City Cast Nashville

Tennessee has paused executions for the rest of the year after another failed attempt to carry out a death sentence. Host Rachael Iacovone is joined by executive producer Whitney Pastorek and creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson to discuss what happened and the growing questions around the state's execution process. Then, the Nashville Symphony is in crisis after cancelling its 2026–27 season, furloughing musicians, and losing its CEO just two months into the job. Plus, Nashville Severe Weather is expanding its coverage across Middle Tennessee, Loveless Cafe celebrates 75 years, and we remember beloved Nashville artist Phil Ponder. Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 2nd episode: Ensworth School Country Music HOF Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

On September 15, creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson hosted the first-ever City Cast Nashville Presents: The Roast of Music City. We welcomed a sold-out crowd to The Lab at Zanies for one night only with some of Nashville's funniest local comedians.The event also raised more than $600 for Open Table Nashville. This episode condenses highlights from the 80-minute show into a 30-minute podcast. In order of appearance, the comedians are CJ Walton, Jessica Carter, James Holiday, Eddie Ortiz, podcast host Rachel Iacovone, Miriam Kirk, Allison Summers, Renard Hirsch, and musician Freddy Angelico. A quick heads-up: There's some language younger listeners may not be ready for, so this one's for adults. Enjoy the episode, and keep an eye out for the next Roast of Music City! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Learn more about the sponsors of this October 1st episode: Ensworth School Alabama Beaches Country Music HOF Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Goodbye fool's fall — you won't be missed! As we head into true spooky season, we have for you the ultimate guide of what to eat, hear, and do this October in Nashville. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and audience development manager Emma White to shout out their favorite happenings around town, from the Nashville Horror Film Festival to baby's first Cheekwood Harvest. Plus, in a month with so many shows, it may be time to play chicken with concert ticketing platforms after that redditor got $12 tickets to Kacey Musgraves! Learn more about the sponsors of this September 30th episode: Ensworth School Alabama Beaches Country Music HOF Country Music HOF Shoutout Country Music HOF Pick of Month Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Nashville writer and Madison Branch children's librarian Lisa Bubert sees karaoke as more than a chance to sing. In an essay for Noema, she makes the case that karaoke bars can help bridge our social divides. She joins creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson to share her favorite local spots, talk about why third spaces matter, and how cheap beer and a roomful of strangers singing the classics can make a place feel like home. **This episode originally aired November 11, 2025. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 29th episode: Ensworth School Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Federal law enforcement is investigating former Metro Water assistant director John Honeysucker, alongside two prominent Nashville businessmen: Roy Dale and Mack McClung. Why? Nashville Banner Metro reporter Stephen Elliott, who broke the story, joins host Rachel Iacovone to explain what we know so far about this scandal involving real estate deals, trash trucks, and some of the biggest names in Metro. Want more details? Read Stephen's two-part story here and here. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 28th episode: Ensworth School Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

What's a seemingly small project in Nashville that's made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin's deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead to a sustainable future to inform what we do today. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We're also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Happy Dolly Day! As Nashville celebrates Dolly with events across the city, host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and WPLN power and equity reporter Marianna Bacallao to discuss a governor's race debate that may or may not happen. Independent candidate David Hatley is offering to donate $1 million to charity if Marsha Blackburn agrees to a debate, while Democrat Jerri Green is calling on independent Lauren Pinkston to drop out after a controversial video. Plus, Dolly family drama, Waymo is testing a new feature that allows teens to take rides, and the Nashville Symphony is facing financial trouble. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 25th episode: Adventure Science Center Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

