01. She Wrote the Soundtrack to the ‘80s: Interview Holly Knight
02. One Year Later: How the Ukraine War Rolls On
03. Rage Against the War Machine
04. Why Did This Man Visit All 39 Presidential Graves?
05. The Lost Story of a President’s Black Family
06. For Black History Month: Interview a Pioneering Diplomat
07. Aaron Rodgers’ Darkness Retreat: What’s That All About?
08. How to Earn a College Degree on YouTube
09. Interview One of New York’s Top Psychics
10. This Guest Loves to Talk About the Elephants in the Room
11. Are Girls Really Bad at Math? This Expert Reveals the Truth
12. How Perfect Parenting Hurts Kids
13. Is Postpartum Depression Preventable?
14. The Hidden Toll of Alzheimer’s Disease
15. Do You Know the 5 HABITs of Grief?
1. ==> She Wrote the Soundtrack to the ‘80s: Interview Holly Knight
Take your audience back to the go-go eighties of big hair, extra-large egos, wild parties, and wildly popular music videos with Holly Knight. Find out how Holly broke into the rock scene and became one of its most in-demand writers. She composed such ‘80s classics as “Love is a Battlefield” and “Invincible” for Pat Benatar, “The Warrior” for Scandal, and “Better Be Good to Me” for Tina Turner. Holly Knight’s new autobiography is “I Am the Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing the Hits and Rocking the MTV Eighties.” Ask her: How did you meet Tina Turner and how did you end up writing nine songs for her? What was it like hanging out with KISS, Rod Stewart and Jon Bon Jovi? How did you navigate the male-dominated ‘80s music business? Contact Christine Finnegan at (212) 260-7576; media@mouthdigitalpr.com
2. ==> One Year Later: How the Ukraine War Rolls On
Governments most directly affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine all worry about sustaining domestic support for their policies. One year in, however, Stephen Sestanovich says they’ve managed this problem with surprising success. He’ll discuss support for the war in Europe, the U.S. and Russia, as well as in Ukraine itself. “After a year of war, all parties to the conflict seem confident that they can sustain domestic support. None of them knows, of course, what will happen if defeats mount up, if a stalemate takes hold, or if economic burdens worsen. But for now, success on the home front means the war will go on — and could even intensify.” 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. Contact him at (202) 509-8454
3. ==> Rage Against the War Machine
Protestors from the political left and right are joining together at a rally — Rage Against the War Machine — at the Lincoln Memorial this Sunday, Feb. 19, the anniversary of the Ukraine War and Presidents Day weekend. After the rally, the protestors will march to the White House. Speakers include Ron Paul, author, physician and former Republican congressman from Texas, and Dennis Kucinich, former Democratic congressman from Ohio and mayor of Cleveland. Activist, author and radio host David Swanson says the problem is not this — or any other — particular war. “The problem, the only thing we should be calling an enemy, is the very idea that there can be a right side in the toxic tango of organized mass murder that is every war. And time is not on our side; the risk of nuclear apocalypse is high and rising. So, we need to stand with anyone who will help advance the cry of Russia out of Ukraine — NATO out of existence!” David Swanson is the director of World BEYOND War, a global nonviolent movement to end war and establish a just and sustainable peace. Contact him at davidcnswanson@gmail.com; @davidcnswanson
4. ==> Why Did This Man Visit All 39 Presidential Graves?
