01. The Art of a Ukraine Deal
02. Elon Musk Isn’t a Bad Boss, He’s a Cyberbully
03. Trump, Putin and Patrimonialism
04. Surprising Ways Technology is Shaping Society
05. The White Lotus Effect
06. Rebels and Scoundrels Can Also Be Great Leaders
07. Trump vs Biden: Assessing Donald’s First Weeks in Office
08. Holistic Veterinarian on Bird Flu and Chickens
09. The Shocking Truth about Modern Nursing
10. Are You Living With Pain? Expert Shares How to Stay Alive and Thrive
11. How to Become the Person Everyone Wants to Know
12. Why You Should Consider Autism and ADHD Superpowers
13. How a Former FEMA Spokesman Became an Internet Humor Sensation
14. Meet the Kick-Ass 87-Year-Old Trying to Create a Guinness World Book Record
15. Doc Shares RX for Living a Happier and More Meaningful Life
1. ==> The Art of a Ukraine Deal
Monday marked three years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of people are dead, Russian forces occupy just under 20 percent of the country, and hundreds of billions of dollars in aid for Kyiv have been provided by the United States and other backers. Donald Trump has promised a swift end to the war and has upended U.S. policy by engaging Russia in direct bilateral talks that so far exclude Ukraine and its European allies. What is Trump doing and will he succeed? What would a good outcome look like? Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) can discuss what is driving Trump’s apparent strategy, his false claim that Ukraine started the war, and why a hastily negotiated deal that doesn’t involve allies could lead to Ukraine becoming his Afghanistan. “If you thought the optics of the Taliban parading American Humvees through Kabul looked bad, imagine the Russians driving a convoy of Abrams tanks through Kharkiv,” he says. Contact the CFR communications department to arrange interviews at (212) 434-9888; communications@cfr.org
2. ==> Elon Musk Isn’t a Bad Boss, He’s a Cyberbully
Federal staffers got a message from Elon Musk on Saturday telling them to “list five tasks they completed last week” with an end-of-Monday deadline. He then took to social media and said not replying would be considered a resignation. As the weekend progressed, so did the realization by some that they should treat the email as spam. “Elon Musk has no authority. He’s not in the chain of command of these employees, so getting a direct order to do something or lose your job in some capacity when he had no authority to do that is something these agency heads are basically wising up to,” says Mark Maxin, an attorney with nearly four decades of experience in federal employment law, who served as counsel for labor relations at the Department of Labor under Democratic and Republican administrations. Maxin also says that Musk’s email violates federal sector employment law in several ways, including that employees are protected from being coerced to give out information. Contact Mark Maxin at maxin@american.edu or Natasha Abel at nabel@american.edu
3. ==> Trump, Putin and Patrimonialism
Many people have been calling Donald Trump a wannabe authoritarian but Jonathan Rauch says what we’re seeing with his administration is what scholars call patrimonialism, and he says understanding it is essential to defeating it. The ancient form of governing involves a ruler claiming to be the symbolic father of the people and treating the state as his extended ‘household.’ Rauch offers Vladimir Putin’s first term as an example. So how is it defeated? Rauch says patrimonialism suffers from two inherent, and in many cases fatal, shortcomings; incompetence and corruption. He says, “Right now, when (democrats) are out of power and Trump is the capo di tutti capi, the history of patrimonial rule suggests that their most effective approach will be hammering home the message that he is corrupt. One thing is certain: He will give them plenty to work with.” Jonathan Rauch is a contributing writer at “The Atlantic” and a senior fellow in the governance studies program at the Brookings Institution. His latest book is “Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy.” Contact Jonathan Rauch at (202) 770-6520; GSMedia@brookings.edu or jon2U@hotmail.com
4. ==> Surprising Ways Technology is Shaping Society
Why do so many technological innovations fail to live up to their lofty promises? Cultural engineer-anthropologist Allen Batteau and design anthropologist Christine Z. Miller go beyond the innovation hype to examine how technology is shaping society in ways we rarely consider. They’ll discuss the flawed assumption that technology inherently leads to progress and the unintended consequences of innovation—global instability, misinformation, surveillance, and systemic vulnerabilities. They can also talk about the evolving relationship between humans and AI, including the psychological effects of lifelike digital entities. Batteau is a professor at Wayne State University and Miller teaches at Savannah College of Art and Design. They are the authors of “Tools, Totems, and Totalities: The Modern Construction of Hegemonic Technology.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 400-1099; johanna@jrbpr.biz or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
5. ==> The White Lotus Effect
