April 2, 2020
01. Cybersecurity in the Time of COVID-19
02. Coronavirus Reveals America’s Broken Child Care System
03. Is Relief Just a Patch of America’s Safety Net?
04. When You Can’t Go Out, Go Inward
05. No Spring Baseball? Journal Opens Its Vault for Fans
06. Will the Virus Derail the Election?
07. Let’s Talk about Being Pregnant in a Pandemic
08. Suddenly Working from Home? Tips to Stay Productive
09. Flatten the Curve, Not Your Bank Account
10. Why Buying American is More Important than Ever
11. How to Thrive Under Continual Stress
12. From Viruses to Migraines and Beyond – Self-Healing Secrets
13. How to Avoid SDT: Social Distancing Trauma
14. On-and Off-Screen Star Edwina Findley Dickerson
15. 50 Years Ago, the Announcement That Shook the World
16. ‘Death Speaks to Me!’ Says the Undertaker’s Daughter
17. How That Little Voice in Your Head Can Change Your Life
18. Why Do So Many People Hate Themselves?
19. Lady Rancher Helps Women Over 40 Wrangle Their Best Lives
20. This Doc Reveals How Carbs Can Make You Drunk!
1.==> Cybersecurity in the Time of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic overlaps the fields of public
health and cybersecurity in ways never observed before,
generating sobering reminders of underlying problems
and unheeded warnings that have continued to
characterize both fields in the United States for
decades. David P. Fidler can discuss how the
coronavirus highlights the cybersecurity
vulnerabilities in health care, a significant private-
sector activity and prominent component of critical
infrastructure, the issue of government surveillance
and privacy, and cyber espionage by states. David P.
Fidler is adjunct senior fellow for cybersecurity and
global health at the Council on Foreign Relations and
visiting professor at the Washington University School
of Law in St. Louis. Contact him at dfidler@cfr.org
2. ==> Coronavirus Reveals America’s Broken Child Care
System
The $2 trillion rescue package from the Feds includes
billions of dollars in bailouts for large corporations
suffering from the coronavirus crisis. But Melissa
Boteach of the National Women’s Law Center says there
is little in the package for the thousands of child
care programs at risk of permanently shutting their
doors and, by extension, the families they serve. She
says the government’s response misses the mark and
perpetuates ongoing shortcomings of our system.
“Caregiving has been devalued for a long time and
workers—93 percent of whom are women and
disproportionately women of color and immigrant
women—often make poverty wages. The challenges of
parents navigating a broken child care system have been
relegated to the realm of individual responsibility,
with many shouldering rising costs that constrain
already–tight family budgets.” Boteach says this system
has never been realistic. “Child care isn’t a luxury
when costs of living continue to rise, and parents must
seek work outside of the home. It’s a necessity that
keeps our economy going and communities strong. And
during a pandemic, if this work continues to be
devalued and our lawmakers don’t act urgently, all of
us will have to face the consequences.” Founded in
1972, The National Women’s Law Center is a nonprofit
organization that fights for gender justice. Contact
Gillian Branstetter at gbranstetter@nwlc.org; (202)
588-5180
3. ==> Is Relief Just a Patch of America’s Safety Net?
The emergency legislation enacted by Congress has
intensified the long-running debate about whether the
U.S. does enough in ordinary times to protect the
needy. “The crisis has made the need for benefits much
more visible and the people who receive them seem much
more sympathetic,” said Jane Waldfogel, a professor at
the Columbia University School of Social Work.
