01. May Economic Numbers: All Signs Are Positive
02. What Is Project 2025 and Why Should You Care?
03. Free Deepfake Detection Tool
04. How to Be an Optimist When the World’s On Fire
05. The Life of Yankees Legend, Waite Hoyt
06. The Truth About College and Upward Mobility
07. Do Regulatory Agencies Have Too Much Power?
08. What Americans Can Learn from Hungary
09. Help for Boomers Who Haven’t Saved Enough to Retire
10. What Is the Leading Cause of All Illnesses?
11. Look 10 Years Younger in 30 Minutes
12. Former Beauty Queen’s Crusade to Empower Women
13. Social Anxiety Ruins Lives: Why Treatment Is Often an Afterthought
14. Charity: Are You Really Making a Difference?
15. Help Kids Handle Nightmares — Instead of Waking You Up!
1. ==> May Economic Numbers: All Signs Are Positive
All eyes are on the economy, especially with an election on the horizon. So what do the latest economic reports show? Economist Dean Baker says the basic story is that the labor market remains strong and the downward trend of inflation continues. “The biggest factor keeping inflation above the Fed’s target rate remains rental inflation, which is on a gradual downward path,” he says. “The biggest wild card continues to be services, such as health care, transportation services, and restaurants.” The economy added 272,000 new jobs in May, exceeding expectations and contrary to widespread expectations of some slowing. “The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) projected that the economy would generate 9.2 million jobs between the first quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of this year. The actual job growth over this period has been over 15 million.” Baker says, “It is hard not to see this as a very positive picture.” Dean Baker is co-founder and senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He is the author of several books, including “Rigged: How Globalization and the Rules of the Modern Economy Were Structured to Make the Rich Richer.” His blog, Beat the Press, provides commentary on economic reporting. Contact him at baker@cepr.net; @DeanBaker13
2. ==> What Is Project 2025 and Why Should You Care?
Project 2025, a sweeping policy blueprint for the next Republican president, is a 920-page plan written by the Heritage Foundation and other right-wing groups. Wendy Via, president and cofounder of Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, says the plan currently has nearly 100 sponsors. “These groups put on a front: They’re highly educated, reasonable, highly religious, and are in it to protect people’s ability to worship as they wish. But when you go behind the curtain, you get racist and anti-LGBTQ, anti-woman, conspiracy theories.” She says, “People are not understanding how serious this thing is, and how many of the things they want to accomplish in the plan are already happening at the federal and state level. Regardless of who wins this November, it’s serious. Everyone should know.” The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism is an advocacy organization co-founded in 2020 by Via and Heidi Beirich, two former high-level Southern Poverty Law Center employees. The non-profit works to stop transnational hate and far-right extremism movements, particularly U.S.-based activity that is exported to other countries and across borders. Contact Wendy Via at wendy@globalextremism.org
3.==> Free Deepfake Detection Tools
What happens when a hotly-contested political season meets up with artificial intelligence? How can the public—and the media—trust the information they’re getting? The group TrueMedia.org has created a deepfake detection tool that can analyze suspicious media and identify deepfakes over 90% of the time and is offering the technology to reporters, government officials, fact-checkers and nonprofits — from progressive to conservative and everyone in between. “Newsroom staff is dwindling, deadlines are tighter and the avalanche of fake social media assets is growing exponentially. This is not about supporting a specific candidate or agenda — it’s about providing reporters with a state-of-the-art deepfake detection tool,” says TrueMedia.org founder Dr. Oren Etzioni. The tool allows registered users to input links from TikTok, X, Mastodon, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, Google Drive or Facebook to test for signs of media manipulation. Dr. Oren Etzioni is a professor emeritus at the University of Washington and was the founding chief executive officer at the Allen Institute for AI. TrueMedia.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on fighting AI-based disinformation in political campaigns by identifying manipulated media. Contact Bryce Tom at btom@rubenstein.com
4.==> How to Be an Optimist When the World’s On Fire
It’s no wonder so many feel anxiety about their life and the crisis affecting our world, but Dr. Paul Zeitz will leave listeners feeling a renewed sense of optimism and purpose. Zeitz, a preventive medicine physician, epidemiologist, author and rabbi, has worked for decades in the global AIDS movement, climate transformation efforts, racial and gender equity, and international child welfare. Invite him on your show to share strategies that will improve your life and the lives of those around you using seven concrete steps that start with choosing to put love at the center of all you do. Zeitz will share ways to focus your political imagination and manifest your vision for a better world, and how to take action and contribute to peaceful movements. “My goal is to help people, young and old, to work together to bring out families closer and improve the beautiful world we live in,” he says. His latest book is “Revolutionary Optimism: 7 Steps for Living as a Love-Centered Activist.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (o); (703) 400-1099 (c); johanna@jrbpr.biz or Reigan Wright at (703) 646-5188
5. ==> The Life of Yankees Legend, Waite Hoyt
This is a great show for Father’s Day! Often remembered as Babe Ruth’s best friend, Waite Hoyt was a colorful figure in his own right. In “Schoolboy: The Untold Journey of a Yankees Hero,” author Tim Manners captures Hoyt’s jaw-dropping journey entirely in his own words, based on a trove of his writings and interview transcripts. Invite Manner on your show an learn how Hoyt went from a teenager cavorting with men twice his age in the hardscrabble Minor Leagues to somehow becoming the best pitcher on the greatest baseball team of all time, the 1927 New York Yankees. Manners will share the wild, wonderful life of Hoyt, who was also a vaudeville star who swapped dirty jokes with Mae West, a mortician who left a body chilling in his car while pitching an afternoon game at Yankee Stadium, a recovering alcoholic who drank champagne with Al Capone, and, following his 23-year pitching career, the beloved radio voice of the Cincinnati Reds for 24 years! Tim Manners is a writer, communications consultant and baseball fan. Contact him at (203) 227-6004; 378712@email4pr.com
6. ==> The Truth About College and Upward Mobility
Almost a decade ago, the American Talent Initiative was formed to persuade colleges with high graduation rates to diversify. The group recently released a report citing Baruch College in New York City as a model college for creating upward mobility. “There are very few colleges in the country like Baruch,” says Josh Wyner of the Aspen Institute, which helps run the American Talent Initiative. By both holding down tuition costs and creating clear pathways for students to earn degrees, Wyner says Baruch may be the most economically diverse among U.S. colleges with a graduation rate above 70%. While the report also found some worrisome trends, it points to several promising strategies for lifting diversity including reducing so-called merit aid, recruiting more transfers from community colleges, and helping students navigate the bureaucracy of higher education. Contact Tatiana Johnson at (202) 736-3538; Tatiana.Johnson@aspeninstitute
7. ==> Do Regulatory Agencies Have Too Much Power?
Federal agencies are tasked with protecting the American public, but can they go too far? They can, say Clifford Rosenthal and Michael McCray, and paying the price are some of America’ most disadvantaged citizens. Rosenthal and McCray, coauthors of “Community Capital: Race, Equity, and the Credit Union Movement,” can talk about two cases of regulatory overreach the Supreme Court is slated to rule on this summer, making this an extremely timely topic. A trained CPA, lawyer and whistleblower, McCray led an unprecedented court challenge to the unjust liquidation of Kappa Alpha Psi Federal Credit Union. Rosenthal, an Obama appointee, wrote the book on community development financial institutions. McCray, a Clinton White House veteran, blew the whistle on public corruption from USDA to ACORN. Ask them: What role do credit unions play in minority communities? What does it take to bring financial justice to communities of color? What are the consequences of regulatory agency overreach? Contact Michael McCray at Michael McCray at (870) 543-0024; mccray.michael@gmail.com
8. ==> What Americans Can Learn from Hungary
Since 2010, Hungary has been led by Viktor Orban, an authoritarian strongman who is a favorite among American conservatives who seem only too willing to take a page from Orban’s playbook. Author Laszlo Suhayda, who was five years old when he followed his parents and two older siblings through a minefield in the forest of Sopron, Hungary, to escape the oppressive Communist government, can share the grim lessons he learned about war, totalitarian governments, and keeping the faith amid horror as it relates to the current turmoil in the world. He says, “As I was swimming through weeds, I fell on top of a young Hungarian man who was shot in the head by a Russian sniper. I saw the tragedy of war and the price of freedom. Freedom is not free; you have to earn it.” Laszlo is the author of the memoir “Twelve Bells to Freedom: The Suhajda Story,” and the inventor of the first wine slushee product in America. Contact Laszlo Suhayda at (314) 501-6838; Lsuhayda@rtirguests.com
9. ==> Help for Boomers Who Haven’t Saved Enough to Retire
The largest segment of the U.S. population is rapidly approaching retirement age, yet more than half are worried they won’t have enough to retire – and 20% have no retirement savings at all. With rising inflation and a middling economy, is there any way to turn things around? Tom Loegering (pronounced “LAY-gur-ing”) reveals how baby boomers and anyone in the workforce can ensure a happy, well-funded retirement so they can enjoy their golden years. Learn how to develop “the business of you” and retire comfortably without sacrificing your goals and dreams along the way. A retired contractor and experienced speaker, Tom is the author of “Success or Failure: The Choice Is Yours,” a workbook to help anyone plan their perfect retirement. Contact him at (623) 400-8648; tloegering@rtirguests.com
10. ==> What Is the Leading Cause of All Illnesses?
It happens to all of us and it’s happening every day: Aging. As we get older, the various ways our bodies break down create our vulnerability to illness. Research shows that stress speeds up the aging process, so stress could be considered the leading cause of most illnesses. Interview internationally-known psychologist Stephen Sideroff to discover nine steps you can take to slow the aging process to stay healthy longer and extend your health span. The steps will help reduce chronic stress, build resilience and achieve success. Stephen Sideroff is an associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Rheumatology at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine. He was the founder and former clinical director of the Stress Strategies Program of UCLA/Santa Monica Hospital and former clinical director of Moonview Treatment and Optimal Performance Center. He is the author of “The 9 Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Mastering Stress, Slow Aging and Increase Vitality.” Reach Dr. Sideroff at (310) 666-3452; sideroff@UCLA.edu
11. ==> Look 10 Years Younger in 30 Minutes
Everyone wants to feel confident and like what they see in the mirror. After struggling with weight and noticeable signs of aging Nina Presman developed a revolutionary new technology that replaces plastic surgery — without painful injections, treatments, or surgeries. Nina says a person can now look years younger after just 30 minutes and experience permanent results that are noticeable beginning 30 seconds into the treatment. Nina is the first to admit that this sounds like an impossible dream, but she says she can prove these results are being achieved at the Anti Aging Center of Boca, in Boca Raton. “I look and feel better now at 60 than I did at 37,” she says. “Nobody should have to hide their age, because now we can finally be truly ageless!” Nina Presman has a degree in psychology and advanced expertise in skin care, facial reconstruction, and face and body sculpting. She can shed light on the myths about fillers, surgery, why we age, preventing and slowing down the aging process, and thinking about staying young and overcoming the fears of getting old. Contact Nina Presman at (561) 654-0177; Agelessservices@gmail.com
12. ==> Former Beauty Queen’s Crusade to Empower Women
What do you think of when you hear the words “beauty queen?” Many will conjure up images of a superficial woman focused only on her looks and her role as a competitor. Masuda Rahmati — a former Mrs. World Beauty Pageant contestant representing Afghanistan — will put that stereotype to rest as she passionately discusses her mission to empower women around the world. Masuda, who was born in Kabul but emigrated to the U.S. with her family as a teenager, has been providing financial and emotional support to Afghani women for 30 years, which is vitally important since women in that country face execution if they break the draconian rules that fundamentalist rulers have mandated. Masuda, who once had her life threatened by the Taliban, now teaches girls about education via Zoom, has purchased 800 new textbooks for orphans in Kabul, and helped create the nonprofit organization The Change Makers of the World. Masuda can talk about life in Afghanistan before and during the Taliban, her life in the U.S., what drives her to risk her life to benefit girls and how your listeners can help. She is the author of the upcoming book “Almost Killed by the Taliban: How I Stood Up for the Women and Girls of Afghanistan.” She has been interviewed by media from around the world and has been recognized by Congress. Contact Masuda Rahmati at (831) 298-8335; mrahmati@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Social Anxiety Ruins Lives: Why Treatment Is Often an Afterthought
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 12% of U.S. adults experience social anxiety disorder at some time in their lives, while 9% of adolescents have social anxiety disorder. But, many refrain from seeking treatment. Why? “Many young people and adults struggle with this privately, because they are fearful of what others might think of them,” says author and clinical psychologist Dr. Thomas E. Brown. A professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine, he is the author of seven books including “Smart but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD” and the forthcoming “Social Anxiety: Hidden Fears and Shame in Teens and Adults.” Contact Dr. Brown at (475) 405-3549; tbrown@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Charity: Are You Really Making a Difference?
Giving back by way of donating to charities, volunteering in your community, or starting a nonprofit can be very rewarding. But how do you know if you’re actually making a significant difference? “Many people are compelled to give back on the basis of their own life experiences, such as personal tragedies, and passions,” says author and nonprofit expert Michele Whetzel. “While it’s great to follow your heart, you need to do your homework.” Michele is a veteran of the nonprofit arena, founder of Your 501 Guide consulting and author of the book “So, You Want to Start a Nonprofit, Now What?” Contact: Michele Whetzel at (302) 407-0513; Mwhetzel@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Help Kids Handle Nightmares — Instead of Waking You Up!
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nightmares in children are common, and more likely when your child is overtired or stressed. Unfortunately, when they happen in the middle of the night, it’s tough to deal with the situation with a clear head. That’s why parents need Patricia Wilson, a long-time educator who understands kids and families. “Parents need to address kids fears during waking hours,” says Wilson. She’ll share ways to instill healthy sleep habits in little ones, how to set bedtime boundaries for older kids and teens, and ways to make bedtime less of a battle. Patricia has taught children from grades K-12 and counseled kids for more than 30 years. She is the author of numerous best-selling books including “My Magical Night Mare,” “Life is Amazing!” and “When Grandma Giggled.” Contact Patricia Wilson at (778) 561-4603; pwilson@rtirguests.com