City Cast Nashville

Metro Council didn’t gavel out until 1:48 a.m. this week, so long was the list of residents who signed up to speak in favor of restricting data centers in Nashville. On today’s Friday News Roundup, creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek salute the civic energy and get into what happens next. Plus, BNA now has two boards! We’re getting a new Complete Street!...

From frozen yogurt to ice cream sandwiches, Lokelani Alabanza knows Nashville’s best sweet treats. To celebrate the release of her first book, “Ice Cream Queen: Flavors from Black America’s Past, Present, and Future,” she joins Marie Cecile Anderson to share her favorite cold desserts, delve into some fascinating history, and celebrate the nostalgia that comes with the sound of the ice cream truck...

Going on vacation? In this economy? If you’re keeping things close to home this year, City Cast Nashville contributor and travel journalist Amelia Edelman joins Marie Cecile Anderson to share her favorite locals-friendly hotel pools and spas in town, where you’re just a day pass away from the perfect staycation. Whether you want a trendy party-style hang or a secret zen spot, we’ve got you covered...

There’s one American classic that will never go out of style: The drive-in movie theater. Film critic Jason Shawhan joins Marie Cecile Anderson to talk vibes, etiquette, concessions, and why sitting in your car to watch a cheesy blockbuster is still a great summer night out. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 7th episode: Adventure Science Center Hoffmann Brothers Get more from City Cast N...

Nashville residents have a litany of complaints about Metro Parks, from broken amenities to stalled projects. With the recent release of the 2026 Plan to Play update, Parks has once again outlined an ambitious 10-year plan — but do we have the resources to implement it? Veronica Foster and Kaitlin Dastugue from the Civic Design Center join executive producer Whitney Pastorek to talk about possible...

See if your Nashville knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes head to head with journalist and historian Alexandra Petri to see who knows more about U.S. history, geography, and celebrities ahead of the country’s semiquincentennial. Sean McPherson, trivia wiz and City Cast Twin Cities host, leads four riveting rounds of...

We can make lists all day of things WE think would be fun for kids to do this summer, but we are old and clueless. So we invited two local kiddos, Mary and Rocky (and their mom, Toby) to join Marie Cecile Anderson and tell us about their dream summer day, from water parks to arcades and even some surprise restaurant suggestions. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 2nd episode: Adventure Sci...

America is turning 250 years old, and we’ve got your ultimate guide to July in Nashville! Join creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson, newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek as they talk about the best things to do this month, from urban exploring ideas to ways to step outside your comfort zone. Plus, the details on how to enjoy — or avoid — the two-day 4th...

Once upon a time, then-Mayor Bill Purcell decided to spread the good news of hot chicken to the masses, via a festival in East Park as part of Nashville’s bicentennial. Twenty years later, the Music City Hot Chicken Festival (a July 4th tradition) continues to thrive, and hot chicken outposts can be found as far away as Uzbekistan. Mayor Purcell sits down with Marie Cecile Anderson to tell us abou...

Here's a piece of history you probably didn't learn in school: The city of Nashville once owned enslaved people. Historian and contributor Betsy Phillips joins us to share their stories and discuss how our city is beginning to recognize their contributions and honor their legacy, including the recent installation of a memorial bench at City Cemetery. Content warning: This episode includes historic...

Just how good are the sidewalks in Nashville? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and pedestrian safety is just the beginning. In Denver, voters approved a new fee a few years ago to fund much-needed sidewalk repairs, and after a lot of back-and-forth, those repairs are finally underway. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Denver podcast...

We can’t get enough of the news that a man who lives literally next door to Cheekwood is trying to get the Board of Zoning Appeals to give Cheekwood a stop work order due to traffic volume, so Marie Cecile Anderson is digging into all the details with executive producer Whitney Pastorek and musician at large Freddy Angelico. Plus: What did the mayor know about the zoo data center and when did he k...

With all the hubbub swirling around the proposed data center next to the Nashville Zoo, we’re revisiting our conversation with the zoo’s director of marketing, Jim Bartoo. He joins Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about local endangered species and how conservation programs work to support animal populations around the world.  **This episode originally aired Dec. 19, 2024. If you enjoyed this intervi...

