June 4, 2020
- Reverend Graylan Hagler: Trump, Protests and Healing
- Why is America Burning? The Psychology of Mass Riots
- White Families Need to Talk about Racism An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics
- Why Everyone is Getting on Your Nerves
- How to Stay Close to Children You Can’t See in Person
- What the Future of Work Will Look Like
- Can You Collect Unemployment If You Refuse to Go Back to Work?
- Fun Father’s Day Show – Guys Love Cranes, Earth Movers and Bulldozers
- 5 Reasons to Go Consignment
- Bored at Home? Try Virtual Wine Tastings with Friends!
- The Real Reason You Do Stuff Knowing It’s Bad for You
- How to Raise Boys to Respect Women in the ‘Me Too’ Age
- Don’t Let the Pandemic Steal Your Stories
- Miraculous Things to Come out of the Pandemic
1.==> Reverend Graylan Hagler: Trump, Protests and Healing
Rev. Hagler is senior pastor of Plymouth United Church
of Christ in Washington, D.C. He’s also chairperson of
Faith Strategies, an interfaith coalition. He’s been
speaking out and tweeting about President Trump’s using
militarized forces to clear Lafayette Square so that he
could hold a Bible in front of a church, and about how
some esteem property over human life. On Sunday he
delivered a sermon, “Divided We Fall,” saying: “I can’t
stop thinking about where we are as a country because I
do not see this unity or this sacred essential purpose
in our existence as people in this America.” “The
problem with White America is the deluded and myth-
based thinking that they built this country and made it
wealthy. No, it’s wealthy because of exploited and
enslaved labor” concluding that “unless the nation can
confess … it will remain divided.” Contact Rev. Graylan
S. Hagler at gshagler@verizon.net; @graylanhagler
- ==> Why is America Burning? The Psychology of Mass
Riots
According to psychologist Frank Farley, the psychology
behind the massive public demonstrations and rioting in
America is complicated, like a recipe with many
ingredients. He says racial injustice and the police
killing of George Floyd was simply the tipping point.
“America is going through a stress test of enormous
proportions, as is the world. There’s a piling-on of
uncertainty breeding fear. We’re afraid of the grim
reaper, who could be anyone we meet. We’re anxious.
We’ve been quarantined for months now, and millions are
out of work. Our personal and society safety nets are
failing, and it’s wreaking havoc with our emotional and
psychological lives. Add to this volatile mix an
outrageous injustice in the Floyd killing, and you may
be able to possibly understand, but certainly not
condone the rioting.” Farley can explain the
contributing factors that play into our current
national psyche including the upcoming election and the
emotional contagion among protesters in breaking the
COVID-19 mitigation rules and getting close with others
for a common, noble and over-riding cause of
racial/social justice. Frank Farley, Ph.D., is a
professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., a
former President of the American Psychological
Association, as well as the Society for the Study of
Peace, Conflict and Violence. He can be reached at
(215) 668-7581; frank.farley@temple.edu
- ==> White Families Need to Talk about Racism
As protests and riots continue across the country in
the wake of George Floyd’s death, parents across the
country are figuring out how to talk to their children
about the protests and about fighting racism. For
African American families, the discussions are likely
nothing new, but in white families, particularly those
who have tried to bring up children to be “colorblind,”
it can be particularly difficult. For white parents who
may not feel confident speaking with their children
about race, or who may not feel as if they have all the
answers, this can be an opportunity to learn with your
children, according to Margaret Hagerman, a sociologist
and the author of “White Kids: Growing Up With
Privilege in a Racially Divided America.” “In order to
understand the present, we have to understand the past,
and it might mean that you don’t know all the answers
and you don’t feel confident even talking about this
with your children. But that means that you could do
some work to learn the answers to these questions,” she
says. “You can take the time to read up on this and
this could be something even that you do with your
children.” Margaret A. Hagerman teaches sociology at
Mississippi State University She studies racial
socialization, or how kids learn about racism, racial
inequality, and racial privilege in the context of
their everyday lives. Contact Haberman at
mah1125@msstate.edu; @maggiehagerman
4.==> An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics
New York Times bestselling author Heather Lende has
been writing about her hometown —Haines, Alaska — and
about what community means since she published “If You
Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name” in 2006. The only way
to get to the breathtakingly beautiful town is by plane
or boat, and the nearest city, Juneau, is almost 100
miles away. After the 2016 elections, she was inspired
to take a more active role in politics and decided to
run for office in Haines. And … she won! Her new book,
“Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-
Town Politics,” is the funny and entertaining story of
her first term on her small-town assembly. Using her
trademark humor, wit, and compassion Lende shares how
the political, social, and environmental issues her
community faces are not so different from the issues
that are being played out on the national stage. She
says it’s been a learning experience of just how hard
it is to pass legislation, how intense political
divisions affect a community, and the vital importance
of a strong democracy. Heather Lende has contributed
essays and commentary to NPR, the New York Times, and
National Geographic Traveler, among other newspapers
and magazines, and is a former contributing editor at
Woman’s Day. A columnist for the Alaska Dispatch News,
she is the obituary writer for the Chilkat Valley News
in Haines. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703)
991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
- ==> Why Everyone is Getting on Your Nerves
People’s differences can create stress at the best of
times. Living in close quarters for weeks at a time,
these stresses can explode. Leadership expert Marc A.
