01. Get Ready for More Wild Weather
02. Donald Trump Has Peaked
03. Let’s Talk Jobs and Unemployment
04. Nature Spirituality: What Happens When Mother Nature is
05. Faith, Four Men, and Forty Years of Friendship
06. Already Burned Out and It’s Only September?
07. Medicare Fraud Is Surging: Protect Yourself and Your Parents
08. Smart Money Advice for Gen Z	
09. What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today
10. The Costly AI Mistakes Companies Are Making
11. Americans Don’t Like AI Content. Why?
12. The Push for Peak Productivity Is Making Professionals Miserable
13. The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare
14. Love, Sex & Second Chances After 50
15. Can You Believe in Science and Still Believe in God?


1. ==> Get Ready for More Wild Weather

Wildfires, floods and record heat. The summer was a wild ride of natural disasters, but don’t expect anything to change this fall. Invite an expert from the National Center for Disaster Preparedness to share how climate change is making it more difficult to predict weather-related hazards and how the increase in the number of weather-related disasters and their associated costs has consistently risen over time. Learn how to make a family emergency preparedness plan, how to track wildfires and the best way to survive any disaster. The National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), Columbia Climate School, at Columbia University, works to understand and improve the capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. For interviews with experts in disaster preparedness contact Jonathan Sury at (212) 853-6237; jjs2154@columbia.edu

2. ==> Donald Trump Has Peaked

Ravi Agrawal, editor in chief of Foreign Policy believes that Donald Trump has peaked. “Cresting and then declining should be no surprise; it happens to everyone and everything. But Trump, now focused more on ballrooms and pools than on the Nobel Peace Prize he lobbied for just one year ago, only has himself to blame for prematurely morphing into something resembling a lame duck.” He says the president himself will remain a disruptive—and potentially destructive—presence on the world stage. “He still has more than two years left in office and powerful economic tools to wield as cudgels against allies and adversaries alike. Yet countries and companies will learn that he has peaked. His coercive capacity, so potent last year, seems lessened from overuse. This realization will alter the very nature of Trump’s power—and the discussions about a world order to come.” Ravi Agrawal is host of FP Live, Foreign Policy Magazine’s video channel and podcast. Contact him at ravi.agrawal@foreignpolicy.com

3. ==> Let’s Talk Jobs and Unemployment

Trying to make sense of the job situation right now? Join the club. According to the Labor Department, the U.S. added 162,000 jobs in August. That’s much higher than expected and keeps the unemployment rate at 4.1%. So, what should we expect moving forward? Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas says, “Employers are making plans to add workers, with 46% of those plans coming from manufacturing industries. The questions are how long will it take employers to actually fill these roles and will they find workers with the requisite skills?” He’ll reveal what industries and sectors are suffering the worst job losses, where the new jobs are, and explain how technology jobs can appear on both lists. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074; (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com

4. ==> Nature Spirituality: What Happens When Mother Nature is 

For millennia nature has provided spiritual experiences of wonder, gratitude, and peace. Now nature is being burned, poisoned, and rendered extinct. Roger Gottlieb asks: Can nature still provide spiritual inspiration? Drawing on decades of original work in environmental ethics, religious environmentalism, and contemporary spirituality, Gottlieb explores how ecological crisis reshapes spiritual life. He’ll clarify what spirituality is and why nature has played a central role in it for religious believers and non-believers alike and examine the environmental crisis as a civilizational rupture that transforms hope, grief, meaning, and moral responsibility. Roger Gottlieb teaches philosophy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and is the author or editor of twenty-three books on religion, environmental ethics, and spirituality. His latest is “Nature Spirituality: Embracing a Sacred, Wounded Earth.” Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; lissawarrenpr@gmail.com 

5. ==> Faith, Four Men, and Forty Years of Friendship 

Today, at a time when loneliness and isolation among men have become a growing concern, offer your audience a story that offers a different vision of male friendship, one rooted not simply in shared interests or occasional companionship, but in the Christian practice of being genuinely present for one another. Bill Friskics-Warren, Bill Harkins, Paul Shupe and Bob Victorin-Vangerud will explore what four decades together have taught them about listening, forgiveness, vulnerability, community and loving others through difficult seasons. Their new book, “The Wilderness of Friendship: Forty Years of Hospitality, Vulnerability, and Wonder” tells the story of a friendship that has endured through marriage, fatherhood, changing careers, illness, loss, questions of faith, aging and decades of annual wilderness gatherings. The authors describe the book as an invitation to the kinds of conversations “steeped in curiosity, love, and respect” that have shaped their relationship. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)

6. ==> Already Burned Out and It’s Only September? 

Summer just ended and we haven’t even hit the holiday season yet, so why are so many Americans already running on empty? Gallup reports 27% of U.S. employees experience burnout very often or always. Happiness & Mindset Expert Deborah Mallow says the problem isn’t always an overloaded schedule—it can also be the thought patterns quietly draining our energy. On your show, Mallow will reveal how harsh self-talk, perfectionism and negative mental spirals can intensify exhaustion, and how small shifts can help people interrupt the cycle before the year-end rush. She’ll share practical strategies for strengthening resilience without resorting to toxic positivity. Mallow brings these strategies to her work coaching executive leaders and sales professionals on improving mindset, performance and connection. She’s the creator of the Daily Decisions™ framework and author of “6 Steps to Fewer Days That Suck.”  Contact Deborah at (516) 613-5359; dmallow@rtirguests.com

7. ==> Medicare Fraud Is Surging: Protect Yourself and Your Parents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says it stopped $5.7 billion in suspected fraudulent Medicare payments in 2025 alone. But here’s what Medicare enrollees and their families need to know: Medicare fraud could already be happening in your name without you realizing it. An unfamiliar charge on a Medicare Summary Notice may be the first clue. Medicare expert Toni King, author of “Medicare Survival Guide Advanced: Basics and Beyond,” will give your audience a practical fraud-protection checklist. She’ll explain why beneficiaries and caregivers should scrutinize Medicare Summary Notices for unfamiliar charges, guard Medicare numbers like credit cards, and hang up on unsolicited callers asking for personal information. Toni will also expose convincing scams, including callers falsely promising new plastic Medicare cards. With the government intensifying its fraud crackdown, Toni helps Medicare enrollees, their adult children, and caregivers recognize trouble before it threatens their money or healthcare. Contact Toni King at (281) 677-3736; tking@rtirguests.com

8. ==> Smart Money Advice for Gen Z

Where do young adults learn their financial skills? And in today’s economy, is yesterday’s financial advice outdated? No wonder nearly half of Gen Z says they don’t feel financially prepared for adulthood. Real estate investor and wealth educator Janet Tonkins says many graduates start taking on credit card debt before building savings or assets. She says the biggest financial mistake young adults make isn’t earning too little. It’s waiting too long to invest. She’ll explain how even new graduates can begin building wealth with as little as $5 to $10 a month, why understanding assets matters more than chasing status symbols, and how first-time buyers can take advantage of overlooked grants and programs. She’ll also reveal why “perfect credit” is often overrated and how small financial decisions made in your 20s can shape your entire future. Drawing from themes in her upcoming book “Purses, Heels & Houses You Choose,” Tonkins helps audiences rethink spending, ownership, and generational wealth from day one. Beyond coaching investors nationwide, Tonkins develops affordable housing projects and mentors first-generation wealth builders through the Cashflow Diva Academy and TheCashflowDiva.com. Contact Janet Tonkins at (410) 421-0930; jtonkins@rtirguests.com

9. ==> What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today

We’re all watching campaign ads and coverage of the races at stake in the upcoming midterm elections, but what is it really like to be a candidate for office today? Rob Curnock knows. 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

10. ==> The Costly AI Mistakes Companies Are Making

The phrase “AI layoff” went from a niche concern in 2023 to the single most-cited reason for U.S. job cuts in both March and April of 2026. Over those two months alone, employers tied 36,831 layoffs directly to artificial intelligence. But are businesses sacrificing the very qualities that drive long-term success? Startup strategist and attorney Douglas Park says the companies that thrive in the AI era won't simply have the best technology, they'll know how to combine AI with human creativity, judgment, and smart strategy. Drawing on more than 25 years advising companies, Park reveals the costly AI mistakes many leaders are making, why products are becoming easier to copy, and why people and competitive positioning matter more than ever. Douglas is a Silicon Valley attorney, former business professor, startup advisor and the author of “Starting Startups.” His research-based 3P Framework helps organizations align their people, products, and position to compete in a rapidly changing economy. Contact Douglas Park at (650) 629-1424; dpark@rtirguests.com

11. ==> Americans Don’t Like AI Content. Why?

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,” isn’t surprised. Her answer to businesses trying to make sense of their messages now: the messier and more human your communication, the more trusted you become. 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. Ask her: 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

12. ==> The Push for Peak Productivity Is Making Professionals Miserable

Productivity has become a badge of honor. Yet despite countless apps, systems, and productivity hacks, many high achievers feel more exhausted, disconnected, and dissatisfied than ever before. Entrepreneur and award-winning author David Hampson says the problem isn't a lack of productivity—it's an unhealthy obsession with it. Invite him to explain why the relentless pursuit of optimization often leads to burnout and how professionals can build careers that create both achievement and meaning. Hampson will challenge conventional thinking about work, ambition, and what a successful life actually looks like. Hampson built and led successful businesses while questioning many of the assumptions behind modern work culture giving him both entrepreneurial credibility and hard-earned perspective. He’s the author of “Rainbow Gold: Building a Business That's Both the Journey and the Destination.” Contact David Hampson at dhampson@rtirguests.com or (603) 605-8594

13. ==> The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare

America’s healthcare system is in crisis—but what’s often ignored is the trauma beneath the surface. Kathy Allan, a board-certified holistic nurse with over two decades of experience in trauma recovery, says many nurses today are emotionally broken, betrayed by the very system they once trusted. Patients, too, are suffering from care that feels cold, rushed, and disconnected. In interviews, Allan reveals how this hidden trauma plays out, much like in the TV show, “The Pitt.” Drawing on her “12 Steps of Healing Care” and years as a healing touch instructor and somatic experiencing practitioner, Allan offers a spiritual and body-centered roadmap for transforming pain into purpose. Her stories and insights will resonate with nurses, healthcare workers, and anyone who’s ever felt harmed by the system that was supposed to help them. Contact Kathy Allan at (619) 932-5206; kallan@rtirguests.com

14. ==> Love, Sex & Second Chances After 50

More than 37 million single adults over 50 are reentering the dating world and discovering it’s nothing like they remember. Known as the next “Dr. Ruth,” Dr. Victoria Vaughn brings candid, humorous insight into love, sex, and starting over later in life. She’ll share lessons from her own dating journey: spotting red flags like financial instability and emotional un-availability, avoiding the pressure to “settle,” and why loneliness often leads smart people to relationship mistakes. Her stories resonate with men and women, including same-sex couples, offering a practical “buyer beware” guide to dating after 50. Ask her: Why do smart people ignore red flags after 50? Is it really possible to have more than one true love? Vaughn is the author of “Oh the Frogs I Kissed Before I Finally Found My Prince.” Contact her at (512) 585-1876; vvaughn@rtirguests.com

15. ==> Can You Believe in Science and Still Believe in God?

