01. Election Violence Reaches Critical Level
02. Uninsured Americans: Where the Candidates Stand
03. Longtime PBS Reporter’s Search for His Father
04. Practical Ways to Change the World
05. Saturday is International Day of Peace
06. Cringeworthy Confessions of a Tabloid Bad Boy
07. What History’s Most Notorious Leaders Can Teach You about Success
08. What to Do With Your Empty Nest
09. Why is DEI So Divisive?
10. Health Risks of Today’s High-Potency Pot
11. Dementia, Finances and Elder Abuse: Protect Loved Ones
12. This Guest Says Sunshine Helped Her Beat Breast Cancer
13. Panic, Anxiety, Procrastination: Signs of Hidden Trauma
14. Better Mental Health Through … Crafting?
15. Meeting God: Pastor Shares Amazing Encounters
1. ==> Election Violence Reaches Critical Level
The latest apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has many worrying about more extremist violence in the weeks leading up to the election. Terrorism expert Jacob Ware says it could not only destabilize American democracy but also embolden autocrats across the world. “Should the United States fail to adequately prepare for the risks of electoral violence in 2024, the integrity of the election will be on the line. In a year featuring at least eighty elections around the world, the United States will also provide a blueprint for autocrats elsewhere seeing to contest and undermine their own elections. Ensuring a peaceful, fair, and thriving election is therefore of critical importance, both to American democracy as well as democracy around the world.” He says, “The most urgent warning sign of impending violence will be the words of the candidates themselves.” Jacob Ware is a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), where he studies domestic and international terrorism and counterterrorism. Together with Bruce Hoffman, he is the author of “God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America.” Contact him at communications@cfr.org; jware@cfr.org
2. ==> Uninsured Americans: Where the Candidates Stand
According to Jeremy Lindfield, a California-based reporter for “Capital & Main,” “Health insurance isn’t a sexy topic right now (but) there needs to be more coverage. Most of the (recent) political conversation around health care has been about drug price negotiations and relieving medical debt. Those are interesting topics, but undergirding a lot of what makes health care unaffordable is insurance.” An analysis by the publication found the number of U.S. residents without health insurance rose by 2 million during Donald Trump’s presidency and fell by 3.3 million under Joe Biden’s. That decrease led to the lowest rate of residents without health insurance in U.S. history. Lindenfeld says that mainstream media are missing this story. “The uninsured rate has hit record lows (under Biden), but the policy fight isn’t close to over. Because people are being disenrolled through the Medicaid unwinding, it is possible that the uninsured population will rise. Absent federal action, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that millions more people could be uninsured within 10 years.” Lindenfeld covers inequality, climate change, and labor organizing for “Capital & Main.” Contact him at jlindenfeldphoto@gmail.com; @jeremotographs
3.==> Longtime PBS Reporter’s Search for His Father
Listeners who recognize David Tereshchuk from his decades as a producer and correspondent for PBS may view him in a new light after hearing the personal story he is now revealing. His new memoir, “A Question of Paternity: My Life as an Unaffiliated Reporter,” focuses on his decades-long search to determine the dark secret surrounding his birth. Invite David on your show and hear how he used all of his skills as an investigative journalist in his attempt to discover his origins. He got the police involved. And the Catholic Church. And the Red Cross. And the British military. He knocked on every door a person could knock on. Invite him to share his story and reveal what he did and didn’t find out, and what he ultimately learned from the search for his father. David Tereshchuk spent two decades with British commercial television, reporting, producing, and making documentaries, before moving to the US, where he worked for ABC, CBS, CNN, Discovery, A&E and The History Channel. Since 2012 he has been a producer and correspondent for PBS, concentrating on ethical issues. He broadcasts a weekly public radio dispatch of media criticism, The Media Beat, and writes an online column by the same name. Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com
4.==> Practical Ways to Change the World
Millions of people hope and pray for a better world. After all, there’s little else one person can do to change things, right? Dr. Paul Zeitz knows a thing or two about working for change. A preventive medicine physician, epidemiologist, author, and award-winning champion of global justice and human rights, Dr. Zeitz moved his family to Africa to fight the AIDS epidemic. That experience inspired him to improve the world and now he wants to help others see their own potential to affect change. The author of “Revolutionary Optimism: 7 Steps for Living as a Love-Centered Activist” will discuss tips and tools for you to figure out your passion and interests and then use those interests to identify how you want to be involved in the world and achieve your highest potential. “Revolutionary Optimism is the antidote to anxiety,” explains Dr. Zeitz. Ordained as a Shir Hashirim Rabbi in 2023, Dr. Zeitz has worked for decades on his passion projects — the global AIDS movement, climate transformation efforts, racial and gender equity, and international child welfare. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at johanna@jrbpr.biz; johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
5. ==> Saturday is International Day of Peace
September 21 is International Day of Peace. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace. It’s also the 40th anniversary of the PeaceWave which started as a wave with a handful of people and has become a peacebuilding movement recognized by 3 billion people across the world! This year’s peace celebration will be augmented by an especially inspiring global project called “Essays for Peace,” an effort to have screens around the globe (from iPhones to the largest city billboards) feature a video image of a simple lit candle at noon local time. Invite Tezikiah Gabriel, executive director of Pathways To Peace, to discuss the history of Peace Day and the PeaceWave. “As it was 40 years ago, the purpose of the Peace Day initiative is to foster cooperation at all levels of our local-global communities and to demonstrate the difference each individual, group, organization, or nation makes when acting in concert with one another… enough of a difference to change the course of history!” Pathways To Peace (PTP) is a UN-designated Peace Messenger organization. Contact Amanda Tunison at (661) 755-5977; amanda@steveallenmedia.com
6. ==> Cringeworthy Confessions of a Tabloid Bad Boy
William Keck spent three decades as a Hollywood reporter, working for the “National Enquirer,” “People,” “Entertainment Weekly” and many more publications and media outlets. Now he’s sharing his most memorable celebrity encounters that—for one reason or another—went horribly wrong. Invite him on your show to discuss the hundreds of public personalities he reported and spied on, the famous and infamous who feared or hated him, and those who transitioned to admiration or friendship. Hear how he engaged in dangerous, high-speed pursuits of Britney Spears and Elizabeth Taylor, infiltrated celebrity weddings, funerals and hospital rooms to land exclusive scoops and photographs and uncovered the dirty laundry of TV’s “Desperate Housewives.” His upcoming book, “When You Step Upon A Star: Cringeworthy Confessions of a Tabloid Bad Boy,” chronicles the repentant author’s own evolution from a lonely only child obsessed with Hollywood stars, to an eager tabloid snoop keeping personal secrets of his own, to a well-respected journalist who ultimately learns from his mistakes, changes his wicked ways and befriends the celebrities he’d once wronged. Contact Harlan Boll at (626) 296-3757; harlan@bhbpr.com
7. ==> What History’s Most Notorious Leaders Can Teach You about Success
The long-held conventional belief in the business world is that leadership can only be learned from positive role models. However, Steve Williams claims that we have it backward. “We can learn a lot about effective leadership from the likes of Atilla the Hun, Al Capone, and Genghis Khan,” he says. “Although they were ruthless, they were some of the most brilliant leaders of all time.” Steve can share the specific practices and tactics that made these infamous characters such effective head honchos, and how to apply these to one’s own path to success. He is the author of six books including ” Notorious: Leadership Lessons from History’s Most Notorious Leaders,” and a certified leadership coach and QMS expert. Contact Steve Williams at (920) 280-1068; swilliams@rtirguests.com
8. ==> What to Do With Your Empty Nest
It’s been weeks since they’ve been dropped off and most students have settled in to college life, but back at home many parents are struggling to cope with empty nests. Rachel Lankester can discuss the many emotions and issues that can arise when kids leave home and share ways to embrace this new phase of life as a beginning rather than an end. Rachel Lankester is an author, podcast host, midlife mentor and founder of Magnificent Midlife, an online hub helping women over 40 thrive through the often messy middle of life. She’s the author of “Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond” and is the host of the Magnificent Midlife Podcast. Contact her at info@magnificentmidlife.com
9. ==> Why is DEI So Divisive?
