01. Is Warnock the Southern Shepherd of the Democratic Party?
02. 9 Out of 10 COVID Deaths Are Americans 65+
03. Legendary Actor Frankie Faison on ‘Till’ and ‘Rookie: Feds’
04. Aaron Judge’s Big MLB Deal
05. Real Housewife: Beware ‘Little’ Holiday Luxuries
06. Got Holiday Relationship Issues? Help Is Here
07. Is Pet Therapy an Answer to the Student Anxiety Epidemic?
08. The Voice of Donald Duck: Emmy-Nominated Voice Artist Daniel Ross
09. She Lived ‘Orange Is the New Black’
10. Can We Fix America’s Broken Workplaces?
11. Should You Encourage Your Daughter to Try for a STEM Career?
12. How to Keep Conversations Civil
13. Tell-Tale Signs You’re an Empath
14. This Champion Athlete Began Sprinting at Age 61
15. Here’s Why Your Next Cruise Should be a River Voyage
1.==> Is Warnock the Southern Shepherd of the Democratic Party?
After a long, expensive campaign, Sen. Raphael Warnock has won reelection as one of Georgia’s two Democratic U.S. senators. Political strategist and campaign expert Fredrick Hicks says Warnock is now the leader of a new generation of Democratic leaders who are younger and more diverse than their predecessors. He believes this to be a generational moment and a potential opportunity to move a center-left agenda forward for the country. Hicks says Warnock will no doubt be the most valuable asset and endorser for the Democratic Party in 2024, unless he heads up the ticket himself. “Should Biden decide not to run for reelection, Warnock should be the Democratic Party’s first choice to lead them back to the presidency,” he says. “After all, is there a better shepherd than a pastor?” Fredrick Hicks is the founder and president of the Hicks Evaluation Group (HEG), a consulting firm that specializes in candidate and issue campaigns. He served as a debate prep partner for then-candidate Raphael Warnock in 2020. He did not work for the campaign in 2022. Contact Fredrick Hicks at fred@fredhicks.com
2. ==> 9 Out of 10 COVID Deaths Are Americans 65+
A recent “Washington Post” analysis of CDC data shows that although adults over the age of 65 make up only 16% of the U.S. population, they account for nearly 90% of current COVID deaths. Elizabeth Wrigley-Field says, “Age is also a marker for other demographics in the U.S. This population is whiter and more rural, and that has always been a real complication. Meanwhile, people of color have substantially died at younger ages. That’s a big part of why we’ve lost more life expectancy than other countries. Now we have deaths shifting to rural, whiter areas –– so older areas.” Wrigley-Field, a sociologist specializing in racial inequality in mortality and historical infectious disease, says, she is struck by the rate of deaths in nursing homes. “If you were trying to think about how to create a super spreader with as much force as possible, it would look like a nursing home, she says. What’s even more concerning to her than deaths among older people is “the fact that deaths are still so high.” Elizabeth Wrigley-Field is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology and the Minnesota Population Center. Contact her at ewf@umn.edu
3. ==> Legendary Actor Frankie Faison on ‘Till’ and ‘Rookie: Feds’
Award-winning actor Frankie Faison has a lot to talk about right now. He currently stars in the Oscar-buzzed film “Till” and ABC’s new hit series “Rookie: Feds.” Invite him on your show to talk about both roles and his illustrious career spanning nearly 50 years! Frankie portrays the grandfather of Emmett Till in the movie “Till,” based on the true story of Emmett’s mother’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. On “Rookie: Feds,” Frankie brings to life Christopher “Cutty” Clark, the father of Niecy Nash’s character, Simone. Frankie Faison’s career spans nearly 50 years in film and television, and even longer in the theater. “The Wire,” “Coming to America,” “Do the Right Thing,” and “The Silence of the Lambs” are just a few of his many credits. Contact JT Hainje or Caitlin Green at (323) 655-1008; AGPR@AndersonGroupPR.com
4.==> Aaron Judge’s Big MLB Deal
Aaron Judge answered baseball’s burning offseason question this week, agreeing to a nine-year, $360 million contract to remain with the New York Yankees. Rick Cerrone, editor-in-chief of “Baseball Digest,” worked for the Yankees for a decade. Bring him on your show to talk about how the 30-year-old Judge hit free agency after one of the greatest seasons in baseball history, hitting an American League record of 62 homers to break the mark set by Roger Maris in 1961. He’ll also discuss who wins with this deal and what it says about Major League Baseball today. “Baseball Digest” is the longest-running baseball magazine in the world. Rick Cerrone was senior director of media relations for the New York Yankees from 1996 through 2006. Contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988 (call/text)
5. ==> Real Housewife: Beware ‘Little’ Holiday Luxuries
