It’s the weekly Roundabout.

From the uniquely Nashville to the national conversation, our guests today – left, right and center – will help us chew on the big stories of the week. And our Roundabout episodes give you a chance to weigh in. This week, we’ll face an execution, examine Elon Musk’s airport tunnel, and take an honest look at ourselves with Tennessee’s new ranking as one of the worst states to live in.

Give us a call at 615-760-2000 to weigh in — or join us live streaming on YouTube at noon and pop your question into chat!

Guests:

Further reading:

In 2021, the Tennessee State Government introduced new tax incentives to encourage film productions to make their next project in the Volunteer State.

On today’s show, we sit down with artists, producers, and members of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission to learn why film-related economic output has grown by nearly fifty percent and whether or not Nashville has the potential to become a major film hub in the United States.  

This episode was produced by Josh Deepan.

Guests:

Bob Raines, Tennessee Entertainment Commission Director

Gisela Moore, Tennessee Entertainment Commission Project Manager

Lauren Thelen, Nashville Film Festival Programming Director

Steve Taylor, Film Producer, "Sketch"

Carrie Romero, Executive Producer, "The Heart Brake"

Gus Romero, Executive Producer, "The Heart Brake"

Abby Gollehon, Academy of Makeup Arts Student

Izzy Christensen, Academy of Makeup Arts Student

Lydia Edwards, Academy of Makeup Arts Student

On the eve of World Elephant Day, we celebrate with one of Tennessee’s best kept secrets — The Elephant Sanctuary.

Nestled in the woods and knolls of Hohenwald, Tenn., about 80 miles southwest of Nashville is a 3,000-acre refuge for retired elephants where they can live out their days out of the spotlight. These magnificent animals spend their remaining years in a natural habitat developed specifically for their needs. In this episode, we get a rare report from within the complex, which is off limits to the public. Members of the Elephant Sanctuary team also join us in the studio to discuss their mission, philosophy of care, and elephant conservation.

This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

Guests

Janice Zeitlin, President & CEO, The Elephant Sanctuary
Kristy Eaker, Senior Manager of Elephant Care, The Elephant Sanctuary
Laura Roddy, Education Manager, The Elephant Sanctuary

Garrison Keillor is still performing, even as he turns 83 this week. He sat down with This Is Nashville in the greenroom at City Winery before his performance in June because this city was central to his creation of "A Prairie Home Companion," which launched 50 years ago. For a long time, it was one of the biggest things in public radio. He now calls leaving the show a mistake. He’ll explain. And if you’re thinking, “didn’t he have a #MeToo moment?” Yes, we get some rather candid answers plus some wisdom only an octogenarian could offer. 

This episode was produced by Blake Farmer.

Relevant reading:

It’s one of the toughest balancing acts of our time – kids and their screens. With most young teens having their own cellphones, screen usage is an unavoidable issue for schools. A new Tennessee law has led school districts to revisit their policies and in some cases strengthen their screen restrictions. We’ll hear what’s changing, what experts recommend and go deep at a school that banned phones altogether. 

Plus it’s your turn to talk. Join on air by calling 615-760-2000.

Or watch live and join the conversation by commenting on the YouTube live stream.

Guests:

Further reading

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to live behind bars, any episode of “Ear Hustle” will give you a pretty good idea.

It’s basically “This American Life” but for the 2 million Americans who are incarcerated – primarily produced by people who are in prison. “Ear Hustle” hosts and co-founders Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods join us to talk about what they’ve learned in 15 seasons of podcasting from a prison and highlighting the live show that is coming to Nashville next week. Plus, Plus, we end the hour with the Choosing Justice Initiative (CJI), an org seeking justice in Nashville’s criminal legal system

Guests:

Welcome back to our second season of In My Place. This special series educates listeners on what communities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused.

In our last episode, we learned what happens when the paperwork finally comes through and puzzle pieces start building a hopeful picture.

Well, we're taking a couple steps back. Today, our table is staying packed for a Q&A with folks who want to help us remember even when things seem to be going well a lot of last-minute hurdles can stand in the way of an apartment.

Over the course of nine monthly episodes, we’re learning what it feels like to access services and weave through our local homelessness and healthcare systems. And we’re discussing what services work, what resources are missing, and what ideas our guests have for improvement.

This series was created thanks in part to support from Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and was produced by Judith Tackett.

Guests:

Further listening:

Tia Sillers has written her fair share of hit songs — most notably, “I Hope You Dance,” performed by Lee Ann Womack.

From her beginnings as a songwriter to performing with her husband, she joins us to reflect on her career, her approach to creativity and her relationship with Nashville. We also learn about her personal life and how her husband’s death further strengthened her musical expression. 

This episode was produced by Josh Deepan. 

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: