01. A Disarming History of the Second Amendment
02. Why is Glenn Greenwald Defending Tucker Carlson?
03. Winners and Losers in Johnny Depp/Amber Heard Trial
04. Country Music Star on Fame, Fortune and Missed Opportunities
05. Wine Destinations: Plan Your Next Trip
06. Wieners, Franks and More: Interview Hot Dog’s Top Dog
07. The Power of the Purse: How to Use Your Wallet for Good
08. What the Far-Right Has in Common with the Far-Left (and Where Both Go Wrong)
09. Whatever Happened to ‘the Public Good’?
10. Secrets of the World’s Most Celebrated Brands
11. Doctor Reveals Why Babies Should Decide When to Be Born
12. How to Boost Your Summer Immun-a-Tea
13. Paint Diva Shares Home Makeover Tips
14. Advice for Dealing with Sensitive People
15. How This Retired Hospice Nurse Knows There is an Afterlife
1.==> A Disarming History of the Second Amendment
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz says the U.S. is unique in the industrialized world for the number of guns legally in civilian hands. “Although only a third of the population owns even one firearm, the average gun owner owns nine firearms.” She also says, contrary to popular belief, the NRA is not just a lobby. “It is a mass organization with chapters in every state that are autonomous and have the power to negate election candidates who support gun control. Junior ROTC exists in nearly all middle and high schools, and the NRA furnishes free targets, firearms, and training.” The author of “Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment” notes that the shooter who killed 17 high school students in Parkland, Florida, in 2018 had been an avid member of the JROTC chapter in the school and was wearing his JROTC shirt when he carried out the shooting. Dunbar-Ortiz wrote “Inside the Minds of American Mass Shooters” for the British Guardian and “Settler Colonialism and the Second Amendment” for “Monthly Review.” Contact her at rdunbaro@pacbell.net; @rdunbaro
2. ==> Why is Glenn Greenwald Defending Tucker Carlson?
Journalist Eoin Higgins says, “There’s no plausible way to dispute that Fox News host Tucker Carlson is spreading racist conspiracy theories, but Glenn Greenwald has been trying anyway.” Greenwald, a former “Salon” columnist and Pulitzer-winning reporter for “The Guardian,” claims his presence on Carlson’s show might shift some Fox viewers from rabid right-wing ideologues to something approaching social libertarianism. But Higgins says the appearances support Carlson’s worldview. “Greenwald doesn’t challenge Carlson, seldom if ever criticizes the right and generally stays in his lane — legitimizing the Fox News narrative.” He adds, “While Greenwald formerly defended Carlson while distancing himself from the more extreme interpretations of the Fox host’s views, today he is increasingly deploying his Twitter platform in service of spreading the white nationalist message. These vehement defenses of the most influential media purveyor of the racist ‘replacement’ theory are destructive efforts to launder hate by a once-admirable journalist.” Higgins is a journalist who wrote the new piece “Why Is Glenn Greenwald Defending Tucker Carlson and the “Great Replacement?” for “Salon.” Contact him at eoinhiggins@gmail.com; @EoinHiggins
3. ==> Winners and Losers in Johnny Depp/Amber Heard Trial
As the jury deliberates the multimillion-dollar defamation case involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, David Glass, a certified family law specialist and former clinical psychologist, can discuss this troubling and very public trial. He’ll discuss the real winners and losers and why the public was so enthralled by the spectacle. “I think each of them, to an extent, came across as credible,” Glass says. “The end result is the description of an awful relationship with awful behavior on both sides, but which either could have left at any time –– and still they stayed. So, it is more like a sadomasochistic relationship, where each of the parties gets pleasure from either being controlling and abusive, or by being subjugated and abused.” Contact Cherie Kerr at (714) 550-9900; Cherie@KerrPR-ExecuProv.com or Shannon Dugger at (303) 619-3949; Shannon@KerrPR-ExecuProv.com
4. ==> Country Music Star on Fame, Fortune and Missed Opportunities
Johnny Rodriguez’s Latin-infused hits made him one of the most successful country artists of the ‘70s and ‘80s, with 15 consecutive Top Ten songs, including six number-one hits. His new memoir, “Desperado: A Piece of My Soul,” details his meteoric rise to fame and his plunge into personal despair, and getting back in the saddle, again. Invite him to share colorful stories about his career, starting with his arrival in Nashville with just $14 and a guitar that he carried in a plastic bag. You’ll also learn how fame came with its share of problems, including drug addiction, gambling, failed marriages, and sabotaged relationships. Johnny’s new Country/Mariachi CD “Building Bridges” includes songs written by actor and singer/songwriter Dennis Quaid and a duet with Grammy winner and friend, Tanya Tucker. Contact Pauline Vega at (661) 387-3174; pvega@rtirguests.com