Can a person trained to trust hard scientific evidence also embrace faith in God? Imogene Drakes believes the answer is yes—and her remarkable journey offers a fascinating perspective on the question. After decades working in forensic toxicology and clinical laboratory science, Imogene retired and embarked on a six-week journey around the world to explore ancient sites, enduring mysteries, and questions about human origins and meaning. Rather than seeing science and faith as opposing forces, she believes scientific inquiry can deepen our understanding of creation and even strengthen spiritual curiosity. She is the author of “Around the World in 42 Days: One Woman’s Journey Through Ancient Mysteries and Modern Questions.” Contact Imogene Drakes at (845) 957-7896; idrakes@rtirguests.com

01. Former CIA Exec & 9/11 Presidential Briefer 
02. For Grandparents Day: The Art of Being a Grandpa
03. Whistleblower: What’s Happening Inside Your Kid’s School
04. The Problem Parents Will Feel in the Classroom This Year
05. Are Schools Failing to Teach Democracy?
06. Erasing Black History Is Dangerous
07. Stop Trying to Solve Your Kids’ Problems
08. The Safety Skills Every Teen Needs	
09. The Confidence Crisis Affecting Today’s Kids 
10. Why Pushing Your Kids Could Break Them
11. How to Be a Calmer, More Focused Parent
12. A 60-Second Reset to Calm Back-to-School Stress
13. Reset Your Energy for a Fall of Renewal: Chakra Balancing
14. Forty Years of Life Lessons from an Alaska Garden
15. Children's Books: The Most Underrated Health Tool 


1. ==> Former CIA Exec & 9/11 Presidential Briefer 

With the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks upon us, invite recently retired senior CIA executive and 9/11 presidential briefer Steve Hirsch on your show to share his experiences and what he sees at the biggest national security threats right now. During his CIA career, Hirsch served in senior leadership positions spanning counterterrorism, intelligence analysis, public affairs, workforce and organizational transformation, and the Agency’s business analytics modernization. Following 9/11, he served as a President’s Daily Briefer, briefing Cabinet-level officials as the intelligence community adapted to a dramatically different threat environment. Steve is able to explain how the intelligence community assesses threats and makes decisions, while staying firmly outside classified information. He can discuss the threats America may be underestimating, biological threats and food security, cyberattacks and critical infrastructure and the next national security crisis. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)


2. ==> For Grandparents Day: The Art of Being a Grandpa 

This Sunday is Grandparents Day, a celebration of the invaluable role grandparents play in our lives. What makes a great grandpa? Most men want to be one, but Nick Stevens says many don't know what that looks like beyond free babysitting and being a friend to the grandkids. From father-wounds to generational legacy, the author of the soon-to-be-released “The Art of Being Grandad” provides tools and ideas that grandfathers can use to establish identity in their grandkids and build a powerful legacy for their families. He says grandfathers have an unexplainable influence. “When Pawpaw speaks, everyone stops and listens!" Nick Stevens made a hobby of fatherhood and family until he lost a daughter to an avalanche in 2008. Since then he’s led men’s ministries and spoken publicly about fatherhood. Contact him at nick@nickstevensauthor.com; (970) 690-4790

3. ==> Whistleblower: What’s Happening Inside Your Kid’s School

An important conversation as a new school year begins, Karen Horwitz, an award-winning public-school teacher and whistleblower, will discuss what happens inside schools that parents never see, and then what happens when educators raise concerns inside their school districts. “Schools are often described as the foundation of democracy,” Horwitz says. “What I witnessed was how quickly that foundation cracks when people are afraid to speak.” Horwitz says the pattern she documented was consistent: teachers raised concerns internally, and instead of problems being addressed, they quietly lost their careers. After speaking publicly, she co-founded an organization to prevent teacher abuse and began hearing similar accounts from more than 2,000 educators who reported retaliation. She’ll explain how silence is enforced through fear, power imbalances, and institutional self-protection. Horwitz is the author of “A Graver Danger,” which draws directly from teacher whistleblowers to examine systemic failures. Contact Karen Horwitz at (312) 498-9074; khorwitz@rtirguests.com

4. ==> The Problem Parents Will Feel in the Classroom This Year

The teacher shortage isn't simply about finding enough people to fill classrooms. Deanna Gilmore, Ph.D., says the bigger problem is keeping great teachers from walking away. On your show, she'll reveal what is driving talented educators away, what could actually convince them to stay, and why rebuilding schools requires valuing the entire ecosystem supporting children, including principals, bus drivers, coaches, cafeteria workers, and paraprofessionals. She'll also share concrete steps communities and lawmakers can take to strengthen schools. With 26 years in the classroom plus experience as a school principal and university professor training future educators, Gilmore has seen the challenges facing schools from multiple perspectives. Her book, “There's a Pig on the Playground: Memorable Stories from the Schoolyard,” celebrates the people who make school communities work. Contact Deanna Gilmore at (208) 285-7567; dgilmore@rtirguests.com

5. ==> Are Schools Failing to Teach 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

6. ==> Erasing Black History Is Dangerous

As battles intensify over DEI rollbacks, book bans, and the removal of Black history references from schools, museums, and national parks, Lauraine White warns America is repeating one of its oldest mistakes: erasing the truth to avoid accountability. White—whose ancestry includes both enslaved people and Confederate slaveholders—says today’s political climate mirrors earlier attempts to sanitize slavery, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement from public memory. Drawing from her genealogical research and themes in her book “A Daughter of the Confederacy,” she explains why recording history honestly is essential to healing racial division today. White argues when a nation edits its past, it shapes who has power, whose pain matters, and what future generations are allowed to understand. Ask her: Why do you believe current efforts to limit Black history education are dangerous to all Americans—not just Black communities? Can acknowledging painful history unite people rather than divide them? Contact Lauraine White at lwhite@rtirguests.com (email preferred) or (770) 525-8743 

7. ==> Stop Trying to Solve Your Kids’ Problems

Parents want to help their children succeed, but stepping in too quickly may have an unintended consequence: kids who struggle to solve problems or trust themselves. Educator and author Dr. Dianne Olvera says one powerful shift can change that—stop telling and start asking. On your show, she'll reveal how thoughtful questions can help children think independently, regulate emotions, develop resilience, and take greater ownership of their choices. As families head back to school, she'll also explain why constantly rescuing kids from mistakes can undermine the confidence parents are trying to build. Her newly released “Helping Kids Take Ownership of Their Lives” gives parents practical strategies for replacing control with connection and encouraging capable, empathetic kids. A professor for four decades, board-certified educational therapist, and former U.S. Embassy professional, Olvera brings a uniquely education-focused perspective to helping children become independent thinkers. Contact Dianne Olvera at (805) 779-3558; dolvera@rtirguests.com

8. ==> The Safety Skills Every Teen Needs 

Keeping teenagers safe isn't as simple as giving them more rules. After 40 years in crime and violence prevention, Stephanie Mann says the teens best equipped to navigate danger are the ones who develop their own inner strength. As students return to classrooms, sports, friendships, and greater independence, Mann will reveal how self-awareness, emotional strength, and a centered sense of identity can help young people navigate risky situations. She'll explain what can make teens vulnerable to gangs, toxic relationships, and other dangers, why tighter restrictions can create false security, and how parents can build genuine resilience instead. Her book, “Magical YOU! Empowering Teens to Stay Safe and Healthy in an Unsafe World,” gives families a different way to think about protection: empower teens rather than simply shelter them. After 40 years as a crime and violence prevention specialist, Mann brings decades of firsthand experience understanding the conditions that put young people at risk. Contact Stephanie Mann at (925) 438-0716; smann@rtirguests.com

9. ==> The Confidence Crisis Affecting Today’s Kids

Social media addiction, disappearing family rituals, and a lack of stability can leave kids feeling disconnected and adrift. Jack Gindi says all three can also undermine something children desperately need as they return to school: self-esteem. On your show, he'll share practical ways parents and teachers can help children manage emotions, set achievable goals, and strengthen their belief in themselves as a new school year begins. Gindi focuses his work on giving families practical tools to strengthen children's self-esteem, emotional management, and goal-setting skills. Contact Jack Gindi at (719) 751-8807; jgindi@rtirguests.com

10. ==> Why Pushing Your Kids Could Break Them

School can turn into a pressure cooker for kids when parents push too hard for high grades, top sports performance, or constant achievement. Former LPGA Tour Player and mindset coach Cindy Miller has seen how perfectionism, comparison and performance pressure can crush kids’ confidence. In this conversation, she shares what parents should (and shouldn’t) say after a bad grade or tough loss, why mistakes are essential for growth, and how to raise resilient kids without breaking their spirit. Her advice applies on and off the field, helping families set goals while keeping perspective. Cindy Miller is a Hall of Fame LPGA Professional and certified mindset coach with decades of experience developing confident young athletes. Contact her at (716) 670-5341; cimiller@rtirguests.com

11. ==> How to Be a Calmer, More Focused Parent

Back-to-School season can be a whirlwind of social plans, family commitments and career demands. Dr. Dan Bartlett knows that staying centered during this busy time takes intentional effort. As a Certified Metaphysical Practitioner and author of “Six Easy Secrets to Psychic Success,” he teaches practical techniques to reduce stress and cultivate calm. From intuitive breathing exercises to guided visualizations, Dr. Dan’s methods help you make empowered choices, no matter how hectic life gets. Known for his dynamic presentations as a Magical Mentalist, he also demonstrates how tapping into your intuition can transform your mindset. This fall, help your audience embrace a calmer, more resilient version of themselves with his practical insights. Contact Dr. Dan at (480) 841-0984; dbartlett@rtirguests.com 

12. ==> A 60-Second Reset to Calm Back-to-School Stress

New schedules. Earlier mornings. Homework. Activities. The return to school can make family life feel hectic almost overnight. Artist and former healthcare professional Edi Matsumoto offers a surprisingly simple reset: get creative. On your show, she'll demonstrate her "60-second joy reset," a quick technique audiences can try live, and explain how small "creative shifts" can reduce stress, improve mood, and restore focus. Even playful activities like doodling or looking at her silly otter paintings can help calm the nervous system, she says. Best of all, no artistic talent is required—just a willingness to pause and engage. Her book, “Otter Therapy,” and her own transition from healthcare to art inform an approachable conversation about incorporating creativity into everyday life when family routines become hectic again. Matsumoto brings together her experience as a former healthcare professional and working artist to offer an unconventional approach to mental and emotional resets. Contact Edi Matsumoto at (831) 290-6491; ematsumoto@rtirguests.com

13. ==> Reset Your Energy for a Fall of Renewal: Chakra Balancing

Autumn is the perfect time to revitalize your energy and let go of the blockages holding you back. Kooch Daniels, renowned intuitive expert and author of “Stars, Cards, and Stones: Exploring Cosmic Connections between Astrology, Tarot, and Runestones,” reveals how chakra balancing can be your gateway to a transformative fall. In this eye-opening interview, Kooch will show you how simple yet powerful energy work can bring balance, clarity and renewal. From absolute beginners to seasoned energy workers, Kooch’s expert guidance can empower anyone to reset their energy and step into a vibrant, more fulfilled version of themself. Contact Kooch at kdaniels@rtirguests.com; (707) 878-5039

Looking for more experts to help turn the page from summer to fall? Stay tuned for a special Fall Reboot edition of the Newsletter next Thursday, September 17th. You’ll find timely experts with fresh ideas to help your audience rethink what isn’t working, get unstuck, reconnect with what matters or simply finish 2026 on a stronger note.

