01. Fireworks (and Sparklers) Send Thousands to ER
02. For July 4th – How America Can Build Peace From Within
03. The Difference Between Democratic Socialism and Communism
04. MAGA Women, Christian Influencers & the Conservative Activist Pipeline
05. Taylor and Travis: Advice for the First Year of Marriage
06. The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare
07. Why Women in Leadership Keep Hitting the Same Wall
08. Why Peak Productivity Is Making Professionals Miserable
09. Human Skills AI Will Never Be Able to Replicate
10. Why AI Will Reward Those Who Know Math — and Leave the Rest Behind
11. High Rent, High Anxiety: Coping with America’s Affordability Crisis
12. The 3 Habits That Build Trust and Cut Division in Your Life
13. Is Your Body Asking for Change This Summer?
14. Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About God?
15. What if Before You Were Born, You Chose This Life?
1. ==> Fireworks (and Sparklers) Send Thousands to ER
With the July 4th holiday upon us, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging the public to remember and practice fireworks safety so your celebration doesn’t turn into tragedy. Last year, CPSC received reports of at least 15 deaths and an estimated 13,000 emergency department-treated injuries linked to fireworks misuse and malfunction. There were an estimated 1,300 injuries involving sparklers alone. “Behind these numbers are real people, real families — and often, preventable incidents,” says CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. While many believe sparklers are harmless fun for kids, Feldman reminds us they burn at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals. Knowing that, who would hand that to a young child? He’ll share fireworks safety tips for all ages and discuss other summer hazards. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Contact Karla Crosswhite-Chigbue at KCrosswhite@cpsc.gov; (301) 504-7805
2. ==> For July 4th – How America Can Build Peace From Within
Retired American diplomat and professional peacebuilder Danielle Reiff can discuss ways to bring down the heat in our communities and bring people together and to appreciate what it means to be an American today. Hear about the rising civic renewal movement in the U.S. and a project to counter rising threats to our democracy with a plan to refresh the U.S. Constitution and build a more inclusive, participatory, and deliberative democracy than the U.S. has ever known. Reiff brings a lifetime of experience to this task. She started her career in the Peace Corps and worked for the United Nations before serving two decades as a democracy and peacebuilding officer for USAID, the US Agency for International Development. She now runs Peacebuilders, an initiative to promote nonviolence and unity in diversity and mitigate political violence in the U.S. Contact Danielle at daniellereiff@yahoo.com
3. ==> The Difference Between Democratic Socialism and Communism
Former corporate attorney Melat Kiros, a democratic socialist, beat U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in a Colorado House primary Tuesday, a stunning victory for the first-time candidate against a nearly 30-year incumbent. Socialism has long been considered a “dirty word” in American politics and is often confused with communism. So, what’s the difference? Michael Kazin says democratic socialists support expanding social ownership and public programs through democratic elections, civil liberties, and multi party competition. Communists, on the other hand, seek to abolish capitalism and private property entirely, often through revolutionary means and typically under a single ruling party. “Communists want to do away with capitalism altogether. They don't want any private enterprise. They don't want any private means of production. And they want a whole world run by people like that,” he says. “Democratic socialists are willing to have themselves voted out of power… if people don’t want to keep it, then they can go back to a more capitalist society.” Michael Kazin is an American historian and professor at Georgetown University. He’s the author of several books and is a frequent contributor to publications including the “New York Times,” the “Washington Post” ad “Foreign Affairs.” Contact him via his website at mkazin.com/contact
4. ==> MAGA Women, Christian Influencers & the Conservative Activist Pipeline
Katie Gaddini says many of the assumptions Americans hold about conservative women are wrong. Far from being politically passive, these women have become highly organized strategists and cultural influencers who increasingly see themselves as fighting to preserve Christianity, traditional gender structures, and the nation itself. She’ll explain how they helped reshape the modern American Right and played a critical role in Donald Trump’s return to power. A former evangelical herself, Gaddini spent years following conservative Christian women as they organized on college campuses, mobilized in suburban school board fights, built massive social media audiences, ran for office, and developed grassroots political networks that now extend from churches and homeschooling groups to law schools, conservative think tanks, and the White House. Gaddini is a visiting scholar at Stanford University, associate professor of sociology at University College London. She has appeared on BBC, NPR, Bloomberg, and international media. Her new book is “Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office) (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
5. ==> Taylor and Travis: Advice for the First Year of Marriage
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will reportedly tie the knot this weekend at Madison Square Garden. The superstar couple may seem to have everything, but once the spectacular celebration ends, they’ll have to deal with the same issues as everyone else. Most marriage counseling comes once a couple is struggling, years into the marriage, but pastor Mike Novotny says newlyweds need guidance from the get-go. He’ll explain why what happens in the first twelve months tends to stick and the fight every newlywed has by the third month of marriage. He’ll discuss how to negotiate the first fight, the first chore conversation and the first money conversation and why the order in which that happens matters. Novotny is the lead speaker for Time of Grace, a global Christian media ministry. His latest book is “Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One.” Contact Marianna Gibson at marianna@jonesliterary.com
6. ==> The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare
America’s healthcare system is in crisis—but what’s often ignored is the trauma beneath the surface. Kathy Allan, a board-certified holistic nurse with over two decades of experience in trauma recovery, says many nurses today are emotionally broken, betrayed by the very system they once trusted. Patients, too, are suffering from care that feels cold, rushed, and disconnected. In interviews, Allan reveals how this hidden trauma plays out, much like in the TV show, “The Pitt.” Drawing on her “12 Steps of Healing Care” and years as a healing touch instructor and somatic experiencing practitioner, Allan offers a spiritual and body-centered roadmap for transforming pain into purpose. Her stories and insights will resonate with nurses, healthcare workers, and anyone who’s ever felt harmed by the system that was supposed to help them. Contact Kathy Allan at (619) 932-5206; kallan@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Why Women in Leadership Keep Hitting the Same Wall
Women in leadership roles have spent decades doing what they were told. Speak up. Work harder. Adapt. Many have done exactly that and still find themselves running on empty. Amanda Christian spent 33 years in global banking and technology, reaching executive level in industries that weren’t built with her in mind. What she found wasn’t that women weren’t working hard enough. The model itself was wrong. On your show, she talks about the “translation tax”: the invisible cost of adjusting how you communicate and lead just to be taken seriously, and what a more sustainable model looks like. Her book, “SoulFIRE Leadership,” lays out the framework. Ask her: Can doing everything “right” actually work against you as a senior leader? What does sustainable leadership look like for women who’ve already proven they can perform? Contact Amanda Christian at (704) 610-1637; achristian@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Why Peak Productivity Is Making Professionals Miserable
Productivity has become a badge of honor. Yet despite countless apps, systems, and productivity hacks, many high achievers feel more exhausted, disconnected, and dissatisfied than ever before. Entrepreneur and award-winning author David Hampson says the problem isn't a lack of productivity—it's an unhealthy obsession with it. Invite him to explain why the relentless pursuit of optimization often leads to burnout and how professionals can build careers that create both achievement and meaning. Hampson will challenge conventional thinking about work, ambition, and what a successful life actually looks like. Hampson built and led successful businesses while questioning many of the assumptions behind modern work culture giving him both entrepreneurial credibility and hard-earned perspective. He’s the author of “Rainbow Gold: Building a Business That's Both the Journey and the Destination.” Contact David Hampson at dhampson@rtirguests.com or (603) 605-8594
9. ==> Human Skills AI Will Never Be Able to Replicate
Artificial intelligence can write emails, analyze data, generate presentations, and automate countless tasks. So, what happens when the skills that once made employees valuable become available at the push of a button? Business transformation expert Shawn Fry says the future belongs to professionals who develop the uniquely human abilities AI can't replace. On your show, he'll reveal the skills employers are already prioritizing. Learn why adaptability and communication are becoming more valuable than technical expertise alone and how workers can remain indispensable in a rapidly changing economy. Pulling from more than 25 years of experience leading organizations through disruption across 17 countries, Shawn offers practical strategies for staying relevant, employable, and resilient in the AI era. After interviewing high-impact leaders around the world for his book “Sustained Business Growth,” Fry has a front-row view of what tomorrow's most successful professionals will have in common. Contact Shawn Fry at (330) 422-4090; sfry@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Why AI Will Reward Those Who Know Math — and Leave the Rest Behind
