01. School Shooting Expert: Why This Tragedy is Different
02. Can Trump Lower the Temperature in the Middle East?
03. Trying to Make Sense of RFK Jr.
04. Mysterious Drones: Why Aren’t We Shooting Them Down?
05. Thrift for Christmas? Creative Ways to Save on Gifts
06. The Best New Year’s Resolution You Can Make
07. What Notorious Leaders Can Teach Us About Success
08. Bad-Ass Solutions for Today's Big-Ass Problems
09. How a Major Investment Firm Got Away with a Massive Ponzi Scheme
10. The Real Consequences if Ukraine Loses the War
11. Has Democracy Gone Off the Rails?
12. How a Vietnam Veteran Found Closure Reading His Letters to Home
13. How to Raise Resilient Kids in Scary Times
14. This May Be the Real Cause of Disruptive Classroom Behavior
15. Can Art Heal?
1. ==> School Shooting Expert: Why This Tragedy is Different
Monday’s school shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin leaves the shooter (believed to be a female student at the school) and a teacher dead and six others injured. After every school shooting there's a tendency to ask, "How do we prevent the next one?" Matthew Mayer is part of a group of researchers studying why school shootings happen. He says there are several clear ways to curb school shootings and a broad consensus among experts that arming teachers is not a good solution. Mayer says it's a bad idea "because it invites numerous disasters and problems, and the chances of it actually helping are so minuscule." Mayer, a professor at Rutgers Graduate School of Education who’s been studying school violence since before Columbine, can discuss how young shooters access guns, what makes this shooting so different than most, and why he believes these tragedies continue. Contact Matthew Mayer at (848) 932-0843; mayerma@rci.rutgers.edu
2. ==> Can Trump Lower the Temperature in the Middle East?
Discuss what’s at stake in the Middle East as Donald Trump takes office with Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution. She says, “If past is prelude, Trump’s resulting approach will likely be highly disruptive—especially since some of his goals are mutually incompatible. That may not seem like the best recipe for stability in the Middle East. Yet this may be just the moment for the unconventional, unpredictable, and unintentional chaos that appears to be on order from a Trump presidency.” She says the president’s ruthlessness and volatility could be an unexpected asset. “If Trump reinstates meaningful economic pressure on Iran and gives Israel some additional leeway for military action, he might better demonstrate U.S. capabilities and thus force Iran to reverse its current, uncompromising policy positions.” She adds, “Any deal that stanches some of the bloodshed and reduces some of the risks, if only temporarily, just might earn Trump his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.” Suzanne Maloney is the vice president and director of the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, where her research focuses on Iran and Persian Gulf energy. To arrange interviews contact the Foreign Policy Media Office at the Brookings Institute at (202) 238-3134; fpmedia@brookings.edu
3. ==> Trying to Make Sense of RFK Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is on Capitol Hill this week meeting with senators and staff in a bid to become the nation’s next health secretary. Historian and journalist Rick Perlstein can discuss the Kennedy family legacy and RFK Jr.’s appeal. “Some of the same people are attracted to Trump and RFK Jr., and especially the two of them as a team, because they tell a story as redeemers of America’s loss of innocence,” he says. “The problem is that the things RFK Jr. wants to do to ‘Make America healthy again’ would destroy the institutions of public health. He wants to fire every nutrition scientist at the Food and Drug Administration, but the things he believes about food, drugs, and nutrition are not scientifically valid. He would be replacing those nutrition scientists with people who would make Americans less healthy. He would allow epidemics to thrive.” Perlstein says RFK Jr.’s policies are very tempting for people who believe that corporate interests are getting in the way of our health. “People are desperate out there,” he says. “But these changes could lead to terrible consequences.” Rick Perlstein writes a column for “The American Prospect.” Contact him at infernaltriangle@prospect.org
4. ==> Mysterious Drones: Why Aren’t We Shooting Them Down?
