t’s not just a one-year budget crisis.

Federal support for public media may be a thing of the past. And it’s hardly just WPLN at risk. Leaders of public media outlets in Middle Tennessee will be in the studio talking about the immediate impacts and uncertainty that lies ahead. Plus, it’s your turn to talk! We’re taking your calls, whether it’s curiosity or a particular critique, the lines will be open. Call 615-760-2000 to join the conversation. You can also catch us streaming on YouTube and send your questions through chat!

Guests

Val Hoeppner, Executive Director, WMOT
Mack Linebaugh, Vice President of Audience & Content, Nashville Public Radio
Becky Magura, President & CEO, Nashville PBS/WNPT
Ken Paulson, Dean Emeritus and director, Free Speech Center at the College of Media and Entertainment, MTSU

Further reading and listening

As rent in Nashville remains close to its all-time high, some affected tenants rush to court to contest their eviction notices.

They may have medical issues, significant personal challenges or legal hurdles, but the same question hangs over each of them: where are they going to go once their lease is up? The Eviction Right to Counsel program is a group of local advocates who have collaborated to provide legal services for tenants in need. In this episode, we'll hear from organizations, those impacted by the rising cost of rent in Nashville, and attorneys who represent landlords. 

We're also streaming on YouTube!

This episode was produced by Josh Deepan.

GUESTS: 

FURTHER LISTENING: 

Opryland has been closed for nearly 30 years, and as the producer of a new documentary puts it, some people are still “butt hurt” about it. Maybe we didn’t know what we had until it left a theme park-size hole in Nashville’s heart. A documentary premiering at the Nashville Film Festival, called “A Circle Broken,” gives us a good excuse to reopen that wound and hear the story of Opryland like we’ve not heard before, a story about how perhaps Opryland saved the Grand Ole Opry itself. We’re talking to the characters who are keeping the memory alive and hearing your memories of Opryland USA.

Join us on air by calling 615-760-2000.

Further reading:

Guests:

Pastor Glenda Gleaves Sutton arrived in Nashville with her two sons in tow. She had left a stressful but steady life as an air traffic controller and was on a mission to repair her own family. That effort didn’t pan out as quickly as hoped, and left her temporarily homeless. She has since dedicated her life to repairing the families of anyone within the sound of her voice. She’s dished out diapers and confronted drug dealers — always stepping out in faith and always in support of others. Her story is all about the power of encouragement and the effectiveness of showing people the way out rather than just telling them.

Further reading:
• What it’s like when an entire Nashville apartment community must move

It’s that time again! Time for you to talk with Mayor Freddie O’Connell.

Do you have a concern you would like him to address? Do you have a question about the direction of the city? Every month, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell joins us to discuss the latest happenings in and around the city — and take your calls! Plus, Last month, an appeals court upheld a state law reducing the Nashville Metro Council from forty members to twenty. Attorney Ben Gastel joins us to discuss the impact of reduced council, the potential Supreme Court case and other lingering questions. Give us a call at 615-760-2000 to join the conversation.

This episode was produced by Cynthia Abrams and Mary Mancini

Guests

When you go to a live show these days, you expect to see a spectacle — an artistic production that will blow you away.

Behind the scenes, there’s one person responsible for bringing this production to life — the production manager. Today we join with WNXP's Music Citizens podcast to go behind the scenes with Nashville-based production manager, Tori Butash.

As a “lady soundguy,” Tori worked her way up doing sound for Rob Thomas, Imagine Dragons and other bands including Sylvan Esso. It was Sylvan Esso who realized Tori was highly organized, a good communicator and, most importantly, a good hang — the perfect ingredients for a production manager.

This episode was produced by Justin Barney and Mary Mancini.

Guests

Music Citizens is a new podcast series by WNXP and Nashville Public Radio about the people who make music work. Each episode will explore what it takes to do the jobs that keep the music business moving and introduce you to the characters who are often well known within their worlds but whose vital work goes largely uncelebrated. Listen to all episodes at wnxp.org.

There is no more tender time than the months, weeks and days before a loved one's passing. More likely than not, hospice care is going to be involved. Still, many people don’t fully understand what hospice looks like. So today we’re breaking down what you need to know so you’ll be a little more prepared when it matters. 

We'll hear from two Tennesseans who relied on hospice care, both at home and at a care facility, during each of their mother's final days. We'll talk with representatives from hospice agencies in Middle Tennessee and an end-of-life doula about how to prepare for end-of-life care and how to make the most of it. And we'll discuss the grief services hospice providers offer during the months following a loved one's passing.

In our monthly series NEXT AGE, we’re having conversations about growing older — and efforts to reframe aging in a way that helps all of us. Our show is made possible, in part, by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and our series on aging is made possible by a grant from The West End Home Foundation — enriching the lives of older adults though grantmaking, advocacy and community collaboration.

This episode was produced by Katherine Ruppelt.

GUESTS:

Further Listening:

• The Cost Of Dying: Modern Death Hits Home For A Health Care Reporter

Candice Lee is a Vanderbilt Commodore through and through.

In the late 90’s and early aughts, she played for the women’s basketball team. She endured injuries but never quit. After her playing days were over she moved to the administration side of sports. Also earning a PhD from the university. 

Today, we learn what it’s like to get inside the mind of an athletic director for a school in the most powerful athletic conference in the country.

The school voucher debate has been raging in Tennessee for almost two decades...

but it was just this year the Tennessee State Legislature successfully passed a law creating a statewide program. The Education Freedom Scholarship Act will provide 20,000 eligible students with about $7,300 per year in public school funds to use for private school tuition. So far, nearly 40,000 families have applied for the program.

Today we ask: now that the school voucher horse is out of the barn...what’s next? How does the program actually work? What guardrails are in place to ensure the program complies with the law? What's worked in other states — and is it possible to improve the program? These are today's questions...AND it's also your turn to talk. Call 615-760-2000 to join the conversation — or join us live streaming on YouTube and pop a question into the chat.

Guests

Further reading and listening

In 1960s Southern California, a movement called "Kustom Kulture" emerged. Its mission: restore and refurbish cars. Since then, thousands across America have had their own vehicles customized.

On today's show, we speak with local builders, musicians, and enthusiasts about their Kustom Kulture, how it helps people express themselves creatively, and the outlook of the community today.

This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. 

GUESTS: 

Tim & Carrie Strange — Strange Motion
Murpho & Kollette Marie — NashSpeed
Donald Walker — Local hot rod enthusiast
Jane Rose — Rockabilly singer, Jane Rose and the Deadends