June 25, 2020
01. Opposing Voting-By-Mail is Voter Suppression
02. What is Ranked Choice Voting?
03. Interview Veteran Actor John Savage
04. Are You Suffering Crisis Fatigue?
05. Making Coming out of Lockdown Less Scary
06. Surprising Ways to Lower Your Risk of Getting COVID-19
07. Start a Pandemic Journal Today, Even as the Country Reopens
08. How to Reinvent Your Life after COVID-19
09. Still Working from Home? Time to Declutter
10. Good News for Wine Lovers, Courtesy of COVID-19?
11. Building Confidence is Key to Solving Inequality
12. Talk to This Expert If You Think You are Weird
13. What Really Happens When We Die?
14. This Guest Says Women Should Submit and Obey Their Husbands
15. Why Flip-Flops are a Metaphor for Life
1.==> Opposing Voting-By-Mail is Voter Suppression
President Trump is accelerating his crusade against
states’ efforts to make mail-in voting more accessible
by spreading baseless theories about ballots being
stolen and inflating claims of fraud. But nearly two
dozen members of Trump’s family, administration, and
campaign have voted or tried to vote with mail ballots
in the past decade. Why don’t they want others to use
mail-in ballots? Penny Venetis, a civil and human
rights lawyer, says it is clearly voter suppression.
She notes that “states that have been battlegrounds
over whether voters can vote by mail during the
pandemic also have some of the most stringent voter ID
procedures in the country.” She’ll discuss numerous
studies that find the incidence of mail-in voter fraud
negligible, how closing polls has hurt minority
communities hardest, and why despite a successful, all
vote-by-mail primary on June 2, Iowa Republicans in the
state legislature submitted a proposal to prevent
voting by mail in the presidential election. Penny
Venetis is the Dickinson R. Debevoise Scholar at
Rutgers Law School, where she is a clinical professor
of law and the director of the International Human
Rights Clinic. She is an expert in civil rights law and
international human rights law. Contact her at (973)
353-5687; venetis@law.rutgers.edu
2. ==> What is Ranked Choice Voting?
Americans blame political dysfunction – federal, state,
and local — for limiting and even holding back
America’s competitiveness and our ability to strengthen
the U.S. economy. But how do we break the partisan
gridlock that threatens to unravel our democracy? The
founder of The Institute for Political Innovation,
Katherine M. Gehl, will share key areas of nonpartisan
change, political innovation, and action that could
improve America’s political system and ability to
compete globally. She’ll explain how we can re-engineer
our “elections machinery” by replacing single candidate
voting, eliminate partisan control of House and Senate
rules and processes, and end our current duopoly
political process to force Democrats and Republicans to
operate under the potential threat from competitors.
Katherine M. Gehl is former CEO of Wisconsin’s Gehl
Foods and the originator of Politics Industry Theory.
She and Harvard economist Michael Porter are the
authors of “The Politics Industry: How Political
Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our
Democracy.” Contact Johanna Ramos Boyer at (703)
646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell); johanna@jrbcomm.com or
Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
3. ==> Interview Veteran Actor John Savage
John Savage is best known for his big-screen roles in
films like “The Deer Hunter,” “The Onion Fields,” “The
Thin Red Line” and Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing,”
but he took a turn on TV this year, with a recurring
role in CBS’ “Seal Team.” Savage plays Emmet Quinn,
Sonny’s father, a stoic patriarch forced to confront
the complicated relationship he’s had with his son.
With primetime Emmy nominations coming out in a few
weeks, Savage is considered a contender in the Guest
Actor in a Drama Series category for his emotional
performance. John Savage, whose career was launched in
the motion picture “Hair,” has appeared in numerous
films. His latest, “The Last Full Measure,” is set for
release this fall and features Sebastian Stan, Samuel
Jackson, William Hurt, Christopher Plummer, Ed Harris,
Bradley Whitford, Diane Ladd and Peter Fonda. If
interested in an interview, please send details on your
specific outlet and include your cell number, time zone
and best time of day to speak with John. Contact
Monique Moss at monique@integrated-pr.com or (310)
858-8230 (office); (310) 994-4582 (cell)
4. ==> Are You Suffering Crisis Fatigue?
