Tennessee has a precious natural resource: wetlands. We even have wetlands right here in the heart of Nashville. And they are at risk. During the 2025 legislative session, Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill that will cut some of the protections for wetlands across the state. Developers now have the option to build over wetlands without informing the state and will no longer be financially incentivized to develop around them. Today, we hear why wetlands are a valuable part of a healthy ecosystem. ...
May 06, 2025•50 min
For 50 years, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Amy Grant has captivated audiences. And luckily for us, she calls Nashville home. On today’s show, we speak with Amy about not just her career but her experiences raising a family while on the road, her perceptions of Nashville, and what she has in store next. We also speak with her about her approach to writing and composing a song and the importance of collaboration when making music. This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona. GUESTS: Amy ...
May 05, 2025•50 min
Summer is on the way! Today, we're talking how to get out to enjoy local ponds, rivers and lakes to cool down and have some fun! Swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, or fishing! There are so many ways to enjoy being on the water. Today we're talking with local water enthusiasts about their favorite ways to jump in — and what you need to know to get out there to join them – and stay safe. Join us! 2025 update : Want to gain skills and confidence on the water? Check out the 2025 National...
May 01, 2025•50 min
Students here in Middle Tennessee are gearing up for finals, special dances, and for some, graduation. Today we are checking in with local students to hear about their past school years. We’ll find out what they’ve learned in and out of the classroom and how they are navigating friendships, responsibilities and new freedoms. We’ll also hear from some students who were on the show in the fall. Join us! Today's episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys. GUESTS Sharp, 5th grader Jocelyn, 7th grader ...
Apr 30, 2025•50 min
Welcome back to our second season of In My Place . This special series educates listeners on what communities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused. In our first two episodes of this season, we talked about what the first point of contact is like between someone who’s experiencing homelessness and someone who could potentially offer help — and then how they build trust after that point. In this episode, we talk about what ha...
Apr 29, 2025•50 min
After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Steve Swenson set out to make a name for himself in the radio industry. Mission accomplished. His 45-year career has seen him in key positions in Washington DC, Los Angeles, New York and finally Nashville. Well, he's soon retiring and This Is Nashville would be remiss if we did not sit down with our boss for last drop of wisdom. Listen in to this episode as he reflects on a fantastic career. This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona....
Apr 28, 2025•50 min
We're saying goodbye to Khalil today! After more than 550 episodes and thousands of guests, Khalil Ekulona is taking his last turn behind the This Is Nashville mic. We have gratitude — but no words — so we're inviting the public to call in with some. Join the conversation at noon or listen later to hear what he has meant to you and Middle Tennessee! Today's episode was produced by Mary Mancini, Katherine Ceicys and Josh Deepan. GUESTS Khalil Ekulona Celia Gregory Keri Pagetta...
Apr 24, 2025•50 min
No matter what you think about aging, one thing is for sure: EVERYbody’s doing it! It’s also true that in the U.S., people are living longer, and overall, healthier, more active and empowered than ever in our country’s history. It’s not uncommon to have three, four, or even five generations in the same family or workplace. According to the last U.S. Census, adults in Tennessee over 60 make up 23% of the population. That’s about one in 5 people — and growing. This rapid demographic shift is chang...
Apr 23, 2025•50 min
Elite piano tuning is grueling work. It’s taxing on the body, it strains relationships, and it never leads to fame or glory. Music Citizens , a podcast series by WNXP and Nashville Public Radio, recently explored how someone becomes the top piano tuner in Nashville and why they would want to. Today we welcome the voices of episode three, The Tuner. They're just some of the people who keep the music business moving — but whose vital work goes largely uncelebrated. Plus, we learn what it takes to ...
Apr 22, 2025•50 min
Khalil Ekulona has been the voice — and a driving force — of This Is Nashville since he helped launch the show three years ago. He has brought his curiosity, warmth and genuine empathy to the more than 550 episodes he’s hosted. Today, he’s sitting down on the other side of the mic to share about his time on This Is Nashville and the surprising journey that led him to public radio. We’ll also hear about the large family that shaped Ekulona, his love for creating music, and his philosophy on the i...
