John R. Lott Jr. is an American economist with an extensive background and history in politics, economics and gun rights advocacy. His academic and professional career is lengthy and diverse, having worked at and written for a variety of educational institutions and publications across America. He has also authored several works on gun rights and economics covering the free-market theory.

John Lott was born in 1958 in Detroit, Michigan. His academic journey began at UCLA, where he received his Bachelors in Economics in 1980. He went on to obtain both his Masters and Ph.D. in the same field at UCLA in 1982 and 1984, respectively. From there, Lott went on to to work as an Economist and in the law field profession at the University of Maryland, Yale Law School, the University of Stanford, Texas A&M University, UCLA, Rice University and Wharton Business School. Outside of employment at these universities, Lott also worked as Chief Economist at the United States Sentencing Commission, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior researcher at the University of Maryland Foundation.

Lott is most famous for his view on gun rights, including the right of gun ownership in The United States and the ability to carry a gun. He has received both praise and criticism for his views, making him a controversial economic and political figure. His most well-known works on gun rights include More Guns, Less Crime and The Bias Against Guns. In these works, Lott argues that the more guns Americans have, the less likely there will be crime. He stands strongly against strict gun restrictions and gun laws, claiming that only gun use used for violence is broadcast on the media, instead of guns used as defense. He believes this misrepresentation of gun use is unfair and a key factor in misinformation in proper gun use in America.

His arguments have landed him several roles as a political commentator. His op-ed pieces have been featured in a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He also contributed regularly to Fox News from 2008-2009, where he published works on such subjects as then-President Barrack Obama’s political and financial decisions, race problems in America, women’s rights, unemployment and the Great Recession of 2008, among other topics.

As of 2020, Lott continues to write political and economic pieces on his online blog. His blog posts continue to cover a range of political and economic topics, including the 2020 Presidential Election, racial protests in America, the Coronavirus pandemic and the change of gun laws in various states. Lott’s posts can also be found on the Crime Prevention Research Center website, which was founded and owned by Lott for several years. Lott hopes that more Americans can understand the use of guns in anti-violence prevention in the new decade.

John Engh is the Executive Director of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, which since 1981 has been one of America’s leading advocates for positive and safe sports for children. Prior to being named executive director, he served as chief operating officer. He joined NAYS in 1988 as publications director and later was vice president of NAYS’ Youth Development division, where he helped create the highly successful Hook A Kid On Golf and Start Smart Sports Development programs that are conducted throughout the United States, as well as on U.S. military bases worldwide. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and he is a married father of two.

Emma has been in broadcasting for over 30 years. She is an award-winning TV Producer and Radio Talk Show host and has interviewed everyone from Hollywood California Movie Critic David Sheehan to local celebrities bands Straight Davis, to The Hammer and The Hatchet, a local bluegrass group, along with doctors, lawyers, authors and more!

Tune in every other Saturday at 3pm Pacific / 5pm Central / 6pm Eastern on BBS Radio Station 1! https://bbsradio.com/letstalkwithemma

NESMA BENSALEM

Nesma Bensalem is a true Renaissance woman whose unique combination of talents, expertise and multi-cultural background has made her a leader in the world of culture, tech, and impact.

With over 10 years of experience as a creative, consultant, and social entrepreneur, Nesma has worked with top brands, production companies, and multilateral institutions to shift narratives and inspire communities to take action for the greater good. From Deepak Chopra to the World Bank, to Hollywood and AI start ups, Nesma’s experience ranges across skills and industries, unified by the same purpose to serve the greater good and deep desire to connect us as a Humanity.

Nesma’s upbringing across four continents and more than a dozen countries has shaped her multi-cultural identity and provided her with a unique outlook on the world. She regards empathy as the key ingredient in her approach in raising awareness, building connections and fostering intrinsic motivation.

In 2021, Nesma founded WeCare Impact, a purpose driven creative studio and consulting firm working the intersection of art, technology and impact. WeCare Impact also has a social token($WeCare) with an Impact 2 Earn model for their social or environmental campaigns. As participants complete specific tasks, they earn $WeCare tokens which they can redeem for different products, services and perks on the community marketplace. Their next Impact 2 Earn campaign “Act 4 Earth” is launching this April 22nd, on Earth Day.

JOSH KAY

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii as a reggae keyboardist and vocalist, Josh Kay has extensive experience in keyboard and vocal performance. With degrees in Music Production & Engineering and Music Business Management from Berklee College of Music, Josh is highly skilled in recording, mixing, mastering, and production.

Josh is currently the house engineer at Woodshed Recording in Malibu, California, and continues to freelance as a songwriter, engineer, keyboard player, and recording artist. Life-long surfer and music maker – Josh brings out the best in artists, players and performers, taking pride in running smooth, efficient, and inspiring sessions that result in phenomenal product.

For 39 years, William P. Lightfoot has served as a lead attorney litigating multi-million dollar cases in the courts of the Metropolitan Washington Area. He negotiates settlement agreements, represents clients in arbitrations, mediations, and at trial, as well as manages cases from initial client intake through final disposition. He has recovered millions of dollars for his clients.

He represents people with serious injuries, such as death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. Mr. Lightfoot has extensive experience representing clients with physical injuries. His law practice is a combination of medicine and law.

Washingtonian Magazine wrote the following about his legal skills, “…few personal injury lawyers are more effective at winning big judgments for their clients.”

Cases he has litigated have changed dangerous practices of plumbers, manufacturers and health practitioners. Safe Kids, a child safety advocacy organization, recognized him for litigation that improved child safety related to burns from hot water. Appellate cases he has litigated have changed the law in the areas of closing arguments and statute of limitations.

The D.C. Trial Lawyers named him Trial Lawyer of the Year. Martindale Hubbell, Super-lawyers, Best-Lawyers, and AVVO have recognized his outstanding legal accomplishments. The American Association for Justice has awarded him its highest award for legal education. Each year he teaches law to lawyers from around the nation.

He is a member of numerous professional associations including the American Association of Justice, American Bar Association, Washington Bar Association, D.C. Trial Lawyers Association, American College of Trial Lawyers, American Law Institute, Leadership Washington, and Sigma Pi Phi Epsilon Boule.

He served two terms as a District of Columbia Councilmember At-Large, and he remains active in politics, having chaired four Mayoral campaigns. He continues to serve on the D.C. Judicial Tenure and Disabilities Commission that reappoints and disciplines judges.

He is an avid golfer, often enjoying comradery with members of the Washington D.C. Chapter of the Pro-Duffers.

Mr. Lightfoot is a graduate of Howard University and Washington University School of Law.

You may read about some of his current cases in the news section of our website. Mr. Lightfoot believes he is most effective when working with a skilled team of lawyers and legal assistants. As such, he serves as the senior trial attorney for the firm.

Ashbell the Entrepreneur

FOUR STAR CHEF, RESTAURANTEUR, INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PERSONALITY & LIFESTYLE GURU

Ashbell’s story is pure Americana: from humble beginnings as the great grandson of a sharecropper in rural South Carolina, he discovered his gift of spinning down home food and flavors into heavenly ambrosia from his trio of family ‘cooking saints’: Mother Retha Ludd, Great Aunt Laura and Papa Ashbell. 

Educated at the Sorbonne, he travelled the world soaking up the ethnic tapestry of culture, tradition and cuisine that binds us all. Returning to the US, he successfully branded and nationally distributed his own food products, while doing stints as executive chef for high profile restaurants and private corporate dining rooms. His talents soon caught the attention of the likes of Robert De Niro, President Bill Clinton, Patti La Belle and other celebrities, who engaged his services. Soon NBC television took notice and Chef Ashbell became on-camera presenter for the WNBC Weekend Today Show. There he cooked with Donald Trump, Matt Lauer, Al Roker and a host of other celebrities, raising ratings and wowing New York’s ethnically diverse community with his larger-than-life personality and impressive knowledge of everything from potato latkes to Cuban pernil.

In 2001, Ashbell took his talents ‘across the pond’ to London, helming Harlem@Saint, a supper club in busy Covent Garden. Ashbell was invited to join the BBC television show Good Food Live as a result of Harlem@Saint. 

Also 2002, Ashbell received a commission from the Royal Parks to run an exclusive café for the famed Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion designed by architect Toyo Ito. 

In 2003 Ashbell opened his eponymous restaurant in trendy Notting Hill, dazzling AA Gill, the acknowledged ‘toughest restaurant critic in the world’ who bestowed a 4-star rating on Ashbells.

Chef Ashbell is a regular on BBC Cable Food TV’s most popular show, Good Food Live, and appears on BBC Broadcast TV across the UK on Good Food Bites. He is currently launching a new line of handcrafted limited-edition specialty foods, ‘Bespoke Cuisine’, a new beverage product, and is in pre-production for the filming of his show on US Public Television, Chef Ashbell’s Food in America.

Joel Franco tells compelling stories with an elegant voice, a crisp Italian sensibility and beautiful pictures. Franco’s experience, vision and intensity bring leadership, heart, and an eye for detail to his films. His understanding of the human condition and his passion for authenticity combine to create artistic, highly commercial works that draw the audience in and make them feel. Franco’s genuine desire to protect the integrity of each story and to bring out the best in the actors and crew have made him a trusted source for getting the job done. Colleagues trust his refreshing character and understand that he is a man of commitment and does what he says he will do, when he says he will do it.



Joel Franco was born in Italy and came to the United States in his late teens where he quickly immersed himself in American culture and film. According to Franco, “I have always admired American films. The American school of acting has a long history of producing great actors and I wanted to be a part of the world of film–a place where captivating stories are unveiled. The creation of film plays into my strengths: I love that magic is the result of the creative process. There must be passion to nurture the momentum of the story. And one must have intense focus to get the job done.” 



Influenced by American filmmaker Sidney Lumet for his vigorous storytelling and Italian director Robert Rossellini for his social realism, Franco is dedicated to staying true to the story in a fast paced, realistic and refined style. 



In 2006, Franco partnered with Solidaris LLC to found Chesapeake Films, LLC. Chesapeake Films has option agreements to produce several feature films and plans to produce two features per year in-house and to collaborate with established film companies for additional opportunities.



Joel Franco is a graduate of University of Maryland/Baltimore, a graduate of the USC-Universal Producing and Directing Program, and holds an M.F.A. in film production from the School of Film and Television at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

joelfranco@youthsports-themovie.com