Presidents Day, Feb. 20, is more than just an excuse to enjoy a good sale. It’s an opportunity to remember the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as well as to think about all the men who have held the office. TJ Fallon is the perfect Presidents Day guest because he visited all 39 graves of presidents as well as all 34 graves of vice presidents. In addition, he visited 53 graves of signers of the Declaration of Independence and 39 signers of the Constitution. A resident of Jackson, N. J., TJ visited all those graves in only five months during the pandemic, a feat that has just earned him the Person of the Year award by the Dull Men’s Club, a group of men and women dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments of ordinary people. TJ can talk about the humble locations where most of the graves are located and the crumbling state they are in. TJ Fallon is available for interview along with Leland Carlson, who heads the Dull Men’s Club and can talk about the club’s credo and some of the fun accomplishments they have uncovered. Contact Leland at (308) 874-4173; lvcarlson@mac.com
5. ==> The Lost Story of a President’s Black Family
Author and physician Dr. Bettye Kearse is the great-great-great-granddaughter of an enslaved woman and her enslaver, and half-brother, President James Madison. Invite Dr. Kearse to share her perspective on being a descendant of both one of the Founding Fathers and also of a slave. She’ll share her family story and explore the issues of legacy, race, and the powerful consequences of telling the whole truth. Bettye Kearse is the author of “The Other Madisons: The Lost Story of a President’s Black Family” and the subject of a documentary film. She presented her story at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and has been featured by NPR, podcasts, and radio stations across the country. Contact her at (617) 640 4803; bettye@bettyekearse.com
6. ==> For Black History Month: Interview a Pioneering Diplomat
Starting in 1975 and for the next 30 years, Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans lived her dream life. The former English major and Fulbright Scholar who grew up in the Jim Crow South was a diplomat in the Foreign Service in New Delhi, Mumbai, Dhaka, Taipei, Hong Kong, Brussels, Libreville, Bujumbura, and Brazzaville. Moreover, she did it as a Black single mother. If you have ever wondered what a diplomat does, what being in the Foreign Service is like, or what it was like to be stationed in a country where coups were commonplace, this is your chance to find out. Ask her: which place did you like best? How could you represent a country which didn’t always treat you fairly? Who were some of the famous people you met? What lessons have you learned that are applicable to others with big dreams? Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans’s new memoir is “Chocolates for Mary Judith: Black Woman Blazes Trails as a Career Diplomat.” She rose from the military equivalent of a first lieutenant to a major general. Contact Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans at (571) 568-8667; jmuddkrijgelmans@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Aaron Rodgers’ Darkness Retreat: What’s That All About?
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is preparing to undertake a “darkness retreat.” The experience involves being in total darkness for four days and nights and can produce hallucinations similar to the psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Why would Rodgers do this and how does it work? Is it similar to a vision quest or psychedelic trip? Hart can answer your questions. He has studied with Native Americans, taught courses on shamanism, and led vision quests for three decades. Sparrow’s varied career includes being a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford, a brief stint working in a slaughterhouse, adventures in the Amazon, and over 30 years of leading workshops on shamanism, conscious dreaming, and vision quests in nature. He is the author of several books including “Letters to the River: A Guide to a Dream Worth Living.” Contact Sparrow Hart at (802) 387-6624; sparrow@together.net
8. ==> How to Earn a College Degree on YouTube
For many people, a college education comes with many obstacles including high cost and accessibility, but a new partnership between Arizona State University and YouTube aims to make earning college credits from a top university easier and more affordable than ever. With the new program called Study Hall, students take ASU college classes online via YouTube at a fraction of the cost of traditional college tuition. YouTube’s Hema Bajaj Misra can share details of the program including what type of classes are offered, who teaches them, and who accepts the credits earned. Many will find the best part of the new program is that you can take a class as many times as you like and don’t pay until you’re satisfied with your grade. Contact John Angelo at john@premieretv.com
9. ==> Interview One of New York’s Top Psychics
When it comes to intuitive psychics, Ann Johnson is the real deal. Her abilities and services have been covered by top media outlets including “New York Magazine,” MTV Network, and “Rolling Stone” magazine, who said, “She has a unique gift for connecting with people.” Over her career, she has read the fortunes of thousands of clients and helped them discover answers to their questions about relationships, health, wealth, and careers. Ann brings powerful insights and recommendations for your audience that will lead them toward living their best lives, helping them look and feel better at any age. She can provide instant personality analysis, relationship advice, and more. Find out what’s in store for you and your listeners when you interview this fascinating guest. A psychic advisor and frequent media guest, Ann is the author of “Facing Forward: A Memoir About Choices, Intuition, and Insights in a Show Busy Life.” Contact Ann Johnson at (516) 862-4405; ajohnson@rtirguests.com