We're taking you behind the scenes — or should we say strings? — of the Nashville Public Library's beloved puppet troupe. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by program manager Bret Grigsby Wilson to talk about the last 80 years of Wishing Chair Productions and what he hopes the next eight decades could hold for friends like Tommy Dog and Coco the Fashion Cow. Plus: The magical and spooky shows they've got planned for October! Learn more about the sponsors of this September 24th episode: Adventure Science Center Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Nashville's spoken word scene offers a place to share your work, hear powerful stories, and find community. Host Rachel Iacovone talks with local poets and event hosts Frank “Frizzy” Sykes and Nina Adel about what spoken word is, what to expect at an open mic, and how new performers can get started. They also share where to find spoken word around Nashville, including On the Dock at The Loading Dock, Poet's Playground, and Verse Therapy at Po' Boys and Poets, which supports local mental health work. Whether you want to take the mic or just listen, there's a place for you. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 23rd episode: Adventure Science Center Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Over the weekend, host Rachel Iacovone attended the Affirming Sumner Pride Festival at Fruity Farm in Bethpage, Tennessee. She shares her experience with creative producer and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury. They also discuss the nearly 75,000 signatures that could put the future of Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on the ballot, why Nashville's parks are too hot, and how heightened ICE enforcement is affecting immigrant construction workers. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 22nd episode: Adventure Science Center Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Mill Ridge Park is more than a massive playground and a giant teal slide. Host Rachel Iacovone talks with Friends of Mill Ridge Park Executive Director Darrell Hawks, Board Chair Bishoy Makael, and Metro Parks Assistant Director Tim Netsch about how the park was created, the partnerships that made it possible, and what Nashville can learn from the process. Plus, they discuss the park's new $4 million expansion, The Farm at Mill Ridge Park, and the upcoming Pear Jam celebration. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 21st episode: Adventure Science Center Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Would Nashville be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near newly transformed, “greened” neighborhood lots. But how did they do it? David talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about how Philly prioritized revitalizing its abandoned outdoor space, the ways that having a nonprofit partner has made all the difference, and what still needs to be done. Mentioned on the show: Study showing 29% decrease in gun violence near transformed lots: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1718503115 Study showing 41% decrease in reported depression: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2688343  Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We're also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Nashville's 5th Congressional District race gets tangled up in a massage parlor bust. Host Rachel Iacovone joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek and creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson to break down the reported connections to candidates Chaz Molder and Charlie Hatcher, and what they could mean for the campaign. Plus, Gallatin Avenue is finally getting a safety makeover, Paramount is looking for 400,000 square feet of office space in Nashville, and we'll discuss the city's upcoming Dolly Day celebration. And don't miss our members-only segment, Hell Naw, where this week we rant about Tennessee's heat dome and AI-powered surveillance in YMCA pools. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 18th episode: Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Nashville-born and nationally beloved artist morgxn joins host Rachel Iacovone to talk about Fruity Farm, the queer-owned farm he runs with his husband, Gabriel, in Sumner County. This Saturday, September 19, Fruity Farm will host the second annual Affirming Sumner Pride Festival. Morgxn shares how the festival came to be, why small-town Pride matters, and how the farm became a home for Pride after previous venues fell through. This year's event is free, but an RSVP is required to receive the address. Space is still available! Learn more about the sponsors of this September 17th episode: Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

It's Nashville Scene's Pizza Week, so we're revisiting a conversation that sparked quite a bit of controversy: the great pizza debate. Who has the best pizza in town? Creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson, former producer Daniel Sumstine, and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury share their picks for the best slice, crust, late-night pizza, and stomach-tested gluten-free options. Did we forget your favorite? Email us at nashville@citycast.fm. **This episode originally aired May 22, 2025. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 16th episode: Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Alabama Beaches Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Hallelujah, it's Pizza Week in Nashville! Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to share their pick of the pies, plus the scammers banned from downtown, Dolly Parton International Airport (official name pending) and some lawsuit updates in Metro Nashville's funding fight against the feds and for the Nashville Noticias reporter detained and then released by ICE back in March. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 15th episode: Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Alabama Beaches Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Tennessee's controversial Choice Lanes project could add toll lanes along 26 miles of I-24, from downtown Nashville to Murfreesboro. Host Rachel Iacovone talks with Nashville Business Journal senior reporter Adam Sichko about the $9.2 billion project, the international group selected to build it, how much drivers might pay, whether the lanes will ease traffic, and what the project could mean for homes and businesses along the corridor. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 14th episode: Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Alabama Beaches Hoffmann Brothers Centennial Park Conservancy Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for Nashville, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzling city, Vegas has continued to experience record-breaking heat in recent years, essentially forcing it to lead the charge in protecting residents from increasingly rising temperatures. City Cast Las Vegas host Jesse Merrick talks with David about the bold moves of Nevada's lawmakers, like mandating heat mitigation and giving away trees, and how some time-tested strategies still need to be tweaked as rising global temperatures present new problems every day. Mentioned on the show: Europe's 10,000 recorded deaths during June 2026 heatwave Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We're also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

