01. Russia’s Second Front in Europe
02. Is Biden Going from Denial to Panic?
03. A Hotline for Career Help
04. She’s Defying Alzheimer’s Dreaded Prognosis
05. Whatever Happened to ‘The New Zoo Revue’?
06. Talk About ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ With This Guest
07. Looking for Unconditional Love? Beware These Love Blockers
08. Trauma Surgeon: What Really Goes on in the OR
09. Why You Get SAD This Time of Year (and Ways to Fight It)
10. How You Can Avoid America’s No. 1 Killer
11. What Is Healthy Anger?
12. This DJ Came Straight Out of Compton to Become a Loving Single Dad
13. Can This Hypnotherapist Really Talk to Aliens?
14. How Our Past Lives Affect Our Current Life
15. Feel-Good Show: Why ‘Dirty Dancing’ Continues to Offer Hope, Optimism
1. ==> Russia’s Second Front in Europe
The Balkans have been at the center of power competition for centuries, and Russia has long played a leading role. Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, says the region is now on the precipice of becoming a geopolitical flashpoint. She can discuss why tensions in the Balkans are rising and how Moscow is seeking to leverage ongoing instability to maintain its influence and weaken the European Union and NATO. Stradner will explain what the Ukraine war has meant for Russia’s role in the Balkans and why the West must stop Vladimir Putin from provoking conflict in the region. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy. To arrange an interview, contact FDD media relations at press@fdd.org
2. ==> Is Biden Going from Denial to Panic?
Last weekend, Politico published the latest in a wave of stories about President Biden’s prospects for re-election. The article pointed out that the president is trailing the presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump in the majority of the latest polling. Jeff Cohen says the Biden campaign is going from denial to panic mode. “The bleak poll numbers might actually understate the problem, as they measure only voter discontent and not activist discontent. For months next summer and fall, Democratic activists will be needed to win over undecided voters and mobilize occasional voters. But many activists who worked hard to elect Biden over Trump in 2020 now have little enthusiasm for the president, due to his policies on climate, racial justice, Gaza and other vital concerns.” Jeff Cohen is co-founder of RootsAction.org, which is sponsoring the Step Aside Joe campaign. He is a retired journalism professor at Ithaca College and founder of the media watch group FAIR. Cohen was a Bernie Sanders delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Contact him at jeff@rootsaction.org, @Roots_Action
3. ==> A Hotline for Career Help
The labor market is loosening and companies appear to be entering the new year cautiously. To help navigate the current job market, invite Andrew Challenger, senior VP at the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc., to share tips for anyone looking for work now. Listeners will discover the hidden job market, how to switch industries and ways to explain a career gap. They’ll also hear how they can get free career and job-search advice during the upcoming two-day Challenger Hotline. On Dec. 26 and 27, the company will suspend normal business operations so its staff of professional job-search coaches can help callers. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (314) 807-1568; colleenmadden@challengergray.com
4. ==> She’s Defying Alzheimer’s Dreaded Prognosis
Four and a half years ago, Rebecca Chopp was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s. She was then 67 years old and the chancellor of the University of Denver. She was told in six months she would not be able to button her blouse. Instead of denying it or going home to slowly give in to the disease, Rebecca chose to fight. Today Rebecca is still vibrant, sharp, and helping others manage and live with the devastating disease. Invite her to discuss the benefits of early diagnosis, how changing her lifestyle allowed her to meet the disease head-on and slow the progression, as well as current medications and those about to be approved by the FDA. Discover how learning to paint and other creative activities have helped Rebecca sustain her cognitive abilities and allow her to continue to live independently. She is currently working with the National Alzheimer’s Association and the Morgridge Family Foundation to raise awareness about the disease. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; (703) 400-1099 (cell) or johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
5. ==> Whatever Happened to ‘The New Zoo Revue’?
