Shows / City Cast Nashville
City Cast Nashville
Join Rachel Iacovone and the City Cast Nashville team every weekday morning as we bring you the day's can't-miss conversation about life in Music City. With the help of local journalists, artists, activists, experts, and everyday residents, we explore this promising, frustrating, still-sorta-small town, where old bumps up against new, natives adapt to transplants, and everybody struggles to navigate the ‘Binge Drinking Tourism Industrial Complex’ that threatens to consume us all. Alongside our…
Episodes
- City Cast Nashville
Is This AI Booking App Ripping Off Nashville Musicians?
Nashville’s honky-tonks are famous for live music, but are the musicians who keep Broadway rockin’ getting a fair deal? A new Nashville startup called Jam…
- City Cast Nashville
2026 Midterm Election Results for Nashville and Beyond
With over 90% of precincts reporting at the time of taping, host Rachel Iacovone, creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson, and executive producer Whitney…
- City Cast Nashville
Go Vote, Nashville! Plus, TN Supreme Court Rules To Shrink Metro Council and Brent Taylor's Sexting Scandal
It’s Election Day, Nashville! Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by executive producer Whitney Pastorek and the Tennessee Lookout’s Adam Friedman to unpack a…
- City Cast Nashville
Voting in Nashville? What To Do if Something Goes Wrong at the Polls
Election Day is tomorrow, Nov. 3, and poll observers will be stationed at all 178 Nashville polling precincts. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by Selah…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Who Controls Austin’s Autonomous Vehicles? — Presented By City Cast Nashville
When you think of Waymo, you might not yet think of Nashville. But you should definitely be thinking of Austin, Texas. State law governing autonomous vehicles…
- City Cast Nashville
Your Guide to November 2026 in Nashville
Crank up the Mariah Carey — it’s the month when Nashville blows straight past Thanksgiving and careens towards Christmas. Of course, host Rachel Iacovone…
- City Cast Nashville
Channelling Nashville’s Best Restaurants at Home
Harley Whitehouse, a.k.a. @harlzcookz, isn’t a trained chef — but his love of Nashville restaurants inspired him to learn how to cook their dishes at home…
- City Cast Nashville
The Ryman Auditorium’s Haunted History
Did y’all know the Mother Church is haunted? We’re revisiting our conversation with tour guide Ken Wood, who takes creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson…
- City Cast Nashville
Pedal Tavern Rear-Ended, Nashville Bromance Billboard, and Halloween Events
Early voting ends this Thursday at 7 p.m., so get out and vote! Host Rachel Iacovone joins creative producers Marie Cecile Anderson and Margaret Kingsberry to…
- City Cast Nashville
The Battle To Ban Right Turns on Red in Nashville
Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda spent the past several months trying to push legislation to ban right turns on red through Metro Council — only to withdraw her…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Is Chicago More Prepared for Climate Change Than Every Other City? — Presented By City Cast Nashville
How prepared is Nashville to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilient city in the world —…
- City Cast Nashville
Why Are Multimillionaires Flocking to Nashville? Plus, Michelin Guide Awards and More Restaurant Closures
The ultra-rich are moving to Middle Tennessee, but what does that mean for the rest of us? Host Rachel Iacovone joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek and…
- City Cast Nashville
Nashville’s War on Pumpkin Spice Continues
It’s time for our annual tradition of waging war on pumpkin spice! City Cast Nashville contributor and Nashville Scene food and travel correspondent Margaret…
- City Cast Nashville
How Far Can $50 Get You in Nashville?
