01. Why the World Has Failed on the ‘Never Again’ Pledge
02. Pentagon Contractors Cashing in on the Ukraine Crisis
03. Does One-Way Masking Protect You?
04. Summer Teen Employment Outlook
05. Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author on Love, Loss and Writing
06. Country Music Star on Fame, Fortune and Missed Opportunities
07. Hunted By the KGB, He Lived to Tell the Story
08. Witch Doctors, Dictators, Wars: What It Took to Rid the World of Smallpox
09. What Was It Like Growing Up in the Jim Crow South?
10. The Simple, Safe Solution for Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint
11. Spring Clean Your Ideas About Work
12. Starting Over: How to Find Love in Midlife
13. How to Talk to Kids about Illness and Empower Them to Heal
14. Have You Been Brainwashed by Weight-Loss Lies?
15. Titanic Expert Reveals True Cause of Sinking
1.==> Why the World Has Failed on the ‘Never Again’ Pledge
As the war in Ukraine rages on and the world looks on in horror, Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says, “It’s long past time we level with ourselves about how little we have done and are prepared to do. Sadly, ‘Never again’ has become ‘Ever, ever again.’” Miller says the international community has repeatedly failed to intercede to stop mass killings, let alone genocide – from the Turkish genocide against Armenians to the Nazi Holocaust to Cambodia to Rwanda to Darfur and Syria, among others. He adds, “Make no mistake — once atrocities begin, sanctions tough rhetoric or political isolation will not work. If you want to stop mass killings, use of force is the only effective action.” Aaron David Miller is the author of “The End of Greatness: Why America Can’t Have (and Doesn’t Want) Another Great President.” Contact Clarissa Guerrero at (202) 939-2371; pressoffice@ceip.org
2. ==> Pentagon Contractors Cashing in on the Ukraine Crisis
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought immense suffering to the people of that land while sparking calls for increased military spending in both the United States and Europe. Though the war may prove to be a tragedy for the world, William Hartung and Julia Gledhill report that one group is already benefiting from it: U.S. arms contractors. In their new piece “The New Gold Rush: How Pentagon Contractors Are Cashing in on the Ukraine Crisis” they write, “For U.S. arms makers the greatest benefits of the war in Ukraine won’t be immediate weapons sales, large as they are, but the changing nature of the ongoing debate over Pentagon spending itself. Even before the war, the Pentagon was slated to receive at least $7.3 trillion over the next decade, more than four times the cost of President Biden’s $1.7 trillion domestic Build Back Better plan, already stymied by members of Congress who labeled it ‘too expensive’ by far.” Julia Gledhill is an analyst at the Center for Defense Information at the Project On Government Oversight. Contact her at julia.gledhill@pogo.org. William Hartung, a TomDispatch regular, is a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and the author of “Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military Industrial Complex.” Contact him at williamhartung55@gmail.com
3. ==> Unmasking America: Does One-Way Masking Protect You?
A federal judge in Florida has struck down the mask mandate on planes and other forms of public transportation and while some passengers are thrilled they no longer need to wear masks, many others are concerned about the safety of using mass transportation among a bunch of maskless strangers. But infectious diseases specialists say one-way masking is still worth it. “We like to think of situations as being safe or unsafe, but the question of masking effectiveness falls onto a gradient,” says Dr. Andrew Handel, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. “One-way masking is less effective than two-way masking but is more effective than not wearing a mask at all.” Experts advise wearing a high-quality mask like an N95, KN95 or KF94, since they can better filter viral particles out of the air you breathe, and stress that a good fit is most important. Andrew Handel, M.D., FAAP is an expert in pediatric infectious diseases. Contact Cassandra Genua at (631) 444-3682; cassandra.genua@stonybrookmedicine.edu or Kali Chan at (631) 638-2233; Kali.Chan@stonybrookmedicine.edu
