December 3, 2019
01. Cyber Monday Hangover? Super Shopper or Shopaholic?
02. Interview the ‘Deck The Hallmark’ Podcast Guys
03. How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus
04. Chrismukkah: Celebrating 2 Religions During the Holidays
05. Do Holidays Stress You Out? Run Away!
06. Do Fewer Gifts Bring Greater Holiday Happiness?
07. Holiday Highs and Lows: How to Deal with Addicts
08. Ten Things Americans Need to Know Before 2020
09. Is the Free and Fair Press Dying?
10. 5 Things You Can Do to Outsmart Pain
11. How Patients Can Stop Medical Mistakes
12. Most Important Question to Ask When Your Doc Orders a Test
13. Is Your Coworker Manipulating You without You Knowing?
14. This Year’s Classroom Bullies: The Teachers
15. Why Our Best Students Feel Dumb
16. Find Your True Gift this Holiday: Your Purpose
17. Don’t Wait for New Year: Start New Habits Year-Round
18. It’s the Season of Giving: A Creative Way to Donate
19. We Should All Learn to Laugh at the IRS — Year-round!
20. Connect with Your Inner Cowgirl and Wrangle Your Best Life
1.==> Cyber Monday Hangover? Super Shopper or
Shopaholic?
It’s easy to get sucked into to online shopping,
particularly around the holidays. Yesterday was Cyber
Monday, when more than 68 million people flooded the
internet to join the online holiday shopping spree. So
what separates harmless super shoppers from those with
a problem? Psychology professors Joseph Lao and Jason
Young explain that people with a shopping addiction
shop to a persistent, excessive and impulsive degree,
regardless of the financial or psychological
consequences. They also may buy more than they can
afford, or shop for things that they have no use for.
Invite the authors of “Resistance to Belief Change” to
discuss the psychology behind compulsive shopping and
how it can be treated. Joseph Lao, Ph.D. has taught
undergraduate and graduate courses in experimental
psychology, human development, learning, and cognitive
development for more than 20 years. Jason Young Ph.D.,
has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in social
psychology for the past 30 years. Contact Ryan
McCormick at (516) 901-1103; 919) 377-1200.
2. ==> Interview the ‘Deck The Hallmark’ Podcast Guys
Who would have thought The Hallmark Channel would
strike gold making Christmas movies? And who would have
thought those sometimes-cheesy movies would spawn the
hilarious Deck The Hallmark podcast? Three guys, with
three different takes, put each Hallmark Christmas
movie under the microscope for an in-depth review each
podcast, resulting in over a million listens and
appearances on Good Morning America. They’ve even been
able to feature some of the stars of the movies
(although they’re still pursuing perennial Hallmark
lead, Candace Cameron Bure). The guys are available to
talk about Season 2 of their popular podcast. Bring
them on-air for a fun show. Contact Daniel Thompson at
(864) 571-2845; Dthompson@rtirguests.com
3. ==> How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus
Everyone is familiar with Santa Claus, with his big
belly, white beard, pink cheeks and omnipresent sack of
toys for children. Most people know that the
inspiration for Santa was Saint Nicholas, a priest and
bishop who lived in the third century A.D., but few
know much about the real man in the red suit. Wayne Van
Der Wal, a school psychologist and practicing
Christian, wants to change that. Invite him on your
show and hear how St. Nicholas overcame childhood
tragedy, felt called by God to take a vow of poverty,
endured horrific persecution for his religious faith,
and went on to become one of the most beloved,
generous, loving, and famous figures in human history.
The author of the historical novel “The Gospel of Santa
Claus,” will fascinate your audience as he shares
details of St. Nicholas’ extraordinary life and what
Santa Claus has in common with St. Nick. He’ll also
explain how writing the book changed the way he and his
family celebrate Christmas each year and how anyone can
have the best Christmas season ever, even on a limited
budget. Contact Wayne Van Der Wal at (775) 338-4300;
wav66@yahoo.com
4. ==> Chrismukkah: Celebrating 2 Religions During the
Holidays
According to Pew Research, 39% of Americans who got
married since 2010 are in interfaith marriages. That’s
up from 19% 50 years ago. With many couples celebrating
both Christmas and Hanukkah, the time is right to
discuss being in an interfaith relationship during the
holidays with Mrs. Marguerite Berrah, whose late
husband’s new book “Our Common Faith” is an Amazon
bestseller. Marguerite, a Catholic, was married to Dr.