If watching “The White Lotus” has you thinking, “I should book a trip to Thailand,” you’re not alone. When the location of Season 3 was first announced, interest in travel to Thailand skyrocketed. The phenomenon has even been dubbed “the White Lotus effect.” Brenda Prater Sellers understands travel lust and encourages people to lean into their adventurous spirit. She’s climbed Mt. Everest, chatted with celebrities, slept in crazy places and learned a lot of lessons. Bring her on your show to share her story and discuss her travels. Hear about her experiences and mishaps in bizarre locations and staying at the world’s most unique places: an underwater hotel, an ice hotel, sleeping with polar bears, and sleeping in wigwams along Route 66. She’ll share cost-saving travel tips and provide insight into her adventures while encouraging listeners to create their own bucket lists! Brenda is the author of “You Slept Where? Calamities of a Clumsy Businesswoman.” Contact her at (865) 344-1755; bsellers@rtirguests.com
6. ==> Rebels and Scoundrels Can Also Be Great Leaders
Historically, sinister characters like Al Capone, Genghis Khan, and Hell's Angel Sonny Barger have been considered villains and thugs. However, Steve Williams believes we can actually learn a lot from them about effective leadership. "These figures personified extreme leadership, shattering the status quo, leading from the front, and decisive decision making," he says. He can share the specific tactics that made these infamous characters such effective head honchos, and how to apply these to one's own path to success. He is the author of six books including "Notorious: Leadership Lessons from History's Most Notorious Leaders," with a forward written by renowned author Jack Canfield, and a certified leadership coach and QMS expert. Contact Steve Williams at (920) 280-1068; swilliams@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Trump vs Biden: Assessing Donald’s First Weeks in Office
It’s obvious that Trump’s second term will differ dramatically from Biden’s, but exactly how is worth investigating. Retirement wealth planner, author, and self-described “Equal Opportunity Critic” Rodger Friedman can discuss a wide variety of policy topics, from immigration to economic reform. Friedman is the author of “Erasing America: Broken Politics, Broken Country,” a chronicle of what he calls the slow but steady deterioration of our constitutional republic by the media and the radical progressive agenda. Have him on your show to discuss the potential triumphs and disappointments of the next four years of Trump in office. Ask him: How can Congress help enact Trump’s political agenda? Should we expect immediate results on immigration reform? Has the United States finally avoided socialism? Contact Rodger Friedman at (301) 327-2255; rfriedman@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Holistic Veterinarian on Bird Flu and Chickens
Bird flu is wreaking havoc on the farm industry and has led to millions of dead chickens and thousands of sick cows. It’s also caused an egg shortage and fears are rising about the health risks to humans. Is there any way to help keep the animals we eat safer? Bill Ormston, aka Dr. O, a longtime veterinarian who incorporates holistic remedies into his practice, says chiropractic care can make chickens and other food chain animals much safer to consume. “All animals used for food should be chiropractically adjusted, because it will help make the people who eat it healthier, he says. “I have been instrumental in doing some research studies involving food animals, and this works.” Dr. O has been a veterinarian for more than 36 years, has been adjusting animals for more than 26 years, and is a member of the elite Animal Chiropractic Hall of Fame. He is the author of “Yes! It’s Really a Thing: An Informative Guide to Animal Chiropractic.” Contact Bill Ormston, DVM, at (469) 833-2378; bormston@rtirguests.com
9. ==> The Shocking Truth about Modern Nursing
One day, nurse Kathy Allan happened to look out the window of her hospital to see a new mother and her infant being discharged – by a cleaning lady dressed in scrubs. The trouble was, only nurses should wear scrubs and only nurses can discharge patients. When Allan began asking questions, the hospital administration threatened her job. “I knew then that the fix was in and the con was on,” Allan says. Invite her on your show and hear why she says our for-profit healthcare system betrays patients and abuses caregivers. Hear how nurses are overworked, exhausted, and are almost 20% more likely to die by suicide. As a 60-year nurse veteran, Allan not only knows all about these systemic ills, she can also discuss solutions which effectively address burnout and exhaustion, improve workplace relationships and professional boundaries, and strengthen policies that reduce the risk of medical errors. She is the founder of Gutsy Nurses, an organization dedicated to restoring the ethical practice of nursing as well as the sacred trust patients place in their caregivers. Contact Kathy Allan at (619) 932-5206; Kallan@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Are You Living With Pain? Expert Shares How to Stay Alive and Thrive