Woof, things are expensive these days, so we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes: How far can $50 get you in Nashville? Creative producer Marie Cecile…
- City Cast Nashville
Have Locals Lost 12 South? Plus, Racetrack Petition Gets Certified and Michelin Guide Predictions
The petition to drop auto racing as a required use at the Nashville Fairgrounds is officially certified, but the fight is far from over. Host Rachel Iacovone…
- City Cast Nashville
How Nashville's Sex Workers Helped Save the City
Did you know sex work was once legal in Nashville? Last month, local historian Betsy Phillips introduced us to Rebecca Higgins, Nashville’s “Queen of the…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast Nashville
How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Nashville? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep…
- City Cast Nashville
Early Voting is Open! Plus, BNA Noise Lawsuit and the Future of Yazoo Brewing
Early voting is underway in Nashville! Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and local on-air personality and Tennessee…
- City Cast Nashville
The Best Fall Festivals and Halloween Fun for Kids in Nashville
Spooky season has reached its peak, but where should kiddos get their costumes? What’s the best neighborhood for trick or treating? Is Boo at the Zoo actually…
- City Cast Nashville
Why You Should Go to the Tennessee Pow Wow
This Friday through Sunday, the 45th annual Tennessee Indian Education Pow Wow takes place at Long Hunter State Park. Host Rachel Iacovone talks with Andrea…
- City Cast Nashville
Your Guide to the November 2026 General Election in Nashville
Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election starts tomorrow. Host Rachel Iacovone, executive producer Whitney Pastorek, and creative producer Marie Cecile…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast Nashville
Another Nashville school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day…
- City Cast Nashville
We Won Best of Nashville! Plus, Council Delays No Right on Red Again
City Cast Nashville is the best podcast in Nashville for the second year in a row, according to the Nashville Scene’s readers’ poll. Host Rachel Iacovone joins…
- City Cast Nashville
Your Guide To Stargazing in Nashville
Can you see stars in Nashville? Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory resident astronomer Dr. Billy Teets and director Jessica Ingram join creative producer Marie Cecile…
- City Cast Nashville
Nashville Soccer Star on Dyslexia and Our Record-Breaking Season
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and local nonprofit Learning Matters is hard at work supporting and empowering K-12 students impacted by a diverse…
- City Cast Nashville
Who Saved the Symphony? Plus, Protests at Nashville's New Music Venue
Frank Strada resigned as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction following the state’s failed attempt to execute Christa Pike this week. Hosts…
- City Cast Nashville
This Palestinian Cafe Lost Its Chefs to ICE Last Month. What Now?
The ICE detainment and likely deportation of two Nashville chefs has rocked the Middle Eastern community surrounding Deir, the Palestinian coffeehouse and…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Nashville
When Nashville looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to…
- City Cast Nashville
Another Tennessee Execution Fails. Plus, Can We Be Music City Without a Symphony?
Tennessee has paused executions for the rest of the year after another failed attempt to carry out a death sentence. Host Rachael Iacovone is joined by…
- City Cast Nashville
City Cast Nashville Presents: The Roast of Music City
On September 15, creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson hosted the first-ever City Cast Nashville Presents: The Roast of Music City. We welcomed a sold-out…
- City Cast Nashville
Your Guide to October 2026 in Nashville
Goodbye fool's fall — you won't be missed! As we head into true spooky season, we have for you the ultimate guide of what to eat, hear, and do this October in…
- City Cast Nashville
Nashville’s Best Karaoke Bars Are Saving Democracy, One Song at a Time
Nashville writer and Madison Branch children’s librarian Lisa Bubert sees karaoke as more than a chance to sing. In an essay for Noema, she makes the case that…
- City Cast Nashville
He Was Known as a Metro ‘Fixer.’ Now He’s Under Federal Investigation
Federal law enforcement is investigating former Metro Water assistant director John Honeysucker, alongside two prominent Nashville businessmen: Roy Dale and…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast Nashville
What’s a seemingly small project in Nashville that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a…
- City Cast Nashville
Dolly Family Drama, a $1 Million Debate, and Nashville Symphony Trouble
Happy Dolly Day! As Nashville celebrates Dolly with events across the city, host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and WPLN…
- City Cast Nashville
Backstage With the Nashville Public Library’s 80-Year-Old Puppet Program
We’re taking you behind the scenes — or should we say strings? — of the Nashville Public Library's beloved puppet troupe. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by…
- City Cast Nashville
Finding Your Voice in Nashville’s Spoken Word Scene
Nashville’s spoken word scene offers a place to share your work, hear powerful stories, and find community. Host Rachel Iacovone talks with local poets and…
- City Cast Nashville
What's Next in the Battle Over the Fairgrounds Speedway? Plus, Melting Cleats and Small Town Pride
Over the weekend, host Rachel Iacovone attended the Affirming Sumner Pride Festival at Fruity Farm in Bethpage, Tennessee. She shares her experience with…
- City Cast Nashville
How To Build a New Park in Nashville
Mill Ridge Park is more than a massive playground and a giant teal slide. Host Rachel Iacovone talks with Friends of Mill Ridge Park Executive Director Darrell…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks — Presented By City Cast Nashville
Would Nashville be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression…
- City Cast Nashville
Political Prostitution Scandal, Gallatin Corridor Makeover, and Dolly Day
Nashville’s 5th Congressional District race gets tangled up in a massage parlor bust. Host Rachel Iacovone joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek and…
- City Cast Nashville
What Pride Looks Like in Rural Tennessee
Nashville-born and nationally beloved artist morgxn joins host Rachel Iacovone to talk about Fruity Farm, the queer-owned farm he runs with his husband…
- City Cast Nashville
Who’s Got the Best Pizza in Nashville?
