01. Who Profited from the War in Afghanistan?
02. Wildfire Pollution Fueled COVID-19 in West
03. The Census Headline You’re Not Seeing
04. All Your Shark Questions Answered
05. Ahmed Zappa on New Rock Memorabilia Show
06. Kids Are Stressing Out Over Back-to-School
07. Pandemic Fallout: Kids’ Social and Behavior Skills
08. Are Newly Hired Grads Being Set Up for Failure?
09. What You Can Learn from Your Incompetent Boss
10. Vacation Tips: Traveling with Health Issues
11. Expert Reveals the 6 Types of Men
12. 5 Major Myths About Adoption
13. 3 Diet Changes That Can Save the Planet
14. Missing This Health Task Could Be Deadly
15. Great Summer Show: Calling All Leonard Cohen Fans
1.==> Who Profited from the War in Afghanistan?
The departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is being lamented and called a defeat by much of the world, but Harper’s Magazine’s Andrew Cockburn says the war was a success for the American military and those who feed at its trough, with trillions of taxpayer dollars flowing through their budgets and profits for the past 20 years. Cockburn recently wrote the piece “How the U.S. military got rich from Afghanistan” for The Spectator. He is the author of the upcoming book, “The Spoils of War: Power, Profit and the American War Machine.” He also wrote the piece “The Long Shadow of a Neocon” about Zalmay Khalilzad, architect of the Doha agreement with the Taliban “who originally set up the Afghan ‘government’ to fail.” Contact Andrew Cockburn at amcockburn@gmail.com, @andrewmcockburn
2. ==> Wildfire Pollution Fueled COVID-19 in West
Thousands of COVID-19 cases and deaths in California, Oregon, and Washington between March and December 2020 may be attributable to increases in fine particulate air pollution from wildfire smoke, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard. “Clearly, we see that, overall, this is a very dangerous combination,” Francesca Dominici, a professor of biostatistics at Harvard and one of the authors of the study, said of the interplay between smoke and COVID-19. “It’s a really scary thing as we continue to face these wildfires all around the world.” Researchers attributed 20,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 750 deaths to the wildfire pollution and found that health outcomes worsened as air quality deteriorated. “This study provides policymakers with key information regarding how the effects of one global crisis — climate change — can have cascading effects on concurrent global crises — in this case, the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Dominici. Contact Francesca Dominici at fdominic@hsph.harvard.edu or Ted Datz at (617) 432-8413; tdatz@hsph.harvard.edu
3. ==> The Census Headline You’re Not Seeing
New U.S. census data is out and so far, the media have focused almost exclusively on the country’s declining white population. Peniel Joseph says those headlines feed white fear, anxiety and anti-immigrant loathing and obscure the real story of what’s happening in the U.S. “More Americans than ever identify as multiracial, making headlines about the loss of white identity less of the proper focus than one about a 21st-century multiracial democracy.” He adds, “Rather than changing the rules of the game to ensure perpetual white domination, Americans should welcome increasing racial diversity as a sign of growing strength rather than a circumstance that elicits fear and loathing. Transforming the racist narrative of the changing demographics in the U.S. will be key to saving American democracy from some of its worse impulses.” A frequent radio and TV commentator on issues of race, democracy and civil rights, Dr. Joseph is the Barbara Jordan Chair in ethics and political values and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a professor of history. Contact Peniel Joseph at (512) 471-4263; peniel.joseph@austin.utexas.edu
4. ==> All Your Shark Questions Answered
A quick internet search for “sharks” will pull up a multitude of headlines of recent sightings from California to New York. If there seem to be more shark sightings than ever, it may be thanks to drones. “The technology has really revolutionized and given us a completely different view of sharks,” says Dr. Chris Lowe, a professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach. Lowe’s research team is combing through about 700 hours of drone footage that they’ve either taken themselves or received from others to study shark behavior and how they react to people. While their research isn’t finished or published yet, Lowe has a cursory analysis: “It looks like so far, the sharks don’t care. They treat people as if they’re flotsam, just floating debris on the surface.” The sharks generally ignore people unless they’re being chased or harassed. That’s a relief given that human and shark interactions appear to be on the rise. Dr. Chris Lowe has appeared on numerous media outlets including the PBS/BBC special “Big Blue Live,” NBC’s “Today,” “Al Jazeera America,” “CBC News”, KNX Radio and more. Contact him at (562) 985-4918; chris.lowe@csulb.edu
5. ==> Ahmed Zappa on New Rock Memorabilia Show
