August 22, 2017
01. The Enduring Mystery of the Solar Eclipse
02. What Now for Bannon?
03. Govt Demands Anti-Trump Website Visitor Info
04. BTS – The Scary State of Schools Today
05. Nat Geo’s Animal ER Doc
06. Feel Good Show – National Dog Day!
07. How to Stay Safe when A Protest Turns Dangerous
08. Labor Day – Consumers Key to US Labor Woes
09. Back to School = Back to Cyber Bullying
10. Heavy Backpacks Linked to Lower Grades
11. How to Survive a Mean Teacher
12. 5 Things Kids Need in their Emotional Backpacks
13. Can Yoga & Meditation Increase Stress?
14. Ovarian Cancer – Tools to Catch Silent Killer
15. Horse Sense – Life Lessons Learned in a Barn
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1. ==> The Enduring Mystery of the Solar Eclipse
In ancient times, before Greek astronomers figured out
that simple geometry caused the effect, the sudden
blotting out of the life-enabling sun was terrifying!
Astronomer Meg Urry says it was natural to link it to
some earlier event: an argument, a political change,
any kind of coloring outside the lines, anything that
might make humans feel guilty. “Alas, no mysticism
attaches to a solar eclipse. It’s simple: The moon
orbits the Earth, and every so often, for viewers
somewhere on Earth, it lines up precisely with the sun,
blotting out all but the outermost bits of solar light.
Because the orbits are understood, future eclipses can
be predicted with high precision.” But the event still
puzzles even scientists like Urry. “The weirdness —
the coincidence that is a true puzzle at the moment —
is that the size of the moon and sun are, to an Earth
observer, more or less the same.” Urry travelled to Sun
Valley, Idaho, to join hundreds of astronomers
attending the 16th meeting of the High Energy
Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical
Society. Meg Urry is the Israel Munson Professor of
Physics and Astronomy at Yale University and recent
president of the American Astronomical Society. Contact
her at (203) 432-5997
meg.urry@yale.edu
2. ==> What Now for Bannon?
Steve Bannon is out as chief strategist to the
president, and has put out the word that he will
continue the struggle to save Donald Trump from himself
and his corporate allies, from his perch back at
Breitbart.com. Robert Kuttner, co-editor of The
American Prospect, says, “This is classic Bannon hubris
? the same grandiosity that led Trump to oust him. In
the Trump White House, there is only one Trump and
advisers do not get to upstage the president, even less
to disparage his blustering on North Korea. You don’t
get to both kick a president and advise him.” He adds,
“Bannon was the architect of how to use nativism as an
economic strategy. Bannon is now out. Trump is left to
his own devices. His administration is imploding. The
only question is when and how it will end.” Robert
Kuttner is co-founder and co-editor of The American
Prospect, and professor at Brandeis University’s Heller
School. His latest book is “Debtors’ Prison: The
Politics of Austerity Versus Possibility.” He writes
columns for The Huffington Post, The Boston Globe and
the New York Times international edition. Contact him
at (781) 736-5311; bkuttner@brandeis.edu or @rkuttner
3. ==> Govt Demands Anti-Trump Website Visitor Info
Last month the Department of Justice reportedly served
a website-hosting company, DreamHost, with a search
warrant for every piece of information it possessed
that was related to a website that was used to
coordinate protests during Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The warrant covers the people who own and operate the
site, but also seeks to get the IP addresses of 1.3
million people who visited it, as well as the date and
time of their visit and information about what browser
or operating system they used. Chip Gibbons says,
“There is no legitimate law enforcement purpose for
this warrant. We know very well that its real purpose
is to chill speech, silence dissent, and make people
afraid to speak out.” Gibbons is policy and legislative
counsel for Defending Rights & Dissent. Contact him at
(202) 529-4225; Chip@RightsAndDissent.org
4. ==> BTS – The Scary State of Schools Today
When it comes to the state of public schools, retired
elementary school principal Susan Colton says it’s
impossible to avoid comparisons to George Orwell’s
“1984.” For example, she will say, “Imagine a world
where schools are separated by the belief systems of
the families whose children attend their neighborhood
school. The students are taught only about what the
government and the parents want them to know. There may
be no science, or history or creative arts, or children
that come from foreign countries and speak languages
other than English.” She’ll explain the precedents for
these developments including current laws that could
lead to anyone in the community dictating removal of
objectionable material in the curriculum (think climate
change science) and to more schools being operated by
for-profit corporations whose standards are anything
but child-friendly. The author of the upcoming book
“Principal’s Passion: A Quest for Quality Public
Education,” Colton was principal of two elementary
schools. She was named a National Distinguished
Principal during her 22 years holding that position.
