01. Prepare for Double-Digit Increases in Obamacare Premiums
02. Why Are Socialists Unseating Democratic Incumbents?
03. Collateral ICE Damage: Spouses and Family
04. Are the Elderly Holding America Back?
05. How Do We Remain People of Faith in a Divided World?
06. The Diplomatic Skills Every Leader Needs — But No One Teaches
07. Beyond Red vs. Blue: The 9 American Political Types
08. Can a Bigger Paycheck Make Financial Anxiety Worse?
09. America at 250: Hidden US Travel Gems
10. Listeners Want Uplifting Stories: This Guest Has 80 of Them
11. How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Sons
12. 47% of Women Experience Abuse — Why Few Ever Say a Word
13. The Simple Key That Turns Trauma into Triumph
14. The Real Cost of Your Perfectionism
15. From Mormonism to Addiction and Self-Discovery: This Guest Shares Her Wild Road to Redemption
1. ==> Prepare for Double-Digit Increases in Obamacare Premiums
The cost of Obamacare coverage could shoot up even higher next year as insurers are proposing a median increase of 14 percent, according to an analysis of initial filings from KFF. Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms also published an analysis of preliminary ACA insurer rate filings last month. Like KFF's, it projected double-digit premium increases in the marketplace next year. Stacey Pogue, a senior research fellow at the Georgetown center who authored the report, says the enrollees most affected by the rising premiums will be those who don't qualify for financial help. She says those people already saw the most significant increases to their premiums in 2026, with some of their premiums doubling or tripling. “Those are the folks who kind of got a double whammy” this year, she says. Pogue says the rate filings are demonstrating what many analysts had expected: that the expiration of enhanced tax credits would cause healthy Americans to flee the marketplace and leave a sicker patient population that relies more heavily on insurance. “When the healthy people leave, the prices go up,” she says. “The analysts all predicted that, and now that's what we're seeing.” Contact Stacey Pogue at stacey.pogue@georgetown.edu
2. ==> Why Are Socialists Unseating Democratic Incumbents?
A wave of victories for democratic socialists in mayoral elections and congressional primaries over the past year has shocked the Democratic Party establishment, but not India Walton. “I’m excited to see so many candidates running unapologetically on bold, people-first agendas in cities across the country,” says Walton, a longtime community activist and democratic socialist who won the Democratic primary election for mayor of Buffalo in 2021 against a 16-year incumbent. “From New York to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, these victories remind us that when everyday people organize, they can overcome enormous political and financial barriers,” Walton says. “I know firsthand how difficult it is to challenge entrenched political machines. These campaigns show that voters are hungry for leaders who will take on inequality, fight for working families, and put communities ahead of corporations. This can no longer be considered a fluke – these victories represent a growing movement demanding a more just, democratic future.” Walton is currently the senior strategist for RootsAction, a progressive advocacy organization focused on social and economic justice. Contact her at india@rootsaction.org
3. ==> Collateral ICE Damage: Spouses and Family
The Trump administration’s sweeping effort to slow down the rate of legal migration is affecting a group traditionally immune from such efforts: spouses of U.S. citizens. “Life had become a lot more difficult for Americans who are married to somebody who is not born in this country,” says Ashley DeAzevedo, executive director of American Families United. The organization advocates for U.S. citizen spouses and immediate family. DeAzevedo says the group’s membership has grown over the last year with about 1.4 million people now seeking their support in the U.S, and about 300,000 outside the country. She’ll explain why so many people have chosen to self-deport and what happens when a spouse is detained by ICE. American Families United is fiscally sponsored by the American Business Immigration Coalition, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contact Ashley DeAzevedo at press@americanfamiliesunited.org
4. ==> Are the Elderly Holding America Back?
The age of America's leaders is always in the headlines, from worries about fitness for office to fights over term limits. Samuel Moyn, a Yale law and history professor, thinks that debate misses the deeper story. He argues that older Americans dominate not just elected office, but the money and institutions that set the country's direction. Invite Moyn to discuss how America became so decrepit and why it matters. He says the elderly hoard housing, create a drag on innovation, and have an aversion to addressing long-term social problems, especially those prejudicial to their financial interests. He also says, because they’re living longer than ever before, they’re occupying elite cultural, academic and social positions for too long and blocking opportunities for those in their prime. Moyn proposes several ways to fix the problem including imposing age limits for political office and mandatory retirement ages and floats some unorthodox ways to shift more power back to younger generations, like weighing their votes more heavily and abolishing the US Senate. Samuel Moyn is the Kent professor of Law and History at Yale University, where he also serves as head of Grace Hopper College. Contact him at (203) 432-1994; Samuel.moyn@yale.edu
5. ==> How Do We Remain People of Faith in a Divided World?
