01. Will Convoys at U.S.-Mexico Border Turn Violent?
02. What We Learned from Tucker Carlson’s Putin Interview
03. Medicine Shortages: How to Deal with the Crisis
04. What We Still Get Wrong About Porn Addiction
05. “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
06. How to Prevent AI From Taking Your Job
07. Oscar’s Barbie Snub Feels Familiar to Women
08. Will Swifties Sway the 2024 Election?
09. Why Do 6 in 10 Americans Say Life Has Gotten Worse?
10. Interview a Psychologist for Heart Health Month
11. 5 Ways to Experience More Joy and Confidence
12. From ‘Dumb Jock’ to Ivy League Success Guru
13. Health Screenings: What to Get and What to Skip
14. How to Help Depressed Teens Find Purpose
15. This Guest Says Faith Got Her Out of Prison
1.==> Will Convoys at U.S.-Mexico Border Turn Violent?
Convoys arrived in communities in Arizona, California and Texas early this month to rally for border security. In Eagle Pass, Texas, some community members and experts expressed concerns about the anti-immigrant rhetoric employed by the convoy there. They call the ‘Take Our Border Back’ rallies part of an escalating standoff between Texas and the federal government and say they’re fueling a dangerous climate of potential right-wing violence and vigilantism at the border. Heidi Beirich points to the convoy’s use of Great Replacement rhetoric, a “conspiracy theory directly connected to mass violence.” She says, “They are radicalizing the MAGA movement into anti-immigrant rhetoric. [Texas Governor Greg] Abbott is doing his part to demonize the immigrant situation. It’s dangerous –– not just for migrants but for anyone [the far right] thinks might be an immigrant.” Beirich says, “The American press hasn’t done a good enough job [covering] Christian nationalists or the [groups like] Alliance Defending Freedom.” Heidi Beirich is co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE). GPAHE covers transnational hate movements as well as U.S. groups that export hate to other countries, usually in the form of anti-LGBTQ and anti-women’s-rights. Contact Beirich at heidi@globalextremism.org; @heidibeirich or @globalextremism
2. ==> What We Learned from Tucker Carlson’s Putin Interview
Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down with Tucker Carlson for a rare interview with a Western media figure. So what did we learn about the future of the Russia-Ukraine war? Stephen Sestanovich says Putin tried to present a more reasonable tone but offered endless reminders of why Western governments think he’s not really interested in negotiating an end to the war with Ukraine. He can explain Putin’s goals in doing the interview, whether his objectives in Ukraine have changed since the war began, and what, if anything, we learned from the exchange with Carlson. Stephen Sestanovich is the George F. Kennan senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis professor of international diplomacy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is the author of “Maximalist: America in the World from Truman to Obama.” Contact him at (202) 509-8454; comunications@cfr.org
3. ==> Medicine Shortages: How to Deal with the Crisis
All across the country, Americans are struggling with medication shortages — not only prescriptions but also over-the-counter medication and medical equipment shortages. Shortages in hospitals and pharmacies mean patients may not have the medications they need for everything from chemotherapy to mental illnesses to infant RSV. Dr. Shawn Rowland says patients are rationing medicines, delaying prescriptions, buying more expensive substitute meds, or suffering from physical and mental conditions that are otherwise treatable. Dr. Rowland can discuss common challenges patients face when trying to access necessary medications and explain what’s going on, which medicines are affected, and why. Shawn Rowland, M.D., realized the extent of the problem while working as a physician during the pandemic. In response, he founded Jase Medical, a company that provides a supply of medication to have on hand in the event of a serious emergency or when professional medical help isn’t available. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; Ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
4.==> What We Still Get Wrong About Porn Addiction
Is porn addiction a real thing? Is it natural for men to be drawn to porn? Sam Black is a former journalist and an expert in the field of pornography recovery. He says porn addiction is a genuine problem, and not just for men. He’ll explain how porn has changed in recent years and why that makes it more dangerous. You’ll hear what watching pornography does to the brain, how porn affects relationships of all kinds, and why it’s so hard to get help, even when you know you have a problem. Sam is the author of two books: “The Porn Circuit: Understand Your Brain and Break Porn Habits.” And “The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography and How to Fix It.” He is the director of recovery education at Covenant Eyes and regularly speaks at parenting, leadership and men’s events across the country. Contact Mark Breta at mark@jonesliterary.com
