This Is Nashville

Whether it’s superheroes like The Avengers or slice-of-life cartoons in the New Yorker, comics capture our imaginations like no other art form. A few small panels can take us to another galaxy or show us life from someone else’s point of view. Comics are not just for kids and are the perfect vehicle for anyone who wants to explore a new world. Saturday was Free Comic Book Day so we're talking to N...

It’s strawberry season in Tennessee! In this episode, we’ll learn more about what this time of year means to local farmers, what eating seasonally looks like in Middle Tennessee and all the best ways to eat strawberries. We’re joined by a panel of farmers, urban agriculturists and community supported agriculture experts. But first, we’ll hear from WPLN enterprise reporter Damon Mitchell on  why Bl...

Hemp and CBD are legal in Tennessee but marijuana (medical and recreationional) is not. So where does this leave Delta-8? A Tennessee lawmaker proposed a bill this legislatative session that would have regulated and taxed Delta-8 products, but the bill didn't make it out of committee. Meanwhile, stores selling Delta-8, CBD and hemp products are cropping up across the state, and there's even a CBD...

Parents and juvenile justice advocates want Tennessee to improve the conditions in youth detention facilities after a report claims that teens held at the Wilder Youth Development Center were physically and sexually abused . Disability Rights Tennessee and the Youth Law Center released the report on April 27. It details how the teens held at the state-run facility in Fayette County in West Tenness...

Housing is on a lot of people’s minds in Nashville : how expensive it is, how hard to find it is, how many tall-and-skinnies are popping up across town, etc. In this episode, we examine how the red-hot Nashville market specifically impacts working class and recently arrived immigrants and their families. We're joined by community members, outreach worker, and educators to learn about how developme...

Then a few ultimate fans join us fresh from the stands. Chants and drumming are a big part of the stadium energy as is Soccer Moses, the Nashville SC's unofficial mascot and the "best religious leader in Nashville," according to the Nashville Scene . We'll ask our guests about what is soccer culture like in Nashville, how has the community grown, and what are the city's chances of hosting a 2026 W...

Ramadan Mubarak! Sunday marks the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday the celebrates the end of Ramadan . Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar Muslims observe through fasting and spiritual reflection. On today's show, members of Nashville's diverse Muslim community to learn more about how they observe the holy month and what it means to them. But first, WPLN criminal justice report...

Conexión Américas is 20 years old! In this show we talk with founder Renata Soto about what Nashville's Latino community looked like two decades ago and how she planted the seeds that  grew this long-standing organization. Also joining the conversation is current co-executive director Martha Silva on where Conexión is today and its hopes for the future. You'll also hear from Jaime Perara, a small...

The pandemic has been going on for more than two years so how are Middle Tennesseans now approaching pandemic safety? Last week, a judge in Florida struck down the federal mask mandate. Travelers are now no longer required to wear a masks on planes, trains or buses, but the CDC is still recommending that people continue to wear masks on public transit while the ruling is challenged.  In Middle Ten...

Let’s talk invasive species! Whether lazy or tender-hearted, if you’re someone who won’t kill a beetle in your house or pull a vine in your yard, it might be hard to wrap your head around the importance of mitigation and eradication. In this show, we hear from two experts on bugs. And good news: one of them is particularly passionate about natural remedies. Then, we move to two experts to talk abo...

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 WNXP artist of the month $avvy, who is joined by rapper and producer Mike Floss. We also talk with m...

Happy Earth Day! Today, we’re talking about green space. First, why is it important? Second, who has access to it? And finally, how can we make green space in our city more equitable? To answer those questions, we’re joined by a city official, a professor, a tree activist and an affordable housing expert. But first, we’ll hear from WPLN Criminal Justice Reporter Samantha Max about the  last minute...

Executions in the state of Tennessee ground to a halt as the pandemic set in back in March 2020. But, the state plans to resume today by executing Oscar Smith, using lethal injection. His execution was first scheduled for June 2020, and rescheduled twice since the start of the pandemic. Since 1916, 139 people have been killed by execution in the state of Tennessee. There was a nine-year break befo...

