01. The Trump Backlash Abroad
02. Was Trump’s Pope Post Offensive? Not to American Catholics
03. Diddy Trial Exposes Secret World of Sex Trafficking
04. Designing Quieter Cities: How Soundscapes Can Transform Public Health
05. Celebrate America’s Unsung Heroes With Mike Rowe
06. The Hidden Story of America’s Housing Crisis
07. Is Justice Only for Those Who Can Afford It?
08. How to Find Your Stress ‘Sweet Spot’
09. Elderhood: Rethinking Life’s Third Act
10. Business Expert Shares How to Really Pay Off the National Debt
11. This Financial Expert Says Tariffs are Key to America’s Future Prosperity
12. What a Woke Redneck Can Teach Us About Race, Power and Real Leadership
13. Can Christians Be Democrats? This Pastor Says 'No'—Here’s Why
14. From Mormonism to Addiction and Self-Discovery: This Author Shares Her Wild Road to Redemption
15. Chiropractic for Animals is Not Woo-Woo, It's Science
1. ==> The Trump Backlash Abroad
Incumbent parties in Australia and Singapore scored unexpected landslide victories this weekend. A major factor appeared to be voters' trust that they were best equipped to handle President Donald Trump and his trade policies. Joshua Kurlantzick, a senior fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), can explain the ‘Trump Effect’ and how his international toxicity is creating serious election challenges for conservative parties around the world. He’ll also discuss what appears to be a trend in which voters are now favoring incumbents after years of tossing them out in Europe and other countries. “It remains to be seen whether those trends continue,” he says. “Upcoming elections in South Korea and Poland—which have their own unique domestic issues—will pose fresh tests that could indicate whether conservative parties abroad are able to reverse their fortunes.” The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher. Contact Joshua Kurlantzick at (202) 285-4339; jkurlantzick@cfr.org
2. ==> Was Trump’s Pope Post Offensive? Not to American Catholics
Last week President Donald Trump posted an AI image of himself as the pope, prompting accusations of poor taste in the Roman Catholic community just days before the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor was due to begin. But Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a historian of U.S. Catholicism at Notre Dame, said Trump’s post reflects the support and trust that Trump enjoys among millions of Catholics. “It makes sense in Trumpworld. He has been empowered by Catholics,” she said. “This might be new levels of audacity and disrespect, but many American Catholics have ceded a great deal of power and moral authority to the current president Whether that makes sense to other, it’s true.” Cummings says the post marks the dramatic shift in US history when just a half-century ago, Catholic politicians had to emphasize they would be loyal first to the U.S., not the pope. “It’s almost absurdist to get to this point so quickly,” she said. “Now (some Catholics) are insanely loyal to the president to the point that they think this is a great idea despite the clear disrespect.” Kathleen Sprows Cummings is a professor of American studies and history at Notre Dame University and the author of “A Saint of Our Own: How the Quest for a Holy Hero Helped Catholics Become American.” Contact her at (574) 631-8749; kcumming@nd.edu
3. ==> Diddy Trial Exposes Secret World of Sex Trafficking
Several surprise A-list actors and singers had their names dropped during jury selection on the first day of Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial. Combs is charged with what the Justice Department called a years-long scheme to sexually abuse and exploit women, allegedly using his business empire to commit the crimes. Attorney, activist and founder of The Red Movement, Shadan Kapri, says the case is just the beginning to understanding the secretive world of sex trafficking. Kapri will share the truth about the exploitation of children and women in the fashion industry, the entertainment industry, the sports world, and even high profile events like the World Cup, Olympics, and the Super bowl. Kapri, a former prosecutor and an expert in sex trafficking and domestic violence, believes we are entering a new era called The Red Movement, where people no longer support products, brand, people, corporation, and events that exploit the people are the planet. Shadan Kapri (pronounced Shadawn Capri) has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work in law and human rights. She is the author of “The Red Movement: Social and Environmental Justice in the 21st Century.” Contact her at (509) 720-0278; ShadanKapri@icloud.com
4. ==> Designing Quieter Cities: How Soundscapes Can Transform Public Health
What if city noise wasn’t just a nuisance—but a measurable health threat? And what if urban planners could redesign sound itself to promote wellness? Take a deep dive into the growing movement to rethink sound in urban spaces with award-winning science journalist Chris Berdik. With research that spans neuroscience, environmental health, and city design, Berdik will explain how noise pollution contributes to heart disease, learning deficits, hearing loss, and sleep disorders, and how healthier soundscapes are being engineered to fix it. Hear how cities like Paris, Barcelona, and New York are pioneering “quiet zones” and soundscape-sensitive planning, the health benefits of ambient sound redesign in hospitals, schools, and transit systems, and why decibels don’t tell the whole story—and how emotion, identity, and equity shape our perception of noise. Listeners will discover how forward-thinking cities are redesigning everything from transit corridors to hospital rooms to parks with sound in mind, not just to reduce volume, but to increase the presence of soothing, life-affirming sounds. It’s a paradigm shift in urban design with measurable health outcomes. Chris Berdik’s latest book is “Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World—and How We Can Take It Back.” His work has appeared in “Popular Science,” “Wired,” “Politico” and elsewhere. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 400-1099; johanna@jrbpr.biz; johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
5. ==> Celebrate America’s Unsung Heroes With Mike Rowe
Emmy-winning host, author, and longtime advocate for everyday heroes, Mike Rowe’s latest project is the docu-series, “People You Should Know,” a compelling new show that puts the spotlight on Americans quietly transforming their communities through grit, grace, and generosity. The series blends storytelling and surprise to celebrate individuals who are doing good without asking for attention. Each episode follows Rowe and producer Sarah Yourgrau as they step into the lives of these unsung heroes—learning their stories, witnessing their impact firsthand, and helping organize unforgettable givebacks to support their ongoing work. “This is about people who show up for others every single day,” says Rowe. “They’re not influencers or celebrities, but they’re changing lives—and the country deserves to meet them.” Building on the viral success of “Returning the Favor,” Rowe’s newest series invites viewers to laugh, cry, and act. The show is currently streaming on YouTube. For interviews contact Nicole Crumbley at (770) 286-1144; nicole@epic.inc
6. ==> The Hidden Story of America’s Housing Crisis
America has a housing crisis. But attorney James Burling says everything you think you know about the situation is wrong. He’ll take listeners through the history of how we got here with stories going back to the Civil War, the early 20th century, and the ill-fated “urban renewal” movement of the 1950s. Burling will reveal how the government layered mistake upon mistake to create the current crisis and present a way out: not by government fiat, but through the restoration of private property rights. A property rights attorney for over 40 years Burling is vice president of legal affairs at the libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation, a national public interest law firm that defends Americans from government overreach and abuse. He is the author of “Nowhere to Live.” Contact James Burling at media@pacificlegal.org
7. ==> Is Justice Only for Those Who Can Afford It?
You may have heard this twist on the Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. Attorney James Porfido says it’s increasingly evident that this aphorism applies to our justice system as much as anywhere else. Porfido served for decades on both sides of the court¬room, as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, giving him unique insight into this issue. The author of “Unequal Justice: The Search for Truth to Balance the Scales,” Porfido can talk with equal authority about everyday infringements on the rights of the accused as well as the unfair advantages given to the State. Ask him: In what ways did you see firsthand how money (or lack of it) influenced the outcome of a case? What is your take on recent shake-ups in the Department of Justice? Contact James Porfido at (973) 620-2157; jporfido@rtirguests.com
8. ==> How to Find Your Stress ‘Sweet Spot’
Stress gets a bad rap. What most people don’t realize, according to acclaimed psychologist Stephen Sideroff, is that it can be used as a tool for a better life. "Most people see stress as the enemy, but it actually can be a teacher," he says. Rather than bouncing back, Stephen teaches listeners how to bounce forward with strength, clarity, and a mindset built for growth. Drawing from decades of research and work in addiction, performance psychology, and brain behavior, he’ll reveal how stress can be harnessed as a tool for transformation, vitality, and even slowing the aging process. He is a professor and the author of "The 9 Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Mastering Stress, Slow Aging and Increase Vitality." Contact Stephen Sideroff at (213) 660-4659; ssideroff@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Elderhood: Rethinking Life’s Third Act
Humans are living longer than ever before, and many people alive today will be elders for 30 years or more. Yet at the very moment that most of us will spend more years in elderhood than in childhood, we’ve made old age into a disease, a condition to be dreaded, disparaged, neglected, and denied. Invite Harvard-trained geriatrician Louise Aronson to share a vision of old age that’s neither nightmare nor utopian fantasy—a vision full of joy, wonder, frustration, outrage, and hope about aging, medicine, and life itself. The author of the bestselling “Elderhood” will transform how readers think and feel about aging as she reframes “life’s third act” in ways both revolutionary and revelatory. Aaronson is a practicing geriatrician and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Contact Marie Coolman at Marie.Coolman@bloomsbury.com
10. ==> Business Expert Shares How to Really Pay Off the National Debt
As political strategist James Carville famously said, "It's the economy, stupid!" The U.S. economy has dominated the news for months, with concerns about the current chaos and the spiraling deficit. "The deficit grew from almost nothing just 40 years ago to now more than $34 trillion," says author and business expert Mitch Francis. "Can you picture how successful the U.S. would be if it had no deficit?" While this may seem far-fetched, Mitch can share with audiences how this could actually happen. Mitch is the author of "Bad-Ass Solutions For Today's Big-Ass Problems." He has an extensive business background as founder and CEO of publicly traded and private companies and develops, owns, and manages commercial real estate across the U.S. Contact: Mitch Francis at (424) 380-4561; Mfrancis@rtirguests.com
11. ==> This Financial Expert Says Tariffs are Key to America’s Future Prosperity
It’s hard to find anyone with anything positive to say about the current tariff situation, but veteran wealth manager Rodger Friedman isn’t afraid to say what others won’t. “Tariffs aren’t a problem—they’re the solu-tion!” he says. Author of the hard-hitting column “Equal Opportunity Times,” Friedman dives headfirst into the economic debate that many politicians dodge. Drawing from decades of financial experience and geopolitical observation, he makes a bold case for tariffs as a tool to protect American jobs, secure economic sovereignty, and push back against manipulative global trade practices. Friedman’s no-nonsense style pulls no punches and invites your audience to think critically about how America does business with the world. If you’re tired of sugar-coated economic theories and want unfiltered insight from someone who’s seen it all, invite him on your show. Contact Rodger Friedman at (301) 327-2255; rfriedman@rtirguests.com
12. ==> What a Woke Redneck Can Teach Us About Race, Power and Real Leadership
He’s white. He’s evangelical. He raises bulls for fun. And he’s “woke”—but not in the way you think. Rick Patterson is a former evangelical pastor turned corporate exec and father of four adopted Black children. Through that wild mix of identities, he’s learned what it really means to talk about race, masculinity, power and faith without blowing things up. In his interviews, Rick unpacks: How to lead with humility, how masculinity gets warped by shame and why the “culture wars” are failing us. With humor, honesty and a voice both sides can actually listen to, Rick shows how we can bridge divides and build something better. The author of “Shame Unmasked and The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth,” Rick is not here to play it safe—he’s here to get real. Contact Rick Patterson at (517) 300-2706; Rpatterson@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Can Christians Be Democrats? This Pastor Says 'No'—Here’s Why
As a Black pastor of 18 years and a former lifelong Democrat, Frank Tull brings a unique voice to the intersection of faith and politics. Inspired by personal loss—a 25-year friendship broken due to his support of President Donald Trump—Frank now firmly believes that the Republican Party is far more aligned with Christian principles than the Democratic Party. "With powerful scripture-based reasoning, I address the role of faith in today’s volatile political climate, and why I believe that Christianity and the Democratic Party are mutually exclusive," he says. He is the author of "8 Biblical Reasons to Vote Republican." Contact: Pastor Frank Tull at (469) 609-1385; ftull@rtirguests.com
14. ==> From Mormonism to Addiction and Self-Discovery: This Author Shares Her Wild Road to Redemption
What happens when a devout Mormon mother of five dares to question everything she’s ever known? Meet Susie Bell—a nurse practitioner who went from being excommunicated from the Mormon Church, a heart-wrenching divorce, and single motherhood in Las Vegas to self-made success. With honesty and grit, Susie recounts her journey through addiction recovery, being drugged and raped by a famous athlete who relentlessly harassed her, and even a surreal moment in the hospital room with the body of Tupac Shakur following his murder. Her story is not just about leaving religion—it’s about reclaiming power and purpose. She is the author of the memoir "A Piece of Me: Finding My Voice After Mormonism, Marriage, Medicine and Men." Contact: Susie Bell at (213) 816-3622; sbell@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Chiropractic for Animals is Not Woo-Woo, It's Science
Dr. Bill Ormston is on a mission to revolutionize how we care for animals. With more than 36 years as a veterinarian and 26 years adjusting animals, he’s personally helped more than 35,000 pets and trained over 800 professionals in animal chiropractic. Fueled by a personal journey that began with his son’s health crisis, Dr. Ormston became a pioneer in veterinary homeopathy and animal chiropractic. He is the author of the books "Yes! It’s Really A Thing" and "Yes! It’s A Better Thing," which shine a light on the power of holistic care. He has also co-hosted numerous TV shows and has even treated show biz animals! Contact: Dr. Bill Ormston at (469) 833-2378; bormston@rtirguests.com