5. ==> “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
Studies show that holding hands can reduce pain and buffer stressful experiences. But its impact on brain activity suggests something more profound is going on. “If you really understand handholding — what it is and how it has its effects — you begin to understand just about every single facet of what it is to be a human being,” clinical psychologist James Coan recently told the “Washington Post.” “It expresses all the things that we are for each other.” Coan has been involved in several experiments on the topic, including one in which 16 married women were placed in MRI machines and faced with the prospect of an electric shock. When they held hands with strangers, it lowered their stress. When they held hands with their husbands, it lowered their stress even more. For Coan, the most surprising revelation from the experiments is that handholding isn’t an added benefit or a boost to our brains. Rather, it represents the baseline — we’re meant to be sharing our lives, and our burdens, with other people. “To the human brain, the world presents a series of problems to solve,” he said. “And it turns out being alone is a problem.” James Coan is a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and the director of the Virginia Affective Neuroscience Laboratory. Contact him at jcoan@virginia.edu
6. ==> How to Prevent AI From Taking Your Job
AI is changing every aspect of our lives. It is irreversibly changing the way we work. It is expected that up to 800 million employees worldwide will lose their jobs in less than six years due to AI and automation. So, what can you do if AI takes your job? Interview Mustafa Ammar who can offer five unique strategies to outsmart AI. Mustafa is the founder and CEO of The Passion MBA, a career and business coach, and author of “Time to Move On” in which he debunks the seven most common career myths to help professionals find their dream careers. He is also a former international diplomat, investment banker, and pharmacist who reincarnated his career several times. Ask him: Why should you be a generalist, not a specialist in the current job market? Why is it never too late to find your dream career? Contact Mustafa Ammar at (240) 543-2529; DreamCareer@ThePassionMBA.com
7. ==> Oscar’s Barbie Snub Feels Familiar to Women
Many say “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and Barbie herself, Margot Robbie, were snubbed after being left off this year’s list of Oscar nominations. Francesca Burack says the film — and the lack of recognition — reflect the struggle real women face every day. If your audience is looking to reclaim their power in the workplace, at home, and beyond, you need to hear from Burack. “Generally, women can speak up for others but have a difficult time speaking up for themselves. It’s not just about pay raises but it’s how to speak up when others try to steal your ideas and take credit for your work. It’s all about speaking up for yourself in the most straightforward, acceptable way so women feel their worth is being recognized and credit is being given where credit is due.” Francesca can share advice, tips, and encouragement to help women find, own, and use their voices with confidence. An author, entrepreneur, educator, and popular speaker, Francesca Burack has been featured on major networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News. Contact her at (516) 823-4003; fburack@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Will Swifties Sway the 2024 Election?
An Instagram post by pop superstar Taylor Swift got more than 30,000 people to sign up through Vote.org during National Voter Registration Day, many of them teens who will be eligible to vote in this fall’s election. Experts say there’s every indication youth voting will be high again this year, as it was in 2020. “The younger generation is really starting to connect the dots between what they care about and participation numbers,” says Andrea Hailey, CEO of the nonpartisan Vote.org, which registered 279,000 new voters last year. “When you have someone registering 30,000 voters at a time it absolutely can have an impact.” Vote.org partners with influencers, including Swift, to reach potential voters, in particular young people. It also partners with micro-influencers at historically Black colleges and universities, echoing the work done by MTV’s Rock the Vote starting in the 1990s. For interviews, contact Vote.org at press@vote.org
9. ==> Why Do 6 in 10 Americans Say Life Has Gotten Worse?
