01. Fall Employment Trends: Return to the Office and More
02. The Economic Impact of COVID: Half Million Workers Still Out
03. Documentary: Two Actors with Parkinson’s Stage ‘Endgame’
04. All-Female MMA – Invicta Championships
05. Study: Small Acts of Kindness Can Have Big Impacts
06. The Coming Midterm Tsunami: The Women’s Bloc Vote
07. Abortion Laws Will Impact the Foster Care System
08. How to Take Your Brain off the Factory Setting
09. Older Workers Are in Demand
10. Why Are 82% of Black Women Overweight?
11. How Perfume Can Cause Infertility
12. Sept. Is Healthy Aging Month: This Athlete Began Sprinting at 61
13. Tips to Handle Life’s Sucker Punches with Ease
14. The Future of Mother Earth Isn’t All Gloom and Doom
15. How Not to Hire a Hit Man
1. ==> Fall Employment Trends: Return to the Office and More
In a still-tight labor market, 85% of companies are actively hiring, up from 81% in the spring of this year. Despite the need for workers, 53% of companies expect a recession and 31% are taking actions to prepare for a slowdown, according to new survey results from global outplacement and executive leadership coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. And what about getting workers back into the office? “There is a disconnect between leaders and workers on the return-to-office issue, and human resources executives are right in the middle of it. Some are attempting to get workers back at least a day or two a week to foster collaboration, but they are not pushing the issue for fear of losing talent,” says senior VP Andrew Challenger. He can discuss other results of the survey conducted online in September among Human Resources professionals at 182 companies of various sizes and industries nationwide. It was an update to a survey conducted in March among 169 respondents. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074; (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
2. ==> The Economic Impact of COVID: Half Million Workers Still Out
In a new working paper, economists Gopi Shah Goda and Evan Soltas estimate that roughly 500,000 U.S. adults are still out of the labor force due to past COVID illnesses. Although there have been studies of the long-term health outcomes of COVID survivors, this analysis provides some of the first evidence on longer-term labor market implications. Goda and Soltas’s results show that “while popular attitudes towards COVID have shifted, health-related absences remain elevated compared with prior to the pandemic –– and are at 2021 levels.” One finding of the study: since the start of the pandemic, COVID -illnesses have cost workers nearly $62 billion in wages each year. The authors say their estimate of economic losses from COVID’s health impacts can inform economic policy decisions like funding for social insurance programs to help those affected. Gopi Shah Goda is a senior fellow and deputy director at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Contact her at (650) 736-0480, gopi@stanford.edu
3.==> Documentary: Two Actors with Parkinson’s Stage ‘Endgame’
More than a million Americans have Parkinson’s disease, including veteran Broadway/TV actors Dan Moran and Chris Jones, who have taken on the challenge of performing Samuel Beckett’s “Endgame.” Written after he spent months at his dying brother’s bedside, the play posits, “there’s nothing funnier than unhappiness.” Director Jim Bernfield’s documentary, “Me to Play,” follows the actors through the staging process of the off-Broadway production as they undertake their swan song to the decades-long artistic and professional lives they’ve led. It becomes the perfect metaphor for their real lives and allows us to sympathize with both the actors and the idiosyncratic characters. “Me to Play” has screened at more than 30 film festivals and is currently streaming on Fandor. For interviews, contact Kelly Hargraves at kellyhargraves@gmail.com
4. ==> All-Female MMA – Invicta Championships
The Invicta Fighting Championships, the only all-female MMA promotion, puts the spotlight on world-class female athletes, local stars, and talented up-and-comers in Invicta FC 49 — a hard-hitting fight card boasting exciting debuts, long-awaited returns, and a hotly-anticipated main event for the Atomweight Title. Athletes available for interview include New York’s Jillian “Lionheart” DeCoursey, Shauna Bannon and Kristina Williams. Or invite Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp to talk about the event and how far the industry’s come since she founded the organization in 2012 and gave professional female athletes their first major platform to compete. Invicta FC 49 is set for Wednesday, Sept. 28, and will air on AXS TV and Fight Network. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or johanna@jrbcomm.com
