01. Is a Cuba Invasion Next?
02. What to Know About New ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’
03. Insider: How Governments are Using AI and How It’s Working
04. The End of Teens With a Summer Job?
05. It’s ‘I Do’ Season - Why the First Year of Marriage Matters Most
06. Listeners Want Uplifting Stories: This Guest Has 80 of Them
07. Why Trump-Era Efforts to Erase Black History Are Dangerous
08. Overwhelmed at Work? Try This 3-Part Reset to Take Back Control
09. Why Some High Achievers Can't Turn Off Survival Mode
10. This Elite Athlete Can Unlock the Champion Mindset in You
11. Your Childhood and Your Partner: The Surprising Link
12. Burned Out? Try Mini Mood Boosters!
13. Are Cell Phones and Wi-Fi Quietly Affecting Your Health?
14. Did Your Trauma Start Long Before You Were Born?
15. How to Work Better, Live Better, and Have Fewer Days That Suck
1. ==> Is a Cuba Invasion Next?
The U.S. Justice Department has indicted Cuba’s longtime ruler Raul Castro with the murder of four people in the 1996 shoot-down of two civilian planes. The formal accusation comes amid the Trump administration’s pressure on the communist government to make reforms. Activists believe the indictment could pave the way for military action similar to the January capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. James Early has visited Cuba many times over the last 45 years, including earlier this year. He can discuss the U.S. government’s attempt to oust the Cuban government by “starving the Cuban people” and imposing a “blockage against medicine, fuel, food.” He also highlights the actions of Marco Rubio in driving U.S. policy — and the role the African American community can play. James Early is the former Smithsonian Institution assistant secretary for education and public service. He recently participated in a forum on the “International Crisis in Cuba” organized by the Pan African Unity Dialogue of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century. Contact him at early1947@aol.com
2. ==> What to Know About New ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’
President Trump’s allies and supporters stand to receive payouts from a new, nearly $2 Billion program created by the administration. The Justice Department announced the taxpayer funded initiative as part of a settlement to a Trump lawsuit. There are a lot of questions about the lawsuit and the fund, including who can file a claim. Legal observers say the publicly available terms of the fund don’t clearly prohibit the Trump family from seeking payments from the fund. “It’s not clear whether or not the president could make a claim on the new fund. It’s so extraordinary to me, it’s hard to find the words to describe it,” says former Justice Department lawyer Rupa Bhattacharyya, now the legal director of Georgetown University’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. The deal also ends all pending tax audits of Trump, his family and his businesses. Critics say the settlement violates the separation of powers. To arrange interviews contact gucomm@georgetown.edu
3. ==> Insider: How Governments are Using AI and How It’s Working
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the infrastructure behind modern institutions, reshaping how governments govern, how businesses make decisions, how schools educate, and how citizens engage with democracy itself. Dr. Beth Simone Noveck advises governments around the world on how to responsibly integrate AI into public services, policy, workforce development, and democratic systems and says the future depends on institutional design and governance choices. “Technology can either centralize power or distribute it more broadly. AI governance is no longer just a technology issue. It is now economic policy, civic policy, education policy, workforce policy, and national security policy all at once.” Noveck can discuss real-world challenges public agencies face implementing AI tools, the risks of concentrated AI power among major technology companies, and what governments are actually doing right now with AI behind the scenes. Beth Simone Noveck, PhD is an AI and technology expert, a Northeastern University professor, and director of The Burnes Center for Social Change and The Governance Lab. Her new book is “REBOOT: AI and the Race to Save Democracy.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell)
4. ==> The End of Teens With a Summer Job?
