01. Are Christians Being Persecuted in America?
02. More Americans Are Prepping for Civil War
03. For Black History Month: The HBCU Band Experience
04. Splat! Why Do Birds Fly Into Windows?
05. Thursday Is Leap Day! Leap Legends and Lore
06. How to Sleep Better Tonight
07. How to Be an Assertive Woman and Not Be Seen as a Bitch
08. Solving the Epidemic of Lonely, Depressed Kids
09. Is the American Dream Dying?
10. A Powerful Tool to Overcome All Biases, and It’s Free!
11. Health Screenings: Get This, Skip That
12. How to Be Happy Now!
13. The Truth About Sex Addicts
14. Out-of-This-World Stories of What Really Happens Under Hypnosis
15. How to Find Your Personal Fountain of Youth
1.==> Are Christians Being Persecuted in America?
In his speech to the National Religious Broadcasters convention, Donald Trump cast the 2024 election as a “war against Christians.” Investigation journalist Katherine Stewart says that’s absurd because many American Christians are Democrats. But she says it shows that Christian nationalism is in many ways a mindset more than any doctrine or policy preference. “Key elements of the mindset are that Christians are under intense persecution, that the ‘enemy’ are fellow Americans, and that they are all radical leftists who represent an existential threat to the nation,” she says. “Those are exactly the buttons Trump pushed in his speech. These are not religious buttons; have nothing to do with the way most American Christians understand their religion. The fact that Trump is the one articulating these ideas should make that pretty obvious. This is an authoritarian and identitarian form of politics.” Katherine Stewart is an investigative reporter and author who covers religious liberty, politics, policy, and education. Her latest book is “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.” Contact her at writekaths@gmail.com
2. ==> More Americans Are Prepping for Civil War
As we head toward what is expected to be a contentious election, Americans of all ages and political persuasions are becoming increasingly worried about the prospect of a civil war. Hoarding food, water and weapons was once associated with libertarian extremists, but as a rematch between President Biden and his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, seems all but inevitable in 2024, “doomsday prepping” has become a bipartisan activity, according to a “USA Today” report. Shawn Rowland, M.D., will explain how recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have made “prepping” mainstream. He’ll explain what items everyone should have on hand in case of an emergency. Shawn Rowland, M.D., experienced drug shortages and access issues 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 medical help isn’t available. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; Ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
3. ==> For Black History Month: The HBCU Band Experience
Aspire TV’s limited series “6 Minutes to Glory: The HBCU Band Experience” is a tribute to the distinctive and fascinating culture of the Black marching bands of historically Black colleges and universities. Focused on one HBCU band per episode, viewers get an insider look at the band through the eyes of the students and hear about band members’ dreams, their inspiration for attending an HBCU and joining the bands, and how each school’s band has their own traditions that make them truly unique. Wayne Overstreet and Len Gibson are the show’s executive producers. Contact Jesse Metres or Kia Deadwyler at aspiretv@strategicheights.com
4. ==> Splat! Why Do Birds Fly Into Windows?
Hundreds of millions of birds die annually due to window collisions but there is something we can do about it. Large-scale construction changes can have the biggest impact, but homeowners and apartment dwellers can take a few small steps to help prevent bird collisions at home. According to Dr. Christine Sheppard, applying window decals is one way to help prevent window collisions. The director of the glass collisions program at the American Bird Conservancy says that you can use any kind of decal — or anything that will stick to the window, for that matter — as long as you keep a few things in mind. Invite Sheppard to discuss how to install window decals as well as the biggest reason more birds are dying and how some cities are trying to save migrating birds from flying into skyscrapers. The American Bird Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving birds and their habitats. Sheppard is an expert on the threat of glass collisions to birds and advocates for bird-friendly glass and building design. Contact her at (914) 261-8277; csheppard@abcbirds.org or @BirdsAndGlass
5. ==> Thursday Is Leap Day! Leap Legends and Lore
There are lots of superstitions and traditions about Leap Day. Worldwide, most Leap Day lore revolves around romance and marriage. According to one legend, complaints from St. Bridget prompted St. Patrick to designate Feb. 29 as the one day when women could propose to men. Katherine Parkin, a history professor at Monmouth University, says the custom spread to Scotland and England, where the British said that any man who rejects a woman’s proposal owes her several pairs of fine gloves. In Greece and some other places, it’s considered bad luck to get married on Leap Day. Parkin believes the real origin is that people like to challenge gender roles. “And in the case of marriage, to have a reversal of that power, I think is really unusual,” she adds. “And it ties perfectly with this unusual date. Where did it come from and where did it go? And so I think it really plays well into people’s imagination and playfulness.” Unfortunately, Parkin’s research points to darker undertones behind the tradition — namely, that it was actually intended to ridicule women. “As a historian, I look back to this tradition and see it as part of an American desire to offer women false empowerment.” Katherine Parkin is the author of several books including “Women at the Wheel: A Century of Buying, Driving, and Fixing Cars.” She is frequently quoted in newspapers and magazines including the “New York Times,” the “Washington Post” and “The Economist,” and has appeared on numerous radio programs including NPR’s Bob Edwards on Sirius-XM. Contact her at (732) 571-4492; kparkin@monmouth.edu