It’s Nashville Scene’s Pizza Week, so we’re revisiting a conversation that sparked quite a bit of controversy: the great pizza debate. Who has the best pizza…
- City Cast Nashville
Nashville Pizza Week Picks, Scammers Banned From Downtown, and the City's Fight With the Feds
Hallelujah, it's Pizza Week in Nashville! Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to…
- City Cast Nashville
What Toll Lanes Could Mean for Nashville
Tennessee’s controversial Choice Lanes project could add toll lanes along 26 miles of I-24, from downtown Nashville to Murfreesboro. Host Rachel Iacovone talks…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Las Vegas Is Handling Record-Breaking Heat — Presented By City Cast Nashville
It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for Nashville, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzling city, Vegas has…
- City Cast Nashville
RIP Zoolumination and O’Charley’s. Hello, FBI?
The Nashville Zoo announced its annual Zoolumination event, which lights up the property each night during holiday season with more than 1,000 silk lanterns…
- City Cast Nashville
What’s Next for the Nashville Symphony?
Today on City Cast Nashville, we’re joined by internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin, the Nashville Symphony’s new music director. Ahead of…
- City Cast Nashville
Looking for a New Hobby? Try These Nashville Classes
Looking for a new hobby? Contributor Amelia Edelman joins creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson to share some of the city’s best classes and activities for…
- City Cast Nashville
Is This Entertainment Giant Ditching Hollywood for Nashville?
Could Paramount really leave Hollywood for Nashville? Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by entertainment journalist Adam B. Vary to break down why Paramount…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Nashville Is Beating Flock
Did you know Nashville has repeatedly rejected the kind of surveillance technology that’s being used across the country? Banning tools like Flock cameras and…
- City Cast Nashville
Has Nashville Gone 'Full Woke'? Plus, Less Surveillance Tech and More Dolly Fun
Tennessee's first transgender elected official was just voted by her peers into an additional leadership role. How is she feeling? Host Rachel Iacovone is…
- City Cast Nashville
How the Frist Changed Nashville’s Art Scene
This year, the Frist Art Museum is celebrating 25 years in Nashville. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by executive director and CEO Dr. Seth Feman to look back…
- City Cast Nashville
Why Nashville Is Bringing Back the Video Store
For anyone who misses Blockbuster Video, this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about the return of physical media. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by…
- City Cast Nashville
Your Guide to September 2026 in Nashville
Goodbye summer, hello pumpkin spice latte season! As we head into fall, we have for you the ultimate guide of what to eat, hear, and do this September in…
- City Cast Nashville
Nashville’s Growing Mass Surveillance Network
Legislation regulating how law enforcement can use drones in Nashville is on its final reading at Metro Council tomorrow night. But are drones just a small…
- City Cast Nashville
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Is Pittsburgh’s Airport the Gold Standard? — Presented By City Cast Nashville
The Nashville airport definitely has a lot going for it, but what it doesn’t have is its own electrical grid, like Pittsburgh’s does. For the past few years…
- City Cast Nashville
Will BNA Be Renamed After Dolly? Plus, Live on the Green Returns
Following Dolly Parton’s passing, a petition to rename BNA in her honor has surpassed 130,000 signatures — but could it really happen? Host Rachel Iacovone is…
- City Cast Nashville
Fall Road Trips: Get Off the Grid in Highlands, N.C.
We’re learning more about the companies behind DriveTN, the consortium tapped to build controversial toll roads between here and Murfreesboro, and at least one…
- City Cast Nashville
Dolly, Nashville Will Always Love You
Yesterday, we all learned that Dolly Parton had passed away at age 80, right here in Nashville. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie…