01. The Midterms Rattled Stocks. What to Watch
02. Holiday Hiring Forecast
03. Country Singer John Paycheck on Famous Father
04. Interview Co-Owner of the World-Famous Improv Club
05. Why America Needs a New Understanding of Courage
06. Defend Yourself Against AI-Powered Scams
07. What You Need to Know About Open Enrollment This Year
08. Is Your Environment Secretly Working Against Your Health?
09. This Elite Athlete Can Unlock the Champion Mindset in You
10. Worried AI Will Replace You? Here’s How to Make Yourself Irreplaceable
11. Is Your Company Using an Outdated Leadership Playbook?
12. Change Your Life by Changing Three Questions
13. Why We Need to Teach Kids to Be Students
14. How Faith Carried a Visually Impaired Marathoner 26.2 Miles—Three Times
15. The Illness That Nearly Killed Him — And the Music That Saved Him
1. ==> The Midterms Rattled Stocks. What to Watch
The connection between politics, policy, financial markets, and the economy has been on full display since the election. As investors digested the implications of the results, equity markets turned sharply lower. Rebecca Patterson says the outlook for companies tied to artificial intelligence (AI) was thrown into doubt, given the wave of local ballot measures across ten states—nearly all of which backed data center restrictions—and the success of Democratic candidates who campaigned against data center expansion. Patterson says it’s too early to know if a potential policy shift following the midterms will prove the catalyst for sustained equity selling and slower economic growth. “A solid labor market and historical patterns in which both a reset in fundamental expectations and technical selling are short-lived offer at least two reasons for cautious optimism,” she says. “More important, the week’s market volatility is a stark reminder that politicians and policymakers should watch financial markets and economic trends, and that investors should watch politics and policy. They are all interconnected.” Rebecca Patterson is a globally recognized investor and macroeconomic researcher. She is the cohost of The Spillover, a weekly podcast that examines the ripple effects of global events across policy, geopolitics, economics, finance, and technology. Contact her at (917) 846-8565; rpatterson@cfr.org
2. ==> Holiday Hiring Forecast
The holiday season is about to begin, and traditionally, there were plenty of ways to earn some extra cash with a seasonal, part-time job, but employment expert Andy Challenger, says things have changed. He’ll explain what job seekers need to know and why the recent hiring and unemployment numbers have been so confusing. “Retailers cutting jobs at the same time they are staffing up for the holidays tells you where the pressure is. Companies are trimming permanent roles and leaning on seasonal workers to cover the busiest weeks of the year,” he explains. “This is a low-fire environment. Employers are holding on to the workers they have heading into the holidays, and the hiring they are announcing is largely short-term, seasonal work. Companies want the flexibility to meet holiday demand without adding permanent headcount.” He’ll offer advice for job seekers and share which industries are looking to hire and what skills are in high demand. Andy Challenger is chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074 (office); (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com
3. ==> Country Singer John PayCheck on Famous Father
Country singer-songwriter and recording artist John PayCheck, son of country music legend Johnny PayCheck, is reflecting on what he’d say to his father if he had one more chance to speak with him. That deeply personal question becomes a moving musical conversation on his latest single “Daddy Are You Listening?” “I was thinking about what I would want to say to Dad if he could hear me now in the present day. The things I would want him to know and how I would want him to meet his grandkids, my wife and see the things I have done in life.” He adds, “He didn't get to see me as a man, only as a kid in my early 20's.” Invite PayCheck to talk about the song, which offers an intimate glimpse into the relationship between a father and son, the passage of time, and the moments in life that death leaves unfinished. Paycheck got his start as a roadie, learning the business while traveling with his father, country legend and Grand Ole Opry member Johnny PayCheck—then stepping out to forge his own path. His latest CD, “Better Plan,” will be released later this month. Contact Jason Ashcraft at (615) 991-1125; jwa@jwamedia.com
4. ==> Interview Co-Owner of the World-Famous Improv Club
There’s no business like show business, and few know more about that than Mark Lenow, the legendary co-owner of the Improv Club. Invite him to share behind-the-scenes stories about the Los Angeles club he started with Budd Friedman back in 1980. Hear how the duo helped birth the comedy careers of Robin Williams, Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Lewis, Jay Leno, Andy Kaufman, Ellen DeGeneres, and so many more. You’ll also discover Lenow’s fascinating life and personal history. Born into a Jewish family of Russian descent in Brooklyn, New York, his mother’s uncle, Yakov Sverdlov, was the first head of the Central Committee of Soviet Russia. And the one known to have personally pulled the trigger to murder the Czar and the Romonoff family. Learn about his various roles on stage and TV, and his later work (with his wife) that included producing Lewis Black’s one-man Broadway show. Mark Lenow’s new memoir is “Ya Gotta Laugh…and Never Grow Up.” Contact Ilene Proctor at (310) 721-2336; ilene@taghollywood.com or ilenepr@sbcglobal.net
5. == Why America Needs a New Understanding of Courage
We celebrate courage in soldiers, first responders, and larger-than-life heroes. But what about the courage required to admit we're wrong, challenge conventional thinking, make difficult moral choices, or simply stand by our convictions when doing so comes at a personal cost? At a time when courage is often confused with confidence, defiance, or displays of strength, West Point professor Elizabeth D. Samet offers a more complicated and revealing understanding of this essential American virtue. She’ll discuss what courage really means in America today, why we so often misunderstand it, and why it matters in an age of political division, technological change, and uncertainty. Drawing on more than two decades of teaching literature to future military officers at West Point, as well as examples from American history, literature, film, and everyday life, Samet challenges the familiar stories we tell about bravery and explores why true courage is often quieter, less predictable, and more difficult to recognize than we imagine. Samet is the author of “Taking Courage: A New Look at an Old American Virtue.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)
6. ==> Defend Yourself Against AI-Powered Scams
Artificial intelligence is making scams faster, more convincing and more personal. Fraudulent messages can imitate family members, trusted companies or familiar voices, pressuring people to act before questioning what is happening. Jocelyn King says families do not need to become cybersecurity experts to protect themselves. They need practical habits for recognizing manipulation, verifying unexpected requests and limiting the personal information criminals can use against them. King is a Top 10 Woman in Cybersecurity, a 15-year Silicon Valley AI insider, CEO of Smarter Online Safety and author of the bestselling book “Digital Self-Defense in an AI World.” She’ll explain how AI is changing familiar scams, the warning signs families miss and the protective steps they can take now. Contact Jocelyn King (970) 514-5150; jking@rtirguests.com
7. ==> What You Need to Know About Open Enrollment This Year
What if your Medicare Advantage plan disappeared while you were undergoing cancer treatment? That's the frightening dilemma facing some enrollees as insurers terminate plans for 2027. According to a recent analysis of Medicare Advantage plans, UnitedHealthcare is exiting 228 counties while Humana is leaving 62 counties, making this Open Enrollment season especially critical for so many enrollees. Medicare expert Toni King will explain what termination notices mean, how to protect access to doctors and prescriptions, and why some people losing their plans may qualify to buy Medicare Supplement coverage without medical underwriting, even with preexisting conditions. She'll also clarify the December 7 enrollment deadline, special enrollment rights, and why newly negotiated prescription drug prices don't guarantee identical copays at every pharmacy. Author of Medicare Survival Guide Advanced: Basics and Beyond, King has helped more than 105,000 Americans navigate Medicare decisions. Contact King at (281) 677-3736; tking@rtirguests.com
8. ==> Is Your Environment Secretly Working Against Your Health?
Cell phones, Wi-Fi, smart watches and other wireless devices have become nearly impossible to avoid, but should we be paying more attention to our everyday exposure? The CDC confirms that cell phones emit radiofrequency radiation while noting that research has not definitively established whether long-term exposure causes health problems. Health researcher and author Norbert Heuser believes electromagnetic radiation deserves greater scrutiny and may contribute to issues including sleep problems and fatigue. On your show, he’ll explain his concerns about EMR from phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters and emerging wireless technologies, what he believes developing research suggests, and practical ways people can reduce exposure without abandoning modern technology. Rather than encouraging fear, the conversation gives audiences questions to consider as they reassess the environments in which they live and work. Heuser has spent years researching environmental influences on health and brings that focus to examining the potential effects of our increasingly wireless world. Contact Norbert at (727) 261-2313; nheuser@rtirguests.com
9. ==> This Elite Athlete Can Unlock the Champion Mindset in You
What separates top performers from everyone else isn’t talent, it’s mindset. In her recent TEDx talk, former LPGA Tour player and Hall of Fame golf instructor Cindy Miller explains why most people stay stuck: they’re “sitting on a nail”, tolerating what isn’t working instead of changing it. On your show, she introduces her simple framework—the Nail, the Mirror, and the Seed—to help your audience identify what’s holding them back, take a hard look at their own role, and choose one small action to move forward. Drawing from decades in elite competition, Cindy breaks down why perfectionism kills performance, how self-doubt is learned, and why small shifts create lasting change better than big overhauls. Her book “Take Another Shot” reinforces these lessons through real stories of setbacks and comebacks. Ask her: Why do high achievers stay stuck longer than they should? Can doing less actually help you perform better? Contact Cindy Miller at (716) 670-5341; cimiller@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Worried AI Will Replace You? Here’s How to Make Yourself Irreplaceable
AI anxiety is no longer hypothetical: through July, U.S. employers cited AI in 112,713 announced job cuts in 2026. But startup strategist and attorney Douglas Park says the answer isn’t trying to compete with machines at what they do best. It’s strengthening the human capabilities companies still need. On your show, Park will explain why judgment, creativity, collaboration and strategic thinking become more valuable as AI handles more routine work, and how employees can position themselves as people who know how to use technology rather than fear it. He’ll also reveal why companies that treat AI simply as a way to replace people may sacrifice the human insight that creates differentiation and long-term value. Park brings more than 25 years advising companies and developed the research-based 3P Framework—People, Product and Position—to help organizations build businesses that are adaptable, scalable and durable. His new book is “Starting Startups.” Contact Douglas at (650) 629-1424; dpark@rtirguests.com
11. ==> Is Your Company Using an Outdated Leadership Playbook?
