01. From the Frontline: Rabbis Call for Ceasefire
02. Moms Get Creative to Build Careers
03. When Mother’s Day Makes You Feel Bad
04. The Problem With New ‘School Choice’ Bills
05. Pet Aggression: A Better Solution Than Shooting Your Dog
06. At Your Desk … While Folding Laundry: Unusual Places to Do Yoga
07. Excommunicated Mormon Tells Her Harrowing Story
08. Why Bouncing Back Doesn’t Work: The New Science of Bouncing Forward
09. 5 Key Things Millennials Need to Know About Digital Preservation
10. Why Traditional Talk Therapy Doesn’t Work
11. Expert Reveals How to Love Anyone You Hate
12. What’s Really Holding You Back?
13. From ‘Dumb Jock’ to Ivy League Success Guru
14. Out-of-This-World Stories of What Really Happens Under Hypnosis
15. The Reason Holding Hands Feels So Good
1. ==> From the Frontline: Rabbis Call for Ceasefire
Rabbi and Dr. Paul Zeitz has been on the frontlines of the call for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War. During a recent pilgrimage, he joined the group Rabbis for a Ceasefire at the Israel/Gaza Erez border crossing point as they attempted to bring food aid into Gaza. The U.S.-based organization included 11 U.S. rabbis, several Israeli rabbis, and many other Israeli Jews. Invite the preventive medicine physician, epidemiologist, author, and award-winning champion of global justice and human rights to share what he found as he listened to the multiple perspectives of Palestinians and Israelis living in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Israel. “The painful root cause of this intractable conflict—a tsunami of trauma, hate and fear— is drowning a sense of the common humanity of two peoples living on one land. At the same time, I witnessed the personal love each person has for their people and each have for their shared land. My greatest hope is that when this tragic violent phase of the crisis ends, a permanent ceasefire will ignite the spark of a love-centered peaceful revolution to create a new reality where the land will be for all to live in with justice and peace.” Zeitz’s latest book is “Revolutionary Optimism: 7 Steps for Living as a Love-Centered Activist.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (o); (703) 400-1099 (c); johanna@jrbpr.biz or Reigan Wright at (703) 646-5188
2. ==> Moms Get Creative to Build Careers
Between their kids’ activities, working full-time jobs, and managing hectic households, modern moms are busier than ever. Yet some manage to do amazing things and inspire others to do the same. Author, YouTube star, English language educator, and mom Jennifer Lebedev is one of them. She says, “Building my career online was my best choice.” By taking this route, Jennifer was able to continue her teaching career and rack up one million YouTube subscribers. Even more interesting is that she accomplished this upon turning 50. “It was a year of milestones,” she says. “And while I made time to celebrate, my happiness and self-worth were in question. I was on the verge of a midlife crisis. But instead of plunging into despair, I chose to write a book.” The result was the critically acclaimed “Being a YouTuber: One Creator’s Bumpy Road to 1M Subscribers.” Jennifer can share how moms can successfully set and attain personal and professional goals. Contact Jennifer Lebedev at (617) 668-1804; jlebedev@rtirguests.com
3. ==> When Mother’s Day Makes You Feel Bad
Mother’s Day is meant to be a joyous occasion but for some people it can bring heartache, grief and other negative feelings. Whether you’ve lost a mother or a child, have an abusive parent or are struggling with infertility, the holiday can bring all sorts of painful —and even confusing— emotions. Serina Tetenov, clinical director of Adult Mental Health and Wellness at the University of Rochester Medical Center, says it’s important to acknowledge and experience your emotions. “Honestly owning your thoughts is a step toward understanding them,” she says. Even if you have children. “Parents who demonstrate healthy responses to mental health challenges greatly lend to their child’s ability to develop the same healthy habits, establishing the foundation for emotional resilience.” Tetenov suggests spending time with your loved one’s memory, taking a digital detox, and not judging yourself for whatever you’re feeling. To arrange interviews, contact the media relations team at the University of Rochester at (585) 275-3676; mediainquiries@urmc.rochester.edu
4. ==> The Problem With New ‘School Choice’ Bills
The number of states that are enacting “school choice” legislation is going up fast. Last year, 17 states set up new programs or expanded existing ones, and eight of those states adopted universal programs. Education journalist Jennifer Berkshire says these new programs are a world away from the ones that emerged in the nineties, which were for low-income and minority students. The new universal programs allow any family, no matter how wealthy, to have their tuition paid by the state. “If you’re a wealthy family in a state like New Hampshire or Iowa or West Virginia, suddenly the state is picking up the tab for your private school tuition. That is why these programs have ended up being so expensive. It’s not because kids are leaving public schools and going to private religious schools. It’s because suddenly the state is picking up your tuition.” She says her biggest concern is that the programs are so expensive, they quickly blow a hole in state budgets. “You have handed money to your wealthiest families. You suddenly have this lobby group with power and influence, and they will do whatever they can to hold onto that.” Jennifer Berkshire is a journalist and a lecturer in education journalism and education studies at Yale University. Contact her at jennifer.berkshire@yale.edu; @BisforBerkshire
