Shows
This Is NashvilleCreating meaningful connections during the holidaysIn today’s episode, we explore how to make connections and have meaningful conversations across our differences — while maintaining healthy boundaries. We'll also explore what community means and feels like today and learn about the skills necessary to feel more connected. Plus, we hear how one Nashville family stays close-knit despite it all.This episode was produced by Ambriehl Crutchfield.2024-12-1050 minThis Is NashvilleA Second Avenue update, years after the 2020 bombingThe Christmas Day bombing caused extensive damage to the historic buildings, homes and businesses that dot Second Avenue. Redevelopment of the area is ongoing, with some sections rebuilt and open to pedestrians and cars, while others remain untouched. Today, we’ll learn about the historic cultural and economic importance of Second Avenue, provide updates on the vision for redevelopment and communication infrastructure improvements, and check in on former residents and business owners.This episode was produced by Ambriehl Crutchfield.Guests:
James Hoobler | Senior Curator, Art & Architecture, Tennessee State Museum (Retired)
Ron Limb | Owner, Hostel, Se...2024-07-2450 min
1 in 5Meet Nikole AlkireNicole Alkire Grady always excelled in athletics and academics at Standing Rock High School in North Dakota. But being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse meant Nicole turned to dating, and eventually alcohol, to cope with the trauma. In high school, she became a mother, and worked hard to graduate – leaning on the support of her family and especially her mother. She was determined to go to college, and tried several options to find a place with the right support for her growing family. She eventually found help for her substance abuse, and reconnected with her Lakota values, and is...2023-04-0424 minThis Is NashvilleMargaret Renkl on hope, despair and the diminishing call of songbirdsThis episode first aired on March 31, 2022.
New York Times columnist Margaret Renkl joins the show to share her joy of spring and talk over the polarization that she sees hindering our progress. Renkl is also the author of Late Migrations and Graceland, At Last.
She tells host Khalil Ekulona “when the macrocosm is hard to bear, focusing in on the microcosm usually helps.”
“I do still take an immense amount of pleasure and hope in the bluebirds building a nest in the nest box in my yard, or for the spring beauties poking up through t...2023-03-2739 minThis Is NashvilleAlternate Ending, a special hour of This Is NashvilleWhat is Nashville’s “alternate ending?” How would the city look and feel — and who would feel welcomed — if different community values had been prioritized long ago?
With that question, today’s show … will be a bit different.
In this special hourlong documentary, reporter Ambriehl Crutchfield goes back in time to learn Nashville through her family’s eyes, and making stops at the places that shaped life for the generations who came before her.
This is a story about how the city shaped that family, and how their sense of community has been disrupted.
2023-03-2151 minThis Is NashvilleWho are the Tennesseans who don’t vote?Election season always get people talking about voter turnout, which tends to be pretty low in Tennessee. The state has consistently ranked in the bottom ten for turnout over the past two decades, but why?
We’ve talked to people about what has driven them to vote. Today, we’re talking to people who do not vote regularly about what’s keeping them home, as well as a couple of experts from local civic engagement organizations.
But first, we have an update on plans to develop the East Bank from WPLN metro reporter Ambriehl Crutchfield.
...2022-11-2250 minThis Is NashvilleThe growth of HBCU athleticsHistorically Black colleges and universities have recently garnered national attention with legendary professional athletes becoming coaches, financial backers of programs, and expressing their fandom.
In this episode, we'll hear from students and coaches from HBCU athletic programs in Nashville about the growing interest in HBCU sports and what it means for Black athletes.
But first, we'll be joined by WPLN metro reporter Ambriehl Crutchfield about her coverage of Fisk University's gymnastics team.
Guests:
Ambriehl Crutchfield, WPLN metro reporter
Corrinne Tarver, Fisk University gymnastics head coach
Morgan Price...2022-11-1850 minThis Is NashvilleSeeking treatment for addiction while pregnantLast month, the Biden administration released a new report announcing that they will use federal courts and health programs to expand the use of medication to treat substance use disorders in pregnant women — and one of those health programs, Firefly, is in Nashville.
Today, we’re joined by a mother and a current recovery coach to learn more about the unique challenges pregnant people face when seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Then, we’ll hear from the medical and executive directors of Firefly to discuss how the program got started, how it works, and how it might be im...2022-11-0850 minThis Is NashvilleProtests in Iran hit home for Nashville’s Iranian and Kurdish communitiesIran is experiencing massive protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, after she was taken into custody by the nation’s morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly. Thousands of people, from schoolgirls to oil and gas workers, have taken to the streets to protest police brutality, Iran’s strict morality laws, and, increasingly, the regime. Popular slogans among protestors include “Woman, Life, Freedom” and “death to the dictator.”