Apr 21, 2025•50 min
Every month, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell joins us to discuss the latest happenings in and around the city — and take your calls. Do you have a concern you would like him to address? Do you have a question about the direction of the city? Call 615-760-2000 with your question or comment. Then, later in the show, we hear from Jaffee Judah about his path to environmental justice advocacy and the work of his non-profit, Recycle and Reinvest . This episode was produced by Mary Mancini and Josh D...
Apr 17, 2025•50 min
Hip hop as a genre is getting more attention from the music industry in Nashville. A good thing! But not all hip hop music is the same, nor are the ways in which hip hop music is made. The old technique, i.e., sampling, is as popular as ever, but in certain aspects it is different from when it was introduced. Once a month, a group of producers gathers together to play each other's tracks they are working on. Music City Producers, based out of Madison, hosts producers of all types of hip hop and ...
Apr 16, 2025•50 min
We love hearing about the moment in someone’s life when they decide it’s time to start helping others. We call it “a civic spark.” Today, we’re talking to two people — Brittney Brown with The Store and Samaria Leach with Window of Love — about their civic spark moments. How were they able to turn their own hardship into help for others? And how do you make sure that spark becomes a flame that doesn’t just burn out? Guests: Samaria Leach, founder of Window of Love Brittney Brown, director of miss...
Apr 15, 2025•50 min
There are only about 800 forensic pathologists in the entire United States. That is much lower than the number of deaths requiring investigation. How do they handle workload? What is the day in the life of a pathologist like? What are some common causes of death in Tennessee? How do pathologists determine the manner of death? If you’re into true crime, this is for you. Joining us on this edition of This Is Nashville is the state chief medical examiner for the Tennessee Department of Health, Adel...
Apr 14, 2025•50 min
Metro Nashville oversees 178 parks and over 100 miles of greenway. But that only scratches the surface. From recreational arts to dance classes, nature lectures, and team sports, everyone can find their "something" at a Nashville park. In this episode, we speak with representatives from the Nashville Parks Department about how to make the most of the spring weather. And you have a chance to speak with them! Our phone lines are open: Call us at 615-760-2000 with your question, or perhaps even som...
Apr 10, 2025•50 min
They’re portable, have four strings, and George Harrison loved them so much he gave them out as presents. Today, we take a look at the popular, adorable, miniature guitar-shaped instrument known as the ukulele and the thriving uke community that exists in Middle Tennessee. Players of all skill levels join us, from beginner to professional, to share how they became hooked on this misunderstood instrument and how Music City has become a ukulele destination. Guests Melanie Ching (aka Ukumele), orga...
Apr 09, 2025•50 min
Nearly 40% of Tennessee’s land is farmland. But Tennessee is rapidly losing its farmland, mostly to development. Once land is developed it is exceptionally difficult to ever turn it back. In response, some farmers, organizations and the state are currently working together to help preserve farms and farmland in Tennessee. Today we are speaking with two Tennessee farmers about how they’re approaching stewarding their properties for generations to come. We’ll also speak with State Senator Jack Joh...
Apr 08, 2025•50 min
Larry Gatlin of The Gatlin Brothers is a name country and gospel fans know well. He is a famed singer and songwriter with Grammy awards, hit songs, and a legacy of classic performances under his belt. His hits include “Broken Lady,” “All the Gold in California,” and “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You).” Gatlin’s career spans seventy years and has earned him a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Today we sit down with Larry to hear about his life, his career, and the songs on ...
Apr 07, 2025•50 min
Waiting on the phone or in a long line for customer service is no fun. But what new alternatives exist? Today we hear the Davidson County Clerk’s Office new self-serve kiosks. Plus, Metro Nashville Waste Services has a new curbside composting pilot program that's part of their Zero Waste initiative. Join us to learn about these new and innovative processes created to save you time and serve you better. Plus, last night and in the early morning Middle Tennessee experienced severe weather, includi...
Apr 03, 2025•50 min
Today we talk about our station's history through your eyes - from that first day to where we are now, how long have you been listening and why? WPLN's first broadcast was on December 17, 1962, and lasted for just 12 hours. Back then, programming consisted of classical music, local content, and informational programs from sources all over the world. This year the station celebrates its 63rd birthday, and we've come a long way from our first studio in the Richland Park library. Join us! This epis...
