01. Trump Should Take U.S. Military Warning on Iran Seriously
02. New Bombshell in Epstein Scandal?
03. Trump Tout’s a ‘Golden Age’: How Americans View the Economy
04. How to Diffuse a Conflict in 90 Seconds
05. Stuck in a Funk? Small Mindset Shifts for Fewer Days That Suck
06. Why Low Birthrates Might Be the Biggest Story of 2026
07. The Risks of Being a Whistleblower: Speaking Up Is Dangerous
08. Why Evangelicals Are Losing Credibility with the Next Generation
09. The Protein Myth That Keeps Americans Sick
10. The Woman Behind ‘Neighborhood Watch’ Now Takes on Gangs
11. The Invisible ‘Leadership Tax’ Women Pay at Work
12. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking
13. ’Out of the Chair’ Thinking to Help Kids Focus and Learn
14. Breaking the Cycle: When You Don’t Want to Be Your Mom
15. Longtime LA Broadcast Journalist, Hal Eisner
1. ==> Trump Should Take U.S. Military Warning on Iran Seriously
According to several reports, the U.S. military appears to be surfacing their concerns about the risks involved in sustaining a lengthy conflict with Iran. Max Boot says the White House should listen, as a conflict could trigger several cascading consequences. Boot, a senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, will share the risks, and discuss how they are magnified because of the likely lack of support from any allies—aside from Israel—for U.S. operations against Iran. He says, “The United States could still successfully strike targets in Iran, but it is far from clear that such attacks would bring major concessions from the regime. The president would be well advised to take these considerable risks and costs into account before starting a war without an obvious exit strategy.” Max Boot is a weekly columnist for “The Washington Post” and the author of several bestselling books including his latest, a biography of Ronald Reagan, “Reagan: His Life and Legend.” Contact Vishnu Sriram at VSriram@cfr.org
2. ==> New Bombshell in Epstein Scandal?
There’s a new twist in the Epstein scandal. NPR reports the Justice Department has withheld key documents from the publicly-released Epstein files and they apparently relate to charges that Trump potentially abused a minor. Is this as bad as it sounds? University of Michigan law professor Leah Litman says, “Yes, it is.” She’ll demystify the legal ins and outs of these new revelations, lay out a roadmap to what will happen now, and explain the prospects for achieving real accountability. Litman is the author of “Lawless,” a book about the Supreme Court. She also co-hosts a podcast about the High Court called Strict Scrutiny, Contact her at (734)-647-0549; lmlitman@umich.edu
3. ==> Trump Tout’s a ‘Golden Age’: How Americans View the Economy
President Donald Trump delivered a record-breaking, 108-minute State of the Union address on Tuesday, declaring a new American "Golden Age" and touting his administration’s economic and border policies. But how do Americans see things? According to the latest Pew Research Center surveys, most Americans have a negative view of the U.S. economy, but opinions vary widely according to political party. About half of Republicans believe the economy is excellent or good while 78% of Democrats say it’s fair or poor. Overall, 28% of Americans believe the president’s policies have made economic conditions better, while 52% say they have made the economy worse. Jocelyn Kiley is director of politics research at Pew. She can explain the latest survey results and what they show about the country’s views on tariffs, the border and immigration, and Americans’ confidence in Trump. Contact Nida Asheer at (202) 419-4313; nasheer@pewresearch.org
4. ==> How to Diffuse a Conflict in 90 Seconds
Do you feel like every interaction these days could suddenly spiral out of control and into an incident? In today’s polarized atmosphere you aren’t wrong to be concerned. Invite professional conflict mediator Doug Noll to share ways to de-escalate just about any situation whether it’s a family argument, a squabble with a neighbor or a dispute at work. You’ll learn how to handle an argument and diffuse hostility with empathy, tact, and a clear mind to not only preserve relationships, but reinforce them to be more formidable in the wake of life’s inevitable hardships and obstacles. Doug’s neuroscience-based conflict resolution methods have been tried and tested in every high-pressure environment you can think of, from maximum security prisons and court rooms, to Fortune 500 business suites. Doug Noll, JD, MA, is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University’s Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution. His new book is “De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less.” Contact Mackenzie August at (661) 255-8283; mackenzie@steveallenmedia.com
5. ==> Stuck in a Funk? Small Mindset Shifts for Fewer Days That Suck
Most people assume feeling stuck means something is wrong with their life. Deborah Mallow says sometimes nothing is wrong, except the voice in your head that refuses to stop narrating everything like a dramatic movie trailer! Surveys support this: nearly 60% of adults say they feel emotionally burned out, even when nothing “major” is wrong. That’s proof that mindset, not circumstance, often drives our mood. So what to do? Deborah says advice like “just think positive” often backfires, but tiny mental shifts can change the trajectory of an entire day. She’ll share surprising tools that will help listeners quiet their inner critic, break out of emotional autopilot, and find momentum without forcing motivation. Ask her: Can focusing less on goals and more on what truly matters actually make you happier? Why do so many people feel behind even when so much in their lives is actually working? Contact Deborah Mallow at (516) 613-5359; dmallow@rtirguests.com
