City Cast Nashville

We promised drama at Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting and it delivered — although not in the way we expected. Nashville Scene columnist Nicole Williams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for the final Friday News Roundup of 2024. She’s explaining why Morgan Wallen’s sign got approved without discussion and how a resolution involving public safety departments sp...

Nashville Zoo director of marketing Jim Bartoo joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to commemorate this month’s 51st anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. They discuss the species that need protecting here in Nashville, the Zoo’s larger conservation work, and why Zoolumination (now through Feb. 9) is a must-see winter activity. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up fo...

The very real Santa Claus sits down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to answer our burning questions: What do kids want this year? How does he handle crying babies? And who needs to clean their room? The first half of this episode is perfect for kiddos, with Santa responding to listener questions. For the second half, we go adults-only, and find out how Chuck Smith turned some cheap shag carpeting...

Aftyn Behn, the Democratic State House Representative for Nashville’s District 51, joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to discuss her newly-filed bill to eliminate the Tennessee grocery tax, the Republican bill that was filed in response, and what she’s expecting from the 2025 TN General Assembly session, which begins Jan. 14.  Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for ou...

Dr. Keegan Smith of Heritage Medical Associates is one of the best allergists in Nashville. How do we know? Because both executive producer Whitney Pastorek and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury are his patients. They sit down with Dr. Smith to get his advice on how to avoid the Holiday Crud, whether you’re traveling, seeing family, or just trying to survive your adorable little petri dish of a...

Metro Arts is back in the news for this edition of the Friday News Roundup, as the Arts Commission has finally agreed on a funding mechanism. Host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are breaking that down, as well as What’s Banned in Tennessee This Week, why Morgan Wallen’s various “aerial encroachments” are swirling once again, quick hits on stories out of TSU and one o...

Chef Wes Scoggins, a.k.a. the Jewish Cowboy, sits down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about Nashville Hanukkah traditions and how his identity as a Jewish Texan informs his cooking, and tell the story of fending off neo-Nazi goons last summer via the simple act of offering them a hot dog. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter. ...

NPR Music critic and friend of the pod Ann Powers joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to round up the best albums released by Nashville artists in 2024, from superstars like Brittany Howard to notable newcomers like Madi Diaz. Did your fave make the list? And stick around for our special segment, A Mile in Their Boots: We’ll be going inside a day in the life of April Moore, a fitness coach with a mis...

The transportation referendum passed, but will it help the people who often need public transit the most? Disability rights advocate Robby Barbieri joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to discuss the state of disability access in Nashville; his nonprofit, Music City Wheels; and his successful campaign to change Tennessee law by creating a Medicaid buy-in program so that people with disabilities can ea...

It’s “Nutcracker” season — but given the upheaval at Metro Arts, we need to talk about more than just the Sugar Plum Fairy. Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by Nick Mullikin, Artistic Director and CEO of the Nashville Ballet; Asia Pyron, director and choreographer of PYDANCE; and Sarah Atenhan, president and artistic director of Satellite Dance. They’ll discuss their current projects, their pa...

On today’s Friday News Roundup, Metro Council contributor Nicole Willams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to take us inside Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting, where the proposed contract with surveillance tech platform Fusus failed, by one vote. We’re also talking about our faves in the annual Nashville Scene Boner Awards — celebrating the year’s biggest screw...

Chef Steven Robilio of Amerigo joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to preview his 13th annual Feast of Seven Fishes — taking place Dec. 9 at the Cool Springs location and Dec. 10 on West End — and explain why after more than three decades, this beloved Italian restaurant continues to stand the test of time. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsl...

The Contributor is Nashville’s best street paper, written and sold as part of a larger social enterprise by vendors experiencing homelessness. Their annual wrapping paper issue is out now, which means you can help your neighbors, read great stories, and wrap your presents in one fell swoop. The Contributor executive director Will Connelly and consultant Judith Tackett (formerly head of the Metro H...