The Nashville Zoo announced its annual Zoolumination event, which lights up the property each night during holiday season with more than 1,000 silk lanterns, has been canceled this year. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to talk about the visa issues facing the Zoo's hired artisans from China, the nationwide closing of Nashville-founded chain O'Charley's, and the mess at Metro Water that has overflowed into a federal investigation. Plus, don't miss our members-only segment, Hell Naw, where this week's rant is about the recent renderings of what a redeveloped Second Avenue might look like, six years after the Christmas Day bombing. (It's giving The Gulch…) Learn more about the sponsors of this September 11th episode:  Nashville Shakespeare Fest Hoffmann Brothers Centennial Park Conservancy Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Today on City Cast Nashville, we're joined by internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin, the Nashville Symphony's new music director. Ahead of opening night, he talks with executive producer Whitney Pastorek about his plans for the orchestra, the meaning behind the season's programs, and his hopes for the Symphony's future as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 10th episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Hoffmann Brothers Centennial Park Conservancy Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Looking for a new hobby? Contributor Amelia Edelman joins creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson to share some of the city's best classes and activities for adults — from tap dancing and glassblowing to painting, pottery, gardening, language classes, birding, Pilates, and even skydiving. Plus, tips for trying something new without the pressure to be perfect or stick with it forever. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 9th episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Hoffmann Brothers Centennial Park Conservancy Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Could Paramount really leave Hollywood for Nashville? Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by entertainment journalist Adam B. Vary to break down why Paramount Skydance is considering a move to Music City, whether the threat is actually serious, and what it would take to relocate a major studio. Plus, what could the move mean for Nashville jobs, unions, small businesses, and the city's growing entertainment industry? Learn more about the sponsors of this September 8th episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Hoffmann Brothers Centennial Park Conservancy Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Did you know Nashville has repeatedly rejected the kind of surveillance technology that's being used across the country? Banning tools like Flock cameras and regulating drone use is a local win in many folks' eyes, though there are definitely local arguments in favor of the technology. Rachel Iacovone joins Your City Could Be Better to walk through all the measures that the city government has faced, why people have reason to fear the tech, and in which areas it may have actually brought some improvements. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We're also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Tennessee's first transgender elected official was just voted by her peers into an additional leadership role. How is she feeling? Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury and creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about Olivia Hill making LGBTQ+ history again, the sale of the volleyball courts and businesses in the oneC1TY development, and, of course, more ways to remember Dolly Parton and support the Imagination Library. Plus, don't miss our members-only segment, Hell Naw, where this week's rant is about out-of-town loved ones visiting and ignoring all your anti-tourist trap recs. Boo! Learn more about the sponsors of this September 4th episode: Nashville Ballet Alabama Beaches Nashville Shakespeare Fest Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

This year, the Frist Art Museum is celebrating 25 years in Nashville. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by executive director and CEO Dr. Seth Feman to look back at the city's changing art scene, the museum's early years, and how the Frist has worked to make art more accessible to Nashvillians of all ages. Plus, Seth shares what he's most excited about in the Frist's newly announced 2027 schedule of exhibitions and what the next 25 years could hold. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 3rd episode: Nashville Ballet Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

For anyone who misses Blockbuster Video, this episode is for you. Today, we're talking about the return of physical media. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by Joe Bass, owner of Press Play Video, Nashville's mobile video store, to discuss why DVDs and Blu-rays are making a comeback, what people love about owning the movies they watch, and how video stores are creating community in the age of streaming. Learn more about the sponsors of this Wednesday, September 2nd episode: Nashville Ballet Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Goodbye summer, hello pumpkin spice latte season! As we head into fall, we have for you the ultimate guide of what to eat, hear, and do this September in Nashville. Host Rachel Iacovone joins creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson along with our newest City Cast Nashville staff member, Emma White, to shout out their favorite happenings around town. From square dancing at Bells Bend to Kacey Musgraves at Bridgestone and a witchy pop-up at East Nashville Beer Works, this month has something for everyone. And don't forget, our first-ever live podcast recording and show, City Cast Nashville Presents: The Roast of Music City on Sept. 15 at The Lab at Zanies. Get your tickets today! Learn more about the sponsors of this Tuesday, September 1st episode: Nashville Ballet Alabama Beaches Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Legislation regulating how law enforcement can use drones in Nashville is on its final reading at Metro Council tomorrow night. But are drones just a small piece of something bigger? Journalist Nick Pipitone joins host Rachel Iacovone to discuss his recent Nashville Scene article about how systems like Flock, Fusus, and Skydio are designed to work together in “real-time crime centers” and enhance what the Community Review Board recently called “MNPD's steadily expanding surveillance apparatus.” Learn more about the sponsors of this August 31st episode: Alabama's Beaches Nashville Ballet Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

The Nashville airport definitely has a lot going for it, but what it doesn't have is its own electrical grid, like Pittsburgh's does. For the past few years, Pittsburgh International Airport has been generating on-site electricity, more than it needs even at peak operation, to fortify itself against the kind of power outages that hit airports (unsettlingly often) across the world. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris brings David into the little-known world of airport energy independence, showing how a one-time investment can bring the kind of peace of mind that both travelers and operators hope for every day. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We're also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Following Dolly Parton's passing, a petition to rename BNA in her honor has surpassed 130,000 signatures — but could it really happen? Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to discuss the proposed name change, a new Airport Authority lawsuit, the fight for accessible pedal taverns, and how Nashville is paying tribute to Dolly. Plus, don't miss our members-only segment, Hell Naw, where this week's rant takes on the many mischaracterizations of the Queen of Country. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 28th episode: Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

We're learning more about the companies behind DriveTN, the consortium tapped to build controversial toll roads between here and Murfreesboro, and at least one state legislator wants to know why we can't keep the profits here at home. Host Rachel Iacovone and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are digging into that on today's Tuesday News Roundup. Plus, Cheekwood won the first battle in their big parking garage fight, and new corporations are eyeing a move to Nashville — just as 120 Starbucks employees said no to that move. And in good news: Could a beloved music festival be coming back? Learn more about the sponsors of this August 27th episode: Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Yesterday, we all learned that Dolly Parton had passed away at age 80, right here in Nashville. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to pay tribute to the queen herself and, above all else, remember her light, her magic, and her kindness toward ALL human beings. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 26th episode: Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

We're learning more about the companies behind DriveTN, the consortium tapped to build controversial toll roads between here and Murfreesboro, and at least one state legislator wants to know why we can't keep the profits here at home. Host Rachel Iacovone and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are digging into that on today's Tuesday News Roundup. Plus, Cheekwood won the first battle in their big parking garage fight, and new corporations are eyeing a move to Nashville — just as 120 Starbucks employees said no to that move. And in good news: Could a beloved music festival be coming back? Learn more about the sponsors of this August 25th episode: Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

The future of Nashville's Fairgrounds Speedway might be up to voters this November, as petitioners work to collect signatures for a ballot amendment that would drop auto racing as a required use at the Fairgrounds and replace it with “affordable and/or workforce housing.” One group opposing the petition and fighting to preserve the racetrack is LiUNA Local 386. But why is the laborers' union so invested? LiUNA business manager Ethan Link sits down with host Rachel Iacovone to explain why the speedway means more than just racing to his members. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 24th episode: Centennial Park Conservancy Hoffmann Brothers VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