In August,  U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan  as the Taliban took over the country. Millions of Afghans were forcibly displaced, and hundreds of thousands fled as refugees. Over 500 Afghans resettled in Nashville. At first,  resettlement agencies were overwhelmed . The local community – mosques, teachers, electrical engineers, activists, grocers and more – stepped up to make sure the new arri...

Tallu Schuyler Quinn was an icon in Nashville. She’s the founder and director of The Nashville Food Project . She died of brain cancer in February 17 at the age of 42 — leaving behind a husband, Robbie, two children, Thomas and Lulah, and a grieving, yet hopeful, community. This episode is centered around the release of her book " What We Wish Were True ". The book came, in part, from the CaringBr...

In a time of racial reckoning, the Black Opry has resurfaced and re-centered a longstanding conversation about diversity — or lack thereof — in country music. It has also grown to include The Black Opry Revue, a touring musical showcase. Black Opry founder Holly G. joins the show to discuss the organization as it celebrates its first anniversary . Also in conversation with Holly G. is singer-songw...

Murals have become an iconic part of Nashville’s visual identity, especially on social media (Taylor Swift’s famous wings photo, anyone?). Muralists have been working in Nashville for decades, including Aaron Douglas’ work at the Fisk Galleries and several longtime muralists, graffiti artists and commercial painters. However, murals and street art have exploded in recent years due to major beautif...

Death is something that’s sure. It’s also something many of us avoid. Certain people, though, have made facing death part of their everyday life. In an opening feature, we visit Larkspur Conservation – one of the only conservation burial grounds in the country as we say goodbye to one man’s son. Then we speak with a woman who recently buried her dad at Larkspur as well as ordained ministers from d...

Wednesday is the first day of early voting for the Davidson County primary elections. To help listeners prepare to cast their ballot,  This Is Nashville  hosted a roundtable with the three Democratic candidates for Davidson County district attorney: incumbent Glenn Funk, Sara Beth Myers and P. Danielle Nellis. All of the questions posed to the candidates came from the community. To begin the episo...

Grab a blanket and snuggle up with a cuppa on this rainy spring day. We've got some poetry for you. We bring you words from poets of Nashville's past, highlighting The Fugitive Poets of the early 20th century. Then we invite a few of poets of today to share some of their work and inspirations. But up first, WPLN environmental reporter Caroline Eggers will join at the top of the show to talk about...

In April 2021, Nashville resident Marie Varsos tried to get protection from her husband after he strangled and threatened to kill her. She did everything she was supposed to do. She had resources and support. But Sean Varsos murdered her and her mother . In recent years, the city of Nashville has made strides in improving the systems to address domestic violence, but the Varsos case demonstrates t...

If you’re a baseball fan, it’s an exciting time because the MLB season started Thursday and the Nashville Sounds' season is already underway.  This a packed and heartwarming episode starting with a 1-on-1 with ESPN analyst Buster Olney. Then we spend some time with Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton and learn about how the Negro Leagues changed her father's life — as well as her own. Finally, we call two...

Nashville has a rich indigenous history that dates back to the last ice age, as well as a small but vibrant Native American community that is working to gain recognition and resources in Middle Tennessee. The first people to inhabit the area that is now modern Nashville were Native Americans who arrived here about 14,000 years ago. During the Mississippian period they built farms, villages and eve...

It’s tax time — one of our only sure things in life. It’s amazing we all make it through each year since the process often seems needlessly complicated. On this first round of a new segment we're calling Budget Crunch, we’ll invite a few panelists to answer some of your questions this filing season.  Then, we'll focus on a Curious Nashville question about why Bell Road is so difficult to navigate...

Note: This episode originally aired on March 24, but the show was unexpectedly interrupted by a press conference with President Joe Biden about the war in Ukraine. We are re-airing this so listeners can hear the full episode. Everyone wants to live in a safe community. The big question is, what is the best way to prevent violence? The 2020 murder of George Floyd created new urgency across the coun...