Sorry to say it, but this summer looks to be the worst ever for teens hoping to make some bucks with a seasonal gig. That’s especially disappointing news given that last summer’s teen hiring hit an all-time record low. Global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas predicts teens will gain 790,000 jobs in May, June, and July, down slightly from the 801,000 jobs employers added last summer. If realized, it would be the lowest summer hiring total for teens since the Bureau of Labor and Statistics began tracking the data in 1948, undercutting last year’s record-setting low. Andy Challenger says, “Inflation and rising fuel costs are squeezing the same households and small businesses that hire teens, such as amusement parks, restaurants, retailers, and summer camps. When margins tighten, summer hirers will wait for demand to dictate hiring. June will be the most important month to watch, but the trajectory is already pointing down.” He’ll discuss several forces stacking up against teen workers this summer, share tips for those looking for a job, and explain how the teen workforce has changed since the late 1970s and 1980s. Challenger, Gray and Christmas is a global, outplacement and executive coaching firm. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074 (office); (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
5. ==> It’s ‘I Do’ Season - Why the First Year of Marriage Matters Most
Newlyweds today are starting on the most unstable cultural foundation any generation has faced. More debt. Later starts. More screen-shaped expectations. Less premarital preparation than ever. And the research is clear that the patterns set in the first year of marriage tend to stick. Invite pastor Mike Novotny to discuss the quiet crisis inside today’s marriage decline, the biggest predictor of a hard first year (it isn't money, it isn't sex -- it's unspoken expectations), and how porn, social media and HGTV are dooming young marriages by quietly shaping what couples expect of each other before they ever say I do. Novotny is the lead speaker for Time of Grace, a global Christian media ministry. His latest book is “Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One.” Contact Marianna Gibson at marianna@jonesliterary.com
6. ==> Listeners Want Uplifting Stories: This Guest Has 80 of Them
After 56 years in the movie business, Dan Klusmann learned that audiences rarely remember explosions or special effects. They remember the stories that made them feel something. That realization inspired “Life Answers Back,” a collection of stories gathered over 15 years from more than 80 contributors. Klusmann can discuss why certain stories stay with us forever, what makes audiences emotionally connect to a story, and why uplifting storytelling is resonating again in today’s stressful and negative world. Drawing from decades spent studying audience reactions in the movie business, Klusmann shares how stories can inspire hope, create emotional connection, and help people feel understood, comforted, and less alone. Ask him: Why do certain stories stay with us forever? What did decades in the movie business teach you about emotional connection? Why are uplifting stories making a comeback right now? Can one simple story change the way someone sees life? Contact Dan Klusmann at (406) 578-7999; dklusmann@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Why Trump-Era Efforts to Erase Black History Are Dangerous
As battles intensify over DEI rollbacks, book bans, and the removal of Black history references from schools, museums, and national parks, Lauraine White warns America is repeating one of its oldest mistakes: erasing the truth to avoid accountability. White—whose ancestry includes both enslaved people and Confederate slaveholders—says today’s political climate mirrors earlier attempts to sanitize slavery, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement from public memory. Drawing from her genealogical research and themes in her book “A Daughter of the Confederacy,” she explains why recording history honestly is essential to healing racial division today. White argues when a nation edits its past, it shapes who has power, whose pain matters, and what future generations are allowed to understand. Ask her: Why do you believe current efforts to limit Black history education are dangerous to all Americans—not just Black communities? Can acknowledging painful history unite people rather than divide them? Contact Lauraine White at lwhite@rtirguests.com (email preferred) or (770) 525-8743
8. ==> Overwhelmed at Work? Try This 3-Part Reset to Take Back Control
Research now shows Gen Z and Millennials are reaching peak burnout at age 25. That’s 17 years earlier than prior generations. And after “quiet quitting” failed to change workplace culture, many employees feel more trapped than ever. Executive coach and former Fortune 500 HR leader Lindsay Barnett has spent years inside the organizations that are burning people out, and she's done with surface-level fixes. On your show, she breaks down a 3-part counterintuitive framework that helps high performers reclaim their days without walking away from their careers. Your audience will learn how "the power of the pause" sharpens decision-making and why connection, not output, is one of the strongest predictors of sustainable performance. Ask her: Why do so many successful people feel trapped at work right now? How does slowing down actually make high performers more competitive? Lindsay Barnett is the author of “Working Hell to Working Well.” Contact her at (310) 340-2579; Lbarnett@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Why Some High Achievers Can't Turn Off Survival Mode
Your audience worked hard to get where they are. Some clawed their way out of tough neighborhoods, unstable homes, or environments shaped by poverty and violence. They built careers, businesses, and lives that look like success from the outside, but privately, the hypervigilance is still there. They can't fully rest, can't fully trust, and somewhere deep down, they're waiting for it all to fall apart. Darius Ross, a former homeless teen-turned-entrepreneur and community leader, knows exactly what that feels like. And he knows why it happens. In an eye-opening conversation, Ross breaks down how growing up around poverty, violence, and chronic instability doesn't just shape your story, it rewires your brain. He brings street-smart clarity to the science of urban trauma and offers real strategies for rebuilding emotional safety. Darius Ross is the author of “Mastering the TPS Blueprint.” Contact him at (347) 801-7956; dross@rtirguests.com
10. ==> This Elite Athlete Can Unlock the Champion Mindset in You
What separates top performers from everyone else isn’t talent, it’s mindset. In her recent TEDx talk, former LPGA Tour player and Hall of Fame golf instructor Cindy Miller explains why most people stay stuck: they’re “sitting on a nail”, tolerating what isn’t working instead of changing it. On your show, she introduces her simple framework—the Nail, the Mirror, and the Seed—to help your audience identify what’s holding them back, take a hard look at their own role, and choose one small action to move forward. Drawing from decades in elite competition, Cindy breaks down why perfectionism kills performance, how self-doubt is learned, and why small shifts create lasting change better than big overhauls. Her book “Take Another Shot” reinforces these lessons through real stories of setbacks and comebacks. Ask her: Why do high achievers stay stuck longer than they should? Can doing less actually help you perform better? Contact Cindy Miller at (716) 670-5341; cimiller@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Your Childhood and Your Partner: The Surprising Link
What if we don’t just fall in love? What if we’re quietly programmed to choose that person long before we ever meet them? Author and speaker Charisse Walker says the partners we choose, trust, and stay with are largely shaped by childhood experiences we've never examined. What feels like chemistry is often just familiarity. What feels like love may be a wound looking for company. On your show, Walker unpacks the hidden "icebergs" beneath every relationship — the buried fears, emotional patterns, and unspoken expectations driving our biggest life decisions. Drawing from her book Flipping the Iceberg, she shows audiences how to spot these patterns before they derail another relationship and shares what self-awareness can do that no dating app ever will. Contact Charisse Walker at (801) 251-6965; cwalker@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Burned Out? Try Mini Mood Boosters!
