01. 20 Years Later: The Leak That Almost Stopped the Iraq Invasion
02. What’s Behind the ‘Partisan Pandemic’ Narrative?
03. Update: The Federal Government and Border Kids
04. The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics
05. From Jane Fonda to CrossFit: How American Exercise Has Changed
06. Attorney Shares 5 Brutal Divorce Truths No One Tells You
07. Why Women-Led Countries Are Happier
08. Female Olympic Coach on the History of Women in Sports
09. Is Postpartum Depression Preventable?
10. Does the Black Community Normalize Obesity?
11. Can You Really Be Worry-Free?
12. Do You Know the 5 HABITs of Grief?
13. #1 Thing Adults Get Wrong About Parenting
14. How to Have Unbreakable Resilience
15. Things That Make You Happy That Most People Avoid
1.==> 20 Years Later: The Leak That Almost Stopped the Iraq Invasion
In 2003, Katharine Gun was an analyst with GCHQ, the British equivalent of the secretive NSA. As the U.S. government ramped up to invade Iraq, it sought a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the invasion. To help get that authorization, the NSA put out a memo ordering a spy surge on other members of the U.N. Security Council to find ways to blackmail and bribe them into voting for authorization. Gun was sent this memo and she exposed it, and on March 2, 2003, the “Observer” published the memo on their front page. Invite Gun to discuss the story that ricocheted around the world, causing the U.S. government to fail to get U.N. authorization. Gun, who lives in Turkey with her husband and child, says, “I wouldn’t change anything that I did. I did what I was capable of. I felt genuinely alone in the process of trying to stop the war by exposing the U.S. government’s illegal actions.” Her story was eventually told in the 2019 film “Official Secrets” with Keira Knightley playing Gun. Contact Katharine Gun at kthgun@yahoo.co.uk
2. ==> What’s Behind the ‘Partisan Pandemic’ Narrative?
In a new piece for “PESTE” magazine, public-health researcher Abby Cartus challenges the mainstream narrative that the badly botched pandemic response in the U.S. was because of the country’s deep partisan polarization. The framing provides an “easy answer,” she writes, indicating that it was the public’s “stubborn attachment to our partisan identities and mistrust of one another that ultimately scuttled an effective response.” She argues that that narrative blames the public for what she sees as the government’s failures. “The partisan gaps are real. But they’re being endowed with an outsized explanatory power. The narrative is doing a lot of work to cover up for policy failures that did not need to happen. It also does a lot of work to shield public figures from public outcry and response. The U.S. pandemic response failed so badly because of structural and material things — policy decisions made decades ago, pandemic policy decisions, and the economic imperatives of running a capitalist economy.” Abby Cartus is a postdoctoral research associate with the People, Place, and Health Collective at Brown University School of Public Health. Contact her at abigail_cartus@brown.edu
3. ==> Update: The Federal Government and Border Kids
Anyone who follows the news is well aware that the U.S. has been struggling with a crisis at the border for decades. According to author and international authority on immigration issues and foster families Richard Villasana, few people realize just how badly the kids suffer. “The federal government still has more than 1,000 families that have not been reunited,” he says. “One of the biggest failings of the Trump administration was the lack of successful efforts to stay in communication with the thousands of children who were placed with sponsors.” As an insider, Richard can reveal the little-known, shocking reasons for this, and why the border crisis continues. Richard is the founder of the nonprofit Forever Homes for Foster Kids and the author of the critically acclaimed book, “Do No Harm: The U.S. Border Child Tragedy Continues.” Contact him at (619) 648-4729; rvillasana@rtirguests.com
4.==> The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics
Geneticist Adam Rutherford may startle listeners as he explains why eugenics still figures prominently in the 21st century, despite its genocidal past. With disarming wit and scientific precision, he’ll confront the insidious recurring questions — did eugenics work in Nazi Germany? And could it work today? — revealing the intellectual bankruptcy of the idea, and the scientific impossibility of its realization. Adam Rutherford is a geneticist and lecturer in biology and society at University College London, where he teaches the history of eugenics, race science, genetics, and science communication. He co-hosts the popular BBC science podcast The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry and appears frequently on radio and television. Rutherford’s new book is “Control: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell)
5. ==> From Jane Fonda to CrossFit: How American Exercise Has Changed