The workplace is changing fast, but David Hampson says many companies are still rewarding an old model of leadership built around dominance rather than development. That may be especially shortsighted when Gallup reports that full-time working women currently show stronger employee engagement than men. Hampson will explain why qualities such as empathy, collaboration and long-term thinking can create stronger teams—and why organizations may undermine themselves when they overlook women who bring those strengths to leadership. He’ll challenge audiences to rethink what an effective leader looks like and explain why people-first leadership isn’t simply about fairness; he believes it can be a competitive advantage. Hampson is an entrepreneur, author and business advisory consultant who brings firsthand business experience to his call for rethinking leadership. He offers a different way to evaluate workplace success in his book “Rainbow Gold: Building A Business That’s Both the Journey and the Destination.” Contact David at (603) 605-8594; dhampson@rtirguests.com
12. ==> Change Your Life by Changing Three Questions
Are you safe? Do you belong? What choice do you have? Mitra Manesh says the questions we live by, often without realizing it, can determine whether we spend our lives reacting from fear or consciously choosing what comes next. On your show, Mitra will reveal how our most basic questions about safety and belonging can keep even successful people stuck in “survival mode.” The way out, she says, begins by changing the questions to: What are the facts? What choices do I have? What response serves me and the world around me? It’s a simple shift that can change how we approach everything from relationships and careers to uncertainty about the future. Mitra explores this progression from survival to conscious choice in her latest book, “The Attentionist: New Choices for a New World.” A senior mindfulness educator at UCLA Mindful, she brings decades of mindfulness teaching to this practical framework. Contact Mitra Manesh at (310) 807-3031; mmanesh@rtirguests.com
13. ==> Why We Need to Teach Kids to Be Students
Schools teach reading, math and science but award-winning teacher Karen Horwitz says one important lesson is often assumed: children already know how to be students. Horwitz says they don’t. In her classroom, she explicitly taught children what school was for, why their choices affected others and how to become part of a community. She told students, “School is your job,” and compared the class to a boat: everyone had to work together for smooth sailing. Horwitz can explain why belonging and responsibility aren’t extras, how teaching children the purpose of school can change classroom behavior and learning, and why these early lessons can help develop critical thinking and citizenship. Karen Horwitz is the author of multiple award-winning books. Contact her at (312) 471-9435; khorwitz@rtirguests.com
14. ==> How Faith Carried a Visually Impaired Marathoner 26.2 Miles—Three Times
Brenda Knight had never run a marathon, and her vision impairment made it difficult to see and avoid obstacles. But she says God called her to run 26.2 miles, and she answered, completing what she considers a miraculous marathon. And she didn’t stop there, she kept running marathons, although faith didn't make every race easy. Months later, Brenda hit the dreaded "wall" and says she wasn't mentally prepared to push through. That failure became a lesson she would carry into two more successful marathons. On your show, Brenda will reveal how she learned to "fight the good fight of faith" when fear of hitting the wall returned and why she completed three marathons on a seven-day fast. She’ll also share how she survived an astonishing fall and why she believes an angel protected her from serious harm. The author of “Faith Runner,” Brenda combines firsthand experience overcoming vision-related barriers with hard-earned lessons about faith, failure and perseverance. Contact Brenda Knight at (859) 297-5395 or bknight@rtirguests.com
15. ==> The Illness That Nearly Killed Him — And the Music That Saved Him
Chris Risi was two days from dying of flesh-eating bacteria and sepsis — the first of four surgeries, with more to come. In his memoir, “Singing Through the Storm...Using the Power of Music to Heal, Survive, and Thrive,” Risi credits music, including a song that came to him in a dream during recovery, with keeping him alive and hopeful. His journey held more than illness — layoffs, business closures, coming out to his family, and bankruptcy all played a part. He turned it into a memoir blending humor and music, sharing his story to help others facing their own storms. Ask him: What went through your mind when doctors told you how close you came to dying? What was the song that came to you in a dream during recovery? What would you tell someone facing their own health crisis or life's disappointments? Contact Chris Risi at (772) 218-1902; crisi@rtirguests.com
