Shows / This Is Nashville
This Is Nashville
This Is Nashville is a live one-hour daily show driven by community, for community. This flagship program of WPLN News will become your one-stop-shop for news in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, as we continue to show up each day.
Episodes
- This Is Nashville
Making it click with Nashville photographers
In the age of the smartphone, everyone has a camera with them, pretty much all the time. With social media, anyone can “publish” a photo immediately — with no…
- This Is Nashville
Margaret Renkl on hope, despair and the diminishing call of songbirds
This episode first aired on March 31, 2022. New York Times columnist Margaret Renkl joins the show to share her joy of spring and talk over the polarization…
- This Is Nashville
Allergy season in Middle Tennessee
Nashville ranks among the allergy capitals of the nation. In fact, it doesn’t feel like we have an allergy season so much as a rotating set of different…
- This Is Nashville
The legacy of the Rosenwald schools
In the Jim Crow South, education opportunities for Black children were few and far between. The inequity was blatant all over the South, but the disparities in…
- This Is Nashville
Alternate Ending, a special hour of This Is Nashville
What is Nashville’s “alternate ending?” How would the city look and feel — and who would feel welcomed — if different community values had been prioritized…
- This Is Nashville
Knocking down pins with Middle Tennessee bowlers
This weekend, the Vanderbilt Women’s Bowling team — ranked second nationally — hosted the annual Music City Classic, which is one of the most important bowling…
- This Is Nashville
Keep on truckin' in Middle Tennessee
Drivers throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee share the road with truckers carrying loads of goods every day on our highways. But what do we know about…
- This Is Nashville
Jefferson Cowie on the history of freedom and federal power in America
What is freedom? And what happens when one person’s approach to freedom infringes on another person’s civil liberties? These are the central questions in…
- This Is Nashville
How Tennessee’s rape kit backlog impacts survivors seeking justice
Tennessee is one of many states across the nation that has a backlog of untested sexual assault kits. The average wait time to process a sexual assault kit in…
- This Is Nashville
What to know about the 2023 race for Nashville mayor
When Mayor John Cooper announced that he will not seek re-election this fall, it triggered a bevy of hopeful candidates – some local household names, some…
- This Is Nashville
Tennessee’s 51-year life sentences
Until recently, anyone found guilty of first-degree murder in Tennessee could be sentenced to a minimum 51-years in prison - even if they were under 18 at the…
- This Is Nashville
The life and legacy of Dr. Matthew Walker
The Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center has been serving North Nashville’s uninsured and underinsured citizens since it opened in 1968. It’s an…
- This Is Nashville
Community members weigh in on the future of Titans stadium
On Tuesday, the $2.1 billion plan to build a new stadium for the Tennessee Titans passed on first reading in the Metro Council. The plan includes: a one-time…
- This Is Nashville
What to know about personal finance and budgeting
With tax season coming up, Tennessee residents are starting to think about detangling their personal finances a little more than usual. Tracking spending…
- This Is Nashville
What does ‘woke’ mean?
The word “woke” has appeared in headlines and politicians’ sound bites a lot in recent years. But where did this term come from and what does it even mean? In…
- This Is Nashville
Looking back at the 2020 tornadoes, and tips to stay safe in the next big storm
On March 3, 2020, tornadoes killed 25 people in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. They destroyed more than 1,600 buildings — including more than 400 homes — and…
- This Is Nashville
Exploring Middle Tennessee's food truck scene
When Nashville's first food trucks hit the roads, there were few options and few regulations. More than a decade later, the city is home to hundreds of…
- This Is Nashville
What it means to be transgender in Tennessee
Tennessee is peeling back the rights of transgender people for the third year in a row. This session, the state legislature passed a ban on drag shows and…
- This Is Nashville
'It City,' 10 years later
In 2013, The New York Times dubbed Nashville the "It City.” Over the past 10 years, that moniker has become synonymous with Nashville's explosive growth and…
- This Is Nashville
Kickin’ it with Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar
When Nashville SC brought Major League Soccer to Nashville, it set out to build a team around a star player — Hany Mukhtar. The 27-year-old has had an…
- This Is Nashville
What the new Titans stadium plan means for Nashville taxpayers
The Metro Council will soon vote on a $2.2 billion plan to build a new stadium for the Tennessee Titans. In December, the Council voted to approve the term…
- This Is Nashville
Checking out what libraries have to offer
What do you think of when you hear the word “library”? Maybe it’s stack of books and a librarian peeking through the stacks, reminding you be quiet. But, what…
- This Is Nashville
Unpacking Tennessee’s third grade retention law
More than 60% of Tennessee third graders could be at risk of being held back this year. That’s because, under a state law that passed in 2021, students who…
