February 25, 2020
01. What’s Behind Bernie Sanders’ Surge?
02. Why Bloomberg Should Have Run as a Republican
03. Calming Coronavirus Fears: Caution vs Paranoia
04. Coronavirus Facts – What it is and How to Prevent it
05. NY Times Reporter on the Women Shaping Congress
06. Why Every American Should Care About Poverty in Africa
07. The New Mindfulness of Money: Should You Get in On It?
08. Are Carcinogens Hiding in Products You Use Most?
09. Psychedelics: What’s Behind Their Rise in Popularity?
10. Is Your Boss Crossing the Line? (and How to Recognize Fraud)
11. How Our School Systems Are Sabotaging Education from Within
12. 10 Anti-Bullying Lessons Trees Can Teach Us
13. 5 Things You Can Do to Outsmart Pain
14. What House Flipping Shows Don’t Tell You
15. Here’s Why You Aren’t Happier (and What You Can Do About It!)
16. Why Women Nag Men and How to Get Them to Stop
17. How to Become Supernatural
18. Rare, Incurable, Fatal: 3 Words Parents Never Want to Hear
19. Who Says Learning Math Has to Be Hard?
20. Sex, Drugs, and Heavy Metal: Backstage Tales of Metal Legends
1. ==> What’s Behind Bernie Sanders’ Surge?
Bernie Sanders is currently being called the
presumptive frontrunner in the Democratic contest to
take on Donald Trump in November. Discuss the candidate
with political commentator and talk show host Arnie
Arnesen. She says Sanders appeals to those in America
who are currently hurting. “He has moved the entire
agenda of the Democratic Party not to the left, but to
where the essence and soul of the party has
historically been. About workers, about justice, about
investment in infrastructure, about health care as a
right and an environment that sustains us and does not
serve the interests of corporate success and America’s
failure. The New Dems under Bill Clinton moved the
party into the arms of Wall Street and had more in
common with a moderate Republican Party that no longer
exists in America.” In addition to her daily talk show
The Attitude, Arnesen is a frequent political
commentator on Boston and New England radio and has
appeared on CNN and other major media. She served for
eight years as a member of the New Hampshire House of
Representatives and ran for governor of the state in
1992. Contact her at nharnie@gmail.com; @pchowder
2. ==> Why Bloomberg Should Have Run as a Republican
Many observers believe billionaire Michael Bloomberg
used his massive personal wealth to buy his way into
the election but political communication researcher
Robert McChesney says he could have used his fortune to
run as a Republican, and not further fracture the
Democratic Party. He says Bloomberg “could have done
everything possible to expose Trump and to locate and
encourage anti-Trump Republicans. He could have
supported primary challengers on the Republican side to
defeat Trump’s allies and enablers. He could have built
up a parallel party apparatus employing thousands of
Republican operatives at big salaries. He might have
made Trump completely crack up. At any rate, he would
have had an enormous impact that might have helped to
slow and begin to reverse the Trumpian drift.” Robert
McChesney is research professor at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and co-founder of the
media reform group Free Press. He is the author of
several books about the media and democracy. Contact
him at rwmcchesney@gmail.com or (217) 333-2683
3. ==> Calming Coronavirus Fears: Caution vs Paranoia
As of Monday, there were 53 confirmed cases of novel
coronavirus in the United States, including 36 people
who were aboard a cruise ship, three people repatriated
from China, and 14 U.S. cases. As the virus spreads
people are getting increasingly nervous and anxious.
Health officials say the risk of death is much smaller
than the influenza virus, so why is everyone so
worried? What’s the difference between using caution
and becoming paranoid? Should you cancel your upcoming
international trip? Wear a mask on the plane? Invite
clinical forensic psychologist Dr. John Huber to talk
about how to deal with coronavirus fears. Dr. Huber has
appeared on over 300 radio and TV programs and is the
host of Mainstream Mental Health Radio. Contact Ryan
McCormick at (516) 901-1103; (919) 377-1200 or
ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
4. ==> Coronavirus Facts – What It is and How to
Prevent It
You’ve probably heard that the coronavirus is similar
to the flu, but health experts say there’s a
difference. With the flu, you often get severe muscle
aches and headaches; with this coronavirus, evidence
suggests shortness of breath develops in more than half
the cases after about a week. That’s not like the
flu—with the flu, you rarely would be short of breath.
But epidemiologist Krys Johnson says prevention IS the
same. “Make sure you wash your hands as often as you
can, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer—they have
found the coronavirus does die in the presence of an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer, so that’s a good thing to
keep on your person at all times, especially if you use
a train or a bus and you don’t have access to washing
your hands. And if someone sneezes or coughs around
you, just try to be very cognizant of that and make
sure you’re not breathing in anything that they
could’ve just coughed up.” Krys Johnson teaches
epidemiology—the study of the causes and distribution
of disease in populations—at Temple University’s
College of Public Health. She worked with the Florida
Department of Health during the Zika virus outbreak in
2015–2016. Contact Morgan Zalot at (215) 204-7560;
morgan.zalot@temple.edu
5. ==> NY Times Reporter on the Women Shaping Congress
In January 2019, the largest number of women ever
elected to Congress was sworn in—87 in the House and 23
in the Senate. This history-making class included many
firsts: the youngest woman ever to serve; the first two
Muslim women; the first two Native American women, one
openly gay; a black woman from a nearly all-white
Chicago suburb; and a Hispanic woman from a heavily
Republican border region. Invite veteran New York Times
Capitol Hill reporter Jennifer Steinhauer to give
listeners a behind-the-scenes look at these newcomers
and their individual and collective attempts to usher
in change in Washington. Can these women, many already
social media stars and political punching bags, find a
way to break through the partisan stalemate and
hidebound traditions of Washington, D.C.? Which is a
more salient marker of change—their gender, or the
diversity of age, race, religion and economic status
they bring to Congress? Jennifer Steinhauer has covered
numerous high-profile beats in her 25-year reporting
career at the New York Times. Her latest book is “The
Firsts: The Inside Story of the Women Reshaping
Congress.” Contact Johanna Ramos Boyer at (703)
646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell); johanna@jrbcomm.com or
Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
6. ==> Why Every American Should Care About Poverty in
Africa
Many African nations attained independence from the
colonial powers in the late 1950s and 1960s. However,
the promise of a bright future has not materialized due
to corruption, greed, poor governance and conflicts.
Massive foreign aid over six decades has not rectified
the situation. So why should the rest of the world
still care? Well, according to UNICEF, by 2050, Africa
will be home to 35% of all adolescents in the world.
The rest of the world cannot afford to ignore this
large population. Invite author and speaker Dr.
Sylvanus Ayeni to discuss the impact of poverty in
Africa on the rest of the world and why foreign aid
should be restructured. Ayeni, a retired neurosurgeon
and the president of Pan Africa Children Advocacy
Watch, Inc., was born and raised in Nigeria. His latest
book, “Rescue Thyself: Change in Sub-Saharan Africa
Must Come from Within,” addresses these issues boldly
and holistically. Contact Sylvanus Ayeni at (301)
910-1020; stoksayeni777@gmail.com
7. ==> The New Mindfulness of Money: Should You Get in
On It?
These days, the concept of mindfulness seems to be
everywhere. The latest place it is showing up is in how
we spend—and invest—money. Lorri Craig, a Certified
Financial Planner, is a huge proponent of this cutting-
edge trend. Invite her to share ways mindfulness can
lead anyone to do well and do good. Craig has a
master’s degree in finance and is a subject matter
expert for the Certified Financial Planner Board of
Standards. She offers an Environmental, Social,
Governance (ESG) investment platform on her website for
socially conscious investors who want to make a
positive impact on the world. Contact Lorri Craig at
(484) 453-1742; LCraig@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Are Carcinogens Hiding in Products You Use Most?
Everyone uses such products as deodorant, shampoo, hand
soap, body wash, moisturizer, shaving cream, cologne or
makeup. But few consider whether doing so might be
harmful to their health. The same goes for laundry and
cleaning products. Marcela Magda Popa, M.D., has done
the research and she knows that we are putting a lot of
toxic ingredients on our skin, which as the body’s
largest organ, absorbs a lot of these poisons. Let Dr.
Popa explain how to find healthier readily available
alternative products. The author of “Keep Away from
GRAS: Why Safe Everyday Products Are Making You Sick
and Simple Strategies to Recover Your Health” was
forced to take early retirement from her job as an
internal medicine physician because of her stubborn
autoimmune arthritis. Although a difficult period for
her, it brought the time to research the suspicion she
had formed that “generally recognized as safe”
ingredients used in foods, cosmetics, cookware, hygiene
products, and other products may be making people
sicker. Marcela Magda Popa graduated from Carol Davilla
Medical School in Bucharest, Romania, and completed
residency training in the United States. She’s been
featured on MSN Lifestyle, SheKnows, Elite Daily,
Bustle, and in Business Insider. Contact her at (917)
750-3377; marcelampopa@gmail.com
9. ==> Psychedelics: What’s Behind their Rise in
Popularity?
If the word “psychedelic” makes you think of Woodstock,
the 1960s, and people dropping out of society, you are
behind the times. While still prohibited by law, some
once-considered “bad boys” of the drug culture (LSD,
Psilocybin, MDMA), are now being seriously studied by
science and found to be not-only completely non-
addictive, but more effective in the relief of anxiety,
addiction and depression than any known or traditional
treatment. Sparrow Hart can discuss both the incredible
promise of psychedelics as well as potential pitfalls
for their misuse in an addictive and distraction-
seeking culture. A Stanford University graduate, Hart
has spent his life studying the variety of ways to
alter and change consciousness. His varied career
includes a brief stint working in a slaughter-house,
adventures in the Amazon, and over 30 years of leading
workshops on shamanism, conscious dreaming and vision
quests in nature. His latest book is “Letters to the
River: A Guide to a Dream Worth Living.” Contact him at
(801) 516-0740; SHart@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Is Your Boss Crossing the Line? (and How to
Recognize Fraud)
What does it really mean to be ethical in business and
life? Would you know fraud if you saw it at work or in
yourself? Interview John Smith – an ordinary guy who
unwittingly got caught up in the 1980s’ S&L crisis and
found out the hard way that you don’t have to commit a
crime to be convicted of one. “Most people are unaware
of what fraud actually is so it’s overlooked and people
remain unaware of illegal activity around them. We all
need to know exactly what fraud is, how it happens, why
it happens, and how to avoid it!” says John. John Smith
shares his gripping story and the consequences of
ethical and unethical behavior in his book, “Embracing
the Abyss,” which chronicles his becoming part of a
fraud scandal and how he eventually received a
presidential pardon. Contact John Smith at (214)
216-2199; JSmith@rtirguests.com
11. ==> How Our School Systems Are Sabotaging Education
from Within
The latest educational horror in the news comes from a
Madison, Wis., school district that has not only
abandoned the A-F grade system but will grade students
on their ability to tell stories and work in groups,
not on their mastery of math, history, or other
academic subjects. This, says Andrew Bernstein, Ph.D.,
who teaches philosophy at Marist College, is only the
latest attack from the educational establishment on
teaching academic subjects. The result, he says, is a
continuation of our failing school system. Dr.
Bernstein, author of the forthcoming book, “Why Johnny
Still Can’t Read or Write, Spell, or Understand Math–
and What We Can Do About It,” has appeared on hundreds
of radio shows and been a guest on Cavuto Live on Fox
TV and others. Contact Dr. Bernstein at (845) 219-4566;
andyswoop@gmail.com
12. ==> 10 Anti-Bullying Lessons Trees Can Teach Us
One out of four students says they have been bullied in
school and over 70% of students report seeing other
kids being bullied. While the statistics are scary and
well-known, educator Laurie Marshall has an approach to
bullying prevention you’ve never heard of. She shares
practical and creative actions that draw upon the way
trees operate. For example, each leaf carries out a
unique vital job in cooperation with the other leaves.
As a bully prevention specialist, Laurie has developed
ways to teach children communication and self-
confidence skills needed to work together for the
benefit of their whole family, classroom and community.
Her tree-based, arts-integrated program gives each
child a vital, creative job to do. This transforms
bullying. A student of biomimicry (a method for
creating solutions to challenges by emulating designs
and ideas found in nature), Laurie also has a master’s
degree in art and education. The author of multiple
books, including “Beating the Odds Now,” has trained
over 6,000 teachers in project-based learning and
facilitated 125 bully-prevention, nature-based murals
with over 25,000 people in schools, nonprofits and
government agencies (NASA, FEMA, U.S. Botanical
Gardens). Contact Laurie at (415) 360-3304;
lmarshall@rtirguests.com
13. ==> 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
14. ==> What House Flipping Shows Don’t Tell You
Those popular home improvement TV shows make it all
look so easy. But according to real estate expert Dan
Lieberman, that’s not the way it works. “They show the
befores and afters and how much they paid and sold it
for,” he says. “But they don’t tell you what they paid
the bank in loan costs, all the ‘unbilled’ time
involved, or about the construction deals they get
because they have a TV show.” Dan is a long-time
property renovator who can tell your audience how to
get the most bang for their buck by improving rental
properties and other money-making tips. He is the
author of “The Effective Landlord: How Owners and
Property Managers Can Attract Better Tenants, Raise
Rents, and Boost Their Bottom Line in Any Market.”
Contact Dan at (510) 570-1368;
DLieberman@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Here’s Why You Aren’t Happier (and What You Can
Do About It!)
Many experts offer tips on how to be happier. What
happens when you try so many of them and they just
don’t work? Elana Davidson discovered what she and so
many others were missing. True happiness is not just
about attitude and gratitude, it won’t be found through
quick-fixes and cookie-cutter clichés. The good news is
Elana can offer some tools and insights to your
audience that can make a real difference. Ask her why
doesn’t therapy work for some people? What key things
are people missing? How is the subconscious affecting
people’s ability to be happy? Elana is giving away
copies of her eBook, “Finding Your Own Happy: The Soul-
Searchers Guide to Peace and Happiness in Everyday
Life,” published by Morgan James. Contact Elana at
(413) 225-4758; elanadavidson@rtirguests.com
16. ==> Why Women Nag Men and How to Get them to Stop
No one likes to be nagged and nagging is an ineffective
way to get someone to do something. Despite that,
women, in general, have a reputation for nagging and,
as relationship expert Stephanie Weiland Knarr, Ph.D.,
will tell you, men do it too! Invite Dr. Stephanie on
your program to share her innovative and much more
successful approach to being heard by your significant
other. You’ll learn what your relationship should have
in common with Walmart and Target, what complaining
does for a relationship, and tips for coping with a
defensive spouse. A marriage and family counselor for
20 years, Dr. Stephanie has helped thousands of
couples. She’s been a guest on local TV and been
featured in USA Today and Forbes. Contact her at (301)
918-5708; sknarr@rtirguests.com
17. ==> How to Become Supernatural
The supernatural isn’t just the stuff of sci-fi movies.
According to Kim Chestney, we all possess these powers.
“A popular theme in our culture today is the cognitive
evolution of humanity—how the expansion of our
consciousness can give us the ability to know the
unknowable and experience the impossible,” she says.
Kim will share the simple yet powerful ways that you
can tap into your superpower and radically change your
life. The founder of IntuitionLab, Kim is the author of
“The Psychic Workshop” and the upcoming “Radical
Intuition: A Revolutionary Guide to Your Inner Power.”
Contact her at (412) 214-9502; KChestney@rtirguests.com
18. ==> Rare, Incurable, Fatal: 3 Words Parents Never
Want to Hear
Have you heard of Batten disease? It’s a rare group of
genetic nervous system disorders (like “Parkinson’s on
steroids!”) that worsen over time, with children
experiencing progressive problems involving vision,
balance, muscle movement, intellectual skills, dementia
and seizures. Learn more by interviewing researcher and
author Amy Proebstel, who is helping to bring awareness
to the disease. You’ll learn why children get the
disease, what the first symptoms are and the prognosis
for those affected. Amy is the author of “The Rift in
Our Reality,” a touching story of a real-life ten-year-
old girl with the disease. A portion of book sales will
support Haley’s Foundation, the nonprofit named for the
girl. Contact Amy Proebstel at (503) 877-1119;
aproebstel@rtirguests.com
19. ==> Who Says Learning Math Has to Be Hard?
Even dedicated, experienced educators are challenged
helping students learn math. Students expect
insurmountable lessons and often get frustrated when
math doesn’t make sense. No wonder all types of
audiences (teachers, parents, students, and employers)
will enjoy hearing good news from Teruni Lamberg, Ph.D.
The author of “Work Smarter, Not Harder: A Framework
for Math Teaching and Learning” will discuss a
research-based, classroom-tested framework shown to
improve teaching and impact student achievement.
Whether your listeners are teachers, parents or
students, they’ll appreciate Dr. Lamberg’s tips and
tricks to make math more manageable. Contact Teruni at
(775) 451-3086; TLamberg@rtirguests.com
20. ==> Sex, Drugs, and Heavy Metal: Backstage Tales of
Metal Legends
Get your backstage pass and go behind-the-scenes with
such legendary bands as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest,
Twisted Sister, and Quiet Riot—to name a few. Jon
Wiederhorn will take you onto tour buses, into hotel
rooms, and to exclusive parties and spots both seedy
and glamorous. Topics range from band brawls and
security scraps to mosh pit mishaps and near-death
experiences. And of course, there’s booze and drugs and
groupies. Jon Wiederhorn is the author of “Raising
Hell: Backstage Tales from the Lives of Metal Legends.”
Contact Lissa Warren, (617) 607-4925;
lissa@diversionbooks.com
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