Pitman can tell you why people act the way they do.
Using an easy-to-understand system, he can provide
insight into why your team, staff, or family may be
harder to live with right now. He can explain the
different ways people react to stress and how to help
you get through the pandemic and come out even stronger
than before. His forthcoming book, “The Surprising Gift
of Doubt,” provides a framework for people to move past
feeling like a fraud and manage teams more effectively.
Contact Marc Pitman at (317) 751-1610;
mpitman@rtirguests.com
- ==> How to Stay Close to Children You Can’t See in
Person
Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other people have
found themselves cut off from small children whom they
would be able to see were it not for the pandemic.
Phone calls and Zoom sessions are helpful but can still
leave a void, says Laurie Marshall, a longtime educator
and grandparent to 2-year-old Oliver who lives in a
different state. That is why Laurie created a special
book for Oliver to remind him of the experiences they
have already shared until they can see each other again
and as a permanent keepsake. “Now is the time to be
creative,” she says, “for sanity’s sake and to model
resourcefulness to children.” Laurie can explain how
she quickly and inexpensively put together “The
Adventures of Oliver the Penguin,” using a cutout of
Oliver’s face superimposed on a penguin and then took
photos of the cutout all over her home and added some
short descriptive sentences. She says anyone can do
something similar even if they think they aren’t
creative and can share resources for having your book
printed. Contact Laurie Marshall at (415) 360-3304;
lmarshall@rtirguests.com
- ==> What the Future of Work Will Look Like
The world of work will never be the same. The
coronavirus has fundamentally changed every aspect of
business — from our commute to our work environment to
how we interact with our colleagues. Invite Alexander
Alonso to share the many ways COVID-19 is reshaping and
reinventing the workplace. Alonso, chief knowledge
officer for the Society for Human Resource Management
(SHRM), says telework is here to stay for many
businesses. Others, he says, will be scrapping open
concepts and shared spaces in favor of closed cubicles
and offices. From daily temperature screenings to
personal protective equipment, Alonso says HR and
business departments must now collaborate; instead of
showing an organization is recession-proof, an
organization must now prove it is “pandemic proof.”
Contact Cooper Nye at (703) 535-6447;
Cooper.nye@shrm.org
- ==> Can You Collect Unemployment If You Refuse to Go
Back to Work?
Tens of millions of Americans are out-of-work as a
result of the coronavirus-induced lockdown throughout
the nation, but even as states begin to ease stay-at-
home measures and allow businesses to open up, some
workers remain hesitant to return to their jobs. Some
are worried about on-the-job safety issues or have a
vulnerable family member at home. Others, like some in
the service industry, can make more money on
unemployment right now. According to the Department of
Labor, a general fear of virus exposure is not a valid
reason to not return to work or quit your job and
obtain unemployment benefits. Workplace attorney
Jonathan Bell can discuss the issues involved and what
your listeners’ options and rights are. Jonathan Bell
is a labor and employment attorney and the founder of
Bell Law Group, PLLC in New York City. Contact Mark
Goldman at (516) 639-0988 (call/text);
mark@goldmanmccormick.com
- ==> Fun Father’s Day Show – Guys Love Cranes, Earth
Movers and Bulldozers
Most of us love to watch new buildings going up.
There’s something about the whole process and the
cranes, earthmovers, and daredevil nature of scaffold
climbing that appeals on a primal level. Particularly,
to boys. That same fascination is likely to extend
behind-the-scenes to the unusual things that actually
happen on construction sites; particularly when matched
with the storytelling skills of 40-year construction
professional Charles (Charlie) Garner. He’ll entertain
your audience with true stories from his career that
began right after high school and literally started off
with a bang. Ask him: Why was it necessary for you to
kill six poisonous snakes a day in the swamps of
Louisiana? What happened to the worker who fell into a
tank of raw sewage? What strange incident occurred on
the first day of your first job? Charlie is a senior
project manager for a large construction company in
Atlanta and is a civil engineer who has worked in heavy
construction for 40 years. His memoir “I Got This”
contains amazing adventure stories from his life and
career. Contact Charlie at (650) 995-5626;
charlesgardner@rtirguests.com
- ==> 5 Reasons to Go Consignment
Whether your audience members are buyers, sellers or
just interested in emerging trends, a story on the
booming clothing consignment business is sure to please
when lifestyle journalist Suzanne Wexler is your expert
(she was recently quoted in Reader’s Digest on this
topic). Suzanne will explain how gently used luxury
men’s and women’s clothing became an online super trend
and why Instagram enthusiasts were leading the charge.
