3/19/2024 RTIR Newsletter: Execs Paid More Than Uncle Sam, How to Live Courageously, the Upcoming Cicada Spectacle

  1. Haiti’s Cascading Crisis
  2. Dozens of U.S. Companies Paid More to Execs Than Taxes
  3. Grown-Ups Are Diagnosed with Autism Too
  4. Get Ready for the Super Cicada Invasion
  5. Finance Expert: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life
  6. What Turned This Morgan Stanley Employee into a Whistleblower?
  7. How to Disaster-Proof Your Family’s Memories
  8. Are You Missing Your Body’s Friendly Warning Signals?
  9. Warning: Snoring Can Be a Sign of a Serious Health Condition
  10. She Was in the Trauma Unit When Tupac Died
  11. Is Courage a Lost Art?
  12. A Powerful Tool to Overcome All Biases, and It’s Free!
  13. Does This Psychotherapist Hold the Key to Ending Religious Divisiveness?
  14. Are Jerks Still Jerks in the Afterlife?
  15. How to Sleep Better Tonight
  1. ==> Haiti’s Cascading Crisis

Haiti faces an unprecedented surge in gang violence amid a breakdown in law and order, creating a country in chaos. Monique Clesca can provide firsthand perspectives on Haiti’s challenges and potential paths forward. Monique is a member of the Commission to Search for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis, a group formed by Haitian civil society and backed by the opposition. Clesca strongly believes that any solution for Haiti must be Haitian-led. In her view, foreign intervention or consensus agreements are not practical solutions. She emphasizes that addressing the humanitarian situation and gang violence requires a deeper examination of governance issues. Monique Clesca is a Haitian journalist, democracy activist, and official in Port-au-Prince. She works as an international consultant. Contact her at moniqueclesca@gmail.com; @moniclesca

  1. ==> Dozens of U.S. Companies Paid More to Execs Than Taxes

A new report finds that 35 major U.S. corporations paid less in federal income tax between 2018 and 2022 than they paid their top five executives. Their total executive compensation over the five-year timespan was $9.5 billion, while their combined federal income tax bills came to negative $1.8 billion, i.e. they received refunds totaling that amount. William Rice, a senior writer at Americans for Tax Fairness and a coauthor of the report, says the 64 firms in the study paid an average federal tax rate of 2.8%. “One of the ways that large corporations and other wealthy people get away with this is that they live in a totally different world than average Americans or citizens of any other country. The public is unaware of the details of how they pay so little in taxes relative to their wealth and income. People have a vague, accurate understanding that the system is rigged against them, but they are busy with their own lives. This is a concrete example of the sense of unfairness.” Rice emphasizes that the companies are doing nothing illegal, and Congress sets the tax code. The corporate tax rate was 35% before the Trump presidency when it was cut to 21%. President Biden proposes “raising the corporate tax to 28% and increasing the minimum tax for corporations with more than $1 billion in assets to 15%. The report was done by Americans for Tax Fairness and the Institute for Policy Studies. Contact William Rice at will.rice@americansfortaxfairness.org

  1. ==> Grown-Ups Are Diagnosed with Autism Too

Autism is considered a developmental disorder and is most often diagnosed in early childhood. But not always. Tallulah Willis, the 30-year-old daughter of actor Bruce Willis, is opening up about her recent autism diagnosis saying it has changed her life. Best-selling author and podcaster Brant Hansen can relate. He too was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as an adult and can discuss what it’s like to live life “on the spectrum.” Brant, who is also a nationally syndicated radio host blessed with a great sense of humor, can share stories of how he has overcome his challenges to find peace in a chaotic world. A great guest for Autism Awareness Month in April, Brant can offer encouragement to anyone with autism or who loves someone with autism. Brant Hansen’s new book is “Life is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance.” Contact Jason Jones at jason@jonesliterary.com