Goodbye treadmill and elliptical trainer, hello dumbbells, squat rack and bench press. Strength training (aka weight or resistance training) is the exercise of choice these days, driven by new research on its health benefits and popularity of gyms like CrossFit. “Strength training has become so much more widely embraced and accepted for all kinds of outcomes – aesthetic, weight loss, bone health and balance,” says Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, an associate professor of history at the New School and author of “Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession.” She says it’s just the latest in a series of radical shifts over decades in how Americans exercise. She can discuss the history of America’s obsession with exercise including early 20th- century gyms, women’s “reducing salons,” and the cardio revolution that included Jane Fonda workout videos and aerobics. Contact Natalia Mehlman Petrzela at natalia@nataliapetrzela.com; @nataliapetrzela
6. ==> Attorney Shares 5 Brutal Divorce Truths No One Tells You
While the fundamentals of divorce are known to most people because when you go through a divorce everyone thinks they are a lawyer, the ugly truth about divorce can only be passed on by someone like Nancy Perpall. She’s a divorce attorney with over 30 years of experience, who shares the five brutal truths about divorce that no one tells you. The root meaning of divorce is the Latin word diverte, which means to divert. Nancy believes that divorce is a diversion. Ask her: how can people evaluate whether to stay or go in a marriage? Nancy is an experienced media guest, a former critical care nurse, and the author of the novel about relationships, “Around Which All Things Bend,” and the upcoming book, The Malnourished Marriage: 5 Essential Emotional Nutrients for a Healthy Relationship. Contact Nancy Perpall at (610) 360-9822; nap@nancyperpall.com
7. ==> Why Women-Led Countries Are Happier
For more than a century, women have crusaded for health and safety issues. Today, in countries where there are more women in elected office, people are healthier, both physically and mentally, and they say they are happier. That’s just one reason Debbie Peterson believes we need to elect more women, beyond the issue of equal representation. The former mayor of Grover Beach, California, will discuss why women are more likely to reach across the aisle to get things done, are better at fast-tracking the implementation of new ideas and more. Peterson’s Integrity 101 book series includes “The Happiest Corruption: Sleaze, Lies & Suicide in a California Beach Town,” and the newly released “City Council 101: Insider’s Guide for New Councilmembers.” She also hosts The Corruption Chronicles podcast. Ask her: What do studies show about female leaders in terms of happiness, crime figures, and government? How does the U.S. fare compared to other countries? Contact Debbie Peterson at (805) 550-4490; DebbiePeterson805@gmail.com
8. ==> Female Olympic Coach on the History of Women in Sports
Although things have improved since the late 1960s when Sue Humphrey began her athletic coaching career, there is still plenty of discrimination against women athletes, from grade school competitions to the Olympic Games. With more than 50 years of experience, Sue has lived through the history of women in sports, beginning with the groundbreaking Title IX amendment that prohibited sex-based discrimination in athletics and other programs. Interview this author and seasoned media guest who has worked with sports legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Florence Griffith Joyner for an eye-opening look at sports discrimination and how today’s women (and future athletes) can best prepare for success. Contact Sue Humphrey at (512) 881-9648; shumphrey@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Is Postpartum Depression Preventable?
Giving birth is supposed to be joyous. But for about one in seven women in the U.S., that new baby comes with hopelessness, mood swings, inconsolable crying, anxiety, difficulties bonding with their infants, extreme tiredness, and loss of appetite, symptoms that can last from three to six months and be shared by their partners. But what if their agony could be prevented? What would we need to do to make that happen? Alan Lindemann has the answers, having practiced obstetrics for 45 years, delivered more than 6,000 babies, and been a pioneer in treating postpartum depression. The now-retired doctor is devoting his time to reaching out to women about maternal health, especially those who may have limited access to care and information based on where they live. Ask him: Why is it key to combat postpartum depression before birth takes place? Why is postpartum depression so common? How do “maternity deserts” impact the problem? Contact Michele at (828) 749-3200; Michelle@WasabiPublicity.com
10. ==> Does the Black Community Normalize Obesity?
Obesity is an epidemic across America but especially so in Black communities where nearly half of all adults and a staggering 82% of women are overweight. The statistics are even more alarming when considering the many health risks that are most commonly associated with obesity. Invite Dr. Alvin Perry to discuss the genetic, behavioral, and sociocultural factors at play in the Black community and how to change the equation to create healthier communities. Alvin Perry, DBA, is a successful entrepreneur and small business expert. He is ISSA certified in personal training and nutrition. His book, “Just Fat!,” chronicles his 80-pound weight-loss journey and shares a simple system he created that changed the course of his life and led him to the path of personal wellness. Ask him: Are Blacks genetically predisposed to being overweight? Has the community normalized obesity? Why are Black women less likely to exercise (and what is the simple solution that gets around that)? Contact Alvin Perry at (678) 788-7529; aperry@rtirguests.com
11. == > Can You Really Be Worry-Free?
