Monday Morning Radio

“We’re in the news business,” Dick Grove insists, “Not the PR business."

His reasoning is straightforward: Individuals and companies must think like journalists, not self-promoters, to earn media coverage.

Dick is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Inkinc Public Relations and author of the quasi tell-all, It’s the Media Stupid! pr without the bs.

For more than five decades, Dick has been at the forefront of the public relations industry.

His media relations philosophy aligns closely with that of Monday Morning Radio founding host Dean Rotbart, whose courses at Wizard Academy — Newsroom Confidential, Buzz Snatching, and Reputation Tool Chest — all taught the necessity of understanding how journalists and news organizations think and operate.

Before hiring a PR agency or pitching journalists and social media influencers yourself, hear firsthand from Dick and Dean what it truly takes to win the media’s favor.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Dick Grove, Inkinc PRPosted: February 24, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 47:15 Episode: 13.37

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• Host Dean Rotbart Shares Three Lessons on Ways to Work with Journalists and Other Influencers
• When You Want to Get the Media’s Attention, Be a Source, Not a Salesperson
• The Inside Scoop on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and What Other Charities and Businesses Can Learn From It

Many owners and entrepreneurs complain that overseeing their companies is like running a zoo.

That’s good news, says Terry Rich, who led the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines from a $600,000 deficit to profitability. His keys to success centered on rethinking the visitor experience and introducing innovative events that attracted fresh customers.

Building on his strong entrepreneurial background, Terry subsequently served as CEO of the Iowa Lottery, president of the North American Lottery Association, and a Powerball board member.

Terry is the author of two blockbuster books: The $80 Billion Gamble and Dare to Dream, Dare to Act. He is also an in-demand international keynote speaker.

This week, Terry regales co-hosts Dean and Maxwell Rotbart with actionable business insights and colorful anecdotes, including recognizing the undiscovered value in elephant poop and how he cracked the largest lottery fraud in US history.

[See Terry’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson]

Photo: Terry Rich, Rick Keynote Posted: January 6, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 51:53 Episode: 13.30

POPULAR EPISODES:

• It’s Not Too Late To Push Limits and Tackle New Challenges
• Dean Guida Bootstrapped His Way to Building a Multinational Enterprise Software Company
• Discover the Power of Effective Communication to Support Career Advancement and Life Satisfaction

This week, Hosts Dean and Maxwell Rotbart offer their annual holiday treat for Monday Morning Radio listeners: a reading of the inspirational adult Yuletide tale, A Christmas Day Miracle.

The uplifting book tells the true story of one man on death’s doorstep and his miraculous survival and recovery. It’s a poignant reminder for people of all faiths of the wonder and power of life’s unexpected blessings.

This is an exclusive once-a-year presentation you don’t want to miss.

A Christmas Day Miracle is available in a keepsake softcover edition on Amazon for only $9.75.

Posted: December 23, 2024Monday Morning Run Time: 1 Hour, 30 MinutesEpisode: 13.28

Other books from TJFR Press:

• But I Said I’m Sorry — A book for children 5-11 years old. Highly recommended by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• The Boy Who Answered the Call of Kilimanjaro: The Adventures of Riyaz — Based on the true story of a Tanzanian boy who sets out on an adventure, walking with two schoolmates more than 600 miles from Dar es Salaam to Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Also available from Amazon in Spanish and French)
• All You Can Eat Business Wisdom: A Monday Morning Radio of Actionable Advice — Described by Kirkus Reviews as a well-mounted business self-help book that's actually helpful - and a good read, too.
• Perfectly Ordinary, Yet Extraordinary: Making a Meaningful Difference in the Lives of Others — An inspirational text designed to facilitate the undertaking of homegrown charitable projects.
• September Twelfth: An American Comeback Story — A thrilling and inspiring tale of journalistic dedication — Kirkus Reviews

Robert L. Dilenschneider, founder and principal of The Dilenschneider Group, is well known as a venerated strategic communications advisor and counselor to many of the world’s most influential business and political leaders.

Bob’s extensive knowledge as a historian is less commonly known, especially one who can look to the past to identify role models whose lives are worth emulating today and in the future.

Following on the heels of his two most recent history-focused books — Decisions: Practical Advice from 23 Men and Women Who Shaped the World and Nailing It: How History’s Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together — Bob’s latest volume, available to pre-order now, is Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership.

Courage profiles a diverse group of 31 historical figures who drove society to be the best it could be. Among the disparate luminaries are Lou Gehrig, Winston Churchill, Julia Child, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Stephen Hawking, Margaret Chase Smith, Bill Russell, Jimmy Stewart, and S.P. Hinduja.

Bob views character as a vital ingredient for success in public and private life. “From a respected older generation of mentors comes invaluable advice and hopeful direction for the young leaders, innovators, and influencers of tomorrow,” Bob writes in describing his book, which officially goes on sale March 25th.

As co-host Maxwell Rotbart notes in introducing this week’s podcast, Bob left one person out of Character. Himself. He, too, epitomizes courage, integrity, and leadership.

[NOTE: The actionable insights of Robert L. Dilenschneider are featured in Maxwell Rotbart’s award-winning anthology, All You Can Eat Business Wisdom. A free unabridged copy of Bob’s chapter can be read here.]

The Dilenschneider “Library” of 23 Books Includes:

• Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership
• Decisions: Practical Advice from 23 Men and Women Who Shaped the World
• Nailing It: How History’s Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together
• The Ultimate Guide to Power & Influence: Everything You Need to Know
• The Public Relations Handbook
• 50 Plus!: Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Robert L. Dilenschneider, The Dilenschneider Group Posted: March 10, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 43:30 Episode: 13.39

Pick up a copy of All You Can Eat Business Wisdom for yourself

Fun, well organized, and brimming with useful information, this is a book that some will want to read cover-to-cover and others will treat as a reference book to look up subjects as needed; either way, it’s a delight.

— Kirkus Reviews

Michael Drew is an expert at transforming big ideas into influence and income.

An evangelist for powerful communication, Michael helps clients express their messages in the most compelling, persuasive, and distinctive ways possible.

His favorite vehicle? Books.

Since 2003, Mike and his book promotion firm, Promote A Book, have guided more than 130 titles onto major bestseller lists — including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Moreover, Mike’s methods aren’t just for seasoned authors. He helps business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals write and publish books to fast-track their goals — from raising capital and commanding higher speaking fees to standing out in a noisy market.

Another of Mike’s companies, BookRetreat.com, offers an immersive, month-long program held in Guatemala that teaches his proprietary process to produce a complete first draft of a book by the end of the retreat.

Do you have big, original ideas in need of a megaphone? If so, be sure to hear the actionable insights that Michael Drew shares this week.

You can hear a special Monday Morning Radio bonus audio featuring founding host Dean Rotbart and guest Michael Drew discussing the surprising way The New York Times bestsellers list is compiled. It’s not how most people think. The free bonus audio is available now at tinyurl.com/MMRDrewBonus.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Michael Drew, Promote A Book Posted: April 7, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 44:19 Episode: 13.43

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• Insights for Authors, Would-Be Authors, and Readers from Bard Press’s Todd Sattersten
• Ray Bard’s New Book is Intended to Help Salespeople; But Don’t Be Fooled
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