The hottest hobby for this summer might be birding, whether you’re watching, listening to, drawing, or simply appreciating our feathered friends. Kristen Englenz and Liz Clayton Fuller, the team behind Nashville’s new Feminist Bird Club chapter, join Marie Cecile Anderson to share their favorite spots and why they say we should all put our phones down and look up. Learn more about the sponsors of...

This month in our recurring series of neighborhood guides, we're heading to “Hip” Donelson to see if it lives up to the name. Max and Kayla Palmer, owners of Bagelshop, join Marie Cecile Anderson to walk us through their perfect day in the area, from smoothie bowls and record stores to patios, parks, local sandwiches … and Nashville's only train, the WeGo Star. Plus, the inspiration behind Bagelsh...

The East Bank Development Authority is on the clock. Now that the Super Bowl has been confirmed for 2030, will “Nashville’s Next Great Neighborhood” be built quickly … or built right? EBDA communications director Kerry Hayes joins Marie Cecile Anderson to answer our questions about timeline, priorities, and the potentially “painful” process ahead. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 22nd ep...

Shelby Park’s Cornelia Fort Airpark is a favorite spot for families, cyclists, skaters, and dogs — so why did they set it on fire last year? Friends of Shelby director of community engagement Grant England joins Marie Cecile Anderson to explain the native grassland reconstruction taking place at the former airport, as well as ways you can help with that and other conservation projects in your own...

Nashville has a reputation as a party town, but it's also home to one of the largest recovery communities in the country. So where do sober Nashvillians go to find community, have fun, and connect without drugs and alcohol being the center of everything? Casey Hyatt of the Cumberland Heights Foundation joins us to share sober events, recovery resources, and some of the best substance-free spaces a...

The General Jackson Showboat has company! As the paddlewheelers of Nashville Riverboats join the tourist traffic on the Cumberland River, City Cast Nashville contributor and paddling enthusiast Margaret Littman joins Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about our floating entertainment options, and encourage locals to get back in touch with the river. Plus, a bonus conversation with Nashville Riverboats...

A long line of Nashville residents spoke at last week’s Planning Commission meeting to voice their support for CM Rollin Horton’s data center regulation bill, which will be up for second reading at council on July 7. But what’s in the legislation? Would it stop the proposed centers at the Nashville Zoo and Fisk University? Why can’t we just ban data centers entirely? Horton joins Marie Cecile Ande...

Do you know how many parks Nashville has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta set out to catalog them all. Over the course of two years, she visited all 511 parks in the county, seeking to record their amenities (e.g., bathrooms, playgrounds), write helpful summaries, and track down the people in charge. The...

CM Courtney Johnston’s proposed temporary data center moratorium passed first reading at Metro Council this week, but can it actually stop the proposed center next to the zoo? Marie Cecile Anderson, Whitney Pastorek, and contributor Nicole Williams are digging into that, plus why Metro’s insurance company is suing the Nashville Downtown Partnership, what’s going on with control of the airport, and...

Nashville’s Porter Flea Summer Market returns this weekend, so Marie Cecile Anderson is chatting with local makers. Porter Flea founder Katie Vance and local ceramic artist Emilee Martin of Mineral Haus discuss where to get crafty in town, why people are leaving fast fashion behind, and what makes our vibrant local artisan community special. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 11th episode:...

The ticks are out with a vengeance this year, and the mosquitoes are loving all our recent rain. How can we avoid those jerks while keeping habitats safe for our bee, bird, and butterfly friends? We’re revisiting our conversation with local naturalist and author Jo Brichetto, who popularized the “Mosquito Bucket of Doom.” She joins Marie Cecile Anderson to share her tips for warding off the bitey...

Now that Metro Council’s annual budget hearing is behind us, it falls to Budget and Finance Committee chair CM Kyonzté Toombs to take everyone’s feedback and come up with a substitute budget ordinance that works. She joins Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about what she heard from the community and her colleagues, how the substitute process works, and what’s going on with the contentious Nashville Do...