This Is Nashville

The bass is bumping and the banjo is twangin’ as folks across the LGBTQIA+ community gather together to celebrate. What are some of the untold stories in roots music, and who is carrying that torch today? And what is it about electronic dance music that continues to bring the queer community together? Today we hear how LGBTQIA+ musicians are creating and holding space in their respective scenes an...

It's been nearly a year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, which triggered Tennessee's abortion ban. Now, Tennessee residents have to travel out of state for abortion care. This makes it financially and physically challenging for many to receive the healthcare they need. Since then, physicians, activists, and every day people have rallied to put pressure on officials, raise funds...

Now, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the future of affirmative action in the coming days. Today, we’ll talk to experts on law and affirmative action to unpack what a possible ruling from the Supreme Court might mean for college admissions, and the future of diversity on college campuses in Tennessee. But first, we’re joined by WPLN’s education reporter Alexis Marshall for the latest...

From free libraries to community fridges to online groups, some of the best things in Nashville are free. We talk with organizers and users of local free resources about the stuff they give away and the ways that building community costs nothing. And yes, this show is free to listen to as well. But first, WPLN political reporter Blaise Gainey talks about two  new state laws that provide increased...

On June 19, the nation celebrates Juneteenth to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans after the Civil War. While Juneteenth was only recently made into a federal holiday, there was a  resurgence in Juneteenth celebrations during the Civil Rights Movement  in the 1950s and 60s. This special extended episode of This Is Nashville focuses on local civil rights efforts, namely the...

No need to bring a partner, either. Nashville’s dance communities are welcoming and many even include dance lessons. Needless to say, partner dancing is alive and well in our city. Today, local dance enthusiasts and instructors join us to talk about their favorite styles and what gets them out on the dance floor.  But first, WPLN digital editor Rachel Iacovone stops by to highlight  this weekend’s...

It is hard to imagine the Nashville Predators without general manager David Poile. That is because there  hasn’t  been a Predators without Poile in franchise history. 25 years ago, Poile helped launch the team and has been at the helm ever since. He is the winningest general manager in NHL, and he has been instrumental and transforming Nashville into “Smashville.” In February, he announced his ret...

Have you met Nashville’s sisters? Sister cities, that is. If you didn’t know, the long-running  Sister Cities Nashville  program has formal partnerships with  nine — and soon to be 10 — international cities . These partnerships strive to connect the people of Nashville to the people of the world. And they follow a nationwide mission established in the 1950s to carry out what’s known as “citizen di...

Collectively and individually, the group has met with many barriers to getting somewhere with their music or making music at all, and joining Six One Tribe has both brought the all-important empowerment they needed and provided resources. We discuss their origins, plans and hopes for Nashville's larger hip-hop scene. But first, WPLN general assignment reporter Rose Gilbert discusses what's next fo...

On June 12, 2020, a group of protesters began occupying Legislative Plaza. Among them was now state-representative Justin Jones. For over two months, they called on Governor Bill Lee to meet with them to discuss racial justice and policing in Tennessee. The occupation lasted for 62 days until the state passed a law that escalated camping on public property from a misdemeanor to a felony.  In this...

This episode first aired on July 22.   Ice cream is the perfect summer treat. This hour is all about ice cream in Nashville. What are some current trends? What is the scene like? We learn a little about the “queen of ice cream” back in 1840s Nashville, meet some of the people churning away today and finally ride shotgun on an ice cream truck. But first, we’re joined by Nashville Banner Editor Stev...

Small business is a big deal in Nashville. Today we talk to Nashvillians who are making their living by starting their own businesses, and the folks who help nurture this thriving community of entrepreneurs.  Does it take a certain type of person to build a business from the ground up? What does it take to start a small business here? Which industries are being served by Nashville’s small business...

