01. The Iran Hostage Release Explained
02. What’s Behind the UAW Strike
03. Dads Are Lonelier Than Ever. Here’s What Could Help
04. The Rise of Single-Parent Families Is Not a Good Thing
05. Got Behind on Your Bills? Beware Credit ‘Repair’ Services
06. Was Patrick Swayze a Hero?
07. Why Superman, Batman, and Spider Man Are So Popular
08. Concentration Camps in America: What You Don’t Know
09. The Real Reason Guns Are the No. 1 Killer of Children
10. Work Talk: How to Speak Up and Have Difficult Conversations
11. What Today’s Workers Really Want (and Bosses Just Don’t Get)
12. Think Like a Doctor to Save Time, Money, and Maybe Your Life!
13. Protect Yourself from this Hidden Health Threat
14. Why Don’t Most People Take Their Happiness Seriously?
15. Don’t Book a Cruise Before Hearing From This Travel Expert
1.==> The Iran Hostage Release Explained
Five U.S. citizens detained by Iran were freed Monday in a high-stakes, complex diplomatic deal brokered between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Biden administration. The deal included the transfer of $6 billion in unfrozen Iranian oil assets and the release of five Iranians facing charges in the U.S. Ray Takeyh, senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, can discuss why the Americans were being held, why the $6 billion was frozen, and what the deal means for U.S-Iran relations. Ray Takeyh’s areas of specialization are Iran, U.S. foreign policy, and the modern Middle East. He is the author of several books including his latest, “The Last Shah: America, Iran and the Fall of the Pahlavi Dynasty.” Contact him at (202) 509-8432; rtakeyh@cfr.org
2. ==> What’s Behind the UAW Strike
A labor strike against the three largest motor vehicle manufacturers in the United States carried into a fourth day on Monday amid ongoing negotiations to reach a deal. Maximillian Alvarez, editor-in-chief of The Real News Network, has been reporting on the prospect of a United Auto Workers strike. He can discuss the latest developments in the walkout, how long the strike is likely to last, and the biggest sticking points in negotiations. The Real News Network is a nonprofit media organization. Maximillian Alvarez started the podcast Working People and was previously an associate editor at the Chronicle Review. Contact him at max@therealnews.com; @maximillian_alv
3. ==> Dads Are Lonelier Than Ever. Here’s What Could Help
Experts have been sounding the alarm about an epidemic of male loneliness for years. Richard Reeves calls it a “friendship deficiency” and says fatherhood can be particularly difficult without the deep friendships that help us get through the ups and downs of life. The author of “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It,” notes that women have made tremendous strides in equality over the past 50 years but men haven’t kept up with the changing world and as a result their connections have deteriorated. “We have to change the story of fatherhood. The model of fatherhood needs to be more hands-on,” he says. Reeves believes one way to help men is to encourage them to take on caregiver roles like teachers, nurses and paid childcare workers. “I recognize that there is a lot to overcome to accomplish this,” he says. “It means that society must see a father’s worth beyond a paycheck and a stereotyped buffoon.” Richard Reeves is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. Contact Shannon Meraw at (202) 797-6414; smeraw@brookings.edu
4. ==> The Rise of Single-Parent Families Is Not a Good Thing
Families look a lot different than they did a few generations ago. The share of American children living with married parents has fallen to 63% and roughly a quarter of children now live in a one-parent home, more than any other country for which data is available. Economist Melissa Kearney says that’s a problem. “Children from single-parent homes have more behavioral problems, are more likely to get in trouble at school or with the law, achieve lower levels of education and tend to earn lower incomes in adulthood.” She says efforts to promote acceptance of different family arrangements are well-intentioned but actually hurt those who could need help. “The result is the widespread normalization of one-parent homes outside the college-educated class and woefully little public support for programs aimed at strengthening families.” Melissa Kearney is an economics professor at the University of Maryland and the author of the upcoming book “The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind.” Contact her at (301) 405-6202; kearney@umd.edu or the University of Chicago Press publicity office at (773) 702-7740; press_publicity@uchicago.edu
5. ==> Got Behind in Your Bills? Beware Credit ‘Repair’ Services
Delinquencies on credit card debt have risen to prepandemic levels and there has been a steady increase in demand for credit counseling services. But what about a credit “repair” services? “Consumers should be aware those services charge fees up front,” says Andrew Pizor, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. The repair companies’ efforts may work, but any benefit is often temporary and if the negative information is accurate, there’s generally no way to have it erased. Paying for credit repair, he says, is “really a waste of money for the vast majority of people.” Find out how you can dispute mistakes on your credit report and have the errors corrected for free, why consumers should be skeptical of debt “settlement” companies and how to get advice from a nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency. The National Consumer Law Center is an American nonprofit organization specializing in consumer issues on behalf of low-income people. Contact Stephen Rouzer at srouzer@nclc.org
6. ==> Was Patrick Swayze a Hero?
