01. Ret. Gen. Recalls 30th Anniversary of Soviet Union Collapse
02. Time to Defund the Global Climate Wall
03. Simple Habits to Combat Climate Change
04. Interview Judge Judy’s Former Bailiff
05. Should You Vaccinate Your Child?
06. Are Vaccine Passports an Assault on Freedom?
07. Are Americans Selfish? Independence vs Common Good
08. Before You Quit: Expert Advice on Resetting Work Life
09. Do Shy People Make Good Leaders?
10. Exposing What Black Children Endure
11. The Biggest Pain Myths
12. Alzheimer’s at 30, 40, or 50? What to Look for, How to Cope
13. Your Secret Weapon During Challenging Times
14. Aging Well: How to Write Your 2nd Act
15. Is the Other Side Trying to Communicate with You?
1. ==> Ret. Gen. Recalls 30th Anniversary of Soviet Union Collapse
December 26th marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union, paving the way for a brief experiment with democracy and ultimately, leading to the rise of Vladimir Putin. Ret. Brig. Gen. Peter Zwack was a young army captain in the Soviet Union during its waning days, studying Russian at a regional university. Invite him to share his personal, eyewitness account of this remarkable period in world history. Hear how the final chapter of the Cold War ended with the hijacking of Russia’s future by rapacious financiers, pyramid schemes, and a new criminal element, setting the stage for Putin’s arrival. Zwack’s new book, “Swimming the Volga,” was written as the Soviet Union neared the end of its nearly 70-year existence. Zwack spent 34 years as a military intelligence and Eurasian foreign area officer serving in Russia, West Germany, South Korea, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. He is a Global Fellow at The Kennan Institute for Advanced Russia Studies at The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and regularly appears on CNN, PBS, MSNBC, and other major media. Contact Terri Beavers at bg.pbz.r@gmail.com
2. ==> Time to Defund the Global Climate Wall
As world leaders and thousands of delegates kick off the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, Todd Miller hopes participants address the relationship between climate change and migration. “There were 1.3 million people displaced in Guatemala and Honduras due to drought, hurricanes, and floods in 2020 —and if they come to the U.S. border they are facing the guns, gates, guards, and prisons. Like greenhouse gas emissions, global border fortification needs to be mitigated. As negotiations begin in Glasgow this week, this needs to be central to climate negotiations going forward.” He explains, “The United States, along with other rich and historically high-emitting countries, have made a heavy investment in border regimes composed of walls, surveillance technology including drones, and armies of border guards while neglecting commitments to climate financing for poorer and more ecologically vulnerable countries that would be dedicated to adaptation and creating resilience so people don’t have to migrate.” Todd Miller has researched and written about border issues for more than 15 years. He is the author of “Build Bridges, Not Walls: A Journey to a World Without Borders” and just wrote the piece “Defund the Global Climate Wall” for The Border Chronicle. Contact him at toddmemomiller@gmail.com; @memomiller
3. ==> Simple Habits to Combat Climate Change
Did you know that agriculture is the second contributor to greenhouse gases? How we grow our food and our agricultural practices exert critical burdens on soils, water, and biodiversity and have caused a large part of the environmental degradation and loss of biological diversity. These environmental pressures aggravate the problem of climate change around the world. Invite health coach Ximena Yanez Soto (pronounced He-men-a) to explain how our current diet and lifestyle have contributed to global warming. Ask her: Is what we eat damaging the planet? Have we been manipulated about the importance of animal protein in our diets? What’s so bad about GMO ingredients? Does eating organic produce really matter? How can we eat to reverse climate change? Ximena is the author of “Healthy Planet, Healthy You: Simple Habits to Create a Brighter Future” and the former CFO of an environmental fund. Contact her at (720) 277-8617; xiyaso@gmail.com
4. ==> Interview Judge Judy’s Former Bailiff
As you may have read in the news, after 25 years, Judge Judy has dropped her loyal bailiff, Petri Hawkins Byrd (Byrd), without explanation. But Petri’s not bitter. He took the insult in stride and has pursued other opportunities, most recently guest-starring on “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Petri can discuss how he got the job with Judge Judy, his favorite memories on the show, and his current project with his wife, Emmy-nominated producer Makita Bond-Byrd. The couple created the YouTube Channel “Bonding with Byrd” after Makita was diagnosed with a brain tumor last March, to share their inspiring journey and connect with friends and extended fan family. Contact Harlan Boll at harlan@bhbpr.com
5. ==> Should You Vaccinate Your Child?
In advance of the CDC’s approval which is expected this week, millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses specifically formulated for children 5- to 11-years-old are on their way to distribution centers around the country. But will skeptical parents inoculate their kids? Dr. Sean O’Leary can discuss what parents should consider when the vaccine roll-out begins and where they can get truthful answers to their vaccine questions. He’ll give parents four compelling and practical reasons they should vaccinate their children and explain why he believes vaccinating this age group may alleviate some of the long-standing educational disparities that have been worsened by the pandemic. Sean O’Leary, M.D., MPH, is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado and serves as the vice-chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Contact Natalie Goldstein at Children’s Hospital Colorado at (720) 777-3970
6. ==> Are Vaccine Passports an Assault on Freedom?
