This Is Nashville

Holly Kernan still needs Google Maps to get around Nashville and she's fine with that.Nashville Public Radio's new CEO came from Oakland, where she spent most of her career in public radio and where, as a fourth-generation Californian, she's a genuine rarity. Those deep roots didn't stop her from spending her entire young adulthood in Spain, though, lost and entirely at home making historical documentaries in her second language. It's a posture she's carried into every chapter of her life.Just over half a year in, we talk about what brought her to Nashville, what she sees in this city and what she believes public radio is now that federal funding is gone.The moment is hard. She'd also argue it's hopeful. By the end of this interview, you just might believe her.This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi.

We've learned a lot this week exploring the nuts and bolts of songwriting — from the creative process to the realities of the business. But we also have more questions.Today, three Nashville songwriters in various stages of their careers join us to tell us their stories and answer any lingering curiosities. Plus, they take your calls. Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Rivers Rutherford, along with Rhys Rutherford and Joybeth Taylor, are in the studio. If you've ever wanted to pick the brain of an award-winning songwriter, this is your chance. This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi and Mary Mancini.Guests Rivers Rutherford, songwriter, The Highwaymen, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Trace Atkins and Brooks & Dunn Rhys Rutherford, singer/songwriter, Bailey Zimmerman's “Is This Really Over?,” ERNEST's “Hangin' On (feat. Morgan Wallen),” George Pippen's “Rest of Our Life” Joybeth Taylor, songwriter, “Choosin' Texas” by Ella Langley reached #1 at Country Radio

The business of songwriting is a full-blown economy of its own — chock full of jargon like “splits,” “P-R-Os,” “plugger” and “mailbox money.”But what does it all mean? Today we follow the money: how writers get paid, what happens when a song gets cut, what the different kinds of publishing deals are, and what the implications are for copyrights now that AI has come to town. It's day three of songwriting week and we're talking about the business of songwriting.This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi and Mary Mancini.Guests Lydia Schultz Cahill, Sr. Director of Creative Services, SESAC Performing Rights, Nashville Dr. E. Michael Harrington, Musicologist Olivia Rudeen, singer-songwriter Chandler Nicole Sherrill, Senior Director of Creative, Electric Feel Entertainment

Country music songwriter Harlan Howard famously described country music as “three chords and the truth.”He makes it sound simple, but thousands know it's much more complicated – and it's different for everyone. It may start with an idea and then come together from there. Or a note or a phrase may come first and then it's built word by word and note by note. On day two of songwriter week, Grammy-nominated Luke Dick and Grammy-winning Melody Walker, two songwriters with impressive songwriting credits, join Blake in the studio to start from scratch. Together they'll share ideas, write lyrics, and sample melodies and explain the choices they make along the way. Will inspiration strike? Will the muse show up? And by the end of the hour, will they have a hit song on their hands?This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi and Mary Mancini.Guests Luke Dick, Grammy-nominated songwriter Melody Walker, Grammy-winning songwriter

She's a subversive storyteller, slipping in sideways with hard-to-swallow truths. Growing up in Motown, Alice Randall was drawn to the sounds coming from Music City. The dream was to invade the “citadel” of country music, elevate progressive ideas and highlight the Black roots of a very white genre. She would become the first Black woman to co-write a number one country hit — Trisha Yearwood's “XXX's and OOO's.” She got her number one, made it big as a publisher, then got a little burned. So she assumed new roles. Randall has come to be viewed as a "griot" for the way she preserves and promotes the overlooked history of country music as laid out in her 2024 book "My Black Country." From her early days in Nashville learning the craft from Steve Earle to her evolution into a best-selling author and professor at Vanderbilt, she has her own remarkable stories to tell.This episode was produced by Blake Farmer.

We started the year with a strong roster of profile episodes, each featuring an outstanding guest with a story that's made a local impact.But six of them stood out to us, and we want to give listeners a recap. In today's episode we feature an Olympic Gold Medalist, a public school teacher who performs drag, one of the few Black artists to ever crack the Billboard country charts and more. So you can see why we had to make a profile playlist to recap the last couple of months. We cast a wide net when we search for profile candidates. And we had quite the catch.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan and Blake Farmer. 

