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Join Marie Cecile Anderson and the City Cast Nashville team every weekday morning as we bring you the day's can't-miss conversation about life in Music City. With the help of local journalists, artists, activists, experts, and everyday residents, we explore this promising, frustrating, still-sorta-small town, where old bumps up against new, natives adapt to transplants, and everybody struggles to navigate the ‘Binge Drinking Tourism Industrial Complex’ that threatens to consume us all. Alongside our daily newsletter, we cover the news and culture of our endlessly growing city from every perspective we can find — including yours. It’s like a backyard barbecue and the whole town’s invited, so whether you’ve lived here for a blink or a lifetime, we hope you’ll pull up a lawn chair and sit a while. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at nashville.citycast.fm.
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Can Nashville’s corporate and indie venues coexist? The Department of Justice settled its antitrust case against promoter giant Live Nation yesterday, although Tennessee is one of 25 states not accepting that settlement. Chris Cobb, Music Venue Alliance Nashville president, and Jon Grau, an artist manager at Thirty Tigers, join producer Daniel Sumstine to break down why that lawsuit matters, and talk about the challenges facing indie clubs — and artists, and audiences — in Music City right now.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 10th episode:
United Way of Greater Nashville
Nashville Symphony
Country Music Hall of Fame
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
With the Tennessee General Assembly in full swing, we’re taking a look at the bills moving through the legislature this session. Chaplain Dahron Anneliese Johnson, Tennessee Equality Project’s Davidson County co-chair, sits down with host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about legislation targeting our LGBTQ+ community, proposals impacting our immigrant neighbors, and the common thread that ties them all together.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 9th episode:
Nashville Symphony
Country Music Hall of Fame
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Homelessness is one of the major issues that cities like Nashville are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers.
Mentioned on the show:
Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake)
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
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Metro Council voted this week to approve a non-binding resolution officially opposing the Boring Co.’s Tesla Tunnels in Nashville. Is that the end of it? LOL, absolutely not. Host Marie Cecile Anderson, producer Daniel Sumstine, and executive producer Whitney Pastorek dig into that plus more state overreach in this week’s Tunnel Time, as well as a zombie bill the TN GOP just revived in hopes of collecting data on undocumented public school kids. Never fear: There’s good news, too.
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Spring break is March 7-15, and while some folks may be headed to 30A or other exotic locales, most of us are stuck in Nashville. But never fear! Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by contributor Amelia Edelman and the entire City Cast Nashville team, who gathered around the mic to share over 20 incredible ideas for staycation fun right here in Music City.
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
After weeks of confusion and public outcry, ICE is no longer planning to put a detention center that could house up to 16,000 immigrants right down the road in Lebanon. Many in that community are now breathing a sigh of relief, including Wilson County mayor Randall Hutto. He joins executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain why he and other Republican local leaders were surprised by the project, and why they pushed back.
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Artists and fans from around the world are welcome at Nashville’s music venues — unless they’re disabled, in which case, obstacles abound. Dr. Cynthia George, a.k.a. Dr. Cyn, is a TSU professor, brain injury survivor, and literal rock star who leads the Disabled to the Front Advisory Group, working to promote disabled people’s access to nightlife in Nashville. From finding parking to getting on stage, she’s here to help us understand the barriers, and how she and her friends are fighting to break them down.
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
As we emerge from our winter cocoons, there’s a whole city’s worth of activities awaiting us for March and the glorious arrival of spring. Host Marie Cecile Anderson is joined by producer Daniel Sumstine and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to talk about everything they’re excited to eat, hear, and do this month. From St. Patrick’s Day to March Madness, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re looking for even MORE options, we’ve featured some great activities and important news stories across the city in recent episodes, like the imminent launch of Waymo and how some local organizers say the city has to change before the next disaster hits. Catch up at nashville.citycast.fm/podcasts.
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
A lot of cities, including Nashville, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for Pittsburgh, who is hosting the NFL Draft in April. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, the city is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris about why their downtown emptied out, whether this program will bring new businesses downtown for the long-term, and other revitalization plans that are in the works.
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
After seven Metro Councilmembers brought a lawsuit challenging a state law making it a felony to vote in favor of “sanctuary policies,” the state has agreed it was unconstitutional. Contributor Nicole Williams joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to discuss that result. Plus, the resignation of NDOT’s director; the push for a new state authority governing all things tunnel; and the hilarious news that U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn was asking for special treatment from NES during the ice storm.
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Did you know you can get free stuff in Nashville, just for being born? We’re revisiting a conversation with comedian and radio host Jessica Carter, who joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to talk about great local party ideas and share her list of birthday freebies. Let’s make 2026 the year of taking your birthday seriously!