Ghoulem Berrah, a Muslim, for 40 years. She’ll discuss
ways their mutual belief in God solidified their
marriage even though they practiced different religious
customs. Her husband took her to church every Sunday
and celebrated Christmas and Easter with her and she
would fast during Ramadan. Together, they devoted their
lives to peace-making. She can also talk about The Dr.
Ghoulem Berrah Foundation whose mission cultivating
peaceful coexistence through programs supporting social
interaction and engagement of people of different
religions. Ghoulem was a diplomat, freedom fighter,
Muslim leader and medical pioneer. Contact Marguerite
Berrah at (305) 933-6088; berrahghoulem@yahoo.com
5. ==> Do Holidays Stress You Out? Run Away!
It might seem anti-intuitive, but if the holidays
stress you out, getting out of town might be the
answer! “Many people who feel overly stressed by the
holidays are actually feeling stressed by all the
people they need to please. Learning how to set good
boundaries around the holidays can really help!” says
Jennifer Cochern, LCPC. Interview Jennifer to find out
what’s behind all this holiday stress, how to pinpoint
your triggers ahead of time, and when it’s a good time
to pack up and head out of town for the holidays! “Some
people love the holidays – it energizes them. But for
many, the idea of planning their lives 6 weeks (or
more) ahead of time doesn’t feel mindful, it feels
manipulative!” says Jennifer. “Many people think they
don’t have a choice around the holidays – but they DO!”
Jennifer Cochern, LCPC is a counselor and the author of
“Alignment: Move from Internal Chaos to Clarity.” She’s
worked with hundreds of clients promoting personal
growth and healthier relationship skills. Contact
Jennifer Cochern at (208) 817-2870;
JCochern@rtirguests.com
6. ==> Do Fewer Gifts Bring Greater Holiday Happiness?
Rita Wilkins used to go on a buying spree from October
through December. She’d fill her car with gifts and
drive to her sister’s house to spend the holidays. As a
single mother, she knew she was spending too much but
convinced herself that the joy of giving made it
worthwhile—until her sister told her to stop. “She said
we can’t keep up with you,” Wilkins recalls. “So we
agreed to give one small gift or nothing.” And that
changed everything. Known as “The Downsizing Designer,”
Wilkins will challenge your listeners to rethink,
reinvent and redesign simpler, less stressful, more
enjoyable holidays; and for some, that might mean going
present-free. She’ll explain how being truly present at
holiday events beats showing up with an armload of
presents, and discuss the joy in creating new holiday
traditions like family excursions, holiday bike rides
and hikes, movies, volunteering, or cooking together.
Rita Wilkins has been featured on WHYY, Sirius-XM and
in USA Today and other publications. An interior
designer for 35 years, Wilkins has designed thousands
of interiors throughout the country including corporate
penthouses and C-suites, Supreme Court Justice Chambers
and thousands of residential interiors. Her book is
“Downsize Your Life: Upgrade Your Lifestyle.” Contact
her at (302) 354-0972; rwilkins@designservicesltd.com
7. ==> Holiday Highs and Lows: How to Deal with Addicts
1 out of 3 people suffers from an addiction of some
sort and the holidays – from Thanksgiving through New
Year’s – are full of stressful situations AND ample
opportunities to imbibe. Michael McGee, M.D. says the
combination can be especially explosive and
uncomfortable at family gatherings and work functions!
Invite Dr. McGee to share 5 tips to deal with everyone
from an obnoxious drunken uncle to a flirtatious and
inappropriate coworker. He’ll help your audience
navigate the uncomfortable experience in the moment,
whether at home or at the office holiday party, and
share ways you can (and can’t) help an addict accept
treatment and recover. Dr. Michael McGee trained at
Stanford and Harvard Medical Schools and has helped
hundreds of patients beat their addictions. He’s the
author of “The Joy of Recovery: The New 12 Step Guide
to Recovery from Addiction.” Contact Dr. McGee at (978)
360-6071; mdm@wellmind.com
8. ==> Ten Things Americans Need to Know Before 2020
Your politically and culturally-active audience will
enjoy hearing Rick Elkin, a controversial columnist and
cultural analyst whose latest book is “Trump’s
Reckoning: Bulldozing Progressivism, Rebuilding
Americanism.” Rick will explore on-air what everyone is
talking about at the water cooler or neighborhood
holiday gathering. Hear his engaging and different spin
on the issues we face every day. Ask him: What are
Trump’s chances to stay in office in 2020? Why are so
many young people embracing socialism? Is the Deep
State a threat to our freedom? What is the overwhelming
cultural influence of what he calls “The FrankenMedia
Monster?” Learn why Elkin warns “For everything you
know, there is an equal and opposite thing you don’t
know.” Contact Rick Elkin at (760) 825-4884;
RElkin@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Is the Free and Fair Press Dying?
Sixty-percent of people who watch American news think
the sources pay the reporters. That’s the trust gap,
according to a joint Columbia Journalism Review and
Reuters study from earlier this year. With so much talk
about fake news and shrinking newsroom staff positions,
it’s a wonder that anyone would want to train to be a
TV or print journalist today. Willing to share her
unique vantage point on this timely topic is Nita
Wiggins, who teaches journalism in Paris, France, and
is the author of “Civil Rights Baby: My Story of Race,
Sports, and Breaking Barriers in American Journalism.”
Ask her: How much of the problem comes from the work of
reporters and how much comes from the criticism from
the president? How well do American news outlets
provide diverse viewpoints? During her 21 years as a TV
reporter and anchor, Nita witnessed bias against black
reporters and female reporters from Augusta to Seattle
to Washington, D.C. Contact Nita Wiggins at
NWiggins@rtirguests.com
10. ==> 5 Things You Can Do to Outsmart Pain
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. Dr.
Campbell is a family physician whose practice focuses
on pain management. He graduated from the University of
Cape Town and has a delightful South African accent. He
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. His new book, hailed as a great read by
Inc. Magazine, is “The Language of Pain: Fast Forward
Your Recovery to Stop Hurting.” Contact him at (250)
217-7832; tcampbell@rtirguests.com
11. ==> How Patients Can Stop Medical Mistakes
Imagine if patients, without medical experience, could
help protect themselves and loved ones from medical
errors! Invite RN/APRN (nurse practitioner) Anne
McAwley-LeDuc on your show and learn how to organize
your medical records, communicate effectively, ask the
right questions of health professionals, and become an
advocate for yourself to avoid medical mistakes. Anne
will share advice for keeping/remembering/referring to
your medical history details for a lifetime, and how to
start such a project. She’ll also discuss the
importance of asking life-saving questions at the right
time and readily communicating about previous
procedures, emergencies and medication issues. You’ll
also get tips on what to do when travelling or if
you’re changing docs. Anne is the author of the
workbook “Personal Health Organizer: A Complete Easy-
to-Use System to Quickly Document Your Major Medical
and Dental History.” Contact Anne McAwley-LeDuc at
(860) 300-1603; AMcAwley@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Most Important Question to Ask When Your Doc
Orders a Test
Physicians like to send patients for tests and
procedures and are well-compensated for doing so. But
there are times when submitting to a test or procedure
is likely to be painful, counterproductive, or
unnecessary and, when the patient is elderly, the
decision to authorize it may fall on the shoulders of
adult children. Nurse anesthetist Margaret Fitzpatrick
notes that one in four Medicare patients have tests
that offer them little value, and in one year alone,
40% of Medicare patients have had one of 26 tests that
fell into that category. Fitzpatrick can offer sensible
guidance people need to steer clear of medical tests
and procedures that are unlikely to improve quality of
life. Fitzgerald has appeared on the Today show, CNN
Headline News, and many local news outlets across the
country to discuss ways to navigate the health system.