“Jazz is here, whether you know it or not!” That’s how one local jazz musician describes the scene in Middle Tennessee. It’s thriving, if less visible, with deep roots going way back to the 1930s, especially in the historically Black Jefferson Street community. That’s also the location of the first jazz radio station in Nashville and the first Black-owned FM station — on the campus of Fisk Univers...

On August 3, Nashville will elect its next mayor from 12 candidates . Rather than interviewing the candidates, for now we're making space for members of the community. In today's episode, we ask: what do you want in our next mayor? What are your community’s most urgent needs this election season? Listeners who weighed in candidates to have concrete solutions for affordable housing, transportation,...

Nashville wasn’t always the tourist destination it is today. Over the past three decades, the city has attracted high-level pro sports franchises, minted the nickname “Music City” into a brand, and become the bachelorette capital of the U.S. Like it or not, the tourism industry is booming in our town. And for the past 32 years, Butch Spyridon has been at the helm, running the  Nashville Convention...

This episode first aired on April 25, 2022. Nashville is known as Music City, but as the cost of living continues to rise in Nashville, it’s putting pressure on those trying to get by. What is it like to make music in Nashville if you aren’t headlining arenas? How are musicians piecing together a life for themselves? We start by talking with  former WNXP artist of the month $avvy,  who is joined b...

Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School  is the only one of its kind in the South. It’s liberal and interdenominational, and, under the leadership of Dean Emilie Townes, has only grown its reputation as a theological institution leading in the areas of diversity and social justice. Later this month, Townes  will step down as dean . She joins us to reflect on her legacy, and how the Divinity School...

Franklin Pride is this weekend. The festival narrowly survived a months-long campaign to have the city deny its permit over backlash against last year’s drag performances. In today’s episode, we’re talking with Franklin Pride organizers about that controversy and what attendees can expect this year. We’re also joined by two Tennessee drag queens to hear how they’re celebrating Pride this year. But...

Nashville is a “song town,” but what’s the first step into songwriting for young people? For many, that first touch comes through the  Words & Music  curriculum from the Country Music Hall of Fame, which has been teaching kids how to write lyrics since 1979. The initiative guides teachers — often in language arts or music classes — to teach songwriting to students. They turn out songs about fu...

The summer heat hasn’t quite kicked in yet here in Nashville. But the city’s outdoor public pools are opening for the season soon, so we’re diving in! We discuss the benefits of swimming and access to public pool facilities. What if you still need to learn how to swim? What about lifeguarding? What should you look for if you’re swimming out in nature? We've got you covered. And host Khalil Ekulona...

It’s easy to get up in arms when thinking about bots replacing human voices, instrumentalists and songwriters. But how realistic are those fears? And what about AI tools that are already being used in production and engineering? At what point does use of, or collaboration with AI tools become copyrightable? Who gets the royalties if AI writes a hit song? Today, we talk to musicians, critics, produ...

The Metro Nashville government is a major employer, with some 10,000 workers, and city leaders have ambitions to create diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces within each department. Yet  a new report on the demographics and wages of city employees  finds communities of color are still underrepresented within the Metro workforce, and that there’s a pay gap in which white, male leaders are typ...

Most K-12 schools offer support staff and specialized education classes for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But when those kids graduate, what's next? Often, it falls on the parents to figure it out. If they don't have the resources to hire a caretaker, or time to provide full-time care themselves, navigating this transition into adulthood can be really challenging. And...

Most people who go to prison eventually get out. As difficult an experience as that can be, re-entering society afterward can be just as challenging as life on the inside — and in some ways, more so. What is it like to rebuild a life after spending years, or even decades, behind bars? What resources are out there to help? We talk with people who have experienced life in prison about their hopes fo...

Rodeos are an iconic part of American culture and a cultural fixture across the United States, and the sport's season is just kicking off this month. In Tennessee, organizers are gearing up for events including the Franklin Rodeo on May 18, Black Rodeo USA in Shelbyville on June 3 and the Springfield Rodeo on July 29. To learn more about rodeo culture in Tennessee, we’re sitting down with a 4-time...