01. Stunt/Firearms Expert on Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ Shooting
02. Don’t Blame Manchin for Climate Obstruction
03. Build Back Better: What’s In It for Immigrants?
04. One Year Later: Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis Deepens
05. Veterans Day Show – Why Young Men and Women Enlist
06. During Holiday Time, Don’t Spend Your Last Dime
07. How to Switch Gears and Change Careers
08. 5 Biggest Mistakes Paying for College
09. Help! My Kid Can’t Sit Still at the Holiday Table
10. Meet the Expert Who Says ‘Don’t Give Up Junk Food!’
11. 5 Steps to Conquer Bad Stress in Minutes
12. How to Find Inner Peace Again
13. From Broke and Homeless to Working and Traveling in a 39-Ft. RV
14. Why Debbe Magnusen Is ‘The Baby Saver’
15. Interview Judge Judy’s Former Bailiff
1. ==> Stunt/Firearms Expert on Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ Shooting
The world was stunned to learn of the passing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza due to an improperly prepared gun on the movie set of “Rust” in New Mexico. Alec Baldwin, who was pointing the gun at the camera while rehearsing for a scene when it went off, is calling it a tragic accident – but other reports are citing crew members had raised numerous red flags about safety on set. Stunt and FX coordinator and theatrical firearms safety expert Steve Wolf can discuss what he thinks went wrong on the set. Hear how a prop gun differs from a real one and the safety protocols that should have prevented the tragedy. Wolf can explain the differences between live ammunition, dummy ammunition, and blanks, who is ultimately to blame for the shooting, and whether real guns should be used in movies going forward. Contact him at (512) 653-9653; wolf.steve@gmail.com
2. ==> Don’t Blame Manchin for Climate Obstruction
The Biden administration is pressing Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act, touted as the most substantial investment in climate action in the nation’s history. But Mitch Jones of Food and Water Watch says, “The intense focus on the success of this spending bill takes some of the spotlight away from the actions that the Biden administration could be taking on its own to rein in fossil fuel production. The White House has extraordinary powers to limit the supply of fossil fuels that do not require the blessing of Senator Joe Manchin or the entirety of the Republican Party. Biden campaigned on a promise to stop oil and gas drilling on federal land — but since the election has not taken aggressive action to rein in this drilling. In fact, the Biden administration is approving new drilling permits at an astonishing pace.” Jones is policy director at the national advocacy organization Food and Water Watch. He recently wrote the piece “‘Compromising’ on Climate Is Horrible Politics, Deadly Policy, and Stupid Economics.” Contact Seth Gladstone at sgladstone@fwwatch.org
3. ==> Build Back Better: What’s In It for Immigrants?
As Democrats inch closer to finalizing their large social policy bill that includes targeted benefits for middle- and working-class families, 3- and 4-year-olds, and older Americans, another population is poised to receive a windfall: undocumented immigrants. Invite immigration attorney Altagracia Pierre-Outerbridge to explain how the bill could also change the lives of over 7 million undocumented immigrants. Hear how the plan earmarks $100 billion toward immigration issues including expanded legal representation and bolstering the asylum system, and how it could provide an expedited pathway to green cards for as many as two million people. Altagracia Pierre-Outerbridge is the founder and owner of New York City-based law firm Outerbridge Law P.C. An immigrant from Haiti, she understands the struggles to become a U.S. citizen and has dedicated a large portion of the firm to providing immigration assistance to those seeking asylum, facing deportation, or pursuing citizenship. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
4. == > One Year Later: Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis Deepens
This week marks a year since the start of the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and Michelle Gavin says, “Twelve months in, the conflict is widening, the human toll is devastating, and the prospects for peace more remote than ever.” The future of the Ethiopian state is so uncertain that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declined to release a forecast for the country in the latest World Economic Outlook and Gavin says, “The only strong card in the weak hand of diplomats trying to douse the flames in Ethiopia is the increasing likelihood that if Ethiopian leaders stay their current course, the country is headed for collapse.” Michelle Gavin is the Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. She has over 20 years of experience in international affairs in government and nonprofit roles and was formerly the managing director of The Africa Center, a multidisciplinary institution dedicated to increasing understanding of contemporary Africa. From 2011 to 2014 she was the United States ambassador to Botswana. Contact her at (212) 434-9898; mgavin@cfr.org
5. == > Veterans Day Show – Why Young Men and Women Enlist
Veterans Day is Thursday, November 11, and an excellent opportunity to discuss military life, the mythology of war and the ideas surrounding American patriotism. Jerad 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)
6. ==> During Holiday Time, Don’t Spend Your Last Dime
These are difficult financial times for many and experts predict that this holiday season things will be more expensive than ever. Patricia Davis can talk about ways to avoid excessive holiday spending while still being generous. Filled to the brim with creative ideas, Davis will encourage listeners to substitute material gifts for gifts of their time such as running errands for friends, neighbors, and family members and, where appropriate, re-gifting new unused items to others who will get more use from them. She’ll also share ways to raise cash that can be used to buy presents by selling their opinions and new or gently used items on sites like Poshmark. Ask her: How much money could someone pick up if they do what you suggest? Isn’t re-gifting tacky? What are your favorite small gifts with a big impact? The author of “Going Broke Is No Joke!,” she is an experienced guest with a B.S. from Howard University, an MBA from Stanford, an M.S. in Personal Financial Planning from Golden Gate University, and a Diploma of Graduation from Georgetown University’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking and Finance. Contact Patricia Davis at (301) 517-6304; pdavis@rtirguests.com