Is the American dream dying? The world has seen massive changes over the past few years, and it’s getting harder to enjoy our lives from day to day, let alone achieve our life goals. In fact, CNN reports that American happiness has hit record lows, with more than 60% agreeing that life is worse — especially since the start of the pandemic. Dr. Shila Patel (pronounced Sheila) reveals the reasons behind this historic decline in happiness. A retired licensed psychiatrist who was in practice for more than 25 years and the author of three books, she offers a passionate perspective on why depression and anxiety are flourishing, and what we can do to help ourselves and our loved ones rediscover what makes life worth living. Contact Dr. Shila Patel at (229) 586-6190; spatel@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Interview a Psychologist for Heart Health Month
You might be thinking of booking a cardiologist or nutritionist in February for Heart Health Month, but if you want to help women in particular lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, invite clinical psychologist Dr. Karyne B. Wilner on your show. She’ll discuss toxic anger — a well-known factor in women’s heart disease — and our culture’s role in suppressing it. “Anger creates stress in the body that can lead to physical and emotional health problems,” she says. Dr. Wilner can share body-based techniques to release anger in ways that lead to greater health overall. Dr. Wilner is the author of the upcoming book “Releasing Toxic Anger for Women: Body-Based Practices to Transform Negative Thoughts, Soothe Stress, and Stay True to Yourself.” She is a leader in the field of Core Energetics and mind/body health. Contact Dr. Karyne Wilner at (401) 305-2278; kwilner@rtirguests.com
11. ==> 5 Ways to Experience More Joy and Confidence
For many people, life is not a series of successes. Anxiety, stress, fear, and self-doubt hold us back and we spend our days extinguishing the fires of the past rather than looking toward the potential of the future. Is it possible to escape the day-to-day rut and live a happy life now, rather than working endlessly toward it? Psychologist and author Melody Krafft will show your audience how to bring more joy and confidence into your life, starting today. Learn how to extinguish doubt, hone your intuition, and rid your life of everyday stress when you interview this life-changing expert. An experienced media guest, Melody is the author of “Get Me Out of Here! What’s Beyond This Madness.” Contact Melody Krafft at (703) 951-4735; mkrafft@rtirguests.com
12. ==> From ‘Dumb Jock’ to Ivy League Success Guru
Former Ivy League scholar and pro football player John Nicholas had no plan for success at 16 when he crashed into a house during a Halloween night car chase with police. But then he discovered keys that launched him toward academic and athletic success and building sports media and real estate companies worth millions. He credits something he calls Personal Convergence, a dynamic force similar to nuclear fusion, which has fueled high-impact people throughout history and can help us target and direct our lives today. John’s upcoming book “Hit Your Bullseye!” shares how you can harness this power to achieve your ultimate life, career, business, or calling. John has appeared on ABC News, CBS News, syndicated radio, and numerous podcasts. He also wrote the popular book, “Debt-Free ASAP!” Contact him at (214) 225-9991; Jnicholas@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Health Screenings: What to Get and What to Skip
You may know the leading causes of death among American men and women but do you know that you can avoid many of them? Long-time nurse Allen Daugherty says, “The American health-care system is designed to focus on diseases after they happen, so we need to change our mindset to focus on prevention.” Allen will share the top five health screenings that could save your life and when to get them. He’ll discuss the types of screenings, lifestyle changes and other preventative steps we can take before becoming another statistic. Allen Daugherty has worked in the medical field for almost 50 years, first as a U.S. Air Force medic then as an RN and certified dialysis nurse. He is the author of “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth More Than You Can Imagine.” Contact Allen at (540) 712-8704; adaugherty@rtirguests.com
14. ==> How to Help Depressed Teens Find Purpose
Teen depression and suicide have dramatically increased during the past decade. “There are multiple causes including isolation, school stress, social media, bullying, and many others,” says best-selling author Scott Kolbaba M.D. “This was made worse by the pandemic.” Dr. Kolbaba claims that enabling young people to focus on finding a purpose in life and pursuing their passions is just what the doctor ordered. His award-winning children’s book, “Clara’s Magic Garden” is an uplifting illustration of this principle. He is an internal medicine physician who graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and appeared in “Chicago Magazine” as a “Top Doctor.” Contact Dr. Scott Kolbaba at (630) 656-9507; skolbaba@rtirguests.com
15. ==> This Guest Says Faith Got Her Out of Prison
Growing up in a highly dysfunctional broken home, author Tressa Mitchener became a single teenage mother and drug dealer who was facing a 30-year-to-life sentence in federal prison. But thanks to her strong belief in a higher power, her sentence was miraculously reduced to five years, and she went on to earn a B.A. in psychology, become a respected Christian counselor and best-selling author, and marry her dream man. She credits her newfound faith for enabling her to dramatically turn her life around. “While I was in prison, I was strongly focused on God,” she says. “He was giving me instructions and guiding me. My mind began to change. I became a change-maker for others.” Tressa shared her incredible story on “The 700 Club,” and can reveal how anyone can transform his or her life through faith. She is the author of “Looking Out from the Inside: The United States v. Tressa Oliva Parker.” Contact Tressa at (919) 582-5992; Tmitchener@rtirguests.com