This Is Nashville

It's fair season and we're digging in to give you a taste of what's coming up.Fairs celebrate the local community with exhibits, show animals, fried food and, of course, thrilling rides and tricky games. Today we look at the tradition through the eyes of its people and performers. We meet folks who've been around the circuit for a while as well as a few first-timers. Plus, we track down a vendor dreaming up this year's must-try bite.The Williamson County fair is going on now but wrapping up Saturday. The Wilson County - Tennessee State Fair kicks off tomorrow. And the rest will start up in September. You can keep in the know at the Tennessee Association of Fairs.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests: Sarah Fast, Faster Pastures Maddi Minnear, American Highland Cattle Association Junior Lance Alleman, William Morris Endeavor Amy Pilkinton Ashby, Pageant Director, Dickson County Fairest of the Fair Tashonnie Brooks, Queen of the Dickson County Fair 2025 Lisa LaGrange, D n L Concessions

The headlines: A remembrance of Martha Ingram with Alan Valentine and Mac Pirkle and a live interview with Charlie Hatcher, the Republican who upset Congressman Andy Ogles.The newsmaker: General Sessions Court Judge Ana Escobar discusses Athena's Court, a decade-old program designed to identify human trafficking survivors in the court system and connect them with support and services.The tastemaker: Writer and Author Joe Pagetta tells us about The Indefatigable Life and Ministry of Father Aloysius Orengo, the Italian priest who faced war, hardship and dangerous anti-Catholic vitriol as a missionary in Tennessee.

You could count Zack Slingsby as one of Nashville's Covid-era transplants. He moved his family – now with five kids – from New Jersey to Franklin. After years of building a company that makes videos for big brands, he's branched out to producing comedy and running a production space called Bungalow Studios. Now he's up against all the dumb videos that make their way to being viewed millions of times, trying to see if scripted comedy can compete in our social media algorithms. We talk to him about King Jester and his debut novel.

It's back to school time for millions of kids in America. We want to highlight local issues on parents' minds now — and hear from you. We're talking education-related issues including vouchers, safety, bus driver shortages and AI. Something specific on your mind? Give us a call and we will include you on the show. That number is 615-760-2000. You can also watch live and chime in on YouTube.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests: Camellia Burris, WPLN Education Reporter Maryam Abolfazli, Rise and Shine TN Walter Blanks Jr., founder, The Legacy Society

The storied history and cultural significance of the Cheekwood estate is beyond dispute. But as the home, gardens and galleries continue to attract more and more visitors, it has created a feud with neighbors that the nonprofit says is threatening its future.It's been said that to fully understand the history of Cheekwood, you have to begin with Leslie Cheek and Mabel Wood. After marrying in 1896 and securing a fortune from the sale of Maxwell House Coffee Company, they built the house as a family estate. Donated in 1960 to the newly established non-profit, Tennessee Botanical Gardens and Fine Arts Center (now known as Cheekwood Estate & Gardens) by the Cheek's daughter, Hulda, and her husband, Walter Sharp, the attraction has since grown in size and popularity. Today we explore Cheekwood's history, the genealogy of the Cheek family as well as their latest chapter – a dispute with Belle Meade neighbors who argue, among other things, that traffic to the property already exceeds recommended volumes for neighborhood streets.Guests: Joe Altman, Resident, Belle Meade Highlands Charles Birnbaum, President, The Cultural Landscape Foundation Austin Hornbostel, Metro Reporter, Tennessean Jane O. MacLeod, President & CEO, Cheekwood Correction: Cheekwood's MOU with Metro requires visitor parking to move off parks land by December 2027, not 2026. 

The headlines: WPLN's Marianna Bacallao and Chloe Akers of The Best of Tennessee talk about the governor's rase, surprisingly high turnout and the overlooked importance of voting in Tennessee primaries.The newsmaker: Assistant federal defender Kit Thomas discusses the scheduled execution of Darrell Hines August 13 and how a botched lethal injection from May has informed the legal strategy for his last days.The tastemaker: Restaurateur Chen Chen explains how his Asian-inspired Nashville Hot Chicken took off in Toronto and then made its way back to his hometown.

In this episode, we bring together a titan of the Nashville business community and an oracle of the city's nonprofits. And it was pretty easy because they're married. Hal Cato and Michael Burcham are one of Nashville's power couples. Hal is the big-hearted optimist. Michael is the stop-at-nothing-to-reach-his-goal entrepreneur. They join Blake to share their love story, beautifully complimentary careers, insights on lending their talents to our community and how their own outsider stories shaped their lives and careers.