“Progressives will argue for making many of these
changes permanent, and conservatives will worry about
the costs and potential burden on employers, but this
has profoundly changed the playing field.” She says the
crisis has revealed holes in the safety net that the
needy have long understood. She’ll discuss the
patchwork system, largely built for good times, and why
this crisis could change everything. Jane Waldfogel is
the Compton Foundation Centennial Professor for the
Prevention of Children’s and Youth Problems, co-
director of the Columbia Population Research Center,
and a visiting professor at the Centre for Analysis of
Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics. The
author of six books, Dr. Waldfogel is a world authority
on policies that affect the well-being of children and
families. Contact her at (212) 851-2408;
jw205@columbia.edu
4.==> When You Can’t Go Out, Go Inward
The whole world is stuck at home. We’re being told to
isolate but if we stay inside on the couch glued to our
computers, TVs and phones, stuffing junk food into our
mouths as we mindlessly try to numb out the anxiety of
our desperate aloneness, a spiral downward is
inevitable. Yoga and meditation expert Dashama Gordon
says an alternative is to use this “alone time” to
focus on self-improvement. She’ll explain how listeners
can stay peaceful and feel more connected and view this
uncomfortable time as an incredible opportunity for
personal growth and change. Featured on ABC, NBC, CBS
and OWN and in the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Cosmo
plus many other publications, Dashama is the go-to
expert to share wisdom, practical advice, tips and
secrets to feel happier, healthier and more harmonious,
especially during challenging times. She is the founder
of Pranashama Yoga Institute and the author of five
books including “Journey to Joyful.” Contact Dashama
Gordon at (808) 283-2646; dashama@dashama.com
5. ==> No Spring Baseball? Journal Opens Its Vault for
Fans
Sports fans look forward to spring and the start of
baseball season but in the age of COVID-19, nobody
knows when or if teams will take to the field this
year. In the meantime, Baseball Digest is doing its
part to keep baseball going by making its entire
inventory of more than 800 issues from 1942 through
2019 available for free. Invite Baseball Digest editor
in chief Rick Cerrone to discuss the role baseball has
played in previous national crises, how the coronavirus
has affected the magazine, and what listeners can
access online. Not to be confused with the catcher with
a similar name, Rick Cerrone was vice president of
public relations for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1987
through 1993 and senior director of media from 1996
through 2006 for the New York Yankees. He often talks
about baseball on media all over the USA. Contact Mark
Goldman at (516) 639-0988; mark@goldmanmccormick.com
6. ==> Will the Virus Derail the Election?
The coronavirus pandemic is causing significant
disruptions to American elections. The need for social
distancing to prevent the rapid spread of the virus
requires people to stay away from crowds. That includes
polling locations. But it’s vital to ensure people can
still exercise their right to vote. Advocacy groups
like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan
Center for Justice, as well as politicians from both
political parties, are calling on states to take quick
action to ensure that voters will be able to cast
ballots this year. “If that’s going to happen, it’s
going to have to be planned now,” says Rick Hasen, an
election law professor at the University of California-
Irvine and author of the book “Election Meltdown.”
Invite him to discuss how to increase options for
voting from home, including allowing no-excuse mail-in
absentee voting and mailing ballots to every voter, and
why states must maintain safe in-person polling
locations for communities, like Native Americans and
the non-English proficient, who need them. Rick Hasen
is a nationally recognized expert in election law and
campaign finance regulation, co-author of a leading
casebook on election law and co-editor of the quarterly
peer-reviewed publication Election Law Journal. Contact
him at rhasen@law.uci.edu; (949) 824-3072 or Mojgan
Sherkat at (949) 824-7937; msherkat@law.uci.edu
7. ==> Let’s Talk about Being Pregnant in a Pandemic
Being pregnant and giving birth are tough enough, but
when the world is in the middle of a pandemic, the
experience can be terrifying and traumatic. Alan
Lindemann, M.D., a longtime OB/GYN can discuss what
mothers-to-be need to know about giving birth during
the coronavirus crisis including how to stay healthy,
what you should know about the hospital where you plan
to give birth, and what to consider if you’re
contemplating a home birth. Dr. Lindemann has delivered
more than 6,000 babies (including many multiple births,
even quads) during his decades-long career. Contact Dr.
Lindemann at (701) 543-6182; dhaugen@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Suddenly Working from Home? Tips to Stay
Productive
Millions of Americans suddenly find themselves working
from home. Whether you are setting up shop at the
kitchen table or sequestering yourself in your bedroom,
this new way of doing business can take some getting
used to. Invite Sharon Fenster to share six strategies
to help get through this time and work at home
effectively. From setting a clear workday schedule to
creating a proper work environment, listeners will
learn how to make the best of this new working reality
and ways to keep a positive mindset and make the best
use of their workday. She says, “Interruptions are
tempting because of the social isolation we all feel
right now but try to compartmentalize your feelings and
keep work time separate from social time. It’s
important to stay in touch with friends and family, so
schedule those video and voice calls like FaceTime,
Zoom, or the good old-fashioned phone, during breaks
from work and other downtimes in your work schedule.” A
former president of the Public Relations Society of
America New York (PRSA – NY), Sharon is president of
Fenster Communications. Contact her at (914) 391-0275;
sharonfenster@gmail.com
9. ==> Flatten the Curve, Not Your Bank Account
The coronavirus has instantly made millions of people’s
financial lives worse. Maybe they’ve been laid off or
are working reduced hours or had to shut down their
businesses. And as we try to “flatten the curve,” bank
accounts are also being flattened. Until life returns
to normal, what can they do to stem the bleeding?
Interview Lorri Craig, a Certified Financial Planner
with a master’s degree in finance, to find out. She can
talk about ways to save money on everything from cell
phone plans to TV subscriptions, how to negotiate with
credit card companies and landlords and talk about why
the last place you want to cut back is at your kitchen
table. She’ll also share little-known legitimate ways
you can make money from home. Contact Lorri Craig at
(484) 453-1742; LCraig@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Why Buying American is More Important than Ever
As the transportation, hospitality, and entertainment
industries are hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, we
are left wondering, what’s next? The markets are
reflecting fears that we could be in for another Great
Recession, or worse. But American consumers hold the
key to preventing that, says attorney James A. Stuber.
Author of the recent book, “What If Things Were Made in
America Again,” Stuber explains that consumers are the
driver of the American economy, and those of us who are
relatively unaffected can save the day simply by buying
things made in American communities instead of
overseas. 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 a legislative
assistant to a member of the United States House of
Representatives. Contact him at (610) 608-5074;
james.stuber@themadeinamericabook.com
11. ==> How to Thrive Under Continual Stress
We know that when we suffer from continual stress,
choices seem limited and thereby decrease our
effectiveness. Behavioral scientists have a name for
this psychological reaction: learned helplessness.
Stress expert Marvin Marshall says it’s important to
not ignore how the brain changes when under continual
stress. “You can accomplish this by realizing that
regardless of the situation, stimulus, or urge, a
person always has a choice as to the response. You can
also develop the habit of redirecting negative self-
talk. Learning to act reflectively (rather than
reflexively) can prevent learned helplessness that
inevitably increases stress and reduces effectiveness.”
Marvin Marshall is an author, educator and professional
speaker. His “Without Stress” series of books explains
how to reduce stress in daily life, work and
relationships. Contact him at (714) 220-1882;
Marv@MarvinMarshall.com
12. ==> From Viruses to Migraines and Beyond – Self-
Healing Secrets
Countless people in your audience (and studio) are
dealing with diseases and health challenges they never
expected, and which hit them seemingly out of the blue.
What do you do when such life-impacting issues strike
with little warning? First, you can feel confident and
empowered that we humans have innate abilities to begin
self-healing and strengthening. So says acclaimed
physician and speaker Nelie Johnson, M.D., initiator of
the forum It’s Time to Heal, which offers an
integrative approach to treating illness. Invite this
outspoken expert on-air to hear her advice for health
and longer life. Learn why self-healing is so powerful
and necessary, what kind of messages we receive from
our bodies and the link between emotions and disease.
Dr. Johnson’s latest book is “The Healing Message of
Illness.” Contact Dr. Nelie Johnson at (604) 334-3853;
njohnson@rtirguests.com
13. ==> How to Avoid SDT: Social Distancing Trauma
Stuck at home and feeling bored? When you’ve binged all
the Netflix you can stand and are ready to do something
memorable Jean Alfieri can help. The author of “Blessed
to Be Me,” will encourage your temporarily shut-in
audience to share amazing stories with their family
members — personal stories they didn’t even know they
had in many cases. She’ll provide insights and prompts
to get them started. Jean is a veteran of human
resources and organizational development in both small
and large companies who left the corporate world to
pursue more personal projects. Contact Jean at (602)
397-1344; procoachjean@gmail.com
14. ==> On-and Off-Screen Star Edwina Findley Dickerson
Your audience may recognize Edwina Findley Dickerson as
Omar’s sidekick Tosha Mitchell in HBO’s acclaimed
series “The Wire” or her star turn in Ava Duvernay’s
award-winning feature “Middle of Nowhere.” She was also
on the big screen with Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart in
“Get Hard.” Currently, Edwina can be seen Tuesday
nights on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in Tyler Perry’s
hit drama “If Loving You is Wrong,” now in its fifth
and final season. Invite her on your program to discuss
the show, her career, or her off-screen work as a
motivational speaker and founder of AbundantLifeU. For
the past 15 years, AbundantLifeU has empowered and
helped thousands of people, including disadvantaged
youth, to achieve their dreams through programs in job
readiness, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and
personal development. Contact John Angelo at
john@premieretv.com
15. ==> 50 Years Ago, the Announcement That Shook the
World
On April 10, 1970, Paul McCartney made it official. He
was leaving the Beatles and the group’s eight-year run
of creating the soundtrack of a generation was over.
While the individual members would go on to create many
top hits of their own — “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Jet,”
“Imagine, “Starting Over,” “My Sweet Lord, “Give Me
Love,” “You’re Sixteen,” and “Photograph” for example —
few would have predicted just how influential the
Beatles would continue to be 50 years later when their
“White Album” made it into the Billboard Top 10—a half-
century after its release! The Fab Four wrote this
album while on retreat in Rishikesh, India, with
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of Transcendental
Meditation (TM). From baby boomers to millennials, the
Beatles remain a favorite. Susan Shumsky is a rare
insider who spent 22 years in the ashrams and six years
on the personal staff of Maharishi. She can entertain
your audience with stunning, fascinating, unknown facts
and meanings of songs you’ve grown up with. Her Ben
Franklin Book Award-winning tell-all memoir, “Maharishi
& Me: Seeking Enlightenment with the Beatles’ Guru,”
reveals hidden information about Maharishi’s influence
on the Beatles. Susan Shumsky has 17 books in print and
has proven to be an enthralling guest during more than
1,100 media appearances. Contact Susan Shumsky at (917)
336-7184; SShumsky@rtirguests.com
16. ==> ‘Death Speaks to Me!’ Says the Undertaker’s
Daughter
While growing up in a midwestern funeral home where her
dad was an undertaker, Margo Lenmark received many
messages about life from those who died. “I received
messages that changed how I live,” she says. She has a
lot to say about death and the gifts people give when
they leave this earth. Margo can reveal her journeys to
the Other Side, and the important messages she received
about life from the deceased. She is the author of the
critically acclaimed book “Light in the Mourning:
Memoirs of an Undertaker’s Daughter.” The book has
received glowing reviews from several prominent authors
and spiritual leaders, including Deepak Chopra. Contact
Margo at (484) 928-7824; MLenmark@rtirguests.com
17. ==> Listen Up! That Little Voice Inside Your Head
Can Radically Change Your Life
We’ve all experienced what psychologists call “inner
speech,” that small internal voice that advises us.
While many people shrug this off, author Kim Chestney
claims that tapping into that inner voice can assure
maximum success in all aspects of our lives. “Aligned
with this inner compass, people are empowered to not
only create their own best lives, but to live in ways
that facilitate optimal outcomes for the people,
communities, and businesses around them,” she says. Kim
is an international best-selling author of numerous
books – her latest is “Radical Intuition: A
Revolutionary Guide to Your Inner Power” – and the
founder of IntuitionLab, a global education center.
Contact Kim Chesney at (412) 214-9502;
KChestney@rtirguests.com
18. ==> Why Do So Many People Hate Themselves?
An awful lot of men and women who outwardly appear to
be living a good life actually feel worthless on the
inside. What’s behind this gnawing self-hate and why
are we so hard on ourselves? Social media, which is all
about projecting our best, unrealistic self, certainly
doesn’t help, but personal growth expert Joffre McClung
says self-loathing has been around a lot longer than
the internet. She’ll explain the real reasons people
hate themselves, why we’re often kinder to others than
ourselves, and three things you can do daily to begin
to change this unhealthy habit. Joffre McClung has
appeared on numerous radio and TV programs. She’s a
former media producer, independent filmmaker, and the
author of “The Heart of the Matter.” Contact Joffre
McClung at (917) 994-0225; JMcClung@rtirguests.com
19. ==> Lady Rancher Helps Women Over 40 Wrangle Their
Best Lives
Like many women over 40, Sandra Matheson found herself
at a daunting crossroads. She was divorced, unable to
continue her career as a veterinarian due to work-
related chemical sensitivities and stuck with a money-
losing farm. But she managed to turn lemons into
lemonade by rebuilding her farm, which became a
metaphor for her life. “Just as a farmer grows crops,
you can make the choice to grow your dreams after 40,”
she says. “The main focus has to be on silencing your
‘inner critic.’” Sandra is a co-host of New Cowgirl
Camps, which teach women about farming and ranching,
each June and August in Cheney, Wash. She is also the
author of the upcoming book “Thrive After 40 ? How to
Seize the Life of Your Dreams!” Contact Sandra at (360)
325-4221; smatheson@rtirguests.com
20. ==> This Doc Reveals How Carbs Can Make You Drunk!
Excess carbs aren’t just bad for your waistline and
overall health. Foods like pasta and bread can cause
intoxication similar to alcohol consumption! “There’s
fungus/bacteria that transform the carbohydrates to
alcohol that will even register as intoxicated on a
breathalyzer,” says Isaac Alexis, M.D., a renowned
addiction specialist. This also explains why people get
addicted to carbs, which is comparable to alcohol and
drug addiction. Dr. Isaac can share the mysteries of
addiction and how to beat it for good. He is the author
of “Life and Death Behind the Brick and Razor-Code Red
Diamond” and the upcoming “The Seductive Pink Crystal.”
Contact Dr. Isaac Alexis at (315) 935-6348;
IAlexis@rtirguests.com
Don’t see any guests or topics for your show? Search
through past RTIR Newsletters and find hundreds of show
ideas and possible guests at www.rtironline.com