This Is Nashville

Nashville native Amanda Ewing was between jobs when she decided to pick up the violin again. Then, with time on her hands, she thought it would be fun to have a hand in making her own.When she started, Amanda didn't know she was the “first” or “only” Black woman in the U.S. working as a luthier. But she was asked how it felt to make history and her curiosity blossomed. Googling, she found it was true.From never touching a woodworking tool to crafting instruments built to last hundreds of years, Amanda Ewing tells us how an unexpected interest grew into her own passion — and how now she’s just as focused on teaching others as carving and shaping stringed instruments herself.

The midterm election is behind us. Are the results in Tennessee a fluke or does the state have a political future that might look a little less red?Now that we’ve had a day to digest the midterm results – both nationally and here in Tennessee – Holly McCall, Chris Walker, and Dr. Michael Bednarczuk join our panel today to review the results. We talk about the mini-blue wave in Rutherford Co, the stunner for Scott DesJarlais and what we think about Marsha Blackburn’s narrow victory for governor.Call 615-760-2000 to join us live on air or add a comment on our YouTube live stream.Guests: Dr. Michael Bednarczuk, political scientist, Austin Peay University Holly McCall, editor, Tennessee Lookout Chris Walker, founding partner, The Poplar Group

Headliners: Connie Casha, newly-elected Democratic state representative from Rutherford County, and Congressman-elect Charlie Hatcher join us to talk about last night's results their plans for legislating in the new year. Plus, Marianna Bacallao, WPLN's power and equity reporter Nashville Public Radio breaks down yesterdays election results.Newsmaker: Metro Nashville Vice Mayor Angie Henderson on the Tennessee Supreme Court ruling this week to uphold the new State law which now caps councils at 20 members.Tastemaker: Kashif Andrew Graham, host of the new Nashville Banner podcast “Staking our Claim," joins us to talk about the series following Nashville area families navigating life amid an atmosphere of displacement, exclusion and fear.

A growing number of us are running through the woods.Music City plays host to the U.S. Trail Running Conference this week, so we’re seeing how this growth trend is working in Tennessee. Despite being easy to learn, the culture has not always been welcoming. We’ve got the founder of the first BIPOC trail group in the southeast, a blind runner who oversees accessibility for Tennessee State Parks, and a couple of crazy ultramarathon competitors who will share tips, tricks and cautionary tales. It's our warm welcome to trail running in Tennessee!This episode was produced by Josh Deepan and Blake Farmer. Guests: Ryan Jolley, legally blind runner Lauren Beihoffer, running coach Yolanda Lopez Haugabook, Sin Miedo running group founder Jewly Hight, WPLN Music Reporter and ultrarunner

On the eve of Election Day, we spend a moment looking at political polarization and the nonpartisan advocates trying to draw us back to the center. We’re joined by attorney Chloe Akers and Dr. Ming Wang. We’ll also have a live update from Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett as we learn the U.S. Justice Department has deployed election monitors to our state. Plus, we’ll hear how the Nashville Guardians of Democracy are trying to prevent interference at polling sites and ask how they avoid adding to intimidation concerns. And the Nashville branch of the NAACP is connecting voters with rides. President Timothy Hughes joins us to explain how it works. It’s a pre-election pep talk ahead of the midterms.Guests: Tre Hargett, Tennessee Secretary of State Marianna Bacallao, WPLN power & equity reporter Chloe Akers, The Best of Tennessee Dr. Ming Wang, Common Ground Network John Spragens, Nashville Guardians of Democracy Timothy Hughes, NAACP Nashville Branch