7. == > How to Switch Gears and Change Careers
Many people are thinking about switching careers right now. Maybe they were hit with furloughs or layoffs, company closings, job burnout, or just plain dissatisfaction. Others may have moved or finally finished schooling. As your guest, Geraldine Hogan can offer them hope and guidance. She has helped countless educators, business professionals and entrepreneurs explore new challenges and can offer tips for anyone who wants to apply their skills in a new direction. Hogan is the author of “Career Moves for Teachers and Other Professionals: Strategies for a Successful Job Change.” Ask her: What are the three simple, life-changing questions to ask yourself before making any career move? Should salary be your primary motivation? How do you overcome obstacles, hesitation and fear of the unknown? Contact Geraldine Hogan at (305) 902-3869; ghogan@rtirguests.com
8. ==> 5 Biggest Mistakes Paying for College
It’s not news that college is expensive or that students are graduating with crushing student debt, but Justin Duncombe says nobody talks about how families actually pay for higher education and there’s little information out there about how they SHOULD be doing it. Invite the author of “College Bound Strategies” to reveal the five biggest mistakes families make that can cost them thousands of dollars. Learn how schools differ in distributing financial aid, ways to minimize student debt, and how higher ed. can be less expensive than conventional wisdom leads us to believe. Justin can also discuss different college options and the advantages and challenges involved in applying for them. Justin Duncombe is a financial advisor who has counseled thousands of families and appeared on numerous talk shows. Ask him about a new law he’s championing that would make college more affordable for disadvantaged and middle-income families. Contact Justin Duncombe at (661) 714-1890; justin@collegeboundstrategies.com
9. == > Help! My Kid Can’t Sit Still at the Holiday Table
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 the time to work on it is 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
10. == > Meet the Expert Who Says ‘Don’t Give up Junk Food!’
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
11. ==> Five Steps to Conquer Bad Stress in Minutes
These are stressful times we are living in. Whether it’s the horror and fallout of a global pandemic, our unending political strife and culture wars, or just the pressures of everyday living (working, childcare, paying the bills) too many of us are feeling lost and overwhelmed. Nina Ahuja, M.D., has created a framework called ADMIT® (an acronym). It’s an easy-to-remember tool that helps organize the jumble of emotions you experience when feeling overwhelmed. She’ll teach your audience how this framework can be applied anywhere, anytime to help conquer bad stress and bring them clarity and calm in minutes. A sought-after speaker with media experience, Dr. Ahuja is a surgeon, award-winning medical educator, certified EQi2/EQ360 emotional intelligence instructor and the best-selling author of “Stress in Medicine.” Contact Dr. Nina Ahuja at (905) 537-2469; media@docsinleadership.org
12. ==> How to Find Inner Peace Again
In the aftermath of the virulent pandemic shattering lives around the world, even those who once felt optimistic and secure are reeling and grieving. How do we reclaim our inner peace after such a horrific event? Perhaps by listening to the wise advice of Sana Brauner, who once lost everything and survived. In 2004, Sana was in Thailand on vacation when a tsunami hit. Sana almost drowned, her mother died and her two-year-old daughter was never found. Yet Sana found a way to go on and a mission of helping other people to find hope and resilience. She is the author of “The Borrowed Daughter,” a memoir containing lessons to help anyone going through a life crisis. Ask her why do you say that every day is a traineeship for some big unexpected event? What are the nine things that restored your inner peace? Which was the most important? Contact Sana at SBrauner@rtirguests.com or through Skype: sanabr
13. ==> From Broke and Homeless to Working and Traveling in a 39-Ft. RV
It’s easy to be jealous of Tim Winders’ life; he has the ability to take off to out-of-the-way places on a whim, leaving the beaten path for something simpler and better. Tim and his wife live and work out of their 39-foot RV named Theo. They travel full time, making money as they go, living an abundant life that is as far removed from “cookie-cutter” as could be. Tim went from owning seven-figure businesses and over 100 properties to bankruptcy, homelessness and having $100 in his bank account before rebounding to his current, more intentional lifestyle. He has over 25 years’ experience as a strategic coach for leaders and leadership teams. He also hosts the “SeekGoCreate” podcast and has written his debut novel, “Coach: A Story of Success Redefined,” which tells the story of an executive who contemplates ending his life after personal failures and business problems that could potentially send him to jail but turns his life around when he learns three timeless principles from a mysterious mentor. Tim and his wife have enjoyed the nomadic lifestyle in New Zealand, Australia and all over North America. Contact Tim Winders at (404) 846-4639; winders@rtirguests.com; available as a last-minute guest
14. ==> Why Debbe Magnusen Is ‘The Baby Saver’
For 25 years, Debbe Magnusen has poured her heart and soul into rescuing babies from abandonment. In that time she has saved over 845 babies, many while being a foster mother to over 30 drug-exposed children, five of whom she eventually adopted. The founder and CEO of Project Cuddle can discuss the reasons girls and women abandon their babies, what pregnexia is, and what causes it to happen to victims of rape and incest and “good” girls who happen to get pregnant. She’ll share real stories of rescuing newborns from all types of situations, all while dealing with her own health struggles. When her weight topped 400 lbs. due to medication for a heart issue, Lifetime TV documented her lifesaving surgery. She then went on to lose more than half her body weight. Debbe Magnusen has been featured many times in the media including the “New York Times,” “People,” “Marie Claire” and “Time” magazines. She was also honored by The Oprah Winfrey Show for her work with abandoned babies. Contact her at (714) 448-8323 (call/text)
15. ==> 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
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