The jobs AI creates will demand math fluency. The jobs AI eliminates will be the ones that don't. Craig Hane has spent decades teaching math and watching schools recycle 20th-century methods for 21st-century students. His verdict: the system is failing them at exactly the wrong moment in history. Through his Triad Math Army program, Hane teaches teenagers and young adults the math that actually matters — in a way that's engaging, self-paced, and built for how young people actually learn today. He'll explain why AI fluency starts with math fluency, which concepts will separate tomorrow's leaders from tomorrow's also-rans, and why it's never too late to close the gap. Contact Craig Hane, Ph.D., at (812) 408-8047; chane@rtirguests.com
11. ==> High Rent, High Anxiety: Coping with America’s Affordability Crisis
A third of Americans now spend more than 30% of their income on rent, and in major cities, it’s often over 50%. But the financial strain is only half the story. Darius Ross says the mental toll of this affordability crisis is eroding resilience, fueling chronic stress, and keeping people stuck in survival mode. As a former homeless teen who became a successful entrepreneur, Darius offers a grounded, street-smart perspective that connects with audiences of all backgrounds. His mindset strategies blend lived experience with real-life tools for navigating uncertainty, managing trauma, and staying motivated—even when the math doesn’t add up. In this timely conversation, Darius doesn’t just unpack the crisis, he helps audiences cope, shift their mindset, and take their next step forward. Darius Ross is the author of “Mastering the TPS Blueprint,” a speaker on trauma and transformation, and a community advocate who helps underserved youth rise. Contact Darius Ross at (347) 801-7956 or dross@rtirguests.com
12. ==> The 3 Habits That Build Trust and Cut Division in Your Life
Tired of the conflict in your office, community, or even your own family? Dr. Dionne Poulton says building unity isn’t about avoiding tough topics. It’s about mastering three powerful habits: Decency, Excellence, and Integrity. She’ll reframe what it means to lead, communicate, and connect across differences without ever saying “DEI.” Her message? You don’t need a title to be a leader. You just need a standard. From how we treat others to how we hold ourselves accountable, Dr. Dionne shows how small shifts in behavior can transform relationships, rebuild trust, and prevent conflict before it starts. According to a recent study, 76% of people say they avoid hard conversations at work and home often out of fear, frustration, or not knowing what to say. Dr. Dionne’s framework helps audiences replace avoidance with practical strategies that foster trust and real connection. Ask her: What’s one habit that can instantly defuse rising tension? Can integrity really be taught, or is it innate? Dionne Poulton, Ph.D., is the author of “Excellence Without Exclusion.” Contact her at (404) 383-8924; dpoulton@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Is Your Body Asking for Change This Summer?
With 6 in 10 U.S. adults living with chronic disease, summer health resets often focus on surface fixes. But what if lasting improvement requires looking beyond symptoms and asking what the body may be responding to beneath the surface? On this timely summer show, Marcel Vögeli explores how long-term stress, suppressed conflict, and emotional overload can influence physical health, and why two people with the same diagnosis can heal at very different rates. After eight years of intensive autoimmune treatment that managed symptoms but didn’t restore his life, Marcel began examining deeper stress patterns in his own story. He has been hospital-free since 2012. Marcel Vögeli is spokesperson for The Key to Self-Liberation by the late Christiane Beerlandt. Contact Marcel Vögeli at Mvogeli@rtirguests.com
14. ==> Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About God?
A growing number of Americans are walking away from organized religion. Yet, many continue searching for meaning, purpose, and truth. Author Gary Meisner believes the problem may not be a lack of interest in God—but the questions we're asking about God in the first place. After spending more than 20 years as a skeptical, materialist agnostic, Gary experienced something he could not explain through reason alone, prompting him to reexamine his assumptions. Known internationally for his work on the golden ratio and patterns in nature, he now explores the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. In his book “Life Through a New Lens—Finding God Where Reason and Faith Meet,” Gary invites skeptics, agnostics, and seekers to consider whether their doubts may be based on misconceptions about what God is—or could be. Contact Gary Meisner at (615) 703-3637; gmeisner@rtirguests.com
15. ==> What if Before You Were Born, You Chose This Life?
What if the life you’re living—including its struggles, its losses, and its ordinary moments—was chosen by you before you arrived? Doreen Mary Bray, who has worked between worlds for over 40 years as a naturopath and mystical guide, teaches that souls don’t stumble into human life. They long for it, wait for it, and select it with intention — choosing parents, place, and form for the privilege of embodiment. Bray will reveal what it means to live as a soul that chose this life, and why that single shift in understanding transforms everything. She’ll explore how souls navigate the journey toward incarnation and why being human is not a burden to transcend, but a gift of extraordinary rarity. For anyone who has ever felt that life is happening to them, Bray offers a radical reframe: you didn’t land here by accident. Doreen Mary Bray is the author of Drawing “The Angel and the Avatar.” Contact her at (438) 802-0280; Dbray@rtirguests.com
