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The Sidebar, hosted by Eric Barnes from The Daily Memphian, focuses on arts, culture and everything in between in Memphis, including interviews with people shaping the city and sometimes an exploration of topics stranger, funnier and more surprising than

The Daily Memphian


    • May 13, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 247 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Sidebar

    S6E17: Meet Me at the Library

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 27:47


    Shamichael Hallman joins Eric Barnes to talk about the importance of libraries to the community and his new book, Meet Me at the Library. 

    S6E16: Stax's Pat Mitchell Worley on the Power of Music Awards

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 30:02


    Soulsville Foundation CEO Pat Mitchell Worley joined Eric Barnes on The Sidebar to talk about the Stax Museum's first ever Power of Music Awards.

    S6E15: Clap Three Times

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 22:19


    Eric Barnes is interviewed about music, work and how he doesn't listen to the lyrics. 

    S6E14: Spanish Cultural Series Concerts

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 16:44


    Marina Carracedo with the University of Memphis joins host Eric Barnes to talk about the upcoming Spanish Cultural Series Concerts, featuring Mr. Kilombo, Pedro Luis Ferrer & Lena Ferrer, and Pedro Pastor.

    S6E13: Sultana Disaster Museum

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 30:34


    Jeff Kollath, executive director of the Sultana Disaster Museum, joins Eric Barnes to talk about the story of the deadliest maritime disaster in United States history and the effort for a new and expanded museum. 

    S6E12: Lora Chilton on her novel titled "1666"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 26:04


    Lora Chilton has learned all she can about her lineage and the Patawomecks, including taking lessons to learn the language. And she published a historical novel about the tribe titled “1666.”

    S6E11: Tad Pierson on how the highway is his home

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 28:32


    Indoor Trailer Park creator and tire artist Tad Pierson's latest installation will span along Mississippi Boulevard from E.H. Crump Boulevard to South Parkway. 

    S6E10: North American Bridge Championships

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 29:58


    Bronia Jenkins, Executive Director of American Contract Bridge League, joins Eric Barnes to talk about the North American Bridge Championships happening this week in Memphis and how her love for the game began. 

    S6E9: Shelby Farms Park

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 29:09


    Jen Andrews, CEO of Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, joins Eric Barnes to talk about what it takes to operate one of the largest urban parks in the country and upcoming seasonal events.

    S6E8: The Executive Director of Memphis Botanic Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 26:54


    MaryLynn Mack talked about her vision for new exhibits and initiatives at the garden. And she had pretty amazing things to say about her move to Memphis.

    S6E7: Learn more about the work to improve Memphis' public spaces

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 27:00


    George Abbott moved to Memphis to join the Memphis River Parks Partnership as its head of communications before the pandemic. Now he's involved in the Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative that's been funded in Memphis and nine other cities since 2016.

    S6E6: The city's new head of the arts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 28:52


    His title is a long one: director of creative and cultural economy. But the goal for Demarcus Suggs, who carries that for the new office of creative and cultural economy for the City of Memphis, is simple: Support the arts.

    S6E5: The Brooks' Curator of African American Art and Art of the African Diaspora

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 28:23


    Adeze Wilford joins Eric Barnes to talk about her career and her role at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

    S6E4: The Daily Memphian Founder Andy Cates

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 30:11


    Andy Cates joins Eric Barnes to reflect on the nearly seven years since The Daily Memphian began and the importance of the fourth estate.

    S6E3: Paul Chandler with Germantown Performing Arts Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 29:34


    Paul Chandler joins Eric Barnes to discuss his role at GPAC, The Grove and the planning process for all of the events they present year-round.

    S6E2: Memphis' Director of Creative and Cultural Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 28:21


    DeMarcus Suggs joins Eric Barnes to discuss his new role with the City of Memphis.

    S6E1: Kevin Sharp with Dixon Gallery and Gardens 

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 30:21


    Kevin Sharp, director of Dixon Gallery and Gardens, joins Eric Barnes to discuss current exhibitions and upcoming events. 

    S5E43: What the Live Nation venue at Crosstown can bring to Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2025 30:21


    Todd Richardson, the CEO of Crosstown Concourse, joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of “The Sidebar” to talk not just the new venue but also all kinds of new happenings in and around Crosstown.

    ceo venue live nation sidebar crosstown eric barnes todd richardson crosstown concourse
    S5E42: Memphis' start-up ecosystem

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 28:30


    Anthony Young of Epicenter join Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar.

    S5E41: Daily Memphian Director of Development Sarah Leach

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 27:47


    It's been six and a half years since The Daily Memphian launched. Sarah Leach joins Eric Barnes to discuss why The Daily Memphian is a non-profit and the business model behind it.

    S5E40: Jeff Hulett on his new album and MTV (of course)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 29:01


    Jeff Hulett joined Eric Barnes to talk about his new album, “Little Windows,” performed with his band The Hand Me Downs. 

    S5E39: Memphis Botanic Garden's leader on greenspace, collaborations and Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 28:44


    MaryLynn Mack, who moved to Memphis in August to take the reins of the Memphis Botanic Garden after many years working for similar organizations in Phoenix, San Diego and elsewhere, joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode.

    S5E38: The importance of the 'civic commons'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 28:19


    The "Reimagining the Civic Commons" initiative is embarking on a new round of work on what it means to improve public spaces. George Abbott joined Eric Barnes to discuss on this week's episode.

    S5E37: How music can protect the aquifer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 29:03


    The Acoustic Sunday Live series will hold its sixth event to benefit Protect Our Aquifer, the nonprofit that advocates for protection and monitoring of the aquifer that provides Memphis its drinking water. 

    S5E36: Batman tattoos, street art and a new lounge from David Yancy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 27:25


    The artist David Yancy joins Eric Barnes to talk about plans for his new lounge on Broad Ave., how graffiti became street art and the value of a Batman tattoo.

    S5E35: WYXR on its 4th anniversary and the next Raised By Sound Fest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 28:12


    WYXR's Jared Boyd and Liv Cohen join Eric Barnes on The Sidebar to talk about the station's four years since launch and the upcoming Raised By Sound Fest in December. 

    S5E34: Lora Chilton on writing, violence and her history with the Patawomeck Indian Tribe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 28:28


    Chilton joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about the book, her family's history, her writing process and the difficult necessity of telling the full story of the incredible violence committed against the Patawomeck.

    Surprise! It's Sound Bites: How restaurants price your favorite meals

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 28:47


    This week, were flipping the script and sending you an episode of Sound Bites. In this flashback episode from August, Ben Smith, owner of Tsunami in Cooper-Young, said he is worried about the fate of small, independent restaurants. Smith said that one of the biggest issues has been inflation and ingredient costs fluctuating more rapidly than they ever have before.

    S5E33: Musician Greg Cartwright on Reigning Sound, the Black Keys and music

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 28:41


    Cartwright joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about his life as a musician and even his house, which was once owned by some of the musicians who played with Johnny Cash.

    S5E32: How Josh Campbell helps people tell their stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 27:54


    Campbell joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about the organization's events, its origin at Crosstown, some of their upcoming events, and how it moves from venue to venue around Memphis.

    S5E31: Facing History and Ourselves explores social justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 29:11


    Daniel Kiel, who is co-chair of an upcoming Facing History event, joins Eric Barnes on this week's episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about how the organization approaches race and social justice.

    S5E30:Craig Brewer on his Muhammad Ali series - and the challenges of being a creative

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 29:50


    Interview with filmmaker Craig Brewer on his career challenges and new series "Fight Night," on this week's episode of The Daily Memphian's "The Sidebar."

    S5E29: How Creative Aging engages seniors across Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 30:45


    Creative Aging's executive director, Mia Henley, joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about the organization's work across Memphis. 

    S5E28: What's in store at the Mighty Roots Music Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 30:22


    The festival's organizer, Howard Stovall, joined Eric Barnes to talk about the 4th Mighty Roots Music Festival, which takes place September 13-14 in Stovall, Mississippi, not far from Clarksdale. Bands include Flipturn, Happy Landing, Easy Honey and many more.

    S5E27: Willy Bearden on his memoir 'Mississippi Hippie: A life in 49 pieces'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 28:10


    “It's Mississippi Delta pool hall existentialism,” Willy Bearden says of his new book, adding with a laugh, “I just made that up.”

    S5E26: Jennifer Chandler on the state of restaurants in Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 28:57


    Tim Barker and food and dining reporter Jennifer Chandler join Eric Barnes to talk about many complicated issues facing restaurants as they close and others open.

    restaurants eric barnes jennifer chandler
    S5E25: The impact of photography at the Brooks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 28:38


    C. Rose Smith joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about the power of photography going back to the 1800s, the intersection of photography and music, and Smith's own successful career as a photographer, including a recent exhibit of her work in London.

    S5E24: How a Bigfoot movie became a "paranormal gateway drug"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 28:56


    Toby Sells joins Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to about his lifelong fascination with - and love of - the paranormal, which he writes about in his first book, Haint Blues: Strange tales from the American South.

    S5E23: How The Overton Park Shell reaches an expanding audience

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 28:11


    Natalie Wilson, the executive director of The Overton Park Shell, talks about The Shell's upcoming season, their Backstage Experience and the upcoming 70th anniversary of Elvis appearing on state at The Shell.

    S5E22: The next chapter for Volunteer Odyssey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 27:18


    Caroline Norris joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about Volunteer Odyssey's mission, how it works to feed volunteers into 70 nonprofits in Memphis, and much more.

    S5E21: How music and art can heal the brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 28:47


    Zak joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar along with Dr. Lynn Dobrunz, Professor and Chair of the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology at the UTHSC, where the Ozmo Institute is based.

    S5E20: Kelly English and IMAKEMADBEATS on the new late night party at Le Bon Appetit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 27:56


    Kelly English, the owner and chef of Restaurant Iris and Second Line, and the musician/producer IMAKEMADBEATS joined Eric Barnes to talk about the new late night party at Le Bon Appetit – a party that will feature performances from IMAKEMADBEATS and other artists from the producer's company, Unapologetic.

    S5E19: More with Grammy Award winner Matt Ross-Spang

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 31:07


    The second of a two-part interview with Matt Ross-Spang. 

    S5E18: Grammy Award winner Matt Ross-Spang on becoming a producer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 28:17


    In this first of a two-part interview on The Sidebar, Matt joined Eric Barnes to talk about how he started working at Sun Studio as a teenager then became a producer of musicians ranging from Jason Isbell to the Mountain Goats to Margo Price and many, many more.

    S5E17: A (very short) history of local beer in Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 28:29


    Andy Ashby, one of the co-founders of the oldest local breweries in Memphis, along with Maggie Emerson, co-founder of Maroon Brew Co., one the newest local breweries, joins Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar.

    S5E16: How Beale Street influenced La Bohème at Opera Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 28:12


    Ned Canty and Dennis Whitehead Darling joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about the production, the cast and how Darling came to love opera.

    S5E15: LifeDoc's journey providing health care in Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 27:56


    Pedro Velasquez joined Eric Barnes to talk about LifeDoc's mission, his family's journey from Venezuela to Memphis, and the organization's evolution nearly 20 years after its founding.

    S5E14: Phillip Ashley on branded candy, cocoa shortages and shipping chocolate in the summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 28:16


    Phillip Ashley, the founder of Phillip Ashely Chocolates, discusses the evolution of his business as he's shifted to more branded and business-to-business chocolate sales, including partnerships with Cadillac and other big named brands. 

    S5E13: Vintage901 brings the culinary arts to all of Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 29:37


    At its core, Vintage901 is about good food, good wine and the connections people make through eating and drinking together.

    S5E12: Lauren Kennedy goes from urban art to an art gallery

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 28:37


    For eight years - until she founded the art gallery Sheet Cake in the Edge District in December of 2023 - Lauren Kennedy was executive director of the UrbanArt Commission, an organization which was essential to the spread of so much public art throughout Memphis.

    S5E11: Helping local arts groups collaborate to reach more people

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 28:30


    Nykesha Cole joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about her work as the arts and culture liaison for Shelby County Government.

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