- This Is Nashville
The art of storytelling through comics and graphic novels
Original broadcast date: May 9, 2022. Whether it’s superheroes like The Avengers or slice-of-life cartoons in The New Yorker, comics capture our imaginations…
- This Is Nashville
Driving the future of electric vehicles in Middle Tennessee
It's becoming increasingly clear that electric vehicles are the future of transportation, and that future is closer than ever. Tennessee is becoming a hub for…
- This Is Nashville
Driving toward a better bus system for Nashville
The past few years have not been easy for Nashville’s WeGo bus network. But behind the scenes, the agency has been trying to make progress on improvements that…
- This Is Nashville
Jamming out with Nashville’s roller derby skaters
Nashville is home to a small, but mighty, roller derby community, which has both an adult women’s league and a junior league. Teams suit up with quad skates…
- This Is Nashville
Riding through Tennessee with motorcycle clubs
Bikers are a well-known American icon. But from the slang they use to the clubhouses they frequent, there’s still a definite air of mystery around them and…
- This Is Nashville
Sitting down with Tennessee's freshman lawmakers
This year’s General Assembly is well underway. Sen. Charlane Oliver of Nashville and Rep. Justin J. Pearson of Memphis are two of Tennessee’s younger…
- This Is Nashville
What Tennessee's rejection of federal HIV testing, prevention funds mean for Nashville
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…
- This Is Nashville
Remembering the Nashville sit-ins
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…
- This Is Nashville
Getting a taste of Middle Tennessee’s hot sauce scene
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…
- This Is Nashville
What’s next for the Fairgrounds Speedway?
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…
- This Is Nashville
What you need to know about eviction in Middle Tennessee
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…
- This Is Nashville
After Tyre Nichols, what should policing look like?
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…
- This Is Nashville
Celebrating local Grammy winners
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…
- This Is Nashville
Parking in Nashville is about to change
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…
- This Is Nashville
Inside Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services
The issues at the Tennessee Department of Children's Services are well documented. Over the last year there have been reports of staffing shortages…
- This Is Nashville
What’s next for Belle Meade Plaza?
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…
- This Is Nashville
Singing the blues in Nashville
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…
- This Is Nashville
The Christian music industry has found a home in Nashville
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…
- This Is Nashville
Mocktails in Middle Tennessee
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…
- This Is Nashville
The historic underfunding of Tennessee State University, and what comes next
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…
- This Is Nashville
The National Museum of African American Music turns 2!
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…
- This Is Nashville
Giving birth while Black in Middle Tennessee
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…
- This Is Nashville
Repeat: Margo Price on music, her memoir and making it in Nashville
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…
- This Is Nashville
Dating and looking for love in Nashville
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…
- This Is Nashville
Divorce: The difficult decision to end a marriage
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…
- This Is Nashville
From homelessness to permanent housing
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…
- This Is Nashville
Why Nashville’s Metro Council has 40 members — for now
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…
- This Is Nashville
Exploring the legacy of Nashville’s Freedom Riders
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…
- This Is Nashville
Urban animals: Caring for the neighbors in our backyard
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…
- This Is Nashville
Living with long COVID in Middle Tennessee
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…
- This Is Nashville
Tennessee's abortion ban, six months later
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…
- This Is Nashville
Who’s influencing Nashville?
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…
- This Is Nashville
Tackling player safety in football
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…
- This Is Nashville
Kicking it with Nashville's sneaker culture
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…
- This Is Nashville
How AI is impacting local artists
Artificial intelligence and apps like Lensa and Midjourney allow anyone with an internet connection to create award-winning art works. However, for artists and…
- This Is Nashville
Exploring the Tennessee State Supreme Court
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…
- This Is Nashville
In 2022, we made a promise to meet you where you are — and we delivered
In 2022, our first year on air, the This Is Nashville team went out all across this city and region getting to know you and your community better. From the…