14. ==> Forty Years of Life Lessons from an Alaska Garden

With over 71 million U.S. households tending gardens, it remains America's top outdoor hobby. Marion Owen has spent 40 years gardening in Kodiak, Alaska, and built her career on one idea: the garden is a place of healing, not just a hobby. On your show, she’ll reveal life lessons we can all learn from tending the earth, including gratitude, patience, and slowing down in an increasingly hectic world. Ask her: Why do you call the garden "a place of healing" instead of just a hobby? How did a single plant help a hospitalized veteran move for the first time in years? What's one gardening myth you wish would finally die? Marion Owens is the “New York Times” bestselling co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul” and is now writing “Cultivating Joy Through Gardening: 365 Daily Meditations.” 
Contact Marion Owen at (907) 891-7980; mowen@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Children's Books: The Most Underrated Health Tool 

Most parents see children's books as entertainment. Kenneth Korber, a health literacy expert, believes they can also be powerful tools for improving children's health. After two decades as a clinician, he wrote and published “The Musical Adventures of Grace” series to extend the patient office visit into bedtime reading, helping families reinforce important health and wellness lessons at home. His engaging stories and characters transform complex medical topics into age-appropriate adventures that children actually enjoy. Ken’s approach encourages healthy habits, eases childhood anxiety and fears, and strengthens literacy at the same time. “Storytelling may be one of the most effective—and overlooked—ways to improve public health, empower families, and help children build lifelong healthy behaviors, one bedtime story at a time,” he says. Contact: Kenneth Korber at (847) 238-8936; kkorber@rtirguests.com

01. Is America Ready for Health Care for All?
02. The Bombing is Back: Middle East Expert on Iran War
03. Heart-Healthy Labor Day Cookout Tips
04. International Day of Charity: How Giving Back Can Change a Cat’s Life
05. For Grandparents Day: The Art of Being a Grandpa
06. Are You Chasing an Expired Version of Success?
07. Don’t Make These Costly AI Mistakes
08. He Lost $200,000. Fear Tactics Scammers Use
09. Why Some Businesses Scale and Others Get Stuck
10. Can One Ordinary Person Really Make a Difference?
11. What Working With Hollywood Stars Taught Him About Fame & Fortune
12. Weight Loss Drugs Linked to 50% Increase In Divorce
13. Can You Believe in Science and Still Believe in God?
14. From Heartache to Healing to Humor in 5 Steps
15. Life As A Closeted Clairvoyant


1. ==> Is America Ready for Health Care for All?

Nancy Altman believes Americans are at a crossroads when it comes to health care. “When we say that health care is a human right, people nod. But that’s not how we set up our health care in this country. I put the struggle for universal health care as part of a whole slew of workers’ rights for a fair wage, maximum hours, Social Security, all of that.” Altman’s new book, “The Road to Medicare for All,” provides a roadmap for making health care a right in the United States while offering arguments against scare tactics and fear mongering. “How will we afford it? Lots of studies show that Medicare for All will cover lots of services but we will actually save trillions of dollars. The timing is really right. Because of the Republican tax cut bill that cut a trillion dollars from Medicaid and is causing rural hospital closures, we have to reform the system sooner rather than later.” She adds, “Along with Social Security, this needs to be a voting issue. The question of whether we expand or cut these programs is about values, not affordability.” Nancy Altman is the president of Social Security Works, an American political advocacy group dedicated to protecting and expanding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Contact her at naltman@socialsecurityworks.org or Linda Benesch at lbenesch@socialsecurityworks.org

2. ==> The Bombing is Back: Middle East Expert on Iran War

The bombing has begun again after a monthlong lull in fighting in the six-month war on Iran. American military resources are stretched and political pressure is mounting in Washington while in Iran, the economy has been battered by sanctions and an American naval blockade. Can either side continue like this indefinitely? Ask Asaf Romirowsky, the executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East. Trained as a Middle East historian he holds a PhD in Middle East and Mediterranean Studies and has published widely on various aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict and American foreign policy in the Middle East. He’s co-author of “October 7: The Wars Over Words and Deeds.” Contact Mark Goldman at markgoldman73@gmail.com; (516) 639-0988 (call/text)

3. ==> Heart-Healthy Labor Day Cookout Tips

Cookouts are big part of Labor Day celebrations, but the typical menu of hot dogs and burgers isn’t exactly health food. Dorothy Greet can share ways to enjoy a BBQ without the meat. After suffering a heart attack at age 70, Dorothy and her husband. both lifelong meat-and-dairy lovers, made a dramatic change by adopting a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. Within weeks, they experienced improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, energy, and overall well-being. Today, Greet says late summer is a great time to enjoy fresh, flavorful plant-based meals without feeling deprived. She’ll share simple ways to create heart-healthier cookouts, practical ideas for replacing meat and dairy, and explain why many Americans consume far more protein than they actually need. She’ll show listeners that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated, and that it’s never too late to make changes that can improve both health and quality of life. Credentialed in plant-based nutrition through Cornell, Dorothy Greet has spent more than a decade teaching, blogging, and encouraging others to discover the life-changing benefits of whole-food, plant-based eating. She’s the author of “Go Veg with Class.” Contact Dorothy Greet at (302) 314-6010; dgreet@rtirguests.com

4. ==> International Day of Charity: How Giving Back Can Change a Cat’s Life

This Saturday, September 5th is International Day of Charity. Invite Deborah Felin-Magaldi, cofounder of Helen Sanders CatPAWS, to share how even small acts of generosity can make a life-changing difference for cats in need. She’ll share simple ways people can support animal welfare beyond writing a check, from fostering and volunteering to donating, helping with spay/neuter efforts or opening their home to an adoptable cat. Deborah will also share the story of Helen Sanders, the inspiration for the shelter. She became a fixture in the small southern California beach town in which she lived out her life, pedaling her three-wheeled cycle, big basket in the back, filled with bags of cat food. She used specially designed traps to capture feral cats and have them spayed or neutered and vaccinated, then would release them back into the colony. Contact Isabelle Collyer at Isabelle@publicityforgood.com; (330) 842-8458

5. ==> For Grandparents Day: The Art of Being a Grandpa

Celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day, Grandparents Day shines a light on the invaluable role grandparents play in our lives. What makes a great grandpa? Most men want to be one, but Nick Stevens says many don’t know what that looks like beyond free babysitting and being a friend to the grandkids. From father-wounds to generational legacy, the author of “The Art of Being Grandad” provides tools and ideas that grandfathers can use to establish identity in their grandkids and build a powerful legacy for their families. Nick says grandfathers have an unexplainable influence. “When Pawpaw speaks, everyone stops and listens!” Nick Stevens made a hobby of fatherhood and family until he lost a daughter to an avalanche in 2008. Since then he’s led men’s ministries and spoken publicly about fatherhood. Contact him at nick@nickstevensauthor.com; (970) 690-4790

6. ==> Are You Chasing an Expired Version of Success?

Chad Betz was sitting alone in a parking garage after work, convinced he was a failure. Despite working hard, building a career, and doing everything society dictated he should do, he did not feel successful. This led him on a journey to reinvent himself and help others who find themselves stuck, even after years of success. Chad says you don’t have to start over to create a successful next chapter and will help your listeners redefine success. He’ll also help them tackle the hidden forces behind their stagnation, like outdated definitions of success and beliefs that age limits future opportunity. Ask him: What is sunk-cost thinking and how can it sabotage careers? What is the Frustration Energy Cycle? What’s one sign someone’s chasing an expired version of success? Chad Betz is a leadership coach and black belt in three martial arts. He is the author of “An Authentic Success: You Aren’t Too Old and It’s Not Too Late!” Contact him at (203) 439-3564; cbetz@rtirguests.com

7. ==> Don’t Make These Costly AI Mistakes

The phrase “AI layoff” went from a niche concern in 2023 to the single most-cited reason for U.S. job cuts in both March and April of 2026. Over those two months alone, employers tied 36,831 layoffs directly to artificial intelligence. But are businesses sacrificing the very qualities that drive long-term success? Startup strategist and attorney Douglas Park says the companies that thrive in the AI era won’t simply have the best technology, they’ll know how to combine AI with human creativity, judgment, and smart strategy. Drawing on more than 25 years advising companies, Park reveals the costly AI mistakes many leaders are making, why products are becoming easier to copy, and why people and competitive positioning matter more than ever. Douglas is a Silicon Valley attorney, former business professor, startup advisor and the author of “Starting Startups.” His research-based 3P Framework helps organizations align their people, products, and position to compete in a rapidly changing economy. Contact Douglas Park at (650) 629-1424; dpark@rtirguests.com

8. ==> He Lost $200,000. Fear Tactics Scammers Use

Every 60 seconds, more than 107 Americans fall victim to scams, yet most people still believe they’re too smart to become another one. Dentist and scam prevention expert Ed “Doc” Holliday knows otherwise. After losing more than $200,000 in a sophisticated AI-assisted scam, he discovered how criminals use fear, urgency, and psychological manipulation to override rational thinking. Drawing from firsthand experience, extensive scam research, and years educating others, Dr. Holliday offers practical insights audiences can use immediately. On your show, he’ll reveal the warning signs nearly everyone misses, why educated professionals are increasingly being targeted, and practical strategies families can use to protect themselves before it’s too late. He’ll also explain how AI is making scams more convincing than ever, from fake company emails to cloned voices of loved ones. His book, “My 200K Nightmare: 10 Ways to Avoid Financial Scams I Wish I’d Known,” shares his remarkable story and prevention strategies. Contact Ed “Doc” Holliday at eholliday@rtirguests.com; (662) 472-4980

9. ==> Why Some Businesses Scale and Others Get Stuck

Why do some businesses reach a certain level of success and then struggle to grow beyond it? Kara Renninger, a growth advisor and former COO, offers practical advice for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow but aren’t sure what needs to change to get to the next level. One of the biggest mistakes she sees is assuming growth means doing more: hiring more people, spending more on advertising, adding more products, or simply working longer hours. She’ll discuss what needs to be in place before you try to scale, why more customers don’t always equal a more successful business and how to price your services for sustainable growth. Before launching Kara Renninger Consulting, Kara served as COO of multiple growing companies and helped scale an educational services company from two contractors to hundreds of providers serving thousands of children across Pennsylvania. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)

10. ==> Can One Ordinary Person Really Make a Difference?

Beth Leeds has spent a lifetime proving you don’t need power, connections or permission to create change. From Aloha Peace flags and T-shirts to horses and offshore drilling, she has found unconventional ways to get people to pay attention—and take action. The author of “Inspired Action with Beth” can share the surprising tactics behind her activism, why people underestimate their ability to influence others, and how anyone can turn an idea they care about into action. Interview the self-described “Environmental Cinderella” about a lifetime of doing extraordinary things and how your listeners can start taking inspired action themselves. Contact Beth Leeds at (808) 638-1142; InspiredActionWithBeth@gmail.com

11. ==> What Working With Hollywood Stars Taught Him About Fame & Fortune

Everyone thinks they want fame and fortune — until they see what it ac¬tually looks like. Keith Ingersoll spent nearly a decade behind the scenes at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, working alongside the biggest names in film, television, and professional sports. What he witnessed up close was nothing like the glossy image sold to the public. Ingersoll will share candid, surprising, and sometimes sobering stories including his account of Elvis Presley’s personal Bible and what it reveals about the man behind the legend. He’ll offer listeners a rare insider’s perspective on what separates genuine fulfillment from the hollow pursuit of celebrity. Ask him: What’s the biggest misconception people have about fame and wealth? What was your most surprising encounter with a major celebrity at Caesars Palace? Keith Ingersoll is the author of “Fame and Fortune.” Contact him at (208) 812-5346; kingersoll@rtirguests.com

12. ==> Weight Loss Drugs Linked to 50% Increase In Divorce

A University of Gothenburg study of over 12,500 married patients found that those who underwent rapid weight loss were nearly 50% more likely to divorce within six years. A separate University of Pittsburgh study corroborated the findings, showing gastric band patients were more than twice as likely to divorce. Researchers say the same pattern will extend to users of GLP 1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, Experts emphasize that the weight loss is not destroying healthy marriages but rather empowering individuals to leave unhealthy ones, as improved self-confidence drives broader life changes that can create tension with partners who do not adapt alongside them. Matrimonial law attorney Jacqueline Newman can discuss what she’s seen in her practice and whether a partner losing weight should be viewed as a relationship red flag. Jacqueline Newman is the managing partner at the matrimonial law firm Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP in Manhattan. The author of “The New Rules of Divorce,” Newman has appeared on various TV and radio shows and has been quoted in numerous publications. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103

13. ==> Can You Believe in Science and Still Believe in God?

