This Is Nashville

Earlier this year, Metro Arts Commission Executive Director Caroline Vincent resigned amid allegations of tokenism , retaliation and a toxic work environment for women of color . At that point, half of the city agency's employees had left over the previous 11 months. In August, Metro Arts announced Daniel Singh as its new executive director. In this episode, we take a look back at a turbulent year...

School is out, the kids are home, and the holidays are here.  For a lot of people, that means getting together with family, which can be … complicated. In this episode, we’re talking about how to talk with your family about sensitive subjects, including race and politics, during the holidays. We’re sitting down with a panel of young people to get their experiences, as well as a local author to get...

On Saturday at 9:00 a.m., WPLN will officially turn 60 years old! Today, we're celebrating with past and present staff, former guests and listeners. We're taking a dive into station history, from the library days all the way to the launch of This Is Nashville . Then, we're sitting down with listeners to discuss what they want to hear from us in the next 60 years. Guests:   Steve Swenson , presiden...

On today’s episode we check in with Jad Abumrad, creator and former host of Radiolab. Growing up in Nashville, he was eager to get away. But his podcast journey led him back to the south when he created the podcast Dolly Parton’s America. And now Abumrad is working with Vanderbilt on the new Podcast Institute. We’ll hear about his formative childhood, career and what’s on the horizon. But first, i...

Nashville’s hotels broke records this year. According to the Nashville Conventions and Visitors Corporation, this year’s CMA Fest ushered in the city’s best-ever month for hotel room sales, with more than 875,000 rooms booked in June. It’s safe to say that hospitality is a booming industry in the city. But what is it like to work in hospitality? Today we’ll talk with the people who keep our hotels...

Long before Nashville became a car-dependent city, streetcar lines crisscrossed the city. In this episode, we'll learn which neighborhoods developed because of streetcar lines, and how this early form of public transportation shaped the city. Listen as our guests teach us about equality, or the lack thereof, in the streetcar era and share stories of resistance before the Civil Rights Act. And now,...

Our understanding of autism has expanded and evolved since the developmental disorder was first described in the 1940s. Autism can impact how a person reads social situations, build language skills and can cause physical symptoms, like seizures. Now, 1 in 44 8-year-olds are autistic, the Center for Disease Control estimates . Most resources and treatment are focused on autistic children, but adult...

It’s that time of year! Folks are starting to think about their resolutions for the new year, the things they want to change, the things they want to do better. What are Nashville’s resolutions? What should they be? Today, we’re sitting down with a panel of community members and local fixtures, including a labor organizer, a drag queen, a professor and a local government expert. But first, we’re d...

Across the world it is known as futbol or, the beautiful game. Here in the states, we call it by another name – soccer. While the globe is focused on the World Cup, we’re shining a light on what the game means to our local Latino communities. We’ll talk with fans, enthusiasts and players about the game that brings people together. But first, we respond to listener comments and questions in @Us. Gu...

From Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement to the present day, Black churches in the American South have historically been vital centers of culture and community. In this episode, we’ll look at the history of Black churches in Middle Tennessee, and the role they play in the community today.   But first, we’ll examine a  recent investigative report about the Middle Point Landfill . Guests:  ...

Since Twitter changed ownership in October, hundreds of employees have either been fired or elected to leave. Advertisers have walked away. Users have jumped to other platforms. All of this has fueled speculation — and pronouncements of the social media platform's imminent demise. Is the end of Twitter near? What will we lose if it is? We talk with some Nashvillians about what the social media pla...

Keeda Haynes is a leading voice in criminal justice reform in Nashville. And she brings firsthand experience to her work, having spent nearly five years in federal prison — an experience she says still affects her today. We talk with the former public defender and congressional candidate about her hopes for our justice system, and her path from incarceration to advocacy, which she recounts in her...

It's the holiday season, the busiest time of year for Nashville's performing arts scene. In this episode, we're joined by musicians, vocalists and a representative from the Tennessee Performing Arts Center to talk about some of our city's beloved traditions — from Christmas carols to the ballet. We're talking about what it takes to put these shows on, and how things have changed over the past coup...