She consults with private clients to create individual
action plans for patients with specialized health
needs. Her new book is “Getting the Best Care: Rescue
Your Loved One from the Healthcare Conveyor Belt.”
Contact her at (773) 919-9002;
Margaret@GettingTheBestCare.com
13. ==> Is Your Coworker Manipulating You without You
Knowing?
A lot of overtly toxic behavior is easy to identify,
steer clear of, or speak up against. But not all
toxicity is obvious; subtly poisonous behavior can be
far more dangerous and that includes workplace
toxicity. Invite transformational coach Maki Moussavi
to discuss dealing with toxic people, behavior she was
subjected to during the more than a decade she spent in
corporate America. She’ll discuss common toxic
behaviors in the workplace (and at home) including non-
apologies, refusal to accept responsibility, a victim
mindset, projection, lack of empathy, and passive
aggression. But thankfully, she says no matter how
tough a toxic situation at work is, there is a way out.
You’ll learn what all toxic people have in common, why
logic won’t help you in dealing with the toxic people,
and 3 things you should never do if you have a toxic
relationship with someone at work. Maki Moussavi, MS,
CGC, is a transformational coach, motivational speaker,
and author with a background in science and consulting.
She’s the author of “The High Achiever’s Guide:
Transform Your Success Mindset and Begin the Quest to
Fulfillment.” Contact her at (913) 206-2513;
maki@makimoussavi.com
14. ==> This Year’s Classroom Bullies: The Teachers
It’s bad enough when a fellow student picks on you and
creates a tense bullying atmosphere at school. We hear
about upsetting bullying issues nationwide all the
time. But what if today’s educators are the troublesome
tyrants? How does that limit learning and upset the
entire class process? Are such control-prone teachers
anywhere near accurate when they insist they’re just
maintaining discipline? What needs to be done by
administrators, PTOs, school boards and teachers
themselves to rebuild bully-free classrooms for all
grades? Find out when you interview popular media guest
Barb Daniels, whose Timmy Teacup book series focuses on
self-esteem and anti-bullying. Barb will offer
surprising advice to help children and teens navigate a
bullying classroom and healthy ways for teacher bullies
to transform and still command respect. Expect high
ratings and meaningful discussions on a topic that
ultimately affects every family. Contact Barb Daniels
at (636) 220-5495; BDaniels@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Why Our Best Students Feel Dumb
Students feel dumb when they cram for a test on
Thursday, get an A on Friday and forget it all by
Monday. Students feel smart when they remember, and
even smarter when they use new, remembered knowledge to
solve problems in unique ways. Smart schools have
processes in place that make the ‘Cram Plan’
impossible. “Who has the most control over education?
The answer might surprise you but almost everyone I
talk to agrees with my answer!” says Lee Jenkins,
educator, administrator and author. According to Lee,
it’s easier than you think to solve the educational
dilemma in this country, by getting rid of cramming,
once and for all! He’ll tell you and your audience how!
Lee Jenkins is the author of “How to Create a Perfect
School” (foreword by Jack Canfield.) He’s been an
educator and administrator both in public schools and
universities. Contact Lee Jenkins at (484) 306-8784;
LJenkins@rtirguests.com
16. ==> Discover Your True Gift this Holiday: Your
Purpose
The holidays may mean hustle and bustle for some, but
they also allow many of us to slow down, consider the
passage of time and be more thoughtful about what we
would like to do with our lives as the new year
beckons. TJ Gilroy says, “Although everyone has many
talents we each have one gift, a single talent that can
be developed into greatness. Call it your purpose. But
most people do not know how to identify that gift and
some people are too scared—even petrified—to find it.”
