01. The Real Loser in the Fox News Case
02. Royal Drama: The King’s Fractious Family
03. A New Push for Kids’ Internet Safety?
04. The Mysteries of Octopuses
05. From Kids to Seniors: How Pet Therapy Heals
06. Tick Collars and Vegan Diets: Controversial Pet-Care Issues
07. How to Celebrate Mother’s Day When Your Mom Wasn’t Great
08. Do Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability Still Matter at Work?
09. Why We Love Bad News and How It Affects the Murder Rate
10. This Bookie’s Son Is a Sure-Bet Guest
11. The True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia
12. Spring Health: Small Ways to Be Your Own Health Advocate
13. How to Be More Resilient in 5 Minutes a Day
14. Is Life Coaching the Answer to Improving Kids’ Mental Health?
15. How This Former Drug Dealer Turned Her Life Around
1. ==> The Real Loser in the Fox News Case
David Zurawik calls the Fox News-Dominion Voting Systems settlement “a moment lost.” The former long-time media critic for the “Baltimore Sun” says what could have been a watershed moment for journalism and democracy was lost in the $787.5 million settlement. “It was a case that could have made clear to news consumers and providers that consciously lying and causing harm with those lies is not protected by the First Amendment.” He continues, “That courtroom could have become a crucible not just for the public humiliation of Fox, but a national understanding to some extent of how we have arrived at this terrible American moment with democracy drowning in a sea of disinformation and lies.” David Zurawik is a professor of practice in media studies at Goucher College. Contact him at @davidzurawik or Tara de Souza at (410) 337-6316; Tara.deSouza@goucher.edu
2. ==> Royal Drama: The King’s Fractious Family
Britain’s King Charles may wear a crown and live in a palace but he’s got family dramas and dirty laundry just like everyone else. There’s a second wife, an embarrassing brother, and an angry son and daughter-in-law. With his coronation this weekend and the world looking on, Charles is likely hoping his family can hold it all together and provide a picture of the future of the monarchy. All the royals will be in attendance, including Harry, who will be with the family for the first time since the release of his bombshell memoir “Spare.” His wife, Meghan, however, will skip the event. Psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman can discuss how Charles is managing his family drama, why so many Brits are fed up with the monarchy and the royals, and the role of the British tabloids. Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H., frequently appears in the media commentating on news headlines from a psychological and socio-political point of view. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103
3. ==> A New Push for Kids’ Internet Safety?
In just the last few months there has been a flurry of bills introduced across the country purporting to make the internet safer for children and teenagers. Tate Ryan-Mosley, a senior tech policy reporter for “MIT Technology Review,” says the content of the child safety bills varies from state to state. Some focus on limiting data collection from users who are minors. In California, the bills focus on shifting the incentive model for data and online advertising; currently, companies can profit from minors’ online data. Ryan-Mosley can discuss what’s behind the new push, the likelihood the bills can get bipartisan support, how they’ll be enforced if enacted, and why Europe is years ahead of the U.S. on this front. Contact Tate Ryan-Mosley at tate.ryan-mosley@technologyreview.com
4.==> The Mysteries of Octopuses
With their bulbous heads, big eyes, eight limbs and the ability to shape-shift, octopuses (or octopi if you prefer) remain one of the most fascinating sea creatures, but their elusive behavior and the changing nature of their appearance make them difficult to locate, identify, and study. Marine biologist David Scheel has been studying octopuses for more than 25 years and has witnessed a sea change in what we know and are able to discover about octopus physiology and behavior — even an octopus’s inner life. Perhaps most surprising of all, Scheel has discovered that “despite their solitary reputation, octopuses like closeness.” Invite him to share what he’s learned about octopuses, how climate change is affecting the species, and stories and legends of Indigenous peoples that illuminate our relationship with these creatures across centuries. David Scheel is a field-oriented ecologist with experience in remote and wilderness settings in Africa and Alaska. He joined Alaska Pacific University in 2000 and teaches courses in marine biology, aquarium husbandry, and animal behavior. His new book is “Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
5. ==> From Kids to Seniors: How Pet Therapy Heals
We love our pets! They offer companionship, love, exercise, and inclusion. May is National Pet Month and a great time to discuss the many ways pets can help us lead healthier lives. Medical researchers have found the simple act of petting a dog lowers our blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety. Larry Grogan has seen firsthand how pets can work wonders for people struggling with mental and physical health issues. Larry and his tiny dog Scrappy were a pet therapy team for eight years at a children’s hospital where they worked with thousands of suffering children. With the need for pet therapy outpacing the supply, he is on a mission to increase the number of pet therapy teams worldwide. Larry can talk about what your listeners need to know about accessing pet therapy or training to become a therapy team, which he says is easier than you think! Contact Larry Grogan at (423) 557-1908; larrygrogan5@gmail.com
