Banner & Company

Former first lady Jill Biden's new book View From the East Wing looks back at her time in the White House and her relationship with former President Joe Biden — including the infamous debate night where, she says, she thought her husband was having a stroke. Dr. Biden discussed her book with the Banner's Demetria Kalodimos in front of a live audience at Vanderbilt University's Langford Auditorium on June 8. This is a lightly edited recording of that conversation. Special thanks to Elyse Adler at Parnassus Books and Susan Grider at Vanderbilt University. Guest: Jill Biden, author, View From the East Wing Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if everyone can't agree on what "affordable housing" means, one thing is for sure: Nashville needs more of it. Matt Wiltshire has been working on this problem for years (it was a big part of his campaign for mayor) and while he may not have all the answers, he has been part of one innovative solution: investing in housing that's affordable now and keeping it that way. The $30 million Pathway Housing Fund that Matt manages recently made a big acquisition: the Mayflower apartments in Hillsboro Village. In making the purchase, Matt discovered a web of personal connections that, in his words, make for "the most Nashville story ever." With his experience in both investment banking and city government, he's hoping that the story of Nashville doesn't begin and end with an economic boom pushing working people out of the city. Guest: , president, Pathway Housing Fund Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few Tennesseans have had the cultural impact of Alex Haley, whose landmark 1976 book and subsequent television mini-series Roots: The Saga of an American Family captivated readers and viewers like few other works before or since. Even so, Roots was recently banned by a Knoxville school district (a decision that was subsequently reversed) despite being an official state book. In Revisiting Roots: How an American Classic Transformed the World, writer and former Associated Press reporter Lucas L. Johnson II marks the 50th anniversary of Haley's breakthrough epic with essays and interviews — including Levar Burton, who was not initally cast in the lead role — illuminating the enduring legacy of this landmark work. Guest: Lucas L. Johnson II, author, Revisiting Roots: How an American Classic Transformed the World Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

reporters Steven Hale and Sarah Grace Taylor sit down to discuss data centers. Sarah Grace talks about her reporting on the data center planned for the Fisk University campus, which preceded the massive backlash to one planned next to the Nashville Zoo. They discuss the health and environmental concerns around data centers as well as why this issue has attracted much attention. Steven also asks about childhood zoo memories. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A historical marker commemorating the storied dance club Warehouse 28 was unveiled two years ago this month. The Warehouse began as a gay disco but was an inclusive environment that served as a refuge and hangout for Nashville's LGBTQ community starting in 1978 until its doors closed for good in 1995. It was also the place where Nashville CARES got its start, working to fight the AIDS epidemic. Macon Kimbrough started hanging out at Warehouse 28, and with owners Steve Smith and Mike Wilson, he took a trip to Washington, D.C., in 1979 — 10 years after Stonewall — to march for gay rights. That began a political awakening, and when he got back to Nashville he started working at the Warehouse, eventually becoming a manager. It's a chapter of his life — and Nashville's history — he'll never forget. This episode was first broadcast in June 2024. Guest: Macon Kimbrough Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producers: Steve Haruch and Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott sit down to discuss Tuesday night's marathon Metro Council meeting. Stephen talks about the three-and-a-half-hour public hearing on the budget, some late night drama between councilmembers and difficulty leaving the courthouse parking garage after midnight. Steven fills him in on the story of a rescued kinkajou. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Margot McCormack bought the former gas station that eventually became her restaurant, East Nashville was not considered a culinary destination. More pressingly, there was a gaping hole in the roof. With a lot of elbow grease, Margot set to work building out the space for her concept: a new menu daily, in tune with the seasons, —combining classic cooking techniques, fresh local ingredients and her own personal touches. Margot Cafe & Bar will be closing its doors 25 years to the day after opening its doors for the first time in 2001, serving soft shell crab, veal scallopini with polenta, tuna steak, pasta with white clam sauce, flourless chocolate cake, raspberry sorbet ... an assortment of her favorite crowd-pleasing dishes. It's been a good run, Margot says, and she wonders if she'd be able to do it if she were starting in today's Nashville — one whose food scene she helped shape. The final service will be June 5. Guest: Margot