Unemployment rates are still quite low. But they don't tell the whole story. The face of joblessness has changed in recent years. Mid-career professionals, six-figure family breadwinners, are finding themselves laid off or downsized and seeing far fewer options than they expected. We'll talk with some of them. Get some career coaching. And check in with a labor economist to understand what's going on here.  This episode was produced by Blake Farmer.Guests: Brett Kling, human resources information systems professional and job seeker Steve Jones, marketing and communications and job seeker Lynise Harris, professional executive coach and lead career coach at UpRise Nashville Lauren Kiproff-Downer, organizational development consultant at Perpara Organizational Development and facilitator of the career transitions group for Middle Tennessee SHRM Celeste Carruthers, professor and labor economist, University of Tennessee — Knoxville

Today we travel along with Music Citizens to go inside the highest stakes job in the industry – A&R.Through the lens and life of A&R lifer Kim Buie, we get to see that this glamorous job is mostly about losing: missing out on artists who become superstars (her near-miss tale of N.W.A. is amazing), knowing that the majority of albums you help shepherd into the world will flop, and being the person who has to say no to a musician's lifelong dream.Buie, and guests Stevo Robertson and Anay Richardson, explain what keeps them going, what shapes their tastes and how their approach to the job differs. It is the TikTok era after all.Guests Kim Buie, A&R veteran Anay Richardson, A&R coordinator, Prescription Songs Steve Robertson, Label founder & Co-president, Severance Records Music Citizens is a podcast series by WNXP and Nashville Public Radio about the people who make music work. Each episode will explore what it takes to do the jobs that keep the music business moving and introduce you to the characters who are often well known within their worlds but whose vital work goes largely uncelebrated. Listen to all episodes at wnxp.org.

Alex and Eiman Jahangir are brothers, doctors, and two of Nashville's most remarkable public servants.Both are physicians at Vanderbilt. Alex is an orthopedic surgeon who led the city's COVID-19 task force. Eiman is a cardiologist and lifelong space enthusiast who eventually got the chance to travel to space.The sons of Iranian immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as preschoolers, the brothers once believed they'd never return to Nashville after leaving for college and medical school together. But life had other plans. Today, the Jahangir brothers are deeply woven into the fabric of the city.

It's time for our weekly Roundabout where our panel with an assortment of viewpoints take on the headlines of the week. If you're wondering why there's so much talk about property taxes in Nashville, it's partly because 2025 taxes were due last week and a lot of homeowners and businesses simply can't afford it. It's hard to complain about the value of your property doubling or tripling in the last decade — but selling isn't a simple solution. There's new movement from local businesses pushing back, and the state legislature is advancing a cap on future increases. Today we dive deep into local issues including this considerable increase in property taxes, the risk of sinkholes from the tunnel construction and the proposed six-lane boulevard that's part of the East Bank development project.And we hear from you! Call 615-760-2000 with your question or comment during the show. Or, you can chime in on our live YouTube stream.Guests Cynthia Abrams, Metro Reporter, Nashville Public Radio Lauren Morales, Chief Operating Officer, TomKats Hospitality Tom Wills, Community Volunteer

This may be a healthcare town but, even here, figuring our way around the system – affordably – is a real challenge. And it's becoming a greater challenge for many people who've dropped coverage because the Affordable Care Act Marketplace has become anything but affordable. In this episode, we tour our federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) and community clinics, get some help for anyone without insurance who finds out they're pregnant, and learn the value of HealthQ.Guests:  Cara Anthony, HealthQ co-host and reporter, KFF Health News Katina Beard, CEO, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center Sade L Davis, board chair, Neighborhood Health Katie Richards, CEO, Siloam Health Dr. Rohini Chakravarthy, medical director, Vanderbilt's Shade Tree Clinic This episode was produced by Blake Farmer.

A glistening mane flowing over disproportionately top-heavy muscles, bulging under hairless and perfectly-tanned skin. This zeus of a man holds the tiniest of women, also top heavy and surely breathless. No shade on Fabio, but what about the rest of us? The romance genre is seeing a new era. Still every bit as fun — and hot — authors and readers are steering away from "inspiration porn" and towards experiences they understand. From swiftly expanding queer options, to body size and ability, to...merfolk...we've got your happily ever after.From romance book stores to dedicated book clubs to a genre-expanding author, this episode sheds light on why we're no longer hiding the covers of what we're reading, even in the traditionally conservative South.Guests• Tonya Pineda, owner, Slow Burn• Katie Garaby, coordinator, Between the Covers Romance Book Club• Caleb Haynes, romance novel enthusiast• Tracy Crum, newly self-published author of "On The Outside", a love story where disability isn't the tragedy

It started with one request to speak to a group of risk analysts. Former Vanderbilt nurse RaDonda Vaught reluctantly told her story on a stage for the first time — she was still on probation from her felony conviction."It was emotionally overwhelming and a little cathartic, but I'm gonna tell you, you could have heard a pin drop," Vaught tells This Is Nashville.She's gotten used to recounting the incident and the courtroom saga that followed, but she still chokes back tears when talking about the family of Charlene Murphey, the 75-year-old patient who died. Vaught's medication error, which involved overriding a safety system, resulted in losing her nursing license and being convicted of a felony."There won't ever be a day that goes by that I won't think of this. My life will never be the same," she says in a wide-ranging interview on her sheep farm in Sumner County.This episode was produced by Blake Farmer.

It's time for our weekly Roundabout, where our panel representing views across the political spectrum dives into the biggest headlines of the week. We take a deep look at new details surrounding immigration enforcement in Middle Tennessee, including an investigation by a media collaborative including Nashville Banner, as well as challenges to marriage equality and gender-affirming surgeries. We also discuss the latest developments with the underground Tesla loop. And we hear from you! Call 615-760-2000 with your question of comment. You can also chime in on our live YouTube stream.Guests Sarah Grace Taylor, reporter, Nashville Banner Bill Phillips, former deputy mayor for Bill Purcell and John Cooper, Republican analyst Sophie Esteves Varvella Vicente, MDiv student, Vanderbilt Divinity School

Mayor Freddie O'Connell is back for another edition of Ask the Mayor.We've been through a lot since he was on the show last month. Today we start with questions about the ongoing ice storm recovery and the official review of the city's response. Plus, property taxes, a change in leadership at NDOT, park recovery and debris removal.What are you wondering besides where on earth all the tree detritus is going? You can call in during the live show at 615-760-2000 or pop into chat on our YouTube stream.We end the hour with Curious Nashville and a mysterious bunker-looking structure at the edge of the international airport. What is it? We get some answers.Guests Freddie O'Connell, mayor, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Brent Freeman, deputy director, Metro Water Services Sonia Allman, public information officer. Metro Water Services

Independent theater could turn any one of us from a spectator into an on-stage participant.It provides a spotlight for people of all ages to share important human stories, build confidence and work as a team to create something that can touch us all. But theater — even on a shoestring — still takes space. And good luck finding an empty stage in a room with good acoustics (along with free parking). We're putting independent theater in center stage.Guests Anne Veal, Unscripted Improv Daniel Jones, Oz Arts, Kindling Arts Shawn Whitsell, Destiny Theatre Experience Bryce McDonald, Producing Director & CEO, Cumberland County Playhouse

People come to Nashville from all over the world to make country music. Rissi Palmer is one of the many. But she's also one of the few — one of the few to ever crack the Billboard country charts, and fewer still to do it as a Black woman.Nearly two decades ago, “Country Girl” announced her to the world. The song was a declaration that you don't have to be from Arkansas or speak with a drawl to belong in country music. She had a line in there that touched on race, too. Her label made her take it out.A lot has changed since then — and a lot hasn't. Country music is still working out who gets to belong, who gets to be heard, and who gets to tell their own story without compromise. Rissi Palmer has spent the better part of 20 years figuring out her own answer to those questions, and her new album “Perspectives” is where she lands.It's as country as anything she's ever made, but her music no longer backs away from her Blackness.In this conversation, Palmer talks about the long road from that first charting single to where she stands today — as an artist, an advocate, and the founder of Color Me Country Radio. She talks about what it took to stay in this industry on her own terms, what she wishes she'd known, and what “Perspectives” is really trying to say.This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi.

