City Cast Nashville

The Metro Nashville Police Department is testing a new emergency response program in Madison that uses drones to respond to certain 911 calls. WPLN Metro reporter Cynthia Abrams joins us to explain how it works, why some residents and activists are raising concerns about surveillance and the legality of the program, and what questions we should all be asking as this new technology takes flight. Le...

Nashville recycles some of its water, but not as much as Las Vegas, where the water there stays in the city. How else could a desert city possibly have enough water for its year-round tourists, a metro area population of over 2 million, and all those pools? The process just might be grosser than you think. With innovative recycling, strict lawn rules, and infrastructure to monitor it all, Vegas ha...

The annual public budget hearing at Metro Council this week was another marathon session, with over 100 residents lining up to speak for nearly four hours about what they’d like to see in our city’s budget this year. Marie Cecile Anderson, Margaret Kingsbury, and Whitney Pastorek are discussing what they heard from their neighbors on today’s Friday News Roundup. Plus: Why did the council meeting a...

Country music has always had a funny side, but lately, comedy is taking center stage! Inspired by her recent WPLN report, "Country Music Comedy Is Back," Nashville Public Radio senior music writer Jewly Hight joins Marie Cecile Anderson to explore the history of humor in country music, why it's making a comeback, and which local comics are leading the charge. Plus, Marie shares what she learned fr...

We all know Dollywood is the best theme park in Tennessee, but do we have any other options? Local rollercoaster enthusiast and friend of the pod Charlie Weingartner joins Marie Cecile Anderson to give us the best destinations for a thrill-seeking day trip or weekend visit to the best amusement parks near Nashville. Plus: What does he really think about Nate Bargatze’s theme park plans? If you enj...

In his New York Times bestselling autobiography, “The Education of a Senator: From JFK to Trump,” former Tennessee governor and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander digs into his nearly 60 years of public service. He joins Marie Cecile Anderson for a conversation about civil rights — did you know he helped desegregate Vanderbilt? — our recent redistricting, and how Nashville can hang onto its soul amidst...

Pride! Juneteenth! CMA Fest! Bonnaroo! June in Nashville is jam-packed every year, and Marie Cecile Anderson, Margaret Kingsbury, and Whitney Pastorek are here to help you make the most of it. From laser shows to waterfront dining, we’ve got the best things to eat, hear, and do this month in Music City. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 1st episode: Country Music Hall of Fame Visit Tupelo...

Where would Nashville be without its libraries? Chicago is opening its 82nd public library branch in June, and loaning out books is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what these institutions offer residents. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran about how Chicago’s libraries have evolved to meet community needs, from opening a food pantry insi...

As police drones take flight in Madison, Mayor Freddie O’Connell is defending their legality while others say they’re in violation of city code. Contributor Nicole Williams lives within the drone radius, and she joins Marie Cecile Anderson and Whitney Pastorek to share her thoughts. Plus, could a new bill restricting data centers prevent someone from building one next to the zoo? And why is retiri...

Since it’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Marie Cecile Anderson is sitting down with the father-son duo behind the Black Men Vent Too podcast, Leon Davis, Jr. and Johnathon Davis. Winners of the Nashville Scene Readers’ Poll for Best Podcast in 2023 (and our very worthy runners-up last year), they’re talking community, vulnerability, where to find your zen, and their upcoming Spare Your Mind event...

Earlier this year, HiFi Cookies owner Sean Newsome posted a plea on social media for influencers to better understand the challenges small businesses are facing before reaching out to demand a collab. He’s sitting down with Marie Cecile Anderson to elaborate on the problem, tell us how he came to make some of the best cookies in Nashville, and preview a new concert series happening at his Porter R...

The children are now free! But what to do with them this summer? We’re revisiting our conversation with City Cast Nashville contributor Amelia Edelman, who’s telling Marie Cecile Anderson her favorite destinations that kids will love within driving distance of Nashville. ** This episode originally aired May 13, 2025. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 26th episode: Ancient Lore Village Get...

