01. ‘Mind-Blowing’ El Nino Stuns Scientists
02. It’s Shark Week! Expert Separates Fact From Fiction
03. The Wreck of the Mentor: Lessons From the 1831 Whaling Disaster
04. Sell By, Use By, Best Before: What Does it All Mean?
05. It’s Golf Season: What Your Game Reveals About Your Mindset
06. Why Are Socialists Unseating Democratic Incumbents?
07. The Elderly Are Holding America Back
08. Why Women in Leadership Keep Hitting the Same Wall
09. The Push for Peak Productivity Is Making Professionals Miserable
10. What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today
11. The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare
12. Why So Many Women Are Discovering Fertility Issues Too Late
13. Love, Sex & Second Chances After 50
14. From Mormonism to Addiction and Self-Discovery: This Guest Shares Her Wild Road to Redemption
15. Listeners Want Uplifting Stories: This Guest Has 80 of Them
1. ==> ‘Mind-Blowing’ El Nino Stuns Scientists
A new analysis by Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather paints a worrying picture of the climate phenomenon currently developing in the Pacific Ocean. “This year’s El Nino is not only very likely to be the strongest event since reliable records began, it may end up the strongest by a truly mind-blowing margin,” he says. Experts say this year’s climate event could cause a massive global temperature spike with economic losses of $10 trillion by 2032. Hausfauther’s analysis also reveals that the phenomenon is developing faster than usual. He can discuss when we’ll see the full impact of this year’s Pacific heat wave on global temperatures, what that might mean for Americans, and talk about the challenges of forecasting an El Nino, including the lack of historical analogues. Zeke Hausfather is a climate scientist and energy systems analyst. He currently serves as the climate research lead at Stripe and is also a research scientist at Berkeley Earth. His work primarily focuses on observational temperature records, climate models, and mitigation technologies. Contact him at hausfath@gmail.com
2. ==> It’s Shark Week! Expert Separates Fact From Fiction
Fans of Discovery’s annual sharkfest wait all year for the week-long shark-related programming. Sharks have also become big news this summer along the US coastline with numerous sightings close to beaches. Sharks are frequently portrayed as intimidating predators, but researchers continue to uncover a much more complex story about their behavior, biology and the critical role they play in healthy ocean ecosystems. Invite Maggie Winchester-Weiler, senior manager of Florida conservation at Ocean Conservancy, to separate fact from fiction. She’ll discuss what researchers have learned from working with sharks up close, the surprising ways sharks respond to stress and survive and common misconceptions about shark behavior and encounters. A marine biologist with extensive field research experience, Winchester has worked with some of the world’s most fascinating shark species, including Greenland sharks, one of the longest-living vertebrates on Earth. Contact Sabrina Hennessy at Sabrina@CatalystCG.com or Jordana Lewis at jlewis@oceanconservancy.org
3. ==> The Wreck of the Mentor: Lessons From the 1831 Whaling Disaster
Invite maritime historian Jay Dolin to take your listeners on the water as he tells the remarkable story of an 1831 whaleship that left New Bedford, then the wealthiest whaling port in the world, and ended in disaster in the western Pacific. After striking a reef near Palau, surviving crew members made it ashore and lived among island communities for months and in some cases years. Some eventually returned home. Others did not. Their story offers a rare window into early encounters between American sailors and Pacific Island societies. Dolin can discuss America’s global reach during the whaling era, survival and daily life in the Age of Sail, and lessons in resilience, cross-cultural understanding, and survival that mirror today’s conversations about global interdependence, migration, and how societies respond to crisis. Dolin’s new book, “The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail,” has been praised as one of the most gripping maritime sagas of the nineteenth century. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 400-1099 (cell); johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705
4. ==> Sell By, Use By, Best Before: What Does it All Mean?