It's Thursday which means it's another edition of The Roundabout. Today we focus on race, DEI backlash, race and redevelopment. What's been your experience? How are you feeling about where the pendulum is swinging? It's a delicate conversation, handled with care — and requires your voice! We take your calls during the show at 615-760-2000 and you can also chime in on our live YouTube stream.Guests Angela Crumpton, Community Engagement Specialist, Black Mental Health Village Timothy D. Hughes, Interim president of the Nashville Branch of the NAACP; New commissioner on Mayor's Winter Storm Response Commission Amiee Sadler, LMSW, Executive Director, Miriam's Promise

Music put Nashville on the map. And specifically, it's our music museums putting us on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail map.Jefferson Street Sound Museum and the new Museum of Gospel and Christian Music have just been added to the must-see landmarks — joining the National Museum of African American Music. Today, we go for a trifecta, visiting all three in one hour.This episode was produced by Blake Farmer and Mary Mancini.Guests Lorenzo Washington, founder, curator and president, Jefferson Street Sound Museum Karen Coffey, vice president, Jefferson Street Sound Museum Bill Jeffries, executive director, National Museum of African American Music Romello Smith, artist relations and fan engagement, National Museum of African American Music Jackie Patillo, Gospel Music Association Doe, recording artist Steve Gilreath, executive director, Museum of Gospel and Christian Music

Crime is down — way down. But many of us don't feel safe.At least that's what the latest survey data tells us. What's going on there? Do you feel safe in your city? What are you worried about? What have you seen that has you looking over your shoulder? We're exploring this contradiction on the show today. Guests with lived experience and professional backgrounds in criminal justice and anxiety are here to answer your questions. Our phone lines are open at 615-760-2000 and you can also pop in chat on our live YouTube stream!This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests  Lonnell Matthews, Metro Nashville Juvenile Court Clerk Stephanie Nesbitt, North Nashville Resident Emily DeSalvatore, Licensed Behavioral Therapist, Nashville Anxiety

The annual State of the Child Report released by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth shows fewer kids are living in poverty.The report also indicates academic improvement post-pandemic, particularly in TCAP Math scores. However, mental health remains a concern, as does the integration of technology in everyday life. On today's show, we speak with representatives from Tennessee state government and also focus on School Choice legislation impacting public school funding. This is a roundabout edition of This Is Nashville. Join the conversation by calling 615-760-2000 or pop into chat on our YouTube livestream.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests Camellia Burris, WPLN Education Reporter Kylie Graves, Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth Director of Data, Policy, & Communications Chelsea Crawford, TennesseeCAN Executive Director Maryam Abolfazli, Rise and Shine Tennessee Founder

As of this month, nearly 400,000 immigrants have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.And ICE continues to carry out public raids and individual seizures across the country. As their tactics become more aggressive, we look at the rights of the detained, of witnesses and of property and business owners. We also take a closer look at the immigration legislation beginning to be debated in the Tennessee General Assembly. Call 615-760-2000 during the show — or pop into the chat on our YouTube stream — to ask questions and share your insights.Guests Judith Clerjeune, Advocacy Director, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Luis Pedraza, Music City Migrawatch Emily Stotts, Legal Director, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors

We just lived through the same crisis — an ice storm that froze Nashville in place for the better part of a week and caused the worst power outage the city has ever seen. While we all experienced it, everyone's experience was different, even from one neighbor to the next. Some lost power for two weeks. Others had lights and heat the whole time. Some had trees split their home in two. Others just had to clean up a few sticks. Some had frozen pipes that left them homeless. Others were already unhoused and “remarkably unbothered” by the cold.The ice storm of 2026 will become a core memory for many of us. For others, the outages and related damage is the least of our problems. Reactions have ranged from anger to empathy and resignation to activation. Today, we're doing a bit of an autopsy on the emotional anatomy of a collective crisis. We'll look at how we should process all that these last two weeks brought up, and we're taking your calls later in the hour.GuestsKate Martin, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP, The EstuaryAshley Hampton, Director, Healing In The MarginsAnita Richardson, native Nashvillian and new participant in the NES solar programRev. Dr. Kate Fields, Associate Chaplain for Community Life and Justice Ministry, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church

Chef Ericka Fizer made it her life's work to take care of others even as she endured her own hardships — starting with feeding her siblings when she was growing up. Her mother was frequently absent, battling addiction. Fizer overcame her own challenges but never saw herself as a victim of her circumstances. Then on Easter Sunday 2024, her restaurant was the site of a mass shooting. In trying to stop the violence, she was wounded and became a survivor. Part of her recovery has included telling her own story. She talks to “This Is Nashville” about resilience, breaking cycles and the art of failing.

