01. Fall COVID Boosters Are Here: Will Americans Get Another Shot?
02. Is the U.S. Headed Toward a Railroad Workers Strike?
03. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Contested Legacy
04. New Study: If You Think You Can …
05. ‘Star Wars’ – How Real History Formed a Galaxy Far, Far Away
06. What You Still Don’t Know about Monty Python
07. What Comes after ‘Quiet Quitting’?
08. Doc Reveals What Really Goes On in the ER
09. Inside a Wilderness Program for Digitally Addicted Teens
10. Sneakers: The Surprising Cause of Senior Pain
11. How to Be Happy in an Unhappy World
12. Can You Earn a Living as a Songwriter Today?
13. Secrets of the World’s Most Celebrated Brands
14. One Family’s Frozen Embryo Adoption Journey
15. This Guest Reveals Why Rejection Is a Gift
1. ==> Fall COVID Boosters Are Here: Will Americans Get Another Shot?
The good news is that new COVID booster shots are now available, but the bad news is that public health experts fear participation will be low. Dr. Taison Bell says, “We’re overdue for an update to the vaccines and the timing is good going into the fall and winter. But, given our current booster rate, this also needs to come with a campaign to encourage vaccination.” Researchers for The Commonwealth Fund released a report examining the impact of an early fall vaccination campaign that reaches coverage similar to the 2020–2021 influenza vaccination. They found it would prevent nearly 102,000 deaths and more than 1 million hospitalizations. Without such a campaign, the authors estimate that a surge of the virus could lead to more than 260,000 additional deaths by the end of March 2023. “An even more successful campaign, which results in 80 percent of the eligible U.S. population receiving booster doses,” write the authors, “would prevent approximately 160,000 deaths and more than 1.7 million hospitalizations compared with a scenario in which there is an unchanged daily vaccination rate.” Dr. Taison Bell is an assistant professor of medicine in the divisions of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Virginia. Contact him at tdb4c@virginia.edu; @TaisonBell
2. ==> Is the U.S. Headed Toward a Railroad Workers Strike?
According to reporting by The Real News Network, “The rail industry is experiencing a self-induced crisis as a result of decades of cost-cutting, profit-maximizing executive decisions that have driven rail workers and the supply chain into the ground.” President Biden has appointed a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) to offer recommendations for resolving ongoing contract disputes but an overwhelming number of surveyed workers seem prepared to reject the PEB’s recommendations, and if the current contract dispute isn’t resolved the U.S. could be headed towards its largest rail strike in decades. Journalist Mel Buer says while some reports have claimed there will be steep raises for workers in current proposals, “The pay raises weren’t the only issue that rail workers were concerned about and reducing it to a matter of simply increasing wages glosses over the egregious working conditions that rail workers have been dealing with for years at this point. It’s my understanding that a lot of the gains in the raises would be offset by increased insurance premiums, as well.” Mel Buer is an Omaha, Nebraska-based contributor to The Real News Network. Contact her at mel.buer.reports@gmail.com; @mel_buer
3. ==> Mikhail Gorbachev’s Contested Legacy
David Kotz says Mikhail Gorbachev didn’t cause the “collapse” of the Soviet Union, nor did it “disintegrate.” The co-author of “Russia’s Path from Gorbachev to Putin” says the Soviet Union was taken apart by former high-level Communist Party official Boris Yeltsin, whose drive for state power required separating Russia, where his power base was located, from the Soviet Union. “Yeltsin’s base of support was a powerful coalition of groups that favored a transition to capitalism, not the reform of socialism. That coalition included a majority of the high-level party and state officials, who saw an opportunity for personal enrichment from a move to capitalism.” Kotz can explain how Russia’s industrial economy was destroyed and the country became dependent on the export of fossil fuels and metals, which were seized by a class of oligarchs while the majority were impoverished and lost their social rights. “Democracy and individual rights cannot survive in a country with an oligarchic capitalism and extreme inequality,” he notes. David Kotz is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and coauthor, with Fred Weir, of “Russia’s Path from Gorbachev to Putin.” Contact him at dmkotz@comcast.net
4. ==> New Study: If You Think You Can …
Can thinking you can get up the hill actually get you up the hill? A new study in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” suggests it just might. Researchers divided participants into groups, telling only some that cognitive training would help them perform better. All participants given training beforehand did better on the task but those who did best had the training and were told it would be helpful. Jason Chein, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Temple University who was not involved with the study, says, “For more than a decade, there has been a running scientific controversy over the question of whether computerized cognitive training such as ‘working memory training’ can be used to generally enhance intellectual (cognitive) functioning.” He adds, “Having the expectation that there can be change and benefit from one’s endeavors can itself be a powerful motivator of that change.” Jason Chein is the director of Temple University’s Brain Research & Imaging Center. Contact him at jchein@temple.edu
5. ==> ‘Star Wars’ – How Real History Formed a Galaxy Far, Far Away
You may know your “Star Wars” history but do you know how events in the real world helped form the one you saw on the movie screen? From Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire to the French Revolution and the Vietnam War, historian Nancy Reagin explores the major historical turning points, heroes, and villains in human history and their impact on the creation of the “Star Wars” saga. Her book, “Star Wars and History,” shows how the atomic and hydrogen bombs led to the Death Star; how Princess Leia’s leadership in the Rebel Alliance resembled the daring work of intrepid women in the French Resistance during World War II and the Mexican Revolution; historical parallels between the Jedi Code and Bushido as well as those linking the Jedi culture with that of the Templar Knights and other warrior monks; and all of the history that underlies the “Star Wars” galaxy. Nancy Reagin, Ph.D., is a professor of European history and gender studies at Pace University. She’s the author of several books including “Star Trek and History.” Contact her at Nreagin@pace.edu; (212) 346-1723