Apr 02, 2025•49 min
Were you lucky enough to have someone read you bedtime stories when you were young? Did you still remember that one book you read in middle school that made you feel like someone out there completely understood you? Books give kids a special way to learn, explore and think about how they fit into a world that can feel very big to them. Today, we’re speaking with local authors who write for young readers. We'll hear about their latest books and what it’s really like to create stories and worlds t...
Apr 01, 2025•50 min
“Does it bring joy, and can it impact the community?” That’s the litmus test for Soccer Moses, aka the Handsomizer, aka Stephen Mason. Outside of Nashville, he might be better known as the lead guitarist for one of the top Christian rock bands of the ‘90s, Jars of Clay. But whether he’s playing on stage, cutting hair or dressed in a full Moses costume at a Nashville SC game, he’s always trying to figure out how he can use his exuberance and his platform for good. This episode was produced by Emi...
Mar 31, 2025•36 min
Some people who have come close to death or who have clinically died and been resuscitated report having had a profound out-of-body experience called a Near Death Experience (NDE). Today we’ll meet the topic of NDEs and a conversation about life and death with open curiosity and compassion. We’ll hear from an NDE researcher and speak with an end-of-life doula about how she serves those who are close to death as well as her perspective on NDEs. And our phone lines are open: 615-760-2000. Join us!...
Mar 27, 2025•50 min
Pedestrian deaths skyrocketed in Nashville during the pandemic. Although recent trends appear promising, the scar left behind still lingers. Advocates for pedestrian safety responded to the ongoing issue by crafting, painting and placing wooden doves around the city, marking where pedestrians were hit. They, along with Diana Alarcon, the director of the Nashville Department of Transformation, join This Is Nashville to update Nashvillians on the issues around pedestrian safety. Additionally, they...
Mar 26, 2025•50 min
Last month , we explored the first point of contact between people experiencing homelessness and outreach workers, service providers and the police. Today, we look at what happens after establishing that first contact. We talk to our guests about the importance of relationship building and the role trust plays when working with the unhoused population. Nashville Public Radio's daily show, This Is Nashville , presents the second season of In My Place — a series about finding home in our growing c...
Mar 25, 2025•50 min
Even at a young age, we have the power to influence and shape the world around us. That’s been true for Ella Brinen, a 19-year-old who’s currently lobbying state lawmakers to pass a “foster youth bill of rights” based on her own experience in the foster care system. As a high schooler, she led student protests around gun violence. Today, we talk to her about the process of writing a bill, advice for aging out of foster care, and the moment when she realized she could use her voice for good. This...
Mar 24, 2025•50 min
If you're reading the headlines, it may be hard to keep up with all the back and forth of the Trump administration’s tariff policy. Today we dissect what’s happening right now and look at the real and potential effect these taxes will have on businesses and consumers. Plus, WPLN environmental reporter Caroline Eggers updates us on new state legislation that could impact Tennessee's wetlands. This episode was produced by Mary Mancini. Guests Caroline Eggers , environmental reporter, WPLN Renee Mo...
Mar 20, 2025•50 min
First up, we take a quick trip around Scarritt Bennett to discover what this 100-year-old institution has to offer. Hint: It's much more than a great wedding location. After that, we check in with NECAT to learn more about their brand-new documentary, "It’s All Connected: The Art of Sustainability." This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona. Guests Sondrea Tolbert , Executive Director, Scarritt Bennett Center Rev. Kelli X , M.Div., Director of Racial Justice Ministries, Scarritt Bennett Center...
Mar 19, 2025•50 min
After 43 years under the same editor, the literary magazine — which had once published the work of Southern writers like Flannery O’Connor, Eudora Welty and William Faulkner — had fallen into a slump. But, in 2016, Nashville-based writer Adam Ross took over as editor. Since then, the review has seen a revival. Ross has brought the previously print-only journal into the digital age — it now has a website , an Instagram , a podcast — and has published the work of contemporary literary giants. In t...
Mar 18, 2025•50 min
He is the creator and host of PBS talk show A Slice of Community as well as his own podcast, Deep Dish Conversations . He is a co-host on the Nashville Scene’s podcast and an author . He is recognized for his commitment to exploring social justice and track record of community organizing. So, what shaped his world view? How did leaving Nashville to explore the world help him learn new ways to serve his hometown? We’ll talk with the multi-talented media personality about his work and learn why he...
Mar 17, 2025•50 min
