Tell Me More on WAMC HD2

Spring has sprung and thousands of tourists are flocking to the nation's capital for the annual Cherry Blossom festival. But there is a rich story behind the famous tree that connects the United States to Japan. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks with Adrian Higgins about his feature article "Hidden Zen" in this week's Washington Post Magazine.

April is National Poetry Month and Tell Me More is asking listeners to tweet original poetry. Poems that are 140 characters or less can be marked #tmmpoetry, and some of the poetic tweets will be aired throughout the month of April.

The novel Half Blood Blues explores an often overlooked slice of history: black jazz musicians in Germany on the eve of World War II. The book moves from 1992 to 1939, from Baltimore to Berlin to Paris. It's told by an elderly black jazz musician and his friend who survived the war. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with author Esi Edugyan.

The novel Half-Blood Blues explores the plight of black musicians living in Germany on the cusp of World War II. Guest host Jacki Lyden takes listeners on a musical journey through some of the sounds that might have been heard in the fictional clubs of Esi Edugyen's award-winning novel.

Ever wish you had studied a little harder in your high school French or Spanish class? According to a recent New York Times article, being bilingual has benefits that extend well beyond language skills. Guest host Jacki Lyden explores this issue with Ellen Bialystock, professor of psychology at York University.

Journalist Barbara Walters, Congressman John Lewis, and comedian Margaret Cho will join scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to trace their family trees. His new PBS series, Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. , premiers this weekend. Gates discusses the series with host Michel Martin.

Host Michel Martin and editor Ammad Omar open up the Tell Me More inbox. One listener expresses his disappointment that a discussion with a panel of moms about bullying didn't include any male voices. Also, an update on the story of James Craig Anderson, a black man from Mississippi who died after being beaten and run over by a truck last year.

The guys discuss the outrage around the shooting death of an unarmed African-American teen. They also talk about penalties the NFL imposed on the New Orleans Saints. Host Michel Martin checks in with freelance journalist Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, sports editor Dave Zirin, and NPR's digital news correspondent Corey Dade.

For many people, the arrival of Spring might mean cleaning out closets, the garage or the basement. But life coach and expert organizer Gail Blanke says the new season is a great time to tidy up your finances. Host Michel Martin speaks with Blanke about spring cleaning your financial life, which she says might also help get other parts of your life in order.

April is National Poetry Month and Tell Me More is asking you to tweet your original poetry. Poems that are 140 characters or less can be tagged #TMMPoetry. And some of the poetic tweets will be aired throughout the month of April.