Why should you need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination when you eat out? Attend a concert? Travel? Stay in a hotel? Are these so-called vaccine passports truly about the public good or are they just a form of government control? Find out what your listeners think when you interview Tamara Lashchyk, who worries that what is happening in New York City where she lives and passports are now required will spread across the country. She says, “A two-tiered society is emerging and those who simply want to exercise their right to medical choice are being smeared as ‘others.’” Ask her: Why are so many Americans blindingly trusting corporations and governments that have repeatedly lied to us? How is COVID propaganda brainwashing us? Who stands to gain the most from a vaccine mandate? Who will be held accountable if you sustain a vaccine injury? Tamara Lashchyk has been interviewed by the BBC and featured in Huffington Post and co-hosts “The Bo Peep Podcast” which probes the answers to questions that we are afraid to ask. A career coach, author, and former Wall Street executive, she recently ran for the New York State Assembly. Contact her at (848) 373-3543; TLashchyk@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Are Americans Selfish? Independence vs Common Good
Glen Dunzweiler is an independent filmmaker, former college professor, and author who specializes in raising and debating difficult questions. For example, are Americans more inclined to fight each other than to fight the COVID-19 virus? Is the rugged independence the U.S. is known for a handicap when it comes to getting people to buy into doing what is best for the common good? How can we deal with the deeply ingrained pushback we have for authority? Just as he does with his new YouTube series, “Difficult Questions with Glen Dunzweiler,” Glen will engage your audience in a thoughtful discussion on ways to use “good old American innovation” to turn COVID mania into something good. Contact Glen at (702) 703-2219; GDunzweiler@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Before You Quit: Expert Advice On Resetting Work Life
The pandemic has reset expectations of what work life is like for many people and millions are leaving their jobs in search of more money, more flexibility and more happiness. Many are rethinking what work means to them, how they are valued, and how they spend their time. Tim Winders can help your listeners figure out how to take advantage of this time to create the kind of life they’d like to have. The author and performance coach can offer three principles for hitting the reset button. Winders, who has over 25 years’ experience as a coach for business owners, executives, and leaders, utilizes these principles in his novel, “Coach: A Parable of Success Redefined.” 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 and is available last-minute. Contact Tim at (404) 846-4639; twinders@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Do Shy People Make 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
10. ==> Exposing What Black Children Endure
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
11. ==> The Biggest Pain Myths
Who wouldn’t want to learn how to put suffering on hold? Trevor Campbell, M.D., says, “When you understand what pain is, you can work around it.” Let Dr. Campbell tell you things about pain management that most doctors don’t even know because the topic isn’t covered well in medical school! You’ll learn why you shouldn’t fight pain, that what hurts isn’t necessarily harmful, and ways our thoughts can be our greatest handicap. Ask him: Why is the treatment of chronic pain so often ineffective? How can people’s thoughts affect their health? Dr. Campbell is a family physician who has worked in multidisciplinary pain management and opioids reduction programs and has served as s medical director for a leading pain management provider in Western Canada. He graduated from the University of Cape Town and has a delightful South African accent. Dr. Campbell’s book, hailed as a great read by “Inc.” Magazine, is “The Language of Pain: Fast Forward Your Recovery to Stop Hurting.” Contact Trevor Campbell at (250) 217-7832; tcampbell@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Alzheimer’s at 30, 40, or 50? What to Look for, How to Cope
Did you know that people as young as 30 can have Alzheimer’s, the memory-robbing disease we think only affects older people? Would you recognize the warning signs besides forgetfulness? Carlen Maddux’s very active wife was just days past her fiftieth birthday when she was diagnosed with the fatal disease with no cure. They were blindsided, but your audience doesn’t have to be. Carlen, a former reporter, will share his family’s 17-year coping journey with your audience that included becoming his wife’s caregiver while deep in his career and caring for young children. Highly articulate, he has done dozens of interviews about this moving topic. Carlen is the author of “A Path Revealed.” Contact him at (727) 351-8321; CMaddux@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Your Secret Weapon During Challenging Times
Amidst the ongoing chaos in the world, many of us are feeling more anxious and uncertain about the future than ever. Best-selling author and intuition expert Kim Chestney says that turning to your inner guidance is the best way to reclaim your personal power. With so much confusion in the world, it is getting harder to be sure of our path forward,” she says. “But there is a part of you that can see from a higher perspective.” Kim is the author of the book “Radical Intuition: A Revolutionary Guide to Using Your Inner Power” and the founder of IntuitionLab. Contact Kim at (412) 214-9502; KChestney@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Aging Well: How to Write Your 2nd Act
As we age, some things deteriorate, and many aspects of life can get harder. However, it’s also true that plenty of things get better. That’s the message of Joe Swinger, who specializes in helping adults in midlife enjoy the VIP life — one marked by greater vibrancy, impact, and purpose. Joe is the creator of the Silver Linings Network, which he established to encourage happiness, success, and emotional health in midlife and later years. Invite him on your show to learn what you should focus on (besides money) as you approach and dive into retirement years. Ask him: What helps aging boomers recreate themselves, make a difference, and stay relevant — especially during challenging years like 2021? What skills and qualities (in addition to awareness, maturity, experience and motivation) can bring new opportunities and satisfaction in the second half of life? How can people love and appreciate life at every age? Contact Joe Swinger at (385) 425-6705; joeswinger@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Is the Other Side Trying to Communicate with You?
Have you ever felt that a departed loved one was trying to communicate with you? Or felt that someone was watching you? You are hardly alone and not losing your marbles. Amanda Hainline says spirits try to communicate with us all the time and will share five signs that one is reaching out to you. Learn the dos and don’ts of dealing with the spirit realm and get tips on how to open up the channels and your intuition to communicate safely with the other side. Hainline has been communicating with spirits for the past 15 years and will share real stories from her work with clients, and tips on how to deal with this phenomenon. Amanda Hainline is an intuitive healer, channel, medium and author. Contact her at amanda@sprout-holdings.com