5. ==> Study: Small Acts of Kindness Can Have Big Impacts
New research published in “The Journal of Experimental Psychology” shows that small kind gestures can have a significant impact on recipients, even if givers don’t typically realize it. “People tend to think that what they’re giving is kind of little, maybe it’s relatively inconsequential,” says Amit Kumar, an assistant professor at the University of Texas, Austin and one of the study’s authors. “But recipients are less likely to think along those lines. They consider the gesture to be significantly more meaningful because they are also thinking about the fact that someone did something nice for them.” The findings confirm previous studies showing how people tend to miscalculate how others will perceive friendly gestures. It also reaffirms how this misperception prevents people from engaging in such behavior, even though doing so can provide substantial benefits for both parties.” Contact Amit Kumar at (512) 471-5417; amit.kumar@mccombs.utexas.edu
6. ==> The Coming Midterm Tsunami: The Women’s Bloc Vote
As the midterms draw near, Olivia Friedman says we shouldn’t expect women to vote like men anymore because they realize the importance and power of their voting bloc. She says, “United as women, Black White, Asian and Hispanic, look for a true sisterhood coming together for the common good.” A futurist who goes by the name Olivia X, she’ll discuss how women can grow their power by fielding more female candidates. “It takes a woman to influence women’s rights. Otherwise, women’s suffrage may have been for naught if our votes still do not count today.” Ask her: What’s changed in the past two years in terms of female progress? Where do you see America going? Olivia Friedman is president of IN2Equity Freight & Logistics, LLC., a professor at UoPeople University, and the author of “Year of the Woman 2020 and Beyond.” She has appeared in ABC, NBC, CW, Telemundo and FOX News. Contact her at (470) 399-5257; Olivia.Friedman@Pepperdine.edu
7. ==> Abortion Laws Will Impact the Foster Care System
Richard Villasana, the founder of the nonprofit Forever Homes for Foster Kids, says the controversial Supreme Court decision to overturn “Roe. v. Wade” will have a profound impact on the already broken foster care system. “Hundreds of children die in foster care annually,” he says. “Tens of thousands of children are physically and sexually abused while in foster care. Foster care is not a safety net. That net is already in crisis without adding more children from forced pregnancies.” Richard is the author of the upcoming book “Do No Harm.” He is a former university professor who is a leading international authority on immigration and foster families. He has been featured on CNN International, ABC and many more. Contact Richard at (619) 648-4729; rvillasana@rtirguests.com
8. ==> How to Take Your Brain off the Factory Setting
We’re used to purchasing new technology that comes with presets. But what we don’t know is that our brains also come with factory settings. And as Steven Feinberg, Ph.D., will tell you, this factory setting that lets us operate on autopilot can falter when confronted with chaos and uncertainty. He calls this the Shutdown Syndrome. Dr. Feinberg, a top 1% business consultant who has worked with Google, Visa, Apple, and more, will reveal how to elevate your thinking the same way exceptional leaders do by unlocking the hidden game of patterns, seeing options on the game board that most people miss, defying expectations and raising your game. Dr. Feinberg taught for nearly 30 years at the University of San Francisco School of Management and leadership and has guest lectured at Stanford, Cal Poly and the UC Berkeley Extension. His latest book is “Do What Others Say Can’t Be Done … Play The Meta-Game,” and features interviews he conducted with 50 world-class leaders and entrepreneurs. Contact Dr. Steven Feinberg at (650) 374-4540; sfeinberg@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Older Workers Are in Demand
Older workers used to have a rough time finding employment due to rampant age discrimination. But thanks to the current labor shortages and lack of reliable employees, people of a certain age are very much in demand in the job market. “Mature workers are worth their weight in gold,” says author Judy Balloff. “They are extremely reliable, efficient and have a terrific work ethic.” Judy should know. She landed her dream job at age 60. She can also share the 12 Universal Laws for living a healthier and happier life and other tips for finding your dream life in your 50s, 60s, and beyond. She is a financial advisor and author of “365 Days of Abundance.” Contact Judy at (571) 568-8491; jballoff@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Why Are 82% of Black Women Overweight?
