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01. Lessons from Electoral History
02. How Democracies Die Across the Globe
03. Hate Your Job? It’s Not You, It’s 2020
04. Thanksgiving: How to Feel Grateful When Life Stinks
05. Don’t Be a Turkey: How to Choose Holiday Wine
06. How Tragedies Inspired Kids to Activism
07. Why Biden Alone Can’t Heal the Nation
08. Racist Cops? Are Their Numbers Exaggerated?
09. The Nursing Shortage is Here … What Now?
10. Work Talk: How to Speak So People Listen
11. Saving Your Career is Simple. Just Answer Yes or No
12. Would You Sacrifice Your Career for Your Child’s?
13. What Took Sean Connery Might Take Someone You Love
14. Can You Drink Your Way to Increased Immunity?
15. He Helped a First Lady Set an Underwater Speed Record

1. ==> Lessons from Electoral History

One can hardly imagine a time when an election seemed more chaotic. But how about 2000? Alan Hirsch also points to the presidential election of 1876. “In each of these three elections, the outcome came down to one or more disputed states,” he says. “The (1876) resolution came only when Republicans assured Democrats in Congress that, if they went along with Rutherford B. Hayes’s election, they would cease implementing Reconstruction. The nation paid a terrible price for the backroom dealing. In 2000, the election was resolved by the Supreme Court intervening.” Hirsch can discuss what most history books get wrong about how the 1876 election was eventually decided, the many similarities in all three elections, and how to use the lessons from the past election chaos to navigate the current situation. Hirsch, who is chair of the Justice and Law Studies program at Williams College, serves as a trial consultant and expert witness on interrogations and criminal confessions. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, Newsday, and the Village Voice. His latest book is “A Short History of Presidential Election Crises (And How to Prevent the Next One).” Contact him at 413) 458-2192; ahirsch@williams.edu

2. ==> How Democracies Die Across the Globe

When the Cold War ended in the early 1990s, it seemed democracy had triumphed among political systems. But more recently, many democracies have run into a common set of troubles, with authoritarian leaders grasping enough power to create illiberal regimes. “Democracies do not die the way they used to die,” said Steven Levitsky, a professor of government at Harvard University. “Democracies used to die at the hands of men with guns. During the Cold War, three out of every four democratic breakdowns took the form of a classic military coup. … Today democracies die in a much more subtle way. They die at the hands not of generals, but of elected leaders, presidents, prime ministers who use the very institutions of democracy to subvert it.” From Hungary to Venezuela and Poland, Levitsky will describe three common steps as a country slips into authoritarianism and discuss what’s happening across the globe and here in the United States. “It happens behind a pretty credible façade of democracy,” Levitsky says. “Many citizens aren’t fully aware of what is happening often until it is too late.” Steven Levitsky is co-author of “How Democracies Die.” Contact him at (617) 495-9997, ext. 1737; levitsky@wcfia.harvard.edu

3. ==> Hate Your Job? It’s Not You, It’s 2020

Job burnout — a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress — is increasing across the country as Americans continue to endure the fallout of a polarizing presidential election, civil unrest and a pandemic that just keeps getting worse. “It’s feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, but you don’t have the efficacy to make a change,” says Theresa Nguyen, the chief program officer and vice president of research and innovation at Mental Health America. Nguyen says, “Those two things lead you to feel really cynical about your job, hate your job, feel dread when you wake up and dislike your co-workers and clients over time. It happens in any job.” She says the biggest issue in 2020 has been about overwhelming, uncontrollable stress. “A lot changed for us that we cannot control, and we’ve had to deal with our jobs on top of that change. That’s a slippery slope towards exhaustion.” She’ll share ways to deal with burnout and tips to make things more manageable, like finding “micro-spaces of relief” and aiming for moments of replenishment that will give you enough energy to keep going. Mental Health America (MHA) is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all. Contact Theresa Nguyen at (703) 684-7722; tnguyen@mhanational.org

4. ==> Thanksgiving: How to Feel Grateful When Life Stinks

This Thanksgiving will be especially difficult for many people. Some may even skip the holiday feeling that there’s nothing to celebrate. During these difficult times, how can we develop gratitude when we’re feeling anything but thankful? Myke Merrill, D.Min., says, “One great challenge everyone faces is how to manage your internal response in spite of the external circumstances.” The author of “Why Do People Act that Way? (And What Can I Do About It?)” will discuss how perceptions, emotions, motivations and behaviors work together and how you have the power to change how you feel and act if you truly want. He says it’s not hard but requires effort. “Developing an internal skill is just like developing a physical skill: know what you want to do, break it down into basic parts, and practice each part.” Dr. Myke Merrill was a panelist on the national television show “Ask the Pastor” for 18 years. Contact him at (585) 615-6383; myke@grippingreality.com

