01. Trump TV Slammed as State-Run Media
02. Iran’s Approach to Diplomacy Explained
03. The Call to Slow AI is Really a Sales Pitch
04. Business is Moving Fast. People Need More Time
05. Celebrate National Mother-in-Law Day
06. Medicare Fraud Is Surging: Protect Yourself and Your Parents
07. What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today
08. Why Messy, Human Content Beats AI Every Time
09. The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare
10. Is Your Retirement Plan Missing the Most Important Part?
11. Franchising 101: What Smart Buyers Investigate Before They Invest
12. Want People to Listen? Six-Steps to Be a Persuasive Speaker
13. Heroes’ Day is Oct. 8; Be the Hero of Your Own Story
14. The Unlikely Patients Who Changed How This Doc Sees Medicine
15. The Question Every Spiritual Seeker Eventually Asks
1. ==> Trump TV Slammed as State-Run Media
Amid a legal battle over President Donald Trump‘s press ban against news outlets and the subsequent boycott by television networks, the White House’s newly launched “Trump TV” is raising eyebrows. To many observers a sitting U.S. president refusing access to news organizations while trumpeting his own branded TV platform in their place feels a lot less like the democracy the United States has been for more than two centuries. “Trump TV is the latest instance of authoritarianism,” says Dr. Marcus Board, Jr., who compares the media ecosystem around Trump to state run TV in Russia and China. The associate professor of political science at Howard University says this mirrors the classic authoritarian model: control the message, delegitimize independent media, and replace journalism with leader centric propaganda. Reflecting on the concept of Trump TV, he adds, “It’s also embarrassing to be 80 years old and still think you’re a pageant queen.” Marcus Board, Jr., Ph.D., is the author of “Invisible Weapons: Infiltrating Resistance and Defeating Movements.” His research engages social movements, radical Black feminist theories of power, and public opinion. Contact him at (202) 250-6062 or the media relations department at Howard University at (202) 288-7071; mediarelations@howard.edu.
2. ==> Iran’s Approach to Diplomacy Explained
Iran’s foreign minister said this weekend that Tehran is "fully prepared for the war to be resumed," and also for the possibility of renewed diplomacy, and it's "up to President Trump to choose." Sina Toossi, a senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy, can explain Iran’s strategy to end the current war and the country’s postwar approach to diplomacy. “Negotiations remain desirable, but they must be conducted while Iran retains the capacity and willingness to impose costs. Rather than de-escalating first to create space for diplomacy, Tehran now seeks to use coercive leverage to shape the terms of diplomacy and ultimately convert that leverage into a durable favorable settlement.” She adds, “Tehran appears determined not to repeat what it sees as the central mistake of the June ceasefire: reaching an agreement and de-escalating first, before Washington had demonstrated that it would follow through on its commitments. Its immediate objective is therefore less a wholly new agreement than full and proper U.S. implementation of the June MOU: the release of frozen Iranian assets, an end to the wider regional war, lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, and recognition of the Iran-Oman transit arrangement through Hormuz. Tehran also increasingly appears to be seeking a new governance arrangement for Bab al-Mandeb.” Contact Sina Toossi at stoossi@internationalpolicy.org
3. ==> The Call to Slow AI is Really a Sales Pitch
Amodei, Altman, and Musk are all calling for government regulation to slow the pace of AI innovation. But Shelly Palmer points out that “they own Big AI, and they can slow down the pace at any time, without asking anyone's permission.” He adds, “The media would have us believe that AI is on track to end humanity. That sounds like science fiction, but very smart people are saying it. On top of that, governments around the world are actively weaponizing AI.” Is there really a danger? If there is, what should we do about it? Palmer believes the call for a slowdown is actually a sales pitch and can offer a few different ways to frame the issue. Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group. He is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Contact him at sp@shellypalmer.com; info@shellypalmer.com or (212) 532-3880
4. ==> Business is Moving Fast. People Need More Time
Companies are moving faster than ever, rolling out AI, restructuring teams, and introducing new systems at scale. Yet many of these efforts stall after launch. Steve Reiner says the issue isn’t strategy or technology, it’s leadership. He says most organizations fail because they don’t close the gap between how quickly business evolves and how slowly people adapt. “Business can change overnight, but people need time, clarity, and support to change with it. When that gap is ignored, even well-designed initiatives fail.” While the common belief is that employees resist change, in Reiner’s experience, resistance is usually a leadership failure, not a people problem. He’ll discuss why most change initiatives fail after rollout, the gap between business speed and human adaptation and why “people don’t like change” is the wrong diagnosis. He says, “Companies don’t fail because they move too fast. They fail because they don’t bring people with them.” Steve Reiner is a leadership expert and the author of “Business Changes Fast, People Change Slow: A Leadership Guide to Accelerating Organizational Change and Building Competitive Advantage.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)
5. ==> Celebrate National Mother-in-Law Day
There are a million jokes about them, but there’s likely plenty of reasons to celebrate the woman who raised your spouse, if only on the fourth Sunday of October. Whether you’ve got a great relationship with your M-I-L, or admit there is room for improvement, National Mother-in-Law Day is an opportunity to recognize the important role a mother-in-law can play while also acknowledging that the healthiest relationships are built, not assumed. Psychotherapist Lesley Koeppel, author of “How to Be the “Perfect” Mother-in-Law: A Lighthearted Guide for Moms of Married Sons” says, “A great mother-in-law doesn’t try to become the most important woman in her child’s life. She learns how to become an important woman in the life of the family her child has created.” Koeppel can share five tips that work for honoring a mother-in-law while building a relationship with her. Lesley Koeppel, LCSW, is a psychotherapist with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate serious health challenges and life’s most complicated relationships. Contact Justin Loeber at (212) 260-7576; justin.loeber@mouthdigitalpr.com
6. ==> Medicare Fraud Is Surging: Protect Yourself and Your Parents
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says it stopped $5.7 billion in suspected fraudulent Medicare payments in 2025 alone. But here’s what Medicare enrollees and their families need to know: Medicare fraud could already be happening in your name without you realizing it. An unfamiliar charge on a Medicare Summary Notice may be the first clue. Medicare expert Toni King, author of “Medicare Survival Guide Advanced: Basics and Beyond,” will give your audience a practical fraud-protection checklist. She’ll explain why beneficiaries and caregivers should scrutinize Medicare Summary Notices for unfamiliar charges, guard Medicare numbers like credit cards, and hang up when unsolicited callers ask for personal information. Toni will also expose convincing scams, including callers falsely promising new plastic Medicare cards. With the government intensifying its fraud crackdown, Toni helps Medicare enrollees, their adult children, and caregivers recognize trouble before it threatens their money or healthcare. Contact Toni King at (281) 677-3736; tking@rtirguests.com
7. ==> What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today
With the midterm elections just weeks away, have you wondered what it’s like to be a candidate for office today? Rob Curnock knows. 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
8. ==> Why Messy, Human Content Beats AI Every Time
Audiences are growing tired of polished, AI-generated content — and they can spot it instantly. Lisa Rothstein, New Yorker cartoonist, former advertising creative, and Axiom Award-winning author of “Drawing Out Your Genius,” isn’t surprised. Her answer to businesses trying to make sense of their messages now: the messier and more human your communication, the more trusted you become. Rothstein will reveal why imperfect hand-drawn visuals are now outperforming slick presentations for buy-in, innovation, and team alignment — and why that gap is only widening. She'll share quick techniques anyone can use to tap their own visual thinking, simplify complex ideas, and stand out as authentically human in an AI-saturated world. Ask her: Why are audiences turning away from AI-generated content — and what do they want instead? How does drawing badly actually build more trust than a perfect presentation? Contact Lisa Rothstein at (310) 388-8093; Lrothstein@rtirguests.com
9. ==> 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
10. ==> Is Your Retirement Plan Missing the Most Important Part?
You’ve saved. You’ve invested. You’ve planned for the day you can finally stop working. But have you thought about what will happen when the work stops? Retirement isn’t simply a financial transition, it’s also an emotional and psychological one. For many people, leaving a career can mean losing daily purpose, social connections, a sense of identity and the feeling that others depend on them. “The phone stops ringing; Monday morning arrives, and suddenly there’s nowhere you have to be,” says author Laura Essay. She explores the often-overlooked challenges of life after employment. Her message is: Retirement isn’t an ending. It can be the beginning of an exciting new chapter filled with possibility, discovery, and fulfillment. Ask her: What are some of the biggest challenges retired people face? How can you mentally prepare for leaving the workforce? Laura Essay is the author of “Retirement Mindset.” Contact her at (402) 267-9988; lessay@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Franchising 101: What Smart Buyers Investigate Before They Invest
Greg Mohr has helped more than 250 people buy into over 500 franchise locations nationwide — and he says most buyers skip the one step that actually determines whether they'll succeed. In his “Wall Street Journal” bestseller, “Real Freedom,” Mohr lays out exactly what smart buyers investigate before they ever sign anything. He walks listeners through the red flags that separate a solid franchise opportunity from an expensive mistake, and what most first-time buyers get wrong before they even realize it. Ask him: What's the one thing most franchise buyers forget to investigate? What's a red flag that should make someone walk away from a franchise deal? Is financing a franchise more accessible than most people assume? What's the biggest myth people believe about buying a franchise? Contact Greg Mohr at (361) 204-5470; gmohr@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Want People to Listen? Six-Steps to Be a Persuasive Speaker
Most people believe that persuasive speaking is a natural talent. But retired Army Colonel Larry Tracy says it's a skill that anyone can master. Drawing on decades of high-stakes experience briefing military leaders, defending U.S. policy before hostile audiences, and training professionals competing for multimillion-dollar government contracts, Larry developed an easy-to-follow 6-step system to help speakers communicate with confidence, clarity, and credibility in any setting. Praised by President Ronald Reagan as "an extraordinarily effective speaker," Larry shows that persuasion isn't about charisma—it's about preparation. His battle-tested approach can help anyone influence audiences, overcome speaking anxiety, and deliver messages that truly change minds. Larry’s proven system is featured in his book “How to Bring Home the Bacon: Becoming a Persuasive Speaker.” Contact Larry Tracy at (571) 336-0507; Ltracy@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Heroes’ Day is Oct. 8; Be the Hero of Your Own Story
Why do so many successful people still feel something is missing? What if the real measure of a heroic life isn't achievement, status, or recognition, but fulfillment? For National Heroes' Day, October 8, author, educator, and facilitator Susan R. Rich explores why so many people spend years pursuing someone else's definition of success only to discover it doesn't fit. Rich believes fulfillment comes from living in alignment with your values, strengths, and purpose rather than others' expectations. Listeners will discover why life's unexpected transitions often become turning points, why purpose begins with the question "Who am I?" and why becoming the hero of your own life story isn't extraordinary, it's essential. Rich is the author of the new book, “Becoming the Hero of Your Own Life Story: 14 Secrets to Empower Your Journey.” Ask her about the book’s public livestream launch coinciding with Heroes’ Day featuring guests who chose fulfillment over convention and pursued lives that truly fit who they are. Contact Susan R. Rich at susan@lifestoryhero.com; (571) 451-7935
14. ==> The Unlikely Patients Who Changed How This Doc Sees Medicine
Dr. Glen Robison remembers a patient who was cleared by another doctor — but his gut said something was wrong. He sent the man to the ER and it turned out the man had a knee infection serious enough to cost him his leg, though the quick call saved his life. Robison also treated a man who struck out Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, and Jackie Robinson, as well as a patient held in a Stalin-era work camp at age six, now 96. Invite Glen to talk about the patients who taught him more than medical school ever could and why he is a living testament to the power of stepping boldly into the unknown. Dr. Robison’s journey will uplift, challenge, and awaken the courage within you to find your own answers and show the world what’s possible. You can also ask him: What’s really in the COVID vaccine? What is the real cause of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia? How did you assist in open heart surgery without ever graduating from college? Dr. Glen Robison serves as Diplomate of the American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry. He is a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner and certified Myopractor and the author of several books including “Show Them: Stepping Into the Unknown to Find the Answers.” Contact him at (928) 351-0312; glrobison@rtirguests.com
15. ==> The Question Every Spiritual Seeker Eventually Asks
Doreen Mary Bray has spent 40 years as a naturopath and mystical guide, helping people move past a question most avoid their whole lives: who am I here to become? Her two books, “The Angel and the Avatar” and the upcoming “What Were You Meant to Be? The Embodied Life Your Soul Is Seeking,” both explore that question from different angles. On your show, she'll reveal that most people look outward for purpose, when the real work actually starts by turning inward. Ask her: Why do most people avoid asking who they're here to become? What does it mean to look inward for your purpose? What's one small way someone can start turning inward today? Contact Doreen Mary Bray at (438) 802-0280; dbray@rtirguests.com
