Profile: Big Fella

You'll hear from local chaplain and trans rights advocate Dahron Anneliese Johnson, preeminent TSU professor and historian Dr. Learotha Williams, journalist and ghost writer Nancy French, and singer, author, actor and speaker Pat Boone.This episode was produced by Tasha A.F. Lemley.GUESTS Dahron Anneliese Johnson | Chaplain and trans rights advocate Pat Boone | Singer, author, actor and speaker Nancy French | Journalist and author Dr. Learotha Williams, Professor of African American History, Tennessee State University; North Nashville Heritage Project FURTHER LISTENING Pat Boone’s new song “Where Did America Go?” is available on YouTube and all other streaming platforms. WPLN | TSU Professor Battles ‘Concerted Effort To Erase Black People’ From Nashville History

The 2024 referendum, Choose How You Move: An All-Access Pass to Sidewalks, Signals, Service, and Safety in Nashville, is on the ballot for the November election. As part of WPLN's ongoing coverage of the transit plan and referendum, we've assembled a panel of guests with in-depth knowledge of the proposal to answer your questions and hear your comments. What you do like about the plan? Do you have concerns? How will the funding mechanism affect your bottom line? Election Day is almost here and we're standing by to answer your questions.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.GuestsCynthia Abrams | Metro reporter, WPLN NewsProfessor Craig Philip | Research Professor; Director, Vanderbilt Research Center for Transportation and Operational ResilienceAshley Northington | Chair, Moving Forward of Middle Tennessee

Squirrels, possums, turtles, foxes, birds of prey and countless other wild creatures live right here with us in Middle Tennessee. Unfortunately, interactions with humans and human-made things can lead to injuries or death for these animals. Today we’re speaking with the dedicated leaders and volunteers of several local wildlife rehabilitation centers to learn about what to do - and not do- if we come across an injured wild animal. We'll also discuss steps we can take to be considerate and help prevent injuries to our wild neighbors. Join us!This episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys.GUESTS: Joanna Johnson, animal care manager Walden's Puddle Jerry Vandiver, volunteer with Walden's Puddle Anastasia Kudrez, executive director Harmony Wildlife Debbie Sykes, director of Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center Molly Mayes, wildlife educator Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center

On this episode, we gaze skyward — at dusk — and pay tribute to the best mosquito-eaters around. Bat-loving guests join us to debunk a ton of misconceptions and teach us where bats live, what makes up their diet, what their greatest threats are, and how we can actually share our homes with them.This episode was produced by Tasha A.F. Lemley. Special thanks to John Michael Cassidy, Alan Hatcher, and John French.Guests: Cory Holliday, Cave and Karst Program Manager at The Nature Conservancy Dustin Thames, Biologist and Biodiversity coordinator for Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Bereket Graves, Wildlife enthusiast, student and former intern for TWRA Sara Samoray, Chair, Tennessee Bat Working Group Christopher Rannafors, Owner, BatBnB Israel Irwin, Boy Scout, Nashville Troop 3

Have you discovered any of the hundreds of colorful painted animal signs with the word ‘vote’ on them here in Nashville? Or have you encountered the giant books around town which are part of the Unbannable Library installation? Middle Tennessee artist and Austin Peay State University professor Paul Collins is behind both of these projects. Today we’ll talk with Collins about the stories behind his works and his own journey as an artist. Join us!This episode was produced by Katherine CeicysGUESTPaul Collins

How do you establish care after moving to a new city? What do you do if you want a second opinion on a cancer diagnosis? Is there something you can say if you feel like your emergency room doctor isn’t listening to you? Dr. Divya Shroff hears these questions all the time. As the former chief medical officer of TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, she has an expert-level understanding of how our medical system works. Today, she’s live on This Is Nashville to answer your questions about navigating interactions with doctors.Guests Dr. Divya Shroff, former chief medical officer of TriStar Centennial

Today, we hear from WPLN's Power and Equity Reporter, Marianna Bacallao. She'll update us on the recent wiretapping scandal involving the office of Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk. Next, we hear from authors Joel Ebert and Erik Schelzig, who recount years of abuses of political power at the state legislature in their book, Welcome to Capitol Hill: Fifty Years of Scandal in Tennessee Politics. And finally, Keel Hunt, author of Coup, tells the story of Democratic Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton. In 1979, Blanton was removed from office three days early by an alliance of leaders from both political parties who sought to stop him from selling pardons for cash.This episode was produced by Char Daston and Mary Mancini.Guests: Marianna Bacallao, Power and Equity Reporter, WPLN News Joel Ebert, Co-author of Welcome to Capitol Hill: Fifty Years of Scandal in Tennessee Politics Erik Schelzig, Editor of Tennessee Journal, co-author of Welcome to Capitol Hill: Fifty Years of Scandal in Tennessee Politics Keel Hunt, Columnist for The Tennessean, author of Coup: The Day the Democrats Ousted Their Governor, Put Republican Lamar Alexander in Office Early, and Stopped a Pardon Scandal

Cryptids — like Sasquatch and the Jersey Devil — capture the imagination and have been sighted across the globe. Not surprisingly then, Middle Tennessee has its own reported cryptid activity. Here, people have seen a giant bird with a 6-foot-long wingspan, a dogman and, of course, the Tennessee Wild Man, our version of Bigfoot. Today, we delve into firsthand accounts of these beasts and chat with local field investigators who gather their stories. Plus, we hear from an anthropologist and anthrozoologist who tells us why it’s important to keep an open mind. Join us as we get curious about the big, hairy and scary things that live in the woods.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.GuestsDr. Daisy Fiore | Anthropologist and anthrozoologist; Host, Cryptozoology with Dr. DaisyErin McCullough | Digital reporter, WKRNMartin Groves | Paranormal field investigator; Retired law enforcement; Author, Beasts Between the RiversDonna Hartley Lucas | Owner, Sumner County History and Haunts

The majority of his career has been positioned at the intersection of conservative Christian communities and higher education. Today, he’s transitioning away from his main career as a tenured professor and finds himself somewhat displaced, contemplating how his long-standing faith interacts with politics and the next phase of his work. To that end, through his podcast he welcomes guests like Malcolm Gladwell, Martin Sheen and Cyntoia Brown Long to answer some of life's big questions like, "what does it mean to live a good life," and "what is true happiness?"You can hear No Small Endeavor at 2:00 pm CT on Sundays on WPLN — or wherever you get your podcasts.

And the relationship between new Americans and Nashville is reciprocal. Today, we look at the many ways immigrants and refugees add to the fabric of our community — and how the community empowers them with the tools they need to succeed. Plus, we're taking your calls. Join us!This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.GuestsCathy Carrillo | Director of Community Engagement, Metro Human Relations CommissionMax Rykov | Director of Development & Communications, Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE)Jorge Zetina | Member, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC)