01. White House or Fight House? UFC Event Blurred Profit, Politics, and Patriotism
02. What’s the Real US Military Budget?
03. Juneteenth is Friday: The History of the Newest Federal Holiday
04. For Juneteenth: How Erasing Black History Is Dangerous
05. What My Kids Taught Me About Race, Masculinity and Becoming a Better Man
06. What Many Dads Miss That Shapes Their Children Most
07. When Father’s Day Isn’t Picture-Perfect: Healing from a Parent Who Let You Down
08. Fatherly Wisdom for Raising Strong Kids in an Uncertain World
09. How Your Father Shapes Your Romantic Relationships
10. It’s ‘I Do’ Season - Why the First Year of Marriage Matters Most
11. “My Labs are Normal. Why Do I Still Feel Sick?”
12. Seniors and Depression: It’s Not Just Old Age
13. Proof That It’s Never Too Late to Reclaim Your Health
14. Burned Out? Try Mini Mood Boosters!
15. Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About God?
1. ==> White House or Fight House? UFC Event Blurred Profit, Politics, and Patriotism
President Trump celebrated his birthday this past weekend with a massive $60 million UFC event tied to Flag Day and America’s 250th anniversary, transforming the White House grounds into a temporary fight arena. Critics argued the event was undignified and not worthy of the White House, but Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen says the bigger issue is that the president and his cronies profited from and politicized the event. “The co-mingling of 250th anniversary events, Trump’s UFC fight, and a $1 million per-plate fundraiser on Trump’s own birthday gives corporate interests and wealthy donors not just an ultimate fight – but the ultimate opportunity to pay tribute to the president. Rather than celebrate our nation’s anniversary in the bipartisan manner directed by Congress, the Trump administration has directed public money and public property to politicized events. Major corporations, such as Chevron, Exxon, MasterCard, and many more, should be ashamed to be associated with this corrupt spectacle.” Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. Contact Katherine Garcia at (325) 513-4477; kgarcia@citizen.org
2. ==> What’s the Real US Military Budget?
A new report by the Project on Government Oversight, “The True Total U.S. Military Budget,” explains that the commonly cited U.S. military budget (around $1 trillion) is a substantial understatement, because it excludes military-related costs spread across other federal agencies and accounts. Author David Vine says, “Our report also reflects the ambiguity that we can’t know for sure exactly how much U.S. taxpayers are spending on the military, even though we should be able to have a single, authoritative, comprehensive figure. The fact that we cannot provide that number is a reflection of a problem in the system… The newest methodology does point to our best estimate––between $1.7 and $1.9 trillion. This figure already exceeds what Trump has suggested for the new budget ($1.5 trillion). If Congress, in an act of complete irresponsibility, gives Trump that in addition to the true total military spending, it would be close to $3 trillion.” He adds, “For way too long, Congress and presidents and much of the media have been profoundly misleading the country about how much of the country’s wealth and taxpayer money have been poured into military and war––and how much money is not being dedicated to pressing needs in people’s lives, like health care, child care, affordable housing, energy and infrastructure, and much more.” Vine is a fellow at the Transition Security Project and former professor of anthropology at American University. Contact him at davidsvine@gmail.com
3. ==> Juneteenth is Friday: The History of the Newest Federal Holiday
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S and refers to June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. What’s the origin story behind the holiday? Invite historian Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber to debunk the myths surrounding Juneteenth, explain how the holiday was unofficially celebrated through the years and why it took until 2021 for the day to be declared a federal holiday. Sandra Jowers-Barber is a historian and professor at the University of the District of Columbia Community College, specializing in African American history. She co-chairs the 51 Steps to Freedom Project, a first-of-its-kind tour in augmented reality that reveals the untold stories and hidden figures pivotal to America's ongoing journey toward liberty and opportunity. Contact her at (202) 274-5297; sjowers@udc.edu
4. ==> For Juneteenth: How Erasing Black History Is 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
5. ==> What My Kids Taught Me About Race, Masculinity and Becoming a Better Man
Father’s Day is the perfect time to explore how parenting transforms us, and no one tells that story quite like Rick Patterson. A former evangelical pastor and father of four adopted Black children, Rick shares how fatherhood challenged everything he thought he knew about race, masculinity and leadership. Producers can expect a compelling, courageous conversation that covers what it’s like to parent across racial lines in America, how dads can unlearn harmful messages about toughness and why vulnerability—not control—is the mark of true strength. He’s the author of “Shame Unmasked” and “The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth,” and brings bold, bridge-building insights to every interview. Rick is ideal for shows looking to go beyond surface-level Father’s Day chatter and offer something truly transformative. Contact Rick Patterson at (517) 300-2706; rpatterson@rtirguests.com
6. ==> What Many Dads Miss That Shapes Their Children Most
Many fathers mistakenly believe their primary responsibility is to financially provide for their children. Leadership expert Mike Sealy says the lesson children remember most has nothing to do with income, accomplishments, or material success. He says fathers shape their children's confidence, resilience, and self-worth through everyday interactions they often underestimate. Sealy will share practical insights that help fathers become more intentional about the legacy they're creating at home. He'll reveal why perfection isn't what children need, how emotional presence creates a lasting impact, and the surprising ways parents unintentionally pass beliefs about success, failure, and identity to the next generation. Having spent decades leading teams, mentoring professionals, and helping people navigate personal transformation, Sealy brings a unique perspective on how leadership principles apply just as powerfully within families as they do in the workplace. Contact Mike Sealy at (484) 477-4220; msealy@rtirguests.com
7. ==> When Father’s Day Isn’t Picture-Perfect: Healing from a Parent Who Let You Down
