Ask the Mayor + The impact of a reduced Metro Council

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

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 Dr. Felipe Barrera-Osorio, Associate professor of public policy, education, and economics, Peabody College Camellia Burris, Education Reporter, WPLN News Chelsea Crawford, Executive Director, TennesseeCAN Logan Key, parent Further reading and listening Tennessee legislature puts hundreds of millions toward private-school vouchersHouse, Senate narrowly pass governor’s initiative (Tennessee Lookout) Students across Tennessee can now apply for the expanded school voucher program (WPLN) Tennessee governor defends voucher application process; Gov. Bill Lee says enrollment history not required or needed (Tennessee Lookout)

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 — NashSpeedDonald Walker — Local hot rod enthusiastJane Rose — Rockabilly singer, Jane Rose and the Deadends

Today we’re talking with identical twins who live here in Middle Tennessee - including two who work at the same local police department- to learn about how their unique connection has shaped their lives. We’ll also speak with the parent and a spouse of identical twins to learn about how they love the twins closest to them. It’s going to be a double fun hour. Join us!This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi and Katherine Ruppelt.Guests: Sergeant Kyle Neal, identical twin Sergeant Matt Neal, identical twin Kenzie, identical twin Kyndall, identical twin Courtney Oertel, wife of an identical twin Jada Mathews, mother of identical twins Further Reading: Music City Multiples| Organization that provides community and support for parents of multiples WKRN | Seeing double: Meet Nolensville’s identical twins fighting crime together

For many people, getting involved in your community is something they would like to do — but don’t have much time to do.For Tequila Johnson, though, community is a calling. Today we sit down with an entrepreneur, mom, and the co-founder of The Equity Alliance to talk about her life and how her philosophy on humanity is evolving. This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona and Liv Lombardi

For over three decades Kurdish refugees have found a safe place to land in America.The latest wave of Kurds is arriving from Turkey – fleeing political repression and nationalist hate groups. But today, they’re coming to a very different America. It’s an America in turmoil. A place where immigrants are increasingly seen as enemies within, to be rooted out and sent back to where they came from.The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance.But the story of the Kurdish people, no matter where they are, is a story about a country that only exists in the hearts of its people. And the lengths they’ll go to make it real.Series Credits: Reported and produced by Rose Gilbert Edited and co-produced by Meribah Knight Additional editing by Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner, and Rachel Iacovone, with help from Marianna Bacallao, Char Daston and Justin Barney Mack Linebaugh is Nashville Public Radio’s Vice President of Audience – and supported this project in many ways Our community and cultural advisors on this project were Dr. David Romano and Dilman Yasin Sound Design was done by Martin Cruz Fact checking by Daniel Potter And Original logo artwork is by Nuveen Barwari Traditional music by Arkan Doski With additional music from Blue Dot Sessions Special thanks to Paul McAdoo, Jennifer Nelson and to the village of Chalke, and the people there who showed Rose so much hospitality.

When a wave of Kurdish refugees came to Nashville, they quickly got to work.They opened businesses and raised their kids. As those kids grew up, they had to figure out how to navigate the world of a first-generation Kurdish-American teenager. And in that world, something new was forming — something that threatened to tarnish the sterling reputation their parents worked hard to build.The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance.But the story of the Kurdish people, no matter where they are, is a story about a country that only exists in the hearts of its people. And the lengths they’ll go to make it real.Guest: Meribah Knight, editor and co-producer of the podcastSeries Credits: Reported and produced by Rose Gilbert Edited and co-produced by Meribah Knight Additional editing by Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner, and Rachel Iacovone, with help from Marianna Bacallao, Char Daston and Justin Barney Mack Linebaugh is Nashville Public Radio’s Vice President of Audience – and supported this project in many ways Our community and cultural advisors on this project were Dr. David Romano and Dilman Yasin Sound Design was done by Martin Cruz Fact checking by Daniel Potter And Original logo artwork is by Nuveen Barwari Traditional music by Arkan Doski With additional music from Blue Dot Sessions Special thanks to Paul McAdoo, Jennifer Nelson and to the village of Chalke, and the people there who showed Rose so much hospitality.