Vita Oyler is no stranger to debilitating pain. When she was a young, highly athletic woman, she accidentally stepped on a rock, after which she developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a severe malfunction of the nervous and immune systems. This led to decades of excruciating pain and, ultimately, the amputation of her foot and part of her leg. But not only did she manage to survive this, she learned how to thrive and live a full, rewarding life. She can share how she managed to stay positive and live a productive life following years of severe pain, and practical skills for people living with pain. Vita is a rehabilitation counselor and doctoral candidate at San Diego State University. She is the author of “Got Pain? Now What?” Contact her at (209) 255-2962; Voyler@rtirguests.com
11. ==> How to Become the Person Everyone Wants to Know
Let’s face it, success—in love and business—in today’s distraction-rich environment is all about standing out. Malia Rogers, author of “Magnetic Allure,” will teach listeners how to harness their natural charisma and sex appeal. It’s not about being a phony, Rogers says, it’s about being the real you, which allows you to make authentic connections and open doors. Malia will reveal nine proven traits that make people magnetic and share timely strategies to overcome self-doubt and rejection and help reset your charisma and attract new opportunities. Whether it’s launching a side gig, advancing in a career or cultivating meaningful relationships, Malia’s insights are designed to help you succeed in the year ahead and beyond. Ask her: Who is the most charismatic person you’ve ever met, and what made them stand out? Contact Malia Rogers at (208) 923-8366; mrogers@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Why You Should Consider Autism and ADHD Superpowers
Autism and ADHD are generally considered disabilities for people, but according to Donna Redman, those people are simply more in tune with their senses -- which can be viewed as superpowers! "People with autism, ADD, and ADHD (just to name a few) are often overwhelmed by their senses,” she says. “The problem is, they have so much sensory input that it’s hard to process everyday experiences. This can cause them a lot of stress and, in some cases, great pain.” Donna created the Secret Genius of Sensory Processing Program, to allow neurodiverse children and adults to unlock their hidden genius by using their senses to their advantage. She’ll discuss how it works and the difference it can make in someone’s life. Contact Donna Redman at (973) 876-5903; dredman@rtirguests.com
13. ==> How a Former FEMA Spokesman Became an Internet Humor Sensation
In terms of career reinventions, W.G. “Bill” Williams has been there and done that. He ran a consulting business in Washington, D.C. for twenty years, was a registered lobbyist, became the first director of News and Information for FEMA, and registered to become a financial advisor. Despite all that, Williams hopes he’s remembered for making people smile. “I started sending out a humorous daily email in the 1990s to get my sales staff to read their emails,” Williams says. “It worked.” Decades later, Williams has compiled thousands of these jokes and humorous stories, leading to his most recent book, “20 Years of Internet Humor…and Other Interesting Things.” Have Williams on for a fun show to discuss such quirky things as cat baptisms and the perils of AAADD: Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. He can even tell stories about his old college friend, who went on to become the famous musician, John Denver. Contact W.G. “Bill” Williams at (419) 534-0399; wgwilliams@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Meet the Kick-Ass 87-Year-Old Trying to Create a Guinness World Book Record
Some people think that getting older means slowing down. Then there are other people, like David Selley, whose levels of ambition outmatch the most manic 20-year-old. In addition to launching his new “Famous 50” publishing series, the octogenarian is on a quest to create a new Guinness World Record—Oldest Author to Publish the Most Books in One Year. Invite him on your show to share his plans to publish up to fifteen books by year’s end! (Four of which are already available on Amazon.) Selley is an entrepreneur through and through, having had success as a restauranteur, real estate developer, and in sales and senior management for companies like Revlon and Lancome. He is the founder of the International Entrepreneurs Association and continues to live up to his motto: “I Aspire to Inspire Before I Expire.” Contact David Selley at (808) 229-3985; Dselley@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Doc Shares RX for Living a Happier and More Meaningful Life
People often believe that happiness depends on life’s events and circumstances turning out well, but this limits how happy we can be; the number of such events is finite. Ron Schneebaum, M.D., author of “Bigger Hearted: A Retired Pediatrician’s Prescriptions for Living a Happier Life,” instead tells us that happier and more meaningful lives have more to do with our heart’s love and compassion than outer things. He’ll share how we can open, listen to, and work from our hearts. Contact Ron Schneebaum at (603) 314-3095; rschneebaum@rtirguests.com
