The Crisis Files

Just when you thought we wouldn't see a re-match of the 2020 Election, it just may happen. This week, The Crisis Files went a little off-format to focus on a very real and very current event - the 2024 presidential election. On the trail, a former president facing four indictments (at the time of recording) leads the GOP competition in the polls by a huge margin. Hopeful contenders with a smorgasbord of past political titles and Vivek Ramaswamy - a political newbie - are struggling to break through Donald Trump's hold on the Republican party. Host Roshini Rajkumar and lobbyist Amy Koch ponder the state of leadership while dissecting the first GOP Debate, what President Joe Biden and the Democrats face, and how “We the People” should take control as we make sense of all of it in the coming months.

Pickleball is sweeping the nation! Created decades ago and named for a West Coast family's pet dog, pickleball has been renewed and become the fastest-growing sport in America. Described as a hybrid of ping-pong and tennis, pickleball has a low barrier to entry and is accessible to people of all ages and ability levels. Plus, it’s not just fun and games. There's hope its required hand-eye and neuromuscular coordination could slow Alzheimer’s and dementia. Bahram Akradi, CEO of Lifetime, joins host Roshini Rakjumar to discuss his love of pickleball, its rising popularity, and how Lifetime is adding hundreds of courts across its nearly 175 athletic country clubs around the United States.

Cybercrime is an increasingly sophisticated and lucrative criminal activity that costs us $16.4 billion every day. If cybercrime were a country, it would rank third behind the United States and China. From major corporations and online retailers to nonprofits and school districts, no one is immune from phishing scams, ransomware, hackers and the dark web. Host Roshini Rajkumar welcomes Marsh McLennan Agency Senior Risk Consultant Shalin Johnson, who shares his real-world cybersecurity expertise and strategies for preventing cybercrime. Find out why employees are often the weakest link and what you need to know about social engineering.

Is this dark horse a solution to America’s mental health crisis? Sally Mixon, founder of Abijah’s on the Backside, joins host Roshini Rakjumar to discuss how her trailblazing organization is transforming lives by taking retired horses, deemed to have no value, and turning them into mental health miracle workers for humans. By pairing off-track thoroughbreds with counseling professionals, this experiential equestrian program provides life-changing outcomes for first responders, veterans, children, and other clients trying to find hope from the depths of despair. Find out how this first-of-its-kind program, located at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, provides an innovative approach to community wellness.

This year, there are more than 30 bills aimed at restricting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at U.S. public colleges and universities. As America becomes more diverse, critics argue DEI initiatives are unnecessary and even discriminatory. But racial wealth gaps, inequities in homeownership and economic barriers continue to separate the haves from the have-nots. The Crisis Files' go-to inclusion and equity expert Dr. Abdul Omari joins host Roshini Rajkumar to explore all angles of this hot topic. Plus, learn why Dr. Omari says, "The conversation around DEI is not a zero-sum game."

Hollywood is on strike! The actors of the industry's largest union, SAG-AFTRA, struck on July 14. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike since early May. Both unions are demanding improved working conditions and fair compensation in an industry challenged by artificial intelligence, streaming, reality TV and inflation. Film critic and The Crisis Files entertainment contributor Paul McGuire Grimes joins host Roshini Rajkumar to break down why this is turning into class warfare between studio heads and working actors, writers, and others in the entertainment industry. All while the big studios are dropping market share daily with Netflix having a higher value than Disney since the writers strike began. Find out how these strikes will impact your favorite shows and movies. Roshini and Paul discuss how modern conditions provide new threats at the negotiating table. Plus, learn why big-name actors are working the picket lines.

New headlines every day as the storied PGA Tour tries to get into bed with LIV Golf--a Saudi-backed former rival. Let's back it up to early June 2023, when PGA and LIV said they'd join forces after months of dueling lawsuits and maneuvering to dominate professional golf. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund backs LIV Golf. A successful merger would hand the Saudi government a wholly American institution, raising serious ethical, legal, and human rights concerns. Ongoing antitrust investigations, hearings on Capitol Hill, and player sentiments - both positive and negative - have fans wondering if this partnership will be a hole in one or a double mulligan. Business, entertainment, and sports attorney Steve Silton brings his love of golf to this deep dive with host Roshini Rajkumar about where these balls might roll.

Disclaimer: Roshini and Steve recorded this Case File before news broke of LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman's explosive e-mail. In this ever-evolving story, we knew you'd want to hear their juicy analysis of antitrust issues, human rights criticism, and messaging mishaps.

Our cell phones are the Swiss army knife of the modern era. It’s hard to imagine life without them. But at some point, we all fall down the digital rabbit hole – doomscrolling, constantly checking social media, responding to texts, and losing hours. What happens when our digital habits become an escape from reality or an addiction with serious mental health and wellness effects? Host Roshini Rajkumar welcomes The Crisis Files’ wellness contributor and editor in chief of Experience Life magazine Jamie Martin to explore how to take control of our digital devices instead of allowing them to control our lives. Plus, learn why a 30-day break can be the first step to a digital detox.

After recent headlines from Anheuser-Busch, Target, Starbucks, and other big brands surrounding their LGBTQ+ support, many organizations are wondering - "Do we weigh in on social issues or just focus on making money?" Host Roshini Rajkumar and her entire Crisis Squad reunited to answer that question in a special Case File #50: Gender Fluid. Find out why Dr Sheryl Ziegler cautions against "group think." Dig into why Jennifer Hellman suggests you think two to three steps ahead. Consider why Steve Silton wonders whether this is a civil rights issue or a social movement. And hear what billion-dollar question Dr. Abdul Omari wishes he could answer.

We make 227 decisions every day on food alone. No wonder we often feel mentally overloaded! Making decisions can feel empowering. But the thousands of choices we consider and decisions we make can drain our willpower and leave us impulsive and in jeopardy of making bad decisions with long-term consequences. Decision fatigue is actually a real phenomenon acknowledged by the American Medical Association. Productivity coach and Life Done Simply founder, Aimee Olson, joins host Roshini Rajkumar to offer practical strategies to avoid dangerous consequences. Learn how planning ahead can lower your mental load and what time of the day is best to make big decisions.