Most people know Patrick Swayze from the movies “Dirty Dancing” “Ghost” and “Road House.” They are aware that he often played heroes on screen but few know that he was a real-life hero too. Interview Sue Tabashnik, author of “Patrick Swayze: The Dreamer,” to share the many reasons he was and continues to be an inspiration to many, more than 20 years after his death. As she will explain, Patrick was one of the first celebrities to talk about battling pancreatic cancer. He advocated for more funding for research for better early detection and new treatment for pancreatic cancer, and by example showed more openness about discussing the cancer’s impact on lives. Ask her: What was it like to meet Patrick four times? Why do you consider him a hero? How can Patrick’s life be an inspiration to all of us? What can you tell us about his advocacy for dance, conservation, and traditional values? Contact Sue Tabashnik at (248) 617-0505; stabashnik@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Why Superman, Batman, and Spider Man Are So Popular
Superman, Batman, and Spiderman movies are reliable box-office hits for good reason. Americans just can’t get enough of superheroes who at their heart are all about helping humanity. But superheroes are not merely great entertainment. They are also good role models, asserts author Jim B. North, because they can inspire us to be unsung heroes in our own lives and those who surround us. North says, “When you are determined to serve others, you are not mild-mannered but bold … and will unleash your own hidden superpowers.” He says that a lot of people underestimate themselves and their impact on others. Jim’s new book, “Unsung Heroes Wear No Capes,” offers insights and stories about real people who illustrate 12 essential virtues heroes exhibit that we can emulate. His leadership and management background spans 25 years. Jim has won multiple journalism awards for his human-interest storytelling and was a workshop speaker at the John Hope Franklin Symposium in Tulsa. He holds a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in professional writing. He studied international reporting at Hebrew University. Contact Jim at (918) 809-0565; jim@jimbnorth.com
8. ==> Concentration Camps in America: What You Don’t Know
How would you feel if the unthinkable of concentration camps happened right here in America? Well, they did, and John Suzuki warns they could happen again. Invite him on your show and hear how more than 122,000 innocent people, including 50,000 American children, were rounded up and incarcerated in concentration camps in America during World War II because of their race. The author of “American Grit: From a Japanese American Concentration Camp Rises an American War Hero” can discuss this significant and shameful historical episode as a terrifying example of racism and prejudice and share the story of the brave young men who volunteered from the camps to fight —and die — for the U.S. Army while their families remained imprisoned in the camps by the U.S. Army. Contact John Suzuki at (425) 985-1465; John@JohnSuzuki.com
9. ==> The Real Reason Guns Are the No. 1 Killer of Children
Every year, 18,000 children and teens are shot and killed or wounded and approximately 3 million are exposed to gun violence. What are adults in the U.S. doing wrong? Regina Griego lost five family members to a mass murder, three of whom were children. Her 15-year-old nephew shot them and Regina took guardianship of her nephew. She has since become an advocate for gun safety and believes that we all want to keep our children safe and families whole. Ask her: Why are our children dying from guns? What role does mental health play in the gun deaths of children? Griego is the author of “Sins of the System: Trauma, Guns, Tragedy, and the Betrayal of Our Children,” a memoir that explains the systems that failed her family. She holds a Ph.D., MS, and BS in electrical and computer engineering and an MS in computer science. Contact Regina Griego at (505) 306-6189; transcendingfutures@gmail.com
10. ==> Work Talk: How to Speak Up and Have Difficult Conversations
A recent study from Workhuman reports that nearly half of employees in the U.S. feel undervalued at work, and one out of ten don’t feel valued at all. This dissatisfaction often results from being overworked, underpaid, and above all, not listened to. However, many of us feel stuck in our miserable jobs due to a lack of better options. Francesca Burack reveals how you can take steps today to improve your job immediately, and it all begins with speaking up. She’ll explain the best ways to approach work conversations such as getting a raise, being promoted, changing your hours, improving your benefits, and more. Ask her: What’s the best way to ask for a raise or promotion with confidence (even if you don’t have any)? How can you become a fearless leader in your organization? What are the “magic words” that will help you get ahead in your career? Francesca Burack is an author, entrepreneur, educator, and frequent speaker and media guest. Contact her at (516) 823-4003; fburack@rtirguests.com
11. ==> What Today’s Workers Really Want (and Bosses Just Don’t Get)
More American businesses than ever are suffering from low employee engagement, high turnover rates, and a shortage of qualified staff. One of the biggest struggles is appealing to Generation Z and millennials, who make up 46% of our current workforce and whose career ideals are vastly different from previous generations. An executive coach and best-selling author of “The Path to Servant Leadership: A 12-Month Guide to Implementation,” Susan Anderson reveals how companies can not only appeal to the Gen Z and millennial workforce but also transform their employee practices to vastly improve engagement, decrease turnover — and by doing so, increase profits and revenue. Interview this passionate, motivational guest today to find out why Gen Z is less driven by money than any other generation (and what really gets them excited about a job), the real reason companies that prioritize employees are more profitable and much more! Contact Susan Anderson at (678) 999-8143; sanderson@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Think Like a Doctor to Save Time, Money, and Maybe Your Life!