Can a person trained to trust hard scientific evidence also embrace faith in God? Imogene Drakes believes the answer is yes, and her remarkable journey offers a fascinating perspective on the question. After decades working in forensic toxicology and clinical laboratory science, Imogene retired and embarked on a six-week journey around the world to explore ancient sites, enduring mysteries, and questions about human origins and meaning. Rather than seeing science and faith as opposing forces, she believes scientific inquiry can deepen our understanding of creation and even strengthen spiritual curiosity. She is the author of “Around the World in 42 Days: One Woman’s Journey Through Ancient Mysteries and Modern Questions.” Contact Imogene Drakes at (845) 957-7896; idrakes@rtirguests.com

14. ==> From Heartache to Healing to Humor in 5 Steps

Nikki Goldman, Ph.D., spent decades labeled as a lazy learner before discovering her undiagnosed dyslexia and turning that heartache into two rewarding careers. As an award-winning author, Goldman tells her story in “Lunacy is in My Family’s DNA,” where she explores how humor evolved from her hurts and helped her find a more peaceful heart. In her hypnotherapy practice, she teaches a five-step HEART program for overcoming sorrow and living a happier life that involves honoring reality, embracing empathy, altering your perspective, recognizing gifts and tickling your funny bone. Ask her: During the holidays and other gatherings, what causes people to trigger old family hurts — and how can we stop reenacting the outdated drama? Can something be both painful and hilarious without diminishing how much it hurt? Is acceptance giving up, or finally putting down the rope in the tug-of-war? Contact Nikki Goldman at (858) 544-6899; ngoldman@rtirguests.com

15. ==> Life As A Closeted Clairvoyant

Nearly half of Americans say they’ve had a spiritual experience they can’t explain, yet most never talk about it. Former television executive Kim Bantle spent more than two decades working at Paramount, Viacom, and Group W Productions while keeping her own extraordinary experiences private. She says she could read minds, predict events, sense energy, and communicate with those who had passed – abilities that intensified after a near-death experience in college. On your show, Bantle explores why successful professionals often trust instincts they can’t explain, why intuition remains one of society’s least-discussed human experiences, and what the growing interest in spirituality says about a culture searching for meaning beyond traditional institutions. She also discusses dreams, signs, synchronicities, and why skeptics and believers may have more in common than they think. Having spent 23 years producing content for mainstream audiences, she knows how to discuss extraordinary topics in a way that is thoughtful, relatable, and engaging. Bantle shares her experiences with honesty, humor and self-awareness in her new memoir “Confessions of a Closeted Clairvoyant.” Contact Kim Bantle at ksbantle@gmail.com; (310) 418-5758

01. 9/11 First Responders: 25 Years Later, Still Struggling
02. How Israel’s Lobby Works Against American Interests
03. Democracy Is at Stake: Stop Waiting for a Savior
04. Medicare Fraud Is Surging: Protect Yourself and Your Parents
05. The Post Vacation Reset You Didn’t Know You Needed
06. Great B-T-S Show: Stop Trying to Solve Your Kids’ Problems
07. Modern Money Advice for Today’s Young Adults
08. Can a Bigger Paycheck Make Financial Anxiety Worse?	
09. Biggest Mistakes When Caring for Aging Loved Ones
10. Are You Addicted to Caffeine—and Don’t Even Know It?
11. Got a Problem Pup? Ask This Dog Behaviorist’s Advice
12. Humor Is Never Untimely – This Guest Has Been Proving It for 30 Years
13. The Reason You’re Stuck Has Nothing to Do with Willpower
14. You Can Rewrite Your Story: The First Step
15. The Real Cost of Your Perfectionism

1. ==> 9/11 First Responders: 25 Years Later, Still Struggling

As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, new research finds that the brains of first responders may be aging faster than their bodies. Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai analyzed MRI scans from 99 World Trade Center responders, all in their mid-50s. Of that group, 47 had chronic PTSD and 52 did not. Responders with PTSD had brains that appeared, on average, about three years older than their chronological age. Responders without PTSD showed brain ages that were slightly younger than expected. Researchers also found that the longer a responder worked at Ground Zero, the stronger the link between PTSD and accelerated brain aging. Silvia Dutchevici, psychotherapist and founder and president of the Critical Therapy Institute was not involved in the study but says, "The research reflects what psychotherapists see every day in our consulting rooms. Working with first responders, veterans, and people who have lived through prolonged trauma, we experience how survivors remain stuck in a fight-or-flight state of being. The brain stays on high alert and cannot shut off. Trauma ages us.” She says the research offers fresh evidence that the effects of the attacks are still unfolding a quarter-century later. Contact Silvia Dutchevici at the Critical Therapy Institute at (646) 504-3230; info@criticaltherapy.org

2. ==> How Israel’s Lobby Works Against American Interests

Eli Clifton believes the greatest story in geopolitics and in American domestic affairs is how the far-right government of a small Middle Eastern country came to hold a controlling interest in United States foreign policy. He says the outsized influence of the Israel lobby “works against our national interests and threatens our freedom.”  The co-author of “Israel’s Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power,” can explain how shifts in global politics, Israel’s lurch to the extreme right, and the evisceration of American campaign finance laws make the influence of Israel’s lobby more costly and more dangerous today than it ever was before, why the lobby launched an antisemitism witch hunt to suppress opponents rather than attempt to defend Israel’s policies, and how the Lobby not only distorts American policy but helps make Israel a “crazy” state. Eli Clifton is cofounder and senior advisor at the Quincy Institute. Contact him at eliclifton@gmail.com or communications director Jessica Rosenblum at rosenblum@quincyinst.org 

3. ==> Democracy Is at Stake: Stop Waiting for a Savior

Nearly seven in 10 Americans are dissatisfied with how our democracy is working. Many consume political news and engage on social media but Skye Perryman says that’s not how change happens. The president of Democracy Forward says change happens when ordinary citizens become participants rather than spectators in history. “I have seen firsthand the limits of our institutions and the urgent need for individual citizens to demand and achieve a reimagined democracy that works for us all.” She says, “Waiting for a savior has led many of us not to exercise the greatest power we have: our own. Nothing is handed down by political leaders without the people demanding it. We must do so again.” Democracy Forward is a nonprofit legal services and public policy research organization that exposes and litigates corruption in the U.S. government. In 2025, the organization filed over 150 lawsuits against the Trump administration. Contact Skye Perryman at skye@democracyforward.org; @skyeperryman

4. ==> Medicare Fraud Is Surging: Protect Yourself and Your Parents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says it stopped $5.7 billion in suspected fraudulent Medicare payments in 2025 alone. But here’s what Medicare enrollees and their families need to know: Medicare fraud could already be happening in your name without you realizing it. An unfamiliar charge on a Medicare Summary Notice may be the first clue. Medicare expert Toni King, author of “Medicare Survival Guide Advanced: Basics and Beyond,” will give your audience a practical fraud-protection checklist. She’ll explain why beneficiaries and caregivers should scrutinize Medicare Summary Notices for unfamiliar charges, guard Medicare numbers like credit cards, and hang up on unsolicited callers asking for personal information. Toni will also expose convincing scams, including callers falsely promising new plastic Medicare cards. With the government intensifying its fraud crackdown, Toni helps Medicare enrollees, their adult children, and caregivers recognize trouble before it threatens their money or healthcare. Contact Toni King at (281) 677-3736; tking@rtirguests.com

5. ==> The Post Vacation Reset You Didn’t Know You Needed

Vacations are supposed to help us recharge, yet many people arrive home feeling just as stressed as when they left! For others, the post-vacation high quickly settles back into the hectic, chaotic mess of everyday life. Artist Edi Matsumoto believes joy isn’t something we find after everything slows down. It’s something we can practice in the middle of everyday life. She’ll introduce her simple 60-second Joy Reset, a creative mindfulness technique that helps people pause, reconnect with the present moment, and experience more gratitude wherever they are. Through heartwarming stories, playful exercises, and lessons inspired by her beloved otter paintings, Edi shows that even the busiest lives have room for wonder. It’s a refreshing reminder that happiness often begins with noticing what’s already around us. Edi Matsumoto is an award-winning artist and internationally collected painter. She wrote “Otter Therapy” to help people cultivate more joy every day. Contact her at (831) 290-6491; ematsumoto@rtirguests.com

6. ==> Great B-T-S Show: Stop Trying to Solve Your Kids’ Problems

Parents want to help their children succeed, but stepping in too quickly may have an unintended consequence: kids who struggle to solve problems or trust themselves. Educator and author Dr. Dianne Olvera says one powerful shift can change that—stop telling and start asking. On your show, she'll reveal how thoughtful questions can help children think independently, regulate emotions, develop resilience, and take greater ownership of their choices. As families head back to school, she'll also explain why constantly rescuing kids from mistakes can undermine the confidence parents are trying to build. Her newly released “Helping Kids Take Ownership of Their Lives” gives parents practical strategies for replacing control with connection and encouraging capable, empathetic kids. A professor for four decades, board-certified educational therapist, and former U.S. Embassy professional, Olvera brings a uniquely education-focused perspective to helping children become independent thinkers. Contact Dianne Olvera at (805) 779-3558; dolvera@rtirguests.com

7. ==> Modern Money Advice for Today’s Young Adults

Where do young adults learn their financial skills? And in today’s economy, is yesterday’s financial advice outdated? No wonder nearly half of Gen Z says they don’t feel financially prepared for adulthood. Real estate investor and wealth educator Janet Tonkins says many graduates start taking on credit card debt before building savings or assets. She says the biggest financial mistake young adults make isn’t earning too little. It’s waiting too long to invest. She’ll explain how even new graduates can begin building wealth with as little as $5 to $10 a month, why understanding assets matters more than chasing status symbols, and how first-time buyers can take advantage of overlooked grants and programs. She’ll also reveal why “perfect credit” is often overrated and how small financial decisions made in your 20s can shape your entire future. Drawing from themes in her upcoming book “Purses, Heels & Houses You Choose,” Tonkins helps audiences rethink spending, ownership, and generational wealth from day one. Beyond coaching investors nationwide, Tonkins develops affordable housing projects and mentors first-generation wealth builders through the Cashflow Diva Academy and TheCashflowDiva.com. Contact Janet Tonkins at (410) 421-0930; jtonkins@rtirguests.com

8. ==> Can a Bigger Paycheck Make Financial Anxiety Worse?

Most financial guests talk about how to make more money. Darius Ross talks about why making more money can make things harder, and why that's something your audience may already be living but has never heard named out loud. Drawing from his own journey out of homelessness to business ownership, Ross explains how a "survival mindset" doesn't disappear when the money arrives. Fear of loss, the pressure to sustain success, and the weight of responsibility can quietly hijack decision-making and drive anxiety even at six figures. On your show, he'll unpack how past financial trauma shapes behavior long after circumstances improve — and what it actually takes to build peace of mind, not just a bigger bank account. This isn't a budgeting conversation. It's a psychology-of-money conversation, with a guest who lived it before he learned to explain it. Contact Darius Ross at (347) 801-7956; dross@rtirguests.com 

9. ==> Biggest Mistakes When Caring for Aging Loved Ones

Is your audience overwhelmed by the complexities of elder care? Debbie C. Miller has the answers—and the empathy. With over 30 years of experience working with senior care issues, Miller delivers practical, compassionate advice that empowers caregivers to make confident, informed decisions. She’ll discuss: The biggest mistakes families make when trying to care for aging loved ones, the most pervasive myths about elder care—and how they derail good intentions and how to plan ahead without panic, guilt or guesswork. You’ll also learn why “aging in place” is a deeply personal choice that requires smart strategy. Whether your audience is navigating a sudden crisis or planning for long-term care, Debbie offers a step-by-step approach that’s clear, actionable, and emotionally grounded. Her insights resonate with adult children, caregivers, and professionals alike. A Certified Senior Advisor® and Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist®, Miller is the author of “Doing the Right Thing: Simple Solutions, Essential Tips, & Helpful Resources for Assisting Aging Loved Ones,” a trusted guide for families facing the emotional and logistical maze of senior care. Contact Debbie Miller at (703) 844-4074; dmiller@rtirguests.com

10. ==> Are You Addicted to Caffeine—and Don’t Even Know It?

