01. Flo Rida, Spice, and Rotimi on Summer Hit, ‘Energy’
02. Shark Bait? Is It Safe to Go in the Water?
03. High Court Ends Affirmative Action in College: What’s Next?
04. 3 Reasons to Roll Up Your Sleeve This Fall
05. July 4th Was Earth’s Hottest Day
06. Extreme Heat Fuels More Wildfires
07. The Deadly Black/White Swimming Disparity
08. Americans Waste Millions on Health Insurance They Don’t Need
09. Imposter Syndrome – Why it Hits Women Harder
10. Brag the Right Way and Get What You Want
11. Mike Tyson’s Mother-in-Law on Her Wrongful Conviction and More
12. A Psychic Perspective: Life Is a Vacation From the Afterlife
13. How to Trade Worry for Wonder and Joy
14. What Nobody Tells You About Bouncing Back From Big Setbacks
15. Like Hulu’s ‘Flamin’ Hot’? This Family Invented Tater Tots
1.==> Flo Rida, Spice, and Rotimi on Summer Hit, ‘Energy’
What’s this year’s “song of the summer?” Grammy-nominated artists Flo Rida and Spice the Queen of Dancehall, along with artist/actor Rotimi, are vying for the hot spot with their new release “Energy.” The track comes on the heels of Spice’s standout performance at the 2023 BET Awards. She also stars in the new season of MTV’s “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta.” Rotimi is a Nigerian American actor and singer who appeared on the Starz series “Boss and Power.” Flo Rida is probably best known for his breakout single “Low.” All three are available to talk about the new single. Email your request to Spice@StrategicHeights.com
2. ==> Shark Bait? Is It Safe to Go in the Water?
Swimmers may be hesitant to go in the ocean after several reported shark sightings and attacks over the July 4th holiday weekend. In New York, drone patrols have intensified over Long Island beaches after five shark bites were reported in just two days. In the meantime, swimmers in Pensacola, Florida, ran to safety on Tuesday after spotting a shark’s fin in shallow waters. Despite the apparent uptick in encounters over the past few days, shark attacks on humans are highly unlikely, says Gavin Naylor, director for Shark Research at the University of Florida. You’re about 200 times more likely to drown than be bitten by a shark, according to Naylor. “If sharks were targeting humans, we’d have at least a hundred bites every day,” Naylor says. Despite the low risk, Naylor says beachgoers can take precautions to minimize the chances of a shark encounter and advises against swimming alone, venturing too far offshore, swimming in areas with schooling fish, wearing jewelry and swimming near fishing activities. Contact him at (352) 273-1954; gnaylor@flmnh.ufl.edu
3. ==> High Court Ends Affirmative Action in College: What’s Next?
The Supreme Court just ruled that the Affirmative Action programs at Harvard and UNC are unconstitutional. Where does that leave colleges seeking diversity in their student body? Will this decision further divide the country? Invite Alicia J. Moore, author of the best-selling book “Crushing it in College: Your 7-Step Guide to an Awesome Adventure,” to discuss what the ruling means for students and how this decision can actually be used to strengthen diversity and heal the divide. Moore talks to audiences at high schools and colleges across the country about why a college education is even more important today, despite the costs, when it comes to future employment prospects, and developing self-confidence and critical thinking. Contact her at (408) 569-1267; aliciajmoore@comcast.net
4. ==> 3 Reasons to Roll Up Your Sleeve This Fall
This fall, Americans will be urged to get shots against the flu, COVID and, if they’re older, R.S.V. The vaccination push is an attempt to avoid a winter “tripledemic” like the one that occurred last winter. For older and immunocompromised Americans, all three vaccines are a “godsend,” according to Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children’s Hospital and an advisor to the Food and Drug Administration. “The number of elders who die of viral infection every winter in our intensive care units, and also sometimes in the summer, is large — it’s in the tens of thousands of individuals,” Dr. Levy says. There are still questions about how the vaccines are best administered, who is most likely to benefit, and what the risks may be. It also remains to be seen how many Americans will opt for the shots. 71% of adults 65 and older got a flu shot this past winter, but only about 43% chose to get a COVID booster. Contact Dr. Ofer Levy at (617) 919-2900; ofer.levy@childrens.harvard.edu
5. ==> July 4th Was Earth’s Hottest Day
Scientists report that Tuesday was the hottest day on Earth with the global average temperature reaching 62.92 degrees Fahrenheit. “It’s not a record to celebrate and it won’t be a record for long, with northern hemisphere summer still mostly ahead and El Niño developing,” said Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment in the UK. Friederike (Fredi) says, “The new global average temperature record is another wake-up call. This day is just a number, but for many people and ecosystems it’s a loss of life and livelihood.” Friederike Otto is a senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. Her main research interest is on extreme weather events such as droughts, heat waves and storms, and understanding whether and to what extent these are made more likely or intense due to climate change — known by experts as “climate change attribution.” Contact her at f.otto@imperial.ac.uk
6. ==> Extreme Heat Fuels More Wildfires
Climate change is not only causing extreme heat but also increasing the hot and dry conditions that help fires spread faster, burn longer and rage more intensely. Hotter weather also saps moisture from vegetation, turning it into dry fuel that helps fires to spread. For a timely take on this subject, interview wildfire expert Jim Moseley, who can explain what this wildfire threat encompasses, and how we can protect ourselves. Jim has developed patented products and methods to ease the danger and even prevent wildfires. Invite Jim to discuss what causes the wildfire scourge, what we should be doing, which locations and populations are in the worst wildfire and polluting danger zones, and even how NASA is involved with fighting the war against wildfires. Contact Jim at (818) 486-8662; jmoseley@rtirguests.com
7. ==> The Deadly Black/White Swimming Disparity
Swimming isn’t just a recreational activity, it’s a skill that can save lives, but few African Americans know how to swim thanks to pre-civil rights-era Jim Crow policies. “Swimming became popularized among white Americans in the 1920s and 1930s at municipal swimming pools and in the 1950s and 1960s at suburban club pools,” explains Jeff Wiltse, a history professor at the University of Montana and the author of “Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America.” He says, “Black Americans were largely denied access to these pools and the swim lessons that occurred at them. As a result, swimming never became integral to Black Americans’ recreation and sports culture and was not passed down from generation to generation.” Instead, he says, Black parents passed along a fear of water to their children and the swimming disparity persists to the present. A 2014 study by the CDC found the rate of drowning in swimming pools for Black kids and teens is more than five times that of white children. Jeff Wiltse has appeared as a featured commentator for NPR, the BBC, ABC News, Vice News, Al Jazeera, the “CBS Early Show,” and other media outlets. Contact him at jeffrey.wiltse@umontana.edu
8. ==> Americans Waste Millions on Health Insurance They Don’t Need
For many Americans, health insurance costs can range from a significant expense to an exorbitant cost they can’t afford. Even those with free or low-cost policies often end up paying a lot out of pocket for co-pays and specialized care. What if you could reduce what you pay for health care by 30% or more, as well as your reliance on health-care visits and pharmaceuticals? Dr. Dinesh Verma shows your audience how to integrate self-administered alternative therapies with modern medicine for incredible results. With more than 45 years as a doctor and 18 years of research and experience in integrative medicine, he delivers science-backed methods to heal faster and recover from even serious illness — so you’ll spend less money on health care and more time feeling great. Ask him: How did your mother miraculously recover from late-stage breast cancer? How does integrative medicine make modern treatments even more effective? What is the REMIM technique? Why did you write your latest book, “Ipsicura Effect?” Contact Dinesh Verma at (248) 817-8296; dverma@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Imposter Syndrome – Why it Hits Women Harder
They may look perfectly put together on the outside but inside many successful women suffer from feelings of not being good enough — despite all they have accomplished. What can they do to feel as good inside as they appear to be on the outside? Interview Tonya Comer to find out. The author of “In High Heels on a Ladder,” this life coach and speaker can share the seven power tools she used to rise above her own shame and self-doubt that kept her from fully enjoying her success as one of the Top 20 African American Interior Designers in the country. Raised in the projects of Pittsburgh, Pa., Tonya has held her own among A-listers and power players, surviving the sexism, ageism, and stereotyping of designers commonly held by people in the construction trades. She holds an MBA from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad Graduate School of Management and a B.A. from Duquesne University. She studied interior design at London Metropolitan University. Tonya formerly worked in broadcasting, and in sales, marketing, advertising, and consulting for corporate America. Contact Sudanna Morris at (215) 667-8464; info@tonyacomer.com
10. ==> Brag the Right Way and Get What You Want
Are you afraid to brag because you think bragging is bad? Most of us were taught not to brag but according to Winifred Bragg, a medical doctor, and author of the best-selling book “How to Create Your Bragg Book for a Competitive Job Market,” you can get what you want by bragging the right way. She’ll explain what it means to brag effectively (she spells it bragg) and help your audience develop their own 30-second braggs. She says, “Think of bragging as simply telling others how to solve ‘their’ problem. They need you.” Ask her: What does BRAGG stand for? How did you use the TheBraggFactor® to repay your hefty medical school loan? Can you give some examples of braggs? A nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Bragg has appeared in numerous TV and print media and been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. She’s been quoted as an expert in “Redbook,” “Women’s World,” and “Self” magazine. Contact Winifred Bragg at (757) 434-7425; drbragg@thebraggfactor.com
11. ==> Mike Tyson’s Mother-in-Law on Her Wrongful Conviction and More
Rita Ali was a distinguished Philadelphia socialite and among the few African American women boxing PR professionals who hobnobbed with such famous fighters as Muhammad Ali, Michael Spinks, and Mike Tyson, who is now her son-in-law. Then it all came crashing down when she — along with her daughter and son — was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for allegedly funneling public funds through a partnership between the Sister Clara Muhammad School and the Community College of Philadelphia. The indictment alleged that the defendants profited off of a ghost employee scam to provide adult education classes. “I was convicted and sentenced three times on virtually the same charges for a crime I didn’t commit, which amounted to triple jeopardy,” she says. She is the author of “Triple Jeopardy: 3 Strikes But Not Out,” a life coach, and founder of the nonprofit We 2 Matter, which provides resources for previously incarcerated women. Contact Rita Ali at (917) 243-9214; rali@rtirguests.com
12. ==> A Psychic Perspective: Life Is a Vacation From the Afterlife
According to psychic medium June Edward, no matter how tough your present life may seem, it represents a vacation from what happens after you die. As June will explain, having a body that can taste, smell and have sex — among other things — is a treat because those senses will not be present after death; that is why people who have passed on live vicariously through us. With June as your guest, you can have a fascinating discussion about what your life circumstances may be trying to teach you, what the Other Side is like, the difficult process involved before being reborn and more. June is a psychic medium who passed to the Other Side during surgery at the age of 27 and came back by choice. She fully embraced her gifts at 52 and has since worked on missing person cases and consulted with many well-known paranormal groups and authors. She is the author of “The 5 Love Lessons” and other books. Ask her: Can you tell us about the spirit who showed up in your shower? Are angels a separate race? Can people who passed away see everything we do? Are jerks still jerks in the afterlife? Contact June Edward at (508) 259-1231; juneedward111@gmail.com
13. ==> How to Trade Worry for Wonder and Joy
Everyone struggles with worry and stress on a day-to-day basis. What if you could let go of the burden of worry and enjoy peace every day, regardless of what’s happening in your life? Certified life coach and author Valerie Galloway can help your audience stop worrying and start living. Valerie empowers you to tap into your own internal resources and trade worry for wonder and joy. Learn how to accomplish personal goals, improve relationships, and move forward with confidence! A certified ICF coach with a bachelor’s in community health and a master’s in social science, Valerie is the author of “Steal, Kill & Destroy: A Spiritual Guide to Overcoming Addiction and Loss.” Contact Valerie Galloway at (917) 994-8841; vgalloway@rtirguests.com
14. ==> What Nobody Tells You About Bouncing Back From Big Setbacks
Are you prepared for the major problems life can throw at you? When you suffer a serious setback, whether it’s a divorce, losing a job, surviving a disaster such as a house fire, ending a relationship, or struggling with life-altering health issues, dealing with grief is a huge part of the process. Unfortunately, the majority of advice for conquering the aftermath of life’s worst curveballs does not address grief at all. Frank DiMaio can help your audience recover from the big things and find ways to enjoy life. He developed a way to help anyone move forward from being emotionally stuck in grief. Frank’s new book is “A Promise Made, A Promise Kept: A Husband’s Journey Through Journaling to Heal the Loss of His Spouse.” Contact Frank DiMaio at (401) 205-3325; fdimaio@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Like Hulu’s ‘Flamin’ Hot’? This Family Invented Tater Tots
Audiences are eating up the hit movie “Flamin’ Hot” which tells the story of the Frito Lay janitor who invented the company’s Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Take a look at how another iconic food came to be when you interview cousins Les and Steve Grigg. They’ll share how visionary brothers Nephi and Golden Grigg created, promoted and established Ore-Ida and its iconic Tater Tots™ in the 1950s and eventually sold it to Heinz at a handsome profit. Hear fascinating Tater Tot™ facts — Americans consume more than 70 million of them a year — what the 20 most iconic American foods are and other cool stuff. Ask them: How did the Griggs manage to have Tater Tots™ make their debut at the newly constructed Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami? How did Ore-Ida get its name? How did thriftiness lead to the birth of Tater Tots™? Steve Grigg is Nephi’s son and Les is Nephi’s grandnephew. Contact Les Grigg at (208) 589-0065; griggnyle@gmail.com; available last-minute