This is great radio. Very well produced. I really enjoyed this piece. It is authentic, real and engaging. This is what public radio does well. I extended my lunchtime walk to hear the entire piece while listening to it on my iPod. You could call it an iPod moment.

I learned a lot and got a perspective of Dr. West that I have not heard before. I also enjoyed learning about how Dr. West's message affected Laquoia's decisions in life and how his words influenced her feelings about her father. Adding the first-person tape from Laquoia and the interview tape from the walk with Dr. West helped make it authentic. It was good to have tape from outside the studio and lecture hall.

This would be good for a station-produced magazine program or as a drop-in to the Tavis Smiley Show, since Cornel West is a regular guest on the program.

"Wow" is all I can say. You did an excellent job on this piece. The flow of the story was amazing, I felt myself traveling with you to all the various places throughout your day. You have a powerful narrative style. Though this is a reflection, as a little background, it would have been good if you told us why you sought to visit Dr. West at his lecture in the beginning of the story (I understand by the end). It would keep the listener’s interest seeing as how this is a long piece. They might think, “Oh yea, I gotta hear more of this story!” A few parts in the beginning car sequence were confusing, but it didn't distract me from understanding the story. Of course I was enthralled with what Dr. West had to say. For a mainstream radio story, there are some parts you could cut out to get straight to the point. Some listeners aren’t very patient. In conclusion, great levels, great tape, great, great, great!