City Cast Nashville

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we’re revisiting a conversation that newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury and executive producer Whitney Pastorek had with their allergist, Dr. Keegan Smith of Heritage Medical Associates, on how to avoid the seasonal sniffles, whether you’re traveling, seeing family, or just trying to survive your adorable little petri dish of a child. Plus: Great gift i...

Trinity Community Commons is a repurposed church in East Nashville that’s become a community hub, serving meals and showing “radical hospitality” to neighbors. Thanks to a zoning loophole designed for faith-based properties, now they’re building 22 affordable housing units, too. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with executive director Zach Lykins and Open Table Nashville’s India Pungarcher to...

The longest federal shutdown in U.S. history is over. How did Nashvillians take care of each other along the way? City Cast contributor Nicole Williams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to assess our response. Plus, a social worker resigned rather than keep working with the Office of Homeless Services, early voting is now open in the TN-07 Congressional race,...

In 2024, Milk Bar founder, “MasterChef” judge, Bake Club proprietor, and James Beard Award-winning chef Christina Tosi moved to East Nashville. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with our new celebrity neighbor to get her list of the best bakeries in Nashville, from great sourdough to the perfect neighborhood fritter pop-up. Check out our Overlook Map of all the bakeries mentioned in this episod...

Killjoy, Nashville’s first booze-free store, just opened its second location in Berry Hill! And with endless holiday parties around the corner, we’re revisiting our conversation with founder Stephanie Styll ahead of their November 15 grand opening to talk about Nashville’s growing sober-curious community, the rise of alcohol-free beverages, and what mindful drinking looks like in Music City. **Thi...

Even though the end may be in sight for the federal government shutdown, the withholding of SNAP benefits has resulted in an unprecedented food crisis that is taking its toll on Nashvillians. Host Marie Cecile Anderson is talking with Signe Anderson, senior director of nutrition advocacy with the Tennessee Justice Center, about what  we know, why $5 million for Tennessee food banks isn’t enough to...

One year after Nashville voters overwhelmingly passed the Choose How You Move transportation referendum, executive producer Whitney Pastorek is talking with Chief Program Officer Sabrina Sussman about community expectations, the tangible results we’ve seen so far, what’s next, and the Journey Pass program for low-income riders, which recently expanded after the suspension of SNAP benefits. Learn m...

According to recently analyzed incident reports, no reasons were documented for most of the 600 traffic stops made by the Tennessee Highway Patrol during ICE’s six-day sting operation in May. Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by Newsletter Editor Margaret Kingsbury and Nashville Banner Editor-in-Chief Steve Cavendish to talk about this story, what we know about the new ICE call center that’s re...

Nashville’s visual art scene is booming — with neighborhood art crawls, local galleries, the Frist Museum, and murals around every corner. But as Nashville keeps growing, what challenges do local artists face, and how can we better support them? Host Marie Cecile Anderson talks with gallery owner Ashley Bergeron and artist Elisheba Israel Mrozik about the state of art in Nashville, why the Downtow...

Remember Opryland? Davis-Kidd Booksellers? Or that perfect sandwich from The Silly Goose? With the news that Fido will close in 2028, we’re feeling nostalgic. Today executive producer Whitney Pasterok takes a walk down memory lane with host Marie Cecile Anderson and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury as they swap stories (and listener shoutouts) about the old Nashville spots we still miss.  Lear...

Whether you’re flying home for Thanksgiving or dreaming of a Christmas market in Europe, you need to check out BNA Cheap Flights. Founder Andrea Giordano joins us on the podcast to share the best deals out of Nashville right now — plus insider tips on when to book, where to save, and how to hack your holiday travel. Join her exclusive email list for the latest deals at nashvillecheapflights.com. N...

From Zoolumination to yoga with the Nashville Symphony, we’re rounding up the best things to eat, hear, and do this month in Nashville! Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury share their top picks for the month, plus suggestions for Thanksgiving Day meals and ways to give back, like Open Table Nashville’s winter canvassing train...

What’s the deal with the Office of Homeless Services’ “non-traditional” housing program? Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by City Cast Contributor Nicole Williams and Nashville Scene reporter Eli Motycka to dig into this story, as well as the outcome of the ethics complaint against Councilmember Joy Kimbrough, the controversial crosswalk signs in Germantown, and more. Here's our list of Nashvi...

Happy Halloween Eve! Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by Ed Larson and Henry Zebrowski from the hilarious true crime podcast Last Podcast on the Left to revisit one of Nashville’s most gruesome murders –– the 1998 murder of Skull’s Rainbow Room founder David “Skull” Schulman. Plus, keep an eye out for The Tennessean’s upcoming "Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow,...

What’s the deal with the new zoning reform bills, and will they really help fix Nashville’s housing gap? Metro’s Deputy Director of Planning and Development Lisa Milligan joins us to talk about the proposed zoning changes, what they mean for neighborhoods, and residents’ concerns. Check out the preliminary results of the Housing & Infrastructure study, and Metro Planning's recommendations to Counc...

Nashville’s main landfill is almost full, leaving Davidson County in the middle of a “trash crisis.” State Senator Heidi Campbell joins us to explain how her Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act could turn the problem into economic opportunity — generating thousands of jobs and billions in revenue while funding recycling infrastructure and education at no cost to taxpayers. Learn more and watch the officia...

North Nashville has struggled with food insecurity for years, and the recent closure of their Kroger for renovations is making the situation worse. Nashville Banner reporter Sarah Grace Taylor joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to discuss her recent reporting on the food desert in 37208, alongside North Nash resident Carlos Partee. Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashvi...

So many different forms of transportation to talk about today: How’s the rollout of the WeGo Journey Pass for lower-income Nashvillians going? What did a Tennessean reporter learn on her visit to the Vegas Tesla Tunnels? Does anybody think Choice Lanes are a good idea? And as Music City starts to look more like Tech Town, can we retain our identity? Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sums...

Hearts broken, we are saying farewell to Jenn Harbin, aka The Hungry Loner, who was one of our first contributors here at City Cast Nashville. But before she moves to New York City, she’s sitting down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about the local spots she’ll miss the most, and what we can all do in her absence to keep our favorite independent restaurants alive. Learn more about the spon...

For generations, Nashville has been consumed by a singular debate: Which side of the Cumberland River is the best? Today, we’ve got two championship heavyweights stepping into the ring: CM Clay Capp, representing The East, and CM Sandra Sepulveda, holding it down for The West. Your referee is host Marie Cecile Anderson. And YOU decide who wins this fight: Email us your winner (and why!) and we’ll...

For over a decade, OZ Arts has brought contemporary and international performing arts companies to Nashville, but federal funding cuts, new NEA mandates from President Trump, and unexpected visa expenses now threaten their work. Executive and artistic director Mark Murphy joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to discuss the hurdles OZ overcame to present their 2025-26 season, featuring artists from six...

Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act awarded 20,000 private school vouchers statewide this fall, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton says he wants that number to double in 2026. But is the program working? Chalkbeat’s Tennessee bureau chief Melissa Brown joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek to walk us through the rollout, the data, and the challenges educators, families, and students ma...

With $104M in Choose How You Move funding heading out to build sidewalks and install smart signals, we’ve got infrastructure on the brain — which is why it’s a little weird that Elon Musk’s Boring Co. was digging over by Vandy this week. Contributor Nicole Williams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to try and figure that out. Plus, Rep. Andy Ogles has a new c...

Need a book? Shop local! Ahead of this weekend’s Southern Festival of Books, Penguin Random House sales manager Jessica Pearson joins host Marie Cecile Anderson with her guide to Nashville’s vibrant indie bookstore scene. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 16th episode: Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashvi...

Did you know there’s a free service here in Nashville that helps MNPS seniors navigate the transition to higher education — and stays with them until they get that degree? Persist Nashville has already helped thousands of our public school kiddos take their next step, and as the class of 2026 starts looking towards their future, Persist executive director Jennifer Hill and program alum Analyse Lyt...