6. ==> What You Still Don’t Know about Monty Python
Whether you know Monty Python best from their “Flying Circus” TV show, their movies (“And Now for Something Completely Different,” “Life of Brian,” “The Meaning of Life”), their Broadway play “Spamalot) or their comedy albums, there’s probably still something you don’t know about the irreverent comedy team of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam. Interview retired teacher Arlene Duane Hemingway to learn how a joke in the group’s “Big Red Book” spawned a literary art form called Drabble. Learn what drabbling is, why she is so passionate about it and why your audience can gain increased problem-solving abilities, clarity, and relaxation by practicing this concise form of writing that uses just 100 words to tell a story. Arlene will be happy to share some of her drabbles with your audience leading to their better appreciation of the empowerment of 100 words. She is the author of “A Twist of Lemon: 100 Curious Stories in Exactly 100 Words” and has a master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music. She was a respected piano and vocal music teacher in a Long Island public school system and a professional organist, choir director, and vocalist. She performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Radio City Music Hall and launched a composer’s original work at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Contact Arlene at (828) 684-9840; adh7@att.net
7. ==> What Comes after ‘Quiet Quitting’?
There’s a reason everyone’s talking about “quiet quitting.” The trend resonates with millennial and Gen Z employees fighting to rewrite the rules of the workplace from baby boomer and Gen X managers. Depending on whom you ask, “quiet quitters” are either setting healthy work/life boundaries or doing nothing more than their basic job requirements. Unhappy workers are nothing new, but Oreste D’Aversa says the pandemic changed everything. Invite the author of “Life Beyond the Pandemic: A Practical New Journey Handbook” to discuss why workers feel disengaged, the effect of generational diversity on the job, and a better solution to “quiet quitting.” The life and business coach, corporate trainer, and interfaith minister will share his revolutionary step-by-step blueprint to reinvent your life and thrive in the post-pandemic world. Contact Oreste D’Aversa at (201) 949-3002; odaversa@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Doc Reveals What Really Goes On in the ER
When a patient comes into the hospital with cardiac arrest or a compound fracture, or even COVID or Monkeypox, doctors know what to do. Dr. Jay Baruch contends that the biggest challenge and the biggest part of an ER doctor’s work is often caring for people who come in with not just problems with their body, but also social issues, emotional issues, and substance use issues — and oftentimes all of them at once. The author of “Tornado of Life: A Doctor’s Journey through Constraints and Creativity in the ER” will reveal the toughest part of an ER physician’s work and how your listeners can best navigate their own ER visits to minimize unneeded tests and shorten their stays. Dr. Jay Baruch is a professor of Emergency Medicine at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School. Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853 (cell); LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com or @lissa_warren
9. ==> Inside a Wilderness Program for Digitally Addicted Teens
As a police officer and entrepreneur in the 1980s Chicago area, Trace Embry never imagined that his path would lead him to start a place like Shepherd’s Hill Academy (SHA). Invite the host of the nationally syndicated radio program “License to Parent” and author of “The Miracles of Shepherd’s Hill” to discuss the unlikely 30-year odyssey that defied all odds and resulted in a globally recognized healing program that helps troubled teens and families. Embry can discuss parenting issues in our tech-driven society, the issue of digital addiction and teens and SHA’s wilderness-style therapeutic program where teens undergo a one-year “digital detox” and live in a primitive environment without electricity or the internet. Shepherd’s Hill Academy is a Christ-centered therapeutic residential boarding school for teens in crisis. Contact Daniel Fazzina at (631) 463-7359; fazzinapr@use.startmail.com
10. ==> Sneakers: The Surprising Cause of Senior Pain
As we age, just like our cars, our bodies need an occasional wheel alignment. Enter Dr. Tzvi Pearlstein, an expert in getting to the bottom of malalignment, starting with our feet. Dr. Pearlstein says for knee pain and knee arthritis sufferers, the source of the problem often is their sneakers, which are curable, regardless of the brand. Invite Dr. Pearlstein to discuss what the sides and bottoms of your favorite sneakers can tell you about pronation and supination (and what that is), and how the way we put weight on our feet can cause pain and health issues in other areas of the body. Faced with his own painful “bone-on-bone” knees, Dr. Pearlstein developed a new type of sneaker sole to solve the problem. Tzvi Pearlstein, M.D., is the founder of Wellness Wisdom Warrior. Contact Adrienne Mazzone at amazzone@transmediagroup.com
11. ==> How to Be Happy in an Unhappy World
For people all around the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced never-before-seen challenges that no one was prepared to meet, with disastrous consequences for not only our health but our happiness and well-being. Even before the pandemic, people had overall been less happy year after year, and the unprecedented coronavirus crisis has only accelerated things. Is it possible to return to a pre-pandemic state of happiness? Author and mentor Mary Mitchell helps your audience learn how to break free of constant worry and anxiety over current events as well as personal problems, so you can rediscover joy no matter what’s happening — in your life, or the world at large. An experienced media guest, Mary is the author of seven books and has received multiple awards for her work in environmental conservation and restoration. Contact Mary Mitchell at (530) 561-5945 or mmitchell@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Can You Earn a Living as a Songwriter Today?