5. ==> Don’t Be a Turkey: How to Choose Holiday Wine

It’s been an unconventional year and the holidays are sure to be the same. No matter what you’re roasting or who you’re with, there will likely be some adult beverages involved and Jim Laughren, CWE, can help your listeners figure out the perfect wine for the occasion, whether they’re looking for a comforting favorite or something out of the ordinary. He can also suggest creative gift ideas for the wine lovers on your shopping list like special glasses and accessories, wine club memberships and more. An encyclopedia of wine knowledge, Jim is the author of two short new eBooks, “The 15-Minute Guide to Red Wine” and “The 15-Minute Guide to White Wine.” He’s appeared on radio and TV around the country and is also the award-winning author of “50 Ways to Love Wine More” and “A Beer Drinker’s Guide to Knowing and Enjoying Fine Wine.” Contact Jim Laughren at (954) 317-9623; JLaughren@rtirguests.com

6. ==> How Tragedies Inspired Kids to Activism

Take a closer look at today’s young activists in the new documentary “The Day I Had To Grow Up.” The film showcases six activists and the events that shaped their political lives including the Parkland shooting, BLM, student debt, women’s roles in today’s society, the climate crisis and others. “Each year, we witness national tragedies to a numbing effect. There are no faces and no names to these crises. Our film puts a face and a name to the young children impacted. It allows the viewer a rare chance to intimately understand youth activism in America,” say co-directors and coproducers Laura Pellegrini and Stefano Da Frè. Invite them on your show to discuss why they pursued this project, what you’ll learn by watching it, and what surprised them most about the young people profiled. “The Day I Had To Grow Up” is currently airing on Amazon Prime. Contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988; mark@goldmanmccormick.com

7. ==> Why Biden Alone Can’t Heal the Nation

Americans’ anxiety around the election was palpable. When news networks called the race after days of counting ballots, it was as if the country finally exhaled and spontaneous celebrations erupted across the country and the globe. Joe Biden has called for this to become a moment of national healing, but Donald Trump still hasn’t conceded the race. Sankarshan Das says if and when he does, peace still won’t prevail. “This election will not heal our country. There are deep, deep wounds which Joe Biden is incapable of healing.” Invite the spiritual master to discuss what’s broken in our society, what we need to heal, and whether any politician can provide it. Sankarshan Das is the author of the upcoming book “Conquer Your Mind and Deliver the World: Empowering You to Awaken Your Divine Consciousness and Create Global Happiness.” He is also a singer-songwriter who once appeared onstage between Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. His song, “The Peace Formula,” has been praised by Barack Obama. Contact him at (512) 643-6740; sdas@rtirguests.com

8. ==> Racist Cops? Are Their Numbers Exaggerated?

Mark Rusin, a former Las Vegas METRO police officer and retired ATF special agent with nearly 30 years as a law enforcement official, wants to talk about Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, and defunding the police. He says although there are some bad apples, all cops are being unfairly painted as racist when “99% of cop shootings of ‘unarmed’ people occur when they resist arrest or fail to follow commands.” He adds, “It is a known fact that when an ‘unarmed’ subject refuses to follow lawful police commands and chooses to physically engage in hand-to-hand combat with an officer they must be treated as ‘armed’ because every officer has a loaded gun at their side.” Rusin will also share why allegations of racism have led to police apathy in America and what that means for public safety. A consultant to “CSI” and other shows, he is the author of the upcoming book “METRO: Sin City Chronicles.” An earlier novel, “Justice For Dallas,” based on real events, is being turned into a screenplay. Contact Mark Rusin at (520) 205-1113; msrusin@comcast.net

9. ==> The Nursing Shortage is Here … What Now?

Thanks in no small degree to the pandemic, burnout, and an older workforce, rural areas and small hospitals are scrambling for nurses with some ERs operating with fewer nurses than they should. How can we help prevent these nursing shortages which are likely to worsen as our aging population needs more care? You’ll want to explore this timely topic and the nursing experience with all its implications by interviewing Nancy Congleton. In addition to offering solutions to help today’s nurses and ultimately everyone they serve, she will reveal the unexpected realities of the nursing profession, five relationship dynamics that nurses face, legal issues, and the concerns everyone should have when nurses feel so unprepared and overworked that they leave. An outspoken registered nurse known as Nurse Nancy, Nancy has worked in the NICU, ER, and case management. She’s the author of “Autopsy of the NP: Dissecting the Nursing Profession Piece By Piece.” Contact Nancy Congleton at (918) 992-4616; NCongleton@rtirguests.com