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. Call 615-760-2000 during the live show to join the conversation or pop into chat on our YouTube stream!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.

Today we bring sexy back with highlights from NextAge season 2 — our series on intimacy and aging.From vibrator jokes with the Jugg Sisters to the late-in-life realization that you've been intimate with another person for the last time, this series has no shortage of spicy, poignant, and revelatory moments. Series editor LaTonya Turner joins host Blake Farmer to revisit his most blush-worthy moments, along with a few surprising and poignant ones.This episode was produced by Blake Farmer.NextAge is a special series about growing older in the 21st century — and how Middle Tennesseans are reframing aging. Listen now to all episodes.This season of NextAge is made possible by a grant from the West End Home Foundation — Advancing Aging with Dignity and Strengthening Communities — and by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

As he does each month, Mayor Freddie O'Connell is here to take your questions and to hear your comments.It's been a busy summer. Today we jump in with the latest on data center regulation, police surveillance tech, Cheekwood tension and the Boring tunnel. There are points of tension we will ask about. But so much flies under the radar. This is your moment to make Nashville's leader aware of what's going on. Or get a question answered.Plus, This is Curious Nashville takes up a question about the ubiquitous kudzu — an aggressive, invasive vine that grows so prominently in our region. WUOT reporter and host Jacqui Sieber and WPLN editor and Curious Nashville host Tony Gonzalez answer, hoe did kudzu first get introduced to the area? Guests: Freddie O'Connell, mayor, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

Union Station has a lot of unique attributes. And no, we're not talking about the fact that it doesn't serve any train lines.If you look up at the top of the clock tower, you'll see a two-dimensional rendition of Mercury, the Roman Messenger God. That's not the original, though. The first Mercury was 3D and mounted near the turn of the century, where it stood for nearly fifty years until heavy wind gusts knocked it off its fastening.Listener Christina phoned into Curious Nashville and asked this question:"It was Mercury, and it was there until the renovation, and until Union Station became a hotel, and it came down, was never put back up...we have a very primitive replica, I think, up there but, the original? I'm wondering where it could be!"  Maybe it was sent off for scraps, or placed in a warehouse to collect dust. Either way, it got the Curious team interested.Guests: Josh Deepan, This Is Nashville Multimedia Producer Jessica Hanson, Meharry Medical College Historian and Archivist Kem Hinton, Architect Randy Diamond, Retired Architect

Where do you go after reaching the pinnacle of your profession? What if you were forced out of that job? For former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, his second act steered him to academia. In 2014, he moved to Middle Tennessee to become dean of a law school that was just getting off the ground at Belmont University. In this episode, the Honorable Alberto Gonzales in a live, career-spanning interview – from the child of migrant workers in Humble, Texas, to the most powerful attorney in America, to making a new life in Nashville.This episode was produced by Blake Farmer. 

A review by the non-profit Nashville Police and Public Safety Alliance reveals nine of Nashville's geographic, demographic, and economic peer cities –– including Austin, Denver, and Charlotte –– are using policing technologies far more extensively than we are.Even cities in our surrounding counties, such as Mt. Juliet, have adopted technologies like license plate readers, drones and real-time video and data integration platforms. Today we look at how law, policy and rural-urban divide shape the adoption of this technology. How do we balance the adoption of this new and emerging tech while protecting the right to privacy and due process?We also have phones and livestream open as well. Give us a call at 615-760-2000 or watch and chime in on YouTube.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini & Emily West.Guests: Emily Benedict, Metro Councilmember, District 7 Greg Blair, Deputy Chief, MNPD Matthew Guariglia, senior policy analyst, Electronic Frontier Foundation Emily West, Criminal Justice Reporter, WPLN

Primary elections for governor, the Tennessee State House, and congressional seats are just around the corner, with early voting beginning Friday. That means it's time to start paying attention — not just to the names on the ballot, but to the races that will shape the state for years to come.Whether you follow politics every day or are afraid to look at your ballot, our goal is to make the election a little easier to understand before you head to the polls.Guests: Marianna Bacallao, state legislative reporter, WPLN Dr. Ian Shapiro, political scientist, Tennessee State University Eli Motycka, reporter, Nashville Scene

