WPLN recently released Rose Gilbert’s four-part podcast series, “The Country In Our Hearts,” telling the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish population in the United States. Host Marie Cecile Anderson sits down with Gilbert and cultural advisor Dilman Yasin to learn more about the strife that led families to flee Iraqi Kurdistan in 1988, how they’ve rebuilt community in our city, and why the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant stance is endangering the systems that brought them to safety in the first place.

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We’re heading to the water — not to cool off, but to hear from two small business owners (and friends of the pod) who recently sold their paddling companies. Margaret Littman (of Nashville Paddle Co.) and Annie Klaver (of River Queen Voyages) sit down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to discuss the challenges of operating in Metro Parks, and what ultimately led them to walk away. A quick note: Their stories include discussions of safety concerns that may be difficult to hear, so please take care while listening.

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Patty lovers rejoice: The Nashville Scene’s Burger Week 2025 kicks off today! Scene food writer Chris Chamberlain joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to preview the mouthwatering slate of $8 burgers available this week at restaurants all over town. Don’t forget to download the Burger Week app for your chance to win glory and prizes!

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Marie Cecile Anderson and all 12 other City Cast podcast hosts (from Austin, Boise, Chicago, DC, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Madison, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Salt Lake City) compete head-to-head in a high-stakes showdown to answer the question that’s been burning up our company-wide Slack for weeks: which city is the best for a summer weekend trip? From naked bike rides to ‘the country’s best farmers market,’ pickle festivals to Elvis impersonators driving pink convertibles, our hosts are bringing the best of the best of what their city has to offer. Did your city win?

Take our interactive quiz to see which city best fits YOUR vibe!

American Legion Post 82 on Gallatin might be known as a great honky-tonk, but this 4th of July weekend is a great time to learn what it really does. Post commanders Shannon Rasmussen, Eric Rasmussen, and Josh Jordan join host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about how they’re leveraging Nashville’s music scene to provide healing and community for their fellow veterans.

**This episode originally aired Feb. 19, 2025

If you enjoyed today's interview with the Nashville Zoo's Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Jim Bartoo, learn more here.

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Whether you’re looking for the best place to see fireworks or the coolest indoor activities, we’ve got you covered for the month ahead. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and Hey Nashville newsletter editor Margaret Kingsbury preview their can’t-miss picks, from art walks to punk rock.

If you’re looking for even MORE options, we’ve featured some great activities and important news stories across the city in recent episodes: You can go visit the baby eagles at Radnor Lake State Park, or belt out a tune on the Lipstick Lounge’s famous karaoke stage. There’s a new sculpture exhibit surrounding Athena at the Parthenon, and about a billion great things for kids to do while school’s out. Plus, we’ve taken you inside the Metro budget, learned why Nashville is not a “sanctuary city,” and celebrated Ed the Zebra with a fun roundup of other loose animals running wild in Music City.

If you’re new here, welcome! City Cast Nashville brings you a new episode every weekday morning with the day's can't-miss conversation about life in Music City. We’re covering the news and culture of our endlessly growing city from every perspective we can find — including yours. It’s like a backyard barbecue and the whole town’s invited, so whether you’ve lived here for a blink or a lifetime, we hope you’ll pull up a lawn chair and sit a while. Learn more at nashville.citycast.fm.

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Just in time for the Fourth of July, a baby eagle is about to take flight at Radnor Lake State Park! Meanwhile, Park Manager Steve Ward and his team are busy expanding the park to include more butterfly-friendly grassland, and renovating trails to make them accessible for everyone. Steve joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to take you inside the spectacular 1400-acre natural area that’s right outside our back doors.

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Who’s in charge of the future East Bank Boulevard? It’s a potato that’s hotter than this weather. Nashville Scene columnist and City Cast Nashville contributor Nicole Williams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek for the latest on that, the surprising news about who’s paying too much in taxes, the lawsuit seven Metro Councilmembers just filed against the state, and more. Plus, happy Pride, y’all!

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27th episode:

Nashville Zoo

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The Lipstick Lounge is one of the last remaining lesbian bars in the country, but as co-owner Christa Suppan reminds us, it’s really just a bar for humans. She joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to take us inside her legendary karaoke spot and give us a preview of Chapstick, the new women’s sports bar they’re building in the back. When will it open? We’ve got your exclusive! Happy Pride, y’all!

Watch the video of Melissa Etheridge doing karaoke at Lipstick here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th episode:

Nashville Zoo

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Federal officials recently accused Nashville of being a “sanctuary city.” Are we? District 30 Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda is here to clarify what that term really means, discuss a new state law making it a felony for city leaders to “adopt or maintain sanctuary policies,” and tell us why her Nashville SC supporters group La Brigada De Oro took a stand against ICE enforcement actions.

**UPDATE: Yesterday afternoon, seven Metro Councilmembers, including CM Sepulveda, filed a lawsuit against the state to challenge whether the new felony law is constitutional.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 25th episode:

Nashville Zoo

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