Suzanne will offer five reasons why you should start
choosing consignment and will even let your listeners
know how they can select clothes in their closet for
consignment vs. donation, which they can drop off once
social distancing ends. This show idea works on
multiple levels: it’s timely, it’s green and it’s a way
to make money on clothing people no longer wear while
they remain stuck at home. Suzanne is published in the
Huffington Post, National Post, Bust.com and her work
has been syndicated throughout Canada. She’s been
quoted in Goodhousekeeping.com, and Prevention magazine
and provided commentary on CTV National and Virgin
Radio; she has been on more than 200 radio stations in
the U.S. and Canada. Contact her at (514) 704-0029;
suzannawexler@hotmail.com
- ==> Bored at Home? Try Virtual Wine Tastings with
Friends!
Being at home doesn’t mean all the activities you enjoy
have to stop. Some innovative wineries are enabling
customers to continue to explore new wines with online
wine tastings. Andy Hyman is a tour guide in the Napa
and Sonoma wine country who has shared his passion for
wine with thousands of people from around the world.
Invite him to share information about wine clubs and
online wine tastings so you can get your friends
together for this fun activity. His book, “Snob-Free
Wine Tasting Companion: Wine Smart in a Day,” reveals
how to get the most out of a wine-tasting experience,
how wine is made, and general knowledge about wine.
Hyman has been featured by Sonoma Magazine, the Marin
Independent Journal, Napa Valley Register, North Bay
BIZ magazine, and other radio and print outlets
nationwide. Contact him at (415) 767-1441;
andyhyman@rtirguests.com
- ==> The Real Reason You Do Stuff Knowing It’s Bad
for You
We do things we shouldn’t … from eating too much fast
food to smoking cigarettes and dating unsuitable
people. We know these things are wrong for us, but we
do them anyway, often not knowing why. Elana Davidson
is a happiness and mental health coach who can tell you
how to figure out why your subconscious is getting in
your way and how to talk it down. Elana’s professional
training spans decades of exploration and study in the
fields of consciousness, psychology, personal
development and kinesiology. Elana will tell your
audience members how they can get a free copy of her
eBook, “Finding Your Own Happy: The Soul-Searchers
Guide to Peace and Happiness in Everyday Life,”
published by Morgan James. Contact Elana at (413)
225-4758; elanadavidson@rtirguests.com
- ==> How to Raise Boys to Respect Women in the ‘Me
Too’ Age
As a single dad of two young boys, Pastor Eric
Hawthorne is especially aware of the pressures young
males face to be “one of the boys” when it comes to how
they treat girls. “That’s why it’s crucial for boys to
have dads and other strong male role models who set
examples about how to respect women,” he says. Pastor
Eric can share tips for how to raise boys to be
gentlemen in this complex modern age. He 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
- ==> Don’t Let the Pandemic Steal Your Stories
This pandemic has brought anxiety and uncertainty, but
it’s also helping us define what is most important in
our lives. Robb Lucy, author of “How Will You Be
Remembered?” says many families, stuck in the house
together for weeks, have unearthed photos and family
memorabilia. Some even started searching for family
connections online. But real family history is more
than pictures and genealogical trees, it’s family
stories, and Robb says now is a great time to collect
them, share them, and preserve them for future
generations. He’ll explain how and why to write your
own legacy letter, ways to get family members to share
their stories, and how teens especially benefit from
hearing family stories. Robb will also share stories
submitted for a family legacy story contest, including
the winner, from a 94-year-old woman explaining why her
1947 wedding dress was made from a military parachute.
A journalist, writer and producer, Robb Lucy is the
author of the “How Will You Be Remembered? The
Definitive Guide to Creating and Sharing Your Life
Story.” Contact him at (604) 874-7700;
rlucy@createmylegacy.com
- ==> Miraculous Things to Come out of the Pandemic
Despite the misery COVID-19 times have wrought, we need
to keep in mind that they have also been responsible
for some positive even miraculous things. Let Susan
Shumsky brighten your listeners’ days as she shares the
good things that occurred that we never would have
imagined. New-found respect for teachers and the role
they play in shaping young lives, an enhanced
appreciation for the elderly whose absence from our
lives is palpable, and a worldwide burst in creative
expression are just some of what Susan will talk about.
She’ll also touch on why the pandemic is forcing us to
be more introverted (and that’s good) and to re-
evaluate our priorities and why she says the world is
now operating on a higher vibrational level. Susan
Shumsky has 17 books in print and has proven to be an
enthralling guest during more than 1,200 media
appearances. Contact Susan Shumsky at (917) 336-7184;
SShumsky@rtirguests.com