With May’s ICE dragnets and similar immigration enforcement detentions taking place all over town, host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Nina Adel, a program director at writing collective The Porch, and Nallely Ortega Prater, a poet and first-generation immigrant from Mexico, to discuss how their Immigrants Write workshop provides a truly safe artistic space. Nallely also reads her new poem, titled “If I Go Missing.”

**This episode originally aired Feb. 26, 2025

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

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

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Ed the Zebra made national news when he escaped from his Nashville-area owners earlier this month, but he’s far from alone: Our town has a long and proud history of weird animal sightings. District 12 Councilmember (and loose cow expert) Erin Evans joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to delve into our local wild kingdom.

Here is the list of the animals you can and cannot have in Tennessee.

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

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

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Metro Council will consider and vote on the Substitute Budget Ordinance tomorrow night, which could replace the mayor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026. What’s in it, and how does this whole thing work? Councilmember Delishia Porterfield — who filed this year’s substitute as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee — joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to tell us everything we need to know.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 16th episode:

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

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Elon Musk’s Boring Co. is in talks with state leaders to build a tunnel from BNA to downtown, but he’s not the only national name in our local news this week. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek have the deets on that as well as the surprise Middle TN indictment of wrongly deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the retirement of Rep. Mark Green (TN-07). Plus, we’re remembering Dot Dobbins, who was tragically killed in a crosswalk during CMA Fest.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 13th episode:

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

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As our temperatures hit the 90s, we’ve got your updated list of the best ice cream, sorbet, and other frozen treats in Nashville. Grace Fuisz is joined by Summer Ottinger, aka Nash Food Fan, for a short and very sweet list of Music City’s coolest shops.

**This episode originally aired August 15, 2024.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 12th episode:

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

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It’s our first birthday! To celebrate the launch of City Cast Nashville a year ago today, we’re giving YOU the gift of birthday freebies. Comedian and radio host Jessica Carter joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to share her list of local spots that will give you free stuff, just for being born.

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

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

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WNXP on-air host and events director Emily Young is back with her guide to everything you’ve gotta see at Bonnaroo this year. She joins producer Daniel Sumstine to break down the Farm’s biggest acts and newest stages, and give us her annual vibe check. Remember: Water! Sleep! Sunscreen!

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

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

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The giant golden statue of Athena inside Nashville’s Parthenon turns 35 this month, and to celebrate, they’re showcasing new (and only slightly less giant) works of art from her sculptor, Alan LeQuire. Parthenon curator Jennifer Richardson joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to share Athena’s backstory and tell us why locals should visit “the city’s museum.” 

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

Nashville Zoo - The first 2,000 guests to visit the Zoo on June 20th for the ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m get a free Leopard Forest bandana.

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The runaway zebra remains at large as CMA Fest descends upon our town, and Nashville Scene columnist Nicole Williams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for today’s Friday News Roundup. Tuesday’s marathon Metro Council meeting featured over a hundred residents asking for a fair shake in the city’s budget, as well as some pointed comments about a council member who’s under fire; Sen. Marsha Blackburn is the latest to join the pile-on of Mayor O’Connell; and Old Tent City was officially closed earlier this week. But wait — are we “fake news”?  

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As CMA Fest takes over downtown, one of Nashville’s most iconic independent music venues, 3rd & Lindsley, just signed a lease extension ahead of its 35th anniversary, securing its place in the city’s ever-changing music scene. We talk with venue owner Ron Brice about what this moment means, how the venue helped launch some of country music’s biggest stars, and why stages like his still matter in the journey from writer’s rounds to the CMA Fest stage.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 5th episode:

⁠Musicians Corner⁠

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