So who is hunting these days? How do folks get started? What are the best tips for hunting ethically ? We’ll talk to local wildlife officials and hunters about the sport. But first, host Khalil Ekulona and digital lead Anna Gallegos-Cannon respond to listener feedback and talk about what didn't make earlier episodes. Guests: George Mattena , long time hunter Ashley Chance , southeast program coord...

When the AIDS epidemic began in the 1980s, it was a time of fear, panic, misinformation and deaths. Thought to be a “gay men’s disease” in those days, AIDS became stigmatized with lifestyle and sexuality rather than scientific understanding about its transmission. It’s been 41 years since the U.S. saw its first reported cases of HIV. We now know more about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and how to tr...

As we head into the holiday season, many of us are looking forward to some delicious traditional dishes. But inflation means that preparing those meals could be significantly more expensive. To learn more about how this issue is impacting our communities, we are joined by local resident, farmer and restaurant owner. Then, we'll hear from the leaders of local nonprofits and a pediatrician about wha...

In 1860, more than 30% of Davidson County’s roughly 47,000 residents were enslaved . That’s nearly 15,000 people. As significant as those numbers are, they underlie another, equally unsettling truth: Nashville was a key location in the sale of enslaved people. Slavery was a booming business in our city, and helped enrich families whose names are among the most recognizable in Nashville. In this ep...

The This Is Nashville team is out for the Thanksgiving holiday. We are rebroadcasting an episode about Nashville's indie venues, which first aired in June.   Nashville’s independent music venues have long been a proving ground for up-and-coming artists. They’re also increasingly under threat as development and gentrification continue to put pressure on property values.  Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballr...

In many Native American communities, the fourth Thursday in November is known as the National Day of Mourning instead of Thanksgiving. Instead of feasting with friends and family, the National Day of Mourning is a time for Native Americans to honor their heritage while dispelling myths about the origin of Thanksgiving. So, what is the history of the National Day of Mourning? We’ll talk with activi...

Election season always get people talking about voter turnout, which tends to be pretty low in Tennessee. The state has consistently ranked in the bottom ten for turnout over the past two decades, but why? We’ve talked to people about what has driven them to vote. Today, we’re talking to people who do not vote regularly about what’s keeping them home, as well as a couple of experts from local civi...

As the busiest travel season of the year approaches, we check in on Nashville International Airport. From its origins as Berry Field to its current status as a busy hub for one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, BNA holds an important place in our city — and its growth. The airport is in the middle of a significant expansion. How big will it get, and what will it mean for the futur...

Historically Black colleges and universities have recently garnered national attention with legendary professional athletes becoming coaches, financial backers of programs, and expressing their fandom. In this episode, we'll hear from students and coaches from HBCU athletic programs in Nashville about the growing interest in HBCU sports and what it means for Black athletes. But first, we'll be joi...

Nashville’s drag scene is thriving and as active as it’s ever been, from club shows, to brunches, to transportainment. It's also a scene with a history that stretches back decades, with origins in Printer's Alley and some of the city's earliest LGBTQ clubs. A proposed state law would criminalize engaging in “an adult cabaret performance on public property or in a location where the adult cabaret p...

Cowboy boots are a classic part of Western wear, but they have become an iconic part of Nashville fashion. How did they come to be so popular here, and how have they changed over time? To learn more, we’re talking with star stylists, writers and local store owners.  But first, we're joined by WPLN senior music writer Jewly Hight to discuss this year's Grammy nominations . Guests: Jewly Hight, WPLN...

As the conversation about climate change continues, interest in sustainable energy is also expanding. In this episode, we’re focusing on solar energy and its potential in Nashville. We explore the options available to homeowners interested in reducing their carbon footprints and take a look at at some of the large-scale solar projects either under way or on the horizon in Middle Tennessee.  But fi...