01. Jimmy Buffet: A Good Life All the Way
02. Back-to-School—or Not: Chronically Absent Students
03. Retirees Should Reconsider the Sunbelt
04. These Trees Have Been to the Moon
05. Does It Seem Like Everybody Has COVID?
06. 50 Million People Need a Chronic Pain Reset
07. Was Patrick Swayze a Hero?
08. How to Attract Younger Workers (and Keep Them)
09. Advice on Having Difficult Conversations at Work
10. Is Making Eye Contact Overrated?
11. The Revealing Case of a Kansas Judge and a Local Newspaper
12. The Top 3 Health Screenings That Could Save Your Life
13. Can Faith Really Get You Through Anything?
14. This Guest Inspires Others to Never Give Up
15. Is It Possible to Rid the World of Prejudice, Bias and Discrimination?
1. ==> Jimmy Buffet: A Good Life All the Way
When Jimmy Buffett died last week at the age of 76, he left behind a massive if slightly complicated legacy. Invite music critic and Jimmy Buffett biographer Ryan White to share what made the Margaritaville megastar so popular and his Parrotheads so devoted. “For decades, he smiled, and millions smiled with him. He traveled and they traveled with him. He was sincere even when sincerity went out of style, but he never took himself too seriously,” White says. Hear how Buffett rose from singing songs for beer to emerging as a tropical icon and CEO behind the Margaritaville industrial complex, a vast network of merchandise, chain restaurants, resorts, and lifestyle products all inspired by his sunny but disillusioned hit song. Ryan White has written for several publications including “The Wall Street Journal,” “Sports Illustrated” and “The Sacramento Bee.” He’s the author of “Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way” and “Springsteen: Album by Album.” Contact Lisa Sciambra at (212) 698-7086; AtriaPublicity@simonandschuster.com
2. ==> Back-to-School—or Not: Chronically Absent Students
As the new school year gets underway, so does the age-old morning struggle to get the kids out of bed and on their way. But something’s changed in recent years. Long school closures during COVID upended the American education system and changed the way many students and parents think about school. Today, several years post-pandemic, many feel that attendance is optional and it’s exacerbating existing educational inequalities and creating a whole new set of issues. Preliminary data for the last school year found close to 10% of K-12 students were absent on any given day, and a quarter of all students qualified as chronically absent. “I’m just stunned by the magnitude,” says Thomas Dee, a Stanford economist who has conducted the most comprehensive study on the issue. In Dee’s study, he looked for explanations for the trend. The biggest reason for the rise? The simple fact that students have fallen out of the habit of going to school every day. Dee’s study focused on 2021-22 — which was two years ago, and the first year after the extended COVID closures — but he notes that absenteeism appears to have fallen only slightly last year. Thomas S. Dee, Ph.D., is a professor of education at Stanford University and a research associate with the programs on education, children, and health at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Contact him at tdee@stanford.edu
3. ==> Retirees Should Reconsider the Sunbelt
Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, Texas and South Carolina; They’re the most popular retirement magnets, but in recent years older adults in the Sunbelt have been getting warmer weather than they bargained for. Extreme heat is miserable for everyone but can be particularly lethal for older adults and research shows that Sunbelt heat extremes are here to stay. Sociologist Deborah Carr says organizations and professionals who help retirees plan their golden years have begun counseling that they toss out the old retirement playbook and consider retiring in places where the effects of global warming have so far been less pronounced. She says, “If older adults continue to migrate to these areas, the dual forces of rising temperatures and aging populations will place unprecedented demands on cities, counties and states to meet older adults’ pressing health needs. Careful research and planning can help retirees find a home where they can live out their golden years in relative safety and comfort.” Deborah Carr is a professor of sociology at Boston University and director of its Center of Innovation in Social Science. She is the author of “Aging in America.” Contact her at (617) 353-2591; carrds@bu.edu
4.==> These Trees Have Been to the Moon
Last year, NASA’s Artemis 1 mission flew around the moon with nearly 2,000 seeds from different tree species on board. The Department of Agriculture Forest Service then germinated them, creating seedlings that will soon be distributed among schools, museums, community-based groups and others. But these won’t be the first moon trees. Those seeds started aboard Apollo 14 in 1971. Find out where they are now, and how your school or group can apply for a seedling that’s been to outer space. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore says, “These future moon trees, like those that came before them, serve as a potent symbol that when we put our mind to a task, there is nothing we can’t accomplish. They will inspire future generations of scientists.” Contact Katherine Brown at (202) 358-1288; Katherine.m.brown@nasa.gov
5. ==> Does It Seem Like Everybody Has COVID?
