In January the Tennessee Department of Health announced that the state will no longer accept funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for HIV prevention, testing and treatment. Around 20,000 Tennesseans are living with HIV, and the CDC estimates that 14% of Tennesseans with HIV are unaware of their status. The funding will run out at the end of May, and there is no set plan of how the state will compensate for this lack of federal money. So, how did we get here? In this episod...
Feb 14, 2023•51 min
At 12:40 p.m. on February 13, 1960, Black college students sat down at lunch counters in downtown Nashville and asked to be served. They sat in silent protest against the segregation at the city’s lunch counters, but were met with with racial slurs and abuse. John Lewis, who would go on to become an icon of the civil rights movement and later a U.S. representative, was arrested for the first time at Woolworth and would spend weeks in jail along with dozens of fellow activists. By May, six of the...
Feb 13, 2023•51 min
Nashville is famous for its hot chicken, but what about its hot sauce. In just the past five years, several local companies have popped up, each with their own blend of flavors and heat. In this episode, we’re talking with several local hot sauce makers and small business owners about the rise of local hot sauce production. Host Khalil Ekulona also puts his taste buds to the test. But first, we’re joined by WPLN senior health care reporter Blake Farmer to discuss his latest article on how the st...
Feb 10, 2023•51 min
The Fairgrounds Speedway is a Nashville institution. It’s held car races and horse races since 1904, and still had horse racing up until 1957 when they paved the track. It held NASCAR races up until 1984, when disputes between city government and track management put an end to it. But it has continued to be a local and regional spot for car racing. In 2011, Nashville voters passed a referendum that obligated the city to maintain the track for racing. For years, Bristol Motor Speedway has been co...
Feb 09, 2023•51 min
In July 2021, pandemic-era eviction protections ended in Nashville. Since then, state and federal sources of rent assistance have dried up, and this December eviction filings in Nashville were 70% higher than they were before the pandemic. To understand what happens when a person is evicted and how it impacts their ability to find housing, we’re talking to community members with firsthand experience. Then, we’re joined by legal experts from the Legal Aid Society and the Hispanic Bar association ...
Feb 08, 2023•51 min
The death of Tyre Nichols, who was beaten by Memphis police officers, has once again sparked discussion about police violence and public safety. Just days after Memphis officials released video of police pulling over and assaulting Nichols, Metro Nashville police officers shot and killed a 48-year-old Black man on Buchanan Street in North Nashville . Activists are seeking change. Lawmakers are introducing legislation that aims to address police violence at a state level. But what can be done? Is...
Feb 07, 2023•51 min
Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands made history on Sunday by becoming the first college marching band to win, not one, but two Grammys. AOB won the Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album for their album “The Urban Hymnal” and the Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for their collaboration with J. Ivy on “The Poet Who Sat by the Door.” In this episode, we check in with Nashville Public Radio’s Jewly Hight about other local winners and what the awards mean for the Nashville music industry. In ...
Feb 06, 2023•51 min
For a long time, Nashvillians have known that there are certain times of day when they could get away with parking downtown without feeding the meter. But this month, the Nashville Department of Transportation is moving to 24/7 parking enforcement. This is the first in a series of upcoming changes, including switching out meters for QR codes and kiosks. How will these changes be implemented? And what do they mean for the city’s budget and priorities? We’re talking all about it with local residen...
Feb 03, 2023•50 min
The issues at the Tennessee Department of Children's Services are well documented. Over the last year there have been reports of staffing shortages, overwhelmed case workers, kids sleeping in state offices and abuse allegations . But, at one time, Tennessee's DCS was considered a model for other states on how to serve vulnerable children and their families. So, how did DCS end up in its current condition? In this episode, we talk to people with firsthand experience with DCS and the foster care s...
Feb 02, 2023•51 min
What happens when a developer proposes a plan for a new high rise or shopping center? How much input do residential or commercial neighbors have? And what obligation do developers have to the community? In December, AJ Capital Partners released its plans to build high rises at Belle Meade Plaza in West Nashville. The proposed redevelopment includes space for condos, apartments, a hotel and retail space. Most agree that the strip mall is due for a face lift. So who gets to say what gets built in ...
Feb 01, 2023•51 min
Memphis holds the title of "Home of the Blues," but Nashville also has a rich history in this genre. B.B. King’s first single was released on a Nashville record label, and blues clubs once lined Jefferson Stree t. That history serves as a foundation, and if you know where to look, there is a thriving blues scene in Music City today — even if it’s not as centralized or as well-known as it is in other cities like Memphis. So what does that look like these days? Who's keeping the blues alive in Nas...
Jan 31, 2023•51 min
Nashville is known for music production, namely in country music, but it is also the hub for the Contemporary Christian Music industry. What does the Christian music industry look like these days, as praise and worship music has become a dominant trend? And how did Nashville become the place where CCM is made? But first, we hear from WKNO reporter Katie Riordan on the latest from Memphis, following Tyre Nichols' death . Guests: Katie Riordan, WKNO reporter Bart Millard, songwriter and lead singe...
Jan 30, 2023•50 min
We know Dry January is almost over, but a lot of us have made lifestyle changes. So today, we’re talking about what’s out there for those of us who aren’t drinking and those of us who are drinking less. But first, WPLN afternoon host Marianna Bacallao joins us to discuss recently-proposed anti-trans legislation. Guests: Marianna Bacallao, WPLN afternoon host Abra Myles, artist and dancer Anne, local resident who has been in recovery for the past 10 years Mika Nelson, senior at the University of ...
Jan 27, 2023•51 min
On Monday, Jan. 16, Tennessee State University announced its plans to spend a $250 million lump sum from the state on improvements to its campus. The money comes after the bipartisan Joint Land-Grant Institution Funding Study Committee found that between 1956 and 2006, the state of Tennessee underfunded Tennessee State University by as much as $544 million. The state's other land-grant school, the University of Tennessee, was fully funded over this period. We explore how this infusion of money w...
Jan 26, 2023•51 min
This month marks two years since the National Museum of African American Music opened its doors. This interactive hub showcases the history and impact of the creative contributions of Black musicians. We’ll talk to scholars who had a hand in how the museum was created, explore what went into its development and find out what can we expect this year. But first, we hear from WPLN’s senior health care reporter Blake Farmer on how private equity is affecting Nashville’s health care industry. Guests:...
Jan 25, 2023•51 min
Between 2017 and 2020, 113 Tennesseans died from pregnancy-related causes, and Black people were 2.5 times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts, according to the state’s 2022 Maternal Mortality Report . In this episode, we’re speaking with an educator, a doula, a midwife and a doctor about some of the reasons behind this stark disparity and what needs to change to make birth a safer experience for parent and child. But first, we’re talking with WPLN criminal justice rep...
Jan 24, 2023•51 min
Margo Price is a Grammy-nominated artist who released her latest album, Strays , this month . It’s her fourth studio album since her breakthrough debut Midwest Farmer’s Daughter in 2016. But the journey to success in Nashville wasn’t easy, which she chronicles in her memoir Maybe We’ll Make It . In this episode, we’re talking to Margo about her path from small town Illinois to the center of country music. But first, WPLN reporters Alexis Marshall and Blake Farmer talk about Gov. Bill Lee’s inaug...
Jan 23, 2023•51 min
From the rise of dating apps to a global pandemic, finding romance has changed a lot over the past couple years. In today’s episode, we’re talking about what it’s like navigating Nashville’s dating scene with experts, local singles and bartenders. But first, we’re joined by Tennessee Lookout senior reporter Anita Wadhwani and WPLN contributer Natasha Senjanovic to discuss the departure of the longtime executive director of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. Guests: Abig...
Jan 20, 2023•51 min
When people enter the union of marriage, they do so with thoughts that it will be forever. Sometimes, that’s not how it works out. Thinking about divorce is difficult and initiating the process can be even harder. Tennessee has one of the highest divorce rates in the country. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention , there were 3.2 divorces per 1,000 Tennesseans in 2020. Today, we’ll talk with people who have gone through divorce and to family lawyers about how to best navigat...
Jan 19, 2023•51 min
Finding housing in Nashville can be tricky, but it can be a monumental task if you don't have transportation, have a criminal record or don't have a current address. In this episode, we check in with Tammy, an unhoused woman who was applying for housing assistance when we first met her in March . We'll also explore what resources are available to Nashvillians in need for permanent housing and hear from one guest about how homelessness is solvable. But first, more than 600,000 now have dental cov...
Jan 18, 2023•51 min
With 40 members, Nashville’s Metro Council is the third largest in the country, behind Chicago and New York City. But maybe not for long. The Tennessee state legislature is considering a bill that “caps at 20 the number of members that may be elected to the governing body of a metropolitan or municipal government.” The bill’s sponsor, House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, says that 20 members makes for a more “efficient” body . But the move is seen by many Democrats as direct retal...
Jan 17, 2023•51 min
The This Is Nashville staff is off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We are rebroadcasting an episode about the Freedom Riders that originally aired in May. 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 Sout...
Jan 16, 2023•50 min
Our city is a bustling, vibrant place with lots of human activity. But, if you stop and pay attention you’ll see all sorts of wildlife living among us. Foxes, deer, even armadillos call Nashville home. See that stray cat on your street? Chances are, they are not alone. How can we learn about the animals that live in our neighborhoods and learn how to share natural spaces, safely and humanely? But first, WNXP assistant program director Justin Barney tells us what to expect at this year’s Bonnaroo...
Jan 13, 2023•51 min
The majority of people who get COVID-19 recover, but 1 in 5 adult Americans have long COVID, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention . More studies are underway to better understand long COVID, but its symptoms include everything from brain fog and shortness of breath to depression and even organ damage. These symptoms can profoundly change someone's life. In this episode, we talk to two Tennesseans who are living with COVID and medical professionals to better understand what ...
Jan 12, 2023•51 min
Tennessee enacted one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation shortly after the U.S. Supreme overturned Roe v. Wade. The ban doesn't have any exemptions for rape, incest or if the pregnant woman's life is at risk. The law has reshaped how pregnant people in Tennessee find abortion care and how medical professionals are able to provide it . In this episode, we'll talk about what it's like to navigate this new reality. We'll also check in with Abortion Care for Tennessee, which had a flood of...
Jan 11, 2023•51 min
Social media influencer is a profession that didn’t exist a decade ago, but now posting to TikTok, Instagram and other popular sites can be a big business. But, what is the point of influencing? Is it to sell a product or yourself as a brand? In this episode, we’ll talk to some of Nashville’s most influential residents on the local and national digital stage. But first, Tuesday is the first day of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly. WPLN political reporter Blaise Gainey joins us at the top of ...
Jan 10, 2023•51 min
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is on the mend after he went into cardiac arrest on the field after a tackle during a Jan. 2 game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. The incident left both football fans and players stunned. Hamlin’s cardiac arrest prompted a fresh wave of public concern about player safety and reignited conversations about the dangers of playing tackle football. In this episode, we talk about the potential health risks associated with the sport, how some parents feel...
Jan 09, 2023•51 min
Ever since the first Air Jordan model dropped in 1985, sneakers have played a huge role in fashion, music and popular culture. So what does sneaker culture look like here in Nashville? Last fall, Tennessee State University got its own Nike Dunk model, and people lined up for hours to cop a pair. Retros and collaborations drive the hype cycle, and rare models are bought and sold like investment commodities, often through apps and third-party resellers. We talk with local sneakerheads and ask the ...
Jan 06, 2023•51 min
Artificial intelligence and apps like Lensa and Midjourney allow anyone with an internet connection to create award-winning art works . However, for artists and illustrators who have spent years perfecting their style, AI-generated art potentially threatens their livelihood. Local artists have also seen their work scraped by AI. In this episode, we talk to artists and engineers about how AI works and the ethics surrounding this recent technology. But first, host Khalil Ekulona and digital lead A...
Jan 05, 2023•51 min
The makeup of Tennessee Supreme Court is set to change this year. Justice Sharon Lee will retire from the state's highest court after 14 years on the bench. In 2008, Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed Lee to the court, and her departure means that all of the five justices will have been appointed by a Republican governor. In this episode, we take a look at the process for selecting a new justice. We also talk with legal experts about the history of the court, its influence and what makes Tennessee's j...
Jan 04, 2023•51 min
