01. Military Roots of Anti-Asian Violence
02. Does the Pandemic Make the Case for Medicare for All?
03. March Madness Has Begun
04. Great Underdog Story: Basketball, Race & Big Business
05. Hank Garrett: From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood
06. The Kosher Baker Lightens Up Passover Favorites
07. Ride Along with Former Vegas Cop and ATF Agent
08. How Danger Makes Us Safe
09. ‘We the People’ Must Fix Politics
10. Woman’s Guide to Getting Your Finances Back on Track
11. How to Switch Gears and Change Careers
12. The History of the Klu Klux Klan
13. COVID – Navigating the Last Mile with Kids
14. How Can You Live an Ecstatic Life?
15. Lights Out – City Cuts Lights to Save Millions of Birds
1. ==> Military Roots of Anti-Asian Violence
Following the shootings in Atlanta that killed eight workers in massage parlors, six of Asian descent, Christine Ahn is urging people to “draw the links between U.S. militarism in Asia with its hundreds of U.S. bases, violence against women, and human/sex trafficking.” One example is the more than one million Korean women caught up in a state-controlled prostitution industry between the end of the Korean War and the 1990s, which was blessed at the highest levels by the U.S. military. Ahn, the executive director of Women Cross DMZ and coordinator of Korea Peace Now! says, “The roots of anti-Asian violence stems from the long history of U.S. wars and militarism in Asia and Pacific. When you can drop thousands of bombs and splatter napalm and agent orange on millions of Asian lives, that dehumanization will come home to roost.” Ahn signed a just-released letter: “71 Korean American Leaders Call on President Biden to Formally End the Korean War.” Contact her at christineahn@icloud.com, @christineahn
2. ==> Does the Pandemic Make the Case for Medicare for All?
Progressive Democrats are reviving their Medicare for All plan this week, part of a push for universal health coverage they say is even more urgent after the coronavirus pandemic exposed and exacerbated disparities in the U.S. health-care system. Eagan Kemp, a health-care policy advocate for Public Citizen, says, “Too many Americans were already suffering unnecessarily prior to the pandemic and COVID-19 just exacerbated the challenges people face. We already spend far more than any comparably wealthy country on health care while achieving far less and were left wholly unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.” The bill has little chance of passing this Congress with Republicans and moderate Democrats opposing its wide reach, but the measure lays out progressive priorities for transforming the health-care system worth nearly a fifth of the U.S. gross domestic product. Contact Derrick Robinson at drobinson@citizen.org
3.==> March Madness Has Begun
Nearly two years after the last NCAA Tournament concluded, March Madness is officially back. If there’s anything we’ve learned over the past year it’s that predictions are hard to make, including in your NCAA bracket! Kate Delaney, aka “The Sports Princess,” can talk about this year’s tourney, the biggest upsets thus far, and who we should be watching in the coming games. Kate Delaney is an award-winning broadcast personality with more than 20 years in radio and TV. She’s covered 15 Super Bowls, 10 U.S. Opens, 15 Final Fours, World Series Games, and a plethora of sporting events. Contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988 (text/call) or mark@goldmanmccormick.com
4. ==> Great Underdog Story: Basketball, Race & Big Business
March Madness has nothing on the Oklahoma state basketball championship of 1967 when a scrappy, small-town high school team pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Oklahoma sports history. Carl McCullough’s new book, “Sid and the Boys,” tells the story of Coach Sid Burton and his team of unlikely heroes. They pulled off the upset despite having multiple players well under six-feet tall and interference from the town’s main employer, Phillips Petroleum, which tried to sideline Burton and minimize the contributions of his Black athletes. A great sports story, it’s also relevant in today’s society where race and corporate giants continue to impact lives. In an interview that can touch on race, corporate influence on communities and the value of sports, McCullough can discuss why Coach Burton resigned after the championship game, ways Phillips Petroleum interfered in the town’s high school sports, and how a Facebook post led to his idea for the book. Carl McCullough is a former Navy pilot and executive White House staffer who played basketball under Burton in 1960. Contact him at (703) 609-8434; carl_mccullough@hotmail.com
5. ==> Hank Garrett: From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood
From gun-toting kid to gun-toting cop, when you see Hank Garrett, you probably remember TV shows like “Columbo” and “Car 54, Where Are You?”, or his brutal fight scene with Robert Redford in “Three Days of the Condor,” still considered one of the best fight scenes of all time … and actually sent him to the hospital. But Hank had an unlikely journey to Hollywood that began in Harlem. Hear how Sammy Davis Jr. sat the young, rough-edged actor down and told him he had to make a choice. The life-changing conversation led Garrett to throw his gun away and pick up a microphone and today Hank continues to give back by being a guardian angel to troubled youths, just as Davis was to him. On your show, Hank will share stories from his six decades in Hollywood working alongside Sophia Loren, James Coburn, Kirk Douglas, Hector Elizondo, Charlie Sheen, James Earl Jones and more. You’ll also hear about his most memorable “fight” (with none other than “The King,” Elvis Presley) and how he became the first white comedian to appear at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem. Hank Garrett’s new memoir is “From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood Heavy.” Contact Harlan Boll at (626) 296-3757; harlan@bhbpr.com
6. ==> The Kosher Baker Lightens Up Passover Favorites
Many of us have put on a few pandemic pounds this past year. Skip the calorie-loaded dishes and opt for a healthier Passover when you invite Paula Shoyer, aka the Kosher Baker, to share ways to lighten-up your favorite family recipes. Whether you’re cooking keto, Whole30 or are just trying to cut calories, Paula will help you make over your holiday table with dishes every generation will appreciate. She’ll also help you create a stress-free holiday with great ideas for room temperature dishes and freezer-friendly make-ahead recipes that are perfect for delivery to the loved ones you can’t gather with right now. Paula Shoyer has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows and even competed on Food TV. A graduate of Ritz Escoffier Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise, she is the author of several cookbooks including “The Healthy Jewish Kitchen.” Contact her at (301) 404-8998; pshoyer@hotmail.com
7. ==> Ride Along with Former Vegas Cop and ATF Agent
Mark Rusin loved being a cop in Sin City, where he spent four years before becoming an ATF agent. Now retired, Rusin says, “Any cop will tell you there is nothing like hustling to a hot call or being the first person on the scene of a murder. … In my mind, cops are all heroes. Who else do you know that puts on a bullet-proof vest with their name and blood type on it before going to work?” Rusin, who has served as a consultant to the “CSI” TV show, will take listeners along for a ride as he shares stories from his days on the Vegas strip, recounts the presidents he’s met and protected and explains the realities of being a cop now and then, and why anyone would want the job. Mark Rusin is the author of “Metro: Sin City Chronicles” and “Justice For Dallas,” which is based on real events and is being turned into a screenplay. Contact him at (520) 205-1113; msrusin@comcast.net
8. ==> How Danger Makes Us Safe
In our current uncertain world, many people gravitate toward safety in their lives, but according to author and adventurer Sparrow Hart, safety has consequences — an ever-growing store of regrets from living small — we don’t always think about. He’ll explain why “safety-ism” — valuing safe¬ty above everything else — runs counter to scientific research and ancient wisdom; is toxic to our dreams; and antithetical to a passionate pursuit of our best selves. Sparrow’s varied career includes being a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford, a brief stint working in a slaughterhouse, adven¬tures in the Amazon jungle, and over 30 years of leading workshops on shamanism, the heroic journey, and vision quests in nature. He is the author of several books including “Letters to the River: A Guide to a Dream Worth Living.” Contact Sparrow Hart at (801) 516-0740; SHart@rtirguests.com
9. ==> ‘We the People’ Must Fix Politics
A two-party system by nature is an “us vs. them” system, a fight or flight system that on the brain level, shuts down reason, cognition, and problem-solving. Interview William L. Silvaneus to learn how “we the people” can take back control of our brains, re-humanize our political opponents, and break the emotional lockdown associated with politics. Silvaneus has joined with other people of wildly different political agendas to form the neutral, nonviolent, nonpartisan 5% Movement for Political Reform. Their goal is changing the political expectations and narrative of fight and flight and replacing it with dialogue and cooperation. He says, “We can change how politics works in America. If we don’t, current politics will destroy our nation. The world is waiting to see if we can; and if we will.” Contact William Silvaneus at (308) 227-3221; william.silvaneus@williamsilvaneus.com
10. ==> Woman’s Guide to Getting Your Finances Back on Track
The past year has been brutal for many Americans, both emotionally and financially, and women have been hit hardest. Invite Jessica Weaver to share three easy steps to get your finances back on track. The author of “Strong Woman, Stronger Assets,” and “Time to Refine: A Strong Woman’s Guide to Retiring On Her Own Terms” can help listeners stop living paycheck-to-paycheck and plan for a better financial future. She can also discuss how women can shatter the glass ceiling, ways to bring up money issues with a spouse, and how to raise children to become financially independent adults. Jessica Weaver, CFP, CDFA, CFS, is a wealth advisor and author of the Not Your Father’s Advisor blog. She is the founder of #pinkfix, a community of women to grow their careers, build wealth, and form lasting relationships. Contact her at (732) 752-9191; Jessica@JessicaWeaver.com