First Lady Jill Biden has COVID, and it seems just about everybody knows someone right now suffering from the virus. Recent reporting has sounded the alarm on a summer COVID surge, but it’s been challenging for the public to know what to make of what’s going on. Researcher Benjy Renton says, “It’s challenging to find good data on COVID for a number of reasons: testing has gone down, data sources are not being updated as frequently.” To mitigate the problem, Renton and his colleague, Jeremy Faust, put together a “1-stop shop dashboard” for COVID metrics, which they published in Faust’s “Inside Medicine” newsletter. The dashboard covers thousands of U.S. jurisdictions and includes data on wastewater levels, hospitalization rates and capacities, ICU census data, death rates, and some testing. Renton can discuss how to interpret the info and emphasizes that the current spike is not comparable to previous waves. Wastewater levels are a third of the Omicron peak in the winter of 2022; hospitalization rates are less than 10% of that Omicron peak. “The baseline is a lot lower these days,” he says. Benjy Renton researches vaccine access and equity and other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic for Ariadne Labs, a joint center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Contact him at bhrenton@gmail.com; @bhrenton
6. ==> 50 Million People Need a Chronic Pain Reset
Chronic pain affects nearly 50 million people in the U.S. alone. A recent study in a journal of the American Medical Association showed that new cases of chronic pain occur even more frequently than new cases of diabetes, hypertension, and depression. September is National Pain Awareness Month and a great time to interview Afton Hassett, an expert in the field of clinical pain research. She says many people are surprised to discover the most effective treatment for chronic pain involves a multipronged approach. She’ll explain the key role that your brain plays in processing pain and how small, simple actions can make profound changes in how you experience chronic pain. Hassett is the author of “Chronic Pain Reset: 30 Days of Activities, Practices, and Skills to Help You Thrive” and an associate professor and director of pain and opioid research in the department of anesthesiology at the University of Michigan. Contact Johana Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell) or johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
7. ==> 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. As we approach the anniversary of his death on Sept. 14, 2009, at 57, interview Sue Tabashnik, author of Patrick Swayze: The Dreamer, to share the many reasons he was and continues to be an inspiration to many. 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
8. ==> How to Attract Younger Workers (and Keep Them)
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
9. ==> Advice on Having Difficult Conversations at Work
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
10. ==> Is Making Eye Contact Overrated?
