01. How Americans See the Border Situation
02. Backroom Chatter: The Democratic Party’s Inner Rift
03. Capitol Police Insider: We’re Not Ready for the Next January 6
04. The State of Democracy in Southeast Asia Is Bad and Getting Worse
05. Jimmy Carter Marks One Year in Hospice
06. Could the Rise of AI Spur New Religions?
07. What Turned This Morgan Stanley Employee into a Whistleblower?
08. How to Get Better Sleep Tonight
09. Are We Really Everything, Everywhere, All at Once?
10. Pro Wrestling: Comfort Food for Difficult Times
11. Don’t Believe the Myth That Hard Work Leads to Success
12. How Are Students Recovering from Pandemic Closures?
13. Why God Is the Ultimate Personal Trainer
14. This Hypnotherapist Talks to Aliens
15. Herbal Expert Spills the Tea on Longevity
1. ==> How Americans See the Border Situation
According to the Pew Research Center, nearly all Americans believe the large number of migrants seeking to enter the United States at the Mexican border is a problem but perceptions of the problem differ depending on things like age and political affiliation. Author and activist Max Elbaum says the anti-immigration movement takes two forms. “In the MAGA movement, it is posed as part of the Great Replacement, and a conspiracy of globalist Jews who are bringing in people of color to change the electorate. But there is also a wing of the Democrats that has embraced harsh anti-immigrant measures. They emphasize that there are too many people, that they are breaking the law, that we have to protect our borders and that this is a threat to labor rights and jobs.” Elbaum says they don’t tend to use the same kind of hateful rhetoric, but in terms of policy, that wing of the Democrats has caved to the idea that we have to view immigration as a security threat and not as something that has to do with the dynamics of global migration due to war, inequality, and climate change. Max Elbaum has been involved in peace and anti-racist movements since joining Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) in the 1960s. He writes for “Convergence Magazine.” Contact him at maxie@igc.org
2. ==> Backroom Chatter: The Democratic Party’s Inner Rift
Even before the cataclysmic 2016 election, the Democratic Party had long been at war with itself — yet Joe Biden’s narrow victory in 2020 bridged the divide. Today, on the verge of another consequential election, the party remains splintered, leading many to wonder if Biden can do it again. Veteran political journalists Hunter Walker and Luppe Luppen will paint a definitive history of a half-decade of upheaval in the Democratic Party in which a new generation aggressively pursued their progressive ideals while the powerful, centrist establishment adapted to remain in command. They’ll illuminate this story of backroom maneuvering and political strategy with new revelations about pivotal events and exclusive, on-the-record comments from activists, campaign operatives, and members of Congress. Hunter Walker is an investigative reporter for Talking Points Memo. Luppe B. Luppen is a lawyer and writer. Their new book is “Truce: Progressives, Centrists, and the Future of the Democratic Party.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
3. ==> Capitol Police Insider: We’re Not Ready for the Next January 6
As election season approaches, in what very well could be a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Julie Farnam says we need to look at the lessons January 6th taught us to ensure something like that never happens again. Farnam, the former assistant and then acting director of the U.S. Capitol Police’s Intelligence Division, will share her experiences in the days before and after the insurrection — the warning she gave that violence was coming and Congress was the target, the reasons she thinks it was ignored (being a woman in a testosterone-infused field like law enforcement was a part of it), and the cover-up that followed. She predicts the next crisis will likely be the result of hostility toward a member of Congress and says that violence against elected officials is the most immediate danger facing the legislative branch today. Julie Farnam is the author of “Domestic Darkness: An Insider’s Account of the January 6 Insurrection and the Future of Right-Wing Extremism.” Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com
4. ==> The State of Democracy in Southeast Asia Is Bad and Getting Worse
By 2020, with the state of democracy in Southeast Asia already in dire shape, it seemed that things couldn’t get worse. And yet, according to Joshua Kurlantzick, in the past few years, they have. He’ll discuss the latest threats in Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar and how even three of the stronger and bigger democracies in the region (the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia) are backsliding. He’ll also discuss how the democratic regression may affect the region’s stability and, potentially, its development. Joshua Kurlantzick is senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is the author of “Beijing’s Global Media Offensive: China’s Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World.” Contact him at (202) 285-4339; jkurlantzick@cfr.org
5. ==> Jimmy Carter Marks One Year in Hospice
Sunday marked the anniversary of Jimmy Carter entering hospice care at his home in Georgia. Since then the former U.S. president has celebrated his 99th birthday and enjoyed tributes to his legacy. Advocates hope his endurance drives awareness about end-of-life care and hospice. “It’s been massive to have the Carters be so public,” says Angela Novas, chief medical officer for the Hospice Foundation of America. She’ll explain what hospice is and who it serves. Hospice is not giving up, it’s about accepting our mortality and Novas says Carter has proven that with his public announcements and his determination to attend Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. “That was such an important moment,” Novas says, for the world to “see what 99 looks like.” The nonprofit Hospice Foundation of America educates the public and health-care professionals about death, dying and grief. Contact Cindy Bramble at cbramble@hospicefoundation.org
6. ==> Could the Rise of AI Spur New Religions?