For music memorabilia fans, AXS-TV’s new show could rock your world. “Rock My Collection,” hosted by Ahmet Zappa, showcases unique items ranging from weird and rare to deeply personal and possibly even priceless. What kind of stuff? Picture an Italian roadmap signed by guitar great Jimi Hendrix, love letters written by Axl Rose, and Stevie Nicks’ stage microphone, complete with lipstick smears! Through a unique auction partnership, viewers can bid on the pieces via the show’s website, with proceeds going to the National Independent Venues Foundation (NIVF) which benefits small music venues and personnel who have been impacted by COVID. The show features collectors’ personal acquisition stories while an appraiser shares the unique history of the items and their potential value. Musical guests include Alice Cooper, Nancy Wilson, Gavin Rossdale and Todd Rundgren. Ahmet Zappa is the late Frank Zappa’s son and runs his estate. He is also an entrepreneur, author, screenwriter, director, producer, musician, inventor and host of “Rocktails” on SiriusXM. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or johanna@jrbcomm.com or Briana Caywood at (703) 646-5188 (office)
6. ==> Kids Are Stressing Out Over Back-to-School
The back-to-school season always brings with it emotional stress and anxiety for children, but the uncertainty and constantly changing regulations due to COVID-19 is causing children even more stress than usual. Former teacher Peggy Sideratos will share seven simple strategies that adults can use with children to help them better handle emotional stress. She says, “Children are not inherently born with a skillset of knowing how to handle difficult emotions, they must be taught and modeled for them.” Your listeners can also download Sideratos’ advice to have on hand to help them create a positive shift in their kids’ mindsets and emotions and help support them through some of the most difficult challenges. Peggy Sideratos is the author of “The Light Giver Stories,” a series of children’s stories and corresponding lessons that reinforce the values of good character and self-esteem along with strategies to empower kids to better handle negative emotions. Contact Peggy Sideratos at (718) 833-3100 (until 9/8); (917) 715-8788 (after 9/8) or perdika1@yahoo.com
7. ==> Pandemic Fallout: Kids’ Social and Behavior Skills
Educators knew they’d have to deal with academic gaps in the classroom when kids returned for in-person learning this year, but now they’re also discovering social and behavioral issues. “If you have a younger child, they’ve also missed out on crucial opportunities for the development of social skills, the ability to delay gratification, and emotional intelligence,” says child behavior expert and family coach Rebecah Freeling. “These latter skills are actually more important for kids this age, and the lost opportunities have a real impact!” She says even though it’s early in the year, some schools are already threatening to kick kids out because they’re not playing well with others. Freeling will explain what parents can do to help their child “catch up” and make a successful adaptation to the social demands of the classroom. As CEO of Wits’ End Parenting, Rebecah Freeling specializes in kids with problem behaviors. She’s the author of “Your Rules Are Dumb: How to Maintain Your Parental Authority While Creating a Partnership With Your Spirited Child.” Contact her at (510) 619-5920; witsendparenting@gmail.com
8. ==> Are Newly Hired Grads Being Set Up for Failure?
New grads are entering an unprecedented market and many of them aren’t prepared for the new world of work, according to Dawn Mahan, CEO of PMOtraining, LLC, a consulting and talent development firm. “COVID-19 changed the way many professionals work. More than ever, businesses need people who are able to take an idea without a lot of information, effectively collaborate with colleagues and deliver results with a positive attitude.” But she says many employers aren’t ready for onboarding newly hired grads. “Many employers that are hiring grads are already running leaner than usual and it may be the first time that they are onboarding grads virtually. It’s likely to be a bit of a bumpy ride.” Mahan can share insights about COVID-19’s impact on the future of work and tips for grads to shine on the job and become valued contributors, including the No. 1 skill every ambitious young professional needs to succeed and why. Dawn Mahan is author of the upcoming book “Welcome to Projectland: The Project Gurus’ Ultimate Guide for Beginners.” Contact Elizabeth Collins at (877) PMO-7070, (ext. 4); ECollins@PMOtraining.com
9. ==> What You Can Learn from Your Incompetent Boss
Is your boss completely useless and blocking your way to advancement at work? While you’re looking for your next job, you can be gaining an advantage by learning important lessons from your incompetent boss. Invite leadership expert Marc A. Pitman to reveal what you can gain by observing your boss and how you can use this information to become an even better leader yourself. His new book, “The Surprising Gift of Doubt,” provides a framework for leaders to move past feeling like a fraud and manage teams more effectively. Contact Marc Pitman at (317) 751-1610; mpitman@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Vacation Tips: Traveling with Health Issues
It’s prime vacation season and everyone wants to get out and get away but traveling with health issues (or someone else who has them) can make things tricky and trips don’t always go as planned. Author Mary Oves has tips and advice to travel safely and confidently with a health-compromised family member. As a woman who traveled with a sick husband for 25 years, she’s got plenty of stories and can share what she learned from her experiences, how to prepare for a trip and ways to make the best of a difficult situation while away from home. She says, “My friends used to show me their family vacation pictures in Disney parks, the Grand Canyon and Central Park. My family’s photo album also had those pictures, but also a different kind — pictures in front of wrecked rental cars, waiting in emergency rooms, and sitting in ambulances!” Oves’ writing has appeared in the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, the Erma Bombeck Humor website and many other publications. She teaches English at Stockton University. She’s the author of “The Chrysalis Collective.” Contact Mary Oves at (609) 408-8762 (NJ); maryoveschrysaliscollective@gmail.com