Feb. 13, 1959, the day Buddy Holly, Richie Vallens and The Big Bopper died, has come to be known as “the day the music died.” But songwriter Dave Combs says the death throes of the music industry did not come until much later when streaming became the norm and artists like himself needed to have their songs streamed five times to make a single penny in royalties. Interview Dave, an entrepreneur and Amazon best-selling author of “Touched by the Music” who has put out 15 albums of soft, soothing instrumental piano music, to talk about the future of music creation and changes the industry ought to make that would make being a recording artist or songwriter pay off again. The first song he wrote, “Rachel’s Song.” caused the phones at radio stations everywhere to light up with people wanting to know more about the song. Dave has wonderful stories to share about performing “Rachel’s Song” in front of an audience of over 26,000 people in St. Louis and getting over 10,000 letters from an article he wrote in “Guideposts Magazine.” As an entrepreneur, he has many interesting stories of how he built his Combs Music business. Contact him at (336) 655-8320; dave@combsmusic.com
13. ==> Secrets of the World’s Most Celebrated Brands
Would your listeners like to know how celebrities create world-class brands so they can do it too? Raj Girn, an internationally celebrated brand authority and the creator of “The 6-Step Guide That Celebrities Use to Guarantee World-Class Brand Presence,” is prepared to offer the same fantastic tips to your audience that she has passed on to executives at L’Oréal Paris, Estée Lauder, Johnnie Walker, Cîroc, Sheraton and Fairmont Hotels and people like Priyanka Chopra, Hannah Simone, Robin Sharma and Freida Pinto. Ask her: What are the four biggest myths that prevent brands from taking off? What are the six steps to creating a world-class brand that anyone can dial in, no matter what their size or budget? A media celebrity in Canada who has been featured in “The Wall Street Journal” and “Globe and Mail,” and on FOX and CBS, Raj is a regular contributor to Entrepreneuer.com, ThriveGlobal.com and Medium.com and an internationally best-selling author whose blog attracts 500,000 unique monthly visitors. She also publishes a weekly newsletter with over 100,000 subscribers and has a combined social media network of over 1 million. She runs The Open Chest Confidence Academy. Contact Raj Girn at (647) 490-3158; Rgirn@rtirguests.com
14. ==> One Family’s Frozen Embryo Adoption Journey
A few years ago, Nate Birt and his wife started thinking about adding another child to their family through adoption. They did their research and found what they believe is the coolest way to adopt: frozen embryo adoption. Learn how the Birts’ youngest child started her life as someone else’s frozen embryo that was implanted, carried and birthed by Nate’s wife. Their daughter is now a preschooler adored by her parents and siblings. Invite Nate to discuss what other people need to know should they be considering a similar journey or if they’re merely curious. Contact Nate Birt at (417) 221-9045; Nbirt@rtirguests.com
15. ==> This Guest Reveals Why Rejection Is a Gift
Dr. Carl Barnes began to experience rejection before he was even born! His single, unwed teenage mother almost aborted him. Then he went on to experience years of academic, professional and personal rejection, including a painful divorce. “I applied to several positions in the Navy, but repeatedly got rejected,” he says. “I had a difficult time continuing my education because I wasn’t a good test-taker.” He eventually overcame the odds and went on to a 35-year career in the military, ultimately becoming a Navy chaplain; and earned five degrees, including a doctorate of ministry in leadership. He can share the one trait that led to his success: resilience. Carl is the author of “Resilient Sailing: 10 Lessons to Persevere in Life’s Stormy Seas,” and conducts life coaching workshops and online courses. Contact him at (407) 809-8047; cbarnes@rtirguests.com