Revealing all this family lost to war and displacement. But also, what they are determined to reclaim and rebuild. The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance. But the story of the Kurdish people, no matter where they are, is a story about a country that only exists in the hearts of its people. And the lengths they’ll go to make it real. Gues...
Jul 01, 2025•53 min
We dive headlong into one family’s migration odyssey from Iraqi Kurdistan to Nashville. To really understand what this family — and so many others — were fleeing from, we need to go back to one terrible, pivotal day in 1988. And to do that, we need to go to Kurdistan. The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance. But the story of the Kurdish p...
Jun 30, 2025•55 min
Science and religion are in a constant state of friction. But 100 years ago, that friction flared into a firestorm in Tennessee. In 1925, John Scopes, a 24-year-old high school science teacher in Dayton, decided to teach human evolution to his students even though the state had just outlawed it. He was put on trial, and Dayton was the center of international attention. Today, the impacts of what became known as the “Monkey Trial” are still rippling 100 years later. Plus, were you taught evolutio...
Jun 26, 2025•50 min
Do you want to live to 100 or longer? It’s possible and could be commonplace within the next couple of decades. The new longevity requires serious money moves to have financial security for a long lifespan. The 100-Year-Opportunity is here, according to researchers at the Stanford Center on Longevity . They've also developed a guide for leading a quality, thriving life as we live longer called The Map of Life . An important feature is creating new concepts, policies and services for longterm fin...
Jun 25, 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 last episode , we discussed how providers support folks in limbo while they're waiting on application responses and hear how people cope in this liminal space In this episode, our guests fill us in on what happens when the paperwork finally comes through and puzzle pieces...
Jun 24, 2025•50 min
Charles William Ashworth is Charlie Peacock . And vice versa. Encouraged to move to Nashville in late eighties, Charlie steadily built a stellar career. As a songwriter, producer and industry executive, he won six Grammy Awards. His writing credits include two multi-platinum songs, “Every Heartbeat” by Amy Grant and “In the Light” by DC Talk. His production and development credits include The Civil Wars, The Lone Bellow and Switchfoot. And let's not forget he's also a jazz musician. It's no wond...
Jun 19, 2025•50 min
Do you have a concern you would like him to address? Do you have a question about the direction of the city? Every month, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell joins us to discuss the latest happenings in and around the city — and take your calls! Plus, we celebrate sixty years of Nashville's Metro Human Relations Commission with current executive director, Reverend Davie Tucker, Jr. This episode was produced by Mary Mancini . Guests Freddie O’Connell , Mayor, Metropolitan Government of Nashville an...
Jun 18, 2025•50 min
One thing is true. What goes up must go down. That goes for relationships, that basketball you like to play with and even the city of Nashville. Recently, a study indicated Nashville is experiencing subsidence — or in simpler terms, the surface level is sinking. Experts continue to debate whether this phenomenon has any urgency. To shed light, we have geologists joining us to talk about what risks subsidence may pose, what causes it and how much human interaction comes into play. We’re also talk...
Jun 17, 2025•50 min
Bob Clement’s life has been a fascinating one. At 29, he became the youngest Tennessean elected to statewide office, a title he still holds today. After his time at the PSA, President Jimmy Carter tapped him for a spot on the board of Tennessee Valley Authority. In the late eighties, he ran and won the congressional race for the 5th district. He served for eight years. Now, as the Board President Emeritus of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in Dickson, he protects and curates the legacy of his ...
Jun 16, 2025•50 min
Like it or not, it’s snake season. They eat rats, mice and moles. Some good snakes even eat "bad" ones! They help keep lakes and rivers clean. Their venom has been used to treat diseases from high blood pressure to cancer. Whether it's a harmless corn snake or a coiled-up copperhead — rarely are they a welcome sight. But knowledge is power, so we’re taking on local herpetology! And we're doing it together. Bring us your questions on air. Whenever it’s Your Turn to Talk, call 615-760-2000 between...
Jun 12, 2025•50 min
Last month, rural Tennesseans, Hollywood actors and a live studio audience in New York City came together. On the agenda were issues that bind us. Theater of War is a New York theater company that "presents community-specific, theater-based projects that address pressing public health and social issues." Recently, they approached WPLN criminal justice reporter Paige Pfleger with a fascinating opportunity. Today we bring you the result – an esteemed group of Hollywood actors reading “ In Rural Te...