10. ==> This Guest Loves to Talk About the Elephants in the Room
Elephants are very popular in modern culture, with good reason. They are majestic, lovable and highly intelligent. But according to animal/environmental welfare activist Georja Umano, pachyderms are more than just adorable. “They are crucial to the health of our environment and ecosystems, and are sadly endangered because of poaching, trophy hunting and habitat loss due to land development,” she says. Georja can share why it’s so important to protect this endangered species, and other fascinating pachyderm facts, as well as her experiences living in Kenya. She is the author of the multi-award-winning book “Terriers in the Jungle,” and is in the process of launching a nonprofit called the Elephant Matriarch Project for Mothers and Children, the goal of which is to educate and train young underprivileged African women and girls for careers in wildlife conservation. Contact her at (213) 568-1764; gumano@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Are Girls Really Bad at Math? This Expert Reveals the Truth
It’s long been believed that girls lack math skills. “That’s a myth!” says author and STEM professor Chris A. Goldberg. “In fact, female students tend to perform better than boys in math. But they suffer from lower confidence and a lack of role models in the STEM-related fields and do not pursue these careers, according to a recent study.” Chris can share how girls can get their inspiration from such role models as mathematician 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 Chris at (973) 576-5841; cgoldberg@rtirguests.com
12. ==> How Perfect Parenting Hurts Kids
Many parents attempt to be perfect and expect the same from their kids. But author Jerry Bures claims that this does a lot more harm than good. “Striving for perfection in parenting is both unrealistic and unnecessary,” he says. “It’s the curse of parenting. It’s more about getting it mostly right, most of the time, and celebrating more of what goes well and beating yourself up less for what goes wrong.” Jerry should know. As a dad to six kids, including one with significant special needs, he had to learn how to deal with the pressures of what he calls “crisis parenting.” He is the author of “When Kids Leave Clues: 26 Timeless Stories of Inspiration & Essential Life Lessons Taught to Us by Our Own Children”. Contact him at (920) 796 -9160; jbures@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Is Postpartum Depression Preventable?
Giving birth is supposed to be joyous. But for about one in seven women in the U.S., that new baby comes with hopelessness, mood swings, inconsolable crying, anxiety, difficulties bonding with their infants, extreme tiredness, and loss of appetite, symptoms that can last from three to six months and be shared by their partners. But what if their agony could be prevented? What would we need to do to make that happen? Alan Lindemann has the answers, having practiced obstetrics for 45 years, delivered more than 6,000 babies, and been a pioneer in treating postpartum depression. The now-retired doctor is devoting his time to reaching out to women about maternal health, especially those who may have limited access to care and information based on where they live. Ask him: Why is it key to combat postpartum depression before birth takes place? Why is postpartum depression so common? How do “maternity deserts” impact the problem? Contact Alan Lindemann, M.D., at (701) 399-9556; ALindemann@Rtirguests.com
14. ==> The Hidden Toll of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease affects at least 5.8 million American families with loved ones over 65. And its insidious younger version, early-onset, affects more than 200,000. Families are tested and troubled on so many levels when this memory-robbing, progressive disease strikes. Alzheimer patients, their loved ones and caregivers often struggle emotionally, physically, financially, and mentally. For a look at Alzheimer’s hidden toll on families, interview Carlen Maddux, a former journalist who cared for his wife for 17 years after she was diagnosed at age 50. Carlen can talk about how his wife’s illness affected their children and his marriage and career, plus which lessons he learned as the disease progressed. He is the author of “A Path Revealed” and has done dozens of interviews. Ask him: How did his children cope with changes brought about by their mother’s illness and decline? What insight does Carlen have for other families dealing with Alzheimer’s? How can loved ones help the patient and themselves? Contact Carlen Maddux at (727) 351-8321; CMaddux@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Do You Know the 5 HABITs of Grief?
Losing a loved one can be a crippling blow from which you never seem to recover, especially since most people have no idea how to deal with such a loss. Frank DiMaio has been there. After losing his wife to breast cancer, he found there was no real support or guidance for surviving husbands — so he set out to develop that. Now, Frank shares insights from his journey of healing with your audience. He can help anyone say no to defeat and move forward from being emotionally stuck, whether through the loss of a loved one or grief stemming from major life changes, through his system of positive HABITs. Frank’s new book is “A Promise Made, A Promise Kept: A Husband’s Journey Through Journaling to Heal the Loss of His Spouse.” Contact Frank DiMaio at (401) 205-3325; fdimaio@rtirguests.com