The future of Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway might be up to voters this November, as petitioners work to collect signatures for a ballot amendment that would drop auto racing as a required use at the Fairgrounds and replace it with “affordable and/or workforce housing.” One group opposing the petition and fighting to preserve the racetrack is LiUNA Local 386. But why is the laborers’ union so invested? LiUNA business manager Ethan Link sits down with host Rachel Iacovone to explain why the speedway means more than just racing to his members.

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Centennial Park Conservancy

Hoffmann Brothers

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How often are you out in nature in Nashville? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban setting, and city rivers get a particularly bad rap. It’s true that cities have had eras of sewage mishandling and high boat traffic — but many have also cleaned up their act, through the tireless work of local advocates and politicians. Portland, OR, is one of those cities, and City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza joins this episode of Your City Could Be Better to debunk the assumptions and fears about her city’s river, the Willamette. Learn all about how a journalist-turned-governor led the charge to clean up Portland's waterfront, and how a quirky organizer — and lots of enthusiastic swimmers — have carried the torch.

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ICE has moved their planned location of a 24/7 call center from Adams, Tennessee, to Donelson. Host Rachel Iacovone is joined by creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to discuss what that actually means for Nashville. Plus, the Nashville Banner reports that Waymo’s driverless cars are always recording us, controversial Choice Lanes appear to be coming to I-24, and our members-only segment, Hell Naw, takes on the out-of-state takeover of our finest food establishments.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 21st episode:

Nashville Shakespeare Fest

Alabama Beaches

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With their recent album, “Redefining the Standards,” Nashville Women in Jazz set a new standard themselves, releasing the first all-women project ever recorded at the legendary RCA Studio B. Founder Alayna Renae joins host Rachel Iacovone to delve into our city’s modern jazz scene by taking a look back, from Jefferson Street in the ‘40s to Rudy’s and Urban Cowboy today.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 20th episode:

Nashville Shakespeare Fest

Alabama Beaches

VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville 2026 Awards!

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August is officially Nashville History Month — according to local historian Betsy Phillips! Today, she joins host Rachel Iacovone to explain why Nashville needs a history month and expands on her recent article for the Nashville Scene, sharing 10 weird and wonderful ways to explore our city’s history.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 19th episode:

Nashville Shakespeare Fest

Alabama Beaches

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What’s the latest on tech giant Oracle’s move to Nashville? After receiving sizable government incentives, the company is reportedly lagging behind the pace necessary to meet its job obligations. Host Rachel Iacovone checks in with executive producer Whitney Pastorek and newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to discuss Oracle’s layoffs and the Nashville jobs it promised but has yet to deliver. Plus, Starbucks workers in Goodlettsville stage a one-day strike, two candidates enter the race for vice mayor, and the Winter Storm Commission’s report is finally out. And your neighborhood may finally be getting sidewalks!

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 18th episode:

Nashville Shakespeare Fest

Alabama Beaches

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In the wake of yet another pedestrian death on our roads, we've called in an expert with suggestions for how to fix our dangerous infrastructure. Joining host Rachel Iacovone to play Sim City with ideas from around the world is journalist Sarah Goodyear, co-host of the podcast The War on Cars. PS: She and Doug Gordon will bring their new book, “Life After Cars,” to the Southern Festival of Books this year, Oct. 17-18. Shall we give them the grand tour? Stay tuned …

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 17th episode:

Nashville Shakespeare Fest

Alabama Beaches

VOTE FOR US in the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville 2026 Awards!

Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville

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What will Nashville do when it runs out of space for trash? Madison, WI, has a plan, and it’s one that other cities could follow. What could’ve just been another county landfill, slated to open in 2027, will instead be a “sustainability campus”, where local businesses will unite to more intentionally sort incoming waste, increase recycling intake, and generally aim to slow the flow of trash. And Dane County has historically handled waste disposal in a savvy way, making big bucks off of trash collection that they then use to fund future projects like this forthcoming campus. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin breaks this all down for David, and together they uncover the quirks — and opportunities — that come with talking trash. 

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This week, the Community Review Board raised concerns about MNPD’s use-of-force policies, racial disparities, and transparency. Executive producer Whitney Pastorek and creative producer Marie Cecile Anderson join host Rachel Iacovone to break it down, plus back-to-school drama, the push to ban right turns on red, and whether or not Nashville is romantic. And in our members-only segment, Hell Naw, we rant about the thing blocking the few sidewalks we have…

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 14th episode:

Hoffmann Brothers

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Did you know more people are born in August than in any other month? Whether you’re planning your child’s birthday party this month or in the months to come, we’ve got you covered. City Cast Nashville contributor and local parent Amelia Edelman joins newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury to chat about the best places to host children’s birthday parties in Nashville, from trampoline parks to arcade fun and playground bashes. Plus: Magicians-for-hire and at-home spa parties.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 13th episode:

Hoffmann Brothers

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Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville

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