share advice, tips, and encouragement to help women find, own, and use their voices with confidence. Ask her: What can women do to speak up in one-sided relationships, whether it’s at work or with family? How can women approach difficult conversations in the workplace, such as asking for raises, promotions, or benefits? An author, entrepreneur, educator, and popular speaker, Francesca Burack has been featured on major networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News. Contact her at (516) 823-4003; fburack@rtirguests.com
10. ==> How to Find Hope Amid War and Disasters
War and natural disasters dominate the news these days filling our screens with scenes of scorched earth, bombed-out buildings and human carnage. It’s easy to feel helpless and hopeless while looking on, but Edie Summers, an expert on building resilience, will explain how having a habit of hope can help. Invite her on your show and learn how to develop the habit and how it can also help you bounce back from your own personal difficulties, like divorce and job loss. Edie says, “You have much more control over how you feel than you realize.” The author of “The Memory of Health,” is a wellness coach, mind-body fitness instructor, former executive, and the creator of the My Daily Well app. She has been featured in “Entrepreneur” and many podcasts. Ask her: How can we develop a habit of hope? How can focusing on small things to be grateful for reinforce that habit? What mindset shift do we need to practice? Contact Edie Summers at (503) 487-0058; esummers@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Cruising Is Back! How to Choose Your Next Adventure
This past summer was one of the busiest and most expensive travel seasons ever and experts say there’s no slowdown in sight. If you’re planning your next adventure and thinking about taking a cruise, you’ll want to hear little-known tips from travel expert Cindy Bartram. What type of cruise is best for me? What’s the best time of year to cruise? Should I buy travel insurance? Are there specific travel apps for cruising? Cindy has spent many years in the travel and cruise industry and can ensure smooth sailing on your next shipboard adventure. She’ll answer all your cruising questions from booking to boarding and share insider tips to make the most of your time on and off the ship. Cindy is a communications, media and branding specialist and the author of “How Six Women Executives Steer the Cruise Industry Today” and “Message from the Dog…Learning from Great Humans.” Contact Cindy Bertram at (219) 501-5054; cbertram@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Prep Now to Beat the Winter Blues
The leaves are falling, the temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter and shorter. Many people dread this time of year, especially if they suffer from “The Winter Blues.” Invite Dr. Greg Hammer to share a tried-and-true way to help boost your mental resilience and give you the tools to thrive as we head into the cold winter months. He’ll explain the science behind seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the physical and mental symptoms, and a simple, daily three-minute tool to combat negative thoughts and rewire the brain. Hammer is passionate about educating people on how they can prioritize and improve their mental health so that they may live peaceful and fulfilling lives. Greg Hammer, M.D., is a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, a pediatric intensive care physician, pediatric anesthesiologist, mindfulness expert, and the author of “GAIN without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals.” Contact Mackenzie August at (661) 255-8283; mackenzie@steveallenmedia.com
13. ==> Get Better Faster: Harness Your Mind’s Healing Power
Science has shown that a mind-body connection exists and your emotions can impact your physical health, but how much does it actually help? Discover the real power of positive thinking when you interview Stan Munslow. After helping his father beat 30% survival odds and fully recover from Stage 4 lymphoma, Stan shares his methods for faster recovery from surgery, chronic conditions, or serious illness — and improved health overall. Discover powerful techniques to optimize your mind-body connection and reclaim your health. Ask him: How can your thoughts help you decrease pain, recovery time, and even your health-care costs? Why does being the “perfect patient” help you shorten and improve a hospital experience? Stan Munslow is the author of “Get Weller Sooner: 12 Powerful, Proven Ways to Speed and Improve Your Recovery from Illness or Surgery?” Contact him at (401) 337-7436; smunslow@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Has Informed Consent Gone Too Far?
In the modern world, informed consent lets patients participate in their own health care by knowing all their treatment options and any associated risks. However, full transparency in medicine can overwhelm patients and lead to poor decision-making. Is it really the best policy? Dr. Dinesh Verma reveals why we’ve taken informed consent too far. He’ll talk about the damage caused when patients fail to trust medical experts, often resulting in the refusal of lifesaving treatment. He also discusses the right way to implement under-used alternative therapies in combination with modern medicine for astonishing results. A medical doctor with 45 years in practice and 18 years of integrative medicine research and experience, Verma’s latest book is “Ipsicura Effect.” Ask him: Why should more health-care professionals use the placebo effect in their practice? How did your mother miraculously recover from late-stage breast cancer? How can patients feel better, heal faster, and even save money on medical expenses? Contact Dinesh Verma at (248) 817-8296; dverma@rtirguests.com
15. ==> This Guest Loves to Talk About the Elephants in the Room
Elephants are very popular in modern culture, with good reason. They are majestic, lovable and highly intelligent. But according to animal/environmental welfare activist Georja Umano, pachyderms are more than just adorable. “They are crucial to the health of our environment and ecosystems, and are sadly endangered because of poaching, trophy hunting and habitat loss due to land development,” she says. Georja can share why it’s so important to protect this endangered species, and other fascinating pachyderm facts, as well as her experiences living in Kenya. She is the author of the award-winning book “Terriers in the Jungle,” and is launching a nonprofit called the Elephant Matriarch Project for Mothers and Children, the goal of which is to educate and train young underprivileged African women and girls for careers in wildlife conservation. Contact her at (213) 568-1764; gumano@rtirguests.com