6. ==> How to Sleep Better 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
7. ==> How to Be an Assertive Woman and Not Be Seen as a Bitch
Assertive men are considered strong, but equally bold women are often perceived as nasty shrews. “Because of this perception, women in our society tend to repress their anger,” says psychologist Karyne Wilner. “However, this can lead to severe mental and physical health issues, because anger can get trapped in our psyches.” Karyne can share simple yet powerful mind/body techniques designed to enable women to process anger in positive, healthy ways. A leader in the field of mind/body health, Dr. Karyne Wilner is a faculty member at Salve Regina University and the author of the upcoming “Releasing Toxic Anger for Women: Body-Based Practices to Transform Neg¬ative Thoughts, Soothe Stress, and Stay True to Yourself.” Contact her at (401) 305-2278; kwilner@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Solving the Epidemic of Lonely, Depressed Kids
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 says kids today feel lonelier than ever and are desperately seeking a sense of belonging. He claims that enabling young people to focus on finding a purpose in life and pursuing their passions is just what the doctor ordered. Written with his son, his award-winning children’s book “Clara’s Magic Garden” is an uplifting illustration of this principle. Kolbaba 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
9. ==> 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. ==> A Powerful Tool to Overcome All Biases, and It’s Free!
The vast majority of the wars and chaos in the world are caused by bigotry and hate. But author Sara Ting claims that there is hope for positive change. “I have developed a simple training tool to empower individuals to transform the world,” she says. “It can enable all of us to overcome all of our biases in order to be change agents to make the world a better place for everyone.” Sara can share this tool on air, which is sure to astound and amaze your audience. She is a diversity and inclusion educator, speaker, consultant and author of “Small Book with a Big Idea: 5 Minute Training to Empower You and Transform the World.” Contact Sara Ting at (508) 715-3370; Sting@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Health Screenings: Get This, Skip That
You may know the leading causes of death among American men and women but do you know that you can avoid many of them? Longtime 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
12. ==> How to Be Happy Now!
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
13. ==> The Truth About Sex Addicts
The general belief is that sex addicts are merely selfish, amoral perverts. But according to author and marriage therapist Marsha Means, the reasons for this crippling dependence are far more complicated. “I have researched the connection between sexual addiction and attachment wounds in childhood,” she says. “I see the addict as wounded and desperately in need of healthy, secure connection.” Marsha will share how to break this addiction once and for all, and how couples can survive the pain and heartache this causes in relationships. She is the author of “Learn Empathy: Help Your Betrayed Wife Heal” and “From Betrayal Trauma to Healing & Joy: A Workbook for Partners of Sex Addicts.” Contact Marsha Means at (520) 341-6002; mmeans@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Out-of-This-World Stories of What Really Happens Under Hypnosis
Everyday people are discovering unseen worlds with guidance from Kryste Andrews, a long-time licensed hypnotherapist. While relaxing into the hypnotic state of consciousness called theta, some of Kryste’s clients have interacted with life on other planets. Kryste’s book, “Discovery,” Book One of the LEGACY series, chronicles the true stories of an ancient tribe trekking over mountain ranges, migrating to what is now southern France. Kryste says: “I’ve observed a client time-traveling and remotely viewing ancient people he believes to be his ancestors who lived 25,000 years ago, and much more.” Her upcoming book, “31 Conversations With An Alien,” is based on a recent client’s extraordinary life and reveals the living room chats between Kryste and an extraterrestrial named Fred. Contact Kryste Andrews at (201) 801-4551; Kandrews@rtirguests.com
15. ==> How to Find Your Personal Fountain of Youth
Millions of men and women are on the hunt for the secret to turn back the hands of time. Everyone wants to stay young, but the elusive search for the fountain of youth can leave you feeling unfulfilled and empty. Nina Presman turned her struggles with weight and aging into her life’s journey. With degrees in advanced face and body sculpting, advanced skincare procedures, psychology, nutrition, and exercise, she has found her true calling in helping women feel good about themselves on the outside — as well as on the inside. Nina truly understands the struggle and loss of self-esteem that can come with aging, and the importance of regaining confidence and feeling comfortable in your own skin. Learn five ways to look younger without going under the knife, the myths and truths about collagen and collagen supplements, and how to get over the fear of getting older. The owner and founder of the Anti-Aging Center of Boca, Nina Presman has developed a revolutionary anti-aging technology that replaces plastic surgery. Contact her at (561) 654-0177; antiagingcenterofboca.com