Why You Don’t Need a New You in 2026 — The Real You Is Enough

Every January, millions chase a “new you”, yet research shows perfectionism and self-criticism are rising, 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 off the wig on stage and discovered a surprising truth: real growth begins when we stop trying to fix ourselves. 

In this segment, she shares what shedding perfection taught her about self-worth, 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. 

SAMPLE QUESTIONS: 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

Why Evangelicals Are Losing Credibility with the Next Generation

From Gen Z’s exodus from church pews to viral TikToks calling out hypocrisy, one thing is clear: younger Americans are increasingly skeptical of evangelical Christianity. Former preacher Rick Patterson believes it’s not a loss of faith. It’s a loss of trust.

In his thought-provoking new book The Matthew Challenge, Rick says that many churches have aligned themselves with power and culture wars instead of compassion and character. As a former ardent atheist who now holds master’s and doctoral degrees in Christian MInistry, Rick has a rare insider-outsider perspective on how the pursuit of being “great again” has distorted the message of Jesus as well as why the next generation isn’t buying it.

Rick blends theology, psychology, and real-world stories to help audiences understand why this credibility gap exists and what must change to close it.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

  • What do younger generations find most hypocritical about today’s evangelical church?
  • Can politics and faith ever mix without compromising the core of either?

CONTACT: Rick Patterson at (517) 300-2706; rpatterson@rtirguests.com 

Meet the Dear Abby for Dogs Who Shares How to Turn Problem Pooches Into Perfect Pups

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 are cannot be trained. She got 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, as well as a book about dog training.


SAMPLE QUESTIONS: How did you train Dylan to behave? Can even the worst dogs be successfully trained?


CONTACT: Kathleen Troy at (714) 975-9807; ktroy@rtirguests.com

Why 1.1 Million Layoffs Could Be the Best Wake-Up Call for Your Career Strategy

Greg Mohr has helped over 250 people escape corporate instability by placing them into 500+ franchise locations—and he says recent mass layoffs are forcing workers to ask the right question: “Why am I building someone else’s wealth?”

As the only franchise consultant with a Wall Street Journal bestselling book about franchising (Real Freedom), Mohr reveals why waiting for the next layoff is the riskiest career strategy of all. He’ll explain how franchise ownership provides what corporate jobs can’t—true control and wealth-building. He’ll share his process for finding the right franchise fit, debunk the myth that everyone should franchise (some shouldn’t), and reveal why former executives often struggle with franchise ownership. Greg will offer listeners a free PDF copy of his book.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS: You say 1.1 million layoffs should be a wake-up call—what are people still not getting? Why do you tell some people NOT to buy a franchise? What makes former corporate executives struggle with franchise ownership?

CONTACT: Greg Mohr at (361) 204-5470; gmohr@rtirguests.com 

This 90-Year-Old Has a Ten-Year Plan. Here’s Why You Should Too.

At 90, Jim Flaherty is ramping up, not winding down. This former MadMan ad exec turns 90 in September with a mission: reach 7.5 million depressed seniors living alone in America. His secret? A mindset that refuses to accept aging as decline.Drawing from “Loving Longevity: Make Your Next Years Your Best Years,” Flaherty shares lessons from launching a country inn at 45 with zero experience, moving his kids to Buenos Aires, and caregiving his partner through dementia. Listeners will learn how to embrace aging with purpose and creativity. Ask him:

• You once said, “I’m 89 going on 49″—what does that mindset look like daily?
• What made you “crap-shoot” with your life by starting a business you knew nothing about?
• What did caregiving through dementia teach you that your previous 85 years didn’t?

CONTACT: James B. Flaherty, (914) 326-2697; jflaherty@rtirguests.com

400,000 Kids Join Gangs Every Year: How Community-Based Solutions Work and Save Taxpayers $$$

Stephanie Mann was abandoned in Mexico City at age 15 and survived through community connection—now this crime prevention consultant with 40 years of experience knows exactly why gangs flourish. The answer: social isolation and fear, and the result costs taxpayers $100 billion annually.