5. ==> Wine Destinations: Plan Your Next Trip
Looking to take a summer trip that combines the pleasures of wine and travel? Helping audiences make the most of their wine adventures is expert guide Jim Laughren, CWE, with suggestions from how to enjoy local wineries to where in the world we can find the “wildest” wine vacations of all. Whether you’re looking for fabulous food, incredible scenery, or amazing hospitality, all to enjoy with some gorgeous wines, Jim can steer you in the right direction. Ask him: Why should people visit Mendoza, Argentina, the Republic of Georgia and the Napa Valley? Where can you not only tour 1,500 acres of grapes but also buy a piece of the vineyard AND return for the harvest to make your own wine? The author of two short eBooks, “The 15-Minute Guide to Red Wine” and “The 15-Minute Guide to White Wine,” Jim has appeared on radio and TV around the country and is also the award-winning author of “50 Ways to Love Wine More” and “A Beer Drinker’s Guide to Knowing and Enjoying Fine Wine.” Contact Jim Laughren at (954) 317-9623; JLaughren@rtirguests.com
6. ==> Wieners, Franks and More: Interview Hot Dog’s Top Dog
Hot dogs are part of American culture, summer celebrations, travel and grilling traditions. Invite National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) Hot Dog Top Dog Eric Mittenthal to discuss everything and anything about hot dogs including the biggest myths, fascinating trivia, and more. Hear the history of hot dogs and sausages, how they’re made and even a guide to hot dog etiquette. Eric Mittenthal is president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. Contact him at (202) 587-4238; (404) 808-8396 (cell) or emittenthal@meatinstitute.org
7. ==> The Power of the Purse: How to Use Your Wallet for Good
You’ve heard of dark money, PAC money, and corporate money and their undue influence on elections and public policy. Ordinary people don’t have that kind of influence … or do they? Certified Financial Planner Lorri Craig says they could. “When we think of each dollar we spend as a vote for the environment, fair treatment of workers, ethics, and integrity, or oversight of their supply chains — we are positively altering an egregiously imbalanced economic and political power system,” she says. “We can make choices that boost ourselves, our communities, and our planet.” Lorri has simple advice on how to implement this strategy. She has a master’s degree in finance and is a subject matter expert for the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. She offers an Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) investment platform on her website for socially conscious investors who want to make a positive impact. Ask her what are some examples of voting with your discretionary dollars? How can ordinary people have an outsized influence on the world? Contact Lorri at (484) 453-1742; LCraig@rtirguests.com
8. ==> What the Far-Right Has in Common with the Far-Left (and Where Both Go Wrong)
Both sides of the political divide have their grievances. The right contends they’ve been victimized by big government, oppressive regulations, liberal elites, socialists, illegal immigrants, etc. The left’s grievance list includes racism, sexism, homophobia, fascism, authoritarianism, capitalism, and more. What they have in common, says Sparrow Hart, is that each side claims someone else is to blame and needs to make restitution to them. Sparrow says the country’s healing requires paying attention, not to past grievances, but to the journey ahead. With over 30 years experience leading workshops on shamanism and the heroic journey, he knows the importance of hope, gratitude, and love in bringing the best parts of ourselves to our collective hero’s journey. “Traditionally, a ‘heroic journey’ calls people to find their best selves by leaving familiar territory behind and stepping outside their comfort zones … including the familiar comfort zone made up of people who agree with you, know they’re right, and feel morally superior to their adversaries.” Sparrow’s varied career also includes being a vision quest guide, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford, a brief stint working in a slaughterhouse, and adventures in the Amazon jungle. He is the author of several books including “Letters to the River: A Guide to a Dream Worth Living. Contact Sparrow Hart at (801) 516-0740; SHart@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Whatever Happened to ‘the Public Good’?