11. ==> Expert Reveals the 6 Types of Men
Some women make the same dating mistakes over and over then wonder why they can’t find happiness. Author, speaker, and personal transformation expert Arnoux Goran says that once a woman knows the six types of men, she can navigate her way to red hot romance. Invite him to share the secrets that can lead to relationship bliss. He can tell your audience the biggest mistakes women make when choosing a partner and the red flags women should watch out for. Goran has developed a method to reprogram yourself that was studied by the University of California, Irvine, and proven to be 100% effective. His latest program is HowToAttractYourSoulmate.com. Goran has been featured on radio and television nationwide. Contact him at (878) 203-8231; AGoran@rtirguests.com
12. ==> 5 Major Myths About Adoption
Many childless couples and single people who wish to become parents opt to adopt. But they often find themselves navigating through a minefield of red tape, overwhelming expenses, complex laws and emotional turmoil. “Some people believe that the ‘waiting period’ between the time a birth parents’ rights have been terminated and the adoption is final is to allow the birth parents to change their mind,” Mikki Shepard says. “But it’s actually for the adoptive parents.” She adds, “Those who refer to putting a child up for adoption as ‘giving up a child’ are misinformed. It is the greatest gift a birth parent can give to a child when they feel they can’t take care of a baby at the time. It’s a rewarding gift of love to give a child life without second-guessing her decision forever. It creates a family based on love and respect.” As an adoptive mom who was adopted as a child, Mikki can also discuss laws regarding independent and international adoption, what expenses to expect, the “nature versus nurture” myth and more. Mikki is the author of “In a Heartbeat: The Miracle of a Family That Was Meant to Be.” Contact her at (938) 222-4650; mshepard@rtirguests.com
13. ==> 3 Diet Changes That Can Save the Planet
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just released a new report, and the message is clear: Deadly and irreversible effects of climate change are already here. Unlike previous assessments, the report also concludes it is “unequivocal” that humans have caused the climate crisis. Invite health coach Ximena Yanez Soto (pronounced He-men-a) to explain how our current diet and lifestyle have contributed to the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. Ask her: Does eating organic produce really matter? Have we been manipulated about the importance of animal protein in our diets? What’s so bad about GMO ingredients? What should you include in every meal? How can we eat to save the planet? Ximena is the author of the upcoming book “Healthy Planet, Healthy You: Invest Now in the Transformational Change That Will Ensure Our Future” and the former CFO of an environmental fund. Contact her at (720) 277-8617; xiyaso@gmail.com
14. ==> Missing this Health Task Could Be Deadly
You don’t want to ignore your medical records! After all, the smartest patients (and those most likely to live healthier and longer lives) never overlook the details about their family’s medications, vaccinations, doctor visits, or previous surgeries/procedures. Learn more from retired nurse practitioner (APRN) Anne McAwley-LeDuc, who advocates full and accurate record-keeping even for ordinary patients. She warns that having disorganized personal health histories can be dangerous and threaten lives. Ask her: Where should you keep and maintain essential medical records? What inspired her to create the Personal Health Organizer that provides a life-saving snapshot of one’s health history? What do doctors, school nurses and emergency departments need to know when treating your kids — and how can you help? How did COVID-19 make this issue even more important? Contact McAwley-LeDuc at (860) 300-1603; AMcAwley@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Great Summer Show: Calling All Leonard Cohen Fans
In 1973, at the age of 27, Judy Scott embarked on a trek through Europe — and wound up spending the entire summer on the Greek island of Hydra. The spot had become a destination for many celebrities over the years including John and Yoko Lennon, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. When Judy arrived for the first time it had become an artists’ colony of sorts where she met iconic singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen and his lifelong muse, a beautiful blonde Norwegian woman named Marianne Ihlen. In the new book, “Leonard, Marianne, and Me: Magical Summers on Hydra,” Judy chronicles her affair with not only Hydra but with Cohen and, especially, Marianne, who lived with Cohen, on and off, for 11 years — much of it on the island — and remained soulmates with him until their death just months apart in 2016. Cohen fans will love the rare insight Judy can share into the meaning behind the lyrics of some of his most famous songs including “So Long, Marianne,” “One of Us Cannot Be Wrong,” and the much-revered “Hallelujah.” Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853 (cell); LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com