As anticipated, NFL owners unanimously voted to give Nashville the Super Bowl in 2030. Sooooo, now what? The Nashville Banner’s Sarah Grace Taylor joins Marie Cecile Anderson and Whitney Pastorek to discuss what needs to be built, and who’s likely to benefit most. We’re also taking a look at the lawsuit TIRRC just filed against the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and diving into the latest Vanderbilt po...

City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson hosts this showdown where 12 City Cast reps, including City Cast Nashville host Marie Cecile Anderson, compete head-to-head and debate which city is the best for a weekend trip this summer. From hot tub boats (exactly what they sound like) to epic outdoor summer festivals, our hosts are bringing the best of what their city has to offer this season. Can Mar...

As part of our ongoing series of Nashville neighborhood guides, today we’re learning about the Gulch. Is this railroad gully full of gleaming highrises and trendy rooftop bars actually a neighborhood? Jamaican DJ and proud Gulch resident merchant joins Marie Cecile Anderson to tell us where to go, what to do, and why he thinks it’s an unexpectedly chill place to live. Learn more about the sponsors...

Some local lawmakers are calling Tennessee’s recent statewide redistricting “a return to Jim Crow,” so we’re diving into the role Nashville played in shaping the Civil Rights Movement and wondering why our city doesn’t have a Civil Rights museum. Author and local historian Betsy Phillips joins Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about the 1960 Nashville lunch counter sit-ins, the everyday Nashvillians w...

As Metro Nashville Public Schools wind down for the summer this week, we’re checking in with middle schoolers who’ve been learning about housing and transportation through the Civic Design Center’s “Design Your Neighborhood” podcasting program. Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by four students to hear their unique perspectives on how they would plan our city differently if they were in charge: Salm...

Would Nashville be safer if there were more automated traffic cameras? In 2025, Washington, DC, brought in nearly $270 million from more than 500 automated traffic enforcement cameras — including a single camera that issued $9 million in tickets. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast DC podcast co-host Bridget Todd about how these cameras work, the congressional scrutiny they've been gett...

Tennessee’s new congressional maps have cast candidates both old and new into chaos as they navigate new districts. On today’s Friday News Roundup, executive producer Whitney Pastorek and contributor Nicole Williams are talking about who’s pulled petitions to run. Plus, Metro Legal director Wally Dietz has announced his retirement, the Office of Homeless Services had a curious request in their bud...

and recorded his first “emergency burger review” video. Since then, views on his social media burger takes have soared into the tens of thousands, and tonight, he’s a judge at Battle of the Burger 2026 at the Yard at oneC1TY. He joins Marie Cecile Anderson to explain his methodology, rank his top 5 burgers in town, and give us great local burger options for almost any occasion. Learn more about th...

As part of our continuing series on Nashville’s affordable housing crisis, today we’re looking at the challenges older adults are facing. The city has partnered with a program called Nesterly to pair seniors with younger residents through home sharing. Nesterly’s Nashville community liaison Kay Bowers joins Marie Cecile Anderson to explain how, and why, the program works. Learn more about the spon...

Six months ago, chef Margot McCormack announced that Margot Café & Bar would close its doors on June 5, 2026 — the 25th anniversary of the French-inspired farm-to-table restaurant that launched Nashville’s now-booming food scene. She joins host Marie Cecile Anderson for an exit interview to share her thoughts on the community she’s built, why she couldn’t open a restaurant like Margot today, wheth...

The Tennessee General Assembly wrapped last month, and here to help us understand the education bills passed this session is Melissa Brown, Tennessee Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. She joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to break down everything from voucher expansion, to the Ten Commandments in classrooms, to stricter internet policies in schools. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 11t...

Nashvillians, would your city be better if the bars stayed open later? This summer, Philadelphia is anticipating a record-breaking number of tourists coming to town for World Cup games and semiquincentennial events, so the city is allowing its bars to stay open until 4 a.m. during most of June and July. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri about the city’s...

Thursday afternoon, Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, at the urging of President Trump, successfully approved new congressional maps for the state, cracking Memphis into three separate districts in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to gut the Voting Rights Act. Holly McCall, editor in chief of the Tennessee Lookout, joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer W...