Category: Current Events

  • Is DEI Doomed Under New Trump Administration?

    When Trump takes office next week, experts expect a fresh wave of opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to follow. During his first term in the White House he barred federal agencies from providing certain diversity training, and similar efforts are expected this time around. And more companies are expected to follow suit. Sara Ting, a diversity and inclusion educator, can discuss why the concept has become so controversial, what will happen if DEI policies disappear, and why people have a hard time accepting that each of us has personal biases. “Often times, people aren’t even aware of their biases. But because we live in such a diverse society, it’s important that we acknowledge our biases and work toward inclusion – so that we can all function more harmoniously in every aspect of life,” she says, adding that DEI is the foundation for a healthy society. Sara is a speaker, consultant, and the author of “Small Book with a Big Idea: 5 Minute Training to Empower You and Transform the World.” Contact her at (508) 715-3370; Sting@rtirguests.com

  • Are Presidential Inaugurations All Glamour and Glitz? This Guest Shares an Insider’s View  

    During her decades long career as a flight attendant, Tania Anderson has met celebrities ranging from Bono to Elizabeth Taylor and Nelson Mandela and has flown into war zones across the globe. But one of her biggest honors was attending the inauguration of George W. Bush. “President Bush, Sr. gave me two tickets,” she reveals. “The evening was genteel, decorous, and posh, mirroring the well-bred Bush family. Lionel Hampton, the multi-talented jazz bandleader, provided the perfect ambiance as his music mirrored the values of the day. The best caterers in town provided the food. It was quite an experience!” Tania can share many other details about this historic event.  She is the author of the memoir “On Butterflies’ Wings: An Anthology of International Escapades,” and the upcoming “Synchronicity — the Escapades Continue.” Contact Tania Anderson at (213) 513-6099; tanderson@rtirguests.com

  • Save Your Family History Before Disaster Strikes

    Countless California families have lost not only their homes, but also irreplaceable memories. These heart-wrenching losses should remind us all: Don’t wait for disaster to strike to protect your family’s legacy. Archivist Rhonda Chadwick, author of “Secrets from the Stacks,” offers essential advice on safeguarding photographs, documents, textiles and more. She’ll share simple, steps to create a lasting family archive—perfect for anyone wanting to disaster-proof their cherished memories. With natural disasters on the rise, Rhonda’s guidance is timelier than ever. She’ll reveal the most common mistakes people make when preserving family heirlooms, how families can safeguard their keepsakes from natural disasters and why digitizing family memories is so crucial today. Contact Rhonda Chadwick at (401) 227-3306; rchadwick@rtirguests.com

  • Want to Help Fire Victims? How to Choose the Right Charity



    Many people are quick to donate to charitable causes, especially during disasters like the California wildfires.  But according to author and nonprofit expert Michele Whetzel, “It’s better to think with your head as opposed to your heart before turning over your hard-earned cash. Do your research first!” She’ll share what to look for in truly worthy charities and red flags to watch out for. And for those who want to do more than make a donation, she’ll share tips for starting your own nonprofit. Michele is a veteran of the nonprofit arena, founder of Your 501 Guide consulting, and author of the book, “So, You Want to Start a Nonprofit, Now What?” Contact her at (302) 407-0513; Mwhetzel@rtirguests.com

  • How Martin Luther King’s Principles of Nonviolence Can Transform Your Personal Life


    Monday, January 20 is not just the date of Trump’s second inauguration: it’s also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. When faced with conflict within her family, retired American diplomat and self-described peacebuilder Danielle Reiff incorporated King’s principles of nonviolence into her own personal life, and the results were transformative. King’s commitment to universal love and nonviolent non-cooperation can apply to family as much as political opponents – or even to oneself. Reiff has spent her life in the service of peace, having supported democratic transitions and peace processes around the world as a diplomat for twenty years. Now she runs Peacebuilders, an initiative to promote nonviolence and unity in diversity in the U.S. during a critical time. Invite her on your program to help your audience learn about the value and power of nonviolence in our own lives and communities. As King’s inspiration Mahatma Gandhi said, “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies of the world would also change.” Contact Danielle at (202) 499-7256; dreiff@rtirguests.com

  • What Parents Need to Know About Artificial Intelligence

    AI is already a big part of our day-to-day lives. Should we be concerned that our kids have easy access to this powerful resource? Quite the opposite, argues thought leader Marc Prensky. He sees artificial intelligence and cell phones as young people’s passports to the future and the new human capabilities they will use to better the world. Invite Prensky on your show to bust the myth that cell phones make kids lazy and explain why kids need to be taught the fundamental emotional skills of love, empathy, gratitude, and optimism. Prensky is the author of 12 books, most recently “Third Millenium Kids: A Hell Yes! Low Stress Guide for Everyone.” He’s also a public speaker who’s appeared in over 50 countries. Contact Marc Prensky at (516) 701-1440; mprensky@rtirguests.com

  • ‘It Takes a Village’ is a Terrible Parenting Strategy

    According to Richard Ramos, the “it takes a village” concept is obsolete, irrelevant, and was meant for another time and culture. He says what it really takes to raise a child is good parenting. Ramos was working with at-risk youth when he realized that to truly help his students he needed to help their parents. That’s when he switched his focus and started Parents on a Mission, a mentoring program that teaches parents how to build healthy relationships with their children and transforms family dynamics. He’ll talk about parenting as a profession, meaning you go to parenting classes just like any good professional who wants to keep learning, growing, improving their skills and remain relevant. He’ll share strategies for communicating, how to blend stepfamilies and ways to battle the influence of social media in kids’ lives. Contact him at (805) 456-1407; rramos@rtirguests.com

  • What It’s Like to Fly into a War Zone? Interview a Woman Who Did

    During her decades long career as a flight attendant, Tania Anderson has had her share of harrowing experiences during some of the most volatile times in modern history, and miraculously survived. “In 1990, I flew the military into Saudi Arabia (near the Kuwait border) only weeks after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait under possible SCUD poison missile attacks,” she recounts. “In 2013, I flew military personnel and contractors into Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The base was surrounded by pro-Taliban guerrillas, who would sometimes shoot at planes taking off or landing.”  Tania currently serves the U.S. military through a Department of Defense contract with a charter airline, which flies American soldiers around the world to every continent except Antarctica.  She is the author of the memoir “On Butterflies’ Wings: An Anthology of International Escapades,” and the upcoming “Synchronicity — the Escapades Continue.” Contact Tania Anderson at (213) 513-6099; tanderson@rtirguests.com

  • Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work

    Whether it's a vow to lose weight, quit smoking, save money, or attain other lofty goals, when the clock strikes midnight signaling the beginning of a new year, many people will have made resolutions. But despite having the best of intentions, clinical psychologist Stephen Sideroff claims that resolutions don't make it past the first few weeks. "New Year's resolutions often involve breaking out of long-standing patterns or habits," he says. "Unfortunately, people are generally uncomfortable with change." He adds that in order for people to make lasting changes, they have to learn to be comfortable with discomfort, and then to have a plan for staying focused on their goals. He has discovered a holistic methodology based on 9 key pillars to help you thrive, even in the midst of overwhelming discomfort and stress. He is an associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Rheumatology at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine, and the author of "The 9 Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Mastering Stress, Slow Aging and Increase Vitality." Dr. Stephen Sideroff at (213) 660-4659; ssideroff@rtirguests.com

  • How a Major Investment Firm Got Away with a Massive Ponzi Scheme

    While working as an investment broker for Morgan Stanley in the early 2000s, author Dana de Windt discovered some shocking improprieties. “Morgan Stanley inadvertently established a Ponzi scheme, with the deliberate and intentional selling of Kemper Lumbermen’s Surplus Notes,” he says. “That’s the reason that they and their regulators have fought like tigers to keep this very serious infraction from getting into the public’s knowledge.” In 2007, Morgan Stanley and one of its senior traders agreed to pay $6.1 million in fines and restitution to settle allegations that the investment bank overcharged brokerage customers — one of whom was Dana’s then 87-year-old father — on 2,800 purchases of $59 million of bonds. But no criminal charges were ever pursued. Dana is the author of “Checkmate: The Morgan Stanley Whistle Blower.” Contact Dana de Wendt at (772) 773-6879; ddewindt@rtirguests.com