01. Ted Turner – The Truth Behind the Legend
02. Iran War is Wake-Up Call for Energy Innovation
03. Assaults Against U.S. Jews Reaches 6-Year High
04. It’s Peak Bird Migration Season. How You Can Help Them Survive
05. How New Grads Can Get—and Keep—a Job
06. The Money Talk Every Parent Needs to Have With Their Grad
07. Graduation Advice From Ancient Greece
08. Interview the Godfather of Sports Talk
09. Why You Keep Choosing the Wrong Partner—and How to Break the Cycle
10. America is Running Out of Teachers: How to Fix the Crisis
11. The Protein Myth That Keeps Americans Sick
12. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking No One Talks About
13. Is Your Body Asking for Change?
14. This Guest Turns Problem Pooches into Perfect Pups
15. Humor Is Never Untimely – From a Guy Who's Been Proving It for 30 Years
1. ==> Ted Turner – The Truth Behind the Legend
Ted Turner, the man who transformed television news by founding CNN as the first 24-hour cable news channel, has died at age 87. Invite Bob Patterson to share his personal memories of Turner and the energy he brought to the world of broadcasting. Patterson was at CNN’s grand opening in Atlanta on June 1, 1980, and for many years, his company provided satellite transmission services for CNN, including coverage of major events such as the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Reykjavik. Patterson will take listeners behind-the-scenes and reveal the real inspiration for CNN and the origin story that didn’t come from Turner. Hear why Turner and CNN cofounder Reese Schonfeld had a falling out, and how that led Schonfeld to start the Food Network. Bob Patterson orchestrated the first-ever live, multi-carrier television broadcast via domestic satellite in the United States in 1975—a groundbreaking achievement that laid the foundation for modern live broadcasting—and was instrumental in delivering some of the most-watched events in television history. He is the founder of SPACECONNECTION, Inc., and the author of “Iconic Moments in Broadcast History: Live Via Satellite.” Contact Bob Patterson at (818) 210-4965; bpatterson@rtirguests.com
2. ==> Iran War is Wake-Up Call for Energy Innovation
The Iran war is reshaping global energy markets. Rationing and stockpile releases are only short-term measures. Energy and climate innovation expert David Hart says the war is a wake-up call for energy innovation. Invite him to discuss a new report that shows which countries are contributing most to the energy innovations that will power the future. Hart says not all countries contribute equally to the global effort and some rankings might be surprising. “European countries, led by Sweden, dominate the rankings. Canada is the only country outside of Europe to make the top ten,” he says, adding, ”Although China’s rankings are lower than these higher-income countries, it is so large and its pursuit of energy innovation so vigorous, that its efforts are offsetting contractions in the United States and elsewhere.” As a result, Hart says the most effective new options available to respond to the present crisis—affordable solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles—are predominantly made in China. David M. Hart is a professor emeritus of public policy at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and a senior fellow for climate and energy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Contact him at dmhart@cfr.org
3. ==> Assaults Against U.S. Jews Reaches 6-Year High
Data from the Anti-Defamation League shows that antisemitic physical assaults reached a 46-year high in 2025, including three killings, the first fatalities of this kind since 2019, indicating a shift toward more dangerous forms of antisemitism. Antisemitism historian Asaf Romirowsky says that while incidents like harassment and vandalism have declined, major urban areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and northern New Jersey continue to see higher concentrations of activity. Meanwhile, antisemitic incidents on college campuses have dropped sharply, suggesting that interventions and changing campus environments may be having an effect. Ask him: How did the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel influence antisemitism globally? How should antisemitism be measured, by total incidents or severity? Asaf Romirowsky, PHD, is the executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East. He is coauthor of “October 7: The Wars Over Words and Deeds.” Contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988 (call/text); markgoldman73@gmail.com
4. ==> It’s Peak Bird Migration Season. How You Can Help Them Survive
Millions of migratory birds are passing through the skies right now and much of the action happens at night. Unfortunately, bright lights from homes and buildings can disorient the birds and cause them to crash. Luckily, there are simple solutions to protect birds from windows, according to Joshua Morris, the conservation director at Birds Connect Seattle. He says people and companies can add translucent dot stickers to their windows to help birds see and avoid the glass. Morris helps run a bird collision monitoring team that tracks the number of birds hitting windows in Seattle. They estimate 80,000 fatal collisions during migration season happen at homes in Seattle. Morris says people can take extra precautions during migration season like turning off non-essential lights. He adds that planting native vegetation can encourage rest stops in your yard. Contact Joshua Morris at (206) 523-8243; ext. 113; JoshM@birdsconnectsea.org
5. ==> How New Grads Can Get—and Keep—a Job
Spring has historically been peak hiring season but in these uncertain times, companies are reassessing budgets, teams are restructuring and it seems nobody is hiring. So, what’s a new grad to do? Shawn Fry says most new grads (and job hunters in general) focus on the wrong things like having a slick résumé (which won’t get you very far.) After leading change initiatives in 60+ facilities across 17 countries, this business transformation expert found that the employees who advance in uncertain markets like the current one aren’t the busiest, they’re the most strategically visible, cross-functional, and solution-oriented. He’ll explain how that translates into getting hired, why new grads need to be more flexible than ever when looking for a job, and what savvy employees do once they’re on the job to stay promotable, valuable, and hard to replace. Contact Shawn Fry at (330) 422-4090; Sfry@rtirguests.com
6. ==> The Money Talk Every Parent Needs to Have With Their Grad
As new grads head out into the world they face a challenging economy and a changing world. Financial planner, entrepreneur, and author Tom Loegering says the best graduation advice any parent can give their young adult involves their finances. Loegering can discuss how to avoid credit card debt, put together a budget, choose the best student loan repayment plan, start an IRA, and more. He’ll also show how small adjustments, even when you’re strapped for cash, can create meaningful change. Tom Loegering is also the founder and CEO of Golf Program in Schools, a nonprofit that has helped more than 51,000 students prepare for their futures. Ask him: What’s the biggest mistake young people make with their finances? What can people in their 20s or 30s do today? Contact Tom Loegering at (623) 400-8648; tloegering@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Graduation Advice From Ancient Greece
James Romm offers a different type of graduation advice. Not a guide to success, but a set of clear, direct lessons about how to live from an ancient source. The author of “Since You’re Mortal: Life Lessons from the Lost Greek Plays” offers timeless advice and memorable insights into love, luck, power, suffering, and the limits of human life. He’ll provide a glimpse into how the ancient Greeks grappled with the same moral questions we face today and deliver wisdom that is direct, unsentimental, and surprisingly contemporary. James Romm is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. He specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization and is the author of numerous acclaimed books. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
8. ==> Interview the Godfather of Sports Talk
When Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle," he didn't call the major networks first—he called Harold Bell. As the "Godfather of Sports Talk" and the creator of the original “Inside Sports” in 1972, Bell didn't just report on the icons, he was their confidant. From his foundational reel-to-reel interviews with Ali to his mentorship of modern media giants like James Brown (CBS Sports), Michael Wilbon (ESPN), and Dave Aldridge, Bell’s influence is the literal DNA of every sports talk show on the air today. His latest project is anchoring the Digital Wing™ grid on Radio Soul 100 FM in Las Vegas. "The format hasn't changed," Bell says, "just the technology. But the truth is still undisputed." Invite him to talk about his long career, how sports talk has changed through the years and share behind-the-scenes stories. Contact Arthur B. Smith at asmith@radiosoul100fm.com
9. ==> Why You Keep Choosing the Wrong Partner—and How to Break the Cycle
Nearly half of American marriages end in divorce, and many people say their next relationship feels eerily similar to the last. Author and speaker Charisse Walker says it’s not a coincidence. Most people enter relationships without understanding the deeper beliefs, experiences, and patterns quietly shaping their decisions. On your show, Walker introduces the powerful idea behind her book “Flipping the Iceberg”: every relationship has an iceberg. The small portion above the surface includes what we easily see—attraction, personality, and shared interests. But the much larger portion below the surface includes our beliefs about love, expectations, communication habits, past experiences, and values. Walker explains how these hidden influences shape who we trust, commit to, and ultimately marry. She shows audiences how greater self-awareness can help people stop repeating painful relationship patterns and make more intentional decisions about love and commitment. Charisse Walker is an entrepreneur, author, and former host of the Emmy-nominated national television show The American Dream. She now speaks about the importance of self-awareness and understanding the deeper dynamics that shape healthy relationships. Contact Charisse Walker at (801) 251-6965; cwalker@rtirguests.com
10. ==> America is Running Out of Teachers: How to Fix the Crisis
