01. Holy Days: Celebrate America’s Strength in Its Many Faiths
02. What the Pandemic Taught Us about Air Quality
03. What Workers Want Most (It’s Not Money)
04. Country Music Star on Fame, Fortune and Missed Opportunities
05. Holiday Wine Help: Toast without Breaking the Bank
06. Today’s Changing Workplace: Revolution or Evolution?
07. 5 Tips to Tame Rising Road Rage
08. Dealing with Ukraine News Overload
09. It’s Earth Month: Can Elephants Reverse Climate Change?
10. The Future of Affirmative Action
11. Is It too Late to Fix Our Broken Medical Model?
12. Will Someone You Love Get Early-Onset Alzheimer’s?
13. Stress Relief Tips for Stress Awareness Month
14. The Best 5-Minute Way to Start Your Day
15. Let’s Talk about Women’s Hair Loss
1. ==> Holy Days: Celebrate America’s Strength in Its Many Faiths
It’s a time for prayers and family gatherings for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Victor Begg says, in their own ways, the three Abrahamic faiths seek to remind us of our responsibility for each other and for the world. He says interfaith alliances remove religious barriers and foster cooperation in our current society where many American families have mixed faiths. He can discuss what brings these religious observances together and its significance, along with ways to manifest the spirit of this holy season through fasting, giving and food. “For the millions across America and around the world, starvation and malnutrition are a daily reality. This month presents an opportunity for the faith communities to come together to help and support food banks.” Victor Begg is author of “Our Muslim Neighbors—Achieving the American Dream; An Immigrant’s Memoir.” Contact him at victor@ourmuslimneighbors.com; @ghalibbegg
2. ==> What the Pandemic Taught Us about Air Quality
The White House’s recent emphasis on improving indoor air quality to reduce virus transmission is being praised by public health experts. Linsey Marr and Jose-Luis Jimenez, two scientists who recently co-authored a piece for “Time” magazine on air quality and COVID-19, say that at the beginning of the pandemic, major public health agencies like the CDC and WHO failed to communicate that the spread of the virus is significantly driven by airborne transmission. Marr hopes the administration’s new focus will nudge localities to adopt and enforce industry standards and guidance into building codes, and lead to new policies on indoor air quality. But, she adds, as adjustments are made for the duration of the pandemic and beyond, the public needs to understand how we got to this place. She’ll discuss why using the word “airborne” was avoided and by whom, and how that affected the way we responded to the virus both then and now. Linsey Marr, Ph.D., is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech and studies viruses in the air. Contact her at mediarelations-g@vt.edu; @linseymarr
3. ==> What Workers Want Most (It’s Not Money)
Today’s workers are depressed and unhappy. Over three-quarters of employers report they’re struggling to engage employees, and 34% are seeing an actual cost to business in the form of low productivity, according to a new survey by HR firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. And that’s not the only issue, respondents overwhelmingly report having trouble hiring, with over 80% of companies saying they were having difficulty filling roles. Invite workplace expert Andrew Challenger to share other results of the survey including what employees want most from a job and how employers are responding. “Over the last two years, we have asked this question four times. Money has fallen out of the top five benefits employers are offering to attract and retain workers for the first time. While pay is absolutely still important, employers seem to be focusing on building culture and solid leadership,” says Challenger. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074; (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
4.==> Country Music Star on Fame, Fortune and Missed Opportunities
Johnny Rodriguez worked and toured with music legends Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton. His Latin-infused hits made him one of the most successful country artists of the ‘70s and ‘80s, with 15 consecutive top ten songs and six number one hits. His new memoir “Desperado: Pieces of My Soul” details his meteoric rise to fame and his plunge into personal despair and getting back in the saddle, again. Ask him: How did you get your life back on track? What was your relationship with Merle Haggard? How did you end up recording the Eagles’ song “Desperado?” Why did you turn down Col. Parker? Johnny continues to write and record new music. His new country/mariachi CD “Building Bridges” includes two songs written by actor and singer/songwriter Dennis Quaid and a duet with two-time Grammy Winner and friend Tanya Tucker; it also features Johnny’s daughter, Aubry Rae Rodriguez. Contact Pauline Vega at (661) 387-3174; pvega@rtirguests.com
5. ==> Holiday Wine Help: Toast Without Breaking the Bank
Help! You’ve got company coming for a holiday gathering this weekend and have no idea what kind of wine to serve. Before your guests arrive, let Certified Wine Educator Jim Laughren share the latest insider tips and techniques for smart wine buying. Help your audience celebrate the season without breaking the bank by sharing his knowledge, fun facts, and favorite wine bargains. An appearance by Jim is every bit as entertaining as an in-person wine tasting. Jim is the award-winning author of “50 Ways to Love Wine More” and “A Beer Drinker’s Guide to Knowing and Enjoying Fine Wine,” as well as two short 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 always an excellent and entertaining guest. Contact Jim at (954) 317-9623; JLaughren@rtirguests.com
6. ==> Today’s Changing Workplace: Revolution or Evolution?