There’s a shortage of physicians around the country that is projected to reach up to 124,000 doctors by 2034. People need practical tools to protect themselves and their families. They need actionable tips to empower them to maximize their care and minimize their costs — tips that Ann Hester, M.D., a board-certified internist with over 25 years of experience in direct patient care, can provide. Ann is the author of “Patient Empowerment 101: More Than a Book, It’s an Adventure!” She also created Patient World, a platform where people can take on-demand health and wellness courses taught by physicians, authors, and other health experts. Ask her: How can people lower their medical bills? How can they prepare a one-minute elevator speech that will help their doctor nail their diagnosis? How can families be protected from the unprecedented doctor shortage on the horizon? Contact Ann Hester. M.D., at (443) 414-8182; dr.hester@patientempowerment101.com
13. ==> Protect Yourself from this Hidden Health Threat
The American Heart Association recently identified a threat hiding in drinking water, snacks, baby food, consumer products, and wildfire smoke. Douglas Mulhall describes what it does to us and how people can protect themselves and their children from it. Mulhall is the author of “Discovering the Nature of Longevity: Restoring the Heart and Body by Targeting Hidden Stress” which is recommended by the American Institute of Stress and has a foreword by Columbia University’s chief of cardiology. He co-developed an award-winning certification recognized by the EPA for guarding against low levels of toxic metals and infections that are hard to detect. The biotech company he co-founded combines advanced technologies with natural therapies to reverse and prevent the damage. Contact Douglas Mulhall at (559) 961-7979; mulhall@calcify.com
14. ==> Why Don’t Most People Take Their Happiness Seriously?
Everyone wants to live a happy life. But the trouble is most of us never bother to do the work to achieve one. Why? According to Raj Girn, it’s because few people pay serious attention to what will make them happy. Raj says, “What I’ve learned through my own experiences, the experiences of people around me, and what clients share with me, is that there is one common denominator that screams out louder than all the others and it is a lack of constant evaluation of their life.” Interview Raj — who just became a regular panelist on CTV’s daily news show “The Debate with Mike Le Couteur” — to learn the questions all of us should be asking ourselves. A media celebrity in Canada, Raj has been featured in “The Wall Street Journal,” “Globe” and “Mail,” and on FOX and CBS and has a combined social media network of over 1 million followers. She also runs The Open Chest Confidence Academy. Contact her at (647) 363-7372; Rgirn@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Don’t Book a Cruise Before Hearing From This Travel Expert
If you’re thinking about taking a cruise soon, you’ll want to hear little-known tips from travel expert Cindy Bartram. What type of cruise is best for me? What’s the best time of year to cruise? Should I buy travel insurance? Are there specific travel apps for cruising? Cindy has spent many years in the travel and cruise industry and can ensure smooth sailing on your next shipboard adventure. She’ll answer all your cruising questions from booking to boarding and share insider tips to make the most of your time on and off the ship. Cindy is a communications, media and branding specialist and the author of “How Six Women Executives Steer the Cruise Industry Today” and “Message from the Dog…Learning from Great Humans.” Contact Cindy Bertram at (219) 501-5054; cbertram@rtirguests.com