More than two-thirds of American adults, and increasingly children and teenagers, consume caffeine every day, yet few consider it an addiction. Health researcher and author Norbert Heuser says caffeine isn’t just in coffee. It’s in soda, energy drinks, green, black, and white teas, and even an increasing number of snacks. And it’s quietly shaping our brains, moods, sleep, and long-term health. Drawing on more than 45 years of research and insights from his book “Coffee Addiction & Caffeinism,” Norbert challenges the belief that caffeine is harmless. He’ll explore how everyday use may contribute to anxiety, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, fertility issues, reduced gray brain matter, cognitive decline, and even harm to the unborn, while also explaining why most people never question its impact. Norbert will reveal what science is starting to show, why caffeine dependence has become socially acceptable, how to recognize addiction, and practical ways to reduce its hidden effects—without sacrificing energy or performance. He also shares great-tasting, caffeine-free alternatives to coffee. Contact Norbert Heuser at (727) 261-2313; nheuser@rtirguests.com

11. ==> Got a Problem Pup? Ask This Dog Behaviorist’s Advice

Author and longtime dog behaviorist Kathleen Troy answers real questions from dog owners with warmth, humor, and hard-earned experience. Dubbed the Dear Abby for dogs, Kathleen tackles everyday canine challenges while debunking one of the biggest myths of all: some dogs cannot be trained. She gets her inspiration from her remarkable rescue pup, Dylan, a former “problem dog” who went on to become a certified therapy and hospice service dog. She combines practical guidance with unforgettable stories. Audiences will learn how patience, consistency, and respect can transform both dogs and their humans. Kathleen is the author of the “Dylan’s Dog Squad” series, and a book about dog training. Contact Kathleen Troy at (714) 975-9807; ktroy@rtirguests.com

12. ==> Humor Is Never Untimely – This Guest Has Been Proving It for 30 Years

Bill Williams has been sending daily humor emails for three decades. What started in the 1990s as a way to get his sales staff to read emails has grown into a beloved ritual for hundreds of subscribers globally—and he's never made a dime doing it. Drawing from "20 Years of Internet Humor ... and Other Interesting Things," Williams explains why humor works in any news cycle, for any audience. Listeners will discover how he turned a workplace tool into a lifelong practice of spreading joy, and why his college friend John Denver influenced his view on taking creative risks. Ask him: You've done this for 30 years without making money, so what keeps you going? You say humor is never untimely. What makes it work when other topics go stale? How did your friendship with John Denver shape your approach to life? Contact Bill Williams at (419) 534-0399; wgwilliams@rtirguests.com

13. ==> The Reason You’re Stuck Has Nothing to Do with Willpower

If willpower were enough, you'd already be free from negativity in your life. “What keeps people stuck isn’t a lack of motivation, it’s the nervous system holding unresolved survival responses from the past,” according to Lisa Morgan. “Real change happens when we work with the body, not against it.” Lisa’s world fell apart when panic and anxiety brought her to her knees. This became the foundation of her life’s work. Lisa is a master coach, intuitive guide, and soul-level healer who helps people break free from hidden blocks and rediscover who they truly are. Through her signature framework, Free Your Soul to Soar™, she bridges neuroscience and energy psychology to help people transform to reclaim their joy, worth, and wings. Contact Lisa Morgan at (314) 265-3491; lmorgan@rtirguests.com

14. ==> You Can Rewrite Your Story: The First Step 

Most people want the world to believe they’re strong—that they can push through, hold it together, and smile, completely unfazed by the weight they carry. But the truth is far more human. Many are terrified, overwhelmed, and quietly collapsing on the inside. For most of her adult life, author Kat Perkins lived this way too. She would always say, “It’s all good.” But after losing her mother at nine, surviving foster care, and later facing breast cancer, things were anything but “all good.” One day, a friend told her, “You need to stop saying it’s all good. It’s not. And it’s okay to feel what you feel.” That moment something cracked open. Kat learned what no one teaches us: you cannot rewrite the meaning of your pain until you understand it—not avoid it, outrun it, or dress it up in strength. You have to face it. Drawing from her memoir, “Girls with Pearls Have Power,” Kat now teaches women how to turn setbacks into turning points, reclaim authorship of their stories, and rise with clarity and courage rather than fear or pretending. Contact Kat Perkins at (404) 800-3916; kperkins@rtirguests.com

15. ==> The Real Cost of Your Perfectionism

Millions of people are on a perpetual search for a new and better version of themselves, meantime research shows that perfectionism and self-criticism are rising and fueling burnout and anxiety, instead of change. Leadership coach and TEDx speaker Barbara Stone says the problem isn’t motivation, it’s identity. After 25 years hiding her alopecia under a wig and her voice behind corporate success, Barbara took the wig off onstage and discovered a surprising truth: real growth begins when we stop trying to fix ourselves. In this segment, she’ll share what shedding perfection taught her about self-worth and authenticity, and why flaws, not upgrades, are often the key to confidence. Whether your audience is hiding a condition, insecurity, or impossible expectations, Barbara offers practical ways they can stop performing and start living more honestly. Ask her: Can trying to “improve yourself” actually make you less confident? What did losing your hair teach you that success never did? Contact Barbara Stone at (315) 840-2845; bstone@rtirguests.com

01. New Mail-In Ballot Changes Could Affect Upcoming Election
02. Why the PA Data Center Pause Matters
03. Will the Treasury’s Buyback Fix the Bond Market?
04. Why Do We Trust AI With Our Health, Until Our Doctor Uses It?
05. 50 Years Later: Celebrate the First Women in the Air Force
06. Great B-T-S Show: Safety Skills Every Teen Needs
07. What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today
08. Anti-AI Sentiment Grows: Messy is More Relatable	
09. The Push for Peak Productivity Is Making Professionals Miserable
10. Sell By, Use By, Best Before: What Does it All Mean?
11. The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare
12. Are You Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired?
13. Listeners Want Uplifting Stories: This Guest Has 80 of Them
14. Love, Sex & Second Chances After 50
15. Why You Keep Choosing the Wrong Partner—and How to Break the Cycle


1. ==> New Mail-In Ballot Changes Could Affect Upcoming Election

New U.S. Postal Service rules could significantly change how mail-in ballots are handled ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. Under the new requirements, states would have to provide USPS with lists of voters receiving mail ballots and use new tracking and verification measures, while ballots from states that do not comply could potentially go undelivered. Invite Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, executive director of the George Washington Graduate School of Political Management, to discuss the new rules, how the changes could affect how millions of Americans cast their ballots by mail, and create uncertainty for voters and election administrators as Election Day approaches. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is a longtime public servant, former U.S. Representative and a higher education leader. Contact Skyler Sales at skylers@gwu.edu

2. ==> Why the PA Data Center Pause Matters

Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has signed an executive order directing the Department of Environmental Protection to limit new data center projects. Emma Claire Foley of the Data Center Action Network says while it’s a step in the right direction, an executive order is a fundamentally inadequate instrument of governance with which to deal with the critical issue. “We need durable long-term solutions that impose stringent limits on new and existing data centers. We cannot allow this critical issue to hinge on the preferences of individual leaders.” Shapiro’s order removes all AI data center proposals from the state’s fast-track permitting process and prohibits the use of nondisclosure agreements, which have been used to prevent communities from learning basic facts about data center projects in their backyards. Emma Claire Foley coordinates the Data Center Action Network, a joint endeavor of RootsAction and the RootsAction Education Fund. Contact her at emmaclaire@rootsaction.org 

3. ==> Will the Treasury’s Buyback Fix the Bond Market?

The U.S. Treasury surprised investors earlier this month when it announced that it would at least double the amount of longer-dated Treasury bonds that it would buy back from investors this fall. The news came after ten-year and thirty-year U.S. government bond yields both hit twenty-year highs, with several non-U.S. government bond yields echoing the trend. Rebecca Patterson can explain what’s going on with bond market and whether investors should be worried. Ask her: What are the sustainable paths to lower borrowing costs—the kind that flow through to households, businesses, and government debt-servicing costs—and are any of them plausible in the foreseeable future? How meaningful is it if bond yields settle at structurally higher levels? A globally recognized investor and macro-economic researcher with more than twenty-five years of experience across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Rebecca Patterson is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the cohost of The Spillover podcast. Contact her at (917) 846-8565; rpatterson@cfr.org

4. ==> Why Do We Trust AI With Our Health, Until Our Doctor Uses It?

How do Americans view AI and their healthcare? A new Pew Research Center study finds that eight in ten Americans want their provider to tell them when AI is used for things that can directly affect their care or medical decisions. Anmol Madan finds that interesting because consumers are increasingly willing to turn to AI themselves, putting symptoms into ChatGPT or Claude and using the responses to better understand a condition or diagnosis. Madan, who has authored numerous scientific publications and holds multiple patents related to AI and healthcare, believes there may be an important distinction between choosing to use AI yourself and having AI used as part of a decision about you. The author of “The Machines Will See You Now: A Human Roadmap to Autonomous Health Care” can discuss what the Pew findings tell us about trust, transparency, patient choice, and what healthcare organizations need to get right as AI becomes more deeply integrated into care. Anmol Madan, PhD, is a healthcare entrepreneur, computer scientist, and founder and CEO of RadiantGraph, a company using artificial intelligence to help health plans and healthcare organizations better engage consumers and improve health outcomes. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)

5. ==> 50 Years Later: Celebrate the First Women in the Air Force

On June 28, 1976, 157 young women entered the US Air Force Academy, marching into a world that had never imagined them. They and the more than 12,000 women who have followed in the 50 years since have faced a contentious culture, inadequate facilities, and a system designed to break them. Told they were destroying military standards, and promised they would never graduate, more than 7,000 women have proved them wrong. Former US Air Force commander and decorated combat pilot Eileen Isola is one of them. She’ll share stories from her life and others’. From the crucible of Basic Cadet Training to the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, from shattering the Combat Exclusion policy to leading at the highest military and civilian positions, hear how women have reshaped the military—and the nation. Ask her about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments about women in combat and his recent interventions in military promotion lists, stripping multiple highly rated female officers from advancement slates. Isola was the first woman to serve as an Advance Agent to the President of the United States, flew high-performance jets, trained combat pilots, invaded other countries, airlifted humanitarian relief, resupplied Amazon jungle radar sites and commanded an Air Force squadron. She is the lead editor of “Necessary Turbulence: Fifty Years, One Unbreakable Sisterhood Forged in the Crucible of the Air Force Academy.” Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com 

6. ==> Great B-T-S Show: Safety Skills Every Teen Needs 

Keeping teenagers safe isn't as simple as giving them more rules. After 40 years in crime and violence prevention, Stephanie Mann says the teens best equipped to navigate danger are the ones who develop their own inner strength. As students return to classrooms, sports, friendships, and greater independence, Mann will reveal how self-awareness, emotional strength, and a centered sense of identity can help young people navigate risky situations. She'll explain what can make teens vulnerable to gangs, toxic relationships, and other dangers, why tighter restrictions can create false security, and how parents can build genuine resilience instead. She gives families a different way to think about protection: empower teens rather than simply shelter them. After 40 years as a crime and violence prevention specialist, Mann brings decades of firsthand experience understanding the conditions that put young people at risk. Contact Stephanie Mann at (925) 438-0716; smann@rtirguests.com

7. ==> What it’s Really Like to Run for Office in America Today

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

8. ==> Anti-AI Sentiment Grows: Messy is More Relatable

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,” isn’t surprised. Her answer to businesses trying to make sense of their messages now: the messier and more human your communication, the more trusted you become. 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. Ask her: 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

9. ==> The Push for Peak Productivity Is Making Professionals Miserable

Productivity has become a badge of honor. Yet despite countless apps, systems, and productivity hacks, many high achievers feel more exhausted, disconnected, and dissatisfied than ever before. Entrepreneur and award-winning author David Hampson says the problem isn't a lack of productivity—it's an unhealthy obsession with it. Invite him to explain why the relentless pursuit of optimization often leads to burnout and how professionals can build careers that create both achievement and meaning. Hampson will challenge conventional thinking about work, ambition, and what a successful life actually looks like. Hampson built and led successful businesses while questioning many of the assumptions behind modern work culture giving him both entrepreneurial credibility and hard-earned perspective. He’s the author of “Rainbow Gold: Building a Business That's Both the Journey and the Destination.” Contact David Hampson at dhampson@rtirguests.com or (603) 605-8594

10. ==> Sell By, Use By, Best Before: What Does it All Mean?

What’s the difference between a ‘sell by’ and ‘best before’ date when stamped on your food? If you think they all mean the same thing you’re probably among the many people who throw away perfectly good food. But you’re hardly alone. Many Americans misunderstand the food stamps and what they mean, resulting in a lot of confusion and billions of dollars in food waste. “Food product dating rarely indicates when the food is safe to eat,” says Nicole Arnold, an assistant professor and food safety field specialist at the Ohio State University. Instead, she adds, “almost all food product dating in the United States represents how long a product will maintain its peak quality.” So, when should you respect the date on the package? Experts say you should always toss any meat, poultry or fish with an expired safety date because you can’t use appearance, smell or taste to detect the invisible pathogens. But Arnold says there’s some wiggle room with dairy products like hard cheeses, yogurt and eggs. And when assessing snacks, cereals and condiments that may or may not have a date stamp, she says it’s smart to use your senses to gauge freshness. “When in doubt, throw it out,” she advises. “When you notice funky smells or striking changes in texture, toss the items.” She can also discuss a bill now pending in Congress that would limit the jargon on food to just two terms: ‘best if used by’ for peak quality and ‘use by’ for safety. Contact Nicole Arnold at arnold.1363@osu.edu

11. ==> The Trauma No One Talks About in American Healthcare

America’s healthcare system is in crisis—but what’s often ignored is the trauma beneath the surface. Kathy Allan, a board-certified holistic nurse with over two decades of experience in trauma recovery, says many nurses today are emotionally broken, betrayed by the very system they once trusted. Patients, too, are suffering from care that feels cold, rushed, and disconnected. In interviews, Allan reveals how this hidden trauma plays out, much like in the TV show, “The Pitt.” Drawing on her “12 Steps of Healing Care” and years as a healing touch instructor and somatic experiencing practitioner, Allan offers a spiritual and body-centered roadmap for transforming pain into purpose. Her stories and insights will resonate with nurses, healthcare workers, and anyone who’s ever felt harmed by the system that was supposed to help them. Contact Kathy Allan at (619) 932-5206; kallan@rtirguests.com

12. ==> Are You Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired? 

When symptoms don’t respond to traditional approaches, Marilyn Mercado says it’s time to look at energy. This holistic wellness expert will explain how emotional stress and unresolved experiences can disrupt the body’s energy centers and show up as pain, fatigue, or recurring illness. Mercado will explain what the body’s chakra system is and how it supports physical and emotional health. Learn how it can become out of balance and how simple  awareness practices can restore flow. Her perspective offers an intriguing complement to conventional wellness conversations. Marilyn is an energy practitioner and holistic wellness expert specializing in chakra balance and mind-body healing. Contact her at (805) 332-4863; mmercado@rtirguests.com

13. ==> Listeners Want Uplifting Stories: This Guest Has 80 of Them

After 56 years in the movie business, Dan Klusmann learned that audiences rarely remember explosions or special effects. They remember the stories that made them feel something. That realization inspired “Life Answers Back,” a collection of stories gathered over 15 years from more than 80 contributors. Klusmann can discuss why certain stories stay with us forever, what makes audiences emotionally connect to a story, and why uplifting storytelling is resonating again in today’s stressful and negative world. Drawing from decades spent studying audience reactions in the movie business, Klusmann shares how stories can inspire hope, create emotional connection, and help people feel understood, comforted, and less alone. Ask him: Why do certain stories stay with us forever? What did decades in the movie business teach you about emotional connection? Why are uplifting stories making a comeback right now? Can one simple story change the way someone sees life? Contact Dan Klusmann at (406) 578-7999; dklusmann@rtirguests.com

14. ==> Love, Sex & Second Chances After 50

More than 37 million single adults over 50 are reentering the dating world and discovering it’s nothing like they remember. Known as the next “Dr. Ruth,” Dr. Victoria Vaughn brings candid, humorous insight into love, sex, and starting over later in life. She’ll share lessons from her own dating journey: spotting red flags like financial instability and emotional un-availability, avoiding the pressure to “settle,” and why loneliness often leads smart people to relationship mistakes. Her stories resonate with men and women, including same-sex couples, offering a practical “buyer beware” guide to dating after 50. Ask her: Why do smart people ignore red flags after 50? Is it really possible to have more than one true love? Vaughn is the author of “Oh the Frogs I Kissed Before I Finally Found My Prince.” Contact her at (512) 585-1876; vvaughn@rtirguests.com

15. ==> Why You Keep Choosing the Wrong Partner—and How to Break the Cycle

Nearly half of American marriages end in divorce, and many people say their next relationship feels eerily similar to the last. Author and speaker Charisse Walker says it’s not a coincidence. Most people enter relationships without understanding the deeper beliefs, experiences, and patterns quietly shaping their decisions. On your show, Walker introduces the powerful idea behind her book “Flipping the Iceberg”: every relationship has an iceberg. The small portion above the surface includes what we easily see—attraction, personality, and shared interests. But the much larger portion below the surface includes our beliefs about love, expectations, communication habits, past experiences, and values. Walker explains how these hidden influences shape who we trust, commit to, and ultimately marry. She shows audiences how greater self-awareness can help people stop repeating painful relationship patterns and make more intentional decisions about love and commitment. Charisse Walker is an entrepreneur, author, and former host of the Emmy-nominated national television show The American Dream. She now speaks about the importance of self-awareness and understanding the deeper dynamics that shape healthy relationships. Contact Charisse Walker at (801) 251-6965; cwalker@rtirguests.com

01. 10 Ways Trump Has Made America Weaker
02. National Security Expert: America's Biggest Threats 
03. America’s Murder Rate Hits 70-Year Low
04. The Problem Parents Will Feel in the Classroom This Fall
05. Time for One More Summer Trip! 10 Hidden Travel Gems
06. Caregiver Fraud: How an Elderly Couple Lost $3 Million
07. 4 Million Americans Have Lost Food Aid. More to Come
08. How White America Learned to Lynch Black Children	
09. Forty Years of Life Lessons from an Alaska Garden
10. Life As A Closeted Clairvoyant
11. Let’s Unpack America’s Loneliness Epidemic: Why Life's Hardest Moments Push Us Into Isolation
12. Want People to Listen to You? Six-Steps to Become a More Persuasive Speaker
13. Signs Your Body is Asking for Change
14. Children's Books: The Most Underrated Health Tool 
15. Did You Chose This Life Before You Were Born?

1. ==> 10 Ways Trump Has Made America Weaker

Donald Trump has been one of the most consequential presidents in U.S. history, but Stephen Walt says, “Unfortunately, almost all the consequences of his actions have been harmful, not just for most people in the United States but also for America’s relative power and standing in the world. His cronies and family members may be reaping the benefits, but the cumulative impact of his actions will be not a return to greatness, but a weaker and more divided America.” Walt lists ten ways Trump has made America weaker including destroying confidence in U.S. promises reducing U.S. military capability, eroding the rule of law and threatening election integrity. He says Trump’s main accomplishment during his second term has been to enrich himself and his cronies. “His family will be a lot richer when his term ends, but the country will be weaker, sicker, and angrier. If it wasn’t obvious before, it certainly is now: ‘Make America Great Again’ was always just a scam.” Stephen M. Walt is a columnist at “Foreign Policy” and the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University. Contact him at stephen_walt@hks.harvard.edu or Leah Marshall at (617) 496-2737; leah_marshall@hks.harvard.edu

2. ==> National Security Expert: America's Biggest Threats 

In today’s volatile, fast-moving environment, how do intelligence professionals distinguish headline-grabbing security risks from vulnerabilities that deserve greater attention? Recently retired senior CIA executive Steve Hirsch can explain how the intelligence community assesses threats and makes decisions and reveal the threats America may be underestimating. From biological threats and food security to cyberattacks and critical infrastructure, he’ll discuss what could lead to the next national security crisis and why. During his CIA career, Hirsch served in senior leadership positions spanning counterterrorism, intelligence analysis, public affairs, workforce and organizational transformation, and the Agency’s business analytics modernization. Following 9/11, he served as a President’s Daily Briefer, briefing Cabinet-level officials as the intelligence community adapted to a dramatically different threat environment. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)

3. ==> America’s Murder Rate Hits 70-Year Low

Survey after survey finds that Americans believe that crime is getting worse but new crime statistics from the FBI show that 2025 murder rates fell to 4.1 per 100,000 people. That’s the same rate recorded in 1955 and 1956 and is the lowest ever measured. The country’s violent crime rate also fell 9.7 percent, the largest drop since J. Edgar Hoover was running the bureau in 1936. Longtime crime and violence prevention educator and expert Stephanie Mann says there is no single or easy explanation for the historic lows. Invite her to discuss what programs are working to decrease crime and share real life stories of communities and lives that have been transformed. Mann says real, lasting change often starts at the community level and will reveal specific strategies communities are using to take ownership of their environment and reduce dependence on reactive systems. Contact Stephanie Mann at (925) 438-0716; smann@rtirguests.com
  
4. ==> The Problem Parents Will Feel in the Classroom This Fall

The teacher shortage isn't simply about finding enough people to fill classrooms. Deanna Gilmore, Ph.D., says the bigger problem is keeping great teachers from walking away. On your show, she'll reveal what is driving talented educators away, what could actually convince them to stay, and why rebuilding schools requires valuing the entire ecosystem supporting children, including principals, bus drivers, coaches, cafeteria workers, and paraprofessionals. She'll also share concrete steps communities and lawmakers can take to strengthen schools. With 26 years in the classroom plus experience as a school principal and university professor training future educators, Gilmore has seen the challenges facing schools from multiple perspectives. Her book, “There's a Pig on the Playground: Memorable Stories from the Schoolyard,” celebrates the people who make school communities work. Contact Deanna Gilmore at (208) 285-7567; dgilmore@rtirguests.com

5. ==> Time for One More Summer Trip! 10 Hidden Travel Gems 

Thinking about squeezing in a last-minute summer trip? You’ll want to hear from Natalie and Evelyn Kelly, who say many of the country’s most memorable destinations aren’t the ones topping travel lists. After exploring all 50 states together over three decades, the mother-daughter travel experts say some of America’s greatest experiences are tucked away in small towns, scenic byways, and overlooked attractions that most travelers drive right past. From breathtaking natural wonders to charming Main Streets and unforgettable local eateries, they’ll share ten hidden gems perfect for families, couples, retirees, and adventure seekers looking to skip the crowds and discover something new. They’ll also reveal simple ways to plan a more meaningful vacation without spending a fortune. Their book, “Love Affair with the USA,” celebrates the people, places, and stories that make America worth exploring one road trip at a time. Contact Evelyn and Natalie Kelly at (352) 661-2493; ekelly@rtirguests.com 

6. ==> Caregiver Fraud: How an Elderly Couple Lost $3 Million

A gas station charge can trigger a fraud alert and temporarily freeze a credit card but according to a lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division, three of America’s largest financial institutions failed to detect or stop nearly $3 million in alleged fraud against an elderly New Jersey couple. The lawsuit alleges that JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and American Express allowed a caregiver to allegedly drain millions from Raphael and Jane Bern, despite transactions that the family says should have raised immediate red flags. Charles Gallo, who was entrusted to care for the couple, was later convicted of federal wire fraud and sentenced to prison. According to the lawsuit, in a single month alone, more than $161,000 in questionable charges occurred yet the banks allegedly failed to issue fraud alerts or intervene. Raphael Bernstein is 94 years old. His wife Jane is 89 and living with Alzheimer’s disease. Their sons, John and Daniel Bernstein, are seeking accountability and answers about whether banks are doing enough to protect vulnerable elderly customers from financial exploitation. For interviews, contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988 (call/text); markgoldman73@gmail.com  