Businesses and workplaces in virtually every industry have been upended over the past few years. While some companies and jobs disappeared entirely, others adapted to the pandemic and have forever changed. When unhappy workers started quitting their jobs in unprecedented numbers the phenomenon was dubbed “The Great Resignation,” but Oreste D’Aversa says yet another shift is occurring as aging baby boomers leave the workforce. “I view this “perfect storm” as creating not so much a revolution, but more of an evolution of the way business needs to hire, retain, and motivate employees so everyone can be content, productive, and prosperous.” Invite the author of “Life Beyond the Pandemic: A Practical New Journey Handbook” to share his revolutionary step-by-step blueprint to reinvent your life and thrive in the ever-evolving post-pandemic world. He’ll explain what people get wrong about happiness and money and help listeners get unstuck, define their life’s purpose, and be more prosperous in every aspect of life. Oreste D’Aversa is a life and business coach, corporate trainer and all-faith minister. Contact him at (201) 949-3002; odaversa@rtirguests.com
7. ==> 5 Tips to Tame Rising Road Rage
Gas prices aren’t the only thing ticking motorists off these days as more drivers take advantage of nice weather and the opportunity to take long-delayed roads trips. Road rage incidents increased during the pandemic and Houston had three separate road rage shootings last weekend. Author and happiness expert Trish Ahjel Roberts can offer motorists five tips for taming their tempers behind the wheel. She’ll explain how to gear up your imagination to build empathy, recognize your success as a driver, notice your breath, safely acknowledge your anger and entertain yourself while behind the wheel. The author of “12 Steps to Mind-Blowing Happiness” recently appeared on CBS46 in Atlanta to discuss road rage. Contact Trish Ahjel Roberts at (917) 887-3689; hello@trishahjelroberts.com
8. ==> Dealing with Ukraine News Overload
It’s difficult for most people to avoid feeling hopeless and sad about all the news coming out of Ukraine. For some overly sensitive people known as empaths, the war news is having a magnified effect. Alicia McBride, an empath who works with others like herself to learn to protect themselves from overwhelming feelings, can talk about ways we can shield and protect ourselves from awful situations. Invite Alicia to explain what it is like to be an empath and to feel “too much” as well as share the good things she can sense about the situation in Ukraine. She says, “You can see what’s happening without feeding the fear. You can feed the love and tune into it. Feeding the love creates positive actions like raising money, sending supplies, and sending healing thoughts and prayers.” Alicia McBride is the author of “The Empath Effect” and “I Feel Too Much.” Reach her at (484) 369-1464; Healinglightempath@gmail.com
9. ==> It’s Earth Month: Can Elephants Reverse Climate Change?
