City Cast Nashville

Meet Lauren Pinkston — a 7th generation Tennessean who’s running as an independent candidate for Tennessee’s open gubernatorial seat. She sits down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about what’s propelling her run, and how her experience living internationally changed her lens on our state. We’re getting her take on affordability, immigration, data centers, and why she wants to “humanize” ou...

Tomorrow night, the Metro Council is considering new legislation that could make it easier to open new child care centers in Nashville, by eliminating distance requirements and speeding up the permit process. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Shetika Davis from Bridging the Gap Learning Center to learn why our real child care crisis might not be affordability, but accessibility. Learn more...

Both Denver and Nashville wanted, but didn't get, a WNBA team. While more and more people are embracing women’s sports, Denver is only the second city in the U.S. to build a stadium specifically for women’s soccer. Will betting on women’s sports drive Denver’s economy or will Denverites be left paying the price for another stadium? City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Denver podcast host...

Massive tech conglomerate Oracle is supposed to be building its worldwide HQ on Nashville’s East Bank, but this week, they laid off thousands of staffers — including some of our neighbors. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to dig into why at least one state rep is calling for immediat...

As the weather warms up, families are looking to get outside. So where are the best playgrounds in Nashville — and can they hold up to the scrutiny of a busy mom? Host Marie Cecile Anderson welcomes contributor Amelia Edelman and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to run down their favorite play spots in town, and tell us what Nashville really needs to make our playground scene great. Learn more...

Get ready for great thrift shopping and outdoor festivals this month in Nashville! Host Marie Cecile Anderson, newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are saluting April in today’s monthly guide, from farmers markets to concerts at great indie venues, and even a Ladies Only Vinyl DJ Class. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 1st episode: Freely Fest Ge...

Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility, and who better to share Nashville’s untold queer history than historian and founder of Nashville Queer History, Sarah Calise? Joined by host Marie Cecile Anderson, they celebrate the lives of trans and queer Nashvillians who lived authentically and the ways their courage and joy paved the way for others. Learn more about the sponsors of this Ma...

The Nashville area is already home to about a third of the AI data centers in the state, and more are headed our way — including a new facility in East Nashville. With other cities around the country rejecting data centers in their communities, what should Nashville be watching for? Mark Williams, founding co-director of the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab, joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to walk us throug...

More affordable housing is needed in places like Nashville. Some cities, however, are doing better than others at meeting this need. Austin, Texas, for example, is building more affordable housing than any other American city right now — 50% more, by some measures, than the second most successful city. However, this fast-growing city is also seeing a shortage in housing that middle- and lower-inco...

The latest Vanderbilt poll was released yesterday, revealing that 56% of Nashville residents think the city is on the wrong track. On today’s Friday News Roundup, Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by contributor Nicole Williams and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to analyze the vibes. Plus: What’s with the CVS ad blitz? What bills died in the TN General Assembly this week? What does Cameron...

While we love our local brick n’ mortar restaurants, it could be argued that the heart of Nashville’s food scene is our incredible pop-up restaurants and food trucks. Comedian Eddie Ortiz joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to reveal his faves, from Lao BBQ to birria. Don’t forget to slide into his DMs if you’re wondering what to eat tonight!  Here is a list of the establishments discussed in this ep...

The Nashville Humane Association is celebrating 80 years of rescuing animals this year. To celebrate, we’re revisiting a conversation with NHA community engagement director Taylor Spreitler. She joins host Marie Cecile Anderson (proud parent of an NHA rescue pup) to talk about their rescue process, why they’re pushing back against breed restrictions, and how our current economic uncertainty is imp...

When Chef Sterling Wright left the reality show “Hell’s Kitchen” in 2014, he could have gone to work in any restaurant around the world. Instead, he came home to Nashville’s J.C. Napier Homes, launched Joy Kitchen, and started teaching the kids in the neighborhood how to cook. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Chef Sterling, alongside two of his young prodigies — Xavier Winston and Mariann...

Nashville was built on country music, and country music was built on drinking songs. Now that more people are choosing sobriety, what are we to do? Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by Joe Hudak, Rolling Stone senior music editor and host of the Nashville Now podcast, to discuss his recent RS article about the genre’s sober reckoning — and how the ripple effects could impact Nashville’s songwri...

The unionization efforts of sex workers in Nevada might have implications for gig workers in Nashville. At Sheri's Ranch, a legal brothel 45 minutes outside Las Vegas, some of the workers are seeking both recognition as employees and union representation. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with former City Cast Las Vegas podcast host, current contributor, and longtime Nevada attorney Dayvid Figler ab...

Is 12 South just a mall now? Yesterday’s Tennessean headline had us laughing, while also pondering the future of our friendly neighborhood-turned-upscale shopping center. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are digging into a lot of development stories, including new NASCAR news, our new Live Nation venue, an...

We all seek out delicious sandwiches, even when we make delicious sandwiches for a living. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Jason Eskridge, owner of Music City Sandwich Co. (and former host of Sunday Night Soul) to get his take on the best places in Nashville to get two pieces of bread with fillings between them. Remember: Hunger is not a game. Get more from City Cast Nashville when you b...

Late last summer, the Nashville Department of Transportation removed the benches lining Korean Vets Boulevard … but Pastor Robin L. Owen just happened to have one in her car. Since then, she and a team of volunteers have built dozens of benches to place at bus stops across the city, part of a nationwide movement; locally, the project is called “To Nashville, With Love.” She joins host Marie Cecile...

Four regions, 16 destinations, one winner! Our favorite travel influencer, Andrea Giordano from BNA Cheap Flights, joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for a little March Madness, travel edition. We’ve got a full bracket of picks for the best warm-weather destinations from Nashville this summer. Who will cut down the net in our big dance?  Get more from City Cas...

Meet Jerri Green — a Memphis City Councilwoman and the current public defender for Shelby County who’s running as a Democratic candidate for Tennessee’s open gubernatorial seat. She sits down with executive producer Whitney Pastorek to talk about what she learned as a “baby attorney” in Nashville, and how being a mom fuels her campaign. Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast...

Nashvillians are concerned about police accountability, especially with the increased presence of federal troops in many cities. DC Council in Washington recently passed emergency legislation requiring local police to release body-worn camera footage of incidents involving federal forces they patrol with, and to collect the names of federal officers who make arrests. It’s a big shift in local poli...

From the Tennessee General Assembly to Tennessee State University, March Madness is everywhere. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, contributor Nicole Williams, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek are on today’s Friday News Roundup breaking down the NES Board’s special treatment, some odd happenings on the Hill, new proposals to fix our child care crisis, and the candidates set for this November’s sta...

St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and Nashville is gearing up for one of its biggest celebrations. But what is this holiday actually about? Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Conor Doolan, president of Irish Network Nashville and organizer of Nashville’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Five Points. They talk about the surprising history of St. Patrick’s Day, why many of the traditions we know t...

It’s budget season once again, but this year’s pre-budget public hearing was focused on essentials like affordable housing. So we’re revisiting a conversation about an out-of-the-box idea from last year: What if we build more skate parks? Skateboarders Luke Ansell (of Cecil’s Skate Shop) and Collin Scheele sit down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to advocate for more ramps, rails, and community. L...

Can Nashville’s corporate and indie venues coexist? The Department of Justice settled its antitrust case against promoter giant Live Nation yesterday, although Tennessee is one of 25 states not accepting that settlement. Chris Cobb, Music Venue Alliance Nashville president, and Jon Grau, an artist manager at Thirty Tigers, join producer Daniel Sumstine to break down why that lawsuit matters, and t...