If you are old enough, chances are you grew up watching “The New Zoo Revue.” The show was syndicated from 1972 to 1977 and episodes ran well into the 1990s. The show was the brainchild of Doug Momary who, along with his wife, Emmy Jo, created an answer to Sesame Street, focusing on relationships and feelings. Doug wrote every song and storyline for their 550-plus shows. Besides their wildly popular Facebook livestreams, they recently appeared at Comic Con in San Diego, where fans cried when they saw them. This weekend they’ll be at the Greater Philadelphia Toy show. Invite them on your show and find out what they’ve been doing for the past 50 years and why they think the response to them has been so overwhelming. Contact Danny Deraney at (323) 333-8501; @dannyderaney
6. ==> Talk About ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ With This Guest
Director Martin Scorsese’s latest film “Killers of the Flower Moon” is getting a lot of Oscar buzz. Based on actual events and starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Lily Gladstone, the movie deals with a little-known part of history that occurred in the 1920s after oil was discovered by members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. When he was a reporter with Gaylord News, a reporting project at the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Jim B. North interviewed members of the Osage tribe and has great stories to tell about the events that make up the film. He can talk about the impact the oil discovery and newfound wealth had on the tribe. His new book, “Unsung Heroes Wear No Capes,” also contains some Native American removal stories. Jim has won multiple journalism awards for his human-interest storytelling and was a workshop speaker at the John Hope Franklin Symposium in Tulsa. He holds a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in professional writing. He studied international reporting at Hebrew University. Contact Jim at (918) 809-0565; jim@jimbnorth.com
7. ==> Looking for Unconditional Love? Beware These Love Blockers
Everyone deserves to be loved for who they are, but Stephanie Bailey says many people sabotage themselves and struggle with negative thinking that holds them back. “To experience the unconditional love all of us deserve, we must stop filling our heads with what bothers us most. For example, we need to stop falling victim to love blockers. We need to stop making such statements as I will never find love, I hate my job, there are no good men or women out there and nothing great ever happens in my life.” Invite this love mentor/expert to explain how people accidentally attract what they don’t want in their lives — and how to turn that around and learn why you should think twice about complaining about your relationship to friends. Stephanie Bailey is the CEO of Miss-Adventures LLC and the author of several books including her latest, “Love Affirmations: Manifesting the Life You Desire.” Contact her at (720) 276-2226; missadventuresseries@yahoo.com
8. ==> Trauma Surgeon: What Really Goes on in the OR
For all the hospital dramas that dominate television, most of us have no concept of the daily, Herculean efforts that take place inside a trauma center. Dr. Stephen Cohn pulls back the curtain and explains the critical role trauma surgeons play in the saving of lives — in the OR and sometimes even in the emergency room. Ask him: What really goes on in the OR? What does a trauma surgeon do? How do trauma surgeons stay cool and act decisively when a patient’s life hangs in the balance? Dr. Cohn is a 40-year veteran of trauma care, having served as a surgeon in the U.S. Army Medical Corp in Desert Storm and, later, division chief of trauma and surgical critical care at Yale University School of Medicine. Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com
9. ==> Why You Get SAD This Time of Year (and Ways to Fight It)
Many people dread this time of year, especially if they suffer from the Winter Blues. Invite Dr. Greg Hammer to share a tried-and-true way to help boost your mental resilience and give you the tools to thrive in the cold winter months. He’ll explain the science behind seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the physical and mental symptoms, and a simple, daily three-minute tool to combat negative thoughts and rewire the brain. Hammer is passionate about educating people on how they can prioritize and improve their mental health so that they may live peaceful and fulfilling lives. Greg Hammer, M.D., is a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, a pediatric intensive care physician, pediatric anesthesiologist, mindfulness expert, and the author of “GAIN without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals.” Contact Mackenzie August at (661) 255-8283; mackenzie@steveallenmedia.com
10. ==> How You Can Avoid America’s No. 1 Killer
Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death among American men and women? The good news is, it can be avoided, according to long-time nurse Allen Daugherty. “The American health-care system is designed to focus on diseases after they happen,” he says. “So we need to change our mindset to focus on prevention.” Allen can share the types of screenings, lifestyle changes and other preventative steps we can take before becoming another statistic. He has worked in the medical field for almost 50 years, first as a U.S. Air Force medic then as an RN and certified dialysis nurse. He is the author of “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth More Than You Can Imagine.” Contact Allen at (540) 712-8704; adaugherty@rtirguests.com
11. ==> What Is Healthy Anger?
Our society often frowns upon anger, especially when women express the emotion. But clinical psychologist Dr. Karyne Wilner claims that anger can be a valuable tool for promoting personal growth and one’s overall well-being if released in constructive ways. “By working with our bodies in specific ways, we can transform our anger and improve our health,” she says. “Otherwise, anger can get trapped in our psyches and cause a host of physical and mental health issues.” Karyne can share body-based techniques to release anger in ways that lead to greater health overall. She is the author of the upcoming book “Releasing Toxic Anger for Women: Body-Based Practices to Transform Negative Thoughts, Soothe Stress, and Stay True to Yourself.” She is a leader in the field of Core Energetics and mind/body health. Contact Karyne Wilner at (401) 305-2278; kwilner@rtirguests.com
12. ==> This DJ Came Straight Out of Compton to Become a Loving Single Dad
While growing up on the mean streets of Compton, Calif., amidst police brutality, gangs, drugs and a broken home, Damon Grayson managed to become a productive member of society and a devoted single father to three boys. “I was eventually able to overcome the obstacles by focusing on myself, instead of focusing on the antagonistic reality that surrounded my daily life,” he says. Damon channeled his frustrations into music by becoming a successful DJ who worked with Dr. Dre, an entrepreneur who owned many successful businesses and a relationship expert who has counseled many couples. He is the acclaimed author of “When His Ways Meet Yours: When You Love You He Will Follow Suit.” Contact Damon Grayson at (760) 490-0656; dgrayson@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Can This Hypnotherapist Really Talk to Aliens?
Dozens of people suspect they have been visited by an alien, but do you know anyone personally who has conversed with one? Hypnotherapist and author Kryste Andrews recounts a year of gathering information from a Gray, one of the 81 extraterrestrial species currently acknowledged by experts. Working weekly with her client, former champion weightlifter Robert Nanez, Kryste was introduced to the Gray whom Robert met at the age of five. “Under hypnosis, we’ve uncovered the truth for Robert and can now share his story with the world,” she says. “His bravery may help others who suspect they are undergoing physical and emotional manipulation by aliens.” Kryste (pronounced Christy) spent 30 years as a performer/singing instructor in New York City where she prepared young singers for Broadway and international stages. Her work as a certified hypnotherapist began in 1994. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book “LEGACY Book One, Discovery: A Remote Time Viewer’s Journey to His Ancestors.” Contact Kryste Andrews at (201) 801-4551; Kandrews@rtirguests.com
14. ==> How Our Past Lives Affect Our Current Life
Do you frequently have a sense of déjà vu? Do you have fears or phobias that are unrelated to anything you’ve ever experienced? According to Jennifer Maag, we’ve all had past lives, and they have a profound impact on our current lives. “I believe the self-esteem you’re born with comes from the past lives you’ve already lived,” she says. “Tapping into that enables us to heal in our current existence.” Jennifer, a licensed massage therapist, and her son, Alexander Maag, are the co-authors of the critically acclaimed book “Take on God,” which explores how to transform our inner battles into healing tools to live our best lives. Contact Jennifer Maag at (419) 969-3259; jmaag@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Feel Good Show: Why ‘Dirty Dancing’ Continues to Offer Hope, Optimism
Everyone could use a shot of hope and optimism these days. Sue Tabashnik is just the person to supply it as she takes your audience back in time to relive the movie magic of “Dirty Dancing.” The movie starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey centers on a Catskills resort with a coming-of-age tale intertwined with a love story. Invite Sue to talk about the film’s enduring themes and the festivals that entice thousands of fans to gather to celebrate the film and its iconic soundtrack. She can also talk about the “Dirty Dancing” sequel planned for 2025. Sue has extensively researched “Dirty Dancing” and was the special guest speaker at a major “Dirty Dancing” festival. She met Swayze multiple times and his mother once. Among her books are “Patrick Swayze: The Dreamer” and “Patsy Swayze: Every Day, A Chance to Dance.” Contact Sue Tabashnik at (248) 617-0505; stabashnik@rtirguests.com