How often are you out in nature in Nashville? It's not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban setting, and city rivers get a particularly bad rap. It's true that cities have had eras of sewage mishandling and high boat traffic — but many have also cleaned up their act, through the tireless work of local advocates and politicians. Portland, OR, is one of those cities, and City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza joins this episode of Your City Could Be Better to debunk the assumptions and fears about her city's river, the Willamette. Learn all about how a journalist-turned-governor led the charge to clean up Portland's waterfront, and how a quirky organizer — and lots of enthusiastic swimmers — have carried the torch. Mentioned on the show: Portland's riverfront park, named after former Governor Tom McCall Swiss residents using river to swim home from work RFK Jr. swimming (in jeans) in Rock Creek in Washington, D.C. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We're also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

ICE has moved their planned location of a 24/7 call center from Adams, Tennessee, to Donelson. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to discuss what that actually means for Nashville. Plus, the Nashville Banner reports that Waymo's driverless cars are always recording us, controversial Choice Lanes appear to be coming to I-24, and our members-only segment, Hell Naw, takes on the out-of-state takeover of our finest food establishments. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 21st episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Alabama Beaches VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

With their recent album, “Redefining the Standards,” Nashville Women in Jazz set a new standard themselves, releasing the first all-women project ever recorded at the legendary RCA Studio B. Founder Alayna Renae joins host Rachel Iacovone to delve into our city's modern jazz scene by taking a look back, from Jefferson Street in the ‘40s to Rudy's and Urban Cowboy today. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 20th episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Alabama Beaches VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

August is officially Nashville History Month — according to local historian Betsy Phillips! Today, she joins host Rachel Iacovone to explain why Nashville needs a history month and expands on her recent article for the Nashville Scene, sharing 10 weird and wonderful ways to explore our city's history. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 19th episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Alabama Beaches VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

What's the latest on tech giant Oracle's move to Nashville? After receiving sizable government incentives, the company is reportedly lagging behind the pace necessary to meet its job obligations. Host Rachel Iacovone checks in with executive producer Whitney Pastorek and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to discuss Oracle's layoffs and the Nashville jobs it promised but has yet to deliver. Plus, Starbucks workers in Goodlettsville stage a one-day strike, two candidates enter the race for vice mayor, and the Winter Storm Commission's report is finally out. And your neighborhood may finally be getting sidewalks! Learn more about the sponsors of this August 18th episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Alabama Beaches VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

In the wake of yet another pedestrian death on our roads, we've called in an expert with suggestions for how to fix our dangerous infrastructure. Joining host Rachel Iacovone to play Sim City with ideas from around the world is journalist Sarah Goodyear, co-host of the podcast The War on Cars. PS: She and Doug Gordon will bring their new book, “Life After Cars,” to the Southern Festival of Books this year, Oct. 17-18. Shall we give them the grand tour? Stay tuned … Learn more about the sponsors of this August 17th episode: Nashville Shakespeare Fest Alabama Beaches VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

What will Nashville do when it runs out of space for trash? Madison, WI, has a plan, and it's one that other cities could follow. What could've just been another county landfill, slated to open in 2027, will instead be a “sustainability campus”, where local businesses will unite to more intentionally sort incoming waste, increase recycling intake, and generally aim to slow the flow of trash. And Dane County has historically handled waste disposal in a savvy way, making big bucks off of trash collection that they then use to fund future projects like this forthcoming campus. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin breaks this all down for David, and together they uncover the quirks — and opportunities — that come with talking trash.  Mentioned on the show: Conversion of Dane County landfills into pollinator fields Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We're also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

This week, the Community Review Board raised concerns about MNPD's use-of-force policies, racial disparities, and transparency. Executive producer Whitney Pastorek and creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson join host Rachel Iacovone to break it down, plus back-to-school drama, the push to ban right turns on red, and whether or not Nashville is romantic. And in our members-only segment, Hell Naw, we rant about the thing blocking the few sidewalks we have… Learn more about the sponsors of this August 14th episode: Hoffmann Brothers VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2026 Awards! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.