Profile: Sara Figal

Although we never know exactly what’s going to come up on our Ask the Mayor show — that's up to you — today is Halloween, and we expect some extra spooky surprises. For instance, did you know that downtown Nashville is haunted?In addition to Mayor O'Connell answering the most difficult of Halloween-related questions ("Candy corn — yum or ick?"), we’ll hear the story of the Ghost Mayor of Printer’s Alley, David "Skull" Schulman. Schulman, the beloved owner of the original Skull’s Rainbow Room, was murdered there during a robbery in 1998, and now, some say Skull’s ghost has joined others that haunt the narrow, two-block street tucked away in downtown Nashville. Join us for a scary edition of Your Turn to Talk!Guests: Freddie O'Connell | Mayor, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Mark Therrien | Owner, Nashville Tours and Haunted Nashville

Every polling place is run by trained poll officials who make sure voters can efficiently and easily cast their vote. Today, we speak with poll officials as well as the administrator of elections for the Davidson Country Election Commission to learn what goes into working at a polling station and how polling officials keep our elections fair, safe and secure. Plus, our guests will answer some of the most common questions about voting.GUESTS: Jeff Roberts, Administrator of Elections, Davidson County Christiev Alphin, Poll Official  Mark Blankenship, Poll Official Further Reading: Check your voter registration, find sample ballots and confirm your polling place through the Election Commission of Davidson County WPLN | Full election coverage including voter guides Nashville Banner | Here’s What it Takes to Be a Poll Worker for Nashville’s Elections

What does it take to build an efficient homelessness response system? What next steps are needed to address the affordability crisis and implement solutions? Does society have the tools necessary to end homelessness in Nashville and nationwide?In My Place educates listeners on what cities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused. We talk to national and local guests about everything from best practices to worst failures and hear from people who intimately know the complexities of having nowhere to go. This show highlights how affordable housing affects each of us even if we think it doesn't.This series was created thanks in part to support from Pinnacle Financial Partners and was produced by Judy Tackett and Tasha A.F. Lemley.Today's guests:Ann Oliva | CEO, National Alliance to End HomelessnessBrain Haile | CEO, Neighborhood HealthShawn Lesley | Vendor, The ContributorJamie Berry | Chief of Staff, Metropolitan Development and Housing AuthorityDeirdre Nicole Childress | Guest Commentator; Director of Communications, Director of Trauma Services, Director of Case Management, Gideon’s ArmyFurther in:• Overview Episode of In My Place• Episode 1: Homelessness Facts and Faces• Episode 2: Housing First• Episode 3: Housing Strategies• Episode 4: The interconnectedness of health care, housing and homelessness• Episode 5: Upstream homelessness prevention• Episode 6: Hidden Homelessness• Episode 7: Permanent supportive housing• Episode 8: The Impact of Homelessness on Residents and Business Owners

Horror hosts emerged nationwide after Vampira burst onto the late night Los Angeles television scene in 1954. In 1971, Nashville's WSM-TV launched their own with Creature Feature Saturday hosted by Sir Cecil Creape. Decades later on July 1, 1999, Larry Underwood, inspired by the legendary Creape, created his Dr. Gangrene alter-ego and produced his first episode of Chiller Cinema.Today we welcome the physician of fright Dr. Gangrene and Horror Host Hall of Famer Underwood to tell us about the history of Nashville horror hosts, the Gangrene origin story, and Underwood's fascination with monsters, fear, and the horror host genre of cornball humor.This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona and Elizabeth Burton.GUEST Larry Underwood | Actor, writer, producer Dr. Gangrene | TV horror movie host

Nashville's music scene contains talented artists from all over the musical landscape and we've been fortunate enough to have some of them on the show to share their talents with us.In this episode you'll hear from The McCrary Sisters, Crys Matthews, Mike Floss, Alex Barnes, Zach and Maggie White, and Ashley McBryde. You'll also hear from some of the best freestylers in the city – Pow Shadowz, JusBam, Brian Brown,  Ah-Deli – and a voice that will be very familiar to This is Nashville listeners. This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi & Khalil Ekulona.

Each week during Your Turn to Talk we convene a panel of guests with in-depth knowledge of a variety of subjects like media consumption, presidential immunity, overdose awareness, immigration, voting, and navigating a complex healthcare system. Then, we open the phone lines to take your questions and comments.In this episode, you'll hear highlights from shows about civic engagement, the future of Jefferson Street and the transit referendum that's on the November ballot.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

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