4.==> Summer Teen Employment Outlook
A perfect storm of current events affecting American teens might keep them from taking jobs this summer, according to a new outlook from global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Last summer, despite the availability of jobs teens typically fill, low COVID cases, and lifted restrictions, 41% fewer teens found jobs than in 2020 and Andrew Challenger predicts the same numbers this summer. “The most immediate concern for teens is their mental health. Teens are savvy. They know what is happening in the world, what’s happening overseas, and how divided many in the country are. They may even see that division firsthand at home.” He adds, “The jobs are available, but it remains to be seen if teens will take them.” For those looking for a summer job, Challenger can share tips including when to start looking, where to find the best summer job, and how to apply. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074 (office); (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
5. ==> Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author on Love, Loss and Writing
“New Yorker” staff writer Kathryn Schulz is one of the most beloved long-form writers in America. She has written about everything from seismic risk in the Pacific Northwest to the origins of the Muslim community in Wyoming. Her new book “Lost & Found” is an exploration of how our lives are shaped by loss and discovery, and the confounding truth that life is both awful and wonderful, all at once. Schulz can discuss the story of her beloved father, a Jewish refugee who was born in Tel Aviv to Polish parents fleeing the Holocaust along with the families that make us and the families we make. She’ll share the difficulties of looking for love and the mysteries of love at first sight, and her own story of meeting and falling in love with her future wife. “Lost & Found” grew out of “Losing Streak,” a “New Yorker” story that was anthologized in “The Best American Essays.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or johanna@jrbcomm.com
6. ==> 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
7. ==> Hunted By the KGB, He Lived to Tell the Story
Imagine what life would be like if the KGB was after you, threatening your life. And if you had no idea you were even taking them on at first. John Christmas does not have to imagine … he lived it. While heading up an international banking group, Christmas tried to expose fraud he uncovered without realizing that the bank in question was a KGB front. Fired for being a whistleblower, he was threatened and terrorized and finally fled the country. Christmas is co-author of the geopolitical thriller “KGB Banker,” which was inspired by his story and takes place on the Russia/Ukraine border. Ask him: Why is your experience particularly relevant given today’s political environment? What happened to the players you exposed? Are you still in danger? Contact John Christmas at (514) 700-9015; jchristmas@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Witch Doctors, Dictators, Wars: What It Took to Rid the World of Smallpox
Fighting a deadly virus is complicated. It took 10 years and a global campaign for the world to eradicate smallpox. Bee Bloeser and her two young children became involved when the CDC dispatched her husband to Africa in 1969. From being welcomed by cheering Africans to encountering witch doctors, a 10-acre mass grave, and living under a brutal dictator in remote Equatorial Guinea, Bee can discuss the exhilarating moments, unexpected challenges, and why she and her children were eventually evacuated after an incident with a simple child’s toy. Bee Bloeser has been featured on NPR’s “Journeys of Discovery” and NPR KCBX Radio’s show “Issues and Ideas.” Her book is “Vaccines and Bayonets: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War.” Ask her: What are the similarities and differences between fighting smallpox and COVID? What was it like fighting a pandemic across battle lines of civil wars and the Cold War? Did she face resistance, and by whom? Contact Bee at (520) 214-5971; bbloeser@rtirguests.com
9. ==> What Was It Like Growing Up in the Jim Crow South?
