City Cast Nashville

We love this town, but we have to confess — it doesn’t always bring out the best in us. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are on the mic to confess their toxic Nashville traits. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 15th episode: Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Cozy Earth - Use code COZYNASHVILLE for 40% off best-sel...

Metro’s Planning Department just released a Housing and Infrastructure Study that showed Nashville’s affordable housing crisis in stark reality: We need to build at least 20,000 more homes in the next decade, and 99% of our neighborhoods are out of reach for the average Black or Hispanic family. Planner Greg Claxton joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to explain the changes we need to make to fix the...

Last weekend’s tragic car crash in the Gulch proves why the improvements Metro is making to traffic calming and signals can’t come soon enough. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by executive producer and WNXP morning show host Celia Gregory to break down the proposed improvements, chat about why Ryman Hospitality won the bid to operate Ascend Amphitheater, and sh...

Are Trump’s tariffs on aluminum imports and Canadian grain brewing up trouble for the beer industry? Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with East Nashville Beer Works president Anthony Davis to get the scoop on those impacts and learn about ways to enjoy great local beer this weekend, from East Nashville Beer Fest to Fridays by the River — we’re the presenting sponsor! Want some more City Cast N...

The Nashville Public Library has books, but did you know it also has cake pans, stud finders, and musical instruments? Host Marie Cecile Anderson is celebrating National Library Week by talking to NPL marketing manager Andrea Fanta about all the free stuff your library card can do, from renting an ebike to helping you find a job. Donate to the Nashville Public Library Foundation here. Want some mo...

We’re in the midst of the annual Nashville Comedy Festival, and our “clean comedy” scene is having a breakout moment thanks to Old Hickory’s own Nate Bargatze. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sat down with local clean comics Paula Kosienski and John Datoy to find out why. And don’t miss Paula at the Ryman Auditorium tonight, performing as part of Nateland Presents Good Clean Funny! Want some more City...

Metro leaders announced the closure of the 40-year-old Old Tent City encampment last week, giving residents 60 days to leave. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with former Metro Homeless Impact Division head Judith Tackett to learn how this closure as well as pending anti-encampment legislation at the state level will affect our unhoused neighbors. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then...

It’s been a crazy weather week that’s still not over. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Marie Cecile Anderson, executive producer Whitney Pastorek, and Metro Council contributor Nicole Williams catch you up on our storms and flooding, discuss the financial settlements reached at Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting, and with the State of the City address on the horizon, we discuss what we’d like to...

Nashville has no Michelin-starred restaurants. Why? City Cast food and travel contributor Margaret Littman is here to help us understand, and alongside host Marie Cecile Anderson, she’s handing out some stars of her own. (In breaking news, Michelin just announced a Guide to the American South, coming at some undetermined time in the future.) Plus, we’re learning about Margaret’s upcoming gallery e...

Since building community feels more important than ever right now, we’re revisiting our conversation from last fall between host Marie Cecile Anderson and Emma McCallie, the founder of Folx Table, a “sit-down social network” that fosters connections between strangers over a meal. **This episode originally aired October 7, 2024. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for...

Rabbit rabbit rabbit! We’ve got your ultimate guide to April, the best month for bunny aficionados. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury are breaking down the best Easter egg hunts and brunch spots, plus everything you need to know to get your garden started, and some great indoor options for when your allergies just can’t tak...

How is Vanderbilt University weathering the funding freeze and threatened cuts from the federal government? Host Marie Cecile Anderson is checking in with Vanderbilt Hustler editorial director Brina Ratangee for the latest on that, as well as how students are feeling about the recent string of high-profile ICE detainments on other college campuses. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then mak...

Community Review Board member (and former chair) Alisha Haddock joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for today’s Friday News Roundup, to fill us in on the news that the TBI raided the law firm of the independent investigators looking into MNPD’s possible involvement in abolishing the Community Oversight Board. Plus, how dissolving the Dept. of Education and cutt...

Benton McDonough is the director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife, but you can just call him the Night Mayor. He’s giving host Marie Cecile Anderson his tips for how locals can best enjoy our downtown entertainment district, and explaining how his office is working with bars, MNPD, and other partners to make sure revelers on Lower Broad stay safe. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then ma...

Anybody else miss loitering at the mall? Host Marie Cecile Anderson, Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury, and guest comedian Miriam Kirk reminisce about Nashville’s finest shopping palaces past and present, and talk about the future of our malls that are currently being redeveloped. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter. ...

Prices on everything from eggs to lumber are going up. Looking for bargains? Host Marie Cecile Anderson turned to an in-house expert — her mom, Linda — to get her picks for the best thrift stores in town. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392⁩ Inte...

A recent bill moving the Metro Historic Zoning Commission under the auspices of the Planning Department sparked unanticipated levels of controversy over the past few weeks. Why? And how does that tie into larger discussions about Nashville’s housing crisis? WPLN Metro reporter Cynthia Abrams joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make su...

In a city where neighborhoods are begging for sidewalks, the residents of Belle Meade Boulevard are suing to stop one. Plus, the state is still trying to cut our Metro Council in half, Ag Day on the Hill was once again a classic photo opportunity (click here to see the photo of Gov. Bill Lee referenced in the episode), and we’re updating you on the bills that caught our eye in the TNLeg this week....

The first quarter of the year brought another flood of incredible new restaurants and bars to Nashville, and City Cast Nashville contributor Jenn Harbin, aka the Hungry Loner, is back to give host Marie Cecile Anderson the deets. Jenn also brings us a conversation with chef Edgar Victoria from Alebrije, one of her top picks, about why eating local is more important than ever. Learn more about the...

For most people, life in Nashville requires owning a car. But what are the rules of our pothole-riddled roads? Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are chatting about the things you need to know to survive behind the wheel in our city where turn signals are optional, traffic circles are confusing, and no one knows how to merge. Learn more ab...

Holi at Cheekwood is back for its fourth year on Saturday, March 22, celebrating the Indian festival of spring. Cheekwood Indian Advisory Committee members Roochita Jaju Mathur and Asha Patel Nivison join host Marie Cecile Anderson to share their memories of growing up Indian in Nashville, and what Holi means to them today. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 18th episode: Babbel - Get up...

The Duck River is the most bio-diverse river in North America, and one of the most endangered in the country. As Middle TN’s growth requires ever more water to be pulled from this important waterway — and ever more trash to be dumped somewhere near its banks — can the Duck be saved? Tennessee Lookout reporter Cassandra Stephenson joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain. Learn more abo...

The decision to arrest unhoused individuals living downtown under the state’s rarely-enforced camping law came as quite the surprise to community advocates and Metro officials, as reported in a Nashville Banner story this week. Banner editor Steve Cavendish joins producer Daniel Sumstine and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to share what his team learned about who made the arrests. Plus: Why th...

We’re taking a turn for the grisly and slightly explicit today thanks to our guests, Ed Larson and Henry Zebrowski from the hilarious hit horror podcast Last Podcast on the Left. Ahead of their headlining slot at the Ryman Auditorium tomorrow, March 14, they join host Marie Cecile Anderson to learn all about the tragic murder of Skull’s Rainbow Room founder David “Skull” Schulman back in 1998. Lea...

A SpaceX capsule is scheduled to depart Earth today and head to the International Space Station, where it intends to pick up Middle TN-born astronaut Butch Wilmore and his fellow astronaut Suni Williams after nine months stranded in space. We’re revisiting our conversation with both astronauts — live from the ISS! — in celebration of their hopeful return. A video of Butch floating aboard the ISS d...