This Is Nashville

Karaoke is where amateur singers go to shine! Or, in Nashville, where aspiring professionals sometimes go to try and drum up a following. It’s a low-stakes fame game where you can be an American Idol for a night. Music City is lucky to have a plethora of options for singing karaoke, and whether you’re a fan or not, there’s no denying it’s a staple of Nashville nightlife. But first, we check in wit...

How do communities change? Who can make change in their communities? North Nashville native Jerome Moore takes a broad approach to exploring both those questions. In his podcast  Deep Dish Conversations , he talks to everyone, from elected officials of all political viewpoints to activists and artists, about what a better, fairer Nashville might look like. We talk with the North Nashville native a...

Public access television is arguably the most intimate and personal form of programming offered in our country. Legendary for its low budget production quality, public access TV shows regular people who have an interest in creating a television show.  Want a show about popular and off the wall sports? Check. How about a show about religion and spirituality? Check. Maybe you want to do a show about...

During the Civil War, the city was under Union control and full of soldiers, which created a demand for sex workers. After attempts to remove the women failed, the Union Army legalized prostitution in Nashville . If they paid the registration fee, and kept up with weekly medical checks, these women were free legally to provide services. After the war, sex work was made illegal once again, but, of...

With Election Day just three days away, we're talking about voting! Today, we'll bring you an update on early voting turnout and walk through some basics about how to vote, why to do it, and where to find the information you need. We'll also hear from folks who are out talking with voters and potential voters about why they cast their ballot — and why some choose not to. But first, it's time to re...

Why do so many people ignore or avoid the Cumberland River? And how have perceptions — and access to our winding river — changed? In this episode, we dive into how feelings about our river are rapidly changing, thanks in part to a rise in paddling and boating outfitters, as well as the fresh eyes of newly arriving transplants (and developers). We'll hear from avid paddlers about their experiences....

Giving birth costs an average of  $18,885 nationwide before insurance.  If you have a medical emergency, you can expect to  spend hundreds on your ambulance ride  — and that doesn’t even include the cost of the medical care itself. In fact, medical debt is the  leading type of debt  on credit cards in the U.S. But… if you live with disabilities or chronic illnesses, those medical costs are  signif...

On August 3rd, voters will decide who they want their next mayor and council members to be. But they’ll also cast their vote for vice mayor. It’s a job that flies under the radar for many Nashvillians. So what, exactly, does the vice mayor do, and how would the candidates for vice mayor approach the job? We’ll answer those questions in this  Citizen Nashville  episode all about Nashville’s vice ma...

And it’s projected that in 20 years, urban growth might extend a trip to Chattanooga or Memphis by an hour. One potential solution to stem this congestion is creating more Amtrak passenger lines between Tennessee cities, as well as major regional hubs like Atlanta, Chicago and Louisville. For now, commuter rail is more of an idea than a reality in Nashville, with one exception: the WeGo Star, whic...

A new music video from country singer Jason Aldean has created quite the buzz. It places his song, “Try That In A Small Town,” amid scenes of riots and police encounters, and critics are flagging its racist tropes. Nashville Public Radio's senior music writer Jewly Hight joins us to unpack the video. Then, we're bringing back a timeless episode from April 2022 that answers the questions: who is co...

Some of the most exciting research in astronomy is happening right here in Nashville. A little more than a year ago, NASA released the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope . One of the first approved studies using this imagery was led by Vanderbilt professor Keivan Stassun, who is searching for Earth-like planets with NASA's TESS Exoplanet Mission . And just weeks ago, a groundbreaking...

Some are turning to men’s groups as a resource. In these groups, they find brotherhood, support and judgment-free spaces to talk about things that come up in life. From relationships to fatherhood, career stress to spirituality — opening up and talking to other men can be transformative. Today, we invite leaders of local men’s groups on to talk about masculinity and what it means for them to get t...

What’s allowed to be built in my neighborhood? Can I build a second unit on my property? How can I make sure new construction will benefit my community and not harm it? The answers to these questions all come back to the city’s zoning code — more than 200 pages describing what kinds of buildings can be built where, what they can look like, and how to get special permission to build something diffe...

