Opryland's Lasting Legacy

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 systemGuests: Nigel Poor, host and co-founder, Ear Hustle Earlonne Woods, host and co-founder, Ear Hustle Erica Duggan, Director of Education and Holistic Advocacy, Choosing Justice Initiative Musa, Court watcher, Choosing Justice Initiative

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: Lisa Abell, vendor with The Contributor Darrin Bradbury, Founder, The Beat Will Connelly, Executive Director, The Contributor Jane Dimnwaobi, Equal Justice Works Fellow, Tennessee Justice Center Joy Flores, VP of Ministries, Nashville Rescue Mission Olivia Messina, TN Program Lead, Hope for Justice Quatrece McKinney, VP of Programs, Monroe Harding Further listening: Overview episode of In My Place Listen to all episodes at the In My Place page on the WPLN website or as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and more.

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!GuestsVal Hoeppner, Executive Director, WMOTMack Linebaugh, Vice President of Audience & Content, Nashville Public RadioBecky Magura, President & CEO, Nashville PBS/WNPTKen Paulson, Dean Emeritus and director, Free Speech Center at the College of Media and Entertainment, MTSUFurther reading and listening Weathering the rescission storm (Nashvillager) How Donald Trump is using legal action against the media (1A) How bipartisan support for public media unraveled in the Trump era (NPR) Community radio stations are collateral damage as Congress cuts NPR funding (NPR) In the West Virginia mountains, a radio station is caught in the funding cut crossfire (NPR) How public broadcasting funding cuts would impact one rural Indiana station (NPR)

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:  Elizabeth Leiserson, attorney for Legal Aid Society  Anne Boatner, attorney for Nashville Hispanic Bar Association John Ellis, real estate attorney Remziya Suleyman, director of programs at American Muslim Advisory Council Shannon Wagner, Nashville Conflict Resolution Center  Lisa Wooley, Rooftop Nashville FURTHER LISTENING:  TIN: How mediation solves disputes, including between landlords and renters TIN: Sara Figal, lifetime mediator

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: "A Circle Broken", premiering at the Nashville Film Festival Opryland VR Nashville Scene: Taking a Look Back at the Rushed 1997 Closure of Opryland Guests: Brandon Vestal David Ewing Bob Whitaker Michael-Demby Cain Jennifer Roberts Lynn Wright Sean Hughes

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 ManciniGuests Freddie O’Connell, Mayor, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Ben Gastel, attorney, Herzfeld, Suetholz, Gastel, Leniski and Wall  

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 Tori Butash, Production Manager, (Wilco, Sylvan Esso) Michael Pollard, Production Direction, WNXP Jason Moon Wilkins, Program Director, WNXP 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: Tiffany Johnson, Caregiver for mom who passed on hospice Chuck Cardona, Caregiver for mom who passed on hospice Dr. Martha Presley Tran, Alive, Chief Medical Officer,  Meredith Portwood, Heartn’ Soul Hospice, Community Education Representative Bre Clark,  End-of-life doula, hospice volunteer Ali Drescher, Alive, Sr. Director of Mission Based Services Further Listening:The Cost Of Dying: Modern Death Hits Home For A Health Care Reporter