May 14, 2020
01. Why We Need to Save the United States Postal Service
02. Avoid These Places to Protect Yourself from COVID-19
03. Can You Collect Unemployment if You Refuse to Go Back to Work?
04. Lessons on Isolation and Humanity in a Family’s Letters from Hiding
05. National Smile Day! You Know You Need it!
06. How to Help Kids and Teens Cope with COVID-19
07. Discover Why Everyone Is Getting on Your Nerves
08. M.D. Shares 7 Essential Tools to Survive the Pandemic
09. How Marketing Will Change Thanks to COVID-19
10. The Millennial’s Guide to Being a Better Boss
11. Have Cabin Fever? Try Virtual Wine Tastings!
12. More Time on Devices Means More Eye Strain
13. Grieving in Isolation: How Hypnosis Can Help
14. Face Life After Coronavirus by Making Just 2 Choices
15. When Exes Fight Over a Frozen Embryo
1.==> Why We Need to Save the United States Postal Service
House Democrats have included money for the U.S. Postal
Service in the latest $3 trillion stimulus package, but
it’s unclear whether the Senate will act on the
measure. Critics of the USPS say it’s a failing
business, but others, like Richard John, say it was
never meant to be a business. “The Founders intended
the Postal Service to be a pillar of the republic,
binding together millions of Americans, urban and
rural, for the common good. It therefore always had
congressional oversight limiting what management can do
to make a profit. Rather than being mismanaged, the
Postal Service is — and has long been — one of
America’s great successes,” says John, author of
“Spreading the News: The American Postal System from
Franklin to Morse.” Instead of privatizing it, he says
we should take inspiration from the Founders and re-
envision its mission for the 21st century. Some of his
suggestions include expanding the Postal Service to
include high-tech “last mile” capabilities,
reestablishing a low-cost consumer banking system, a
popular service the Postal Service maintained for much
of the 20th century, and rolling out low-cost municipal
broadband. “Rural electrification transformed vast
swaths of the hinterland; might not rural Postal
Services be configured as hubs for the digital economy
of tomorrow?” he asks. In the closer future, John
reminds us the Postal Service will play a crucial role
in ensuring trustworthy mail balloting, a major issue
in the age of COVID-19. Richard John recently wrote the
piece “The Founders never intended the U.S. Postal
Service to be managed like a business” for the
Washington Post. Contact him at rrj2115@columbia.edu
2. ==> Avoid These Places to Protect Yourself from
COVID-19
As people start heading back out into a world where the
coronavirus lurks invisibly, many wonder where they can
safely roam. Where are you most at danger of
contracting COVID-19? The supermarket? The subway? What
about in an office? University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth biology professor Erin Bromage says five main
sources account for 90 percent of all transmission: the
home, workplace, public transportation, social
gatherings and restaurants. So, what makes those places
dangerous? Bromage says they are all enclosed places
with poor air circulation. He says if you find yourself
in a spot that makes you feel uncomfortable, spend as
little time as you can there, or walk away, preferably
outside. He says people should be particularly aware of
the noise level where they go. Studies have found that
when someone speaks loudly, more virus gets into the
air and it travels farther, making noisy, crowded spots
particularly dangerous right now. Contact Erin Bromage
at erin.bromage@umassd.edu or (508) 999-8218
3. ==> Can You Collect Unemployment if You Refuse to Go
Back to Work?
More than 33 million Americans are out-of-work as a
result of the coronavirus-induced lockdown throughout
the nation, but even as states begin to ease stay-at-
home measures and allow businesses to open up, some
workers remain hesitant to return to their jobs. Some
are worried about on-the-job safety issues or have a
vulnerable family member at home. Others, like some in
the service industry, can make more money on
unemployment right now. According to the Department of
Labor, a general fear of virus exposure is not a valid
reason to not return to work or quit your job and
obtain unemployment benefits. Workplace attorney
Jonathan Bell can discuss the issues involved and what
your listeners’ options and rights are. Jonathan Bell
is a labor and employment attorney and the founder of
Bell Law Group, PLLC in New York City. Contact Mark
Goldman at (516) 639-0988 (call/text);
mark@goldmanmccormick.com
4.==> Lessons on Isolation and Humanity in a Family’s
Letters from Hiding
For an interesting perspective on our pandemic
predicament where millions of people are isolating and
in fear for their lives, invite Daphne Geismar on your
show and hear what her family’s experience hiding in a
church attic for two years during the Holocaust can
teach us about isolation and humanity. Geismar says an
extraordinary cache of letters and documents from her
family’s ordeal reveals experiences of isolation, fear
and uncertainty that, although incomparable, have
particular resonance today. “While the experiences of
my family, and the others who were persecuted across
German-occupied Europe, are unparalleled, their fears
and struggles nonetheless anticipate aspects of our
lives amid the global pandemic. They also provide a
moral compass and reference point for understanding the
suffering in this moment,” she says. Daphne Geismar is
a teacher, researcher, and book designer. She is the
author of “Invisible Years: A Family’s Collected
Account of Separation and Survival during the Holocaust
in the Netherlands.” Contact Lissa Warren at (617)
233-2853 (cell); LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com or
@Lissa_Warren
5. ==> National Smile Day! You Know You Need it!