His legacy includes pastoring The Church at Mt. Carmel, ministering to his neighborhood through events and summer camps, and starting the Gentlemen And Not Gangsters (GANG) program that works with the juvenile court system to help at-risk youth. His impact in the community was great. Today we speak with his loved ones and those who worked alongside him to celebrate the man, and talk about his lega...

Major Jackson has published five books of poetry, and is also the host of the Slowdown podcast from American Public Media and the Poetry Foundation. On top of that, the Vanderbilt University professor was recently named a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In this episode, Major Jackson talks about his work, his forthcoming book Razzle Dazzle: New & Selected Poems , and his N...

But just a decade ago, these options didn’t exist. Taxis were the best option back then, and are still around. But one of these systems is regulated by the city, and one is not. Today, we explore how citizens, both riders and drivers, are navigating a ride ecosystem that has two simultaneous systems, each with their own regulations. But first, we talk with WPLN healthcare reporter Catherine J. Swe...

On May 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the global Public Health Emergency for the pandemic. That was a cause for celebration for most, but many Covid long-haulers felt even more marginalized and forgotten than before. It’s currently estimated that 1 in 5 American adults who had an initial infection end up experiencing long COVID. The initial diagnosis requires symptoms t...

Roller skating videos went viral on social media during the lockdown days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lot of people took up the sport during that time. But the scene here in Nashville has been going strong for decades. So don’t call it a comeback! We talk with local skaters about their favorite moves, favorite spots, and the reasons they keep on rolling. And we visit the Rivergate Skate Center...

Hot chicken is Nashville’s most famous dish. It has a cult following, a mythological backstory and humble beginnings. But it is much more than just a meal — it tells a story about gentrification and race in Nashville. In honor of the annual Music City Hot Chicken festival on this holiday, we're rebroadcasting our deep dive into what hot chicken says about the city’s culture. We’re joined by the ma...

Zoos are a staple of American culture. They’re an enjoyable outing for families, couples and friends and a rare opportunity to see animals that a lot of us wouldn't otherwise get to see. In recent years, many zoos have pivoted to focusing on conservation and animal welfare rather than entertainment. Here in Nashville, the Zoo says that conservation is their mission . But, what does this really mea...

Since 2015, Nashville has gone from  a couple thousand short-term rentals to nearly 7,000 with official permits. And in the past five years, the city has  fielded more than 8,000 complaints . So how exactly did we get here? And where do we stand on these rentals? You can also click through to our web post for related reading . To start today’s show, WPLN news editor LaTonya Turner will break down...

In Part 2, candidates answer questions on economic development, mental health and guns, and This Is Nashville senior producer Steve Haruch, multimedia producer Elizabeth Burton and WPLN education reporter Alexis Marshall provide analysis. Plus, we've got bonus behind the scenes content from Monday's event. * Listen to Part 1. *** On Monday, June 26,  This Is Nashville  and WPLN News collaborated w...

On Monday, June 26,  This Is Nashville  and WPLN News collaborated with the Nashville Child and Youth Collaborative to put on a mayoral forum, which we called “For Nashville’s Future.” This is Part 1 — candidates answer questions about climate change and substance abuse, and This Is Nashville senior producer Steve Haruch and WPLN education reporter Alexis Marshall provide analysis. The goal was to...

Climate change is already affecting our city, and the time to do something about it is running out. How is Nashville preparing to become more resilient and more sustainable? We talk with experts and advocates about adjusting to life on a warming planet — and city — and discuss what individual Nashvillians can do. But first, WPLN's Marianna Bacallao gives an update on how transgender patients of Va...

Nashville is changing rapidly, and local youth have something to say about it. Since the previous mayoral race in Nashville, the city has been through a lot. We have seen a pandemic, protests in response to the murder of George Floyd, a near-total ban on abortion, a school shooting and much more. Meanwhile, the city’s population has grown exponentially and professional sports continue to expand, w...