Contact her at (954) 786-8220 or scolton@bellsouth.net
5. ==> Nat Geo’s Animal ER Doc
Nat Geo WILD’s series Animal ER goes behind the scenes
at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, Texas
to follow cases on the cutting edge of veterinary care.
It’s one of the most respected — and busiest — animal
hospitals in the world, with more than 200 staff
treating over 50,000 patients a year. Invite Dr. Brian
Beale to talk about the show and the fascinating
stories behind the scenes. Dr. Beale is a partner and
orthopedic whose patients range from household pets to
exotic animals. He performs 10 to 20 surgeries a week,
hosts a weekly radio show about pet health, lectures
around the world, and is an adjunct professor at the
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Season 2 of
Animal ER premieres this Saturday and takes viewers
through the Critical Care, Dermatology, Cardiology, and
Ophthalmology wings of the hospital. Contact Johanna
Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137.
6. ==> Feel Good Show – National Dog Day!
This Saturday, Aug. 26th is National Dog Day, a day set
aside to celebrate everything wonderful about the dogs
in our lives who love us unconditionally, are so happy
to see us when we come home, protect us, make us better
people and extend our lives. National Dog Day also
reminds us that many of our wet-nosed friends are
patiently waiting in shelters for their forever homes.
Bring Carlyn Montes De Oca on your show for an
unabashed celebration of everything dog including five
ways that adopting a dog can help you live longer.
Carlyn is the author of the award-winning “Dog as My
Doctor, Cat as My Nurse: An Animal Lover’s Guide to a
Healthy, Happy and Extraordinary Life.” She is also the
founder of The Animal-Human Health Connection, which
focuses on bringing awareness to the many powerful ways
that animals enhance human health, happiness, and
longevity. Reach her at (415) 306-1853 or
modernalchemyacupuncture@gmail.com
7. ==> How to Stay Safe when A Protest Turns Dangerous
In the current political atmosphere being caught even
in a peaceful protest may be dangerous, says Chris
Bird. The former commissioned officer in the Royal
Military Police of the British Army, former crime
reporter and author of “Surviving a Mass Killer
Rampage” says protests can quickly turn into riots as
happened recently in Charlottesville, Va. Bring Bird on
your show to outline the dangers of protests, the
importance of situational awareness and what you can do
if you find yourself caught in an unfolding riot. A
sample of his advice: ”If you see large groups of
protesters, drive off or walk off without drawing
attention to yourself. If unable to do so, head for law
enforcement officials and ask officers how to get out
of there. If you are carrying, tell them you have a gun
and a permit.” He’ll also offer advice for protest
participants: Pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t
take selfies or text. Face traffic and stay on the
sidewalk with parked cars acting as a barrier. Reach
him at (210) 308-8191 or cjbird@satx.rr.com
8. ==> Labor Day – Consumers Key to US Labor Woes
On September 4th, Americans will observe Labor Day, the
holiday celebrating the nation’s working men and women.
But, James Stuber says America’s leaders, and more
importantly consumers, have been undermining America’s
workers in pursuit of faulty free trade theories and
cheap foreign products. Stuber contends that the low
prices of imported products have been more than offset
by lowered American wages, job losses and resulting
social ills including drug addiction and suicide.
Invite him to discuss how consumers have the power to
solve the problem. James A. Stuber is the founder of
Made in America Again, a movement of consumers
dedicated to rebuilding the American middle class by
buying things made in American communities. Stuber is
an attorney and entrepreneur who formerly served as
legislative assistant to a member of the United States
House of Representatives. He’s the author of “What If
Things Were Made in America Again: How Consumers Can
Rebuild the Middle Class by Buying Things Made in
American Communities.” Contact him at (610) 608-5074;
james.stuber@themadeinamericabook.com
9. ==> Back to School = Back to Cyber Bullying
The start of school may be full of anticipation and
dread for kids heading back to the classroom. While
many are nervous about a new school year, others are
downright anxious that their summer reprieve from
bullying is over. A former bully himself, Thomas
Gagliano, says parents and schools can do more than
they think to teach people tools to combat bullying.
He’ll discuss what parents can do, the school’s role,
and signs a kid is being bullied. Tom Gagliano, MSW, is
a mentor, speaker and the author of several books
including “Don’t Put Your Crap in Your Kid’s Diaper.”
Bullied as a kid, he now helps others who suffer from
negative childhood messages. Contact him at (732)
266-4952; gags17285@aol.com
10. ==> Heavy Backpacks Linked to Lower Grades
You may know that heavy backpacks are tough on kids’
backs, but carrying books and school supplies in a
backpack can actually lower school grades up to a full
letter grade and more by chronically reducing brain
oxygen! “School administrators inexplicably require
students to carry their textbook with their breathing
muscles,” says Bob Prichard, “not realizing that the
brain requires 10X more oxygen than any other part of
the body. The effects of daily carrying a school
backpack last far beyond school and can impair
productivity, promotions and pay raises at work.”
