This Is Nashville WPLN News - Nashville Public Radio
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This Is Nashville is a live one-hour daily show driven by community, for community. This flagship program of WPLN News will become your one-stop-shop for news in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, as we continue to show up each day.
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How Metro Arts conflict is impacting artists
As much as we all love drama, we’d prefer it stayed on stage. At the June 4 council meeting, Metro Council approved the $200,000 settlement that would ensure former Director Daniel Singh’s resignation from the Metro Arts Commission. This is just the latest in a multiyear long conflict regarding equity — within the Metro Arts staff, between Metro Arts and other Metro departments, and in the Thrive award application process.Instead, back-and-forth about deficits and decorum has ruled the conversation, leaving independent artists and organizations alike to operate this fiscal year without actually receiving the funding Metro Arts awarded them. Today, we’ll hear perspectives on the source of these issues and from affected local artists.This episode was produced by Elizabeth Burton. Guests:
Joy Styles, Metro Councilmember for District 32
Jamie Hollin, attorney for former Director Daniel Singh
Sangeetha Ekambaram, independent, multidisciplinary artist and member of Arts Equity Nashville
Alayna Anderson, founder of Nashville Women in Jazz and member of Arts Equity Nashville -
Tennessee Pageant and Scholarship Competitions
From the outside, the world of beauty pageants and scholarship competitions can be fun to watch- but sometimes difficult to fully understand. What are the competitions really like? What does it take to win? And what exactly does a titleholder do for the year after she wins? Miss Tennessee USA 2024, Miss Black Tennessee USA 2024, Miss Tennessee 2023 and Miss Davidson County 2024 are here to share their personal experiences of competing- and what participating in these competitions means to them. Join us!Guests:
Christell Foote Miss Tennessee USA
Jada Cooke Miss Black Tennessee USA 2024
Brandee Mills Miss Tennessee 2023
Mandi Kane Miss Davidson County USA
Further Reading:Check out The Tennessean's coverage Mandi Kane competing in Miss Tennessee USA: At 40, this respected business exec will compete for Miss Tennessee USA. Here's why
This episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys. -
Re-Air: Long-lasting Love
Today we’re talking with two couples who have been together for several decades … and who are happy to say that they continue to love and like each other each day. We’ll also hear about a bonded couple who show their love through sharing treats, making biscuits, and grooming each other … guess what species they are!? A shorter version of this episode aired earlier this year. Tune in for the full conversations today!Guests:
Beth and Tommy Womack
Teresa Birdsong and Cameron Adkins
Learn More:Nashville CatioThis episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys and Magnolia McKay. -
Profile: State Senator Heidi Campbell
Her political career began in St. Paul, Minnesota. When she came back to her hometown of Nashville, she became the Mayor of Oak Hill, then State Senator. Last year she ran for Mayor of Nashville, she even ran for Congress in 2022. But did you know that path to holding public office was not the path she first envisioned for herself? We’ll talk with the Nashville native who found her way to politics after experiencing events that helped her view life from a different perspective. This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona
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Ask not one, but two, mayors!
Dial 615-760-2000 to share what’s on your mind or to ask either mayor a question. We never fully know what’s going to come up on our Ask The Mayor show, but it’s always a good time. Join us!This episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys and Mary Mancini.Guests:
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell
Franklin Mayor Ken Moore
Listen to previous Ask the Mayor episodes:
Ask the Mayor with Freddie O'Connell, plus Taking Cover, April 17, 2024
Ask the Mayor with Freddie O'Connell, plus Votes For Women, March 28, 2024
Ask the Mayor with Freddie O'Connell & Photographer Jeff Fasano, February 15, 2024 -
What's going on at Metro Arts?
For people who haven’t been following the story, it’s hard to know where to start if you want to learn more. For people who have been following, it can get complicated, and it’s easy to forget what's really happened. Today, we’re diving into it all headfirst and reviewing the most impactful, dysfunctional (and wildest) moments that led us to where we are today. We’ll hear from key players including commissioners, employees, councilmembers, reporters and concerned citizens that have been following the saga.This episode was produced by Elizabeth Burton.Guests
Char Daston, Reporter and newscast writer, WPLN
Lydia Yousief, Director of the Elmahaba Center
Heather Lefkowitz, Commissioner, Metro Arts Commission
Joy Styles, Councilmember, Metro Council
Isabel Tipton-Krispin, Executive Managing Director, Nashville Shakespeare Festival
Further Listening and Reading
Last week, after several months of back and forth between he and the MAC board, Metro Arts director Daniel Singh agreed to resign.
You can listen and read more about how the controversy has affected Nashville's artists in Char's stories: When will Metro Arts grant recipients be paid? Details remain murky and Metro Arts funding delays, debates over equity leave some Nashville arts organizations struggling
Customer Reviews
Metro Council 🤝 Artful storytelling
Not to be dramatic but I am OBSESSED with inside council chambers! Love Nicole and khalils chemistry and I’m always impressed by Nicole’s VAST knowledge of metro council (esp when it includes CM drama + hot goss 😬). OH and the sound effects and music always hit too!
This longtime WPLN listener is impressed and genuinely happy to hear y’all having fun at work! 🥳
BRB. I’ll update my review after I catch up on the Big Fella Update
A terrifically helpful addition to our community
I am a 25 year + resident of Nashville having lived here initially as a student then living elsewhere and returning to Nashville in the mid 2000s.
This Is Nashville is my go-to source for information about issues and events in our community. I'm grateful for the intelligent way it is produced and for the wide-diversity of people and topics discussed.
We all benefit from the work of the WPLN team and especially the work of This Is Nashville.
VERY INFORMATIVE
Already love this podcast. Delivered in a very interesting way that makes you want to listen more. Good on you!