Blank looks. Confused expressions. People looking at their cell phones or wishing they were anywhere else. When business executives lose their audiences, it is usually because they have bought into communication myths. Psychotherapist and renowned speech coach Danny Slomoff says there is no such thing as public speaking — it’s simply talking. And talking is the same whether it is to one person or an auditorium full of people. Slomoff, who overcame speaking issues himself, asserts that there are no natural-born speakers. Similar to all brain-based coordination systems like music and sports, he says speaking at the highest level requires practice and commitment. The author of “The Myth of Public Speaking: The Revolutionary Brain-Based System for Communicating in Business” will reveal five neurological behaviors of authentic executive presence, why mind contact matters more than eye contact and where speech patterns and bad habits come from. He can explain the unique public speaking method he created that utilizes the way human brains are wired, without techniques or tricks. Danny Slomoff is the CEO of Slomoff Consulting Group and the founder of the Slomoff Method©. He coaches CEOs and C-suite executives worldwide on their corporate communication. He has a Ph.D. in both clinical and organizational psychology and is the speaking coach for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Olympic team. Contact Ariana Donaldson at (415) 606-0099; ari@slomoff.com
11. ==> The Revealing Case of a Kansas Judge and a Local Newspaper
Small-town newspapers are vanishing from the American landscape. Those that can survive the crushing economic pressures from online media and corporate consolidation face a growing list of other challenges including a drop in public trust and even government interference. A recent incident involving a police raid of a small-town newspaper in Kansas made headlines and sounds like something that would occur in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, but law professor Gregory Magarian says dozens of government offenses against American journalists are documented every year. The author of “Managed Speech: The Roberts Court’s First Amendment” can explain the importance of local newspapers and why American law provides strong protection for free, independent journalism. He’ll also discuss the role judges have in enforcing press protections and how the current situation starts at the top, with the U.S. Supreme Court. Gregory Magarian teaches constitutional law at Washington University School of Law. Contact him at (314) 935-3394; gpmagarian@wustl.edu
12. ==> The Top 3 Health Screenings That Could Save Your Life
Many Americans wait until they get sick to focus on their health. According to long-time nurse Allen Daugherty, we have it backward. “The problem in our society is a lack of emphasis on preventative care,” he says. “People need to get routine screenings at various stages of their lives, as opposed to waiting until a problem occurs.” Allen can share the top screenings people should get before they get sick, the disease that is the number one killer (hint, it’s not cancer) and how to get out of the obesity and sedentary lifestyle rut. He has worked in the medical field for almost 50 years, first as a U.S. Air Force medic then as an RN and certified dialysis nurse. He is the author of “An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth More Than You Can Imagine.” Contact Allen at (540) 712-8704; adaugherty@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Can Faith Really Get You Through Anything?
Growing up in a highly dysfunctional broken home, author Tressa Mitchener became a single teenage mother and drug dealer who was facing a 30-year-to-life sentence in federal prison. But thanks to her strong belief in a higher power, her sentence was miraculously reduced to five years, and she went on to earn a B.A. in psychology, become a respected Christian counselor and best-selling author, and marry her dream man. She credits her newfound faith for enabling her to dramatically turn her life around. “While I was in prison, I was strongly focused on God,” she says. “He was giving me instructions and guiding me. My mind began to change. I became a change-maker for others.” Tressa shared her incredible story on “The 700 Club,” and can reveal how anyone can transform his or her life through faith. She is the author of “Looking Out from the Inside: The United States v. Tressa Oliva Parker.” Contact Tressa at (919) 582-5992; Tmitchener@rtirguests.com
14. ==> This Guest Inspires Others to Never Give Up
Most of us have plenty of obstacles standing in the way of happiness or success — and most of us give up too soon, settling for less than what we really want out of life. Are some issues simply too challenging to overcome? According to author and inspirational speaker Jesse Fiedor, no challenge is insurmountable! Jesse overcame a serious disability to achieve his dream of working in Hollywood. He can help your audience find the motivation to accomplish anything, no matter what stands in their way. Like Beethoven continuing to make music after he lost his hearing, you can realize any goal and live your best life. Ask him: How did you conquer your obstacles, and how can others do the same? Did you meet any celebrities during your time in Hollywood? Why do you say, “If I can do it, anyone can”? What was the inspiration for writing your book? Contact Jesse Feidor at (714) 683-2353; jfiedor@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Is It Possible to Rid the World of Prejudice, Bias and Discrimination?
While bigotry is nothing new, it has boiled to the surface in modern times due to the current volatile political climate. But according to author and inclusion expert Sara Ting, there is hope. “Many people have biases without even realizing this,” she says. “The key is to educate people about the effects this has on society and empower them to become more self-aware.” As a first-generation Asian American woman, Sara is no stranger to the effects of discrimination. As a result, she became a diversity-and-inclusion educator, speaker, consultant and the author of “Small Book with a Big Idea: 5 Minute Training to Empower You and Transform the World.” She is also the founder and president of World Unity, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to the elimination of all forms of bigotry. Contact Sara at (508) 715-3370; Sting@rtirguests.com
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