As Americans continue searching for hope amid uncertainty, many people are asking deeper spiritual questions. How do we move beyond anger? How do we love our neighbors when we profoundly disagree? What does faithful living look like in a world that often feels fractured and disconnected? Nationally recognized theologian, author, and teacher Dr. Catherine Meeks believes these are not simply political or cultural questions, they are deeply spiritual ones. In her new book, “Bridging the Rivers of Difference: A Proclamation of Unity in Resistance” Meeks explores how Christian faith can become a source of healing, courage, and hope in an increasingly polarized world. Drawing on decades of ministry, teaching, and community leadership, she argues that lasting transformation begins not with changing other people, but with allowing God to transform our own hearts. Catherine Meeks is one of the country’s leading voices on faith, reconciliation and spiritual renewal. She’s the founding executive director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta and recipient of the Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell)
6. ==> The Diplomatic Skills Every Leader Needs — But No One Teaches
Great leaders aren’t just decisive—they’re deliberate. “In high-stakes rooms where every word carries weight, success depends on skills rarely taught in business school: listening with precision, speaking with intention, and navigating conflict without escalating it,” says author and former diplomat Dianne Olvera. Drawing from real-world diplomacy and leadership experience, this approach reveals how to manage tough conversations, defuse tension, and influence outcomes without overpowering the room. “It’s about knowing when to speak, when to pause, and how to choose language that builds trust instead of resistance,” she says. Dianne is a board-certified educational therapist and the author of “The Power of Connection: Understanding Individual Differences to Uplift and Empower.” She’s also a former diplomat and spy. Contact Dianne Olvera at (805) 779-3558; dolvera@rtirguests.com
7. ==> Beyond Red vs. Blue: The 9 American Political Types
While U.S. politics is often portrayed as a battle between red and blue, the Pew Research Center’s latest report reveals a far more complex picture: nine distinct groups, each defined by its own mix of values, beliefs and experiences. They include four highly ideological and engaged groups – two on the right and two on the left – and five other groups in a large and messy political middle. Pew’s President Michael Dimock says the two most right-leaning groups and the two most left-leaning groups in this year’s typology are the “loudest voices in the room,” shaping how people experience politics day to day. Yet they do not represent the majority of Americans. That majority lies in the other groups, who are more politically mixed and not as attuned to politics. As a result, he says, they are also less visible in shaping it. Listeners can take a quiz to find out where they fit in the current political typology. The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan American think-tank based in Washington, D.C. Political typology was the idea that launched the center back in 1987. Contact Nida Asheer at (202) 419-4313; nasheer@pewresearch.org or DeVonte Smith at (202) 419-3644; dsmith@pewresearch.org
8. ==> Can a Bigger Paycheck Make Financial Anxiety Worse?
Most financial guests talk about how to make more money. Darius Ross talks about why making more money can make things harder, and why that's something your audience may already be living but has never heard named out loud. Drawing from his own journey out of homelessness to business ownership, Ross explains how a "survival mindset" doesn't disappear when the money arrives. Fear of loss, the pressure to sustain success, and the weight of responsibility can quietly hijack decision-making and drive anxiety even at six figures. On your show, he'll unpack how past financial trauma shapes behavior long after circumstances improve — and what it actually takes to build peace of mind, not just a bigger bank account. This isn't a budgeting conversation. It's a psychology-of-money conversation, with a guest who lived it before he learned to explain it. Contact Darius Ross at (347) 801-7956; dross@rtirguests.com
9. ==> America at 250: Hidden US Travel Gems
As America celebrates its 250th birthday this summer, two travelers who have visited 90 countries, all 50 states, and seven continents say some of the most fascinating destinations are right here at home. Evelyn and Natalie Kelly reveal the overlooked places, quirky towns, remarkable people, historic sites, and cultural traditions that most Americans miss while dreaming of overseas travel. They’ll share why small-town America often tells the nation's biggest stories and explain how history comes alive through travel. You’ll leave this segment believing the USA may be the world's most underrated travel destination! Ask them: Why do you say America may be the best travel destination of all? What hidden gems, unusual attractions, and small towns should Americans visit during the nation's 250th birthday celebration? Contact Evelyn and Natalie Kelly at ekelly@rtirguests.com or (352) 661-2493
10. ==> Listeners Want Uplifting Stories: This Guest Has 80 of Them
After 56 years in the movie business, Dan Klusmann learned that audiences rarely remember explosions or special effects. They remember the stories that made them feel something. That realization inspired “Life Answers Back,” a collection of stories gathered over 15 years from more than 80 contributors. Klusmann can discuss why certain stories stay with us forever, what makes audiences emotionally connect to a story, and why uplifting storytelling is resonating again in today’s stressful and negative world. Drawing from decades spent studying audience reactions in the movie business, Klusmann shares how stories can inspire hope, create emotional connection, and help people feel understood, comforted, and less alone. Ask him: Why do certain stories stay with us forever? What did decades in the movie business teach you about emotional connection? Why are uplifting stories making a comeback right now? Can one simple story change the way someone sees life? Contact Dan Klusmann at (406) 578-7999; dklusmann@rtirguests.com
11. ==> How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Sons
In a world in which boys are often taught to suppress their feelings, award-winning parenting expert and author C. Lynn Williams is changing the conversation. She offers practical, compassionate guidance for raising sons who are emotionally aware, resilient, and confident. “We need to focus on challenging outdated myths about masculinity and replace fear-based parenting with connection, communication, and trust,” she says. “When boys are given permission to feel, communicate, and be understood, they grow into healthier men and create stronger families and communities.” She explores how parents can raise sons who are strong, without being aggressive. C. Lynn is the author of five parenting books including “Trying to Stay Sane While Raising Your Teen,” an educator, speaker, and family dynamics strategist. Contact C. Lynn Williams at (224) 357-6315; Cwilliams@rtirguests.com
12. ==> 47% of Women Experience Abuse — Why Few Ever Say a Word
Behind closed doors, abuse thrives in silence — and far more women experience it than most realize. Kit Filbey pulls back the curtain on the hidden reality of domestic abuse, revealing why so many women never speak up. Through a deeply personal story set in the remote Northwoods of Wisconsin, Kit captures the confusion, denial, and emotional complexity that keep victims trapped. Her journey from self-sufficient homesteading to recognizing and escaping abuse offers rare insight into the psychology of silence. Kit’s story gives voice to millions, helping readers to see the signs, confront uncomfortable truths, and start conversations that could save lives. She is the author of the memoir “Cottage Test.” Contact Kit Filbey at (540) 501-7189; kfilbey@rtirguests.com
13. ==> The Simple Key That Turns Trauma into Triumph
Lisa Morgan’s world fell apart when panic and anxiety brought her to her knees. What began as her “dark night of the soul” became the foundation of her greatest breakthrough—and her life’s work. “Healing isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about remembering who we truly are,” she says. “When we learn to befriend anxiety, and in turn befriend ourselves, we come home to the heart where self-acceptance and self love await.” Lisa is a master coach, intuitive guide, and soul-level healer who helps people break free from hidden blocks and redis¬cover who they truly are. Through her signature framework, Free Your Soul to Soar™, she bridges neuroscience, energy psychology, and soul wisdom to help clients transform pain into purpose and reclaim their joy, worth, and wings. Contact her at (314) 207-0680; lmorgan@rtirguests.com
14. ==> The Real Cost of Your Perfectionism
Millions of people are on a perpetual search for a new and better version of themselves, meantime research shows that perfectionism and self-criticism are rising and fueling burnout and anxiety, instead of change. Leadership coach and TEDx speaker Barbara Stone says the problem isn’t motivation, it’s identity. After 25 years hiding her alopecia under a wig and her voice behind corporate success, Barbara took the wig off onstage and discovered a surprising truth: real growth begins when we stop trying to fix ourselves. In this segment, she’ll share what shedding perfection taught her about self-worth and authenticity, and why flaws, not upgrades, are often the key to confidence. Whether your audience is hiding a condition, insecurity, or impossible expectations, Barbara offers practical ways they can stop performing and start living more honestly. Ask her: Can trying to “improve yourself” actually make you less confident? What did losing your hair teach you that success never did? Contact Barbara Stone at (315) 840-2845; bstone@rtirguests.com
15. ==> From Mormonism to Addiction and Self-Discovery: This Guest Shares Her Wild Road to Redemption
What happens when a devout Mormon mother of five dares to question everything she’s ever known? Meet Susie Bell—a nurse practitioner who went from being excommunicated from the Mormon Church, a heart-wrenching divorce, and single motherhood in Las Vegas to self-made success. With honesty and grit, Susie recounts her journey through addiction recovery, being drugged and raped by a famous athlete who relentlessly harassed her, and even a surreal moment in the hospital room with the body of Tupac Shakur following his murder. Her story is not just about leaving religion—it’s about reclaiming power and purpose. She is the author of the memoir "A Piece of Me: Finding My Voice After Mormonism, Marriage, Medicine and Men." Contact Susie Bell at (213) 816-3622; sbell@rtirguests.com