The country could be forgiven if its citizens didn’t
feel like smiling much these days; after all, people
are sick and dying from a mysterious contagious disease
and are prohibited from getting too close to each
other, and unemployment is at record levels. Yet it is
because we find ourselves in this dire situation that
it is more important than ever to smile at one another
— even from six-feet apart — says Barry Shore, who is
known as The Ambassador of Joy. Shore will be
celebrating National Smile Day on May 31 and wants
everyone else to join him by starting the day with a
big smile on their faces. Certainly, if there is anyone
who knows how to smile through adversity it is Shore, a
successful serial entrepreneur with three patents who
in 2004 became a quadriplegic overnight from a rare
disease. During the 16 years that followed, Shore has
pushed himself to regain much of his functioning even
as he inspires other people to see the joy in their
lives. Shore can also talk about his Keep Smiling
Movement which he co-founded with well-known celebrity
photographer Ken Rochon. Barry hosts “The Joy of
Living” podcast and is founder of the JOY of Living
Institute. He’s been featured on CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and
in O Magazine, Forbes, Daily Herald, Pittsburgh Post-
Gazette, MarketWatch and more. Contact him at (310)
770-4685; barry@barryshore.com
6. ==> How to Help Kids and Teens Cope with COVID-19
The COVID-19 crisis is causing a rise in mental health
issues for adults, but teens are also suffering.
Instead of experiencing formative coming-of-age moments
like prom and graduation, some young people find
themselves grappling with issues like anxiety,
substance abuse and eating disorders. And for those who
already have mental health issues or special needs, the
pandemic is bringing new challenges to treatment.
Jenney Wilder is the founder of AllKindsOfTherapy.com,
an online resource that helps families research,
compare and evaluate various treatment programs
available for children and teens. A former therapy
consultant, Jenney has visited and evaluated hundreds
of programs and can offer advice to parents of children
and teens who may be struggling with stress, anxiety or
other mental health issues due to COVID-19.
AllKindsofTherapy.com is an independent, comprehensive
directory that compares treatment options. Contact John
Angelo at john@premieretv.com
7. ==> Discover Why Everyone Is Getting on Your Nerves
People’s differences can create stress at the best of
times. Living in lockdown, these stresses can explode.
Leadership expert Marc A. Pitman can tell you why
people act the way they do. Using an easy-to-understand
system, he can provide insight into why your team,
staff, or family may be harder to live with right now.
He can explain the different ways people react to
stress and how to help you get through the pandemic and
come out even stronger than before. His forthcoming
book, ” The Surprising Gift of Doubt,” provides a
framework for people to move past feeling like a fraud
and manage teams more effectively. Contact Marc Pitman
at (317) 751-1610; mpitman@rtirguests.com
8. ==> M.D. Shares 7 Essential Tools to Survive the
Pandemic
Are the “what-ifs” of the current COVID-19 pandemic
driving you crazy? Steven Hall, M.D., can share the
keys to physically and mentally surviving these scary
times. “When life becomes uncertain, it’s easy to
become undone,” he says. “With everything that is going
on in the world right now, it’s understandable how our
emotions get the better of us.” Dr. Steven can guide
audiences through seven simple yet powerful tools that
can keep them safe, sane, and resilient, even in the
most difficult times. He has been practicing family
medicine since 1985. He is the co-creator of the online
class Fostering Resilience in Uncertain Times and the
author of “The 7 Tools of Healing: Unlock Your Inner
Wisdom and Live the Life Your Soul Desires.” Contact
Dr. Steven at (425) 531-3684; shall@rtirguests.com
9. ==> How Marketing Will Change Thanks to COVID-19
Selling, buying, advertising, seeking or offering
deals. All these aspects of marketing are dynamic and
prone to rapid change. No wonder the effects of
COVID-19 are so powerful in today’s marketing arena.
Learn more from Steve McChesney, best-selling author of
“Rearranging Change: How You Market to an Ever-Changing
World.” He’ll explore with your audience his wide
knowledge of marketing facts and fallacies. Among the
many topics he can discuss are: how COVID-19 isolation
is changing our buying and selling habits; why Amazon
is a behemoth that cannot be ignored; and whether
America’s baby boomers have been replaced as the
generation with the most buying power. McChesney will
also explain how and why marketers should sell people
what they want but give them what they need.
