Pragmatic Optimism Featuring Mikel Bolden, Renee Williams and Joan Garry

Host Erik Fleming speaks with three leaders — Mikel Bolden, executive director of the Mississippi Democratic Party; Renee Williams, CEO of the National Center for Victims of Crime; and Joan Garry, founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab. They discuss voter engagement and special elections in Mississippi, supporting crime survivors and ethical true-crime storytelling, and nonprofit leadership during challenging political and funding climates.

The episode blends pragmatic optimism with practical strategies for organizing, trauma-informed victim support, and nonprofit resilience, encouraging listeners to get involved and resist threats to democratic norms and civil society.