Like we need one more thing to worry about. Microplastics are showing up in high levels in Middle Tennessee.The Cumberland River is at the top end of American rivers. The Tennessee River is off the charts. Ok, how concerned should we be? We're going to discuss with some experts as well as talk about cutting back on how much plastic we're using – wouldn't hurt, right? We'll open the phones as well as tee up the YouTube livestream. Give us a call at 615-760-2000 or watch on YouTube here. This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests  Dr. Eva Parker, VUMC Dermatologist Ryan Jackwood, Harpeth River Conservancy Director of Watershed Science Stephanie Roach, Urban Green Lab Assistant Director of Special Initiatives

Justin Lee Williams didn't set out to become an in-demand line dancing instructor.Actually, it was a real estate career that didn't quite materialize, resulting in a fall-back job at a Boot Barn with a side gig teaching bachelorettes to boot, scoot and boogie. Then came the viral video shared by Shania Twain, and the rest has been a rocketship ride.Nothing gets timid dancers out onto a vacant dance floor like a well-known line dance so, today we're learning how a Black man from Pulaski saw an opening to bring us together over scissor steps and shuffles.

As the cost of home ownership grows beyond the reach of a single family, multiple generations are finding ways to live together and split that mortgage.Cohabitating sure has its benefits, but nothing is perfect. In this episode, we speak with real estate agents, city planners and locals with lived experience about the ups and downs of having two or more generations under one roof. We're also taking your calls. So, if you have your own experience to share, you can reach us during the live show at 615-760-2000 or pop into chat on our YouTube livestream.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan.Guests: Liz Bottiggi and Lesa Cannon, North Nashville Residents Greg Claxton, Metro Nashville City Planner Kristen Darden, Real Estate Agent Kay Bowers, Nesterly Community Liaison

How do we honor people who were enslaved when the enslavers are at the center of so much of our history?For generations, Nashville's portrayals of its Black history has lacked accuracy, as institutions have shied away from the legacy of American slavery.Today, we look at three well-known historical sites in Middle Tennessee: The Hermitage, Fort Negley and Travellers Rest. All have made recent efforts to adjust how they portray their history — but not everyone is satisfied with the approach.This episode was produced by Cynthia Abrams.Guests: Jamel Campbell-Gooch, community organizer and descendant of Esquire Hayes, who was enslaved at The Hermitage Dr. Aisha Francis, president of Franklin Cummings Tech and descendant of Hiram and Eveline Overton, who were enslaved at Travellers Rest Dr. Angela Sutton, Vanderbilt historian who studies Fort Negley Eola Lewis Dance, ethnohistorian and former CEO of James Madison's Montpelier

The tank is full. The open road calling.Before you hit the highway, though, you have to make a few decisions about what you want to see, how much you can spend to get there and where to stop for snacks.Today, we look at the economics of a road trip: the local, national, and global events and factors driving gas prices; how places like Buc-ee's (aka the “Beaver Industrial Complex”) and Dolly's Travel Stop drive business beyond the pump; and what's new to see and do in Tennessee.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests: Megan Cooper, AAA spokesperson Chason Gordon, Texas Brands Reporter for Chron.com Jill Kilgore, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Daniel J Smith, Professor of Economics & Director Political Economy Research Institute, MTSU

A quote got back to Allison Russell from her daughter talking to the daughter of another artist: My mommy “just sings sad songs about her sad past.” She did win a GRAMMY for a song she describes as an open letter to her adopted father — a white supremacist — who abused her throughout her childhood. “Do you hate, or do you lust?” she sings in "Eve was Black."Always attuned to prophetic words, she accepted the challenge.On her new album releasing July 10, Allison Russell remains perfectly poignant but a bit more playful. She even includes her daughter's school choir from the Explore! Community School in East Nashville on the first track.There's only one track on "In the Hour of Chaos" that doesn't include at least one collaborator, which is no surprise to Nashville Public Radio's senior music writer Jewly Hight, who calls Russell "the consummate collaborator." Aside from the school choir, Norah Jones, Devon Gilfillian, Joy Oladokun, Brittney Spencer and Sara Watkins all appear on the new album.Russell calls her circle of friends and collaborators "the Rainbow Coalition." And as you'll learn in this interview, you may already be part of the coalition and just don't know it yet.

Nationally, sparkler injuries accounted for 1,700 ER visits in 2024. This year, without much debate, the state legislature passed a new law this year allowing convenience stores to sell sparklers year round. Today we spend some time talking about fireworks safety and alternatives to pyrotechnics—including swarm drones in Clarksville.And we're prepping for tonight's hike in Shelby Bottoms for World UFO Day. Is actual nightlife may be more interesting than the UFO encounters? Plus, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell is attempting to use eminent domain to kill an AI data center planned near the Nashville Zoo. We get the latest details and delve into the politics that might be motivating this unprecedented move.Guests: Caroline Eggers, environmental reporter, WPLN Stephen Elliott, metro reporter, Nashville Banner Michael Hunter, Clarksville Parks and Recreation Hazel Miller, naturalist, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center Dr. Anne Wagner, director, Vanderbilt Burn Center

It's been twenty years since the first Music City Hot Chicken Festival. Today, we get a little spicy with founder former mayor Bill Purcell and second generation proprietor of Prince's Hot Chicken Andre Prince.Plus, retiring state house representative Caleb Hemmer joins for an exit interview. And Anita Wadhwani shares the latest on sick and disabled kids with questionable immigration status being turned over to authorities. A judge considers their fate this week.Live streaming available at youtube.com/@wpln and at wpln.org. All episodes also available through our podcast feed.Guests: Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-59), Tennessee State House Andre Prince, second-generation proprietor, Prince's Hot Chicken Bill Purcell, former mayor, founder Nashville Hot Chicken festival Anita Wadhwani, senior reporter, Tennessee Lookout

 A batch of new laws take effect July 1, including rules that will reshape Tennessee's burgeoning hemp business. Many hemp producers are heading to friendlier states, but one explains why he's committed to stay despite tighter restrictions on THC.We drop in on Monday night's town hall organized by the NAACP Nashville chapter about the data center planned for Fisk University's historic campus. Some attendees left with more questions than answers, irritated that organizers did not allow the audience to speak.And we remember two community members who made an outsized impact. Nashville hip-hop artist Daisha McBride memorializes her friend, hit producer Tay Keith, with the mid-flight backstory of her "Birds" remix. And retired journalist Dwight Lewis details the contributions of Tennessee Tribune founder Rosetta Miller-Perry.Stream live at youtube.com/@wpln and wpln.org. The podcast is available after the live show airs.Guests: Marianna Bacallao, state legislative reporter, WPLN Camellia Burris, education reporter, WPLN Matthew Chapman, president and CTO, LabCanna Dwight Lewis, retired journalist

If you are taking care of a child and you have a parent over 65, you're among millions across the U.S. in the same life stage.Nearly a quarter of all American adults — and half of all adults in their 40s — fall into this “sandwich generation” category, according to Pew research. And being in the middle of that sandwich can feel ... intense.HealthQ hosts Cara Anthony of KFF Health News and Blake Farmer of Nashville Public Radio, both in the sandwich generation themselves, are your approachable guides to an unapproachable healthcare system. In this one-hour special about navigating health and caregiving, they tap researchers, physicians, experts, and their own personal experience to explore: Identity: When to start calling yourself a caregiver, and why it matters. FMLA: How to start a conversation with your boss about taking federally protected leave from work. Kids and mental health: How to know it's time to take an anxious child to therapy. Early-onset cancer: What you need to know about spotting diseases that are on the rise among people under 50. The HealthQ team acknowledges the messiness, the humor, and the beauty of this season of life. Come on the journey with us.Guests: Denise Brown, caregiving coach and founder of Caregiving Years Training Academy in Illinois Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families in Washington, D.C. Paris Goodyear-Brown, licensed clinical social worker in Franklin, Tennessee Dr. Veda Giri, director of the Early Onset Cancer Program at Yale Cancer Center This installment is part of HealthQ's reporting on caregiving among the sandwich generation. For more, check out the series wpln.org/healthq.HealthQ is a health series from reporters Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, approachable guides to an unapproachable healthcare system. It's a collaboration between Nashville Public Radio and KFF Health News.

Pride Month brings rainbow flags, parades, and celebration. But for many queer people in Middle Tennessee, it also raises a more complicated question: where do you actually belong the other eleven months of the year?Nashville has a long history of gathering places where queer residents can find community, visibility, and refuge. Some have endured for decades. Others have quietly faded or been displaced. The losses ripple through the communities that depend on them.Today we look past the festivities to examine something more fundamental: what it means for a space to feel safe, why these spaces matter so deeply to LGBTQ+ communities, and what is lost when they disappear. What emerges is a portrait of community infrastructure that often goes unacknowledged until it's gone—and what it takes to build it, sustain it, and fight for it.This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi.Guests: Sarah Calise, curator of Community Histories, Vanderbilt University Archives; founder, Nashville Queer History Project Ashley Hampton, executive director, Healing in the Margins; founder and clinical director at Hampton House Jerry Ivery, CEO, MashUp!