7. ==> 4 Million Americans Have Lost Food Aid. More to Come

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the largest food assistance program in the country, is undergoing a massive overhaul, with major changes set to take effect this fall. Already, more than 4 million people – many them children – are estimated to have lost the critical food aid since last July when a sweeping Republican tax and spending package became law. Starsky Wilson, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, a child advocacy group, says he has been alarmed by the speed of the tax law’s impact and warns that more cuts will take effect later this year. “There could be an even greater sense of desperation among children and their families,” he says. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act included major changes to the food assistance program. SNAP has already been tightening eligibility, but the biggest shift will come in October when states will need to pay if they want to keep the program going. If they don’t, neither food banks nor existing government programs would have the capacity to fill the gap, according to Wilson. “There’s no replacement for SNAP if a state gets rid of it,” he says. Contact CDF media relations manager John Henry at (708) 646-7679; jhenry@childrensdefense.org

8. ==> How White America Learned to Lynch Black Children

As the country’s schools, libraries, museums, and government institutions face an escalating campaign to erase Black history—as political leaders are banning books, sanitizing slavery, and claiming to protect white children from the discomfort of America’s racial past—award-winning journalist, author and historian, Stacey Patton, reveals how white parenting culture trained generations of its own children for racial terror. She exposes the grotesque historical contradiction at the center of today’s censorship campaigns: The same nation now insisting that white children are too fragile to learn about racism once deliberately brought them to lynchings, exposed them to communal homicide, and taught them to regard the barbaric destruction of Black bodies as “law and order,” protection, entertainment, and family bonding. She says lynching did more than terrorize Black communities. It functioned as a multisensory public curriculum in racial domination that trained white children through sight, sound, touch, smell, and spectacle so they would become desensitized to racial terror, and so that terror would have heirs. Stacey Patton, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized child advocate. Her writing has appeared in the “New York Times,” “The Washington Post,” “The Chronicle of Higher Education,” and other national outlets. Her new book, “Strung Up: How White America Learned to Lynch Black Children,” will be released in October. Contact Lissa Warren at (617) 233-2853; LissaWarrenPR@gmail.com

9. ==> Forty Years of Life Lessons from an Alaska Garden

With over 71 million U.S. households tending gardens, it remains America's top outdoor hobby. Marion Owen has spent 40 years gardening in Kodiak, Alaska, and built her career on one idea: the garden is a place of healing, not just a hobby. On your show, she’ll reveal life lessons we can all learn from tending the earth, including gratitude, patience, and slowing down in an increasingly hectic world. Ask her: Why do you call the garden "a place of healing" instead of just a hobby? How did a single plant help a hospitalized veteran move for the first time in years? What's one gardening myth you wish would finally die? Marion Owens is the “New York Times” bestselling co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul” and is now writing “Cultivating Joy Through Gardening: 365 Daily Meditations.” 
Contact Marion Owen at (907) 891-7980; mowen@rtirguests.com

10. ==> Life As A Closeted Clairvoyant

Nearly half of Americans say they've had a spiritual experience they can't explain, yet most never talk about it. Former television executive Kim Bantle spent more than two decades working at Paramount, Viacom, and Group W Productions while keeping her own extraordinary experiences private. She says she could read minds, predict events, sense energy, and communicate with those who had passed – abilities that intensified after a near-death experience in college. On your show, Bantle explores why successful professionals often trust instincts they can't explain, why intuition remains one of society's least-discussed human experiences, and what the growing interest in spirituality says about a culture searching for meaning beyond traditional institutions. She also discusses dreams, signs, synchronicities, and why skeptics and believers may have more in common than they think. Having spent 23 years producing content for mainstream audiences, she knows how to discuss extraordinary topics in a way that is thoughtful, relatable, and engaging. Bantle shares her experiences with honesty, humor and self-awareness in her new memoir “Confessions of a Closeted Clairvoyant.” Contact Kim Bantle at ksbantle@gmail.com; (310) 418-5758

11. ==> Let’s Unpack America’s Loneliness Epidemic: Why Life's Hardest Moments Push Us Into Isolation

America is facing what the U.S. Surgeon General recently called an epidemic of loneliness. Nearly half of adults say they feel isolated at times, and that isolation often deepens during life’s hardest moments: serious illness, caregiving, grief, infertility, or financial uncertainty. Author and loneliness coach Karen Kay Smith asserts these “waiting room seasons” can quietly push people away from the very support they need most. On your show, Smith explains why people often shift into “functioning versus feeling” during crises, how emotional suppression fuels loneliness, and why many struggle to communicate what they truly need. She offers practical, yet life-changing tools listeners can use immediately, including how a simple “breath prayer” can replace pressure-filled spiritual routines, why naming emotions out loud can be more healing than staying strong, and how her “3 C’s” framework—confidence, communication, and community—helps people rebuild connection step by step. Drawing from 15 years caring for her husband during his battle with multiple sclerosis, along with years in women’s ministry and training as a transformational life coach, Smith brings a rare blend of lived experience and practical guidance to conversations about loneliness and connection. She is the author of “Nearsighted: Choosing to See Eating Disorders Differently” and the upcoming “Hope Has a Seat in Every Waiting Room.” Contact Karen Kay Smith at (256) 812-5106; ksmith@rtirguests.com

12. ==> Want People to Listen to You? Six-Steps to Become a More Persuasive Speaker

Most people believe that persuasive speaking is a natural talent. But retired Army Colonel Larry Tracy says it's a skill that anyone can master. Drawing on decades of high-stakes experience briefing military leaders, defending U.S. policy before hostile audiences, and training professionals competing for multimillion-dollar government contracts, Larry developed an easy-to-follow 6-step system to help speakers communicate with confidence, clarity, and credibility in any setting. Praised by President Ronald Reagan as "an extraordinarily effective speaker," Larry shows that persuasion isn't about charisma—it's about preparation. His battle-tested approach can help anyone influence audiences, overcome speaking anxiety, and deliver messages that truly change minds. Larry’s proven system is featured in his book “How to Bring Home the Bacon: Becoming a Persuasive Speaker.” Contact Larry Tracy at (571) 336-0507; Ltracy@rtirguests.com

13. ==> Signs Your Body is Asking for Change 

6 in 10 U.S. adults are living with chronic disease, yet many health resets often focus on surface fixes. Lasting improvement requires looking beyond symptoms and asking what the body may be responding to beneath the surface. On this timely show, Marcel Vögeli will share common signs your body is asking for change and explore how long-term stress, suppressed conflict, and emotional overload can influence physical health. Listeners may be surprised to learn why two people with the same diagnosis can heal at very different rates. After eight years of intensive autoimmune treatment that managed symptoms but didn’t restore his life, Marcel began examining deeper stress patterns in his own story. He has been hospital-free since 2012. Marcel Vögeli is spokesperson for The Key to Self-Liberation by the late Christiane Beerlandt. Contact Marcel Vögeli at Mvogeli@rtirguests.com

14. ==> Children's Books: The Most Underrated Health Tool 

Most parents see children's books as entertainment. Kenneth Korber, a health literacy expert, believes they can also be powerful tools for improving children's health. After two decades as a clinician, he wrote and published “The Musical Adventures of Grace” series to extend the patient office visit into bedtime reading, helping families reinforce important health and wellness lessons at home. His engaging stories and characters transform complex medical topics into age-appropriate adventures that children actually enjoy. Ken’s approach encourages healthy habits, eases childhood anxiety and fears, and strengthens literacy at the same time. “Storytelling may be one of the most effective—and overlooked—ways to improve public health, empower families, and help children build lifelong healthy behaviors, one bedtime story at a time,” he says. Contact: Kenneth Korber at (847) 238-8936; kkorber@rtirguests.com

15. ==> Did You Chose This Life Before You Were Born?
  
What if the life you’re living—including its struggles, its losses, and its ordinary moments—was chosen by you before you arrived? Doreen Mary Bray, who has worked between worlds for over 40 years as a naturopath and mystical guide, teaches that souls don’t stumble into human life. They long for it, wait for it, and select it with intention — choosing parents, place, and form for the privilege of embodiment. Bray will reveal what it means to live as a soul that chose this life, and why that single shift in understanding transforms everything. She’ll explore how souls navigate the journey toward incarnation and why being human is not a burden to transcend, but a gift of extraordinary rarity. For anyone who has ever felt that life is happening to them, Bray offers a radical reframe: you didn’t land here by accident. Doreen Mary Bray is the author of “The Angel and the Avatar.” Contact her at (438) 802-0280; Dbray@rtirguests.com

01. Twenty-Five Years After 9/11: Can It Teach Us How to Bridge America's Divides?
02. Has Trump’s Operation Southern Spear Opened a Hidden Front?
03. Why America Is Running Out of Munitions
04. ‘Dirty Girls Come Clean’ Author: What Drives Women to Porn?
05. Actor Clark Moore From Hulu's ‘Furious’
06. He Lost $200,000. Fear Tactics Scammers Use
07. The Real Reason Successful Professionals Feel Stuck
08. New Tool Helps Avoid Career-Damaging Social Media Posts	
09. How Replacing Workers With AI Could Backfire
10. Caregiving is a Workplace Issue
11. Heart-Healthy Labor Day Cookout Tips
12. Why So Many Women Are Discovering Fertility Issues Too Late
13. What Your Golf Game Reveals About Your Mindset
14. What Working With Hollywood Stars Taught Him About Fame & Fortune
15. From Heartache to Healing to Humor in 5 Steps

1. ==> Twenty-Five Years After 9/11: Can It Teach Us How to Bridge America's Divides? 

As America prepares to commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11, many conversations will look back at the events of that day. Scott Gibbs offers a conversation about what the past quarter century has taught us about conflict, belonging, and how Americans can build stronger connections across political, cultural, and religious differences for a better future. Learn why our need to belong shapes everything from personal relationships to international conflict, and how "us versus them" thinking develops and how individuals and communities can move beyond it. Gibbs believes a deeper understanding of 9/11 can help us move from polarization toward dialogue, trust, and shared purpose. Scott Gibbs is a psychotherapist and the author of “Toward the Turning: Rethinking the Meaning of 9/11, the Clash of Civilizations, and a Post-Modern World.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137 (office); (703) 400-1099 (cell) or Erin Bolden at (703) 980-2705 (office)

2. ==> Has Trump’s Operation Southern Spear Opened a Hidden Front?

New reporting indicates that Trump’s boat strike program could be more secretive, larger, and more resistant to oversight than previously known. Will Freeman, whose research focuses on organized crime in Latin America, traveled to coastal Ecuador to interview the survivors and the families of those who crewed a missing Ecuadorian fishing vessel, the Fiorella. Freeman published one of the first investigations into the boat’s disappearance back in June in the “New Yorker.” Last week, building on the investigation, the “Washington Post” and “New York Times” published reports indicating a covert U.S. operation may be responsible. All three stories concern the same events: the January disappearance of the Fiorella and eight of its ten crew, and March attacks on two more boats. Freeman says, “Read together, the three accounts point to something larger: Operation Southern Spear—the Trump administration’s campaign of strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels, ongoing since September 2025—could be bigger, more secretive, and run by more actors than previously understood, making congressional oversight both more important and harder.” Will Freeman is a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Contact him at wfreeman@cfr.org

3. ==> Why America Is Running Out of Munitions

The United States is burning through some of its most advanced munitions in its war with Iran. Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) says the U.S. arsenal is “depleted,” with some munitions “quite depleted,” and that rebuilding inventories will take 1–5 years. He says use during the war against Iran is a major driver of the issue, but not the only one and that transfers to Ukraine are a minor factor—with one important exception; Patriot missiles. Cancian can explain why current munitions are low and how that effects the wars in Iran and Ukraine. “The immediate problem is not money, but time. With time, production will equal demand, but that is several years in the future. Until then, there is a window of vulnerability. The question facing the United States is whether the risk in a future conflict arising from reduced inventories is worth the gain in the current conflict.” He adds, “That is a political question about which the country is deeply divided.” The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to advancing practical ideas to address the world’s greatest challenges. For interviews with Mark F. Cancian (Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, ret.), contact the CSIS media relations department at press@csis.org or (202) 775-7317

4. ==> ‘Dirty Girls Come Clean’ Author: What Drives Women to Porn?

