It’s budget season once again, but this year’s pre-budget public hearing was focused on essentials like affordable housing. So we’re revisiting a conversation about an out-of-the-box idea from last year: What if we build more skate parks? Skateboarders Luke Ansell (of Cecil’s Skate Shop) and Collin Scheele sit down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to advocate for more ramps, rails, and community.

** This episode originally aired April 29, 2025

Learn more about the sponsors of this March 11th episode:

United Way of Greater Nashville

Nashville Symphony

Country Music Hall of Fame

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Can Nashville’s corporate and indie venues coexist? The Department of Justice settled its antitrust case against promoter giant Live Nation yesterday, although Tennessee is one of 25 states not accepting that settlement. Chris Cobb, Music Venue Alliance Nashville president, and Jon Grau, an artist manager at Thirty Tigers, join producer Daniel Sumstine to break down why that lawsuit matters, and talk about the challenges facing indie clubs — and artists, and audiences — in Music City right now.

Learn more about the sponsors of this March 10th episode:

United Way of Greater Nashville

Nashville Symphony

Country Music Hall of Fame

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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With the Tennessee General Assembly in full swing, we’re taking a look at the bills moving through the legislature this session. Chaplain Dahron Anneliese Johnson, Tennessee Equality Project’s Davidson County co-chair, sits down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about legislation targeting our LGBTQ+ community, proposals impacting our immigrant neighbors, and the common thread that ties them all together.

Learn more about the sponsors of this March 9th episode:

Nashville Symphony

Country Music Hall of Fame

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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Homelessness is one of the major issues that cities like Nashville are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers.

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Metro Council voted this week to approve a non-binding resolution officially opposing the Boring Co.’s Tesla Tunnels in Nashville. Is that the end of it? LOL, absolutely not. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek dig into that plus more state overreach in this week’s Tunnel Time, as well as a zombie bill the TN GOP just revived in hopes of collecting data on undocumented public school kids. Never fear: There’s good news, too.

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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Spring break is March 7-15, and while some folks may be headed to 30A or other exotic locales, most of us are stuck in Nashville. But never fear! Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by contributor Amelia Edelman and the entire City Cast Nashville team, who gathered around the mic to share over 20 incredible ideas for staycation fun right here in Music City. 

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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After weeks of confusion and public outcry, ICE is no longer planning to put a detention center that could house up to 16,000 immigrants right down the road in Lebanon. Many in that community are now breathing a sigh of relief, including Wilson County mayor Randall Hutto. He joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain why he and other Republican local leaders were surprised by the project, and why they pushed back.

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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Artists and fans from around the world are welcome at Nashville’s music venues — unless they’re disabled, in which case, obstacles abound. Dr. Cynthia George, a.k.a. Dr. Cyn, is a TSU professor, brain injury survivor, and literal rock star who leads the Disabled to the Front Advisory Group, working to promote disabled people’s access to nightlife in Nashville. From finding parking to getting on stage, she’s here to help us understand the barriers, and how she and her friends are fighting to break them down.

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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As we emerge from our winter cocoons, there’s a whole city’s worth of activities awaiting us for March and the glorious arrival of spring. Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by producer Daniel Sumstine and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to talk about everything they’re excited to eat, hear, and do this month. From St. Patrick’s Day to March Madness, we’ve got you covered.

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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A lot of cities, including Nashville, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for Pittsburgh, who is hosting the NFL Draft in April. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, the city is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris about why their downtown emptied out, whether this program will bring new businesses downtown for the long-term, and other revitalization plans that are in the works.

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