10. ==> Work Talk: How to Speak So People Listen

Public speaking is considered the #1 fear. And while most of us will never have to debate someone in a national forum (think the 2020 election debates), we’re now challenged with audiences who are spread out, behind masks, and even virtual. Moreover, many people would rather quit their job than speak on stage, be interviewed on camera, or present on Zoom. A groundbreaking approach could change all that, and Jill Jaysen has one. She’ll identify the five biggest public speaking blunders and replace them with five strategic power-up principles. Not only will your audience feel transformed, but they will also finally believe they can win big (consistently) at public speaking! Contact Jill Jaysen at (203) 442-9301; jjaysen@rtirguests.com

11. ==> Saving Your Career is Simple. Just Answer Yes or No

Should you go on that job interview? Or accept that offer? Are you feeling comfortable enough to sign that contract or take that promotion? Are you ready to quit your current job? Go part-time? Or finally retire? Just like every other move you make in your personal or professional life, you have “Just 2 Choices.” That’s the message of Rico Racosky, who has already gained a substantial following with his “Just 2 Choices” book, speaking engagements, webinars and radio program. Ask Rico: Why do people make their career moves far more complicated than necessary? What fears keep many people from moving up? How can the “Just 2 Choices” strategy strengthen someone’s situation, even during a pandemic? Rico can help your listeners navigate their careers and reach their goals with a yes or no answer! Contact him at (730) 572-1322; Racosky@rtirguests.com

12. ==> Would You Sacrifice Your Career for Your Child’s?

How far should parents be willing to go to help grown children? Should they lend adult children money that they might need for retirement, raise their grandchildren due to addiction issues or move closer to their children to provide childcare? Oliver Akamnonu, M.D. went about as far as a parent could go, giving up his medical practice (as did his wife) to help his daughter Nena make it through medical school, childbirth, and early parenting while the latter’s husband was abroad. Was what Dr. Akanmnonu and his wife did excessive? Do they have any regrets? Would they encourage others to take the same path? Find out when you explore this heartwarming story told in “Little Baby Lydia, Grandma, Grandpa and Student Mom: Saga of Family Role Reversal and the New Times.” Contact Oliver Akamnonu at (413) 206-6753; oakamnonu@rtirguests.com

13. ==> What Took Sean Connery Might Take Someone You Love

When Sean Connery passed away last month, millions mourned the original and arguably best James Bond. And even though it was dementia — not Spectre —that took 007 and quieted his memory in his last years, the public will never forget his masterful MI-6 skills, his suaveness, and Connery’s superb acting career. Connery was married for 45 years and his wife will experience his loss most of all. As the spouse of someone who had early Alzheimer’s, Carlen Maddux can identify with her and inform your audience about what it is like to have a family member who fades away even as they continue to live. He can also offer tips for those who find themselves in the same situation. Carlen served for 17 years as a caregiver for his once-dynamic wife Martha — who was her family’s super-hero and only in her fifties when diagnosed. Carlen shares his insights in the book “A Path Revealed.” Contact Carlen Maddux at (727) 351-8321; CMaddux@rtirguests.com

14. ==> Can You Drink Your Way to Increased Immunity?

Since the coronavirus outbreak began, everyone has been talking about immunity. How can your body be healthier to ward off disease? Can we be wiser in what we eat and drink? What’s the best natural way to bring about strength, energy, healthier skin and ultimately longer life? For the answers, listen to Tilak Silva, an expert in nutrition and health research and the inventor of CilanTea. Ask him: What makes cilantro an unexpected health food? What’s the best way to take advantage of its benefits? Which commonly imbibed beverages decrease immunity? Contact Tilak Silva at (310) 483-2785, tsilva@rtirguests.com

15. ==> He Helped a First Lady Set an Underwater Speed Record

Few of us have had close contact with a president and first lady the way Steven Mays did, and he has a great story to tell. Mays was serving on a nuclear submarine at the time when this particular president and first lady came aboard his “stinky, smelly, hot tube 400 feet below the water” to get a behind-the-scenes tour of what his high-tech vessel could do. On your show, Mays will share all the details: who the president and first lady were, the feverish preparations for their visit including the banning of some overweight crew members, what happened when the first couple visited his engine room, and how the first lady perked up when informed that she was “the first female to break an underwater speed record.” Mays is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis who served on nuclear submarines. He was also a mathematician, electrical engineer and nuclear engineer who worked in private industry and at the Nuclear Regulation Commission. Contact Steven Mays at (703) 552-5672; smays@rtirguests.com