What’s the difference between a ‘sell by’ and ‘best before’ date when stamped on your food? If you think they all mean the same thing you’re probably among the many people who throw away perfectly good food. But you’re hardly alone. Many Americans misunderstand the food stamps and what they mean, resulting in a lot of confusion and billions of dollars in food waste. “Food product dating rarely indicates when the food is safe to eat,” says Nicole Arnold, an assistant professor and food safety field specialist at the Ohio State University. Instead, she adds, “almost all food product dating in the United States represents how long a product will maintain its peak quality.” So, when should you respect the date on the package? Experts say you should always toss any meat, poultry or fish with an expired safety date because you can’t use appearance, smell or taste to detect the invisible pathogens. But Arnold says there’s some wiggle room with dairy products like hard cheeses, yogurt and eggs. And when assessing snacks, cereals and condiments that may or may not have a date stamp, she says it’s smart to use your senses to gauge freshness. “When in doubt, throw it out,” she advises. “When you notice funky smells or striking changes in texture, toss the items.” She can also discuss a bill now pending in Congress that would limit the jargon on food to just two terms: ‘best if used by’ for peak quality and ‘use by’ for safety. Contact Nicole Arnold at arnold.1363@osu.edu
5. ==> It’s Golf Season: What Your Game Reveals About Your Mindset
Most golfers blame their swing when they play poorly. Former LPGA Tour player and LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame Member Cindy Miller says the real problem is usually the six inches between their ears. In this timely summer segment, she reveals how fear, frustration, self-doubt, and unrealistic expectations sabotage performance long before golfers reach the green. Cindy shares practical strategies to quiet negative self-talk, recover after mistakes, and play with greater confidence and consistency. She also explains why the same mental habits that improve your golf game can strengthen leadership, relationships, and resilience long after you leave the course. Her book, “Take Another Shot,” reinforces these lessons through real stories of perseverance, second chances, and personal growth. Cindy Miller is a former LPGA Tour player, LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame Member, and nationally recognized golf instructor who has spent decades helping golfers improve both their game and their mindset. Contact Cindy Miller at (716) 670-5341; cimiller@rtirguests.com
6. ==> 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.or
7. ==> The Elderly Are 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 the author of 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
8. ==> 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
9. ==> The Push for 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
10. ==> What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today
Most people think running for office is about speeches, slogans, and shaking hands. Rob Curnock knows better. As a former TV political reporter, party leader, and unlikely congressional candidate, he’s seen the process from every angle. He pulls back the curtain on the physical exhaustion, emotional toll, family strain, and political hardball that define modern campaigns. After challenging and almost winning after running against an “unbeatable” incumbent, he discovered how power really works behind closed doors. “I experienced the often brutal realities of running for office—and learned how ordinary citizens can shake up the system,” he says. Rob is a long-time broadcast journalist and the author of “Dead Man Running.” Contact Rob Curnock at (254) 822-3741; rcurnock@rtirguests.com
11. ==> 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
12. ==> Why So Many Women Are Discovering Fertility Issues Too Late
More women are waiting longer to start families, but many are shocked to learn their fertility may have declined years earlier. OB/GYN Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri says the problem isn’t just age, it’s a lack of awareness about the early signals the body provides. She’ll explain why many women don’t discover issues until they’re struggling to conceive, how modern lifestyles may quietly accelerate fertility decline, and why relying on IVF as a backup plan can be misleading. Drawing on more than 30 years in women’s health she shares what women and couples should be tracking now—long before they’re ready for pregnancy. She’ll reveal fertility warning signs women are missing in their 20s and 30s and explain why so many women overestimate what IVF can actually do. Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri is the author of “Optimize Your Fertility Naturally.” Contact her at (613) 800-9412; msuri@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Love, Sex & Second Chances After 50
More than 37 million single adults over 50 are reentering the dating world and discovering it’s nothing like they remember. Known as the next “Dr. Ruth,” Dr. Victoria Vaughn brings candid, humorous insight into love, sex, and starting over later in life. She’ll share lessons from her own dating journey: spotting red flags like financial instability and emotional un-availability, avoiding the pressure to “settle,” and why loneliness often leads smart people to relationship mistakes. Her stories resonate with men and women, including same-sex couples, offering a practical “buyer beware” guide to dating after 50. Ask her: Why do smart people ignore red flags after 50? Is it really possible to have more than one true love? Vaughn is the author of “Oh the Frogs I Kissed Before I Finally Found My Prince.” Contact her at (512) 585-1876; vvaughn@rtirguests.com
14. ==> 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
15. ==> 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