5. ==> Pet Aggression: A Better Solution Than Shooting Your Dog
In her upcoming memoir “No Going Back,” South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem writes about shooting her dog to death because he was too aggressive. Many have expressed outrage at this seemingly violent and drastic response to her dog’s aggressive behavioral issues. Was there a better way to deal with the animal? Veterinarian Carol Osborne can discuss behavioral issues in pets, how to spot the warning signs, and the best ways to go about addressing an aggressive pet. Ask her: Can an aggressive dog be rehabilitated? How can you integrate a temperamental pet back into a home? Carol Osborne, DVM, is a practicing integrative veterinarian, the director of the Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic, and an Emmy-nominated television journalist. She is a regular contributor to several television shows and networks including Fox & Friends, the “Today” show, Discovery’s Animal Planet, and “Good Day LA.” Contact Mackenzie August at (661) 255-8283; mackenzie@steveallenmedia.com
6. ==> At Your Desk … While Folding Laundry: Unusual Places to Do Yoga
Some 300 million people around the world practice yoga with about 35 million doing so here in the U.S. Given the growing popularity of yoga, it may surprise you to learn what you don’t know about the health practice. Invite Nicole Byars on your program to talk about what yoga is … and isn’t as well as why you can do it while folding laundry or riding a bike without yoga pants, a mat, or twisting yourself into a pretzel. Nicole says, “Yoga literally means being in the present moment. Let’s say you are folding the laundry and as you do it, you are really present. Feeling the ground supporting your feet, the clothes on your hands as you fold. Most people plow through the most mundane tasks completely robotic, and all up in their heads (the average person has 40,000 negative thoughts in a day). Anyone can do yoga. If you are present, breathing, and in the moment, that is doing yoga.” Nicole owns the Honest Yoga Studio in Plymouth, Minn., and is the author of “Living Yoga Beyond the Mat.” Contact Nicole Byars at (612) 414-9198; nicole@thehonestyoga.com
7. ==> Excommunicated Mormon Tells Her Harrowing Story
For the first half of her life, author Susie Bell knew nothing but the Mormon Church. She grew up, married, had six kids, and became a nurse while living as a practicing Mormon. But she began to question the religion and was excommunicated in 2012. “I realized that it’s a cult,” she says. “It ends up tearing a lot of families apart.” Her life became even more chaotic after her excommunication, which included a messy divorce, the loss of a baby, being drugged, raped, and publicly harassed by a famous athlete, struggles with substance abuse, and more. But Susie not only survived, she managed to thrive, and can share what really goes on in this mysterious faith. She is the author of the upcoming book “A Piece of Me: Finding My Voice After Mormonism, Marriage, Medicine & Men.” Contact Susie Bell at (213) 816-3622; sbell@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Why Bouncing Back Doesn’t Work: The New Science of Bouncing Forward
Most of us are overwhelmed by daily stressors and their impact on our bodies and minds. When bad things happen — problems at work, relationships, or ill health — we hope to bounce back. But internationally-known psychologist Stephen Sideroff says bouncing back is outdated because it puts you back where you started instead of growing and learning from life’s stresses. Invite Dr. Sideroff to explain the concept of bouncing forward: what it means and how to accomplish it. Listeners will learn the important mindset for busting through old childhood lessons of thinking and behavior and get actionable steps to reduce chronic stress and build resilience for better health and success. Most importantly, Sideroff can help overwhelmed listeners find what he describes as “The Path,” a methodology that gives people hope. Stephen Sideroff is an associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Rheumatology at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine. He was the founder and former clinical director of the Stress Strategies Program of UCLA/Santa Monica Hospital and former clinical director of Moonview Treatment and Optimal Performance Center. He is the author of “The 9 Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Mastering Stress, Slow Aging and Increase Vitality.” Contact Dr. Sideroff at (310) 666-3452; sideroff@UCLA.edu
9. ==> 5 Key Things Millennials Need to Know About Digital Preservation
For the first generation who grew up with cell phones, the internet, and digital cameras, the word “photo” invokes a collection of pixels rather than a physical object. It’s said that the internet is forever, but are all those digital memories truly safe? Professional archivist Rhonda Chadwick reveals why “storing and ignoring” can lead to a complete loss of digital content, and what we need to do to protect our cherished photos. She’ll also discuss why some file formats are better than others, how to guard against corporations pulling the plug on your digital storage, why you need to disaster-proof your photo collection and much more. The author of “Secrets from the Stacks: An Archivist Reveals How to Store, Digitize, and Preserve Documents to Create a Family Archive and Leave a Personal Legacy,” Rhonda holds a master’s degree in library science. Talk to this knowledgeable guest today, and help your listeners preserve their memories for generations to come. Contact Rhonda Chadwick at (401) 227-3306; rchadwick@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Why Traditional Talk Therapy Doesn’t Work
Conventional mental health professionals have long maintained that talk therapy is the panacea to healing the mind. But Adriana Popescu Ph.D., claims that true healing comes from also treating the body and spirit. “I specialize in using some of the most powerful, effective holistic healing techniques to radically shift limiting feelings and beliefs,” she says. “These may include meditation, nutritional supplements and all kinds of mind-body healing techniques.” Adriana is a licensed clinical psychologist, addiction and trauma specialist, speaker, thought leader and empowerment coach, and author of the critically acclaimed book “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 Adriana at (415) 707-5054; Apopescu@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Expert Reveals How to Love Anyone You Hate
There are people in our lives with whom we have contentious relationships. They might be family members, coworkers, neighbors, and people on the opposite side of the political spectrum. Phil Brattain is the perfect guest for our divided polarized times. He is an expert on learning to love one’s worst enemies and learning to appreciate his opponents through his advocacy work where he often found himself on the losing side. He’ll share what audience members can do to reconcile their issues with others in their lives with whom they have contentious relationships. Phil Brattain is the author of “Waging Love: How to Transform Our World One Heart at a Time.” He has spent decades in international business development. Ask him: What timeless secrets can you share that can bring us back together as a nation? Can anyone learn to love someone they despise? Contact Phil Brattain at (650) 218-8136; philbrattain@gmail.com
12. ==> What’s Really Holding You Back?
Do you know what’s holding you back from achieving the life you want? If you think you’re not capable of doing it, you’re not alone. Self-doubt sabotages the best of intentions and stands in the way of the great relationships, careers, and successes you deserve. Psychologist and award-winning author Melody Krafft is here to help you banish doubt from your life and accomplish your dreams. Talk to Melody and find out how embedded doubt keeps you stuck in the moment, reliving the same day over and over again — and how you can break this cycle of doubt, anxiety, and fear to start living your best life now. She’ll also reveal techniques and tactics to rid yourself of everyday stress, why confidence and having a big ego are not the same thing, and much more. An experienced media guest and public speaker, Melody is the author of “Get Me Out of Here! What’s Beyond This Madness.” Contact her at (703) 951-4735; mkrafft@rtirguests.com
13. ==> From ‘Dumb Jock’ to Ivy League Success Guru
Former Ivy League scholar and pro football player John Nicholas had no plan for success at 16 when he crashed into a house during a Halloween night car chase with police. But then he discovered keys that launched him toward academic and athletic success and building sports media and real estate companies worth millions. He credits something he calls Personal Convergence, a dynamic force similar to nuclear fusion, which has fueled high-impact people throughout history and can help us target and direct our lives today. John’s upcoming book “Hit Your Bullseye!” shares how you can harness this power to achieve your ultimate life, career, business, or calling. John has appeared on ABC News, CBS News, syndicated radio, and numerous podcasts. He also wrote the popular book, “Debt-Free ASAP!” Contact him at (214) 225-9991; Jnicholas@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Out-of-This-World Stories of What Really Happens Under Hypnosis
Everyday people are discovering unseen worlds with guidance from Kryste Andrews, a long-time licensed hypnotherapist. While relaxing into the hypnotic state of consciousness called theta, some of Kryste’s clients have interacted with life on other planets. Kryste’s book, “Discovery,” Book One of the LEGACY series, chronicles the true stories of an ancient tribe trekking over mountain ranges, migrating to what is now southern France. Kryste says: “I’ve observed a client time-traveling and remotely viewing ancient people he believes to be his ancestors who lived 25,000 years ago, and much more.” Her upcoming book, “31 Conversations With An Alien,” is based on a recent client’s extraordinary life and reveals the living room chats between Kryste and an extraterrestrial named Fred. Contact Kryste Andrews at (201) 801-4551; Kandrews@rtirguests.com
15. ==> The Reason Holding Hands Feels So Good
Studies show that holding hands can reduce pain and buffer stressful experiences. But its impact on brain activity suggests something more profound is going on. “If you really understand handholding — what it is and how it has its effects — you begin to understand just about every single facet of what it is to be a human being,” clinical psychologist James Coan recently told the “Washington Post.” “It expresses all the things that we are for each other.” Coan has been involved in several experiments on handholding, including one in which 16 married women were placed in MRI machines and faced with the prospect of an electric shock. When they held hands with strangers, it lowered their stress. When they held hands with their husbands, it lowered their stress even more. For Coan, the most surprising revelation from the experiments is that handholding isn’t an added benefit or a boost to our brains. Rather, it represents the baseline — we’re meant to be sharing our lives, and our burdens with other people. “To the human brain, the world presents a series of problems to solve,” he said. “And it turns out being alone is a problem.” James Coan is a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and the director of the Virginia Affective Neuroscience Laboratory. Contact him at jcoan@virginia.edu