It’s Giving Tuesday, and whether you want to lend a hand within our community or need a hand up from your neighbors, this is the show for you. Host Marie Cecile Anderson speaks with Jann Seymour, the senior director of volunteer engagement for Hands On Nashville, an organization that connects thousands of volunteers to more than 300 service projects every month. Here are links to the resources and...

The hustle and bustle of the holidays are upon us, and we’ve got our picks for the best places to visit, shop, eat, and celebrate this month. Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for a whirlwind tour through activities for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s; must-see concerts and holiday light spectaculars; our favori...

Nashville Scene food writer Chris Chamberlain is back to preview the Scene’s annual Taco Week, taking place Dec. 2-8 at more than 40 restaurants across the city. He’s giving host and hot sauce aficionado Marie Cecile Anderson his picks for the tacos you can’t miss, from traditional faves and luxurious ingredients to entries that might not actually be tacos at all. (Breakfast taco eggroll, anyone?)...

City Cast Nashville contributor Jenn Harbin of the Hungry Loner writes a column on our website about the best new bars, restaurants, and pop-ups in town every month. She sat down with Marie Cecile Anderson to give us her picks for November, including seafood towers, Indian fusion, Jersey-style grinders, and what might be the best tamales in the city. Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then m...

On today’s episode of City Cast Nashville, Rev. Zach Sasser from The Downtown Presbyterian Church joins us to discuss a cherished Nashville tradition happening this year on Dec. 5th: the Waffle Shop. Since 1924, this fundraiser has united the community while supporting the church’s Fish and Loaves ministry, which serves a hot meal to those in need every Saturday. We’ll explore the church's history...

On today’s Friday News Roundup, it’s acronym day! District 25 Metro Council member Jeff Preptit joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to give us his take on Tuesday’s council meeting, where MNPD’s contract with surveillance tech company FUSUS was deferred once again after a passionate public hearing. We’re also talking about the CRB’s new MOU with MNPD, the Mayor...

Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Albert Bender, a local Cherokee activist, historian, attorney, and political columnist. With Metro Parks slated to hand down a decision on the renaming of Cumberland Park to Wasioto Park by Dec. 3, Albert explains why the change is important to our indigenous neighbors. He also educates us on the rich history of Nashville’s past as an ancient Native metrop...

Nashville’s favorite weather guys — David Drobny, Andrew Leeper, and Will Minkoff from NashSevereWx — sit down with executive producer Whitney Pastorek to help us prepare for winter and what’s ahead. As we approach the one-year anniversary of our deadly Dec. 9th tornado outbreak, they’re also discussing the way socioeconomic status impacts our community’s weather resilience, and how the results of...

Our Hey Nashville newsletter editor and token parent Margaret Kingsbury sits down with kidfluencer Laura Hartley, a.k.a. TNLittles on Instagram, to swap suggestions for the best kid-friendly eateries and bars in town. They’ll tell you everything from the best restaurant playgrounds to some surprisingly great date-night spots for when your sitter falls through. Plus, who’s got Santa on standby for...

Photographer Isaac Jones and model Elaine Eisinger launched Nashville Creatives Club earlier this year as a safe, curated series of pop-ups for creatives of all backgrounds to collaborate in spaces around the city. They’re talking to host Marie Cecile Anderson about their vision for the club, the challenges of content and social media, and the way they’re empowering others — and themselves — throu...

On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are joined by Nashville Banner Metro reporter Stephen Elliott. He’s catching us up on the happenings at Metro Council — where recent focus has been on MNPD funding — and giving us a preview of next week’s meeting, where they’ll be considering the reinstatement of a contract for the surveillance tech...

Today on City Cast Nashville, we’ve got the 411 on our local 311, otherwise known as hubNashville. Director Erin Williams is here to make sure y’all know all the ways that you can help one another and make our city better, via phone, website, and app. From trash issues to Airbnb complaints — or if you just want to say something nice about somebody — she and her team of operators are standing by. W...