America's independence turns 250 this year, and the country is abuzz with commemorations, flags flying, and patriotic-fueled pride.But as we mark this milestone, what else should we be talking about? Our Roundabout panel, representing perspectives from across the political spectrum, examines the foundational issues America continues to grapple with, as well as the America 250 headlines making news today.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests: Maryam Abolfazli, former congressional candidate and founder of Rise & Shine TN Levi Ismail, Emmy-award winning journalist, NewsChannel 5's investigative unit Chris Walker, founding partner, The Poplar Group

Maybe you get overwhelmed at the enormity of climate change and the effects on our environment. But try not to despair. Today we're talking about the little things anyone can do. And it starts with simply keeping our eyes open, noticing and documenting what we see. We're watching for our signal species — getting an introduction to iNaturalist and gathering inspiration from the folks who already keep a close eye on our flora and fauna. Now your video of a bear strolling through the neighborhood can be good for more than a bunch of views on Instagram.Contribute your observations on nature around you by joining our Appalachian Signal Species collection project on iNaturalist.GuestsArya Natarajan, senior communications manager, iNaturalistTony Gonzalez, news director, WPLNMegan Jones, digital editor, WPLNMargaret Renkl, author, The Weedy GardenSandy Obodzinski, executive director, Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary

Love, romance and intimacy can look very different in the second half of life — no matter your gender or sexuality. Today we get stories of gay men growing older together, a trans woman from Coffee County finally living in full expression after a huge loss and a woman with her own coming out story who is now coaching people later in life on how to get through the messy middle and beyond.Throughout a lifetime, one hope is that we never stop growing into ourselves — evolving as we know more, overcome more and love more. On today's episode of NextAge, we talk with leaders in our LGBTQ+ community to learn how we can become more resilient and kind to ourselves and those around us. Especially in the face of mighty hurdles.Got a story to share for our NextAge series? Leave us a message at 615-751-2500 or chime in during the live show on our YouTube stream.This season of NextAge is made possible by a grant from the West End Home Foundation — Advancing Aging with Dignity and Strengthening Communities — and by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.Guests• Dwayne Jenkins, Nashville Black Pride, Nashville Cares, Brothers United• Ginger Cutrell, transgender community advocate• Anne-Marie Zanzal, Coming Out Coach

Tech developer DC Blox has filed permit applications for a tentacular data center to be built right next to the Nashville Zoo. A 'Quantum Leap' data center is underway on Fisk University's campus.These constructions have seemingly started to pop up nationwide. And they were showing no sign of slowing. That is, until the public had something to say about it. Americans from all political walks of life are protesting the sudden mitosis of these mysterious buildings. A petition opposing the data center by the Zoo has garnered over 400,000 signatures.Still, questions remain: are they harmful to the surrounding ecosystem? Are they loud? Are they creating jobs? Are they taking jobs away?On today's Roundabout edition, our panel is here to answer your questions. Call in with your thoughts and concerns at 615-760-2000 or comment on the YouTube livestream.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests Caroline Eggers, WPLN Environmental Reporter Timothy Hughes, NCAA Nashville Chapter President Dodd Galbreath, Lipscomb University Environmental Science Professor Kelly Puente, Investigative Reporter, The Tennessean 

The descendants of the American Revolution are the keepers of our personal histories, saving the stories of ancestors whom time might have forgotten.Two hundred and fifty years ago, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, Tennessee was the rugged Western frontier. Yet, the brave individuals who fought for freedom left a legacy that lives on through local families today. Today, we share some of their historical journeys. Plus, we connect with modern-day patriots in our communities and visit local grant-funded projects marking the 250th anniversary — including a community-staged historical play. Join us as we explore patriotism, then and now.Guests Julie Brymer, Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Chair, Public Relations & Media; member, General Daniel Smith's Rock Castle Chapter DAR Jack Emmert, member, Maj. David Wilson Chapter Sons of the American Revolution Robin Emmert,  member, Margaret Gaston Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Mesut Keklik, entrepreneur, founder/director of Kurdish Culture & Music Association Anne G'fellers Mason, playwright and director, “The First and Last Town in Tennessee" Miro Rengin, entrepreneur; member of Nashville's kurdish community