For many, Father’s Day stirs up more pain than celebration. Sabrina Ciceri knows that feeling well. Her own mother ran off with her boyfriend. In her inspiring book “If It’s Not One Thing, It’s a Mother,” she shares how she broke free from generational trauma and built a healthy family of her own. On your show, Sabrina can walk your audience through the three emotional boundaries that helped her begin healing and share her “permission slip” mindset for those who feel guilty about cutting ties or skipping the holiday altogether. Book her to help your audience reframe Father’s Day with strength, grace and the power to write a new story, even if their past is far from perfect. Contact Sabrina Ciceri at (352) 308-1596; Sciceri@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Fatherly Wisdom for Raising Strong Kids in an Uncertain World
Jack Gindi has raised four kids, mentored hundreds more and built his “I Believe in Me” program to help children develop the confidence and emotional resilience that life demands from anyone aiming to be successful. But here’s the inspiring part: Jack still carves out time every day to write a short, motivational letter to his kids, and they’re all grown up! It’s that fatherly thoughtfulness and intention that Jack aims to bring to every audience. He shares how small, consistent actions like this create lasting connection and trust, even through the teen years and tough conversations. He also introduces his signature “3 Cs” tool—Clarity, Confidence and Consistency—so dads can model emotional strength in a way kids actually respond to. With a heartfelt message and real-life strategies, Jack’s Father’s Day interview is a meaningful mix of humor and practical parenting tools every father can use. Contact Jack Gindi at (719) 751-8807; jgindi@rtirguests.com
9. ==> How Your Father Shapes Your Romantic Relationships
What if the most important relationship influencing your love life isn't your current partner—it's your father? Research consistently shows that early family relationships shape everything from self-worth to communication patterns and partner selection, often without us realizing it. Author and speaker Charisse Walker says many adults unknowingly carry childhood beliefs, expectations, and emotional patterns into their romantic relationships. She'll explain how fathers influence confidence, boundaries, trust, and relationship choices and why people are often drawn to familiar dynamics—even unhealthy ones. A former host on the Emmy-nominated television show The American Dream, Walker now helps audiences uncover the subconscious patterns that influence relationships, personal growth, and emotional well-being. Her new book, “Flipping the Iceberg” reveals the hidden "icebergs" beneath the surface that quietly shape our decisions, reactions, and connections. Contact Charisse Walker at (801) 251-6965; cwalker@rtirguests.com
10. ==> 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
11. ==> “My Labs are Normal. Why Do I Still Feel Sick?”
Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults live with chronic illness, and many are told the same thing: “Your tests are normal.” Yet the symptoms persist—fatigue, pain, burnout, and a sense that something deeper is being missed. On this show, Marcel Vögeli explores a question more people are starting to ask: “What if standard medical evaluations don’t capture the full picture?” After eight years of intensive autoimmune treatment that managed symptoms but didn’t restore his quality of life, Marcel began looking beyond the diagnosis. He shares how understanding the psychological-emotional undercurrents may play a role in why symptoms continue—offering a perspective that resonates with those who feel stuck between “nothing is wrong” and “something clearly is.” This conversation offers a practical way to think different¬ly about recurring symptoms, especially when answers feel incomplete. Marcel Vögeli is spokesperson for “The Key to Self-Liberation” by Christiane Beerlandt. Contact him at mvogeli@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Seniors and Depression: It’s Not Just Old Age
Seven and a half million American seniors are living with depression — and most of them will never be diagnosed, never be treated, and never hear from a doctor that what they’re feeling isn’t just “getting old.” James B. Flaherty is 90, and he has something to say about that. A former Madison Avenue advertising executive, innkeeper, and author of five books written in his 80s — with a fifth one just published — Flaherty has built a second life devoted to proving that the final decades can be the richest ones. In inter-views, he’ll share what he’s learned about purpose, connection, and the daily choices that keep a 90-year-old not just alive — but genuinely thriving — and why the antidote to senior depression is simpler than anyone thinks. Ask him: Why are 7.5 million depressed seniors being ignored — and who’s responsible? What’s the single most important choice a senior can make to stay vital? Contact James Flaherty at (914) 326-2697; jflaherty@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Proof That It’s Never Too Late to Reclaim Your Health
At 70, Dorothy Greet had a heart attack. Rather than accept a lifetime of medication, she and her 80-year-old husband — both lifelong meat-and-dairy devotees — made a radical decision: they changed everything they ate. Within weeks, blood pressure and cholesterol normalized, weight dropped, energy soared, and the annual cycle of aching joints and respiratory misery simply stopped. Now 85 and credentialed in plant-based nutrition from Cornell, Greet has spent over a decade teaching, blogging, and proving that it is never too late to reclaim your health. She’ll explain exactly what they ate, why the science is clearer than the food industry wants you to know, and how any listener can start today. Dorothy Greet is the author of “Go Veg with Class.” Contact her at (302) 314-6010; dgreet@rtirguests.com
14. ==> 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
15. ==> Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About God?
A growing number of Americans are walking away from organized religion. Yet, many continue searching for meaning, purpose, and truth. Author Gary Meisner believes the problem may not be a lack of interest in God—but the questions we're asking about God in the first place. After spending more than 20 years as a skeptical, materialist agnostic, Gary experienced something he could not explain through reason alone, prompting him to reexamine his assumptions. Known internationally for his work on the golden ratio and patterns in nature, he now explores the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. In his book “Life Through a New Lens—Finding God Where Reason and Faith Meet,” Gary invites skeptics, agnostics, and seekers to consider whether their doubts may be based on misconceptions about what God is—or could be. Contact Gary Meisner at (615) 703-3637; gmeisner@rtirguests.com
