01. How the Federal Government Is Still Failing Border Kids
02. Clarence Thomas Is Running Out of Excuses
03. Mass Shooters Are Disproportionally Military Vets
04. How Did You Become a Mom? Why It Doesn’t Matter
05. Last-Minute, No- and Low-Cost Ways to Honor Mom
06. Could a Later School Start Help Teen Mental Health Crisis?
07. ‘New Yorker’ Writer Adam Gopnik – The Mystery of Mastery
08. 50th Anniversary of Title IX: This Guest Was There from the Start
09. Mike Tyson’s Mother-in-Law on Her Wrongful Conviction and More
10. Should You Take Parenting Advice from Kids?
11. Time for a Spring Friendship Cleanse
12. Live Your Best Life in the Worst of Times
13. How to Stop Beating Yourself Up
14. This Senior Athlete Proves Age Is Just a Number
15. How Elephants Can Save the Planet!
1. ==> How the Federal Government Is Still Failing Border Kids
Anyone who follows the news has heard about an expected migrant surge with this week’s expiration of a pandemic-era border restriction, but 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. He is the author of “Do No Harm: The U.S. Border Child Tragedy Continues,” founder of the nonprofit Forever Homes for Foster Kids and has appeared as an expert on CNN and ABC. Contact him at (619) 648-4729; rvillasana@rtirguests.com
2. ==> Clarence Thomas Is Running Out of Excuses
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has come under fire recently for not disclosing lavish vacations and gifts, including private school tuition, from a wealthy Republican donor. Steven Lubet says Thomas’ explanations for decades of omissions on his annual financial reports are flimsy and based on a dubious interpretation of the law. “A justice who respects the public’s right to information – codified in the ethics law in 1978 by a bipartisan congressional majority – would always err in favor of disclosure. He would not blame unnamed, and perhaps deceased, colleagues for his own decisions or assert improbable misunderstandings of straightforward rules or conjure the narrowest possible interpretation of his obligations.” Lubet says with lifetime tenure, short of impeachment, the only corrective for a justice’s questionable conduct is public criticism, which makes full compliance with financial disclosure laws so important, and why Thomas’ evasiveness is so wrong. Steven Lubet is the Williams Memorial Professor Emeritus at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He is the coauthor of “Judicial Conduct and Ethics.” Contact him at (312) 503-6605; slubet@law.northwestern.edu
3. ==> Mass Shooters Are Disproportionally Military Vets
According to the USA TODAY/Northeastern University/Associated Press Mass Killings Database, there have been 22 mass killings so far this year, the most ever. The latest attack in Texas was carried out by a man who spent three months in Army basic training. While technically not a veteran, David Swanson says he fits a pattern. “Of course statistically virtually all veterans are not mass shooters, because very few people are mass shooters. But disproportionately mass shooters are veterans — at least 36 percent last time I reviewed the data,” he says. “If we are going to take an interest in other demographic trends regarding this tiny group of people — their gender, mental health, criminal records, racist ideologies — we can take an interest in the fact that our tax dollars trained many of them to shoot. We can also notice that many non-veteran mass shooters dress, speak, and act — in the commission of their crime — as if they are participating in a military.” Swanson, the director of World BEYOND War, a global nonviolent movement, believes there’s a structural problem in training so many people to kill — including the recent killer on a New York subway — and a cultural problem in glorifying it. David Swanson is an author, activist and the host of Talk Word Radio. Contact him at davidcnswanson@gmail.com; @davidcnswanson
4. ==> How Did You Become a Mom? Why It Doesn’t Matter
There are many ways for a woman to become a mother and just as many reasons to honor the strength, courage, and selflessness that go into being a mother, whether by birth or by adoption. Mikki Shepard will discuss common myths about adoption and share her own adoption story spanning multiple generations. Listeners will learn why it doesn’t take biology to make a family as Mikki reveals lessons she learned from her father. Mikki Shepard is the author of “In a Heartbeat: The Miracle of a Family that Was Meant to Be.” Her diverse career spans multiple industries, successful entrepreneurship, and a strong background in speaking and real estate. Mikki has appeared on radio and in numerous publications. Contact her at (845) 733-8077; sea2sea@twc.com
5. ==> Last-Minute, No- and Low-Cost Ways to Honor Mom
Mother’s Day is Sunday and it’s a good time to celebrate with the incredible women who have fashioned our lives. But Alisha Allen says celebrating motherhood doesn’t have to break the bank. Invite the Party Princess to share some great, last-minute, no- and low-cost ideas to recognize Mom and make her feel appreciated. Alisha’s ideas run the gamut from becoming Mom’s personal assistant for a day to treating her to an at-home spa day or even creating a playlist full of her preferred songs and significant tunes that remind her of your bond. “Don’t be amazed if she breaks out into spontaneous dance actions or begins belting out her favorite power ballads,” Alisha says. “Feel free to enroll in and have an impromptu dwelling room dance party!” Alisha Allen is the Party Princess for The Party Nuptual Network, an online platform for planning a party or day or night out. Contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988; markgoldman73@gmail.com
6. ==> Could a Later School Start Help Teen Mental Health Crisis?
It’s a long-held stereotype that teenagers love to sleep in, but it’s also a physiological fact: Young people need more rest during such an important stage of growth and development. With the current mental health crisis affecting teens across the country, the idea of starting school later is getting a fresh look. “These mental health challenges are already going to happen and then, with the absence of sleep, are much worse,” says Orfeu Buxton, director of the Sleep, Health & Society Collaboratory at Penn State University. “The same with decision-making, suicidal ideation, those kinds of things.” The reasons why high schools start as early as they do — many begin their day before 7:30 a.m. — are “lost to the sands of history,” Buxton says. But now, he says, “Everything is baked into that: traffic light patterns, bus schedules and adults’ work.” Nationally, at least nine states are considering legislation related to school start times and large school systems including Denver, Philadelphia and Anchorage have been looking into later start times. Orfeu Buxton’s research focuses on the causes and consequences of sleep deficiency. Contact him at (814) 867-5707; orfeu@psu.edu
7. ==> ‘New Yorker’ Writer Adam Gopnik – The Mystery of Mastery
Award-winning writer for the “New Yorker” Adam Gopnik has turned his attention to a fundamental human mystery: How do masters learn their miraculous skills? Whether it’s drawing a museum-ready nude or baking a perfect sourdough loaf, how does someone master a profession? A skill? A hobby? How could anyone become so good at anything? Is it possible to unravel the mystery of mastery? For his new book, “The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery,” Gopnik tried his hand at several new skills he assumed were beyond him, including drawing, baking, driving, magic, boxing, and dancing. Invite him to share what he learned during the process including how we can tackle learning a new skill – and how we then move on from mere accomplishment to expertise. Adam Gopnik is the author of numerous books including “Paris to the Moon.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (o); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Sasha Beatty at (703) 646-5188
8. ==> 50th Anniversary of Title IX: This Guest Was There from the Start
Fifty years ago this summer, the U.S. government enacted Title IX, a groundbreaking amendment that prohibited sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities, including athletics. Three-time Olympic track and field coach Sue Humphrey was there for it all. Sue began coaching in the late 1960s and has faced plenty of discrimination and sexual harassment in her career. This experienced, accomplished guest can discuss what it was really like for women in athletics both before and after Title IX, what it’s like to coach Olympic athletes, the challenges that women in sports still face today, and more. The author of “I Want to Run: The Olympic Developmental Training and Nutritional Guide for Young and Teen Track Runners Ages 10 to 18,” Sue has more than 50 years of experience and is a frequent media guest. Contact Sue Humphrey at (512) 881-9648; shumphrey@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Mike Tyson’s Mother-in-Law on Her Wrongful Conviction and More
Rita Ali was a distinguished Philadelphia socialite and among the few African American women boxing PR professionals who hobnobbed with such famous fighters as Muhammad Ali, Michael Spinks, and Mike Tyson, who is now her son-in-law. Then it all came crashing down when she — along with her daughter and son — was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for allegedly funneling public funds through a partnership between the Sister Clara Muhammad School and the Community College of Philadelphia. The indictment alleged that the defendants profited off of a ghost employee scam to provide adult education classes. “I was convicted and sentenced three times on virtually the same charges for a crime I didn’t commit, which amounted to triple jeopardy,” she says. She is the author of “Triple Jeopardy: 3 Strikes But Not Out,” a life coach, and founder of the nonprofit We 2 Matter, which provides resources for previously incarcerated women. Contact Rita Ali at (917) 243-9214; rali@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Should You Take Parenting Advice from Kids?
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
11. ==> Time for a Spring Friendship Cleanse
We all have them – friends (or family) who do nothing but criticize, complain about anything and everything and make us feel small and undeserving. Well, it’s time to call them out on their negativity, start a dialog and if that doesn’t work, take a break or walk away from that relationship. Annie Evans believes that if you don’t deal with them, there’s a really good chance you’ll turn out just like them. Evans personally knows how negativity breeds negativity. Combined with some serious life challenges, she went on her own downward spiral. Being raised by a severely mentally ill mom and losing two life partners was just the tip of the iceberg. Evans will share her startling story, and help listeners learn real strategies to change their mindsets and interactions and take charge of their attitudes. Contact her at (310) 621-0456; aevans@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Live Your Best Life in the Worst of Times
Life’s challenging, even at the best of times, but what can you do when life keeps kicking you when you’re already down? Invite author and inspirational speaker Danielle Harris-Branch to discuss why bad things happen and how to handle life when you’re at your lowest. Her book, “From the Other Side of the Bed: Allow Faith to Transform Your Perspective Through Life’s Hardest Blows,” shares her unimaginable journey of surviving two types of cancer at the same time her husband was waiting for a kidney transplant. This inspirational couple experienced the worst of life while discovering the best of life. Ask her: What are the essential tools for overcoming negative thinking in painful situations? How can you use a painful situation to become a better version of yourself and even start earning income from it? Contact Danielle Harris-Branch at (804) 373-8195; Harrisbranch@rtirguests.com
13. ==> How to Stop Beating Yourself Up
“I’m not good enough … I always mess up … I’m a failure.” Many people get trapped in the never-ending cycle of low self-esteem and negative self-talk, often without even realizing it. But psychologist/author Dr. Adriana Popescu says it’s possible to stop the inner critic and start feeling good about yourself. “Over the last 25 years, I’ve worked with thousands of people, empowering them to overcome their imagined limitations, release their self-judgments and discover the brilliance within − creating a life of infinite possibilities,” she says. Adriana is a licensed clinical psychologist, addiction and trauma specialist, speaker, thought leader and empowerment coach, and author of “What If You’re Not as F***ed Up As You Think You Are?: How We Come to Believe Lies About Ourselves and What We Can Do to Change Them.” Contact her at (415) 707-5054; Apopescu@rtirguests.com
14. ==> This Senior Athlete Proves Age Is Just a Number
They say you’re only as old as you feel. Yet if you’re struggling with your health and fitness, this motivational phrase can backfire. What if you’re in your 30s or 40s, but you feel 100 years old whenever you try to jog or hit the gym? National champion senior athlete John Hurd can help you turn things around with simple ways for anyone to improve their health at any age. John is proof that his methods work. He didn’t start competitive running until he was 61 years old. He has since won a total of 162 gold medals, including two National Senior Olympic Sprint Champion titles. Interview this motivating, inspiring guest today and help your listeners truly feel young. Ask him: Why did you decide to start getting in shape at 61? How did you train yourself without having to pay fitness experts? Contact John Hurd at (850) 367-8411; jhurd@rtirguests.com
15. ==> How Elephants Can Save the Planet!
Pachyderms aren’t just majestic, highly intelligent, loving and adorable. They are vital to the health and well-being of the entire world. “Elephants are very 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.” Sadly, their numbers are dwindling, due to poaching, over-development, logging and zoo captures. Georja can share how we can help our elephant friends 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