Have you ever looked closely at your Tennessee driver's license? There might be something surprising in the fine print.Curious Nashville listener Sam Barocas used his microscope to find it. And then he asked the question that inspired today's show: Why is there a microscopic typo on the Tennessee driver's license?In some instances — likely on millions of licenses — a thin ribbon of text reads "The Volundeer State." With a 'd.'"And I saw that and I was like, 'Huh? That's funny,' " Barocas says. "How'd that happen?"Among the theories: It's a genuine mistake. It's an intentional security feature. It's an easter egg tucked in by a mischievous designer. WPLN's Justin Barney helps Curious Nashville get to the bottom of this mystery. Then we're staying on the theme of "microscopic Nashville," and learning from experts about other parts of our community that are hiding in plain sight. Justin Barney, culture and music reporter, Nashville Public Radio Dr. Eva Parker, expert on climate change's impact on health and assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Ross Andrew, associate professor of biology at Belmont University

Fascinated by the smell of ink, the feel of paper, the hand-carved wood type, and the big machines that churn out poster after poster, she spent her spare time learning how it all works while working a marketing day job in Chicago. What began as a passion led to where she is now - the first woman director of Hatch Show Print, Nashville's 147-year-old printing institution. In this episode, Celene shares how her interest in letterpress printmaking became a career, and how she now stewards a legendary shop whose iconic posters have promoted everyone from Dolly Parton and Bill Monroe to nearly every artist who takes the stage at the Ryman Auditorium.

Healthcare is all about who is going to pay for it. Because if you can't afford to go to the doctor, you probably won't until it becomes an emergency – which isn't good for the patient or the system. This is a particular problem in rural Tennessee. When there's a hiccup in the system, rural systems may shutter.Healthcare Hollow is a WPLN series that takes an in-depth look at the crisis of rural hospital closings.In this episode, we're focused on who is going to pay for care in rural Tennessee. Those residents are more likely to rely on TennCare (the state's version of federal Medicaid). Post-COVID policy changes have resulted in more people losing TennCare coverage. At the same time, fewer people are keeping insurance under the Affordable Care Act because of the expense.This episode is part of our Healthcare Hollow series, made possible, in part, by the NIHCM Foundation.GuestsGordon Bonnyman, staff attorney & co-founder, Tennessee Justice CenterJackie Shrago, ACA marketplace volunteer navigatorSarah Boden, independent healthcare journalist with KFFKelly Insana, vice president of marketing & communications, Tennessee Hospital Association

“All-American Girl.”“God Bless the U.S.A.”“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”You'll hear these songs many times this summer as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary. But those aren't everyone's anthems.In Nashville, a group of musicians and songwriters are responding to this milestone with something different: unfiltered reflections on what it means to exist in America as Black, Brown, and Queer people living in the South. Through their music, visuals, fashion and performance, they are defining and embracing — or rejecting — American identity and patriotism on their own terms.Guests The Cowgays (Chris Housman, Brooke Eden & Adam Mac) Jewly Hight, senior music writer, Nashville Public Radio Kapali Long, Native Hawaiian Americana Country Blues artist & songwriter Lizzie No, producer, guitarist and harpist Tray Wellington, folk, bluegrass, jazz and contemporary roots music banjo innovator

With one of the oldest tracks in America, racing is part of our city's fabric as one of Nashville's earliest professional sports.Even as diehard fans say it's time to invest in our history, the sound of the cars has become an unwelcome neighbor amid rapid development south of downtown. Whether you're a fan or not, it's worth understanding this deep legacy as we make decisions about the future. Today, we're revving up to chase down our racing roots.And, we want to hear from you. Have you seen fandom fading? What explains that? What got you into racing in the first place? What's the importance of having a track in the heart of the city? We're taking your calls during the show at 615-760-2000. You can also send your thoughts through our livestream.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan.Guests Larry Woody, retired sports reporter Gary Baker, former owner, Bristol Motor Speedway Joseph Love, painter

With Father's Day on the horizon, two dads join us to share their perspectives on love, loss, priorities and fatherhood.After David Fischette stepped away from the day-to-day grind of running his business, he began walking 10,000 steps a day as a personal health challenge. Before long, the habit evolved into a series of “walk and talk” videos exploring themes of love, loss, priorities and codependency, and eventually into Hello Fine Friends, a book that, in part, reflects on his efforts to repair his fractured relationship with his daughters.Then, fatherhood is a public health issue for Robert Taylor. He spent the last few years helping fathers change a few more diapers, and more importantly, see themselves as more than providers. He leads the New Life Center, which has produced a documentary called Fatherhood Beyond the Frame.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini and Blake Farmer.Guests: David Fischette, founder, Go West Creative; author, Hello Fine Friends Robert Taylor, founder and president, New Life Center