11. ==> How to Switch Gears and Change Careers
Many people are thinking about switching careers right now. Maybe they were hit with furloughs or layoffs, company closings, job burnout, or just plain dissatisfaction. Others may have moved or finally finished schooling. As your guest, Geraldine Hogan can offer them hope and guidance. She has helped countless educators, business professionals and entrepreneurs explore new challenges and can offer tips for anyone who wants to apply their skills in a new direction. Hogan is the author of “Career Moves for Teachers and Other Professionals: Strategies for a Successful Job Change.” Ask her: What are the three simple, life-changing questions to ask yourself before making any career move? Should salary be your primary motivation? How do you overcome obstacles, hesitation and fear of the unknown? Contact Geraldine Hogan at (305) 902-3869; ghogan@rtirguests.com
12. ==> The History of the Klu Klux Klan
Get ready for a history lesson as Linda Gordon shares her comprehensive investigation into the origins of the Klu Klux Klan and sheds light on the transformation of the post-Civil War KKK into a mainstream social movement among the Anglo-Saxon middle class in the 1920s. Hear how the Klan, which started as a terrorist group in the 1870s, evolved into a new iteration that took hold largely above the Mason-Dixon, with particularly strong roots in Oregon and Illinois. Learn how this 20th-century revival drew nearly six million members and how by operating in broad daylight, within the confines of democracy (even electing hundreds to public office), the Klan influenced the trajectory of “Americanism.” Hear why Gordon says the biggest Klan victory was much less visible and remains far more urgent: the movement of the 1920s altered the threshold for tolerable public discourse for decades. Linda Gordon is Professor of History at New York University and the author of several books including “The Second Coming of the KKK.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
13. ==> COVID – Navigating the Last Mile with Kids
Experts say we are THIS close to the end of the pandemic with more and more vaccines being administered to the public, but they caution that we’re not done with the virus just yet. With warnings that it’s too soon to drop our guard, what do you do when you’re trying to remain safe, and family and friends want to relax the COVID rules? Invite Rebecah Freeling to help your audience navigate this tricky time. She’ll share perspectives on thinking about this dilemma in a way that honors everyone’s needs, specific ways to communicate with family members (including teens) and practical ideas for compromise. Rebecah Freeling is the owner of Wits End Parenting. She also consults with schools and speaks on parenting issues. She’s the author of “Your Rules Are Dumb: How to Maintain Your Parental Authority While Creating a Partnership With Your Spirited Child.” Contact her at (510) 619-5920; witsendparenting@gmail.com
14. ==> How Can You Live an Ecstatic Life?
William Joseph Riegler has led an inspiring life marked by activism, promoting peace and educating children, and spending 44 years teaching English to students in Japan. He can talk about what it means to live an ecstatic life or how to recover one that has been lost, the subject of his book. He can also talk about organizing charity concerts and bringing relief supplies to Ghana, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Nepal, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda. He is the CMO of NPOWALK4PEACE in Japan and has traveled to 67 countries to promote peace. William’s project in Zimbabwe was entirely funded by sales from his book “Living My Ecstatic Life.” He also filmed mountain gorillas and has walked with lions! Contact William Joseph Riegler at +81 (090) 4711-4321; walk4peace@mac.com
15. ==> Lights Out – City Cuts Lights to Save Millions of Birds
The lights of Philadelphia might not shine as bright in the coming weeks as a coalition in the City of Brotherly Love tries to prevent millions of migrating birds that pass through twice a year from slamming into skyscrapers and crashing to the sidewalk. Bird Safe Philly was formed after last October’s deadly mass-collision when thousands of migratory birds were found on city streets after they became disoriented and flew into downtown buildings. Jason Weckstein, the associate curator of ornithology at Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences, says, “Conditions were perfect for a heavy migratory flight and imperfect given that there was a low ceiling of clouds and rain. That, in combination with Philly’s bright city lights, was a disaster for many fall migrant birds winging their way south.” Lights Out Philly is a voluntary program to turn off or dim the lights on the top floors of city buildings from midnight to 6 a.m. from April through May and again in the fall. The National Audubon Society, along with partners, established the first Lights Out program in 1999 in Chicago. Philadelphia joins 33 other cities including New York, Boston, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Contact Jason Weckstein, Ph.D., at (215) 299-1023; Jason.D.Weckstein@drexel.edu
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