01. Political Violence in America: What the Data Shows
02. The Economic Toll of the Iran War
03. Do You Have a Telescope? NASA Needs Your Help
04. Award-Winning Writer Shares Her Family’s Holocaust Story
05. Great Music Show: How Songs Can Change Your Brain
06. Why Women Often Make Better Leaders—And What Companies Miss
07. Great Business Show: How to Use Visual Thinking in the Age of AI
08. How to Reclaim Attention in a World Built to Distract
09. U.S. Fertility Rate Hits Record Low: Why it Matters
10. Why Evangelicals Are Losing Credibility with the Next Generation
11. America is Running Out of Teachers: How to Fix the Crisis
12. From Overwhelmed to Action: How Everyday People Are Making a Real Difference
13. How to Stand for What You Believe Without Burning Bridge
14. Real Change Starts Locally – How Communities Are Taking Back Control
15. A Bold Plan to Address America’s Deepest Inequalities
1. ==> Political Violence in America: What the Data Shows
After this weekend’s assassination attempt on President Trump many are wondering whether the country has entered a dangerous phase of political violence and what that means for the country. Sean Westwood, a professor at Dartmouth who tracks political violence and Americans’ perceptions of it says, “We should be certainly very worried about political violence and its destabilizing effect, but the country has seen far worse and survived.” He says, “Part of our doom loop is not necessarily the political violence itself, but the narrative of democratic collapse that comes along with it. And history tells us that isolated incidents of political violence – even the assassination of elected officials or presidents – do not lead to the end of the Republic.” He can discuss the difference in political violence today versus the 1960s, why Americans are so fearful of it right now, and how politicians exploit that fear for their own gain. Sean Westwood is an associate professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College and director of the Polarization Research Lab. He is also a fellow at the Hoover Institution. Contact him at sean.j.westwood@dartmouth.edu
2. ==> The Economic Toll of the Iran War
The world is starting to feel the effects of the war in Iran. Asia is suffering the most, with several countries shutting factories, cutting work weeks and closing schools to save energy. Here in the U.S., consumers feel it when they go to the pump, and price spikes are expected to intensify and spread well beyond the gas station. Just this week, Defense officials estimate the war has cost the U.S. $25 billion so far. Economist Roger Ferguson says, “The conflict’s economic repercussions could prove pivotal—and political—during a midterm election year in the United States. Many Americans are still feeling the strain of years of elevated inflation, and the concept of affordability has remained a top voter issue ahead of November. The risks of higher inflation, slower growth, and rising unemployment could tighten the screws on the U.S. economy and the electorate.” He’ll explain the current economic moment and the factors involved. Ask him about the war’s worldwide ripple effect, the current job market, consumer confidence and the housing market. Dr. Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., is the Steven A Tananbaum Distinguished Fellow for International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. He was president and chief executive officer of TIAA, a Fortune 100 financial services organization. Contact him at rwferguson@cfr.org
3. ==> Do You Have a Telescope? NASA Needs Your Help
As NASA’s Artemis II astronauts zipped around the Moon in early April, they observed flashes of light caused by meteoroids hitting the lunar surface. At the same time, volunteers for the NASA-funded Impact Flash project scanned the Moon with their own telescopes and sent their videos to scientists to share what they saw from Earth. The Artemis II astronauts have splashed back down to Earth, so their observations of the Moon from space have come to a halt for now, but the Impact Flash team is just getting started and recording these flashes is more important than ever. Thanks to modern robotic telescopes and video equipment, it’s also easier to do. If you have access to a telescope four inches in diameter or greater with video capabilities, your observations can make a difference. “We are planning to send seismometers to the Moon to measure how the ground shakes,” says Impact Flash project lead Ben Fernando, a planetary scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. “Your measurements of impact flashes will help us work out the sources of moonquakes we detect. This will help us work out what the Moon’s interior looks like.” For interviews, contact NASA’s media team at hq-media@mail.nasa.gov.
