01. 6 Lessons from 6 Months of Ukraine War
02. Polio’s Back. Could Smallpox Return Too?
03. NASA Shows Off Armageddon Fighting Technology
04. What You Still Don’t Know about Monty Python
05. How Not to Hire a Hit Man
06. How Did a Big-Time Bookie’s Son Become a Big-Time Business Coach?
07. How to Ease the Back-to-School Transition
08. Teens Are Anxious. How to Help
09. Cruises Are Back! Hear from This Travel Expert
10. The Real Day the Music Died
11. 3 Surprising Ways to Lessen Chronic Pain
12. Award-winning Senior Athlete Began Sprinting at 61 (He’ll Get You Off the Couch)
13. What No One Ever Tells You about Being an Entrepreneur
14. This Guest Reveals Why Rejection Is a Gift
15. Why the First and Last 15 Minutes of Your Day Are the Most Important
1.==> 6 Lessons from 6 Months of Ukraine War
Six months after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, it’s still not clear how the war will end. Daniel Riesman says, whatever happens, we can already derive some lessons from the war so far. The author of “Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century” says one powerful insight is the importance of individual leaders. Another, he says, is the underappreciated power of the underdog. He says the war is also a reminder that unconstrained autocrats make horrendous mistakes and adds that the war has also shown the power of Kremlin propaganda in keeping citizens unaware of what’s really going on. But Treisman says the biggest lesson is one the West can no longer avoid. “Putin’s Ukrainian aggression has removed any last doubt that we are in a new Cold War. This time, the West’s adversary is not just Russia, but an ever-closer partnership between the Kremlin and China.” Daniel Treisman is a professor of political science at the University of California, Los Angeles. Contact him at (310) 794-5875; treisman@polisci.ucla.edu
2. ==> Polio’s Back. Could Smallpox Return Too?
Polio was eliminated from the Western Hemisphere in 1991 so the recent discovery of a man paralyzed by polio in New York State is shocking. Adults now scramble to double-check their vaccination status with their mothers and make sure their own kids are up to date. They also wonder if they should worry about smallpox and other long-forgotten viruses resurfacing. Luckily, health experts say the smallpox situation is very different thanks to a successful 10-year global campaign that Bee Bloeser knows well. Bee and her family moved to West Africa in 1969 when the CDC dispatched her husband to join the effort. She’ll discuss the vaccination issues faced then, the role politics played, and how barriers were overcome in finally eradicating a disease that had plagued humanity for as many as 3,000 years. She can compare that experience with our challenges from COVID and the resurgence of other preventable diseases. An award-winning author and engaging public speaker, Bee Bloeser has been featured on NPR’s “Journeys of Discovery,” NPR KCBX Radio’s show “Issues and Ideas” and on numerous other radio programs and podcasts. Her book is “Vaccines and Bayonets: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War.” Contact her at (520) 214-5971; bbloeser@rtirguests.com
3. ==> NASA Shows Off Armageddon Fighting Technology
NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), the world’s first mission to test technology for defending Earth against potential asteroid or comet hazards, will impact its target asteroid (which poses no threat to Earth) later this month and the agency wants the media and public to see what it hopes will be a great spectacle. This test will show a spacecraft can autonomously navigate to a target asteroid and intentionally collide with it to change the asteroid’s motion in a way that can be measured using ground-based telescopes. DART will provide important data to help better prepare for an asteroid that might pose an impact hazard to Earth, should one ever be discovered. The public can support the DART mission and become a “Planetary Defender!” by taking a short quiz to earn a certificate and badge they can download, print, and share on social media. NASA has several media days and briefings in the days leading up to the test and remote live and taped interviews are available. Details are available on NASA’s website. Contact Josh Handal at (202) 374-9832; joshua.a.handal@nasa.gov or Justyna Surowiec at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory at (240) 302-9268; Justyna.Surowiec@jhuapl.edu
4.==> 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
5. ==> How Not to Hire a Hit Man
Melisa Schonfield was a successful psychotherapist and a respected pillar of her community, who had never been in trouble. But when her daughter’s boyfriend began abusing her daughter and young grandson, Melisa decided to take matters into her own hands by hiring a hit man to dispose of the boyfriend. The hit man she attempted to hire turned out to be an undercover cop and Melisa spent more than three years in prison. “When my grandson was five days old, my daughter’s boyfriend threatened to punch him if he didn’t stop crying,” she says. “He [the boyfriend] never got into trouble because he fooled the police.” Melisa can share the details of her harrowing journey, and how the justice system failed her. She is the author of “Bitter or Better: The Melisa Schonfield Story.” Contact her at (305) 424-7507; mschonfield@rtirguests.com
6. ==> How Did a Big-Time Bookie’s Son Become a Big-Time Business Coach?
Here’s why Steven Feinberg, Ph.D., stands out from all the business coaches you could interview: he’s considered one of the top 1% of executive coaches in the country who has advised Apple, Google, LinkedIn, Visa, Oracle, FedEx and more. He’s a neuro strategist who can talk about why the logical solution too often fails, how to develop a wisdom detector that lets you see things others fail to notice, and much more. Ask him: What is sagacity? How can you identify patterns others miss? How do you defy expectations? What is the No. 1 foe of leaders? What was it like growing up as the son of a big-time bookie? Dr. Feinberg taught for nearly 30 years at the University of San Francisco School of Management and leadership and has guest lectured at Stanford, Cal Poly and UC Berkeley Extension. His latest book is “Do What Others Say Can’t Be Done … Play The Meta-Game,” and features interviews he conducted with 50 world-class leaders and entrepreneurs. Contact Dr. Steven Feinberg at (650) 374-4540; sfeinberg@rtirguests.com
7. ==> How to Ease the Back-to-School Transition
Going back to school can be difficult for young children. But it doesn’t have to be. “A strong partnership between home and school is not only the key for a successful transition, but it also sets your child up proactively for the entire year,” author and long-time educator Lori Lynn Ahrends says. “Setting the tone for good habits, positive attitude and self-assurance will make all the difference as young children prepare for learning, and it is quite simple to put in place within your daily rituals.” Lori Lynn can offer many ideas on how to incorporate intentional strategies for successful school transitions to support your child’s learning. She is an award-winning educator and international speaker with a master’s in education; a singer/songwriter; creator of the Overall Buddies early childhood learning website and author of the children’s book “I’m a Pig.” Contact Lori Lynn at (402) 235-4292; lahrends@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Teens Are Anxious. How to Help
U.S. teenagers have more reasons than ever to be anxious, and it’s costing them. Normal teen pressures were bad enough, but today’s youth are dealing with additional stresses in the form of pandemic isolation, increased violence, heightened social pressure, and a rapidly changing global landscape that can make entry into adulthood a terrifying prospect. With suicide rates spiking among teens and young adults, and even in preteen children, now is the right time to interview author and teen coach Lee Vallely (pronounced Vall-ELL-ee). Lee offers strategies that your audience can use today to help teens manage stress levels in a highly charged world and find real happiness. Ask him: How can positive thinking be bad for your health? Why does he call his program for students “Shift Happens”? What steps can parents and educators take to help struggling teens today? Contact Lee Vallely at (561) 658-1266 or lvallely@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Cruises Are Back! Hear from This Travel Expert
There are some great deals on cruises right now, but if you want to spare yourself headaches while saving some cash get little-known insider tips from travel expert Cindy Bertram. “I recently went on a cruise, and the process has become much more efficient due to COVID protocols,” she says. “And there are new apps that you can download for everything from making advance dining reservations to ensuring hassle-free disembarking.” Cindy can also share why it’s crucial to obtain travel insurance, the special features of various cruise ship lines and more. She is a communications, media and branding specialist who has spent many years in the travel and cruise industry and is the author of “How Six Women Executives Steer the Cruise Industry Today” and “Message from the Dog…Learning from Great Humans.” Contact Cindy at (219) 775-6488; cbertram@rtirguests.com
10. ==> The Real Day the Music Died
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 David, 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
11. ==> 3 Surprising Ways to Lessen Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be debilitating and life-changing and many sufferers give up hope for relief. Help make your listeners’ lives more comfortable by interviewing Trevor Campbell, M.D., who will share tips for controlling stress, managing negative thoughts, and paying attention to the story they tell their friends and family members about their illnesses, all things that can lead to lessening pain. Ask him: Can what we are thinking affect our pain levels? How can people feel less stressed when they hurt? Dr. Campbell is a family physician who has worked in multidisciplinary pain management and opioids reduction programs and has served as a medical director for a leading pain management provider in Western Canada. He graduated from the University of Cape Town. He hosts the holistic “Healthscape” podcast. Dr. Campbell’s book is “The Language of Pain: Fast Forward Your Recovery to Stop Hurting.” Contact Trevor Campbell at (250) 217-7832; tcampbell@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Award-winning Senior Athlete Began Sprinting at 61 (He’ll Get You Off the Couch)
Exercising is one of those things that we all know we should be doing, and yet we can find endless reasons not to. The issue can be even harder to tackle for those over 40 because many people believe that the older you get, the more pointless it is to try getting into shape. National champion senior athlete John Hurd is here to tell your audience that it’s never too late and motivate them to reclaim their physical health at any age. John began training on his own to run competitively at the age of 61, and holds a total of 162 gold medals, is a 15-year undefeated Florida State Sprint Champion in three separate events, and a two-time National Senior Olympic Sprint Champion. The author of “Johnny Run Lately” and “A Sprint to the Gold,” John shares his success story with your audience as well as a simple-to-use spreadsheet that works better than fitness apps to help anyone achieve their exercise goals, and much more. Interview this inspiring guest who puts young couch potatoes to shame. Contact John Hurd at (850) 367-8411 or jhurd@rtirguests.com
13. ==> What No One Ever Tells You about Being an Entrepreneur
Being an entrepreneur is hard work. It takes dedication, perseverance and a commitment to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Unfortunately, for many that can mean working late into the night, grabbing unhealthy food on the go and not making time for exercise, relationships and fun. Invite Dr. Alvin Perry to share how he used the same resourcefulness and resiliency that made him successful in business to help him transform his health when he suddenly discovered he’d gained 70 pounds over ten years. You’ll hear how he created a system using three simple principles that changed the course of his life and pushed him onto the path of personal wellness. A successful entrepreneur, small-business expert and author, Alvin Perry, DBA, is also ISSA certified in personal training and nutrition. His latest book, “Just Fat!” chronicles his 80-pound weight-loss journey. Contact him at (678) 788-7529; aperry@rtirguests.com
14. ==> 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 doctor 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
15. ==> Why the First and Last 15 Minutes of Your Day Are the Most Important
Did you know that you can change your life, get rid of stress, and feel more in control of your destiny in only 30 minutes a day? Interview Theo Prodromitis, the author of “The Balance Between the Hustle and the Flow: Knowing When to Make Things Happen and When to Let Them Happen,” to discover why the first and last 15 minutes of your day are the most important and how to maximize them. Theo is an award-winning entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and best-selling author of “The Success Formula” with Jack Canfield. What does neuroscience tell us about our brain activity at the beginning and end of each day? What are the four things we should do every morning? Contact Theo Prodromitis at (813) 701-5414; tprodromitis@rtirguests.com