In Nashville, the Iranian and Kurdish communities have held several demonstrations in solidarity with the protests in Iran in an effort to raise awarene...2022-10-1850 minThis Is NashvilleHiking through Middle TennesseeFall is here and the weather is perfect for getting outside and exploring the parks, trails and greenways of Middle Tennessee. In today's episode, we're joined by outdoors educators to learn more about just what kinds of hiking experiences and resources the Nashville area has to offer. Then, a pair of experienced hikers will talk about equipment, safety, community and the Appalachian trail.
But first, WPLN metro reporter Ambriehl Crutchfield will dive into the discussions over the rezoning of the Riverchase apartments.
Guests:
John Michael Cassidy, Shelby Bottoms director
Sophia Wang, outd...2022-10-0750 minThis Is NashvilleThe future of cycling in NashvilleAnyone who lives in Nashville can tell you how hard it is to get around town without a car. But, trying to bike to work or school can be dangerous or downright impossible in the city.
Today, we’re joined by transportation planners and a cyclist to learn more about the current state of our city’s cycling infrastructure and what plans are in the works. Then, we’ll hear from a couple of educators who work with kids and adults about what it means to own a bicycle and the best ways to stay safe on the roa...2022-09-3050 minThis Is NashvilleNavigating birth control in Tennessee’s post-Roe worldIn the wake of the Roe v. Wade decision, a lot of people were left wondering: What does this mean for access to birth control and emergency contraception?
While birth control remains fully available in Tennessee, the process of selecting and obtaining contraception can be difficult to navigate. From the pill, to intrauterine devices, to vasectomies or condoms, understanding and obtaining birth control options can be overwhelming — and not to mention, at times, expensive to access.
To better understand the process of learning about and obtaining birth control, we are talking to three Nashvillians who have...2022-08-3150 min
Dejene Yimen's podcastDisplaced IOne by one, the brightly painted Riverchase Apartments in Nashville are getting boarded up for redevelopment. But the deterioration has been apparent to residents and even government inspectors for years. So why hasn’t the city been able to protect the people who live there? WPLN’s Ambriehl Crutchfield has been investigating.2022-05-2506 min
WPLN News InvestigatesDisplaced IOne by one, the brightly painted Riverchase Apartments in Nashville are getting boarded up for redevelopment. But the deterioration has been apparent to residents and even government inspectors for years. So why hasn’t the city been able to protect the people who live there?
WPLN’s Ambriehl Crutchfield has been investigating.2022-05-2506 minThis Is NashvilleFree speech or hate speech? The role of rhetoric in violenceA deadly mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket on May 14 sent shockwaves throughout the country, including in Middle Tennessee. In a document written before the attack, the gunman used rhetoric that echoed racist conspiracy theories and, in some places, the recently leaked Supreme Court draft decision overturning Roe. v. Wade.
On this episode, we explore the connections between hateful rhetoric and harmful actions with someone whose community was targeted for harassment and with experts in critical race theory and hate speech.
But first, WPLN metro reporter Ambriehl Crutchfield stops by the studio with...2022-05-2450 min
Dejene Yimen's podcastComing soon: "Displaced," a three-part seriesEach day, thousands drive past the brightly painted Riverchase Apartments just across from downtown Nashville. They’ve provided a rare combination of affordable units and skyline views. But one by one, they’ve been getting boarded up, and major changes are coming. WPLN’s Ambriehl Crutchfield reviewed more than 1,600 inspections to understand how the apartments continued to decline despite government inspections, what low-wage residents are doing to find new homes in the city’s hot housing market, and why organizers are at odds about the way forward.2022-05-2401 min
WPLN News InvestigatesComing soon: "Displaced," a three-part seriesEach day, thousands drive past the brightly painted Riverchase Apartments just across from downtown Nashville. They’ve provided a rare combination of affordable units and skyline views. But one by one, they’ve been getting boarded up, and major changes are coming.
WPLN’s Ambriehl Crutchfield reviewed more than 1,600 inspections to understand how the apartments continued to decline despite government inspections, what low-wage residents are doing to find new homes in the city’s hot housing market, and why organizers are at odds about the way forward. 2022-05-2401 min
Radiolab Podcasts (Radiolab)FrailmalesThis week, we bring you two stories about little guys trying to do big big things.
First, self-proclaimed animal grinch producer Becca Bressler introduces us to perhaps the one creature that has warmed her heart: a cricket. And more specifically, a male cricket. This is a tale about a tiny Romeo insect trying to find a mate, and the ingenious lengths he’ll go to have his beckoning heard.
The hero of our story
And second, producer Annie McEwen journeys through perhaps the zaniest game of football that has ever been played. When a r...2022-05-1300 minThis Is NashvilleRevisiting license plate readers in NashvilleIn February, the Metro Nashville Council passed a controversial piece of legislation that would allow law enforcement to use license plate readers as part of a six month pilot program. Some believe that this new technology will help address crime in our city. But others have serious concerns that it poses a threat to privacy and could disproportionately target people of color.