Drawing from her books “Empowerment Parenting” and “Magical You,” Mann reveals why traditional policing fails and how her low-cost Neighborhood Safety Expert program succeeds. She’ll explain how trained community members who look like and speak the language of residents build trust where police cannot, why drug dealers often control neighborhoods through gifts and favors, and how connected neighbors eliminate the isolation that drives kids to gangs. Visit safekidsnow.com to learn more.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
• You say gangs cost us $100 billion a year—how do community solutions actually save money?
• Why do neighbors protect drug dealers, and how do you break that cycle?
• What’s a Neighborhood Safety Expert, and why can’t police do this work alone?

CONTACT: Stephanie Mann at (925) 438-0716; smann@rtirguests.com

How to Lead Peacefully in a World Full of Conflict

Your audience wants to lead better, whether that’s managing a team, raising a family, or navigating tense conversations in daily life. But most haven’t been taught a critical leadership skill that’s holding them back: how to navigate conflict in a way where everyone wins.

Samuel Bentil, global negotiation expert and author of Avoid Construction Disputes, shares practical, eye-opening strategies that go beyond “managing drama” and show people how to lead with calm, clarity, and emotional intelligence.

With 85% of workplace conflict tied to poor communication, and personal relationships suffering from the same patterns, Samuel’s insights help listeners show up differently at home, at work, and in their communities.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS: 

  • What’s the first thing to change if tension keeps showing up in your life?
  • Why does traditional leadership advice actually create more conflict?

CONTACT: Samuel at (778) 656-0067; sbentil@rtirguests.com 

Why Low Birthrates Might Be the Biggest Story of 2026

Births are falling, and fast. In 2026, France reported more deaths than births for the first time since WWII. China’s birthrate just hit a historic low despite massive financial incentives to have more children. OB/GYN Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri says this isn’t just a demographic dip. It’s a crisis with massive implications for the global workforce, elder care systems, and generational stabilit

She joins your show to explain what’s really behind the fertility decline, and why most people are focusing on the wrong things. Drawing on 30+ years in practice and insights from her new book Optimize Your Fertility Naturally, she’ll also explain why lifestyle, not just age or IVF, plays a critical role in conception.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

  • Can your daily habits really impact fertility more than your age?
  • Why are low birthrates more dangerous than most people think?

CONTACT: Dr. Marina Straszak-Suri at (613) 800-9412; msuri@rtirguests.com

What One Priest Has Learned from Folks Who Have Died

When people die suddenly, families are left with questions no one knows how to answer. For more than 25 years, Dominican priest Father Nathan Castle, O.P., has listened to stories from people who have died and come to him in dreams after accidents, violence, and suicide. On your show, he shares what these encounters reveal about shock after death, unfinished emotions, and why not everyone who dies suddenly gets “stuck.”

With interest in near-death experiences and grief healing rising, Father Nathan offers counterintuitive insights that challenge fear-based views of the afterlife and highlight connection, compassion, and continuity. Producers get a compelling conversation that blends spirituality, psychology, and real-life stories without preaching.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

  • Do people who die suddenly know they’ve died?
  • Can helping someone who’s died actually help the living heal?

He is the author of Afterlife, Interrupted (Books 1-3) and host of The Joyful Friar podcast. 

CONTACT: Father Nathan Castle at (480) 680-9985; ncastle@rtirguests.com 

The Hidden Letter That Can Unite Jews, Christians, and Muslims


What if the answer to centuries of religious division and warfare was hiding in plain sight—in a short letter at the back of the New Testament? Scientist, John Hageman, spent over 30 years analyzing scriptures with scientific rigor. What he found could change everything: all three faiths share one scripture that can unite us all.

Drawing from his soon to be published book,  “Uniting Humanity Through Our Scriptures’ Hidden Secrets – Putting Our Religious Differences on Trial,” Hageman reveals how the epistle of James contains core truths all three religions can agree upon. He also shows why false prophets’ words were allowed in our scriptures; they are a test from our Lord, like the liars Job faced. Listeners will discover why scriptural errors don’t disprove God’s perfection—they prove we’re being tested to defeat our common enemy.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
• As a Scientist, how did analyzing our scriptures like a technical document lead to these conclusions?
• You claim God intentionally allowed lies in our holy scriptures. How can He still be perfect?
• What’s in James that Jews and Muslims would recognize as true?


CONTACT: John Hageman (210) 806-7961; jhageman@rtirguests.com