Bill Littlefield is a retired radio host, writer, teacher, and public speaker.

He has written nine books, seven of which have been published. For 34 years he wrote and voiced commentaries for WBUR in Boston and NPR; for 25 of those years, he also hosted “Only A Game,” NPR’s fantastic weekly sports magazine program. Bill is also involved with the Emerson Prison Initiative, a program that makes a college education more accessible to people who are incarcerated.

In this episode we talk about Mercy, his second novel. In his graceful prose, Bill explores the multifaceted nature of mercy, forgiveness, and human connection, set in a suburban neighborhood grappling with the release of a dying mob boss from prison. We catch glimpses into lives of these neighbors seeking connection and working to to give mercy, especially the powerful kind we give to ourselves.

Cam McWhirter is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and the co-author of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15. He feels strongly that we all need to know more about James Weldon Johnson. Johnson was a civil rights leader, lawyer, diplomat, writer and musician in the early 20th century. He was at the forefront of the Harlem Renaissance, and served as the first Black Executive Secretary of of the NAACP. He is perhaps best remembered for writing the lyrics to Lift Every Voice and Sing, often referred to as the Black National Anthem.

We discuss Johnson's life and achievements and even hear Johnson's own voice from an old recording of his poem,We To America.

Eric is the founder and Partner of AL Media a political consulting and media company that has managed campaigns and produced effective political ads and media for presidential campaigns, senatorial campaigns, congressional campaigns, gubernatorial campaigns and issue-related efforts all over the country. for 30 years. His firm has worked with Vice President Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, Senator Rafael Warnock, Governor Katie Hobbs, and Mayor Michelle Woo among MANY others. So of course, he wants to talk about his lifelong and painful obsession with the Cleveland Browns one of only our teams to have never playted in the Super Bowl.