01. Is American Democracy Doomed by Populism?
02. It’s Time to Close Guantanamo Bay
03. True Survival Story: Shipwrecked in the Arctic
04. Surprising Secret to Better Sex This Valentine’s Day
05. After Love – ‘The Divorce Case’ Subscription Box
06. Anniversary of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show
07. Monday is Presidents Day: Inside the Weirdest White Houses
08. Drink Up: Feb 18th is National Drink Wine Day
09. Interview the Clueless Caregiver for Feb. 19’s National Caregivers Day
10. Black History Month: Celebrate Unknown Black Innovators
11. What We Can Learn from 2020’s Leadership Failures
12. Notes on Leadership from a Jazz Musician
13. How to Get Ahead by Breaking All the Rules
14. Tales from a Diplomat’s Daughter in Iraq
15. New Amazon Documentary: Beating Superbugs
1.==> Is American Democracy Doomed by Populism?
The Trump presidency demonstrated the appeal of populist authoritarianism to many Americans. Yascha Mounk says the way the country responds to the attack on the U.S. Capitol will indicate how long this movement lasts. Mounk can discuss the reasons behind the rise of populism around the world and how the U.S. compares to other nations. He’ll also talk about extremism and whether social media bans on Trump and others will help remove extremist messages or cause the internet to slowly break into two pieces — or a whole chaotic array of shards. Yascha Mounk is an associate professor of international affairs at Johns Hopkins University, a contributing editor at the Atlantic, and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He’s the author of several books including “The People vs. Democracy.” Contact him at ymounk@cfr.org or communications@cfr.org
2. ==> It’s Time to Close Guantanamo Bay
More than 100 human rights and civil liberties groups are calling on President Joe Biden to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and end indefinite military detention. Aliya Hussain of the Center for Constitutional Rights says, “That so many groups are calling for an end to the indefinite detention of Muslim men without charge or fair trial at Guantánamo, and see it as part of a broader movement to uphold human rights, demand accountability for U.S.-sanctioned torture and violence, and fundamentally change the flawed criminal legal system, is significant. There is wide-ranging public support for President Biden to close Guantánamo. He must take bold and decisive action, and we will hold him accountable until he does.” Other groups signing the petition include the Center for Victims of Torture, American Civil Liberties Union, Immigrant Advocacy Project, Physicians for Human Rights, Muslim Solidarity Committee and Witness Against Torture. Contact Aliya Hussain via Jen Nessel at jnessel@ccrjustice.org or @theCCR
3. ==> True Survival Story: Shipwrecked in the Arctic
Your listeners may have heard of William Barents, but even if they haven’t, they’ll be fascinated when they hear his story. The Dutch navigator was stranded on Nova Zembla in the winter of 1596 during a failed search for a northern trade route to the Far East. Using diaries, archival material, and her own three trips to the Arctic to recreate Barents’ three Arctic voyages, journalist Andrea Pitzer has pieced together his amazing story. On your show, she’ll share Barents’ harrowing ordeal and the lessons it teaches, including survival at 20 degrees below zero, the degeneration of the human body when it lacks Vitamin C, the history of mutiny, the practice of keelhauling, the art of celestial navigation, and the feats humans are capable of when asked to do the near impossible. Andrea Pitzer has written for the Washington Post, the New York Review of Books, the Daily Beast, Vox, and Slate, among other publications. Her latest book is “Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World.” To schedule interviews for January, contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
4.==> Surprising Secret to Better Sex This Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day, you’re looking for the rush you felt when you first fell in love, but how can you restore that passion and intimacy? Why don’t the old standards of flowers, candy, and dinner cut it anymore? According to breathwork expert James Beard, it’s because we want to be seen, heard, and felt more than anything else. Beard will share breathing practices that can help you connect with your partner on profound intimate levels, whether you’ve been together a few days or several years. Invite him on your show for tips that will spice things up this Valentine’s Day and beyond. Beard is a certified yoga teacher, a licensed massage therapist and a holistic health practitioner. He is a breathwork expert with 28 years of experience and the author of four books, including “Thirteen Breaths to Better Sex: Making Love Intimate.” Contact him at (858) 349-1061; jamesisbreathing@gmail.com
5. ==> After Love – ‘The Divorce Case’ Subscription Box
Valentine’s Day can be tough if you’re separated, divorced or in the midst of a divorce. If you’re looking for a gift for a loved one or BFF who could use a pick-me-up, consider “The Divorce Case.” Lauren Peacock designed a subscription box that includes products that helped her get through her divorce experience. “I remember wishing I had certain things readily available when I was feeling sad and alone. Most people don’t realize that divorce can suck the life out of someone, so even trips to the store can be a big deal,” says Peacock. With each monthly case, recipients receive a selection of self-care gifts, all personally selected by Peacock. “All the items have a purpose behind them, which I describe in a note. Together, they make a wonderful care package meant to take you away from the situation and the emotions that you are currently experiencing and allow you to focus on positive next steps in the journey you are about to take,” she says. The first box also contains a signed copy of her latest book, “Female. Likes Cheese. Comes with Dog: Stories About Divorce, Dating, and Saying ‘I Do.’” Relationship and dating expert Lauren Peacock has appeared on NBC, FOX, ABC and Yahoo! and in Woman’s Day, Bustle, and other publications. Contact her at thelaurenpeacock@gmail.com or Phil Lobel at Phil@lobeline.com
6. ==> Anniversary of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show
On February 9, 1964, an estimated 73 million Americans watched as the Beatles made their live U.S. television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was an iconic moment in musical history that Broadway star Merritt David Janes and Jill Walker, co-producers of the new song “Peace and Love Will Never Die, A Song for John & Yoko,” remember fondly. The pair can discuss their memories of the performance, their favorite Beatles’ songs, and what inspired them to write their latest song. Written for the “forever fans” of John Lennon with a message for a new generation to embrace, the pair say the song gives thanks to Yoko and reminds us of the love and purpose they shared as a couple. Merritt David Janes is a veteran of the stage appearing in eight separate touring and Broadway productions since 2007. Jill Walker is a former board member of Theatre Within, the nonprofit behind The Annual John Lennon Tribute in New York City. She is a longtime advocate for the arts and the founder and president of Girl from the Grotto, a nonprofit that provides gift boxes and special events for medically ill children. Contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988 (call/text) or mark@goldmanmccormick.com
7. ==> Monday is Presidents Day: Inside the Weirdest White Houses
Did you know James Monroe used to enjoy swimming nude in the Potomac River? Or that doctors once held a press conference to announce Dwight Eisenhower moved his bowels? Or that Calvin Coolidge often conferred with a raccoon? Or that First Lady Florence Harding gave press interviews in her negligee? Or that George H.W. Bush took showers with his dog? Author Hal Marcovitz can talk about the many strange stories that have been circulating around the White House since John and Abigail Adams occupied the Executive Mansion, including some very odd stories about the last occupant. Marcovitz, a longtime journalist, is the author of the novel “Painting the White House,” which tells the story of an ordinary house painter who finds himself at the center of White House intrigues and misadventures. Contact him at (215) 718-6807; hmarcovitz@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Drink Up: Feb 18th is National Drink Wine Day
Get ready for some sparkling conversation as Certified Wine Educator Jim Laughren helps your audience celebrate all the joys of wine in time for National Drink Wine Day on Feb. 18. Jim will prove that talking about wine is nearly as much fun as imbibing it and says you don’t need to spend a fortune to find wines that are often overlooked by wine snobs. His approachable take on wine will encourage everyone in your audience — even the bargain-hunters — to chuckle and experiment more. You’ll also learn about the vital role wine played in developing the world’s trade routes, how monkeys, wild boars and elephants manage to get tipsy, which celebrities own wineries or wine labels, and much more. Jim is the author of two short new eBooks, “The 15-Minute Guide to Red Wine” and “The 15-Minute Guide to White Wine.” Jim has appeared on radio and TV around the country and is also the award-winning author of “50 Ways to Love Wine More” and “A Beer Drinker’s Guide to Knowing and Enjoying Fine Wine.” He is the past president of a wine importing and distribution company and is known for his fun and irreverent wine classes and seminars. Contact him at (954) 317-9623; JLaughren@rtirguests.com
9. == > Interview the Clueless Caregiver for Feb. 19’s National Caregivers Day
In tough times, a laugh can help keep our spirits up. Kathleen Lenane is here to explore the humorous side of family caregiving. Yes, even in a pandemic. Kat is the creator of the hilarious website The Clueless Caregiver and blog. Expect to chortle and guffaw as she answers, in an entertaining Q&A format, questions like: How do I tell my 85-year-old father he shouldn’t be driving anymore? And: Where does Mom hide the hearing aids, iron supplements and medical alert pendant she should be using — but insists “she doesn’t really need”? Kat’s mix of wit and tips includes personal stories of, for instance, rounding up discarded hospital meal-tray bananas for a Super Bowl party her father threw in the Intensive Care Unit (way before COVID times). Kat has worked as a book ghostwriter and staff writer and editor for SELF and Cosmopolitan — in addition to caring for two mischievous parents who refused to act old into their 90s. Contact Kat at (860) 500-1524; klenane@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Black History Month: Celebrate Unknown Black Innovators
February is Black History Month and a great time to celebrate some of the unknown contributions Blacks have made to America’s innovation and growth. You’ll be surprised by the number of everyday items — many of which we still use today — that were created by Black inventors over the last 400 years. From the doorknob to the kitchen stove, the engine crankshaft and the ironing board, urban economist and tech guru Ida Byrd-Hill will share stories of African American inventors including how patents were obtained at a time when it was illegal for them to have a case in American courts. Ida’s media experience includes Good Morning America, radio stations across the country, Essence Magazine and various newspapers and podcasts. She is the CEO of Automation Workz, a cybersecurity reskilling and diversity consulting firm and the author of “Invisible Talent Market.” Contact her at (313) 483-2126; ida@autoworkz.org
11. ==> What We Can Learn from 2020’s Leadership Failures
As a new administration takes shape in Washington, are we willing to learn from the mistakes we made in 2020, or will we double down on them due to a lack of courage to admit when things went wrong? That’s the question leadership expert Steven Mays raises as he explores why leaders catastrophically fail even at the country’s highest levels. “Could it be that we don’t nurture, train, reward, and value honesty and courage in our leaders by concentrating instead on talent and personality?” Mays asks. He is the author of “Power of 3 Leadership, Lessons in Leadership.” A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis who served on nuclear submarines, he was a mathematician, electrical engineer and nuclear engineer who worked in private industry and at the Nuclear Regulation Commission. Contact him at (703) 552-5672; smays@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Notes on Leadership from a Jazz Musician
Since he first picked up his sister’s guitar at age 12, music has taught Gerald J. Leonard many things: the discipline of practice, playing fairly, how to listen, connect with others, and how to have fun. Today, the conservatory-trained musician and CEO of the business consultancy Principles of Execution, uses those lessons to help managers understand and motivate their employees. “In the mind of an artist, a performance is either great or horrible. There is no gray area; it is excellent or it is shameful. For most of us, work is our biggest daily performance. We want to nail it and feel bad when we fail. We also need skilled conductors – good leadership – to guide our flow and help us play our best, both as solo artists and as part of the band.” Leonard will explain why the hallmarks of high-performing employees are nearly identical to those of artists and share how management can tap into their teams’ natural creativity to keep them engaged, collaborative and successful. A professional bassist, Gerald J. Leonard offers a unique approach to accomplishing more productivity in the workplace. His latest book is “Workplace Jazz: How to Improvise – 9 Steps to Creating High-Performing Agile Project Team.” Contact him at (443) 622-4740; gerald@geraldjleonard.com
13. ==> How to Get Ahead by Breaking All the Rules
If you are thinking about starting a business this year, you need to talk to Raj Girn first. Raj started what would prove to be a lasting, successful publishing business just one year after learning how to write a check and attributes much of her success to not knowing the rules, not realizing that she was breaking them! Raj gave numerous mainstream celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Scherzinger, and Nelly Furtado their first South Asian covers in her ANOKHI Magazine; she is also a confidence expert and has an inspiring life story of how she survived an arranged marriage with a stranger, life in a new culture and country and more to achieve a new identity and to work with an impressive roster of multinational clients (L’Oréal Paris, Estée Lauder, Johnnie Walker, Ciroc, Hilton and Sheraton Hotels). Raj heads the Open Chest Confidence Academy, is a well-known media personality in Canada and a serial media entrepreneur who has worked with thought leaders, celebrities, and multinational corporations. She has been featured in two coffee table books, a documentary, and a motivational book that became an international best-seller. Contact: Raj at (647) 490-3158; Rgirn@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Tales from a Diplomat’s Daughter in Iraq
As the daughter of an Iraqi diplomat and American mother, Nadia Al-Samarrie led a fascinating, movie-worthy life. Case in point: while visiting her father in Iraq once she received 11 marriage proposals in a similar number of months including one from the prime minister’s doctor that carried a potentially deadly twist. The doctor told her, “I’ll turn you in as an American spy if you don’t marry me!” He was 30, she just 19. Interview Nadia to find out how she made her escape from this dangerous political situation. You can also ask her what it was like to be a diplomat’s daughter and grow up in a culture where what people thought of you was more dangerous than what you did. Nadia is the author of the new memoir, “From Bagdad to Berkeley: A Woman’s Affair.” As an author and diabetes expert, she has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and other major cable networks. View her book trailer on her self-named website or through Vimeo (From Baghdad to Berkeley- A Woman’s Affair). Contact Nadia Al-Samarrie at (415) 741-3545; nalsamarrie@rtirguests.com
15. ==> New Amazon Documentary: Beating Superbugs
While the world has been focused on conquering the COVID-19 virus, another health threat has been building. Some experts predict that if unchecked by mid-century, antibiotic-resistant superbugs could surpass cancer as the No. 1 cause of human death worldwide. The new documentary “Beating Superbugs: Can We Win?” examines the health crisis and provides a sober yet optimistic view of some of the most ingenious solutions to superbugs that are already in place or are emerging. Invite director Bill Mudge to discuss what he learned making the film and why people should pay attention to the issue. “Beating Superbugs” is streaming on Amazon this month. Contact Ryan Davis at (206) 491-3738; ryan@smarthousecreative.com