It’s been a heck of a year — and it’s only June! From
the coronavirus and social distancing lockdowns to
massive civil protests and the promise of more
political upheaval with the upcoming elections, it
seems Americans have been in constant crisis mode with
no end in sight. “It’s no wonder we’re suffering from
crisis fatigue,” says psychiatrist, Carole Lieberman,
M.D., M.P.H. “In fact, you could call this the latest
pandemic to strike us!” Are you suffering from crisis
fatigue? According to Dr. Carole, you are if you have
at least three symptoms. She’ll run down a list of
potential warning signs which include persistent
pessimism, feelings of helplessness, and emotional
numbness, and suggest simple, workable solutions to
improve your physical and mental health. You’ll also
learn when to seek help from a professional and where
to find it. Dr. Carole Lieberman is a psychiatrist with
a master’s degree in public health, a forensic
psychiatrist/expert witness, and a three-time, Emmy-
honored TV personality who has appeared on “Oprah,” the
“Today” show, “Good Morning America,” CNN, Fox News and
other media outlets. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516)
901-1103; (919) 377-1200 or ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
5. ==> Making Coming out of Lockdown Less Scary
As people return to the New York subway and other
public spaces, safety will concern people most. What
can people expect as they come out of lockdown and go
into tight spaces, such as transportation? What mental
adjustments will people have to make after the various
levels of confinement end? Find out how to “get back
out there” from American Nita Wiggins in Paris, France,
where the lockdown ended in mid-May. It’s a bit scary
to get your freedom back, explains the journalism
professor and author. Nita worked 21 years on U.S.
television and she’s the author of “Civil Rights Baby:
My Story of Race, Sports, and Breaking Barriers in
American Journalism.” Contact Nita Wiggins at
NWiggins@rtirguests.com
6. ==> Surprising Ways to Lower Your Risk of Getting
COVID-19
Things are opening up around the country after months
of stay-at-home restrictions, but COVID-19 is still out
there and it’s spreading in many areas. How can you
protect yourself when things like social distancing
either aren’t possible or aren’t being observed by
others? Invite author, surgeon, and pain expert Dr.
David Hanscom to share concrete steps you can take to
decrease your chances of becoming ill. He’ll also
explain why lowering your feelings of anxiety or threat
are critical to maintaining good health and how people
with chronic stress die seven years earlier. Learn how
your family can be harming your health and why
insecurity about your income and financial situation
can cause harmful inflammation that increases your risk
of deadly illness. Dr. Hanscom’s book, “Back in
Control,” reveals the latest developments in
neuroscience research and his own personal history with
pain. He’s been featured on “Dr. Oz” NPR, CBS, ABC and
Fox as well as in “Men’s Health,” “Psychology Today,”
and many other media outlets. Contact Dr. Hanscom at
(206) 890-1892; dnhanscom@gmail.com
7. ==> Start a Pandemic Journal Today, Even as the
Country Reopens
We may be able to get out again, but life is still far
from normal. The COVID-19 virus has left crashing waves
of stress and anxiety in its wake. Health-care workers,
essential, furloughed, and laid-off employees and
others are battling to overcome the recent trauma. Is
journaling a possible solution? Jean Alfieri, the
author of the new guided journal, “Blessed to be Me,”
makes the case for why free-form writing should be in
most people’s self-care toolboxes and is prepared to
take on any skeptics who question how writing could
improve their overall health. She would tell them,
“When you are tense and feeling jumbled, writing about
it helps clarify your thoughts and puts things in
better perspective. It allows you to reconnect to your
true self and what’s important. For those who are angry
or frustrated with recent events, writing is an
argument-free way of expressing yourself. So, get out
the pen and paper and get going!” Alfieri is a former
human resource and organizational development executive
turned author and speaker, and a veteran of local
television and news programs. Jean Alfieri is the
author of “Blessed to be Me: Celebrate the Stories of
Your Life,” a self-guided journal offering over a dozen
major and minor prompts, inspiring quotes, and coloring
pages. Contact her at (602) 397-1344;
Jean@BlessedtobeMe.com
8. ==> How to Reinvent Your Life after COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in life-altering
changes for many. Following a midlife divorce, ending
her career as a veterinarian due to health issues and
saving her family farm from financial ruin, Sandra
Matheson has had to reinvent herself repeatedly. She
can share how to survive this latest crisis. “Many
people have been pushed to the limits of their social
and financial comfort,” she says. “But discomfort has
an upside. It helps us to make different choices,
examine what is important to us, become more resilient
and to grow.” Sandra is the author of the upcoming book
“Thrive After 40 ? How to Seize the Life of Your
Dreams!” Contact Sandra at (360) 325-4221;
smatheson@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Still Working from Home? Time to Declutter
You thought you’d be working from home for a few weeks,
but it’s been months now and it doesn’t appear you’ll
be going back to your cubicle anytime soon. It’s also
getting harder to ignore the clutter that most likely
surrounds you. As decluttering and downsizing expert
Marlena Uhrik, Ed.D., will tell you, while we are
strongly attached to them, a surplus of possessions can
lead to chaos and wasted time trying to find them. But
before you decide to hit the decluttering trail, take a
moment to listen to Marlena as she shares the five
biggest mistakes people make that lead to unnecessary
frustration and abandonment of good intentions. She’ll
help you come up with a plan, avoid doing too much at
once, get over the idea of perfection and make smart
decisions. A career educator, REALTOR, and Certified
Home Stager, she’s one of six authors of the #1
International and Amazon best-seller, “The Secret Sauce
of Downsizing: The Complete Guide for Living with Less
and Loving It More!” Ask her about REMOTE ONLINE
STAGING and FREE GIVEAWAYS. Contact Marlena Uhrik at
(916) 269-0528; MUhrik@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Good News for Wine Lovers, Courtesy of
COVID-19?