The streets are lined with trunks and limbs awaiting pickup. The power is back on for most — though not all. And the ice and snow is largely gone.But the response is going to be discussed and debated for a long time to come and we start in this episode with our roundabout panel: columnist Bruce Barry of the Tennessee Lookout, WPLN's Metro Reporter Cynthia Abrams and attorney Rita Roberts-Turner, former chief of staff for a former Nashville mayor.Plus, we take your questions and comments at 615-760-2000 or pop into chat on our YouTube stream!Guests Cynthia Abrams, Metro Reporter, WPLN Bruce Barry, columnist, Tennessee Lookout Rita Roberts-Turner, attorney, Klein, Solomon Mills; former chief of staff for a former Nashville mayor

It's the 10-year anniversary of Curious Nashville and we're revisiting some of the weirdest and most surprising questions you've asked. This means we're going underground to a fallout shelter, to the top of a skyscraper, and in between we'll visit beehives, talk about dump trucks, and revisit some infamous pranksters. In this ep, you get to go behind the scenes of the reporting with WPLN Metro Reporter Cynthia Abrams and host Tony Gonzalez.Curious Nashville is powered by listener questions — and what you ask often leads to wonderful stories, fascinating characters and even more curiosity about the community around us. Have a curious question? Hit us up at wpln.org/curious-nashville

We grapple with our precious and destructive trees.Winter storm Fern may have been misnamed because it was actually hardwoods and hackberries wreaking so much havoc. The local canopy will never be the same. And for those of us who lived through this storm, we may never again see limbs near power lines as non-threatening.Today, we talk about protecting our trees and our power grid, plus we take your pressing questions about storm insurance claims.Guests Kevin Walters, Spokesperson, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Chris Leonard, Board Chair, Tree Conservation Corps Daniel Pittman, Local Claims Adjuster, Goodman-Gable-Gould/Adjusters International

This city isn't known as an ice skating mecca. Far from it.There were only a couple of places to even lace up and glide until a few years ago. But this is where Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton decided to relocate as he wrapped up his skating career. As the 2026 Winter Olympic Games approach, we thought it best to talk to someone with firsthand experience about what it's like to skate under those lights with the whole world watching. Scott Hamilton is a 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games Olympic Gold Medalist. He joins us to talk about his Nashville story, his unlikely skating career and his turn to philanthropy and faith. 

Life is starting to get back to normal for some, but not nearly for all.Power restoration is still slow-going in some communities. One in five homes in Nashville is still in the dark and cold. And in some parts of town, work has hardly begun. This hour, we're going to get an update about the arrival of the National Guard, hear about schools running out of snow days, and learn the warning signs about carbon monoxide poisoning. Plus we'll visit Brown's Diner where they're emptying the freezer before it goes bad — and we remember the ice storm of 1994. It's another recovery show.After the live show ends, tune into the latest Mayor's News Conference.Guests:  Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D), Tennessee House Representative, District 59 Camellia Burris, WPLN Education Reporter John Isbell, Sumner County Mayor Rose Gilbert, WPLN General Assignment Reporter Nadine Moore, Birria Babe Owner Justin Barney, WPLN Music Reporter

Multiple days without power is taking its toll on both our spirits and on Middle Tennessee's infrastructure.Water main breaks and power loss to pumping stations is causing more water outages as Nashville thaws and nearly 100,000 people are still in the dark with no heat. Many residents are at a loss for what to do next.In this episode, we air Metro Nashville's daily press conference live from Mayor Freddie O'Connell's office, a live interview with Metro Water Services deputy director Brent Freeman, a few hotel dispatches and a check-in on our tiniest (and cutest) residents.Guests Dale Grimes, mayor of Oak Hill Leesa LeClaire, President and CEO, Greater Nashville Hospitality Association Brent Freeman, deputy director & Sonia Harvat, Public Information Officer, Metro Water Services Cynthia Abrams, WPLN Metro Reporter

It's day two of our live coverage of the large-scale snow and ice storm affecting all of Middle Tennessee.Hundreds of thousand Middle Tennesseans remain in the dark and cold. As crew members work to restore the power grid to normal operations, we bring you answers to FAQ and the latest on where the region stands in terms of power and emergency management.Guests Brent Baker, Vice President and Chief Customer Innovation Officer, Nashville Electric Service (NES) Amy Byers, Marketing & PR coordinator, Middle Tennessee Electric Alex Pellom, Chief of Staff, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA)

