City Cast Nashville

The State Building Commission just granted a two-year lease to Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to start their Tesla tunnel to BNA, and local leaders are starting to push back. Since we’re also wondering what local rideshare drivers think about this project, we invited our friend Chris Williams to join host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for today’s Friday News Roundup...

It’s time for kids to head back to school, but that doesn’t mean the end of great things to do in our city. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury preview their can’t-miss picks for August, a month full of festivals for you, your family and even your dog. If you’re looking for even MORE options, we’ve featured some great activit...

Nashville is a fantastic outdoor city, but the mosquitoes and ticks are no fun at all. How can we fight back? Local naturalist and author Jo Brichetto, who popularized the “Mosquito Bucket of Doom,” joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to share her tips for warding off the bitey guys while enjoying and protecting the other amazing bugs of summer. Learn how to make your own Bucket of Doom here. Get Jo’...

Yesterday, state officials and Elon Musk’s The Boring Company officially announced plans for a tunnel connecting downtown and BNA. We’ve got the details on the plan, plus City Cast Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain how similar tunnels are already impacting life in Sin City.  Read the City Cast Las Vegas collaboration wi...

Has Nashville turned into a “theme park of intoxication”? That’s what Vanderbilt professor Bruce Barry thinks. In a recent article for “The Tennessee Lookout,” he argued that the city is “on the move but running in place.” Today, he joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about the state of downtown — its aggressive growth, declining inclusivity for locals, and what the future may hold for our ci...

With Nashville’s downtown library still closed after last month’s fire, where can our unhoused neighbors go to escape the heat? Host Marie Cecile Anderson talks with Nashville Scene columnist and City Cast Nashville contributor Nicole Williams and producer Daniel Sumstine about heat relief, a proposed expansion of license plate readers, a new federal ruling on Tennessee’s abortion law, the possibi...

There are so many farmers markets in Nashville, from a new one supporting refugee farmers, to more conventional markets around town. So, we invited the Nashville Food Project's Rebecah Boynton to join host Marie Cecile Anderson on the show to talk about the city's best farmers markets and how to navigate them like a pro, as well as the ins and outs of CSAs and how to combat food insecurity. Learn...

Evan Darr has been a bartender in Nashville for 25 years, from hotels to the Wildhorse Saloon — one of the thousands of gig workers who make this city run. She's joining host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about her daily grind — from serving bachelorette parties and tourists to staying safe on the job — and what bartending in Nashville has taught her about our city. Learn more about the sponsors o...

Tipping culture has gotten out of hand — at least, according to some Nashvillians. Last month, The Tennessean columnist Cameron Smith wrote a guide to tipping culture in Nashville, and today he joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and producer Daniel Sumstine to talk about the do's, don'ts, and frustrations of tipping in Nashville.  Learn more about the sponsors of this July 22nd episode: Babbel - Get...

President Trump’s big budget bill has been signed into law, and big changes are coming to your health care because of it. Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain how the bill’s cuts to Medicaid will impact Nashville and our neighbors across the state. Follow TJC on Instagram here. Learn more about the sponsors of thi...

Metro Council voted on Tuesday to expand the Downtown Central Business Improvement District to include the Gulch. Why are opponents concerned? Councilmember At-Large Quin Evans Segall joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain how that whole thing works. Plus, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is going after Belmont now, Metropolis parking is not beloved, and the Nashvi...

From Friday happy hour to the Sunday scaries, host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are here with their picks for the perfect Nashville weekend, including suggestions for entertaining out-of-town friends, too! Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitatio...

Nashville isn’t a cheap place to live anymore, and inflation, threats of tariffs, and funding cuts at the federal level aren’t helping. Certified financial therapist Celia Roberts Hughes joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to share her tips and tricks for making a budget, cutting out unnecessary expenses, and finding local bargains on gas and groceries. Get more from City Cast Nashville when you beco...

Looking to cure your summertime blues? We recommend a pool day! City Cast Nashville contributor and travel journalist Amelia Edelman joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to share her favorite locals-friendly hotel pools and spas in town, where you’re just a day pass away from pseudo-vacation relaxation. From trendy hangs to secret spots, we’ve got you covered. Get more from City Cast Nashville when yo...

Chris Williams is a rideshare driver in Nashville — one of the thousands of gig workers who make this city run. He’s sitting down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about his daily grind — from transporting drunk tourists to fending off out-of-town competitors — and what driving for Uber has taught him about our city. Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Nei...

Why was California Governor Gavin Newsom at East Nashville Beer Works? Who is Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s new chief of staff? And could the tragic Texas Hill Country flood happen here? Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are breaking down the biggest stories from this week on today’s Friday News Roundup. Plus, Nashville SC is on a roll, and w...

City Cast Nashville contributor Jenn Harbin, aka the Hungry Loner, joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to share her picks for Nashville’s must-try summer restaurants. From hyper-local pop-up success stories to flashy new spots backed by big city money, she breaks down what makes a restaurant really stand out. Plus, we dig into how immigration raids are affecting local kitchens. Want some more City Ca...

WPLN recently released Rose Gilbert’s four-part podcast series, “The Country In Our Hearts,” telling the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish population in the United States. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Gilbert and cultural advisor Dilman Yasin to learn more about the strife that led families to flee Iraqi Kurdistan in 1988, how they’ve rebuilt community in our c...

We’re heading to the water — not to cool off, but to hear from two small business owners (and friends of the pod) who recently sold their paddling companies. Margaret Littman (of Nashville Paddle Co.) and Annie Klaver (of River Queen Voyages) sit down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to discuss the challenges of operating in Metro Parks, and what ultimately led them to walk away. A quick note: Thei...

Patty lovers rejoice: The Nashville Scene’s Burger Week 2025 kicks off today! Scene food writer Chris Chamberlain joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to preview the mouthwatering slate of $8 burgers available this week at restaurants all over town. Don’t forget to download the Burger Week app for your chance to win glory and prizes! Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up f...

Marie Cecile Anderson and all 12 other City Cast podcast hosts (from Austin, Boise, Chicago, DC, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Madison, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Salt Lake City) compete head-to-head in a high-stakes showdown to answer the question that’s been burning up our company-wide Slack for weeks: which city is the best for a summer weekend trip? From naked bike rides to ‘the country’s...

American Legion Post 82 on Gallatin might be known as a great honky-tonk, but this 4th of July weekend is a great time to learn what it really does. Post commanders Shannon Rasmussen, Eric Rasmussen, and Josh Jordan join host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about how they’re leveraging Nashville’s music scene to provide healing and community for their fellow veterans. **This episode originally aired...

Whether you’re looking for the best place to see fireworks or the coolest indoor activities, we’ve got you covered for the month ahead. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury preview their can’t-miss picks, from art walks to punk rock. If you’re looking for even MORE options, we’ve featured some great activities and important ne...

Just in time for the Fourth of July, a baby eagle is about to take flight at Radnor Lake State Park! Meanwhile, Park Manager Steve Ward and his team are busy expanding the park to include more butterfly-friendly grassland, and renovating trails to make them accessible for everyone. Steve joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to take you inside the spectacular 1400-acre natural area that’s right outside...

Who’s in charge of the future East Bank Boulevard? It’s a potato that’s hotter than this weather. Nashville Scene columnist and City Cast Nashville contributor Nicole Williams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for the latest on that, the surprising news about who’s paying too much in taxes, the lawsuit seven Metro Councilmembers just filed against the state,...