6. ==> Why Low Birthrates Might Be the Biggest Story of 2026
Births are falling, and fast. In 2026, France reported more deaths than births for the first time since WWII. China’s birthrate just hit a historic low despite massive financial incentives to have more children. Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri says this isn’t just a demographic dip. It’s a crisis with massive implications for the global workforce, elder care systems, and generational stability. This long-time OB/GYN will explain what’s really behind the fertility decline, and why most people are focusing on the wrong things. Drawing on 30+ years in practice and insights from her new book “Optimize Your Fertility Naturally,” she’ll also explain why lifestyle, not just age or IVF, plays a critical role in conception. Ask her: Which daily habits impact fertility most? Why are low birthrates more dangerous than most people think? Contact her at (613) 800-9412; msuri@rtirguests.com
7. ==> The Risks of Being a Whistleblower: Speaking Up Is Dangerous
Karen Horwitz, an award-winning public school teacher and whistleblower, describes what happens when educators raise concerns inside their school districts. “Schools are often described as the foundation of democracy,” Horwitz says. “What I witnessed was how quickly that foundation cracks when people are afraid to speak.” Horwitz says the pattern she documented was consistent: teachers raised concerns internally, and instead of problems being addressed, they quietly lost their careers. After speaking publicly, she co-founded an organization to prevent teacher abuse and began hearing similar accounts from more than 2,000 educators who reported retaliation. She’ll explain how silence is enforced through fear, power imbalances, and institutional self-protection. Horwitz is the author of “A Graver Danger,” which draws directly from teacher whistleblowers to examine systemic failures. Contact Karen Horwitz at (312) 498-9074; khorwitz@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Why Evangelicals Are Losing Credibility with the Next Generation
From Gen Z’s exodus from church pews to viral TikToks calling out hypocrisy, one thing is clear: younger Americans are increasingly skeptical of evangelical Christianity. Former preacher Rick Patterson believes it’s not a loss of faith. It’s a loss of trust. Rick says that many churches have aligned themselves with power and culture wars instead of compassion and character. As a former ardent atheist who now holds master's and doctoral degrees in Christian Ministry, Rick has a rare insider-outsider perspective on how the pursuit of being “great again” has distorted the message of Jesus as well as why the next generation isn’t buying it. Rick blends theology, psychology, and real-world stories to help audiences understand why this credibility gap exists and what must change to close it. Ask him: What do younger generations find most hypocritical about today’s evangelical church? Can politics and faith ever mix without compromising the core of either? Rick’s thought-provoking new book is “The Matthew Challenge.” Contact him at (517) 300-2706; rpatterson@rtirguests.com
9. ==> The Protein Myth That Keeps Americans Sick
A heart attack at age 70 forced Dorothy Greet to rethink everything she believed about nutrition, especially protein. After she and her 80-year-old husband ditched all animal products, their results were dramatic: normalized blood pressure and cholesterol, effortless weight loss, and energy levels they hadn't felt in decades. Now at 85, Greet is credentialed in plant-based nutrition from Cornell and ready to debunk the protein myth keeping millions sick. In interviews, Greet will reveal how Americans have been misled about protein requirements and why plant foods provide all the protein needed for optimal health. Drawing from her book “Go Veg with Class,” she'll share how two lifelong carnivores reversed heart disease through dietary change alone—and why it's never too late. Listeners will learn simple swaps to "ditch dairy" and "remove meat" while discovering how this shift could eliminate up to 80% of chronic diseases. Ask her: Where do you actually get your protein on a plant-based diet? You reversed heart disease at 70—what happened to your health markers? Why don't doctors tell patients about the power of dietary change? Contact Dorothy Greet at (302) 314-6010; dgreet@rtirguests.com
10. ==> The Woman Behind ‘Neighborhood Watch’ Now Takes on Gangs
Stephanie Mann was abandoned in Mexico City at age 15 and survived through community connection—now this crime prevention consultant with 40 years of experience knows exactly why gangs flourish. The answer: social isolation and fear, and the result costs taxpayers $100 billion annually. Mann will reveal why traditional policing fails and how her low-cost Neighborhood Safety Expert program succeeds. She'll explain how trained community members who look like and speak the language of residents build trust where police cannot, why drug dealers often control neighborhoods through gifts and favors, and how connected neighbors eliminate the isolation that drives kids to gangs. Stephanie Mann coauthored the book “Alternative to Fear: Guidelines for Safer Neighborhoods,” which helped establish the national Neighborhood Watch program in the 1960s. She went on to write numerous crime prevention books and founded the National Safe Kids Now Network. Contact her at (925) 438-0716; smann@rtirguests.com
11. ==> The Invisible ‘Leadership Tax’ Women Pay at Work
For years, women were told to lean in, speak up, and push harder. Yet senior women in finance, technology, and other high-pressure fields are leaving leadership at record rates—not because they lack ambition, but because of a hidden cost few organizations recognize. Former banking executive Amanda Christian calls it the translation tax: the constant, invisible labor women perform to adjust how they speak, decide, and lead in male-dominated systems. Over time, that tax drains clarity, energy, and confidence long before performance ever declines. Christian reframes the leadership crisis leaders keep misdiagnosing and offers a research-backed alternative that helps high-achieving women lead with authority and without burning out. Ask her: Why did “lean in” backfire? What must organizations change to retain top talent? A former banking executive, Amanda Christian is a master life coach and the author of “The Skeptical Executive.” Contact her at (704) 610-1637; achristian@rtirguests.com
12. ==> The Dark Side of Positive Thinking
Positive thinking is often sold as the cure for everything: pain, loss, confusion, or even a world that feels like it’s falling apart. But what happens when optimism stops working? Author Lydia Samaniego offers a counterintuitive perspective rooted in lived experience, rather than theory. She argues that forced positivity and manifestation culture can actually disconnect people from truth, responsibility, and the guidance of their own hearts. Lydia will explore why the deepest betrayal isn’t a broken relationship, but the realization that our trusted systems, from society to culture and even religion, can’t actually tell us who we are or how to live. She’ll share why real change doesn’t come from thinking harder or “staying positive,” but from noticing the conflict between the mind and the heart, catching inherited beliefs that no longer serve us, and choosing an inside-out path forward. Her story resonates with anyone questioning what to trust when old answers fall apart. Contact Lydia Samaniego at (530) 443-5826: samaniego@rtirguests.com
13. ==> ‘Out of the Chair’ Thinking to Help Kids Focus and Learn
Think kids need to sit still to concentrate? Research says the opposite, and so does math educator Suzy Koontz. With screen time up and attention spans down, Suzy offers a powerful, practical solution: movement-based learning. Suzy is the creator of Math & Movement, a program used in schools nationwide to boost focus, memory, and academic performance through full-body learning. In her segment, she’ll explain how jumping, hopping, and dancing can help kids grasp math and reading faster—no tech required. She’ll also share simple, at-home activities parents can use to help restless kids refocus after school. Suzy has reached over 1 million students and authored 20+ books packed with easy, energizing takeaways your audience can use right away. Contact Suzy Koontz at (607) 366-9588; skoontz@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Breaking the Cycle: When You Don’t Want to Be Your Mom
Many women fear repeating the emotional patterns they grew up with, but few know how to break them. When her own mother ran away with her boyfriend at age 13, Sabrina Ciceri learned early how deeply a parent’s choices can shape a child’s identity, relationships, and future. In her book “If It’s Not One Thing, It’s a Mother,” she shares how she stopped inherited dysfunction, rewrote her family story, and built a healthy life as a mother of six and grandmother of five. In an interview, Sabrina will explore why we unconsciously mirror our parents, how to interrupt toxic cycles, and why healing doesn’t always require confrontation or forgiveness. Her perspective blends family psychology, faith, and real-life experience in ways audiences rarely hear. Ask her: Why do we often become the very parent we promised never to be? Can you heal from a toxic parent without cutting them out of your life? Contact Sabrina Ciceri at (352) 308 1596; sciceri@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Longtime LA Broadcast Journalist, Hal Eisner
Hal Eisner was a fixture covering Los Angeles’ news for more than 43-years, first in radio and then on TV. Along the way, he covered many of the most consequential stories of the past four decades including the trials of O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson, as well as fires, earthquakes, and school shootings. He also interviewed hundreds of celebrities both in their homes and on red carpets. But Hal's journey was not without its trials. In 2021, while covering a story in Hollywood, he was severely injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver. Invite him to share how the incident changed him and give listeners an insider's view of the broadcast industry, revealing the intricacies of news reporting and the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists. Eisner’s new book is “An Accidental Career: My 58-Year Adventure as a Broadcast News Reporter.” Contact Harlan Boll at harlan@bhbpr.com