4. ==> Award-Winning Writer Shares Her Family’s Holocaust Story
Award-winning filmmaker and writer Pauline Steinhorn has spent her life telling other people’s stories. Now, she’s telling her own family’s harrowing story of survival. Invite Steinhorn to share how the pair survived and saved others in brutal bomb-making slave labor camps and Bergen-Belsen through sabotage, daring escapes, and near-death rescues—often with the help of the most unlikely allies. Based on the journals of her mother and grandmother, this true story of a Jewish mother and daughter is a testament to courage, devotion, and the fragile thread of hope that sustained them. Amid cruelty and terror, they also encounter moments of deep humanity and unimaginable courage. Pauline Steinhorn has written and directed documentaries for PBS, Maryland Public Television, Sesame Street, Discovery Channel, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Her latest book is “Dreaming of the River: A Mother and Daughter’s Fight for Survival During the Holocaust.” Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com
5. ==> Great Music Show: How Songs Can Change Your Brain
What actually happens in your brain when a song suddenly takes you somewhere—back to a memory you didn’t expect, or into a scene that feels almost cinematic? What if the moments aren’t just emotional, but measurable brain events? A Princeton professor’s research reveals that songs can trigger more vivid and detailed memories than faces, food, or even television, and can pull listeners into shared imaginative experiences that feel deeply personal but are often patterned across people. Invite Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis, PhD, to explain how music doesn’t just accompany our thoughts; it actively shapes them. As director of Princeton’s Music Cognition Lab, her work bridges music, psychology, and neuroscience, using experiments and listening studies to track how people respond to sound, what they remember, how their attention shifts, and how music reshapes emotional experience in real time. Her research has been featured by NPR, the BBC, and on Netflix’s “Explained,” where she appears on camera explaining how music shapes memory, emotion, and perception for a broad audience. Her latest book is “Transported: The Everyday Magic of Musical Daydreams.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
6. ==> Why Women Often Make Better Leaders—And What Companies Miss
In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, companies say they value strong leadership, but often overlook one of their greatest untapped assets: women. Research and real-world results consistently show that women tend to lead with empathy, collaboration, and long-term vision—qualities that drive stronger teams and more sustainable growth. Yet many organizations still default to outdated leadership models that reward dominance over development. Entrepreneur and author David Hampson argues that businesses miss the mark by failing to fully empower female leaders, especially in cultures that prioritize short-term wins over people-first strategies. If companies want better outcomes, it’s time to rethink leadership itself—and recognize that elevating women isn’t a trend, but a competitive advantage. David is the author of “Rainbow Gold: Building A Business That's Both the Journey and the Destination,” and a business advisory consultant. Contact him at (603) 605-8594; dhampson@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Great Business Show: How to Use Visual Thinking in the Age of AI
What if your messy stick figures could transform stalled meetings into breakthrough moments? Lisa Rothstein, “New Yorker” cartoonist and former advertising creative, has discovered that imperfect doodles beat perfect presentations every single time—and the science backs her up. In interviews, Rothstein will reveal how simple sketches get buy-in faster than any PowerPoint deck, why drawing badly creates psychological safety that "perfect" can't match, and how to use visual thinking in the age of AI to stand out as authentically human. Drawing from her book “Drawing Out Your Genius,” she'll share quick techniques anyone can use to simplify complex ideas, kickstart innovation, and finally get teams speaking the same language. Ask her: You say "the worse it looks, the better it works"—how does that make sense? What kinds of problems can this technique help you solve? How can non-artists use drawing to get breakthrough results this week? Contact Lisa Rothstein at (310) 388-8093; Lrothstein@rtirguests.com
8. ==> How to Reclaim Attention in a World Built to Distract
We live in a world designed to hijack our attention. The average adult now spends over seven hours a day on screens, yet many feel more scattered, reactive, and stuck than ever. Author and senior UCLA mindfulness educator Mitra Manesh says this isn’t just a focus issue; it’s an attention crisis quietly eroding our freedom to choose. On your show, Mitra will reveal why even intelligent, successful people often live in “survival mode,” how constant stimulation weakens our decision-making, and why reclaiming attention is the first and most important step toward true freedom. Drawing from her inspirational fiction, “The Attentionist: New Choices for a New World”—a parable in the spirit of “The Alchemist”—she offers a transformative blend of storytelling and insight, packed with techniques and practices for improving attention as a transformative force in all aspects of life. This is a timely invitation to shift from reaction to creation, and a powerful case for why reclaiming attention may be the most radical act of personal power in our time. Contact Mitra Manesh at (310) 807-3031; mmanesh@rtirguests.com
9. ==> U.S. Fertility Rate Hits Record Low: Why it Matters
The nation’s fertility rates hit record lows in 2025 as childbearing continues to shift toward older women, according to new federal data. For the first time birthrates for women in their late 30s exceeded those for women in their early 20s. Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri says this isn’t just a demographic dip. It’s a crisis with massive implications for the global workforce, elder care systems, and generational stability. This long-time OB/GYN will explain what’s really behind the fertility decline, and why most people are focusing on the wrong things. Drawing on 30+ years in practice and insights from her new book “Optimize Your Fertility Naturally,” she’ll also explain why lifestyle, not just age or IVF, plays a critical role in conception. Ask her: Which daily habits impact fertility most? Why are low birthrates more dangerous than most people think? Contact her at (613) 800-9412; msuri@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Why Evangelicals Are Losing Credibility with the Next Generation