Today’s highly polarized society makes it hard for people from opposing sides to agree on anything, let alone work together, even if the goal is for the common good. It’s possible, though not easy, as Bee Bloeser personally witnessed in the middle of the Cold War when despite their vast differences, leaders across the globe joined forces to rid the world of smallpox. Bee and her family became involved in the global campaign when the CDC dispatched her husband to West Africa in 1969. Invite her to share what it was like to be an American woman in Africa at that time and the unexpected challenges she and her family faced, including brushes with a brutal dictator’s regime and living in an isolated region suffering a humanitarian crisis the rest of the world knew nothing about. An award-winning author and engaging public speaker, Bee Bloeser has been featured on NPR’s “Journeys of Discovery” and NPR KCBX Radio’s show, “Issues and Ideas.” Her book is, “Vaccines and Bayonets: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War.” Contact her at (520) 214-5971; bbloeser@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Secrets of the World’s Most Celebrated Brands
Would your listeners like to know how celebrities create world-class brands so they can do it too? Raj Girn, an internationally celebrated brand authority and the creator of “The 6-Step Guide That Celebrities Use to Guarantee World-Class Brand Presence,” is prepared to offer the same fantastic tips to your audience that she has passed on to executives at L’Oréal Paris, Estée Lauder, Johnnie Walker, Cîroc, Sheraton and Fairmont Hotels and people like Priyanka Chopra, Hannah Simone, Robin Sharma and Freida Pinto. Ask her: What are the four biggest myths that prevent brands from taking off? What are the six steps to creating a world-class brand that anyone can dial in, no matter what their size or budget? A media celebrity in Canada who has been featured in “The Wall Street Journal” and “Globe and Mail,” and on FOX and CBS, Raj is a regular contributor to Entrepreneuer.com, ThriveGlobal.com and Medium.com and an internationally best-selling author whose blog attracts 500,000 unique monthly visitors. She also publishes a weekly newsletter with over 100,000 subscribers and has a combined social media network of over 1 million. She runs The Open Chest Confidence Academy. Contact Raj Girn at (647) 490-3158; Rgirn@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Doctor Reveals Why Babies Should Decide When to Be Born
Due dates. Planned C-sections. Induced labor. Medicine to prevent premature birth. Nowadays it seems babies are scheduled to arrive, and not always for a medical reason. Sometimes births are timed for the convenience of the mother and her doctor (think holiday babies, health insurance stay limits, and tax credits). But OB/GYN specialist Alan Lindemann, M.D., says the vast number of births should happen when the baby is ready, for the safety of mother and child. Ask Dr. Lindemann: Are there too many C-sections? Why? How are mothers and babies safer when nature takes its course? What are the only acceptable reasons to hurry or delay a birth? How has birthing changed? Expect an informative discussion with this expert who has delivered more than 6,000 babies and treated countless women. He is the author of “Modern Medicine: What You’re Dying to Know.” Contact Alan Lindemann, M.D., at (828) 818-8242; ALindemann@rtirguests.com
12. ==> How to Boost Your Summer Immun-a-Tea
Are you looking for ways to boost your immunity, stay healthy and ward off disease this summer? Invite Tilak Silva to share new ways we can be wiser in what we eat and drink. He’ll discuss the best natural ways to create strength, energy, healthier skin and ultimately longer life. You’ll learn about unexpected health foods and how to take advantage of their benefits, as well as which commonly imbibed beverages can decrease your immunity. Tilak Silva is an expert in nutrition and health research and the inventor of CilanTea, based on a 3,000-year-old recipe from Sri Lanka. Contact Tilak Silva at (310) 421-4680, tsilva@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Paint Diva Shares Home Makeover Tips
Whether you want to freshen up your decor or you’re planning to put your house up for sale, Cindy Gelormini has great ideas on how to update your interiors. Affectionately known as The Paint Diva, Cindy takes the stress out of choosing paint colors and helps clients find their style and create spaces that reflect their personality and serve their specific needs. Cindy will share how to up your WFH game by painting an accent wall in your home office, inexpensive ways to give your kitchen a DIY paint update, and quick and easy projects to create instant curb appeal! Cindy Gelormini has over 30 years of experience in the interior design and real estate fields as a color consultant, interior design consultant, mural artist, stager and realtor and has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows. She’s the author of “The Paint Diva Method.” Contact her at (908) 665-9149; (908) 451-2767 or ThePaintDivaNJ@gmail.com
14. ==> Advice for Dealing with Sensitive People
Is there someone in your life that cries at the drop of a hat? Is overwhelmed, anxious or depressed? Are you tired of not knowing what to do for them? Alicia McBride, author of two books on empaths — people who pick up the energy and feelings of others — says such people are often poorly understood by themselves and others. Alicia can answer such questions as what are the hallmarks of empaths? What are the gifts empaths bring that make people flock to them? What steps can empaths take that can protect them from harboring other people’s negative energies? Alicia McBride is a leading voice for empaths. She is the internationally best-selling author of “I Feel Too Much: A How-to Guide for the Beginner Empath” and “The Empath Effect”. An empath and healer, she holds a B.A. in psychology and is a Reiki master and a certified yoga instructor. Contact her at (484) 369-1464; healinglightempath@gmail.com
15. ==> How This Retired Hospice Nurse Knows There is an Afterlife
As someone who has been with many patients as they faced the end of their lives, retired hospice nurse Jean Keegan Daly knows that some people wonder, worry, or feel afraid about an afterlife. The incidents she has witnessed coupled with her own profound near-death experience have led her to conclude that there truly is life after death, angels are real, and departed loved ones are still paying attention to our lives. Invite Jean on your program to hear some of her amazing stories including the one about 9-year-old Diane who, after her death, appeared to and spoke to Jean. Ask Jean: What lessons did her first hospice patient teach her? What encounters did she have with angels? Why does she believe that all of us have a soul and a purpose for what we are supposed to do in this life? Jean has written her memoir, “Reflections of a Seasoned Soul,” which reveals her journey to understanding life here and beyond. She has appeared on local television and taught at community colleges, organizations, and hospitals. Contact Jean Keegan Daly at (609) 912-3778; Jkeegandaly@rtirguests.com