Everyone struggles with worry and stress on a day-to-day basis. What if you could let go of the burden of worry and enjoy peace every day, regardless of what’s happening in your life? Certified life coach and author Valerie Galloway can help your audience stop worrying and start living. Whether you’re struggling with grief, a major life change, addiction or dependency, or concerned that your future prospects seem less than bright, Valerie empowers you to tap into your own internal resources and trade worry for wonder and joy. Learn how to accomplish personal goals, improve relationships, and move forward with confidence by unlocking your potential when you interview this powerful and inspiring guest! A certified ICF coach with a bachelor’s in community health and a master’s in social science, Valerie is the author of “Steal, Kill & Destroy: A Spiritual Guide to Overcoming Addiction and Loss.” Contact Valerie Galloway at (917) 994-8841; vgalloway@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Do You Know the 5 HABITs of Grief?
The death of a loved one can be a crippling blow from which you never seem to recover, especially since most people have no idea how to deal with such a loss. Frank DiMaio has been there. After losing his wife to breast cancer, he found there was no real support or guidance for surviving husbands — so he set out to change that. Now, Frank shares insights from his journey of healing with your audience. He can help anyone say NO to defeat and move forward from being emotionally stuck, whether through loss of a loved one or grief stemming from major life changes, through his system of positive HABITs. Frank’s new book is “A Promise Made, A Promise Kept: A Husband’s Journey Through Journaling to Heal the Loss of His Spouse.” Ask him: What does HABITs stand for, and how does it help people to deal with grief? Why did you sail to Bermuda following your wife’s passing? What is the best way to address survivor’s guilt after losing a loved one? Contact Frank DiMaio at (401) 205-3325; fdimaio@rtirguests.com
13. ==> #1 Thing Adults Get Wrong about Parenting
Most parents think they know what’s best for their kids. But author Jerry Bures claims we have it all wrong. “We can learn a lot about parenting from our kids by taking cues from them,” he says. “They will give you clues on how to handle them.” As a dad to six kids, including one with significant special needs, Jerry had to learn how to deal with the pressures of what he calls “crisis parenting,” which made him a better dad. He can share how parents can best connect with their children so that they may become successful adults. Jerry is the author of “When Kids Leave Clues: 26 Timeless Stories of Inspiration & Essential Life Lessons Taught to Us by Our Own Children.” Contact him at (920) 796-9160; jbures@rtirguests.com
14. ==> How to Have Unbreakable Resilience
It’s easy to appear resilient when life is going great. But the true test of one’s flexibility comes when life is difficult and unpredictable as it has been for Kiden Jonathan. Invite Kiden on your show to learn how anyone can develop unbreakable resilience by listening to her as she passes along what she learned after she fled worn-torn Sudan at age 20 with her two-month-old baby, lived with an abusive man and spent time in a women’s shelter and the world’s largest refugee camp. Now she lives in Canada where she is a full-time college student, speaker, and the author of “Resilience: The Journey of Self-Discovery.” She has been quoted in CBC News and the “Toronto Star.” Ask her: What was it like living in the world’s largest refugee camp? What are some specific things people can do to become more resilient? Contact Kiden Jonathan at (647) 503-5092; kjonathan@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Things That Make You Happy That Most People Avoid
People tend to avoid things like rejection, discomfort, criticism, and failure. However, most people are unaware of how quickly this can lead to unhappiness. Jennifer Hughes reveals the surprising things we try to steer clear of that can make us happy. She’ll also reveal what won’t make you happy — such as being right, doing whatever you want, and making no mistakes. This author, parenting expert, and certified life coach who has worked with Jack Canfield points out the many ways people choose to be unhappy without knowing it. Interview her for an eye-opening show and some shocking advice your audience won’t forget. Ask her: What are some ways people choose to be unhappy? How does avoiding rejection, criticism, and failure make you unhappy? Why is focusing on yourself counterproductive to your happiness? Can being late make you happy? Contact Jennifer Hughes at (480) 745-2113; jhughes@rtirguests.com