Gilroy, author of “Employ Your GIFT: The Secret to
Living Your Purpose” believes his purpose is helping
others find theirs. Invite him on your show to explain
what to do if you don’t like your career, view
everything as a struggle, lack confidence or feel as
though you are drifting through life and offer advice
about finding your purpose—and why that’s only the
beginning. A former Marine Corps officer who flew
attack helicopters, Gilroy became an executive in the
tactical equipment industry. He owns TMG Associates,
LLC with his wife, a business that among other things
teaches students to discover who they are and helps
them to discover their gift. Contact him at (910)
400-5436; tj@joepurpose.com
17. ==> Don’t Wait for New Year: Start New Habits Year-
Round
Do you realize that trying to break a bad habit is a
useless waste of time and energy? Learn how habits
truly work, and how to avoid falling into the old New
Year’s Resolution trap (an annual chronic frustration!)
when you interview Rico Racosky. Known as America’s New
Story Guy, Rico can discuss the trouble with focusing
too much time, disappointment and negative emotions on
kicking an old habit and why you should be quickly
cultivating a new habit (and telling a new story!) that
will serve you in positive ways for a lifetime. You’ll
get fun advice for using better new habits at work, in
relationships, with money, with food, as a parent, and
for your family’s health, and ways to celebrate when a
productive new habit becomes second-nature. Learn how
to help kids in your family or classroom create the
best habits and how Rico, author of “Just2Choices,”
uses his new-habit techniques himself, daily. Listeners
will even get two free habit-changing downloads! Rico
Racosky is a speaker, author and former radio host.
Contact him at (730) 572-1322; Rracosky@rtirguests.com
18. ==> It’s the Season of Giving: A Creative Way to
Donate
Most of us would like to be able to donate more to
charity, but it can be difficult to find the money.
Imagine getting cash for that life insurance policy you
or your parents don’t need anymore! Did you know that
70 billion dollars of life insurance policies literally
go to waste annually? Why not turn that waste into a
GIFT? “Most consumers don’t realize this little-known
secret that, if you or your parents qualify, you could
receive up to 50% of your death benefits in CASH by
selling your policy to the highest bidder!” says David
Kottler, the Insurance Doctor (TM.) Most alumni, for
example, would consider donating their policies to
their alma maters as a charitable gift, but
universities and colleges would much rather have the
CASH gift instead. It’s simply a more efficient way to
give to non-profits! David combines his legal and
business experience with a passion for philanthropy. is
book “The Best Kept Money Secret in Your Insurance
Policy” details everything your audience needs to know
about how to get that insurance policy working for
them! Contact David Kottler at (216) 532-1221;
DKottler@rtirguests.com
19. ==> We Should All Learn to Laugh at the IRS —
Year-round!
Incompetent. Reckless. Smug. Deserving of your guffaws
and eye rolls, certainly not your fear. All that
describes the IRS, says tax expert Richard Green — who
used to be one of the Internal Revenue Service’s own!
He has seen, first-hand, how the colossal waste and
chaos of his former employer can put America at risk.
He will reveal on-air what put such an important
government agency so behind-the-times and so downright
laughable. Do you realize that agents are still using
50-year-old technology? And audits are unfair and
usually unnecessary? Why is the IRS always blaming
Congress or everyday citizens for its own tax
management foibles? Ask Green, author of “Agents of
Deceit,” what Americans can do to fix all this and
still be fair to our nation and ourselves. This is an
ideal show as people prepare for the end of the
calendar year and for the upcoming tax season. Contact
Richard Green at (909) 570-1509; rgreen@rtirguests.com
20. ==> Connect with Your Inner Cowgirl and Wrangle
Your Best Life
After turning 40, Sandra Matheson found herself at a
daunting crossroads in her life. She was divorced,
unable to continue her career as a veterinarian due to
work-related chemical sensitivities and stuck with a
money-losing farm. But she managed to turn lemons into
lemonade by rebuilding her farm, which became a
metaphor for her life. “Just as a farmer grows crops,
you can make the choice to grow your dreams after 40,”
she says. “The main focus has to be on silencing your
‘inner critic.’” Sandra is a co-host of New Cowgirl
Camps, which teach women about farming and ranching,
each June and August in Cheney, Wash. She is also the
author of the upcoming “Thrive After 40: How to Seize
the Life of Your Dreams!” Contact her at
smatheson@rtirguests.com; (360) 325-4221.