From Gen Z’s exodus from church pews to viral TikToks calling out hypocrisy, one thing is clear: younger Americans are increasingly skeptical of evangelical Christianity. Former preacher Rick Patterson believes it’s not a loss of faith. It’s a loss of trust. Rick says that many churches have aligned themselves with power and culture wars instead of compassion and character. As a former ardent atheist who now holds master's and doctoral degrees in Christian Ministry, Rick has a rare insider-outsider perspective on how the pursuit of being “great again” has distorted the message of Jesus as well as why the next generation isn’t buying it. Rick blends theology, psychology, and real-world stories to help audiences understand why this credibility gap exists and what must change to close it. Ask him: What do younger generations find most hypocritical about today’s evangelical church? Can politics and faith ever mix without compromising the core of either? Rick’s thought-provoking new book is “The Matthew Challenge.” Contact him at (517) 300-2706; rpatterson@rtirguests.com
11. ==> America is Running Out of Teachers: How to Fix the Crisis
Over 440,000 teaching positions are now filled by unqualified staff or sitting empty. Deanna Gilmore, Ph.D., says the only way to fix it is to make people fall in love with teaching again — and to pressure lawmakers to fund salaries that keep them there. A 26-year classroom veteran, former school principal, and university professor who trained the next generation of educators, Gilmore will share firsthand stories from teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and coaches to remind America what's at stake before it's too late. Ask her: With nearly half a million teaching positions unfilled, what happens to America's public schools? What concrete steps can communities and lawmakers take right now to stop the bleeding? How are school voucher programs making the teacher shortage even worse? Deanna Gilmore is the author of "There's a Pig on the Playground: Memorable Stories from the Schoolyard." Contact her at (208) 285-7567; dgilmore@rtirguests.com
Many people are feeling overwhelmed with the way things are going in the world, and in their own communities. Here are four guests offering real ways to empower listeners and give them the tools to create change.
12. ==> From Overwhelmed to Action: How Everyday People Are Making a Real Difference
Your audience isn't apathetic. They're exhausted, and there's a difference. Activist and author Sam Daley-Harris has spent decades studying why engaged, well-meaning people eventually go quiet, and what it actually takes to bring them back. His answer isn't a pep talk. It's a method. On your show, he'll introduce "transformational advocacy", a practical framework that moves people from paralyzed to participating without burning out in the process. He'll explain why dramatic gestures and viral moments rarely create lasting change, why small, consistent actions are disproportionately powerful, and how ordinary people with no political experience or large platforms have influenced real policy outcomes. This is the segment for the audience who cares deeply, feels completely stuck, and needs someone to show them the on-ramp — not just tell them it exists. Contact Sam Daley-Harris at (202) 804-2504; sdaley@rtirguests.com
13. ==> How to Stand for What You Believe Without Burning Bridge
Most people aren't losing relationships over big ideological battles. They're losing them over Tuesday night dinners and team meetings — the small moments where someone says the wrong thing and the damage is done before anyone realizes it. Peacebuilding expert Daisy Khan says the problem is rarely what we believe. It's that nobody taught us how to say it. Drawing from years of training organizations, schools, and communities, Khan gives your audience something practical and immediately usable: specific language shifts that let people hold their ground without triggering defensiveness, avoid the two most common communication mistakes that escalate disagreements, and stay in relationship with people they fundamentally disagree with. This isn't conflict avoidance. It's conflict navigation. And in a climate where audiences are exhausted by division but don't know how to do it differently, Khan is the guest who hands them a tool, not just a talking point. Contact Daisy Khan at (917) 905-7829; dkhan@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Real Change Starts Locally – How Communities Are Taking Back Control
When problems feel too big to solve, many people assume change has to come from the top. Crime prevention expert Stephanie Mann says real, lasting change often starts at the community level. Drawing from decades of experience, she explains how local engagement, trust-building, and neighbor-to-neighbor connection can reduce crime and strengthen communities in measurable ways. On your show, she’ll share why traditional top-down approaches often fall short and how grassroots efforts create safer, more resilient neighborhoods. She also reveals the specific strategies communities can use to take ownership of their environment and reduce dependence on reactive systems. This is a practical, empowering conversation that shows your audience how meaningful change can begin right where they live. Contact Stephanie Mann at (925) 438-0716; smann@rtirguests.com
15. ==> A Bold Plan to Address America’s Deepest Inequalities
Most reparations conversations generate heat but no light. Lauraine White brings something different: a specific, measurable blueprint, and a family history that puts her at the center of the very wound America can't stop arguing about. With both enslaved and Confederate ancestors, White isn't approaching this as an outsider or an ideologue. She's approaching it as someone who has lived the contradiction, and who argues that real healing requires more than apologies or symbolism. Her Freedom Wealth Fund proposes targeted, actionable steps like erasing student-loan debt for descendants of enslaved people, guaranteeing free education, and rewriting history curricula to reflect the full truth of the transatlantic slave trade. On your show, she'll make the case that this isn't about relitigating the past. It's about closing an economic gap that nearly 60% of Americans acknowledge still shapes Black people's position in society today. With DEI battles, revised history standards, and voting rights all in the headlines, this conversation is already happening. White gives your audience someone who can advance it. Contact Lauraine White at (770) 525-8743; lwhite@rtirguests.com