History is much more potent when told through the eyes of people who have lived it. Now that much of the country is too young to recall what it was like to grow up in a deliberately segregated America, stories like that of Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans (pronounced Kray-gull-mans) are golden. 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. As a third-grader whose family had moved to a new neighborhood, she experienced a cross burning on her front lawn and reeled from the horror of having her dog poisoned. But, as she will tell you, she still describes her childhood as “happy with a loving family who tried to be typical Americans.” Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans, a Fulbright Scholar, was one of the first Black women in the Foreign Service. 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
10. ==> The Simple, Safe Solution for Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint
Asbestos and lead-based paint. We’ve all heard about these hazardous materials. They lurk in older buildings silently waiting to inflect disease or death on their occupants. Removal and replacement of these hazards can be expensive and for many not a viable option. Building, solid hazardous material and coating expert George Keefe believes the answer is simpler than most people think. Invite him on your show to explain how to deal with the issue safely with a green protective coating, the same technique used to protect people from electrical hazards. A consultant, contractor and coach, George Keefe has been dealing with these issues on the global stage for four decades. He wrote “Just Encase They Think You’re Stupid” to demystify the complicated issues of solid hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead-based paint in buildings. Contact Lydia Ng’etich at (800) 228-5507; ask@encasementguy.com
11. ==> Spring Clean Your Ideas About Work
Last year’s Great Resignation has evolved into this year’s Great Re-imagination of the workplace. Since the spring of 2021 more than 33 million people in the U.S. have quit jobs that aren’t accommodating their needs, including millions of people looking for careers that better wrap around their families. Sherry Beck Paprocki says this tightening of the workforce provides a unique opportunity to find the perfect job for those who are looking for more flexibility and freedom in their careers. Invite her on your show and learn how to have a lucrative freelance business, tips to create the gig lifestyle you’ve dreamed about, and why some people have satisfying careers while others don’t. Certified work-life balance coach Sherry Beck Paprocki has earned more than six figures a year as a freelance writer, editor and gig specialist. She is the author of “Freelance Fancy: Your Guide to Capturing Spiritual Health, Wealth and Happiness from Gig Work.” Contact her at (614) 537-7159; paprockiltd@cs.com
12. ==> Starting Over: How to Find Love in Midlife
After ending a 27-year marriage due to her spouse’s repeated infidelities, Judy Balloff set about finding love like it was a business, even keeping a “little black book.” “I went through 22 men until I met the love of my life,” she says. “I realized that, when you’re in your 50s, you could live another 30 years. So I went about looking for love very scientifically.” Judy met her husband, David, on Match.com, and they have been happily married since 2008. She can share her scientific formula for finding your dream mate in midlife and reveal the dos and don’ts of dating when you’re older including tips on online dating sites. Judy Balloff is a financial advisor and the author of “365 Days of Abundance.” Contact her at (571) 568-8491; jballoff@rtirguests.com
13. ==> How to Talk to Kids about Illness and Empower Them to Heal
It’s hard to understand what’s going on inside a sick body, especially when you’re a child. But Grandma Ness, a working artist and painter, provides a whimsical, entertaining and imaginative way for parents to broach the topic of illness with their children with her new book, “Bernie and Babs vs. the Virus.” Grandma Ness, a pen name for Annessa Morrison, says that although the book was written for four- to seven-year-olds, it’s for adults too because it gives readers a way to visualize their immune system’s response. She’ll share ways to empower sick children, five hacks that make healing visualization work better, and how she used them to treat her lupus and the pain that impacted her ability to work as an artist. Contact Grandma Ness at (928) 830-3935; GrandmaNess2022@gmail.com
14. ==> Have You Been Brainwashed by Weight-Loss Lies?
As summer approaches, many people will go on diets because they’ve been brainwashed to believe diets and exercise are the only ways to lose weight and look good in their summer clothes. Most people have no idea there are other options for shedding unwanted pounds. Ruth Houston can discuss research-backed, no-cost, easy-to-implement weight-loss tips and tricks — things the diet industry hopes the public will never find out. The author of “Eat Smart and Lose Weight: Scientifically Proven Ways to Lose Weight without Diets or Exercise” will share table tactics, kitchen tricks, binge prevention and more. Ruth has appeared on more than 500 radio and TV news and talk shows. Contact her at (718) 708-9799; EatSmartWeightLossExpert@gmail.com
15. ==> Titanic Expert Reveals True Cause of Sinking
Your listeners have probably heard about the 1912 sinking of the Titanic passenger ship after hitting an iceberg during her maiden voyage. The disaster claimed the lives of some 1,500 people and still fascinates us, as does speculation about the true cause. Loring Stead, M.D., author of the upcoming book “Sink the Unsinkable,” a retired physician and a descendant of first-class passenger W. T. Stead, says the loss of the Titanic was no accident. W.T., an expert on preventing child sex trafficking, was coming to America at the invitation of President Taft to give a talk on peace at Carnegie Hall. But, according to Dr. Stead, he planned to out wealthy, privileged child abusers. Ask Dr. Stead: Why does he believe W.T. and some others aboard the Titanic had to be silenced? How did business elites, the church, and politicians conspire to sink the ship? Loring Stead, M.D., has presented at hundreds of medical conferences and is a Titanic expert with previously unknown family stories to share. Contact him at (507) 358-2961; stead.loring@gmail.com