Jun 11, 2025•50 min
We’re sailing over to Nashville's waterfront. Percy Priest is a local's lake — and the experiences there are as diverse as the growing communities surrounding it. We’re sharing stories about the land, the water and the wildlife. And we're opening the phone lines to hear your stories! (Extra credit if you call in while on the water.) Situated between Nashville International Airport, Mt. Juliet and Smyrna, Percy Priest is a man-made reservoir dotted with nearly 40 islands. Rarely a tourist destina...
Jun 10, 2025•50 min
Growing up as an Arab-American woman in rural Waverly — and traveling for her career — have shaped Samar Ali's life as a peacemaker. Her journey includes stops at Vanderbilt University, the Supreme Court of South Africa, the White House, and eventually back to her home state. Along the way, she has faced and overcome personal attacks. It's all fueled her longing for unity and justice. Now, through her nonprofit Millions of Conversations, Ali works to create a future where every American feels sa...
Jun 09, 2025•50 min
Fifty-seven percent of the mayor’s recommended budget for next year comes from property taxes. Another almost twenty percent comes from local sales tax. But what are the other funding sources? And what does the budget cover? On today’s episode we cover many of the details of the proposed $3.8 billion spending plan — how the money's allocated, how metro departments request increases, and the difference between the operating budget and the Capital Improvements Budget. It’s your money, so join us! ...
Jun 05, 2025•50 min
Every year, thousands enter the temple in Nashville's Parthenon to view the nearly 42-foot statue of Athena. But this year, she turns 35 years young. The Greek goddess of warfare and wisdom, carved out of gypsum cement, took eight years to complete. On today's show, we chat with the sculptor behind the deity, Alan LeQuire, to hear about his process. Plus, we learn about his new exhibition, Monumental Figures . Parthenon Museum Curator Jennifer Richardson joins the panel along with Parthenon Dire...
Jun 04, 2025•50 min
Across cultures, rites of passage often honor a transition from one cycle of life to another. On today's show, three Nashvillians share their own experiences and how it felt entering a new stage of life. From performing a bat mitzvah to living as a Buddhist monk — and even undergoing a "croning" — each of these ceremonies left an impact on our guests. Join us as we learn how different cultures mark these milestones. This episode was produced by Char Daston and Josh Deepan. GUESTS: Zoe Sparks — H...
Jun 03, 2025•50 min
For over two decades, native Tennessean Maryam Abolfazli has been a leader in economic development and the nonprofit sector. Then in 2023, she became a leading voice among gun safety organizers after the Covenant School shooting tragedy. So much so that she ran for Congress in 2024. Today we sit down with Abolfazli to learn what it’s like to run for office at the federal level and what single-parenting in the modern world is like for her. Plus, as founder of the non-profit Rise and Shine TN, she...
Jun 02, 2025•50 min
The Nashville-based country music industry has been slow to truly embrace the impact of the wide array of Latine artists actively making country music both here and around the world. To speed things along, a new generation of locals are working together to form supportive communities and organizations. On today’s episode we hear from musicians and advocates who organize support for one another both publicly and behind the scenes. Plus, we explore how Freddy Fender, an early pioneer of Latine cou...
May 29, 2025•50 min
Let's talk about the C-word: Caregiving . In this episode, we continue our monthly series, NEXT AGE, with stories of people who are caring for an older adult relative. If you’re thinking "who cares?" — this might make you feel differently: According to a report from the National Alliance for Caregiving , for every five people you know, at least one of them is caring for a family member and even more are caring for more than one relative. They are unpaid — often unseen and sacrificing well-being,...
May 28, 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. Many people experiencing homelessness have to overcome hurdles to access services and housing. In our last episode, we discussed the time tax of filling out redundant paperwork. Once that paperwork is filled out and submitted, people are still unhoused. Today we talk about what ...