McChesney’s new Rearranging Change Podcast is now
available on all major channels. Contact him at (321)
414-2147; smcchesney@rtirguests.com
10. ==> The Millennial’s Guide to Being a Better Boss
Today’s millennials are 20-40 years old and are already
half of the country’s workforce. Many millennials are
ready to become managers and leaders within their
fields. But in many cases, they will be taking that
step without anyone having told them what to expect and
how to be successful, notes Jennifer P. Wisdom, Ph.D.,
a clinical psychologist and consultant who spent two
decades working with students at Columbia University
and George Washington University. Invite her on your
show to share tips on preparing to become a manager or
leader, how to hire and mentor strong staffers, ways to
deal with challenging staff members, and how to handle
social media at work. Jennifer P. Wisdom, Ph.D., MPH,
is the author of “Millennials’ Guide to Management and
Leadership,” and “Millennials’ Guide to Work.” Her
diverse career includes a stint in the U.S. military,
working with nonprofit health-care organizations, and
teaching in higher education. Contact her at (503)
484-5679; jennifer@leadwithwisdom.com
11. ==> Have Cabin Fever? Try Virtual Wine Tastings!
Being stuck at home in lockdown doesn’t mean all the
activities you enjoy have to stop. Wineries have
enabled customers to continue to explore new wines with
online wine tastings. Andy Hyman is a tour guide in the
Napa and Sonoma wine country who has shared his passion
for wine with thousands of people from around the
world. Invite him to share information about wine clubs
and online wine tastings so you can get your friends
together for this fun activity. His book, “Snob-Free
Wine Tasting Companion: Wine Smart in a Day,” reveals
how to get the most out of a wine-tasting experience,
how wine is made, and general knowledge about wine.
Hyman has been featured by Sonoma Magazine, the Marin
Independent Journal, Napa Valley Register, North Bay
BIZ magazine, and other radio and print outlets
nationwide. Contact him at (415) 767-1441;
andyhyman@rtirguests.com
12. ==> More Time on Devices Means More Eye Strain
From cellphones to tablets to TV screens and laptops,
more of us are spending additional hours staring at
screens, risking eye strain, and worse. How can we
protect our vision now to avoid problems later? In the
blink of an eye, get the answer from vision educator
Linda Odubayo Thompson. Just in time for Healthy Vision
Month in May, she can talk about everything from
artificial tears to resting your eyes, to cutting down
on screen time and when to see an eye doctor. She can
also debunk five misguided myths about eyesight. As the
child of visually impaired parents, Linda knows not to
take her vision for granted; she has suffered from
glaucoma for more than 30 years. Contact Linda at (914)
229-9184; lthompson@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Grieving in Isolation: How Hypnosis Can Help
Help
Grief is never an easy process, but when you add the
coronavirus and not being allowed to be with your loved
one as they pass, loss has been brought to an entirely
new level. Traditional funerals, wakes and shivas add
comfort and surround you with support but they’re now
off-limits too, leaving mourners feeling totally alone
and on their own. Mary Beth Battaglia, a hypnosis and
sound practitioner, will share hypnosis techniques that
can help with the grieving process and explain how the
relaxed hypnotic state helps release sadness, loss,
pain and guilt. She’ll also reveal how hypnosis helped
her heal and move forward after her own personal
losses. Mary Beth Battaglia has appeared on Fox News
and offers hypnosis tips on her show Conversations with
Joan. She is the author of “Transformation Through
Hypnosis: Relax, Clear Your Mind And Step Into Your
Power.” Contact her at (201) 477-0265;
marybethpeace@gmail.com
14. ==> Face Life After Coronavirus by Making Just 2
Choices
All things in life—our challenges, decisions, and
efforts—involve making “Just 2 Choices.” Do we answer
yes or no? Do we move ahead or stay put? Do we like or
dislike something? Even as the pandemic forces many
changes on society, we can still be empowered and even
comforted by this binary concept. That’s the message of
radio host Rico Racosky, author of the bestselling book
“Just 2 Choices,” who will help your listeners navigate
today’s new reality. Whether he’s talking about moving
your life from uncertainty to clarity (When will it be
safe to go out? Will our jobs ever be the same?) or
replacing doubt with peace of mind (believing that
we’ll return to the familiar, the fun and the free)
rests with two options to choose from. Known as
America’s “New Story Guy,” Rico can also help listeners
obtain his free downloads that promote clear thinking.
Contact him at (730) 572-1322; rracosky@rtirguests.com
15. ==> When Exes Fight Over a Frozen Embryo
Recent news stories have explored the issue of frozen
embryos caught in the crossfire of couples who have
uncoupled. Fertilized during happier times, these
embryos may remain in limbo forever and rack up storage
fees if the couples cannot agree on their future. Or,
as Nate Birt advises, the couple can agree to let the
frozen embryo be adopted by someone else, a possibility
they may not have considered. Learn more when you
interview Nate, whose daughter began life as another
couple’s frozen embryo. Nate is the author of “Frozen,
But Not Forgotten: An Adoptive Dad’s Step-by-Step Guide
to Embryo Adoption.” Ask him: What are some of the
controversies that surround frozen embryos? Are
fertilized embryos people or property? How costly is it
to adopt such an embryo? Contact Nate Birt at (417)
221-9045; Nbirt@rtirguests.com
Don’t see any guests or topics for your show? Search
through past RTIR Newsletters and find hundreds of show
ideas and possible guests at www.rtironline.com