Category: Current Events

What Our Schools Forget to Teach About Democracy

America’s education debate usually focuses on test scores, funding, and curriculum. But retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, educator, and education reform advocate Elissa Mohan believes we’re overlooking a far more urgent issue: preparing citizens for self-government. In her forthcoming book, ENOUGH: Why America Is Failing at Education and What to Do About It, Elissa argues that today’s fragmented education landscape leaves too many students unprepared to evaluate information, engage in civil discourse, and understand the Constitution.

Drawing on her experience as a military leader, homeschool parent, public school teacher, and educational psychologist, she offers a bold blueprint for rebuilding education to meet the challenges of democracy in the AI age.

Contact: Elissa Mohan at (405) 346-8358; emohan@rtirguests.com

America at 250: Mother-Daughter Traveling Duo Reveals All Its Hidden Gems

As America continues to celebrate its 250th birthday, two travelers who have visited 90 countries, all 50 states, and seven continents say some of the most fascinating destinations are right here at home. Evelyn and Natalie Kelly reveal the overlooked places, quirky towns, remarkable people, historic sites, and cultural traditions that most Americans miss while dreaming of overseas travel.

Based on the travel adventures revealed in their book, Have a Love Affair with the USA, they share why small-town America often tells the nation’s biggest stories, how history comes alive through travel, and why the USA may be the world’s most underrated travel destination.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS: After seeing 90 countries, why do you say America may be the best travel destination of all? What hidden gems, unusual attractions, and small towns should Americans visit during the nation’s 250th birthday celebration?


CONTACT: Evelyn and Natalie Kelly at ekelly@rtirguests.com or (352) 661-2493.

Why AI Will Reward the Kids Who Know Math — and Leave the Rest Behind

The jobs AI creates will demand math fluency. The jobs AI eliminates will be the ones that don’t. Dr. Craig Hane has spent decades teaching math and watching schools recycle 20th-century methods for 21st-century students. His verdict: the system is failing them at exactly the wrong moment in history.

Through his Triad Math Army program, Hane teaches teenagers and young adults the math that actually matters — in a way that’s engaging, self-paced, and built for how young people actually learn today. He’ll explain why AI fluency starts with math fluency, which concepts will separate tomorrow’s leaders from tomorrow’s also-rans, and why it’s never too late to close the gap.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

  • Why does AI make math skills more important, not less?
  • What math do teenagers actually need — and what can they safely ignore?
  • How is your approach different from what schools are teaching?

CONTACT: Dr. Craig Hane at (812) 408-8047; chane@rtirguests.com

The Backlash to AI Content Has Already Begun — Ask This Expert What Comes Next

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, saw this coming. Her answer: the messier and more human your communication, the more trusted you become.

In interviews, 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.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

  • 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

Ted Turner – The Truth Behind the Legend

Ted Turner, the man who transformed television news by founding CNN as the first 24-hour cable news channel, has died at age 87. Invite Bob Patterson to share his personal memories of Turner and the energy he brought to the world of broadcasting. Patterson was at CNN’s grand opening in Atlanta on June 1, 1980, and for many years, his company provided satellite transmission services for CNN, including coverage of major events such as the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Reykjavik. Patterson will take listeners behind-the-scenes and reveal the real inspiration for CNN and the origin story that didn’t come from Turner. Hear why Turner and CNN cofounder Reese Schonfeld had a falling out, and how that led Schonfeld to start the Food Network. Bob Patterson orchestrated the first-ever live, multi-carrier television broadcast via domestic satellite in the United States in 1975—a groundbreaking achievement that laid the foundation for modern live broadcasting—and was instrumental in delivering some of the most-watched events in television history. He is the founder of SPACECONNECTION, Inc., and the author of “Iconic Moments in Broadcast History: Live Via Satellite.” Contact Bob Patterson at (818) 210-4965; bpatterson@rtirguests.com

America Is Running Out of Teachers — And This Ph.D. Wants to Do Something About It

Over 440,000 teaching positions are now filled by unqualified staff or sitting empty. Deanna Gilmore, Ph.D., says the only way to fix it is to make people fall in love with teaching again — and to pressure lawmakers to fund salaries that keep them there. A 26-year classroom veteran, former school principal, and university professor who trained the next generation of educators, Gilmore wrote There’s a Pig on the Playground: Memorable Stories from the Schoolyard to do exactly that — sharing firsthand stories from teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and coaches to remind America what’s at stake before it’s too late.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

  • With nearly half a million teaching positions unfilled, what happens to America’s public schools?
  • What concrete steps can communities and lawmakers take right now to stop the bleeding?
  • How are school voucher programs making the teacher shortage even worse?

CONTACT: Deanna Gilmore: (208) 285-7567; dgilmore@rtirguests.com

The Diplomatic Skills Every Leader Needs — But No One Teache

Great leaders aren’t just decisive—they’re deliberate. “In high-stakes rooms where every word carries weight, success depends on skills rarely taught in business school: listening with precision, speaking with intention, and navigating conflict without escalating it,” says author and former diplomat Dianne Olvera. Drawing from real-world diplomacy and leadership experience, this approach reveals how to manage tough conversations, defuse tension, and influence outcomes without overpowering the room. “It’s about knowing when to speak, when to pause, and how to choose language that builds trust instead of resistance,” she says. Dianne is a board-certified educational therapist and the author of The Power of Connection: Understanding Individual Differences to Uplift and Empower.  She’s also a former diplomat and spy.

CONTACT: Dianne Olvera at (805) 779-3558; dolvera@rtirguests.com

Political Insider Reveals What No One Tells You About Running for Office

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

In a Season of Political Chaos, This Activist is Focused on Planting Hope

While headlines scream division and despair, Sam Daley-Harris is quietly leading a revolution in how ordinary citizens engage with democracy. The activist and author of Reclaiming Our Democracy, Daley-Harris  teaches “transformational advocacy”—where working to change an issue transforms you in the process. His approach has helped people move from political paralysis to powerful action.

Invite Daley-Harris on your show to hear stories of everyday citizens discovering their political power. He’ll explain how feeling overwhelmed isn’t weakness—it’s the starting point for meaningful change. From his own journey as a musician-turned-activist to guiding others through civic engagement some call “sacred and profound,” Daley-Harris offers practical tools for anyone ready to move from anxiety to agency.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS: What is transformational advocacy and how does it differ from traditional activism? How did you go from performing music to teaching people to reclaim their democracy?

CONTACT: Sam Daley-Harris at (202) 804-2504; Sdaley@rtirguests.com

Former Nurse and Stand Up Comic Gets Serious About Healthcare’s Darkest Secret

Kathy Allan spent 20 years as a hospital nurse before witnessing something that changed everything: cleaning staff in scrubs discharging new mothers, while administrators threatened her for asking questions. She realized healthcare had become addicted to profits over patients.

This Board Certified Holistic Nurse and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner channeled her trauma expertise and comedy background into Gutsy Nurses—a program teaching nurses how to survive a broken system. Inspired by recovery principles, she developed the 12 Steps of Healing Care to beat the industry’s profit addiction. Her shocking revelation: nurses are 18% more likely to commit suicide than the general population. 

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
• You say healthcare is addicted to profits—what does that look like from inside a hospital?
• How does your stand-up comedy background help you discuss such dark topics?
• What are these 12 Steps of Healing Care, and how do they protect nurses?

CONTACT: Kathy Allan at (619) 932-5206; Kallan@rtirguests.com