June 18, 2020
01. Who Thought Trump’s Tulsa Rally Was a Good Idea?
02. No Heroes Here: Toppling Symbols of Colonialism and Racism
03. When Dangerous Rhetoric Turns to Action
04. New Poll: Americans Unhappiest They’ve Been In 50 Years
05. Celebrate Dad’s Greatest Gift to His Family
06. How Pro Athletes Can Lead in Police Reform
07. 5 Economic Trends That Will Impact Your Future
08. Combating the ‘Cult of Safety’
09. Is the Answer to a Less Chaotic World Right in Front of Us?
10. Is It Time to Sell Your Life Insurance Policy?
11. Are State School Tests Unintentionally Racist?
12. How to Stay Close to Children You Can’t See in Person
13. Fitness and Nutrition Pro Says Motivation is Overrated!
14. For Pride Month: Love, Books and Young Adult LGBTQ Readers
15. Celebrate National Joy Day
1.==> Who Thought Trump’s Tulsa Rally Was a Good Idea?
There are numerous reasons that a large, indoor
campaign rally in the middle of a pandemic would be a
bad idea, but Ellis Cose cannot understand why anyone
would consider holding the event in Tulsa, the site of
one of the worst racial riots in American history.
While Trump and his administration claim there is no
systemic racism in America, Cose says, “There is a
certain irony in the Trump administration making that
argument at the very moment we are focused on the 1921
riot that serves as a textbook example of how systemic
racism works. If you wish to understand institutional
racism, read the story of Tulsa, then read the story of
Trump.” He’ll explain what was behind the Tulsa riot
and how it destroyed one of the most prosperous black
communities in America. Ellis Cose is the author of a
dozen books including “Democracy, If We Can Keep It:
The ACLU’s 100-Year Fight for Rights in America” and
“The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in
America,” both due out this year. Contact him at
elliscose@gmail.com; @EllisCose
2. ==> No Heroes Here: Toppling Symbols of Colonialism and Racism
In Boston, Philadelphia and other cities around the
country, protesters continue to vandalize statues and
topple monuments. Historian Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz isn’t
surprised. “As the movement for black lives protests
against police violence … has spread to every part of
the United States and around the world, some have
turned to the glaring public symbols of the history
that empowers such violence — colonialism and slavery.
Statues celebrating Confederate officers and slavers
have come down, as well as those of Columbus, who is
best known for pioneering European colonialism in the
Western Hemisphere and genocide of the indigenous
Arawaks in the Caribbean; he also brought the
transatlantic African slave trade, as well as returning
to Spain with enslaved natives who were sold on the
European slave market.” Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz is an
activist, writer and historian. She is the author of
“An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States.”
Contact her at rdunbaro@pacbell.net; @rdunbaro
3. ==> When Dangerous Rhetoric Turns to Action
Communication expert Helio Fred Garcia says President
Donald Trump’s increasingly dangerous rhetoric, from
his campaign through the first 2-½ years in office, has
motivated some to commit violence. Invite the author of
“Words On Fire: The Power of Incendiary Language and
How to Confront It” to discuss the language President
Trump uses that conditions an audience to accept,
condone, and commit violence against a targeted group,
rival, or critic and the history of such rhetoric.
He’ll explain “lone-wolf whistle violence” — a term he
coined to describe rhetoric that provokes violence on
the model of “dog whistle” politics, where politicians
use coded language that conveys benign meaning to most
people, but a different meaning to members of a certain
group or followers of a certain ideology. Learn the
playbook of 12 forms of communication that typically
precede acts of mass violence and how civic leaders and
engaged citizens can hold leaders accountable to
prevent such harm. Helio Fred Garcia is president of
the crisis management firm Logos Consulting Group and
is on the adjunct faculties of New York University and
Columbia University. He is a senior fellow at the
Institute of Corporate Communication at Communication
University of China and a contract lecturer at the
Defense Information School and at the Wharton School,
University of Pennsylvania. Garcia’s previous books
include “The Agony of Decision: Mental Readiness and
Leadership in a Crisis” and “The Power of
Communication: Skills to Build Trust, Inspire Loyalty,
and Lead Effectively.” Contact Johanna Ramos Boyer at
(703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell);
johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
4.==> New Poll: Americans Unhappiest They’ve Been In 50 Years
It’s been a rough year for the American psyche. Folks
in the U.S. are more unhappy today than they’ve been in
nearly 50 years. This bold — yet unsurprising —
conclusion comes from the COVID Response Tracking
Study, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
It finds that just 14% of American adults say they’re
very happy, down from 31% who said the same in 2018.
That year, 23% said they’d often or sometimes felt
isolated in recent weeks. Now, 50% say that. Invite
psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman to discuss the
survey, the current state of Americans’ mental health,
and how that affects everything from relationships to
jobs and even politics. Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H.,
is a board-certified psychiatrist, author and forensic
psychiatrist/expert witness who has appeared on Oprah,
Good Morning America and many other media outlets.
Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; (919)
377-1200 or ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
5. ==> Celebrate Dad’s Greatest Gift to His Family
Dads will get funny gifts and enjoy backyard BBQs for
Father’s Day this Sunday, but Robb Lucy says there’s
something dads should be sharing with their families.
The author of “How Will You Be Remembered?” says real
family history is more than pictures and genealogical
trees, it’s family stories, and now is the to collect
them, share them, and preserve them for future
generations. He’ll explain how and why to write a
legacy letter, ways to get family members to share
their stories, and how teens especially benefit from
hearing family stories. Robb will also share stories
submitted for a family legacy story contest, including
the winner, from a 94-year-old woman explaining why her
1947 wedding dress was made from a military parachute.
A journalist, writer and producer, Robb Lucy is the
author of the “How Will You Be Remembered? The
Definitive Guide to Creating and Sharing Your Life
Story.” Contact him at (604) 874-7700;
rlucy@createmylegacy.com
6. ==> How Pro Athletes Can Lead in Police Reform
While people around the world hope that better policing
will come with reforms to the system, Nita Wiggins is
working to reduce confrontations before they happen.
Wiggins’ incentive to bring out good behavior of law
enforcement officers is called #GoodCopsOnlyAtGame. The
former TV sports and news reporter focuses on athletes
to insist through their union that only officers with
no abuse accusations or convictions can work at their
games. Wiggins is appealing to pro athletes because, as
she witnessed as an interviewer, many of them come from
the same types of communities as the victims of today’s
police brutality. She’s the author of “Civil Rights
Baby: My Story of Race, Sports, and Breaking Barriers
in American Journalism.” Contact Nita Wiggins at
NWiggins@rtirguests.com
7. ==> 5 Economic Trends That Will Impact Your Future
Do you know what the five biggest economic trends are
that will impact your listeners’ lives? And do you have
any idea of the challenges and opportunities they
represent and how you can capitalize on them? You will
after you interview Certified Financial Planner Lorri
Craig. In one or more segments, depending on how deep a
dive you wish to take, Lorri can detail the significant
economic impacts of COVID-19, lower interest rates,
climate change, the U.S.’s declining global power, and
baby boomer’s inability to retire. Lorri has a master’s
degree in finance and is a subject matter expert for
the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. She
offers an Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
investment platform on her website for socially
conscious investors who want to make a positive impact
on the world. Contact Lorri Craig at (484) 453-1742;
LCraig@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Combating the ‘Cult of Safety’
Everyone wants to feel safe especially when a virulent
virus makes its way around the world. But safety has a
downside we don’t always think about … it can actually
be dangerous, says author and adventurer Sparrow Hart.
Invite him on your program to discuss why “safety-ism”
— valuing safety above everything else — runs counter
to both scientific research and ancient wisdom. You’ll
learn why safety is antithetical to passion and growth
and toxic to a life of adventure and meaning. Sparrow’s
varied career includes being a Phi Beta Kappa graduate
of Stanford, a brief stint working in a slaughterhouse,
adventures in the Amazon jungle, and over 30 years of
leading workshops on shamanism, the heroic journey, and
vision quests in nature. He is the author of several
books including “Letters to the River: A Guide to a
Dream Worth Living.” Contact him at (801) 516-0740;
SHart@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Is the Answer to a Less Chaotic World Right in
Front of Us?
Have you ever wondered why the world’s leaders continue
to let people down? Why chaos seems to be increasing?
Or what happened to the age of peace, love, and
understanding promised in the 1960s? If so, you’ll want
to interview Sankarshan Das, a spiritual master who
says, “Sadly, most of our leaders are not real leaders
because they are unwilling to sacrifice everything for
the common good.” Despite that, he says the knowledge
exists to bring in a new era of unparalleled peace and
prosperity to every town, village, city, and hamlet all
over the world. Sankarshan Das is the author of the
upcoming book “Conquer Your Mind and Deliver the World:
Empowering You to Awaken Your Divine Consciousness and
Create Global Happiness.” He is also a singer-
songwriter who once appeared onstage between Jefferson
Airplane and the Grateful Dead. His song, “The Peace
Formula,” has been praised by Barack Obama. Contact him
at (512) 643-6740; sdas@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Is It Time to Sell Your Life Insurance Policy?
Did you know that because of COVID-19 many life
insurance carriers have been forced to dramatically
raise their costs while lowering benefits? This affects
everyone’s life insurance policies and makes one thing
certain — every policy needs a review. “Life
settlements, a way to sell an existing policy, are a
smart financial option for many,” says David Kottler,
the Life Insurance Doctor™. “Life settlements are
something to be aware of, as 90% of policies lapse
before maturity, which is a huge loss to consumers!”
David can explain what you need to ask to figure out
what your policy is worth. David is the author of “The
Best-Kept Secret in Your Insurance Policy.” Contact him
at (216) 532-1221; DKottler@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Are State School Tests Unintentionally Racist?
Standardized testing is far worse than a necessary
evil; the way the test data is interpreted can also
harm the impoverished minority schools that most need
encouragement. So says Lee Jenkins, a former longtime
educator, and administrator in public schools and
universities. “Data from the tests is used to rank
schools and school districts and label them. So, no
matter what minority impoverished schools achieve, they
will almost always be labeled as ‘failures’ because it
is and always has been a ranking system. We survived
this spring because of the pandemic without these
damaging tests. Now is the time to devise a new system
that encourages everyone.” Jenkins is the author of the
just-released book, “How to Create a Perfect School,”
which contains a foreword by Jack Canfield. He can talk
about a better way to gather data to create more
perfect schools. Contact Lee Jenkins at (484) 306-8784;
LJenkins@rtirguests.com
12. ==> How to Stay Close to Children You Can’t See in Person
Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other people have
found themselves cut off from small children whom they
would be able to see were it not for the pandemic.
Phone calls and Zoom sessions are helpful but can still
leave a void, says Laurie Marshall, a longtime educator
and grandparent to 2-year-old Oliver who lives in a
different state. That is why Laurie created a special
book for Oliver to remind him of the experiences they
have already shared until they can see each other again
and as a permanent keepsake. “Now is the time to be
creative,” she says, “for sanity’s sake and to model
resourcefulness to children.” Laurie can explain how
she quickly and inexpensively put together “The
Adventures of Oliver the Penguin,” using a cutout of
Oliver’s face superimposed on a penguin and then took
photos of the cutout all over her home and added some
short descriptive sentences. She says anyone can do
something similar even if they think they aren’t
creative and can share resources for having your book
printed. Contact Laurie Marshall at (415) 360-3304;
lmarshall@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Fitness and Nutrition Pro Says Motivation is Overrated!
Stop beating yourself up for not losing weight and
exercising more. Or for deciding that you will always
be someone who doesn’t feel like getting off the couch.
Motivation is overrated, says exercise physiologist and
certified nutrition coach Kristen Carter. “It is not
something that you either have or you don’t. And, it
doesn’t mean you have some sort of moral failing if you
can’t find it!” Kristen explains that motivation comes
in four varieties, each with their own unique solutions
to make them work for you. She is the author of “Lose
Weight? Exercise More? I Don’t Think So! What to do
when your doctor tells you to make changes for your
health.” Ask her: What are the four varieties? What
simple solutions can you offer people who want to
change a few behaviors for healthier ones? Contact
Kristen Carter at (267) 930-2547;
kacarter@rtirguests.com
14. ==> For Pride Month: Love, Books and Young Adult
LGBTQ Readers
June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBTQ communities
come together and celebrate the freedom to be
themselves. During this challenging time for our nation
when divisiveness, inequality and prejudice are sadly
all too common, four new YA novels remind us of
something we collectively share, the journey to find
ourselves and find love, regardless of gender or race.
Speak with the authors whose highly anticipated LGBTQ-
themed novels are sure to be among the summer’s most
popular reads. Dean Atta (“The Black Flamingo”), Ciara
Smyth (“The Falling in Love Montage”), Tobly McSmith
(“Stay Gold”) and Andrew Eliopulos (“The Fascinators”)
can discuss their new YA novels and the importance of
recognizing Pride Month — now more than ever. Contact
John Angelo at john@premieretv.com
15. ==> Celebrate National Joy Day
With a pandemic, job loss, protests drawing tear gas,
looting and arrests, and an increasingly widening
social divide, joy may be the emotion least felt by
Americans right now. Barry Shore, who is known as The
Ambassador of Joy, recognizes that reality yet he still
believes joy is what will rescue us. A proponent of
National Joy Day on June 24, Shore says, “Joy is the
glue that binds us. Joy enables us to navigate troubled
seas like police brutality, pandemics and joblessness.
It is calming.” Shore wants to encourage people to
celebrate National Joy Day by building social
connections to counter the ill effects of social
distancing. Certainly, if there is anyone who knows how
to find joy amidst tough circumstances it is Shore, a
successful serial entrepreneur with two multimillion-
dollar exits and three issued patents who in 2004
became a quadriplegic overnight from a rare disease.
During the 16 years that followed, Shore has pushed
himself to regain some of his functioning even as he
inspires other people to see the joy in their lives.
Shore can share his 11 strategies for living in joy, an
internal process that emanates from within ourselves,
and the three aspects of building joy. He can also
explain ways people can bring more joy to others. Barry
Shore is a motivational, keynote speaker and the host
of the weekly radio show-podcast “The Joy of Living.”
He is the founder of the JOY of Living Institute and
has been featured on CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and in O
Magazine, Forbes, Daily Herald, Pittsburgh Post-
Gazette, MarketWatch and more. His upcoming book is
“Stress Kills … Joy Heals.” Contact him at (310)
770-4685; barry@barryshore.com
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through past RTIR Newsletters and find hundreds of show
ideas and possible guests at www.rtironline.com