Over 440,000 teaching positions are now filled by unqualified staff or sitting empty. Deanna Gilmore, Ph.D., says the only way to fix it is to make people fall in love with teaching again — and to pressure lawmakers to fund salaries that keep them there. A 26-year classroom veteran, former school principal, and university professor who trained the next generation of educators, Gilmore will share firsthand stories from teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and coaches to remind America what's at stake before it's too late. Ask her: With nearly half a million teaching positions unfilled, what happens to America's public schools? What concrete steps can communities and lawmakers take right now to stop the bleeding? How are school voucher programs making the teacher shortage even worse? Deanna Gilmore is the author of "There's a Pig on the Playground: Memorable Stories from the Schoolyard." Contact her at (208) 285-7567; dgilmore@rtirguests.com
11. ==> The Protein Myth That Keeps Americans Sick
A heart attack at age 70 forced Dorothy Greet to rethink everything she believed about nutrition, especially protein. After she and her 80-year-old husband ditched all animal products, their results were dramatic: normalized blood pressure and cholesterol, effortless weight loss, and energy levels they hadn't felt in decades. Now at 85, Greet is credentialed in plant-based nutrition from Cornell and ready to debunk the protein myth keeping millions sick. In interviews, Greet will reveal how Americans have been misled about protein requirements and why plant foods provide all the protein needed for optimal health. Drawing from her book “Go Veg with Class,” she'll share how two lifelong carnivores reversed heart disease through dietary change alone—and why it's never too late. Listeners will learn simple swaps to "ditch dairy" and "remove meat" while discovering how this shift could eliminate up to 80% of chronic diseases. Ask her: Where do you actually get your protein on a plant-based diet? You reversed heart disease at 70—what happened to your health markers? Why don't doctors tell patients about the power of dietary change? Contact Dorothy Greet at (302) 314-6010; dgreet@rtirguests.com
12. ==> The Dark Side of Positive Thinking No One Talks About
Positive thinking is often sold as the cure for everything: pain, loss, confusion, or even a world that feels like it’s falling apart. But what happens when optimism stops working? Author Lydia Samaniego offers a counterintuitive perspective rooted in lived experience, rather than theory. She argues that forced positivity and manifestation culture can actually disconnect people from truth, responsibility, and the guidance of their own hearts. Lydia will explore why the deepest betrayal isn’t a broken relationship, but the realization that our trusted systems, from society to culture and even religion, can’t actually tell us who we are or how to live. She’ll share why real change doesn’t come from thinking harder or “staying positive,” but from noticing the conflict between the mind and the heart, catching inherited beliefs that no longer serve us, and choosing an inside-out path forward. Her story resonates with anyone questioning what to trust when old answers fall apart. Contact Lydia Samaniego at (530) 443-5826: samaniego@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Is Your Body Asking for Change?
Six in 10 U.S. adults live with chronic disease and many Spring health resets often focus on surface fixes. But what if lasting improvement requires looking beyond symptoms and asking what the body may be responding to beneath the surface? Marcel Vögeli explores how long-term stress, suppressed conflict, and emotional overload can influence physical health, and why two people with the same diagnosis can heal at very different rates. After eight years of intensive autoimmune treatment that managed symptoms but didn’t restore his life, Marcel began examining deeper stress patterns in his own story. He has been hospital-free since 2012. Marcel Vögeli is spokesperson for The Key to Self-Liberation by the late Christiane Beerlandt. Contact Marcel Vögeli at Mvogeli@rtirguests.com
14. ==> This Guest Turns Problem Pooches into Perfect Pups
Author and longtime dog behaviorist Kathleen Troy answers real questions from dog owners with warmth, humor, and hard-earned experience. Dubbed the Dear Abby for dogs, Kathleen tackles everyday canine challenges while debunking one of the biggest myths of all: some dogs cannot be trained. She gets her inspiration from her remarkable rescue pup, Dylan, a former “problem dog” who went on to become a certified therapy and hospice service dog. She combines practical guidance with unforgettable stories. Audiences will learn how patience, consistency, and respect can transform both dogs and their humans. Kathleen is the author of the “Dylan’s Dog Squad” series, and a book about dog training. Contact Kathleen Troy at (714) 975-9807; ktroy@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Humor Is Never Untimely – From a Guy Who's Been Proving It for 30 Years
Bill Williams has been sending daily humor emails for three decades. What started in the 1990s as a way to get his sales staff to read emails has grown into a beloved ritual for hundreds of subscribers globally—and he's never made a dime doing it. Drawing from "20 Years of Internet Humor ... and Other Interesting Things," Williams explains why humor works in any news cycle, for any audience. Listeners will discover how he turned a workplace tool into a lifelong practice of spreading joy, and why his college friend John Denver influenced his view on taking creative risks. Ask him: You've done this for 30 years without making money, so what keeps you going? You say humor is never untimely. What makes it work when other topics go stale? How did your friendship with John Denver shape your approach to life? Contact Bill Williams at (419) 534-0399; wgwilliams@rtirguests.com