May 27, 2025•50 min
Tennessee put a hold on executions in 2022 due to concerns about its lethal injection protocol . This morning, the state resumed executions , using lethal injection to put to death Oscar Franklin Smith. He had spent more than three decades incarcerated and went through numerous execution dates. Today on the show, we speak with one of Smith's sons, Casey Smith, about the impact this crime — and its punishment — have had on his life. But first, WPLN criminal justice reporter Paige Pfleger joins us...
May 22, 2025•50 min
On today’s show, we speak with experts in the fields of dialect coaching and sociolinguistics to learn the cultural and scientific aspects of what we call an “accent.” We'll also hear from people who have moved to America and worked to change the way they sound. And we want to hear from you, too! So call into the show and talk about your own speech patterns. Do you think you have an accent? Have you been judged because of how you sound? Tell us your stories and toss us your questions. This episo...
May 21, 2025•50 min
For sixteen years Giancarlo Guerrero has captivated audiences with his charismatic conducting — all while championing the works of prominent American composers and winning multiple GRAMMY Awards. This weekend, Guerrero’s tenure as Music Director at the Nashville Symphony comes to a close. On today’s episode, he joins us to talk about his life, his work and, of course, the music. This episode was produced by Mary Mancini, Nina Cardona and Char Daston. GUESTS Giancarlo Guerrero , Conductor and Mus...
May 20, 2025•50 min
GRAMMY winner Béla Fleck has taken the art of playing the banjo to stellar heights. He's here to share about his journey playing music professionally for more than 50 years — and about his latest album, BEATrio , which dropped last week. Fleck has amassed a career playing the banjo for audiences all over the world as well as with legendary musicians. Most recently, he's teamed up with musicians Edmar Castañeda and Antonio Sánchez for BEATrio . Today, we're talking about this latest project and a...
May 19, 2025•50 min
Nashville’s non-profit film center The Belcourt Theatre turns one hundred this month and there's no denying its long and positive impact on this city. Over the course of a century, The Belcourt has been many different things including a stage for the Grand Ole Opry, a silent film house and a community playhouse for children's theatre. Join us today as we explore celebrations planned for this impressive and notable milestone, the highs and lows of its history, how it became the independent film i...
May 15, 2025•50 min
Mister Rogers once told his young viewers to “look for the helpers” in times of crisis. On this episode we talk with advocates who work every day with some of the most vulnerable in this country: immigrants. We hear from lawyers on both the employment side and the humanitarian side of immigration law. Plus, we learn about the impact of being an immigration lawyer in 2025 has on mental health. This episode was produced by Char Daston and Josh Deepan. GUESTS: Doug Russo – owner, Rose Immigration L...
May 14, 2025•50 min
Do you have a concern you would like him to address? Do you have a question about the direction of the city? Every month, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell joins us to discuss the latest happenings in and around the city — and take your calls! This month, the mayor talks ICE raids, transportation, the State of Metro and more. Then, later in the show, we hear from Metro Property Assessor Vivian Wilhoite about the latest property tax assessment and appeals process. Next month, the mayor is schedul...
May 13, 2025•50 min
Bill Birdsong Miller has been playing and creating music for over 50 years. He might be having more fun now than ever before. Nashville-based musician Bill Birdsong Miller is an icon in the Native American music community. He discovered his love for music when he was young, and the deep connection and joy he found when he played has guided him through a career spanning several decades, countless tours and 3 grammy wins. Today he’s here to share wisdom he’s earned from his global career and his o...
May 12, 2025•50 min
Yesterday, reporters assigned to cover the Tennessee State Capitol joined us for a legislative wrap-up . Today, we go a bit deeper with a post-session analysis. How will the bills passed on issues like education, immigration and foster care impact the lives of the people who live and work in Tennessee? Plus, we’re opening up the phone lines because it’s your turn to talk. What questions or comments do you have about the legislation passed this year? Call 615-760-2000 to join the conversation. Th...
May 08, 2025•50 min
The Tennessee legislature recently wrapped up the first half of the 114th General Assembly, and there is a lot to digest. Today, we bring you the first of a two-part review. Reporters assigned to cover the work of our elected state representatives join us to recap the bills passed, the bills still waiting to be signed by the governor, and the constitutional amendments that will appear on the ballot in 2026. Tomorrow, we go a bit deeper into the issues with a post-session analysis — that you can ...
May 07, 2025•50 min