To learn more about about this debate, we hear from community members, a research scientist, a co-sponsor of the legislation and WPLN metro reporter, Ambriehl Crutchfield.
Also in this episode, we're joined by...2022-03-1550 min1 in 5Meet Sydney MartensSydney Martens grew up playing basketball and participating in mock trial at school. When injuries, and then an unplanned pregnancy, sidelined her dreams of playing pro ball, she turned to her other passion: criminal justice. She’s currently a pre-law student and legal advocate focused on social justice and racial equity. Reporter Ambriehl Crutchfield shows us how a holistic approach to student parent support, along with the irreplaceable strength of friendship, have helped Sydney find her path and her calling. Jeremiah Program offers one of the nation’s most successful strategies for transforming families from poverty to prosp...2021-04-1324 min
The Tri-Star StateThe Tri-Star State: How Outspoken Tennessee Conservatives Are Reacting To The InaugurationUnderpinning the Jan. 6 insurrection was a slew of conspiracy theories about election fraud, even after the courts repeatedly struck down almost every attempt to call votes into question.
These false claims were shared extensively by former President Donald Trump and members of the GOP in Tennessee, as well as conservative local leaders. WPLN’s Ambriehl Crutchfield talked to some of them.
Also on this episode: a recap of the legislative special session on education. 2021-01-2410 min
Curious NashvilleHow Black Political Power Changed In Nashville After Government ConsolidationA simple question about some of Nashville’s suburban pockets opens a deeper review of how the Metro government formed in the 1950s and 60s. WPLN News reporter Ambriehl Crutchfield finds that the combining of the city and county had implications for Black residents and five ‘satellite’ cities that remained mostly independent. (To see more photos and a written version of this story, visit Curious Nashville online.)
Curious Nashville is a project of Nashville Public Radio. The executive producer is Tony Gonzalez, with editing by Emily Siner and Anita Bugg. Web production and promotions by Mack Linebaugh and Elle T...2020-10-2614 min
GravySmoking on the South SideBarbecue purists from the Carolinas to Texas might balk at the notion that Chicago, Illinois, has a barbecue tradition all its own. But owing to the Great Migration, and to a special piece of equipment called the aquarium smoker, reporter-producer Ambriehl Crutchfield finds that Chicago barbecue has evolved into a style unto itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2018-12-0618 min
Unity PodcastS4 EP5: Diversity in College 101In episode five, host Ambriehl Crutchfield speaks with Charlotte, North Carolina freshman Nyla Rogers about navigating college as a minority student in the Honors College and learning about herself in any environment.2017-11-1300 minUnity PodcastS3 EP4 Coaching GreatnessIn episode four, Unity host Ambriehl Crutchfield talks to Bill Powell, the coach who helped establish the WKU swim team, about the discipline of swimming and the possible return of the swim team to campus.2017-10-1600 minUnity PodcastS3 EP3: Made in Bowling GreenIn episode three, Unity host Ambriehl Crutchfield talks to Dave Chrisley, a former General Motors safety worker and lover of Corvettes about the power of cars to create memories and facilitate fundraising.2017-09-2500 minUnity PodcastS3 EP 2: Connecting AmericansIn this episode, Unity host Ambriehl Crutchfield talks to Leyda Becker, a Venezuelan immigrant and current International communities liaison for Bowling Green, about her process of becoming an American citizen and the importance of uniting foreign born and local citizens.2017-09-1100 minUnity PodcastS3 EP1: Catching up with CaboniIn the season opener of season three, Unity host Ambriehl Crutchfield talks to President Caboni about the importance of transparency in his administration, his visit to Hilligans and his new load of "homework" as President.2017-08-2800 minUnity PodcastE6: Changing WKUIn episode six of Unity, host Ambriehl Crutchfield talks to SGA President candidates Andi Dahmer and Lily Nellans about their vision for WKU. (During the time of the interview Kenan Mujkanovic had not been announced as a candidate)2017-04-1800 minUnity PodcastE5: Just Call me LondonIn episode five of Unity, host Ambriehl Crutchfield talks to Tyler Chandler about how he's come to discover his identity as London Chandler.2017-04-0500 minUnity PodcastE4: Improving Your FootprintIn episode four of Unity, host Ambriehl Crutchfield talks to WKU sustainability coordinator Christian Ryan. Ryan discusses the value of a sustainable lifestyle and how you can change your ecological footprint.2017-03-2200 minUnity PodcastRacial tension at WKUIn the third episode of The Fifth Element, the meaning of the Confederate flag comes to the forefront after a WKU student's instagram post.2016-09-3000 min