CMA Fest is upon us. How you feel about that will inform whether or not you're hitting up Broadway this weekend.But the festival has a storied past in Nashville, and so do the iconic cowboy boots both fans and performers wear when attending. For this episode, we'll have historians and writers, as well as a seasoned CMA performer and a full-time bootmaker.What's more—we want to hear from you. The number to call in and talk about your boot experiences is 615-760-2000. You can also pop into the chat on our YouTube stream live during the show.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests Jewly Hight, WPLN Senior Music Writer Holly George-Warren, Music Historian and Writer Angie K., Country Music Artist Lisa Sorrell, Bootmaker

This summer, much of the nation is commemorating 1776, the year the Thirteen Colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Tennessee would not become a state for another two decades, but the region that would one day become our Volunteer State was already a place of profound change and activity located on what the founders considered the western frontier.Each Wednesday this month, we're exploring the 250th anniversary of American independence from a different perspective. Today, we explore the Middle Tennessee of 1776. We're examining life on the frontier through the eyes of indigenous people who were here at the time and long before as well as the white settlers trying to expand America's borders and the enslaved people they forced into frontier life.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests Paul Clements, author, Chronicles of the Cumberland Settlements; authority on early settlement life Rob McDonald, Jr., filmmaker, photographer, creator of documentary about James Robertson - founder of Nashville - Native Son: The Untold Story of James Robertson Dr. Raymond Orr, professor of Political Science at UC Santa Barbara; member of the Potawatomi Nation in Oklahoma Dr. Kristofer Ray, associate professor of Early American and Indigenous History at the College of the Holy Cross Dr. Learotha Williams, Jr., professor of African American History, Tennessee State University; North Nashville Heritage Project, Davidson County Historian

We're surrounded by wildlife that tells us something about our ecosystem if we'll take just a moment to stop and smell the roses (or, in this case, take a gander at the kudzu). With our partners in the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, we're investigating so-called “signal species," starting with the lovable black bear. As their population has rebounded, so have human interactions – both positive and negative.Guests Caroline Eggers, WPLN environmental reporter John Boyle, deputy managing editor, Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom Janelle Musser, black bear support biologist, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Mark Thurman, director of conservation collaboratives in Tennessee, The Nature Conservancy

Jim Palmer was a crusader for Christianity.He accepted the calling in East Tennessee, went to seminary, and started preaching in one of the largest mega churches in the country. He moved to Nashville to start an offshoot. But then things started to unravel. Faith turned to doubt and then to deconstruction. He was into deconstruction before it was cool, and now he sits down with us to talk about how he's guiding others who are figuring out what's next after Christianity.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guest Jim Palmer, Post-Religion Spiritual Director and founder of The Center for Non-Religious Spirituality

It takes more than 500 pages for Lamar Alexander to tell the story of his political career, and that's understandable given his 26 years as Tennessee governor and U.S. senator.We'll dig into some untold stories from his new memoir, “The Education of a Senator,” which landed on the New York Times Best Seller list this week and we'll also get his take on the current state of affairs in American politics and take your questions. So, if you'd like to ask a question or comment, join us on air at 615-760-2000 or in the chat at youtube.com/@wpln.Then, we'll wrap this episode with a timely update on congressional redistricting which turns Tennessee's last remaining seat held by a Democrat into one that leans Republican.  Guests Lamar Alexander, former U.S. senator, Tennessee governor, U.S. Education Secretary and president of the University of Tennessee Josh Clinton, Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, Vanderbilt University Marianna Bacallao, WPLN power and equity reporter

Once again, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell joins This Is Nashville live on the air to answer your questions.From traffic headaches and development concerns to parks, transit, and public safety, this is your opportunity to speak directly with the mayor. What's going on in your neighborhood that city leaders need to hear about?We'll also dive into some of the biggest issues facing the city right now – including the budget, taxes, and major building projects shaping Nashville's future.Stay with us after the mayor and we'll explore why one local school still bears the name of a segregationist – and why changing that name has proven nearly impossible. We're wrapping the hour with our latest installment of Curious Nashville.Guests Freddie O'Connell, mayor, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Camellia Burris, education reporter, WPLN Larry Woods, civil rights attorney and professor of criminal justice, Tennessee State University