Obesity is an epidemic across America, but especially so in Black communities where nearly half of all adults and a staggering 82% of women are overweight. The statistics are even more alarming when considering the many health risks that are most commonly associated with obesity. Invite Dr. Alvin Perry to discuss the genetic, behavioral and socio-cultural factors at play in the Black community, and how to change the equation to create healthier communities. Ask him are Blacks genetically predisposed to being overweight? Has the community normalized obesity? Why are Black women less likely to exercise (and what is the simple solution)? Alvin Perry, DBA, is a successful entrepreneur and small business expert. He’s also ISSA certified in personal training and nutrition. His book, “Just Fat!,” chronicles his 80-pound weight-loss journey and shares a simple system he created that changed the course of his life and led him to the path of personal wellness. Contact Dr. Alvin Perry at (678) 788-7529; aperry@rtirguests.com
11. ==> How Perfume Can Cause Infertility
Not only can fragrances in everyday products such as soap, body lotion and laundry detergent cause a variety of health ailments, but products expert Zorica Denton learned that these could also cause infertility in women and men. “Studies show that fragrances affect male sperm and women’s fertility, making it more difficult to get pregnant,” she says. “Products with fragrances may contain anywhere from 100 to 1,000 chemicals. But they don’t have to be listed due to trade secret policies.” Zorica developed long-term, debilitating health problems as a result of working as a perfume model. She is the founder of the natural personal care products company Zorica of Malibu and the author of an upcoming book about toxic chemicals in products. Contact her at (213) 616-7904; zdenton@rtirguests.com
12. == > Sept. is Healthy Aging Month: This Athlete Began Sprinting at 61
Exercising is one of those things that we all know we should be doing, and yet we can find endless reasons not to. The issue can be even harder to tackle for those over 40 because many people believe that the older you get, the more pointless it is to try getting into shape. National champion senior athlete John Hurd is here to tell your audience that it’s never too late and motivate them to reclaim their physical health at any age. John began training on his own to run competitively at the age of 61, and holds a total of 162 gold medals, is a 15-year undefeated Florida State Sprint Champion in three separate events, and a two-time National Senior Olympic Sprint Champion. The author of “Johnny Run Lately” and “A Sprint to the Gold,” John shares his success story with your audience as well as a simple-to-use spreadsheet that works better than fitness apps to help anyone achieve their exercise goals, and much more. Interview this inspiring guest who puts young couch potatoes to shame. Contact John Hurd at (850) 367-8411 or jhurd@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Tips to Handle Life’s Sucker Punches with Ease
Life is uncertain; change can happen in an instant. Author Valentina Tjan can share how to handle life’s sucker punches to come out a winner. “You need to embrace change to reach your fullest potential,” she says. ‘Whatever happens is for the best and everything will turn out beautifully’ has to be your motto to make sense of things. Calamities can cause you to achieve your divine destiny.” She is the author of “The Best Is Yet to Come: Real Life Journey to Riches to Inspire You to Wisdom and Wealth.” Contact Valentina at (647) 493-1694; vphoey@rtirguests.com
14. ==> The Future of Mother Earth Isn’t All Gloom and Doom
As temperatures rise to unsustainable heights and ecosystems buckle under the weight of climate change, it’s increasingly easy to succumb to paralysis. But, if we look at the world through a different lens, as Michael Mehta Webster suggests, we might find that when it comes to the Earth’s durability there’s a lot to be optimistic about. Webster will reveal how the natural world has a series of systems — rescue effects — that automatically activate to help organisms when their environment changes, “like a thermostat turning the air conditioning on when a room gets too warm, the rescue effect automatically turns on when a population is stressed or declining.” Through these systems, nature can independently save endangered species from extinction. Webster’s new book, “The Rescue Effect,” offers a powerful antidote to eco-anxiety — recasting the narrative of ecological decline as a continual process of adaptation and resilience. Michael Mehta Webster is an expert in ecology, conservation, philanthropy, and non-profit management expert and a professor of practice in the Department of Environmental Studies at New York University. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
15. ==> How Not to Hire a Hit Man
Melisa Schonfield was a successful psychotherapist and a respected pillar of her community, who had never been in trouble. But when her daughter’s boyfriend began abusing her daughter and young grandson, Melisa decided to take matters into her own hands, by hiring a hit man to dispose of the boyfriend. The hit man she attempted to hire turned out to be an undercover cop. Melisa spent more than three years in prison. “When my grandson was five days old, my daughter’s boyfriend threatened to punch him if he didn’t stop crying,” she says. “He [the boyfriend] never got into trouble because he fooled the police.” Melisa can share the details of her harrowing journey, and how the justice system failed her. She is the author of “Bitter or Better: The Melisa Schonfield Story.” Contact her at (305) 424-7507; mschonfield@rtirguests.com
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