A large-scale snowstorm crippled much of the nation over the weekend, including all of Middle Tennessee."This Is Nashville" provided live updates about downed power lines, safety tips, and where to go to warm up. As outages persist statewide, electric companies are working around the clock to ensure power is restored as swiftly as possible. In this episode, we hear from locals and WPLN reporters about the latest. We also take your calls. The number to reach us is 615-760-2000.Guests:  Justin Barney, WPLN Music Reporter Catherine Sweeney, WPLN Health Reporter

This week, our Roundabout panel discusses President Donald Trump's second first year.Have we entered “The golden age of America” as President Trump said during his inauguration speech — or something else entirely? Immigration policy. The economy. Military action in foreign lands. We break it all down. Plus, we want to hear from you. Call 615-760-2000 during the live show or pop into chat on our YouTube stream to weigh in with your question or comment.Guests:Mike Floss, Co-founder, Southern Movement CommitteeIan Shapiro, PhD, Political Science, Tennessee State UniversityChris Walker, Founding partner, The Poplar Group

It's hard to make heads or tails of the housing market in Nashville.You've got McMansions sitting for months and starter homes swept up in a flash. If you're selling you're a little nervous. If you're buying, you're also a little nervous. Can it really be that you need a six-figure income to be a homeowner in Middle Tennessee? We've got your market report. A homebuyer, a real estate agent, an academic and a policy maker. And you. We're taking your calls today. Join our real estate reality check.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests Kenneth Chilton, TSU Professor of Public Administration Dexter Evans, active homebuyer Gabriela Lira, Real Estate Agent, The Lira Group Rollin Horton, Nashville Metro Councilmember (District 20)

We bring Leonard Slatkin to our podium on the eve of his first performance in this new era at the helm of the Nashville Symphony. He's one of the most prominent American conductors of our time, and he's back in town 20 years after serving a similar interim period between permanent conductors. We get reacquainted, talk about the state of classical music and take your calls live later in the show at 615-760-2000.This episode was produced by host Blake Farmer.

The Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes for another session this week. Today we take you inside the halls of power to preview the key issues, potential legislation and the political dynamics that will shape the next few months – and our state's future. We hear from reporters who offer insights into what's at stake and break down major topics expected to dominate the conversation in the coming months — from school vouchers and immigration policy to targeting drag shows. It's a lot. And we want to hear from you: What issues are important to you? And what do you want from lawmakers in the coming months? Join the conversation by calling 615-760-2000.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests Sam Stockard, Reporter and Columnist, Tennessee Lookout Marianna Bacallao, State Legislature Reporter, WPLN Mandy Spears, Executive vice president, The Sycamore Institute

Is Major League Baseball on the horizon? Women's basketball? Nascar?Today we check in on the professional sports eco-system in Nashville: baseball, football, soccer, how far hockey has come — and the $2 billion dome going up for a team that's coming off one of its worst seasons to date.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests: Emma May-Bradley, Co-founder, Playmakers; sports marketing professional David Boclair, Veteran Nashville sports reporter, host of First & Tenn pod and Digital Producer for Nashville Banner Will General, Director of Marketing, Music City Baseball Johari Matthews, Vice President & Executive Director of ONE Community & Titans Foundation, Board of Directors,  Playmakers Nate Rau, Axios Nashville Erin Ryder, Professor of Practice, Department of Sport Administration, Belmont University; Co-founder,  Playmakers

It might be hard to believe after a visit to Lower Broadway, but fewer people are drinking these days – at least that's what folks are telling pollsters.According to Gallup, people say they are abstaining from alcohol more now than in the past 85 years. Besides being generally better for your health, going booze-free has become fashionable. On today's show, we're exploring what it looks like to dry out in a drinking town – from non-alcoholic alternatives to navigating a wet world while sober.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests: Michael Caldwell, MD, Meharry Medical College Stephanie Styll, Killjoy Booze-Free Beverage Shop Owner Ian Cox, Milestone Brands (Empress 0.0 Indigo Gin) Hal Tayip, Titans Enthusiast, Kurdish American Further reading:  WPLN: Navigating Nashville's nightlife scene while sober WPLN: Out, About: You don't need a drink in Nashville to have fun!  The Tennessean: Why NA drinks, mocktails can be tricky for those of us in recovery

What kind of person can light up the stage at the Lipstick Lounge and a 7th-grade classroom?A genuine original named Benjamin Slinkard, that's who. Ben, also known as Kennedy Ann Scott, is the 2022 Metro Schools Teacher of the Year. Kennedy Ann is a local favorite drag queen and community staple. Today, we chat with Benjamin about growing up in a small Missouri town, the birth and longevity of Kennedy Ann, and the life experiences that connect the two.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

Today our Roundabout panel of guests focuses exclusively on Venezuela, breaking down the consequences of the president's capture and the potential impact felt here Middle Tennessee.And we take your calls. Are you celebrating the fall of a dictator? Concerned about what comes next? Confused about how this impacts our Venezuelan neighbors? Call 615-760-2000 to join the conversation.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

Freddie O'Connell is back for the first “Ask the Mayor” of 2026!Today, along with your questions, we'll ask him about East Bank development, the main Public Library branch, racing at The Fairgrounds and more.Plus, the phone lines will stay open for you to shout out your upcoming community event. Joining us to talk about WPLN's weekly event amplification, What Where Whens-day, is curator and WNXP music director Marquis Munson.Call 615-760-2000 — or pop your question or event into chat — we're streaming live today at youtube.com/@wpln.Guests Freddie O'Connell, Mayor, Metro Nashville and Davidson County Marquis Munson, What Where When-sday curator and WNXP music director

Shape-note singing is one of the oldest musical traditions in this country. It's a practice that began in colonial America, and after centuries of ups and downs in popularity, today it's finding an expanded and surprisingly diverse new following. And some of its singers believe the music can teach democracy a thing or two.Join hosts Laura Atkinson and Justin Hicks as they trace the shape-note tradition from its origins 200 years ago to the largest Sacred Harp singing in living memory. “Shapes of America” is a special from Louisville Public Media and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom.

Our guest this hour is the frontman of the punk rock trio The RIP Taylors. Their latest album – Negativity Bias – has songs with titles like “I still don't believe in you,” “I gotta bad attitude,” and “I'm not like…ya know…whatever.” It's the passion project of Mikey Noechel, who thinks a lot about our state of mind. He's a Buddhist teacher who guides the Wild Heart Meditation Center on the east side. From ritzy retreat halls to Riverbend Maximum Security Prison, he's teaching mindfulness wherever he finds himself. And he's helping us face the new year together. 

Although This Is Nashville broadcasts from our studios in Metrocenter, sometimes we let the producers out in the wild to collect tape.If editors find it compelling enough, producers develop a feature out of what they collected. On today's best-of edition of This Is Nashville, we take a behind-the-scenes look at what went into producing some of 2025's feature stories that aired both during the show and on the news side.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests Tasha A.F. Lemley, This Is Nashville Managing Editor Josh Deepan, This Is Nashville Multimedia Producer Mary Mancini, This Is Nashville Multimedia Producer Featuring Harm reduction in Tennessee: a week of perspectives How the Eviction Right to Counsel Program supports evictees Neither 'Monkeytown' nor Bible thumpers

Every week This is Nashville presents The Roundabout where we bring together a panel of guests spanning the political spectrum to unpack the week's biggest news and hear directly from listeners across Middle Tennessee. For this special “Best of…” episode we revisit some of the most timely conversations, surprising moments of agreement, and thoughtful opinions.Featuring How will Vanderbilt answer Trump? with Marianna Bacallao, state legislative reporter, WPLN; Rep. Jody Barrett, state house representative; Bruce Barry, Vanderbilt professor;  Tennessee Lookout contributor Vouchers with Maryam Abolfazli, founder of Rise & Shine TN; Shaka Mitchell, Sr. Fellow for the American Federation for Children; Pat Nolan, political analyst and retired journalist The real-world economy with Molly Davis, Reporter, The Tennessean; Kara Smith, PhD, Belmont University Professor of Economics; Mandy Spears, Executive Vice President, The Sycamore Institute Southern Christians and the death penalty with Liam Adams, religion reporter, Tennessean; Russell Moore, Editor at-large of Christianity Today; Dr. Phillis Sheppard, professor of religion and psychology, Vanderbilt University

A songwriter who climbed out of the shadow of her first song, a nonprofit leader who refuses to see his own disability, a restaurateur with a hot take on tourism, a humorist who leaned into her heritage, a forward-thinking physician who rediscovered her mom's remedies, and the sentimental saint of the Opry. It's the best of our weekly profile interviews, all in one episode. Further listening: Tia Sillers Fred Bailey Tom Morales Andi Marie Tillman Dr. Britt Stone Whisperin' Bill Anderson

Nashville has a long history of celebrating the holidays with musical performances.Nashville has a long history of celebrating the holidays with musical performances. Belmont's Christmas Eve concert played on their tower's 42-bell carillon dates back to 1929. Amy and Vince have been gracing the Ryman Stage since 2008. Today we feature holiday music traditions that exist beyond the mainstream, in pockets throughout the city. A Longest Night Solstice Eve gathering and Moon Requiem at St. Augustine's. A sampler of holiday songs released by indie label yk Records. And a holiday shopping anthem by local Post-punk/power-pop legends, Tower Defense.Guests Michael Eades, Owner, YK Records Jereme Frey | Drummer, Tower Defense Mike Shepherd | Guitar, Tower Defense Rev. Scott Owings | Associate Chaplain and Pastoral Leadership, St. Augustine's Christopher Roberts

If you see a man with three, maybe four cameras hanging around his neck, odds are you've crossed paths with Ray Di Pietro.He's literally taken millions of photos of Nashville, documenting anything from historic moments to flowers on the sidewalk. He follows three mantras in his profession: do the work, show up, and be kind. Now, he shows up in our studio to kindly share what makes him so passionate about his work in Nashville and how a visual rendition of the city's history adds to the local fabric. This episode was produced by Josh Deepan.Guest: Ray Di Pietro, photojournalist

Mary Elizabeth Vinett died on November 21, 2025, and her family decided her 90 years on the planet deserved more than the average obituary. So they tried to capture her essence starting with the first paragraph. "Beth was loved by all, perhaps because she was so outrageously funny," they wrote. "A storyteller extraordinaire who changed the essence of a room just by entering it. She smoked with a style and elegance that made you wonder why you ever quit."May we all be remembered so colorfully.The end of the year puts us in a reflective mood, so collectively we're remembering those we've lost in Middle Tennessee during 2025. With the help of listeners submitting one-minute memorials or calling in live, we're celebrating long lives and lives cut short and remembering their contributions to our community, large and small.   Plus, a visit to the East Nashville wind telephone, where calls connect to lost loved ones.Guests: Christal Pennic, therapist and founder of The Grief Center Almeta Slater-Rogers, founder and CEO of UnSaid Memories  Further reading: Jen Alexander Bobby Cain Dot Dobbins Lucille Duke Vincent Martin Marquez Ruel Oquindo Marjorie Pisapia Mary Elizabeth Vinett Ridley Wills II  

A simple aluminum pole. The annual airing of grievances. The legendary feats of strength. It can only mean one thing: It's Festivus - the holiday for the rest of us. And to kick the Festivus season off right this year,  Mayor Freddie O'Connell will be here to take your questions and comments…and maybe demonstrate a few feats of strength. Now, the very first Festivus may not have included Ask the Mayor…or the Muppets…or 8 french horns…but ours does. It's Festivus for the Rest of Us!Call 615-760-2000 to ask Freddie — or pop your question into chat — we're streaming live today at youtube.com/@wpln.Special thanks to Mark Lemley and Daniel Jones.Guests Freddie O'Connell, Mayor, Metro Nashville and Davidson County Nashville Horn Hang Elaine Braun - Conductor  Rich Davis  Leigh-Anne Eftychiou  Walter Everton  Clare Gibson  Julia Hedrick  Tim Mullican  Kent Stewart  Glenn Trew   Kindling Arts Festival takes on The Muppets Christmas Carol Emma Supica (Gonzo)  Cammie York (Rizzo)  Seth Nathan Green (Kermit)    

It's Curious Nashville: where WPLN News answers your questions about Middle Tennessee and takes you on a monthly adventure to find answers. Today we're shining a light on an obscure album recorded in Nashville more than 50 years ago that features a Christmas choir performing inside the lobby of a downtown bank. Astute local listener Matthew Bond came across the record two decades ago and wondered: Why did a bank form a choir? And what were their performances like? In today's story, we revisit the city's banking history and learn just how popular an all-volunteer choir became.We're also talking with two gurus of Christmas music collecting, and taking your calls and questions — live!Guest experts on Christmas music: Andy Cirzan, Jam Productions senior vice president Howard Petruziello, Red Light Management / ATO Records Justin Barney, WPLN News music reporter Further listening:Sound Opinions: Andy Cirzan's 2023 Holiday Spectacular