The latest generation of AI-powered chatbots, trained on large language models, have left their early users awestruck —and sometimes terrified — by their power, the same emotions that lie at the heart of our experience of the divine. As these chatbots come to be used by billions of people, is it inevitable that some users will see the AIs as higher beings? Invite Radha Metro-Midkiff, executive director of Integral Yoga Institute New York, to discuss how the emergence of AI religions could reshape traditional understandings of spirituality. Ask her: Do you think AI could replace mindfulness? What are the potential risks of the worship of AI and the proliferation of AI-based religions? How might the nature of AI-based religions differ from traditional faiths in terms of hierarchy and doctrine? Born to two integral yoga ministers, Radha has been studying yoga her entire life. She is a certified life coach and the executive director of Integral Yoga Institute New York. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; Ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
7. ==> What Turned This Morgan Stanley Employee into a Whistleblower?
While working as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley back in 2003, Dana de Windt discovered that the company was involved in the fraudulent sale of a bond that was actually a surplus note being marketed to ordinary people, who lost their entire investment when the note became worthless. When he attempted to expose the fraud, nothing much happened. That episode was just one of the shocking events he witnessed during his 30-plus years in the financial industry, and he can share how average investors can protect themselves from inappropriate investments. Dana is the author of “Checkmate: The Morgan Stanley Whistle Blower.” Contact him at (772) 773-6879; ddewindt@rtirguests.com
8. ==> How to Get Better Sleep Tonight
According to the CDC, one in three Americans doesn’t get enough sleep; being sleep-deprived affects your cognitive functioning and emotional resilience, leading to even more stress and the creation of a vicious circle. For some great ideas on how to sleep better that you can use right away, interview Edie Summers, the author of “The Memory of Health” and a corporate wellness advisor for a tech-health startup. Knowledgeable about the latest sleep research, Edie can help your listeners learn the answers to such questions as what time should you stop drinking caffeinated beverages (it’s earlier than you think), why should you go to bed early if you have a lot to do, what food eaten at bedtime helps you sleep, and what type of bed works best for couples troubled by their partner’s tossing and turning. Edie has been featured in “Entrepreneur” and many podcasts. Contact Edie Summers at (503) 487-0058; esummers@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Are We Really Everything, Everywhere, All at Once?
The media’s newfound fascination with the multiverse has started to spread like wildfire. From the Golden Globes to the Critics’ Choice Awards, movies and TV shows like “Across the Spiderverse” are gaining critical acclaim and overwhelming mainstream attention due to the multiverse theory and its potential to revolutionize our understanding of reality. Author and philosopher Peter Canova can discuss the intersections between the scientific and spiritual understandings of the world that could point to the existence of parallel universes. Ask him: Is there evidence that multiple universes actually exist? If so, how does that possibility revolutionize our understanding of human consciousness and our overall purpose? Peter Canova is a philosopher, linguist, historian, and author of several books including his latest, “Quantum Spirituality.” Contact Mackenzie August at (661) 255-8283; mackenzie@steveallenmedia.com
10. ==> Pro Wrestling: Comfort Food for Difficult Times
Turn on the TV just about any night and you’ll find pro wrestling on some channel. We all know pro wrestling is prearranged, but the shows still sell out and the pay-per-view numbers are higher than ever. Why? Former pro wrestler Chris Whaley, who spent the 1980s as “The Saint,” says, “People are tired of politics and programs that do not spark their interest. Wrestling is comfort food for living in a difficult world.” Ask Whaley about his decade-long career competing with “The Undertaker,” “The Ultimate Warrior,” and more, and why he left the ring and took up a different fight, as a minister. Chris Whaley’s first book, “The Masked Saint” — based on a true story — was made into an award-winning movie and his second book, “Harold’s Heavenly Christmas” will be a Movie of the Week. He has appeared on TV, radio and podcasts. Contact Dr. Chris Whaley at (407) 227-8781; themaskedsaint59@gmail.com
11. ==> Don’t Believe the Myth That Hard Work Leads to Success
America is a nation of workaholics who have long been indoctrinated to believe that performing long hours of mind-numbing work is the path to success. But according to author, project management expert and professional musician Gerald Leonard, that is total nonsense. “The long-held myth is that stressful work environments lead to higher productivity,” he says. “However, this leads to extreme burnout, greater employee turnover and decreased worker loyalty.” Gerald can share how to work smarter, not harder, to obtain maximum success. He is the author of numerous books including “Culture Is the Bass: 7 Steps to Creating High Performing Teams.” He is a certified Portfolio Management Professional and professional bass player. Contact Gerald Leonard at (443) 703-2929; gleonard@rtirguests.com
12. ==> How Are Students Recovering from Pandemic Closures?
According to the first national study of how much U.S. students are recovering from the pandemic school closings in 2020, elementary and middle school students have made up significant ground, and though they’re still behind, their gains were larger than researchers expected. “One of the big and surprising findings is there actually has been a substantial recovery,” says Sean Reardon, a professor of poverty and inequality in education at Stanford, and one of the study analysts. “But it’s an unevenly felt recovery,” he says, “so the worry there is that means inequality is getting baked in.” The students most at risk are those in poor districts, whose test scores fell further during the pandemic. Though the new data shows that they have begun to catch up, they had much more to make up than their peers from higher-income families, who are already closer to recovery. That leaves students in poor communities at a greater disadvantage than they were five years ago. Contact Sean Reardon at (650) 736-8517; sean.reardon@stanford.edu
13. ==> Why God Is the Ultimate Personal Trainer
If you want to lose weight, get in better shape and eat healthier you might think you need the services of a personal trainer and dietician or at least a gym membership. But Laura Pickett says that isn’t true. In fact, she’ll say that the world’s best personal trainer is yours for the asking; all you have to do is seek Him out. Laura, who has taken off 70 pounds and kept them off, will tell you that she accomplished that goal after she discovered that she needed to stop eating processed foods, sugar and bread, for example, when she allowed God to be her personal trainer. Invite Laura on the air to explain the role faith can play in significant weight loss and health reboots. Don’t forget to ask her about what happened when she asked God to knock the piece of pie off her plate if He didn’t want her to eat it. Laura Pickett is the author of “Get Over Weight (12 Steps to Finally Win the Weight Battle and Win at Life)” and the creator of a coaching and mentoring program on the topic. She has spent more than 30 years in the ministry and made multiple appearances on TBN’s national and local network (in Atlanta), and WATV. Contact Laura Pickett at (404) 856-5781; lpickett@rtirguests.com
14. ==> This Hypnotherapist Talks to Aliens
Dozens of people suspect they have been visited by an alien, but do you know anyone personally who has conversed with one? Hypnotherapist and author Kryste Andrews recounts a year of gathering information from a Gray, one of the 81 extraterrestrial species currently acknowledged by experts. Working weekly with her client, former champion weightlifter Robert Nanez, Kryste was introduced to the Gray whom Robert met at the age of five. “Under hypnosis, we’ve uncovered the truth for Robert and can now share his story with the world,” she says. “His bravery may help others who suspect they are undergoing physical and emotional manipulation by aliens.” Kryste (pronounced Christy) spent 30 years as a performer/singing instructor in New York City where she prepared young singers for Broadway and international stages. Her work as a certified hypnotherapist began in 1994. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book “LEGACY Book One, Discovery: A Remote Time Viewer’s Journey to His Ancestors.” Contact Kryste Andrews at (201) 801-4551; Kandrews@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Herbal Expert Spills the Tea on Longevity
The idyllic Caribbean nation of Dominica, where herbs expert Gladstone Etienne grew up, is a nature paradise known for its pristine environment, organic foods and laid-back lifestyle. Gladstone claims that the citizens there live longer, and stronger, as a result. “According to the BBC, Dominica has the highest number of centenarians per capita in the world,” he says. He also gives credit to herbal medicine, which he began studying as a child. Gladstone went on to develop a line of teas, to make it easier for Americans to gain the wondrous health benefits of herbs. He is the founder of ZABIOLife herbal tea company. Contact Gladstone Etienne at (301) 820-7656; Getienne@rtirguests.com
Comments are closed.