Burnout is at an all-time high: nearly 60% of workers report feeling emotionally drained, yet most solutions still focus on doing more, not less. Artist and former healthcare professional Edi Matsumoto offers a different approach: using simple, low-pressure creativity to help people reset mentally and emotionally. On your show, Matsumoto explains how small “creative shifts” can reduce stress, improve mood, and restore focus. She shares her “60-second joy reset,” a quick technique listeners can try live, and why even playful activities (like looking at silly paintings of otters or doodling) can calm the nervous system. Drawing from her transition out of healthcare and her book “Otter Therapy,” she offers practical ways anyone can incorporate creativity into daily life—no talent required, just a willingness to pause and engage. Ask her: Can looking at something as simple as a cute image really lower stress levels? How does creativity complement more traditional stress-management methods? Contact Edi Matsumoto at (831) 290-6491; ematsumoto@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Are Cell Phones and Wi-Fi Quietly Affecting Your Health?
More than 400 million mobile phones are now in use across the United States, making wireless technology impossible to escape. But while cell phones and Wi-Fi keep us connected, health researcher and author Norbert Heuser says they may also be quietly affecting our bodies in ways most people never consider. Mobile phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters, and other wireless systems operate through electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which Norbert believes may interfere with the body’s natural energy field and contribute to sleep problems, fatigue, fertility issues, and other long-term health concerns. On your show, he explains what emerging research suggests, how 5G and future 6G technologies may intensify exposure, and practical ways people can reduce EMR risks while still enjoying modern technology. Contact Norbert Heuser at (727) 261-2313; nheuser@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Did Your Trauma Start Long Before You Were Born?
What if your anxiety, fears, or relationship patterns didn’t begin in this lifetime? With mental health concerns at record highs, Alla Kaluzhny offers a different lens that explores whether unresolved experiences from the past may be shaping behavior today. A licensed marriage and family therapist, spiritual psychologist, and award-winning author of “Turning the Pages” and “Turning New Pages,” Alla shares insights drawn from her own remembered past lives to help audiences rethink the root of emotional struggles. She doesn’t diagnose or treat, but she does spark powerful self-reflection. On your show, she’ll explore why some patterns persist despite years of self-work, share past-life stories tied to fear, loss, and connection, and offer ways to release emotional weight and move forward. Ask her: Can a lifelong fear have nothing to do with this life? Why do some relationships feel instantly familiar…or difficult? Contact Alla Kaluzhny at (213) 459-3509; akaluzhny@rtirguests.com
15. ==> How to Work Better, Live Better, and Have Fewer Days That Suck
More and more workers are reporting burnout symptoms, costing businesses billions in lost productivity and turnover. But Happiness & Mindset Expert Deborah Mallow says the problem often isn’t workload. It’s the hidden mindset driving emotional exhaustion, negativity, and overwhelm that quietly undermines performance at every level. In this stress-relieving conversation, Deborah shares practical strategies from her Daily Decisions™ framework, her book “6 Steps to Fewer Days That Suck,” and her experience coaching executive leaders and sales professionals. She’ll explain how to reduce burnout, improve morale, and create healthier workplace cultures without toxic positivity or perfectionism. Your audience will learn how to quiet harsh self-talk, stop spiraling, and build emotional resilience through small mental shifts that produce measurable results in mood, performance, and connection—spilling over into a more balanced, happier personal life as well. Ask her: Why do so many successful people feel emotionally exhausted all the time? Can changing one daily thought pattern really improve work performance, relationships, and overall quality of life? Contact Deborah Mallow at (516) 613-5359; dmallow@rtirguests.com