Leonard Lauder coined the “lipstick index” in 2001 as a recession indicator. As chairman of Estee Lauder Cosmetics, he noticed that a rise in lipstick sales and other cosmetics often meant the opposite of what many people thought. Instead of a sign of disposable income, it was a sign of tight budgets – because when consumers can afford less, they buy small luxury items instead of larger ones. Researchers at Debt.com built on that concept and compared the current inflation rate to Google’s search volume for the terms “lipstick,” “lip gloss” and “foundation” and found a significant uptick in consumers searching for those products. The debt relief organization then commissioned a survey of 1,000 beauty buyers and found that 38% are using credit to buy cosmetics, and 37% are buying more despite inflation. “We’d like to think we’re making affordable choices by splurging on small items during hard times,” says Vicki Gunvalson, spokesperson for Debt.com and former star of “Real Housewives of Orange County.” “Credit card debt is rising, and Americans are carrying $887 billion of it. Now is not the time to get into holiday debt,” she warns. According to the survey, half of respondents had no plans to slow down on holiday spending with nearly two in five planning to spend over $300 on beauty products. Debt.com is a consumer website where people can find help with credit card debt, student loan debt, tax debt, credit repair, bankruptcy, and more. For interviews, contact Christine Burton at cburton@debt.com
6. ==> Got Holiday Relationship Issues? Help Is Here
Tensions run high during the holiday season. Whether you’re dealing with your own deep-rooted family dysfunction or your partner’s relatives, it’s hard to navigate all the expectations and traditions. Wendi Dumbroff can offer a multitude of proven tips to diffuse relationship issues that arise and share ways to dial down the stress and create healthy boundaries. She can also tie in how mindfulness and meditation can benefit relationships and sexual connection any time of the year. Wendi Dumbroff, MA, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice and has extensive experience counseling individuals, families, and couples on many different matters including; vulnerability, infidelity, lack of communication, depression, anxiety, and all aspects of sexual issues. A sought-after media resource, she has been featured in numerous print and broadcast outlets. Contact Amy Delman at (201) 563-4614; amydelmanpr@verizon.net
7. ==> Is Pet Therapy an Answer to the Student Anxiety Epidemic?
It’s no secret that America is in the midst of a mental health crisis, with students among the hardest hit thanks to COVID, fears about their safety at school and even declining gains in math and reading. Larry Grogan has an unusual suggestion for ways to help the 65% of college students expressing overwhelming anxiety as well as younger students who have yet to graduate from high school: pet therapy. As you may know, petting a dog lowers your stress, heart rate, and blood pressure and provides mental stimulation. Larry says, “Pet therapy is a key to addressing the mental wellness of all of our students and colleges are the starting point.” Larry and his tiny dog Scrappy were a pet therapy team for eight years at a children’s hospital where they worked with thousands of suffering children. He is now a pet therapy advocate on a mission to increase the number of pet therapy teams worldwide. Larry can talk about what your listeners need to know about accessing pet therapy or training to become a therapy team. Contact Larry Grogan at (423) 557-1908;
larrygrogan5@gmail.com
8. ==> The Voice of Donald Duck: Emmy-Nominated Voice Artist Daniel Ross
Daniel Ross and his alter ego, Donald Duck, are up for an Emmy at the first annual Children and Family Emmy Awards this weekend for the Disney animated show “Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas.” You will likely recognize Daniel’s voice from one of his many roles in TV, films and commercials, but playing Donald Duck has special meaning for him. As a 3-year-old, Ross’ mother — known as “Momma Duck” — taught him how to do the iconic voice of Donald Duck and it’s stuck with him ever since. He is the third person to officially voice the character for Disney and says it was the joy of a lifetime to share the news with his mother before her death. Invite Daniel on your show to talk about his career as a voice artist (including the pros and cons) and what it’s like to be the voice of such an iconic cartoon character. Daniel Ross is one of the most in-demand voice artists working in the industry today. Originally a theatre and film actor/producer from Maryland, he moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to begin pursuing work in the voice-over industry. Since then, his voice has been featured on almost every network but most notably, he is the voice of Donald Duck in the smash hit series “Mickey and the Roadster Racers” and “Mickey Mouse: Mixed-Up Adventures,” on Disney Junior. Contact Harlan Boll at harlan@bhbpr.com
9. ==> She Lived ‘Orange Is the New Black’
Melisa Schonfield was living the upper-middle-class dream life as a successful psychotherapist, the wife of a respected dentist, a ballet company president, and an esteemed member of her community. But when her daughter’s boyfriend began abusing her infant grandson and the justice system did nothing, Melisa decided to take matters into her own hands by hiring a hit man to dispose of the boyfriend. But the hit man she attempted to hire in a Walmart parking lot turned out to be an undercover cop, and Melisa spent more than three years in prison. “The isolation is very difficult,” she says. “I did not want to make friends with anybody because I feared their agenda.” Melisa can share the details of her harrowing journey and what life is really like for women behind bars. She is the author of “Bitter or Better: The Melisa Schonfield Story.” Contact her at (305) 424-7507; mschonfield@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Can We Fix America’s Broken Workplaces?
Driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s workplaces are changing faster than ever. The good news is that we are no longer shackled to desks and office cubicles. The bad news is that workplaces are changing faster than workplace culture can keep up with. Elizabeth Power can talk about why people need more emotional intelligence to survive and thrive in the workplace and how they can achieve that goal. Among her tips: go out of your way to capture good workplace moments so they are at your fingertips, pay different people compliments each day, and “walk the talk” of the company values. Elizabeth is the founding director of The Trauma Informed Academy and the author of “Healer: Reducing Crises,” which offers everyday actions people can take to recover from traumatic experiences and be more resilient in the face of stress and discomfort. She is an adjunct instructor in psychiatry at Georgetown Medical Center and has been on NBC News, NPR, and in the “Wall Street Journal.” Contact her at (615) 903-0906; epower@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Should You Encourage Your Daughter to Try for a STEM Career?
Careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are booming and will continue to be in high demand well into the future. According to author, long-time STEM educator and college professor Chris A. Goldberg, females should be at the leading edge in these fields. “I have long advocated for girls and minorities to pursue STEM careers, a huge topic due to under-representation in these professions,” he says. “A number of women have made significant contributions to these fields but are often not given the credit they deserve.” One example that Chris can share is Dr. Gladys B. West, an African American woman credited for the major calculations that led to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS). He is the author of “Aliyah and The STEMsational Problem-Solvers: What’s Cooking?” Contact him at (973) 576-5841; cgoldberg@rtirguests.com
12. ==> How to Keep Conversations Civil
When was the last time you had a conversation that didn’t end up feeling like a negotiation, or worse, a fight? “It’s probably been a while since a simple conversation was just that, a simple conversation!” says Ivan Obolensky. “No matter what we talk about now, it’s become nearly impossible to not talk about emotionally charged topics because that’s all we’ve got!” Interview Ivan about the art of conversation during these contentious times. He will show your audience how to control the conversation and establish a better rapport with WHO they are talking to and WHAT they are talking about so that simple conversations don’t feel like battles that need to be won! Ivan Obolensky is the author of “Eye of the Moon,” which won “Best First Book (Fiction)” in the IRDA’s. The latest novel in his American Gothic series is “Shadow of the Son.” Contact Ivan Obolensky at (818) 495-8731; IObolensky@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Tell-Tale Signs You’re an Empath
Do you sometimes know something is going to happen before it does? Do you actually feel the pain of others? Do you experience keen physical discomfort in the presence of certain people? If so, you may be an empath or perhaps you may find that you know someone who is, someone like Jennifer Maag. She says, “After experiencing a traumatic brain injury due to falling at home, I became extremely empathic, which was a gift.” While being highly empathic can cause people to be hyper-sensitive, Jennifer can share how mastering the emotions that accompany this trait can greatly benefit one’s existence. Jennifer, a licensed massage therapist, and her son, Alexander Maag, are the co-authors of the critically acclaimed book “Take on God,” which explores how to transform inner battles into healing tools to live one’s best life. Contact her at (419) 969-3259; jmaag@rtirguests.com
14. ==> This Champion Athlete Began Sprinting at Age 61
Exercising is one of those things that we all know we should be doing, and yet we can find endless reasons not to. The issue can be even harder to tackle for those over 40 because many people believe that the older you get, the more pointless it is to try getting into shape. National champion senior athlete John Hurd is here to tell your audience that it’s never too late and motivate them to reclaim their physical health at any age. John began training on his own to run competitively at the age of 61, and holds a total of 162 gold medals, is a 15-year undefeated Florida State Sprint Champion in three separate events, and a two-time National Senior Olympic Sprint Champion. The author of “Johnny Run Lately” and “A Sprint to the Gold,” John shares his success story with your audience as well as a simple-to-use spreadsheet that works better than fitness apps to help anyone achieve their exercise goals, and much more. Interview this inspiring guest who puts young couch potatoes to shame. Contact John Hurd at (850) 367-8411 or jhurd@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Here’s Why Your Next Cruise Should be a River Voyage
If you’re thinking of booking a cruise, travel marketing expert and author Cindy Bertram can share the wonders of traveling on rivers throughout the U.S. and Europe, versus ocean voyages. “The ships are much smaller, with fewer guests,” she says. “Most are all-inclusive. They also offer immersive excursions and special interest tours. It’s a beautiful way to explore the wonderful areas of Europe and the U.S. in a more seamless way.” Cindy is a communications, media and branding specialist who has spent many years in the travel and cruise industry and is the author of “How Six Women Executives Steer the Cruise Industry Today” and “Message from the Dog … Learning from Great Humans.” Contact her at (219) 775-6488; cbertram@rtirguests.com
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