Entrepreneur and community leader Darius Ross knows what it’s like to survive on the streets and in the boardroom. In his book “Mastering the TPS Blueprint,” he reveals how Urban PTSD—trauma rooted in chaos, violence and family dysfunction—nearly cost him everything. The biggest battle wasn’t business, however. It was the war in his mind. Now, Darius brings his no-BS “inner-city Navy SEALs mindset” to help audiences rewire limiting beliefs and step into resilience. He’s bold, uplifting and unafraid to say what others won’t, while also offering real solutions that change lives. Darius is a dynamic guest who takes live calls, gives away coaching sessions and keeps listeners engaged with street-smart clarity, humor and heart. This is the comeback story your audience didn’t know they needed. Contact Darius Ross at (347) 801-7956; dross@rtirguests.com
Category: Inspirational, Feel-Good
Heat Got You Down? This Happiness Expert is Like a Cool Breeze
Extreme heat for days on end can make even the cheeriest person a little grumpy. When long, hot summer days feel overwhelming, it’s time for a mental reset. Deborah Mallow, happiness expert and author of “6 Steps to Fewer Days That Suck: Ditch Unhealthy Habits, Unzip a Happier You,” knows how to break free from negative thought patterns. When the stress from the heat is getting you down, Deborah’s simple six-step approach could be just what you need to chill out, shake off the funk, and gain a better attitude. With humor and practical advice, she’ll share ways to reset your mindset and reclaim your well-being—one positive step at a time. Contact Deborah Mallow at (516) 613-5359; dmallow@rtirguests.com
Meet the Real-Life Mad Man Who’s Out to Rewrite the Script on Aging
He might be 89, but this man has a ten-year plan. Former international ad exec turned author and speaker Jim Flaherty is on a mission to shake up how we see aging. With his new book, “Loving Longevity: Make Your Next Years Your Best Years,” Flaherty offers straight talk, humor, and hard-earned wisdom to a generation that’s been told to fade quietly into the background. From caregiving a partner through dementia to living abroad on a whim—and launching a successful business at 45—Flaherty has lived the lessons he shares. But his most urgent message is for the 7.5 million depressed seniors in America: Life isn’t over, it’s just different—and can be full. Uplifting, funny, and fiercely honest, Flaherty is the voice older adults (and those who love them) didn’t know they needed. Contact Jim Flaherty at jflaherty@rtirguests.com; (914) 326-2697
Reset Your Brain This Spring and Have Fewer Days That Suck!
Even with Springtime’s warm air and blooming flowers you can still have grumpy days. Let Deborah Mallow be your personal ray of sunshine! A lifelong New Yorker-turned-happiness expert, Deborah brings science-backed strategies and contagious warmth to help people live with fewer days that suck. Through humor, heart, and her simple 6-step mindset makeover, she empowers audiences to enjoy more and worry less. Whether you’re drowning in procrastination, stuck in self-doubt, or just need a boost, Deborah offers easy, actionable hacks to reset your brain and reclaim your joy. A former #1 pharmaceutical sales rep, she is the author of “6 Steps To Fewer Days That Suck: Ditch Unhealthy Habits Unzip A Happier You.” Contact Deborah Mallow at (516) 613-5359; dmallow@rtirguests.com
This NBA Player Couldn’t Read. Today He has a Master’s Degree
Dean Tolson was functionally illiterate when he joined the Seattle Sonics in the 1970s. He was the all-time rebounder at the University of Arkansas, but that didn’t prepare him for life after four years in the NBA. Tolson believes his greatest achievement was earning a master’s degree magna cum laude and now devotes his life to reach at-risk youth and adults about the power of education. His book, “Power Forward,” is about his experiences on the court and in the classroom. Contact Dean Tolson at (253) 884-8934; dtolson@rtirguests.com
How to Master the Art of Patience in a World Filled with Distractions
Instant gratification dominates our culture, but Emilio Justo, MD, shows how mastering patience can transform distractions into opportunities for success. A two-time international TEDx speaker (with over 10.5 million views) and bestselling author of “The Power of Pause,” Dr. Justo combines engaging storytelling with neuroscience-backed strategies to help audiences reclaim focus, boost resilience, and achieve their goals. With a compelling personal story of overcoming challenges as a Cuban refugee, he connects with audiences and offers practical tools to thrive in today’s chaotic world. Contact Dr. Emilio Justo at Ejusto@rtirguests.com (email preferred); (480) 992-6803
Interview the First Illiterate NBA Player to Get a Master’s Degree
Dean Tolson was functionally illiterate when he joined the Seattle Sonics in the 1970s. He was the all-time rebounder at the University of Arkansas, but that didn’t prepare him for life after four years in the NBA. Tolson believes his greatest achievement was earning a master’s degree magna cum laude and now devotes his life to reach at-risk youth and adults about the power of education. His book, “Power Forward,” is about his experiences on the court and in the classroom. Contact Dean Tolson at (253) 884-8934; dtolson@rtirguests.com
Feb 23rd: World Understanding and Peace Day
Our social and political divisions — globally, nationally, and even locally — seem so out of control, it’s easy for anybody to feel overwhelmed. But what if there was a way each of us could make a real difference? Danielle Reiff can show us how by guiding us to become peacebuilders.Invite Reiff on your show to explain how any of us in the “exhausted majority” who oppose division and violence can lean into promoting trust, belonging, and cooperation in our own communities. A former diplomat with the U.S. Agency for International Development, founder of the Peacebuilders initia¬tive, and editor of the upcoming book, “Overcoming Information Chaos: A Guide for Cultivating Peaceful Communities in the Digital Age,” Reiff is a wellspring of resources, tools, and strategies for becoming a peacebuilder. Contact her at Danielle Reiff at (202) 499-7256; dreiff@rtirguests.com
RX for Living a Happier and More Meaningful Life
People often believe that happiness depends on life’s events and circumstances turning out well, but this limits how happy we can be; the number of such events is finite. Ron Schneebaum, M.D., author of “Bigger Hearted: A Retired Pediatrician’s Prescriptions for Living a Happier Life,” instead tells us that happier and more meaningful lives have more to do with our heart’s love and compassion than outer things. He’ll share how we can open, listen to, and work from our hearts. Contact Ron Schneebaum at (603) 314-3095; rschneebaum@rtirguests.com
How to Have Fewer Days That Suck!
As a lifelong New Yorker, no one should be crankier than Deborah Mallow. While standing on a bustling subway platform with tears rolling down her face, she broke through the storm in her mind and found her sunshine. "I said goodbye to crippling negativity, exhaustion, anger, and fear." She can share how to get out of your own way, rediscover your true self, reshape your mindset, and get unstuck with her transformational approach, where self-improvement essentials replace unhealthy habits with positive changes. Deborah believes, "It’s not about forcing positivity or ignoring real problems; it’s about making the daily decision to approach life differently and find more joy in everyday living.” With 17 years as a #1 pharmaceutical sales rep, she’s no stranger to resilience and success. Deborah is the author of "6 Steps To Fewer Days That Suck: Ditch Unhealthy Habits Unzip A Happier You." Contact Deborah Mallow at (516) 613-5359; dmallow@rtirguests.com