After tragedy struck her neighborhood in 2018, artist M. Simone Boyd wanted to do something. Boyd enlisted neighborhood youth to create a mosaic depicting civil rights leader Curlie E. McGruder . The mosaic, created in partnership with a neighborhood woodworking shop, was mounted on the side of the Elizabeth Park senior center, over a window that had been cemented over. Now the Art Against Violence project has culminated in a total of five mosaics, depicting Black women who were pillars of the c...
May 19, 2022•51 min
This Is Nashville listeners have reached out with questions about changes they've seen at Centennial Park - particularly with the park's pavillion. In this episode, we address listeners' concerns and take a look at the park's work be more accessible and represent Nashville's diverse communities. We also look at how the Centennial Arts Center is learning from its own history ahead of its 50th anniversary, and an ongoing showcase for musicians from all genres. But first, Liam Adams has an update o...
May 18, 2022•50 min
On May 17, 1961,10 members of the Nashville Student Movement boarded a bus from Nashville to Birmingham, Alabama, as part of the Freedom Rides. The riders were arrested in Alabama and then sent back to the Tennessee border in the middle of the night. However, they helped bolster the civil rights movement as it continued to roll across the South. In today’s episode, we explore the legacy of Nashville’s Freedom Riders with poets and a journalist. Then we’re joined by a local civil rights activist ...
May 17, 2022•51 min
As the 1990s came to a close, country music’s biggest stars were women — Shania Twain, Faith Hill and the Chicks ruled the charts. Fast forward to 2021, and it’s “bro country” as far as the eye can see. Women are often the subjects of songs — wearing short shorts as they climb into pickup trucks. Women appear in as few as 10 percent of the songs on country radio. How did we get here? And how have women found ways to fight back and find paths for themselves? Writer and journalist Marissa R. Moss ...
May 16, 2022•51 min
This Saturday, Percy Warner Park will host the 81st Iroquois Steeplechase. The race, nicknamed Nashville’s “rite of spring,” has taken place every year since 1941 with only two exceptions: 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 1945, due to World War II. In today’s episode, we’re joined by two trustees of the Iroquois Steeplechase to learn about the race’s history and its origins in the sport of fox hunting. To find out more about the Iroquois Steeplechase today, we’ll hear from an organizer of...
May 13, 2022•50 min
East Tennessee native Dr. Stephen Loyd once had a 100-pill-a-day addiction and even stole pain pills from his own patients. Years after he first sought help for his substance abuse disorder, Loyd in now the vice president of the state board medical examiners as well as the medical director of multiple service organizations. Loyd's says he has yet to find a way to treat dead people. His past has shaped his approach to addiction treatment, and he's now one of the most stringent harm-reductionists ...
May 12, 2022•51 min
The future of abortion access in the United States is in question after POLITICO published on May 2 a draft opinion revealing that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. Tennessee has a trigger law in place that will ban almost all abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned. In this episode, we examine how we got to this pivotal moment in the future of abortion access. We also talk about what it’s like to get an abortion in Tennessee, and a board certified OB-GYN and reproductive healt...
May 11, 2022•51 min
It’s been 10 weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine. More than 5 million people have fled, millions more have been displaced inside the European country and thousands of civilians have died due to the ongoing conflict. The war is also threatening the global food supply . On this episode, we hear from Nashville residents with ties to Ukraine, a filmmaker documenting the conflict, and others who are leading aid efforts. To start the show, WPLN Senior Reporter and Producer of Special Projects Meribah K...
May 10, 2022•51 min
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 NPR editor and Nashville-based artist Malaka Gharib, whose work was included in the national promotio...
May 09, 2022•50 min
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 Black men are less likely to graduate from a Tennessee college than their peers . Guests: Damon Mitchel...
May 06, 2022•50 min
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 restaurant and bar that's coming to Nashville . Today we talk to people who make their living in the...
May 05, 2022•51 min
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 Tennessee were denied medical care and therapy services, and how parents were retaliated against when they ...
May 04, 2022•51 min
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 development and rising rents are making cultural communities and vital services harder to access for many imm...
May 03, 2022•51 min
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 World Cup match. Guests: Rachel Iacovone , WPLN digital news editor Abel Acosta, head of La Brigada D...
May 02, 2022•51 min
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 reporter Samantha Max makes her final appearance on the show before she leaves the station for a new posit...
Apr 29, 2022•51 min
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 business owner who benefited from business development through Conexión and is now a volunteer, and B...
Apr 28, 2022•51 min
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 Tennessee, COVID-19 cases are starting to slowly creep up again just as Nashville plans to close a key t...
Apr 27, 2022•51 min
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 about invasive plants. This is more than concern for the beauty of our landscape; these issues have imp...
Apr 26, 2022•50 min
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 more musicians about doing the work, and what kinds of support they've found — or found lacking. Gues...
Apr 25, 2022•49 min
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 decision to delay Oscar Smith’s execution on Thursday night . Guests: Samantha Max , WPLN criminal j...
Apr 22, 2022•51 min
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 before the state resumed capital punishment in 2018. We’ll learn about our state’s history of executions...
Apr 21, 2022•51 min
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 arrivals got the help they needed, and more people are still coming . In this episode, we hear the stories ...
Apr 20, 2022•50 min
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 CaringBridge posts she wrote after she was diagnosed with cancer. We're talking to two of Tallu's employees ...
Apr 19, 2022•50 min
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-songwriter Frankie Staton, who led one of the Black Opry's forebears - the Black Country Music Associatio...
Apr 18, 2022•53 min
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 beautification efforts like the Nashville Walls Project , as well as the increasing popularity of Instagram...
Apr 15, 2022•50 min
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 different traditions about how they are plugging into, and guiding us through, the dying time. First ...
Apr 14, 2022•51 min
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 episode, WPLN News political reporter Blaise Gainey had an update on the Tennessee legislative session. Gue...
Apr 13, 2022•51 min
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 her recent coverage of the United Nations climate report and the Tennessee Valley Authority's respon...
Apr 12, 2022•51 min
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 that those systems are not infallible. We talk with a domestic violence survivor, and with people cur...
Apr 11, 2022•51 min
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 Little League coaches up to bat: Ronald "Gooch" Gooch and Joey Hale. They share why Little League Ba...
Apr 08, 2022•51 min