Mysterious drone sighting in several cities along the East Coast has prompted an outcry for answers. Some have even called for shooting down the flying objects. But federal officials and experts warn that shooting at drones is dangerous and illegal. Shooting down a drone could essentially “turn it into a missile,” says Rick Smith, founder and CEO of Axon, which manufactures anti-drone technology. He says the risks of uncontrolled drone crashes could make “the situation far more dangerous than the drones themselves.” FBI officials echo the sentiments and say many of the suspected drones are actually manned aircraft. Smith adds that if “shooting drones becomes normalized, it risks spiraling out of control. Without proper identification systems, the potential for chaos is enormous.” Contact Victoria Keough at press@axon.com
5.==> Thrift for Christmas? Creative Ways to Save on Gifts
Looking for creative ways to save on gifts this holiday season? Aaron Lapedis, the Garage Sale Millionaire, will share thrifty ways to find unique and special presents without breaking the bank. From online resale vendors to thrift store shopping, Lapedis says you’d be surprised at the range of items you can find and feel good about gifting. He’ll tell you how to get the best deal on high-end vintage goods, tell-tale signs you’re being ripped off and how to spot a real treasure! Aaron’s journey as an entrepreneur started when he was 9 flipping coins, stamps and baseball cards. By 21 he was a millionaire. Aaron had a TV show on PBS for many years and continues to be an expert for the FBI. He’s an experienced media guest with over 1,000 interviews on radio, podcasts, and TV. Contact Mara at assistant@gsmpartnersinc.com
6. ==> The Best New Year’s Resolution You Can Make
There’s no sugarcoating the fact that achieving your goals – any goals – can sometimes be difficult, and New Year’s resolutions are no exception. Eighty percent of us give up on our resolutions by the second week in February. That’s why it’s important to be strategic. Most people say the main reason they procrastinate is because of fatigue; they’re just too tired. Dr. Linda Gannaway is an expert at helping people stop procrastinating, achieve their goals, and establish new habits. She taught classes on procrastination for more than 20 years to thousands of university students. A former procrastinator herself, Linda also spent five years studying procrastination and wrote the most comprehensive book available: “FINALLY Stop Procrastinating.” Now she’s on a mission to help as many other procrastinators as she can. There are lots of reasons to feel hopeful – because of the latest findings in brain research, now even the most die-hard procrastinators can find techniques that will help them succeed. Contact her at (559) 234-4572; Lgannaway@rtirguests.com
7. ==> What Notorious Leaders Can Teach Us About Success
The long-held belief in the business world is that leadership lessons can only be learned from positive role models. However, Steve Williams claims, "We can learn a lot about effective leadership from the likes of Viking Shield Maiden Freydis Eiriksdottir, Genghis Khan, and Hells Angel Sonny Barger. He can share the specific tactics that made these infamous characters such effective head honchos, and how to apply these to one's own path to success. He is the author of six books including "Notorious: Leadership Lessons from History's Most Notorious Leaders," with a forward written by renowned author Jack Canfield, and a certified leadership coach and QMS expert. Contact Steve Williams at (920) 280-1068; swilliams@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Bad-Ass Solutions for Today's Big-Ass Problems
Rising ocean levels. The epidemic of gun violence. Gang and drug crimes. Addiction. The immigration issue. The heated abortion debate. While many of society's problems seem unsolvable, or would take a very long time to remedy, author and businessman Mitch Francis has come up with a plethora of practical, doable, expedient solutions. He can share how we can destroy every assault rifle in 30 days, pay off the entire U.S. deficit and stop inflation, stop the oceans rising from melting polar ice caps, ...and more! Mitch is the author of "Bad-Ass Solutions For Today's Big-Ass Problems." He has an extensive business background as founder and CEO of publicly traded and private companies and has developed, owns, and manages commercial real estate across the U.S. As such, he was able to develop extreme problem-solving skills that he utilized to address 20 of our biggest problems. Contact Mitch Francis at (424) 313-8201; mitchf@francisdi.com
9. ==> How a Major Investment Firm Got Away with a Massive Ponzi Scheme
While working as an investment broker for Morgan Stanley in the early 2000s, author Dana de Windt discovered some shocking improprieties. "Morgan Stanley inadvertently established a Ponzi scheme, with the deliberate and intentional selling of Kemper Lumbermen’s Surplus Notes," he says. "That’s the reason that they and their regulators have fought like tigers to keep this very serious infraction from getting into the public’s knowledge." In 2007, Morgan Stanley and one of its senior traders agreed to pay $6.1 million in fines and restitution to settle allegations that the investment bank overcharged brokerage customers — one of whom was Dana's then 87-year-old father — on 2,800 purchases of $59 million of bonds. But no criminal charges were ever pursued. Dana is the author of "Checkmate: The Morgan Stanley Whistle Blower." Contact Dana de Wendt at (772) 773-6879; ddewindt@rtirguests.com
10. ==> The Real Consequences if Ukraine Loses the War
As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to rage with no end in sight, author and refugee Laszlo (Les) Suhayda can share how the consequences will be catastrophic if Ukraine loses. “The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has verified 30,457 civilian casualties to date and millions of people have been displaced, which will only escalate,” he says. “If Ukraine loses, this will also embolden China, Iran, and North Korea to continue their own military expansion, which would have dire consequences for the entire world.” Les and his family escaped from Communist Hungary for America when he was only 5, and he witnessed the horrors of dictatorships first-hand. He is the author of the memoir "Twelve Bells to Freedom: The Suhajda Story," and the inventor of the first wine slushee product in America. Contact Laszlo (Les) Suhayda at (314) 501-6838; Lsuhayda@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Has Democracy Gone Off the Rails?
Are you proud of today’s America? Do you suspect the Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves? You’re not alone. Rodger Friedman, author of “Erasing America: Broken Politics, Broken Country,” will provide a refreshing yet serious romp through today’s off-the-rails political landscape. Invite him on your show and hear him chronicle our misguided political leadership by taking an irreverent look at how our nation’s self-righteous elected officials have begun to systematically erase America and our constitutional republic. Friedman can discuss the dramatic increase in socialist policies coming out of both Washington, D.C. and blue states across the nation, spearheaded by politicians who care more about advancing themselves than about the American people. He’ll also show how the media goes to great lengths to spin ill-advised and destructive radical progressive agendas as a positive change. Rodger Friedman has extensive media experience as a talk show guest on a variety of topics. He is a retirement wealth planner and the author of seven books. Contact Rodger at (813) 575-0862; rf179203@gmail.com
12. ==> How a Vietnam Veteran Found Closure Reading His Letters to Home
Since 1776, America has only known 17 years of peace, being involved in some kind of global conflict for 228 of the last 245 years. This has resulted in countless thousands of veterans who served a long way from home and suffered after they came back. Don Eggspuehler knows all about this: A Marine combat pilot who served in Vietnam, Don kept the promise he made to his mother and consistently wrote letters home. Six years after he returned stateside, Don compiled those letters so his dying mother could read them again. That’s when he realized that they were written as much for him as her. Don has recently published that compilation in his latest book “Letters to Mom.” By re-reading his accounts of everyday life in boot camp, in-country, and in combat, Don was able to find some closure for the survivor’s guilt he’d been struggling with since returning home. He believes that this kind of closure is available to many more combat veterans. In fact, this kind of journaling has long been recognized to help reduce anxiety and improve mental health. Contact Don Eggspuehler at (469) 402-6613 or deggspuehler@rtirguests.com
13. ==> How to Raise Resilient Kids in Scary Times
Today's kids have more stressors and fear triggers than ever, including constant exposure to social and other media, bullying, intense pressure to excel at everything, and more. In addition, modern society often sends the message that today's kids are fragile. According to Jack Gindi, that is our biggest mistake. "Real resilience isn't built by avoiding pain or by force and struggle," he says. "It's built by teaching them how to navigate life's challenges with confidence and grace." This led him to found the I Believe in Me program, which provides kids and parents with practical tools for building self-esteem, managing emotions, and setting achievable goals. Contact Jack Gindi at (719) 751-8807; jgindi@rtirguests.com
14. ==> This May Be the Real Cause of Disruptive Classroom Behavior
When kids act up and wreak havoc at school, are they just being bad? According to Donna Redman, they may actually be suffering from sensory processing disorders (SPDs), which cause difficulty in detecting, modulating, interpreting, and/or responding to sensory experiences such as sound, touch, vision, and taste. “Sensory processing disorder is a commonly overlooked and misunderstood challenge that often goes undetected, causing significant and unnecessary hardships for kids in the classroom, and adults," she says. Donna is the founder of the Secret Genius Project, which integrates creativity into helping children and adults to better cope with SPD. "My research has revealed irrefutable evidence of our connection to art, science, and nature, and provides the path to reach down to the core of what compels us toward creativity and self- expression; self-expression is delivered through our senses.” she says. Contact Donna Redman at (973) 876-5903; dredman@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Can Art Heal?
Is art intended to be more than a wall decoration or enjoyable activity, or can it be used to light the path to wholeness? According to author and artist Lynette Watkins, "Art matters because it is a reflection of ourselves. It shows us who we are, and what we value. Using art as a communication tool can gently propel us in the discovery and expression of our innermost feelings leading us to a soul encounter. We were born on purpose for a purpose. Even looking at art can help us to find that purpose, activate our own creativity, and set us on a path of healing.” Lynette is an acclaimed artist, professor of art, writer, musician, and author of "Can It Be That Some Chains Are Mere Shadows? A Visual Journey From Darkness To Light." Contact Lynette Watkins at (575) 454-4635; lwatkins@rtirguests.com