When we talk about pornography, it’s usually as a male problem. But Crystal Renaud Day has spent close to twenty years sitting with the women nobody was counting. Back in 2011 she wrote “Dirty Girls Come Clean,” the first Christian book for women struggling with pornography. At the time, many people didn't believe that audience even existed. Her new book, “What Drives Women to Porn?” comes out of an original survey she ran of more than 1,300 women in 58 countries, and it digs into what's driving the behavior in the first place. She says the question women keep asking, "what's the matter with me?" is the wrong one. The better one is "what happened to me?" She’ll reveal the most common trigger for women, why "pray harder" and "try harder" keep failing women, and what the willpower model gets wrong about the brain. Crystal Renaud Day is a pastoral counselor and the founder of SheRecovery. Contact Zoe Moody at zoe@jonesliterary.com

5. ==> Actor Clark Moore From Hulu's ‘Furious’

Critics are calling Hulu's crime thriller, Furious, savage, smart and addictive. Written by Elizabeth Meriwether and inspired by the 1987 film ‘Black Widow,’ the series stars Emmy Rossum as an FBI agent obsessed with a female serial killer who is targeting the city’s elite. Actor Clark Moore plays Caleb Easton, a judge and the son of a billionaire. He’s also the killer's first victim. Invite Moore to talk about the show and his pivotal role and share behind-the-scenes stories from the twisty, funny thriller. Moore's career highlights include a recurring role as D.A. Stanny Sanders in the ABC limited series Women of the Movement, executive produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z, and a leading performance in the Amazon Prime series Lore. Contact Sean Dubravac at (323) 746-5003; 419815@email4pr.com

6. ==> He Lost $200,000. Fear Tactics Scammers Use 

Every 60 seconds, more than 107 Americans fall victim to scams, yet most people still believe they're too smart to become another one. Dentist and scam prevention expert Ed "Doc" Holliday knows otherwise. After losing more than $200,000 in a sophisticated AI-assisted scam, he discovered how criminals use fear, urgency, and psychological manipulation to override rational thinking. Drawing from firsthand experience, extensive scam research, and years educating others, Dr. Holliday offers practical insights audiences can use immediately. On your show, he’ll reveal the warning signs nearly everyone misses, why educated professionals are increasingly being targeted, and practical strategies families can use to protect themselves before it's too late. He’ll also explain how AI is making scams more convincing than ever, from fake company emails to cloned voices of loved ones. His book, “My 200K Nightmare: 10 Ways to Avoid Financial Scams I Wish I'd Known,” shares his remarkable story and prevention strategies. Contact Ed "Doc" Holliday at eholliday@rtirguests.com; (662) 472-4980

7. ==> The Real Reason Successful Professionals Feel Stuck

Chad Betz was sitting alone in a parking garage after work, convinced he was a failure. Despite working hard, building a career, and doing everything society dictated he should do, he did not feel successful. This led him on a journey to reinvent himself and help others who find themselves stuck, even after years of success. Chad says you don’t have to start over to create a successful next chapter and will help your listeners redefine success. He’ll also help them tackle the hidden forces behind their stagnation, like outdated definitions of success and beliefs that age limits future opportunity. Ask him: What is sunk-cost thinking and how can it sabotage careers? What is the Frustration Energy Cycle? What's one sign someone's chasing an expired version of success? Chad Betz is a leadership coach and black belt in three martial arts. He is the author of “An Authentic Success: You Aren't Too Old and It's Not Too Late!” Contact him at (203) 439-3564; cbetz@rtirguests.com

8. ==> New Tool Helps Avoid Career-Damaging Social Media Posts

Most people should know by now that posting things online can come back to haunt you. It can also get you fired. Or keep you from being hired! According to research by CareerBuilder, 34% of employers have reprimanded or terminated an employee because of online activity, while 57% have discovered social media content that caused them not to hire a candidate. For those who are worried about their ability to self-check, or who are unclear about boundaries, a new tool called PostCheck could help you avoid becoming the next cautionary tale. Unlike traditional AI writing or sentiment tools, PostCheck analyzes draft social media posts, emails, direct messages, and other digital communications for potential career, legal, financial, and reputational risk before they're published. The platform was developed using real-world crisis communications and public relations expertise, giving users a practical "five-second reality check" before they hit send. Ask creator Ryan McCormick: What are the worst cases of posts destroying entire careers? How fast does it happen? Should people share their political/social views online, especially if they're friends with co-workers? What makes PostCheck unique? Couldn't people use regular AI and get the same response? Ryan McCormick is cofounder of Goldman McCormick Public Relations. Contact him at ryan@goldmanmccormick.com

9. ==> How Replacing Workers With AI Could Backfire

The phrase “AI layoff” went from a niche concern in 2023 to the single most-cited reason for U.S. job cuts in both March and April of 2026. Over those two months alone, employers tied 36,831 layoffs directly to artificial intelligence. But are businesses sacrificing the very qualities that drive long-term success? Startup strategist and attorney Douglas Park says the companies that thrive in the AI era won't simply have the best technology—they'll know how to combine AI with human creativity, judgment, and smart strategy. Drawing on more than 25 years advising companies, Park reveals the costly AI mistakes many leaders are making, why products are becoming easier to copy, and why people and competitive positioning matter more than ever. Douglas is a Silicon Valley attorney, former business professor, startup advisor and the author of “Starting Startups.” His research-based 3P Framework helps organizations align their people, products, and position to compete in a rapidly changing economy. Contact Douglas Park at (650) 629-1424; dpark@rtirguests.com

10. ==> Caregiving is a Workplace Issue

Millions of Millennial and Gen X workers are caught between aging parents who need care and children who still depend on them. They are also the employees that companies have spent years developing into leaders, and the ones most likely to walk if that squeeze goes unaddressed. Workplace expert Andy Challenger says, "This is a workforce issue, not a personal issue. Sandwiched caregivers cut hours, decline promotions, and sometimes leave their organizations entirely. That's talent walking out the door, and it's often the experienced, mid-career talent you spent years developing." He says, "Flexibility is the single most important thing employers can offer to caregivers. A doctor's appointment for an aging parent doesn't respect a 9-to-5 calendar. Neither does a sick kindergartener. Remote and hybrid schedules, flexible start and stop times, and compressed workweeks let caregivers manage the unpredictable without stepping off their career track." He says other ways employers can support caregiving workers include normalizing eldercare (not just childcare), offering caregiving leave and making it usable, and training managers to ask and listen. Andy Challenger is chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement and executive coaching firm. Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld at (312) 422-5074 (office); (314) 807-1568 (cell) or colleenmadden@challengergray.com

11. ==> Heart-Healthy Labor Day Cookout Tips

Cookouts are big part of Labor Day celebrations, but the typical menu of hot dogs and burgers isn’t exactly health food. Dorothy Greet can share ways to enjoy a BBQ without the meat. After suffering a heart attack at age 70, Dorothy and her husband. both lifelong meat-and-dairy lovers, made a dramatic change by adopting a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. Within weeks, they experienced improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, energy, and overall well-being. Today, Greet says summer is one of the easiest seasons to enjoy fresh, flavorful plant-based meals without feeling deprived. She'll share simple ways to create heart-healthier cookouts, practical ideas for replacing meat and dairy, and explain why many Americans consume far more protein than they actually need. She'll show listeners that healthy eating doesn't have to be complicated, and that it's never too late to make changes that can improve both health and quality of life. Credentialed in plant-based nutrition through Cornell, Dorothy Greet has spent more than a decade teaching, blogging, and encouraging others to discover the life-changing benefits of whole-food, plant-based eating. She’s the author of “Go Veg with Class.” Contact Dorothy Greet at (302) 314-6010; dgreet@rtirguests.com

12. ==> Why So Many Women Are Discovering Fertility Issues Too Late

More women are waiting longer to start families, but many are shocked to learn their fertility may have declined years earlier. OB/GYN Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri says the problem isn’t just age, it’s a lack of awareness about the early signals the body provides. She’ll explain why many women don’t discover issues until they’re struggling to conceive, how modern lifestyles may quietly accelerate fertility decline, and why relying on IVF as a backup plan can be misleading. Drawing on more than 30 years in women’s health she shares what women and couples should be tracking now—long before they’re ready for pregnancy. She’ll reveal fertility warning signs women are missing in their 20s and 30s and explain why so many women overestimate what IVF can actually do. Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri is the author of “Optimize Your Fertility Naturally.” Contact her at (613) 800-9412; msuri@rtirguests.com

13. ==> What Your Golf Game Reveals About Your Mindset 

Most golfers blame their swing when they play poorly. Former LPGA Tour player and LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame Member Cindy Miller says the real problem is usually the six inches between their ears. In this timely summer segment, she reveals how fear, frustration, self-doubt, and unrealistic expectations sabotage performance long before golfers reach the green. Cindy shares practical strategies to quiet negative self-talk, recover after mistakes, and play with greater confidence and consistency. She also explains why the same mental habits that improve your golf game can strengthen leadership, relationships, and resilience long after you leave the course. Her book, “Take Another Shot,” reinforces these lessons through real stories of perseverance, second chances, and personal growth. Cindy Miller is a former LPGA Tour player, LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame Member, and nationally recognized golf instructor who has spent decades helping golfers improve both their game and their mindset. Contact Cindy Miller at (716) 670-5341; cimiller@rtirguests.com

14. ==> What Working With Hollywood Stars Taught Him About Fame & Fortune

Everyone thinks they want fame and fortune — until they see what it ac¬tually looks like. Keith Ingersoll spent nearly a decade behind the scenes at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, working alongside the biggest names in film, television, and professional sports. What he witnessed up close was nothing like the glossy image sold to the public. Ingersoll will share candid, surprising, and sometimes sobering stories including his account of Elvis Presley’s personal Bible and what it reveals about the man behind the legend. He’ll offer listeners a rare insider’s perspective on what separates genuine fulfillment from the hollow pursuit of celebrity. Ask him: What’s the biggest misconception people have about fame and wealth? What was your most surprising encounter with a major celebrity at Caesars Palace? Keith Ingersoll is the author of “Fame and Fortune.” Contact him at (208) 812-5346; kingersoll@rtirguests.com

15. ==> From Heartache to Healing to Humor in 5 Steps

Nikki Goldman, Ph.D., spent decades labeled as a lazy learner before discovering her undiagnosed dyslexia and turning that heartache into two rewarding careers. As an award-winning author, Goldman tells her story in “Lunacy is in My Family's DNA,” where she explores how humor evolved from her hurts and helped her find a more peaceful heart. In her hypnotherapy practice, she teaches a five-step HEART program for overcoming sorrow and living a happier life that involves honoring reality, embracing empathy, altering your perspective, recognizing gifts and tickling your funny bone. Ask her: During the holidays and other gatherings, what causes people to trigger old family hurts — and how can we stop reenacting the outdated drama? Can something be both painful and hilarious without diminishing how much it hurt? Is acceptance giving up, or finally putting down the rope in the tug-of-war? Contact Nikki Goldman at (858) 544-6899; ngoldman@rtirguests.com