4.==> Get Ready for the Super Cicada Invasion

Sometime late this spring, billions of cicadas will rise from the ground, creating an unforgettable spectacle. Biologist David Althoff says the upcoming emergence of two large broods of cicadas in the Midwest and southeastern U.S. will begin anytime between late April to June and span 17 states. He also says there’s no way you’ll miss it, with millions of male cicadas emitting their buzzing mating call at levels that are predicted to reach 100 decibels or about the level of a jet engine. While you may not be looking forward to the ruckus, bug lovers like Althoff are excited about the event noting that it’s been 221 years since these particular broods last appeared together. David Althoff, an associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Biology in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, can answer all your cicada questions. Contact him at (315) 443-1096; dmalthof@syr.edu

  1. ==> Finance Expert: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life

Where should you put your savings? What’s a safe investment today? Invite finance expert Jared Dillian to talk about current financial news and discuss how to live a stress-free financial life and build wealth for your future. His advice is not about the daily decisions that drain the joy from life, like skipping coffee to save a few bucks, nor is it simply about how to have more money. Dillian will explain why the secret to building wealth lies in adopting the right attitude to money and getting a small number of big things right. Dillian is the editor of, a daily market newsletter for investment professionals, and the founder of Jared Dillian Money. His new book is “No Worries: How to Live a Stress-Free, Financial Life.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188

  1. ==> 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 tried 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

  1. ==> How to Disaster-Proof Your Family’s Memories

Whether your precious memories are digital, photographic, or on DVD, one disaster can wipe out all those memories instantly. What’s the best way to preserve your family’s records so they can be enjoyed for decades to come? Find out when you interview Rhonda Chadwick. A professional archivist with a master’s degree in library science, Rhonda is the author of “Secrets from the Stacks: An Archivist Reveals How to Store, Digitize, and Preserve Documents to Create a Family Archive and Leave a Personal Legacy.” She can discuss best practices for preparing photos, documents, textile and metal keepsakes, digital materials, and more to ensure that even if disaster strikes, your story and legacy will be protected. Whether your listeners are looking to simply protect their family photos or preserve a deep-dive history of their ancestry for generations to come, you need to hear from this expert. Contact Rhonda Chadwick at (401) 227-3306 or rchadwick@rtirguests.com

  1. ==> Are You Missing Your Body’s Friendly Warning Signals?

Do you carry painkillers in your handbag or keep them in a drawer at work or a medicine cabinet at home in case you develop a headache or backache? Do you take antihistamines to calm your allergy symptoms? Do you keep antacids handy to block the uncomfortable result of a not-so-ideal meal? According to naturopathic health practitioner Hester Ladewig, those are just a few examples of our bodies’ alarm system going off but few are getting the message. “Regularly taking these drugs (and more) doesn’t get to the real cause of your discomfort. All they do is help you ignore the real problem and carry on despite the warning signals.” Invite Hester to deliver the messages your body wants you to hear, instead of those delivered by the steady barrage of marketing material for over-the-counter products that mask what’s going on. Ask her: What are some other signs that our body may be trying to get our attention with? What are some practical tips for heeding your alarm system? Hester is the author of “Strengthen Your Immune System and Boost Your Resistance to Disease” and the upcoming “12 Steps to Walk Away from Chronic Pain and Take Back Your Life.” Hester Ladewig has studied and practiced in South Africa, Germany, and Switzerland, where she was part of a team of physicians at the Paracelsus Klinik Lustmühle. Contact her at info@hesterladewig.com or through Whatsapp at +27716438191

  1. ==> Warning: Snoring Can Be a Sign of a Serious Health Condition

Snoring isn’t just annoying to your spouse or partner. It can be a sign of potentially serious health issues. “Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea,” says longtime nurse Allen Daugherty. “It can lead to heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, and other potentially life-threatening health issues.” Sleep apnea can also cause daytime drowsiness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowsy driving caused 91,000 crashes in 2017, resulting in 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths. Allen can share the symptoms of sleep apnea, lifestyle changes that can help to control it, and the best treatment options. He has worked in the medical field for 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

  1. ==> She Was in the Trauma Unit When Tupac Died

Susie Bell was a young nurse working in the trauma unit at University Medical Center in Las Vegas when infamous rapper Tupac Shakur was fatally shot. At the time, she was a member of the Mormon Church and had led a sheltered life. “I had no idea who he was,” she says. “I saw a lot of people who I assumed were celebrities coming in and out of the hospital.” At one point, Susie found herself alone with Shakur’s lifeless body and can recount that poignant experience. That is just one aspect of her often harrowing life story, which includes excommunication from the church, being drugged, raped, and dragged through the mud by a famous athlete, and more. Susie is now a nurse practitioner and author of the upcoming book “A Piece of Me: Finding My Voice After Mormonism, Marriage, Medicine & Men.” Contact Susie Bell at (213) 816-3622; sbell@rtirguests.com

  1. ==> Is Courage a Lost Art?

These days it seems as though courage is in short supply. Politicians rarely show it. It’s easier to go along and stay in the shadows than to stand up and be a target. Sure, there are examples of courageous people such as the late Alexi Navalny, who took on Vladimir Putin and lost his life in the process. Closer to home are the often unsung heroes who usually don’t care to discuss why they put themselves at risk. For example, there is Masuda Rahmati, whose fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan nearly caused her death by the Taliban. Massie, as she likes to be called, can discuss: What is courage? Can we learn to be more courageous? What in her life led her to take such a dangerous stand? How did she deal with her family who tried to talk her out of her activism? Massie drew the Taliban’s ire in 2005 when she became the first woman to represent Afghanistan in the Mrs. World International Beauty Competition. Since then Massie has been a “voice for the voiceless.” Her upcoming book is tentatively titled “Almost Killed by the Taliban: How I Stood Up for the Women and Girls of Afghanistan.” Born in Kabul, she came to the U.S. with her family as a teenager in 1982. A media veteran, she has been interviewed by the international media and has been recognized by Congress. Contact Masuda Rahmati at (831) 298-8335; mrahmati@rtirguests.com

  1. ==> 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

  1. ==> Does This Psychotherapist Hold the Key to Ending Religious Divisiveness?

What if we could stop every disagreement over religion, from fighting with your uncle at Easter to full-scale holy wars? Author and psychotherapist Joe Masterleo reveals the universal constant that not only encompasses all religions but also bridges the gap between spirituality and science. Until now, he says, the only “solution” we’ve found is to agree to disagree – a theory not everyone subscribes to, and one that only puts off arguments rather than ending them. Ask him: How can God be everywhere at once? Why do you say that heaven is real? What is the all-inclusive theory that unites nature and religion? Are dogs a reflection of God? A psychotherapist for over 50 years, Joe has worked with hundreds of people to help them reconcile their inner conflicts and contradictions along mental-spiritual lines. Joe’s commentaries have appeared in the “Syracuse Post Standard.” He is the author of ” The Ambient Christ: The Untold Story of God in Science, Scripture and Spirituality.” Contact Joe Masterleo at (315) 509-3740; jmasterleo@rtirguests.com

  1. ==> Are Jerks Still Jerks in the Afterlife?

It’s quite common for those who have lost mean loved ones to glorify them and gloss over their faults post-mortem. But author and psychic medium June Edward claims that death doesn’t change their rotten ways. “People don’t miraculously change just because they passed to the other side and left their body,” she says. “They are the exact same people they were when they were here. If they were a jerk, they’re still a jerk!” On a positive note, June claims that they do eventually learn from their mistakes once they’ve passed over. She can share exactly how this happens, and what really occurs when we die. She is the best-selling, award-winning author of “All’s Fair in Love & Karma, 5 Steps to Relationship Mastery,” which has been endorsed by renowned author John Gray. Contact June Edward at (508) 544-0189; jedward@rtirguests.com

  1. ==> 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

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