COVID-19 is killing the restaurant business and closing
down a major market for many wineries. But is there a
slice of silver in this cumulus of darkness? Something
good, possibly, for the average wine consumer? It seems
so, as many wineries now have far too much inventory
and are taking extreme measures to unload it. Jim
Laughren, CWE, will show your listeners how to take
advantage of the situation and create a win-win outcome
for all concerned. Ask him how can consumers find the
best wine bargains? What are some of the extreme
measures wine growers are taking? Will COVID-19 impact
next year’s wines? Jim is the author of two popular
wine books, “50 Ways to Love Wine More” and “A Beer
Drinker’s Guide to Knowing and Enjoying Fine Wine,” and
a sparkling guest who has done many interviews. Contact
Jim Laughren at (954) 317-9623;
JLaughren@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Building Confidence is Key to Solving
Inequality
Inequality issues in the U.S., once hidden, have been
inescapably in public view lately. As we address them
as a nation and as individuals, we need to keep in mind
the role that confidence plays in leveling the playing
field, says media veteran Raj Girn, head of the new
Open Chest Confidence Academy. As an Asian immigrant,
she grew up in England amid a lot of racial prejudice.
“We do not place enough importance into building
confidence, which is why the world is full of so much
power inequality,” she says. Raj is also an expert on
turning insecurities and other challenges into success
stories. She can also discuss whether confidence can be
taught, what the four “isms are that people are pushing
back against and her own challenges to success story.
Raj is a well-known media personality in Canada and the
subject of a feature-length documentary for Omni TV.
She is a serial media entrepreneur who has worked in
many communication-intensive industries with thought
leaders, celebrities, and multinational corporations.
Contact Raj Girn at (647) 490-3158;
Rgirn@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Talk to This Expert If You Think You Are Weird
Elana Davidson works with weird people. People who
wonder what’s wrong with them because they feel so
different than everybody else. People for whom the
usual advice on being happy does not work. People like
herself. Elana has good news for those who struggle
with emotions and experiences they don’t understand.
“They may be incredibly empathic and not screwed up,”
she says. Ask her: How can you tell if you’re
empathic? How does being empathic affect your mental
health? What tools can you offer to help? Elana is
giving away copies of her book, “Finding Your Own
Happy: The Soul-Searchers Guide to Peace and Happiness
in Everyday Life,” published by Morgan James. Contact
her at (413) 225-4758; elanadavidson@rtirguests.com
13. ==> What Really Happens When We Die?
With so many people mourning COVID-19 victims, many
wonder if we go to an afterlife after we take our last
breath. While growing up in a Midwestern funeral home
where her dad was an undertaker, Margo Lenmark learned
the truth. “People send messages in death that are very
clear,” she says. “Death is not the end. I have gotten
messages from dead people that have helped me to live a
better life.” She shares her fascinating experiences
and insights in her book “Light in the Mourning:
Memoirs of an Undertaker’s Daughter.” The book has
received glowing reviews from prominent authors and
spiritual leaders including Deepak Chopra. Contact
Margo at (828) 260-0873; MLenmark@rtirguests.com
14. This Guest Says Women Should Submit and Obey Their
Husbands
Although it might seem counterintuitive and downright
sexist in this modern age, Pastor Eric Hawthorne
believes that women should be deferential to their
spouses in order to divorce-proof their marriages.
“Even if the wife makes more money than her husband,
it’s important to look up to the man to be the leader
of the family,” he says. He claims that feminism may be
one of the leading causes of divorce, and how embracing
traditional roles in a marriage can improve the health
of a spousal relationship. Eric is the second-
generation pastor of Daystar Deliverance Ministries in
Richardson, Texas, and the author of the upcoming book
“Are You Ready For Marriage?” Contact Eric at (214)
225- 0769; EHawthorne@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Why Flip-Flops are a Metaphor for Life
Aside from being fun to wear, flip-flops can also help
define us, and enable us to live our best lives. So
says former Miss America contestant, author and
humorist Jane Jenkins Herlong. “Since life has flipped
on us, we need to survive with humor, productivity and
occupying our minds in healthy ways,” she says. “It’s
okay to laugh!” Jane can reveal how to put rhinestones
on your flip-flops, literally and metaphorically, in
order to shine. She is the award-winning author of
four books including “Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops,”
and has recorded music CDs and personal growth and
comedy DVDs. As a humorist, her comedy is featured on
Sirius XM 97. Contact Jane at (803) 599-2941;
JHerlong@rtirguests.com
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through past RTIR Newsletters and find hundreds of show
ideas and possible guests at www.rtironline.com
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