Prichard runs the Somax Performance Institute where for
over 40 years he has been helping athletes improve
their efficiency and flexibility. For example, 18
Olympic athletes he worked with have won 44 gold medals
and set 11 world records. An NBC Sports Olympics on-air
analyst, he’s written for many periodicals and his
sports analysis videos have over 5M views on YouTube.
His new book is “Are You Starving Your Brain of
Oxygen?” Contact him at (415) 435-9880 (CA);
bprichard@somaxsports.com
11. ==> How to Survive a Mean Teacher
Teaching, according to multiple lists, is one of the
top 20 stressful jobs available and is often ranked in
the top five of the worst careers in America! The
stress of dealing with children, the constant scrutiny
of parents and administrators, and pressure for
improved scores weigh heavily on the shoulders of both
beginning and veteran teachers. For some, the result is
an attitude and teaching personality that leaves
students and their parents cold, afraid, and dreading
the year ahead. Dee Rodgers, an educational veteran of
more than 30 years, can discuss ways parents and their
children can survive the classrooms of negative
teachers. Rodgers spent 27 years in the classroom and
served another four as a campus administrator. She is
currently employed as a Special Education Teacher in
Texas and is the author of “Renew Your Teaching Spirit:
Help for Teachers Struggling to Stay in the Classroom.”
Contact her at (979) 665-7590; dee@deerodg.com
12. ==> 5 Things Kids Need in their Emotional Backpacks
As you go back to school shopping for notebooks and
pencils, Poppy Spencer says the emotional things kids
pack in their backpack are far more important than the
physical stuff. From an optimistic perspective, to
courage and resilience she’ll discuss ways to approach
the new school year that will last a lifetime. Her
strategies include problem solving practice, role
playing and encouraging kids to unplug and unclique.
Poppy Spencer and her husband, Geoff, are relational
experts and licensed, specialty-certified New Life
Story Wellness coaches. Their book, “1 Billion
Seconds,” is based on years of research on hundreds of
people and offers a formula for a flourishing
relationship by developing exceptional communication.
Contact them at (941) 586-2911;
poppyandgeoff@relationalexperts.com
13. ==> Can Yoga & Meditation Increase Stress?
More people than ever are trying yoga and many aren’t
aware of the risks. Dr. Dorena Rode found out the hard
way that yoga and meditation can INCREASE stress. “Yoga
and meditation can bring up unresolved trauma. 54% of
the US population report childhood trauma, but some
people aren’t even aware they have it!” Invite Dorena
to discuss the signs of unresolved trauma that appear
in everyday life and during yoga and meditation, and
what to do when they arise during a class or practice.
Dr. Dorena Rode is an award-winning speaker, author and
life coach. She has a Ph.D. in physiology, a degree in
behavioral health counseling and over twenty years’
experience using alternative modalities to help people
and organizations get unstuck. Contact her at (415)
830-3777; dorenarode@gmail.com
14. ==> Ovarian Cancer – Tools to Catch Silent Killer
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Each year, 14,000 American women die of ovarian cancer,
succumbing to a disease that is frequently misdiagnosed
or diagnosed too late. Having lost her mother to the
often silent disease, comedian and author Jennifer
Coken is making it her mission to teach women how to
identify its symptoms early. They include persistent
bloating; feeling full even while eating less;
persistent back and abdominal pain; unusual fatigue or
bleeding, and changes in bladder and bowel habits.
She’ll discuss how to download two free symptom
trackers that encourage women to pay attention to
symptoms that on their own might not seem troubling.
Jen Coken is a life coach and stand-up comedian. She’s
the author of “When I Die Take My Panties: Turning Your
Darkest Moments into Your Greatest Gifts.” Contact her
at (303) 859-9081; jencoken@gmail.com
15. ==> Horse Sense – Life Lessons Learned in a Barn
Mindy Tatz Chernoff estimates that she has probably
cleaned thousands of horse stalls in her time,
meticulously mucking them out and laying down new hay.
She recognized early on that horses are nothing less
than 1,250-lb. master teachers whose lessons are
available to anyone who spends time with them. She
says, “Spending time with horses helps us slow down,
notice, feel and heal. In fact, every life lesson can
be learned in a barn—everything from overcoming fear,
resistance and discomfort to learning to find love and
acceptance.” Chernoff holds dual master’s degrees in
holistic spirituality and spiritual direction. She’s
the founder of The Resonant Horse, a farm near
Philadelphia, where hosts workshops, retreats, one-on-
one sessions and horse circles. “From Muck to
Magnificence: How Cleaning Horse Stalls Can Lead to an
Astonishing Life” is her first book. Contact Caroline
Walters at (484) 678-6209; carolineawalters@me.com
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