People the world over have a deep affection for elephants. But did you know that they could help save the planet? “Not only are elephants adorable, super loving and brilliant, but they are also important ecosystem engineers,” says author and animal/environmental advocate Georja Umano. “They are so large that rain in an elephant’s footprint can create a microsystem that can provide a home for tadpoles and other organisms. The effects of their movements in both savannahs and forests help restore and maintain the balance of nature.” Georja can share why it’s so important to protect this endangered species, and other fascinating pachyderm facts, as well as her experiences living in Kenya. She is the author of “Terrier in the Jungle.” Contact her at (213) 568-1764; gumano@rtirguests.com
10. ==> The Future of Affirmative Action
Affirmative action came out of the civil rights movement as a means to address inequalities experienced by minorities. It became law through an executive order made by John F. Kennedy in 1961. With two upcoming cases challenging it before the Supreme Court, now is a good time to discuss affirmative action’s past and future with author Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans (pronounced Kray-gull-mans). Among the topics she can discuss are: Is affirmative action reverse discrimination? How effective has it been? Was it always controversial? Does it benefit everyone or just a few? Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans, a Fulbright Scholar, was one of the first Black women in the Foreign Service. A child of educators, she grew up in public housing in the Jim Crow South where Blacks were told they lived in a separate, but equal society. She is the author of “Flowers for Brother Mudd: One Woman’s Path from Jim Crow to Career Diplomat.” Contact Judith at (571) 568-8667; jmuddkrijgelmans@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Is It too Late to Fix Our Broken Medical Model?
How flawed is the traditional medical model in the U.S.? Can we depend on it to keep us well or is that wishful thinking? Dr. Annalee Kitay minces no words: “If you are smart, you’ll stop relying on a system that is failing everyone. Instead, you’ll learn how to tap into your body’s amazing healing properties through noninvasive modalities.” Dr. Kitay can tell your audience how to do just that. Ask her: Did medicine fail us doing the pandemic? What can people do to protect themselves against communicable and other illnesses? Dr. Kitay has been in private practice for 30 years and trained in alternative protocols that aid the body in its natural recovery. She is one of the top practitioners of Neural Organization Technique and teaches the hands-on protocol to other doctors. She is a frequent guest on talk shows. Contact Annalee Kitay at (561) 462-4733; akitay@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Will Someone You Love Get Early-Onset Alzheimer’s?
The ravages of Alzheimer’s are not limited to the aged. In fact, thousands of relatively young people and their families will be affected by early-onset Alzheimer’s this year alone. Interview Carlen Maddux, author of “A Path Revealed,” about the journey he took with his late wife, Martha, after she was diagnosed at 50. Carlen has many insights to share about the first signs of the disease, and ultimately on caregiving, single parenting, learning about a memory-robbing illness with no cure, and what lifestyle changes and treatments gave his spouse additional quality years. Contact Carlen Maddux at (727) 351-8321; CMaddux@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Stress Relief Tips for Stress Awareness Month
Even before the pandemic’s lingering effects, the war in Ukraine, and rising food prices, stress was a constant problem and killer. In time for Stress Awareness Month in April, Dr. D. Terrence Foster says, “We all experience stress. However, the nature of stress is complex.” He’ll explain the impact of stress on the body as well as society as a whole and discuss how to create a stress management and prevention plan. He’ll also offer dozens of ways to ease daily stressors. D. Terrence Foster, M.D., is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation as well as pain medicine. His new best-selling award-winning book is “The Stress Book: 40-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life.” Contact him at (678) 237-1080; INFO@DTERRENCEFOSTER.COM
14. ==> The Best 5-Minute Way to Start Your Day
Life has been tough for most of us lately and our collective mental health is showing the strain. Those are reasons enough to start every day off with the five-minute routine Rick Mc Daniel uses to begin each morning. Invite Rick to share the one thing you need to do during this time and best of all, it requires little expense and no special expertise, or equipment. He’ll explain the simple concept anyone can embrace and answer any questions you have about it. Rick Mc Daniel is a writer, the host of the Point of Impact podcast, and the author of eight books. His latest is “This Is Living: Daily Inspiration to Live Your Faith.” Contact Rick at (804) 387-8321; rick@rickmcdaniel.com
15. ==> Let’s Talk about Women’s Hair Loss
Hair loss can be an incredibly stressful phenomenon, especially for a woman. The recent Oscar “slap heard round the world” started with a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, and now many people are learning about alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. But Dr. Karl Zarse says there are many reasons women experience hair loss and thinning. Invite him on your show to discuss ways to deal with the problem, including supplements that can help to maintain healthy hair growth. Dr. Zarse will explain the role of immune function and hair loss and reveal which vitamins and minerals are vital to keeping your locks in top shape. Karl Zarse, M.D., is a spine, pain, and nutritional supplement specialist and the owner of Spine and Pain PLLC. Contact Adrienne Mazzone at (561) 908-1683; amazzone@transmediagroup.com