WPLN News - Nashville Public Radio

16/08/2025

Nashville Public Radio made the best arts & culture podcast in the nation last year, according to the National Association of Black Journalists.

It's "Making Noise," the largely untold story of the city's troubled relationship with contemporary Black music scenes — and the impact of Lovenoise.

Cue it up!

How a Sunday night party changed Nashville a four-part special podcast series from WPLN News and WNXP. Thanks to our sponsors: AT&T,Citizens Ban

15/08/2025

When WPLN's Rose Gilbert traveled to Iraqi Kurdistan she spent time in Halabja, a place of major import to the Kurds who now live in Nashville.

This travel dispatch focuses on an interview with Mayor Nuxsha Nasih, who made headlines in 2016 when she became the first woman to be appointed mayor of Halabja.

This travelogue is just one part of my dispatches from Erbil. You can read them all on the project’s landing page here. Sunday — Sept. 22, 2024 We arrived in Halabja around midday. My first impression of the city is of narrow, mostly empty streets; I imagine everyone is inside somewhere, out of ...

14/08/2025

The local artists Kyleigh and Amber Ais are at pivotal points building their careers — and they’re both playing the Black Arts Bash at Cheekwood on Saturday.

Hear them in an extended conversation with senior music writer Jewly Hight.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve followed new artists as they work to establish their names, get on showcases, and network in Nashville. And over the last few years, I’ve watched artists start to build their reputations with specialties that people haven’t always associated with the city...

14/08/2025

It’s the Roundabout — news of the week analyzed by our panelists from points of view that span left, right and center. Joining us today are former Metro council member Fabian Bedne, Dr. Ian Shapiro of TSU & David Fox, former school board chair & candidate for mayor.

Give us a call at 615-760-2000 to weigh in — or join us live streaming on YouTube and pop your question into chat! Thursday at noon from 90.3 WPLN.

This is Nashville is sponsored by Music City Prep Clinic.

14/08/2025

Who do you call if there’s a raccoon in your chimney?

WPLN would love for you to listen to Nina's morning essay on wildlife and share your tales in the comments.

Who do you call if there’s a raccoon in your chimney? Plus, the local news for August 14, 2025.

13/08/2025

Nashville's limestone geology creates unique challenges for the city, and it is often misunderstood in conversations about development.

Take the latest controversy: Elon Musk’s Boring Company wants to build a tunnel for Tesla vehicles between downtown and the airport.

Nashville sits on limestone. This geology creates unique challenges for the city, and it is often neglected -- or misunderstood -- in conversations about dev

13/08/2025

We've got questions about airport tunnels, ICE and the prospect of using the National Guard for policing. Luckily, Mayor Freddie O’Connell is back today for another round of “Ask the Mayor.” Call 615-760-2000 to join the convo Wednesday at noon on 90.3 WPLN and at youtube.com/.

13/08/2025

A small town in rural Tennessee will soon be the site of a privately-run ICE detention center.

The detention center will be run by CoreCivic, a for-profit prison operator that has been investigated for chronic understaffing and “endemic” violence. The state of Tennessee has fined the company nearly $45 million since 2022 over staffing.

A small town in rural Tennessee will soon be the site of a privately-run Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. The town of Mason’s 600-bed

12/08/2025

Lice happens. To kids. To parents. To teachers. To anyone. And in Middle Tennessee, schools are rethinking how to handle it - without the shame and stigma.

Marcela Nares owns Lice Is Easy and says, “Lice does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone.”

🎧When Lice Happens on This is Nashville.

12/08/2025

Early August polling by the conservative think tank the Beacon Center finds Sen. Marsha Blackburn with a 52-point lead over U.S. Congressman John Rose.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has a commanding lead in the Republican primary for governor of Tennessee even before she announced her candidacy last week.

12/08/2025

In 2013, a Nashville report identified ways the justice system could improve for domestic violence victims. A new assessment highlights opportunities to improve.

In 2013, a Nashville report identified ways the justice system could improve for domestic violence victims. A new assessment looks back at a decade of wins and

11/08/2025

Coming up this week on This is Nashville...

Monday: Award-winning author Kevin Wilson has deep Tennessee roots: he grew up in Franklin County, attended Vanderbilt, and today, teaches at Sewanee: The University of the South. Kevin joins us today to talk about the new book … and about his journey as a writer.

Tuesday: It’s a show that’s all about lice. How it travels. Who is treating it. And how schools are trying to handle outbreaks without all the shame and stigma.

Wednesday: Call 615-760-2000 to ask Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell.

Thursday: Three guests with three different perspective discuss the latest news and current events.

Join us at noon on 90.3 WPLN and streaming at thisisnashville.org and the WPLN YouTube channel.