6. ==> Tick Collars and Vegan Diets: Controversial Pet-Care Issues
It’s no secret that we live in a hyper-polarized society, but do our disagreements extend to how we care for our pets? Pet owners are faced with all kinds of choices (from diet to grooming and training) with emotionally charged proponents on each side of every debate. The controversy surrounding many of these choices may surprise new pet parents, but integrative veterinarian Carol Osborne has heard it all! After more than 20 years in her own practice, she’ll share the facts at the heart of these issues so that you can make the right choice for your furry friend. From the safety of flea and tick collars to debates over declawing, vegan pet diets and more, Dr. Carol can answer your toughest pet-care questions. Carol Osborne, DVM, is a nationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of functional medicine. She is the founder and director of the Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic and an Emmy-nominated television journalist. She is a regular contributor to several television shows and networks including “Fox & Friends,” “Today,” Discovery’s Animal Planet, and “Good Day LA.” Contact Mackenzie August at (661) 255-8283; mackenzie@steveallenmedia.com
7. ==> How to Celebrate Mother’s Day When Your Mom Wasn’t Great
On Mother’s Day, many of us will be thinking of or celebrating the day with our moms, but not everyone had a great childhood and some people may not even know their mother. Tammy Adams was abused and neglected as a child and yet says she approaches the day with love and forgiveness. “For me, Mother’s Day is very much like the celebration of life and being thankful.” Invite the minister and master psychic on your show to share what saved her from living a bitter life after a childhood filled with neglect and abuse. A mother herself to four children, Tammy can discuss how she healed, why she is now thankful for her mother, and how others can break free from traumas that continue to haunt them. Tammy Adams is an international speaker, podcast host and the author of “Secrets to Your Chakras” and the upcoming “Spiritual Table Talk: The Elements of Healing.” Contact her at (833) 742-6268; info@lifepurposeshaman.com
8. ==> Do Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability Still Matter at Work?
At a time when it seems that society is awash in scandals, embellishments, and fabrications, is it still important to treat others the way we want to be treated, to be honest, and act with integrity? And how important are these character traits in the ever-changing world of work? Beverly Williams, J.D., an employment professional, arbitrator, and former HR executive, can share an eye-opening look at the lack of civility at work and offer some reasons why some people, particularly inexperienced employees, may now believe that there are fewer consequences to being blunt and even discriminatory. Williams will talk about why so many people falsely believe they have more power over their employers than they truly do and ways this may stall their advancement. Williams is the author of “Your GPS to Employment Success: How to Find and Succeed in the Right Job.” She is a partner at Wong Fleming PC in Princeton, N.J., where she specializes in labor and employment law. She also hosts the “Your Employment Matters with Beverly Williams” podcast. Williams earned an M.P.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School. Ask her: What are some of the lost opportunities the overly confident may be missing out on? Why is the willingness to learn new skills sometimes more important than you’d think? What’s involved in being the employee your employer wants to keep even amid layoffs? Contact Beverly at (973) 576-5841; bwilliams@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Why We Love Bad News and How It Affects the Murder Rate
Watch the evening news and you’ll surely see one story after another about car crashes, fires, murders, and hit-and-runs. “We love bad news and bad news sells,” says Elizabeth Power, an adjunct instructor in psychiatry and expert on trauma. “The media recognize the powerful pull of ‘if it bleeds, it leads,’” she adds. Powers says bad news does have a positive side: paying attention to it can make us more vigilant about staying safe. But she says all the bad news we marinate in (the work of a serial killer and the reporting of crime statistics) ultimately leaves us feeling bad and powerless. She’ll explain how that can lead to a loss of our ability to cope, an increase in feelings of powerlessness, and a reverence for famous criminals. She says some people can even turn to violence themselves in a misguided attempt to feel powerful again. Elizabeth Power is the founding director of The Trauma-Informed Academy and the author of “Healer: Reducing Crises,” which offers everyday actions people can take to recover from traumatic experiences and be more resilient in the face of stress and discomfort. Elizabeth is an adjunct instructor in psychiatry at Georgetown Medical Center and has been on NBC News, NPR, and in the “Wall Street Journal.” Contact Elizabeth Power at (615) 903-0906; epower@rtirguests.com
10. ==> This Bookie’s Son Is a Sure-Bet Guest
As the son of a big-time bookie, Steven Feinberg, Ph.D., learned a lot about the world as he watched his father’s 24/7 gambling lifestyle including losing the equivalent of $90,000 on a single football game. “My life was a training ground for the handling and mishandling of uncertainty,” Dr. Feinberg observes. Now, Steven is ready to share with your audience stories about his father and how Steven managed to see the film “The Godfather” with an actual wise guy at his side. He’ll also share the three steps he learned about winning more from life by utilizing the Bookie vantage point. A one-of-a-kind guest, Steven is a top 1% executive consultant who 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
11. ==> The True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the timing appeared perfect to bring Sesame Street to millions of children living in the former Soviet Union. With the Muppets envisioned as ideal ambassadors of Western idealistic values, no one anticipated just how challenging and dangerous this would prove to be. Invite American TV producer Natasha Lance Rogoff to discuss her experience producing a Russian version of the classic children’s show. Natasha Lance Rogoff is an award-winning American television producer, filmmaker, and journalist who has produced television news and documentaries in Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union for CBS, NBC, ABC, and PBS. She executive produced “Ulitsa Sezam,” the Russian adaptation of “Sesame Street,” between 1993 and 1997. “Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia” is her book. Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853 (cell); LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com or @lissa_warren
12. ==> Spring Health: Small Ways to Be Your Own Health Advocate
Chances are your lifestyle choices are hurting you, but there are countless things you can do to improve your health and postpone the onset of chronic disease. Emily Gold Mears says spring is the perfect time to take small steps toward better health. Forget the urge to change everything at once, Mears says, “Every incremental change you make will result in a positive impact. Every lifestyle alteration will contribute to your living a longer, healthier and happier life.” She’ll share ways to reduce your toxin exposure at home, explain why you should prioritize your oral health, and reveal the surprising benefits of optimizing your indoor light exposure. Emily Gold Mears is a former attorney and a citizen scientist whose research focuses on the intersection of functional and allopathic medicine and the critical requirements for individuals to become their own health-care advocates. She is the author of “Optimizing Your Health: An Approachable Guide to Reducing Your Risk of Chronic Disease.” Contact her at emily@emilygoldmears.com; egoldmears@aol.com
13. ==> How to Be More Resilient in 5 Minutes a Day
Why are some people better able to handle life’s blows than others? Can you learn how to bounce back from your challenges? Linda Karimo, who has developed a course on being more resilient, has researched this issue and says she can teach anyone — even those whose personalities struggle with change — to be more resilient, starting with a personalized five-minute activity that will lower your stress and help you think clearly about what you can change, what you can’t and how to deal with the difference. In addition to her upcoming resilience course, Linda is the developer of Initiative: “After Hours” by Linda Karimo, an education-focused community of individual and family members concerned about eye and mental health, and the author of her mother’s story, “I Know My Way Memoir,” which explores how normal living is possible with a little bit of adaption. Contact Linda Karimo at (914) 944-1474; lkarimo@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Is Life Coaching the Answer to Improving Kids’ Mental Health?
With child mental health declared a national emergency, experts calling for new solutions, parents looking for help, and children suffering needlessly, there’s never been a more urgent time to talk about the gap in children’s mental health: prevention. Renaye Thornborrow can share how life coaching can help children navigate the ups and downs of growing up so that they are confident and prepared to thrive in life. Since 2013, Renaye has certified hundreds of child life coaches in 30-plus countries who use her story-based coaching curriculum to help children develop 27 mindset skills for self-esteem, confidence, resilience, happiness, and success. Renaye is the CEO of Adventures in Wisdom and the creator of the WISDOM Coach Certification Program. Ask her: What is life coaching for kids? How is life coaching different from counseling? How can coaching benefit children? Contact Renaye Thornborrow at (512) 222-6659; renaye@AdventuresInWisdom.com
15. ==> How This Former Drug Dealer Turned Her Life Around
As a single teenage mother who grew up in a highly dysfunctional broken home, author Tressa Mitchener fell in with a bad crowd and turned to drug dealing. She was ultimately arrested and received a 30-year to life federal prison sentence. But thanks to her strong belief in a higher power, her sentence was miraculously reduced to five years. She went on to earn a B.A. in psychology, became a respected Christian counselor and best-selling author, and married her dream man. “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.” 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