** This conversation originally aired June 11, 2025.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 26th episode:
Frist Art Museum
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Meet Democrat Adam “Ditch” Kurtz — one of the most unconventional candidates in Tennessee’s race for governor. A Nashville musician with no prior political experience, he says he’s ready to challenge the status quo with a fully grassroots campaign and bold policy ideas. We talk about healthcare, education, immigration, and whether an outsider can realistically compete in this state.
If you enjoyed this interview with VITA Senior Manager, Bonnie Bowles, learn more here.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 25th episode:
Frist Art Museum
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are already on the streets of Nashville, running tests as they prepare for launch later this year. Is that a good thing? Andrew Hawkins, transportation editor at The Verge, joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to explain how the service works, the concerns in other cities, and everything else we need to know about the robots sharing our roads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 24th episode:
Frist Art Museum
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
The Warner Parks are beloved public spaces in Nashville … but who were Percy and Edwin Warner? Author, historian, and Nashville Scene columnist Betsy Phillips joins host Marie Cecile Anderson to tell the strange but true tale of two brothers whose love of parks, public transportation, and massive piles of money shaped our city. Plus: Ghosts, mud, and a pet crane named Rufus!
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 23rd episode:
Special Olympics Tennessee
Frist Art Museum
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Everyone’s talking about AI these days, including Nashvillians. And now, more data centers are popping up across the country, thanks in part to the AI revolution. But some cities are stemming the tide, including Madison, Wisconsin, who recently passed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. City Cast CEO David Plotz feels strongly that this was the wrong choice! He’s sitting down with City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin to weigh the pros and cons of data centers, and debate the economic, ethical, and ecological considerations at the heart of this debate. Plus, David and Bianca share must-know tips for making it in Madison and DC.
We also mentioned this City Cast Madison episode.
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
This week, the Nashville Banner published a collaborative investigative package diving deep into bodycam footage from the Tennessee Highway Patrol as they helped ICE agents make targeted detention stops last May. For today’s Friday News Roundup, the Banner’s Metro reporter Stephen Elliott joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain their findings, and what he learned while speaking with detainees and their families. Plus: Did ICE buy property in Wilson County? Is Acme Feed & Seed closing? And can we make them rebuild the Groove house?
Volunteer at Radnor Lake State Park
Connect with Ramadan community dinners
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 20th episode:
Special Olympics Tennessee
Frist Art Museum
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Nashville’s dining scene isn’t just booming — it’s REALLY LOUD. Host Marie Cecile Anderson is tired of not being able to hear the waiter, so she asked contributor Margaret Littman to share her favorite quiet restaurants in town, perfect for conversation, contemplation, and finding a little zen over a delicious meal.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 19th episode:
Special Olympics Tennessee
United Way of Greater Nashville
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
As Metro officials scrambled to enact a response plan in the wake of Winter Storm Fern, The ReMIX Way snapped into action, delivering tens of thousands of meals, stocking alternative shelter locations with food, and ensuring Spanish-speaking residents were informed. Organizers Cathy Carrillo and Kelly Chieng join host Marie Cecile Anderson to explain why they stepped up, what they learned, and where our government needs to improve before the next storm hits.
Donate to or volunteer for The ReMIX Way here.
Learn more about the Winter Storm Docket here.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 18th episode:
Special Olympics Tennessee
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Nashville’s incredible tree canopy was devastated by Winter Storm Fern — but all hope isn’t lost. Writer and naturalist Joanna Brichetto joins host Marie Cecile Anderson with advice for taking care of our leafy friends, from how to salvage damaged trees and make great use of brush piles to what to plant next — and why everyone should have a certified arborist on speed dial.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 17th episode:
Special Olympics Tennessee
United Way of Greater Nashville
Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville
Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.
Follow us @citycastnashville
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
All eyes have been on the Twin Cities lately, including Nashvillians’. Operation Metro Surge is reportedly ending in Minnesota, with the withdrawal of immigration agents expected over the next week. Over the last two months, though, residents of the Twin Cities have organized a range of local collective action efforts including protests, mutual aid, and monitoring ICE — and they’ve done it quickly. In this inaugural episode of “Your City Could Be Better,” City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Twin Cities podcast host Sean McPherson about how his community self-organized, why these networks have been so successful, and what other cities can take away from Minnesotans’ response to Operation Metro Surge. Plus, we have a D.C. vs. Twin Cities face-off on local cultural norms.
We also mentioned this episode of City Cast Twin Cities.
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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