Nashville is still stepping onto the global stage during the World Cup.Years ago, uncertainty surrounding the future of Nissan Stadium kept Nashville from becoming a host city. Still, the tournament is bringing an international spotlight to Music City in another way: Samurai Blue, Japan's national team, has chosen Nashville as its basecamp during the competition.Today, we hear a preview of the players and the competition and what it takes to host a world-class team. We'll also explore Nashville's decades-long relationship with Japan – a connection that dates back to the late 1970s, when Gov. Lamar Alexander helped recruit Nissan to build its first American manufacturing plant here.This episode was produced by Justin Barney.Guests Mike Woitalla, executive editor, Soccer America Teresa Tatlonhari, VP of Marketing & Communications, Nashville Soccer Club Mina Johnson, former Councilmember, Metro Nashville Masami Tyson, chief of staff, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell

We've done enough tapdancing around touchy words in this important conversation about intimacy and romance in the second half of life.It's time to hear you do it. What have you learned about your body or being with another that could help the rest of us? We'll have a sex therapist, a reformed pastor and an open-minded geriatrician in the studio. Call ahead of the show with your intimacy insights or romance recommendations at 615-760-2000. This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests Raven O'Rourke, Geriatric Sex Therapist James Powers, VUMC Gerontologist Jim Palmer, former Megachurch Pastor

Menopause is having a moment! After generations of misunderstanding, myths and mockery, menopause and perimenopause is starting to get the attention and support it deserves. And no wonder: in the United States, about 6,000 women enter menopause each day, according to scientific data. In this episode of NextAge Season 2, we're joining the conversation. You'll hear from some of familiar on-air hosts here at Nashville Public Radio about their experiences and medical experts who specialize in menopause healthcare.Got a story to share for our NextAge series? Leave us a message at 615-751-2500 or chime in during the live show on our YouTube stream.This season of NextAge is made possible by a grant from the West End Home Foundation — Advancing Aging with Dignity and Strengthening Communities — and by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.This episode was hosted and produced by LaTonya Turner.Guests: Nina Cardona, Morning Edition Host, WPLN/Nashville Public Radio Jude Mason, Mid-day Host, WNXP Radio Leigh Mayo, Account Manager, WPLN/Nashville Public Radio Megan Jones, Digital Editor, WPLN/Nashville Public Radio Dr. William Lee, Associate Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt Medical Center; certified menopause practitioner  Anne-Ward Eshelman - Nurse Practitioner at HaneyGYN

It's not that what we learned about the birds and the bees was all wrong. It's just that it was mostly about procreation and – more likely – focused on how not to make a baby before the time is right. As we've learned in this season of NextAge, baby making and physical intimacy are not the same thing, and that's especially apparent in the second half of life. In this episode, we bring you the birds and the bees for those who've been around the block. It may be a useful discussion for all of us, no matter our age.Got a story to share for our NextAge series? Leave us a message at 615-751-2500 or chime in during the live show on our YouTube stream.This season of NextAge is made possible by a grant from the West End Home Foundation — Advancing Aging with Dignity and Strengthening Communities — and by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.This episode was produced by Blake Farmer.Guests: Jill Danford, MD, board-certified urogynecologist, Ascension Saint Thomas Melissa Kaufman, MD, PhD, urology professor, Vanderbilt

We're kicking off Week 2 of our NextAge season on romance, intimacy and our bodies with one of our city's most interesting citizens: George Rowe. A man who has lived many lives.He's been a Christian music recording artist with a big publishing deal. He's been an attorney. And now he heads the Nashville office of Compass Realtors. He's also lived the life of the stereotypical nuclear American family with his wife and three kids — until something had to change.This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. NextAge is made possible in part by BlueCross BlueShield of TennesseeGuest George Rowe, Compass Real Estate principal broker

Love, romance and intimacy can look very different in the second half of life — no matter your gender or sexuality. Today we get stories of gay men growing older together, a trans woman from Coffee County finally living in full expression after a huge loss and a woman with her own coming out story who is now coaching people later in life on how to get through the messy middle and beyond.Throughout a lifetime, one hope is that we never stop growing into ourselves — evolving as we know more, overcome more and love more. On today's episode of NextAge, we talk with leaders in our LGBTQ+ community to learn how we can become more resilient and kind to ourselves and those around us. Especially in the face of mighty hurdles.Got a story to share for our NextAge series? Leave us a message at 615-751-2500 or chime in during the live show on our YouTube stream.This season of NextAge is made possible by a grant from the West End Home Foundation — Advancing Aging with Dignity and Strengthening Communities — and by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.Guests• Dwayne Jenkins, Nashville Black Pride, Nashville Cares, Brothers United• Ginger Cutrell, transgender community advocate• Anne-Marie Zanzal, Coming Out Coach