DEI – the acronym for diversity, equity, and inclusion — has been in the news a great deal lately, especially during the presidential campaign. While many may believe that this is a new concept, and it is often surrounded by controversy, author Sara Ting claims that it is nothing new. And it’s the foundation for a healthy society. “Many people are averse to the idea of DEI, because we all have our own personal biases,” she says. “Often times, people aren’t even aware of their biases. But because we live in such a diverse society, it’s important that we acknowledge our biases and work toward inclusion – so that we can all function more harmoniously in every aspect of life.” Sara is a diversity and inclusion educator, speaker, consultant, and author of “Small Book with a Big Idea: 5 Minute Training to Empower You and Transform the World.” Contact: Sara Ting at (508) 715-3370; Sting@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Health Risks of Today’s High-Potency Pot
Americans of all ages are embracing cannabis, whether they use it socially or medicinally. With recent polls showing that an overwhelming share of U.S. adults (60%-88%) believe marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use, Dr. Raymond Wiggins wants everyone to understand that today’s pot isn’t as harmless as many believe. “This is not your grandfather’s weed. At Woodstock in 1969, the average THC potency was 1-2%. Today the average is 22%,” he says, and explains why that matters. “High potency marijuana carries a 4X risk of addiction and leads to true physical addiction and significant physical and mental health issues. It affects the heart and lungs and decreases fertility. It also increases the risk of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis.” Wiggins, a licensed physician, has performed general anesthetics on more than 27,000 patients, including thousands of marijuana users. He says anesthesia is particularly tricky for patients who use pot, with some requiring more than 3X the normal dose to be fully sedated. “You have to let your doctor know so they can be better prepared. Also, you have a higher risk of heart attack the more recently you have used, so recent use with anesthesia is not good.” Raymond Wiggins, MD, is the author of “Weeding Out the Myths About Marijuana.” Contact him at (972) 525-5205; rw@drwiggins.com
11. ==> Dementia, Finances and Elder Abuse: Protect Loved Ones
More than 57 million people worldwide suffer from dementia. This awful disease causes severe mental and physical impairment but it can also lead to many forms of abuse from strangers—and others. “My mother, Janie Falk, was the matriarch of a wealthy, high society European family who suffered from dementia at the end of her life,” says author Patrick Falk. “She was taken advantage of by various scoundrels and family members, with only me, her son, left to pick up the pieces.” Patrick can explain how the financial abuse of the elderly at times requires the complicity of lawyers, notaries, curators, and caregivers, and how to avoid it. Patrick is the author of “Janie and Me: A True Story of the Evolution and Impact of Dementia,” in which he shares his experiences as a caretaker for a loved one who was struggling with dementia. Contact Patrick Falk at him at Contact Patrick Falk at (203) 846-0168; patrickgfalk@cs.com
12. ==> This Guest Says Sunshine Helped Her Beat Breast Cancer
When you think of cancer treatments, the first thing to come to mind is typically chemotherapy or radiation. However, there’s another surprising, natural treatment that may help cure this dreaded disease: Sunlight. Francisca Epale shares her amazing, inspiring story of surviving breast cancer without chemotherapy (and with plenty of sun). A certified health and life coach and the award-winning author of “How I Conquered Breast Cancer Without Chemotherapy: My Journey from a Mess to a Message” (medical disclaimer included), Francisca looked for better ways to survive cancer after five of her family members died due to chemotherapy. After being diagnosed with breast cancer herself and successfully curing it, she now shares her advice to help other women fight breast cancer whether or not they choose to undergo traditional treatments. Contact Francisca Epale at (647) 692-3886; fepale@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Panic, Anxiety, Procrastination: Signs of Hidden Trauma
Author, coach and therapist Lisa Morgan experienced the kind of trauma that many people could not survive. After enduring a horrific childhood which included sexual abuse, violence, and neglect, she developed multiple personality disorder (soul-fracturing) as a way to cope. Despite the odds, Lisa not only survived the trauma, she also somehow managed to thrive and now helps others facing similar circumstances. Lisa can explain how she developed her own path forward with compassion and love, and how her Freedom Body Blueprint coaching methodology helps others to reclaim their authentic selves. “After navigating a 20-year journey through the dark night of the soul, I draw upon all of my professional experiences in psychiatry, 20-plus years of inner-healing, and all the wisdom, insights, and know-how gained along the way to provide hope for those who suffer.” Lisa is an author, speaker, and coach with 35-plus years of experience as a Certified Life Coach and Board- Certified Music Therapist. She is the author and co-author of several books including “Against All Odds.” Contact Lisa Morgan at (314) 265-3491; lmorgan@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Better Mental Health Through … Crafting?
At a time when America is suffering a mental health crisis, new evidence shows that indulging our creative side could provide everyone with a significant wellbeing boost. According to the new study published in “Frontiers in Public Health,” crafting and other artistic activities showed a meaningful effect in predicting people’s sense that their life is worthwhile. Lead study author Dr. Helen Keyes says, “The impact of crafting was bigger than the impact of being in employment. Not only does crafting give us a sense of achievement, it’s also a meaningful route to self-expression. This is not always the case with employment.” Because arts and crafts are relatively affordable and accessible, Keyes says promoting the public’s access to artistic activities could provide a major boost to public mental health. Dr. Helen Keyes is a cognitive psychologist and researcher at Anglia Ruskin University. Contact her at helen.keyes@aru.ac.uk
15. ==> Meeting God: Pastor Shares Amazing Encounters
For many people, even those who are religious, God is a nebulous concept whose existence is difficult to prove. If you’ve ever wondered whether God is real, invite Marcia Fleischman on your show to share real encounters with God, both those she’s heard from others and experienced herself. Marcia can discuss ordinary people who have interacted with God and how these encounters have changed their lives. Delight your audience and help them rediscover or strengthen their faith when you interview this intriguing guest. A pastor, author, illustrator, and inventor, Marcia’s latest book is “If God is Love, Why Do I Feel So Bad? Considering Our Images of God.” Ask her: How can we experience the everyday presence of God? How did you experience God in your life after a double lung transplant? Can people encounter God even if they aren’t religious? Contact Marcia Fleischman at (816) 852-3849; mfleischman@rtirguests.com
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