McCormack, chef and restaurateur Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a musician, Freddy Angelico plays many instruments well, but his first love is still his go-to: the guitar. You can hear him play on albums by Lola Kirke and Adeem the Artist. He's backed up the likes of Mickey Guyton and Brandy Clark. He also writes and performs his own music, and writes a column for Premier Guitar magazine. In short, he's living the dream that started when he got his first real six-string at age 4. It was the Music City dream that attracted both Freddy and one of his former bandmates, the talented singer Shelly Bush. In the podcast Girl in a Hurry, Freddy tells Shelly's story, from a small town in Missouri to the honky tonks of Lower Broad — a life cut tragically short but lived to the absolute fullest. This episode was originally broadcast, in a slightly different form, in March 2025. Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producers: Steve Haruch and Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporter Steven Hale sits down with editor Steve Cavendish to talk about a day that will go down in history in Tennessee. The day the state intended to execute Tony Carruthers — a Memphis man sentenced to death for the kidnapping and murder of three people in 1994 — but failed to do so. A doctor contracted by TDOC spent more than an hour trying to insert a secondary IV to administer pentobarbital before an emergency motion was filed and Gov. Lee issued a one-year reprieve. Hale was there to witness the events, and recounts them in detail. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every morning at breakfast, Ruth and Lloyd Shular hold hands and, as Lloyd puts it, "associate" — that is, talk about their plans for the day. It's a ritual they've kept going for three quarters of a century: On May 6 they celebrated their 75th anniversary. (They had originally planned to get married in June, but Lloyd was drafted to serve in Korea.) The happy couple have outlived all of their bridesmaids and groomsmen. Their courtship began in high school in Knoxville, where Lloyd's father, a carpenter, installed the staircase at the Tennessee Theatre. They'd take the bus to see movies, and go to the Orange Julius afterward. After love and marriage came children — one of them not-so-easily. Then Lloyd, who was working for BellSouth, got transferred first to Kingston, Tenn., and finally to Nashville, where they've lived ever since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Mikeie Honda Reiland sit down to discuss the ongoing litigation over Tennessee's abortion ban. Mikeie shares the stories of women and providers he talked to and the details of the recent legal developments that have delayed a trial in the case. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Subscribe to Banner & Company on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon or iHeart Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re sharing a special episode from our friends at the You Might Be Right Podcast, the chart-topping politics/government podcast produced by the University of Tennessee’s Baker School of Public Policy & Public Affairs.Recently featured on NPR, and hosted by former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen (D) and Bill Haslam (R), You Might Be Right tackles timely policy conversations with world and US luminaries like Ben Sasse, Al Gore, Judy Woodruff, Paul Ryan, Jon Meacham, Carly Fiorina, and many more. It’s a place where people can disagree constructively and problems can actually get solved. Like today’s special episode with former Indiana Governor and OMB Director Mitch Daniels and Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center co-director Elena Patel. As billions of federal dollars flow through state budgets, they begin to dive into a very timely conversation — who should decide how that money gets spent? Together with the hosts, they unpack the balance between federal priorities and state flexibility, and what it means for taxpayers.  For more episodes like this, make sure to follow You Might Be Right Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And tell them we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Sarah Grace Taylor sit down to discuss the state legislature's special session and rapid redrawing of Tennessee's congressional maps. They talk about what led to the whirlwind week, how the new maps divide and dilute Memphis' Black population and the legal questions surrounding the legislature's actions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"That's not how your movie is supposed to end," Audrey Shulman remembers a director telling her. It was surprising to hear, since the movie was based on her own life. But in the end, it was the right choice. The movie in question, Sitting in Bars With Cake (which includes a cameo by Bette Midler) helped launch Audrey's screenwriting career. After a few years in Los Angeles — including the chapter that became the basis for Sitting in Bars — Audrey has returned to Nashville. She's still writing, though, and while she can't say much about them at the moment, she has several projects in the works. She's also also still baking cakes. Guest: Audrey Shulman, screenwriter Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott sit down to talk about the 2026 State of Metro. They discuss the speeches they've attended in the past with memorable musical guests before getting into the details of Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s speech. Among them: affordability, transit, the East Bank and He’s Running. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Shane Neal knew from an early age he wanted to be an artist. But there were no artists in his family, so he wasn't sure how he'd turn that into a career. After taking classes in the basement of a dormitory at Lipscomb University, he had a chance meeting with someone who knew the famed portrait artist Raymond Kinstler. And after a trip to New York, a mentorship was born. Shane credits Kinstler with showing him the way to an artist's life. And since then, he's painted everyone from John Lewis to Sandra Day O'Connor, Morgan Freeman to former Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen — and most recently, former president Joe Biden. It's painstaking work, sometimes taking months of sittings, sketches and many, many conversations. It's in that process that, Shane says, he gets to know the essence of a person in order to convey it on canvas. This episode was originally broadcast in April 2025. Guest: Michael Shane Neal, portrait artist Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Sarah Grace Taylor sit down to discuss the state legislative session, which came to a whirlwind end on Thursday night. Sarah Grace talks about some of the main themes of the session, including state intervention in local governments, immigration, and anti-LGBTQ+ policies. They also discuss proposals related to artificial intelligence, prediction markets and their approaches to managing their inboxes. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Subscribe to Banner & Company on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon or iHeart Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new book, writer Jordan Ritter Conn delves into the lives of four men, from very different backgrounds, living in disparate parts of the country. All of them are reckoning, in their own ways, with how their lives — and their sense of self-worth — have been shaped by ideas around masculinity. American Men, published April 21, is a deeply reported, empathetic look at male identity, warts and all: "There's some rough stuff in here," he says. The Nashville native and staff writer at The Ringer spent the better part of six years visiting and interviewing the four men whose narratives interweave over the course of the book. And for Jordan, the project is also personal — bringing to the surface questions he has been asking about his own experiences growing up and giving space to explore them honestly and without judgment. Guest: Jordan Ritter Conn, senior writer at The Ringer, author of American Men and The Road From Raqqa Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Dread didn't mean to become an attorney. For a time, he tried his hand at stand-up comedy, touring the country one club at a time. But he studied law, he says, to become a better politician — understanding laws in order to write them. That's what he did for a time as a Metro Councilmember. He also spent time on the radio and shot a reality show that involved wearing judge's robes. All that to say Adam has led an interesting life — one that could have ended when he lost consciousness behind the wheel, waking from a coma days later to learn he had the genetic markers for a rare blood disorder. These days, he's still practicing law as he splits his time between Nashville and Nantucket. Guest: Adam Dread, attorney Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott sit down to talk about Tuesday's Metro Council meeting. Stephen explains the council's debates about nominees to boards and commissions, a proposed water bill credit and the East Bank. Steven asks him about why he loves the Mamma Mia franchise and they discuss the role shadows play in local politics. Steven also shares his favorite tweet of all time that he felt never got proper recognition. Listen to the episode to hear it fall flat for both Stephen and Andrea, and to hear Steven sing "Voices Carry" while desperately trying to explain himself. P.S. Donate to support the Banner so we can keep producing this podcast! Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in his hometown after stints in New York and Los Angeles, Morgxn has a new album, Heartland, and will be performing at Freely Fest — a celebration of the First Amendment featuring The Killers, Janelle Monae and more — on April 8. He's honored to use his music to stand up for free speech. It's something he deeply believes in, as his regular presence at the state legislature goes to show. A third-generation Nashvillian, Morgxn — né Morgan Karr — says he always wanted to create a refuge. And he's made his dream come true with a place called Fruity Farm. It's literally a fruit farm but has also served as an impromptu Pride Festival venue — and we've got some exclusive news about that in this episode. He also talks about his experience with bullying and the Nashville high school that helped him believe in his own story. Guest: Morgxn, singer and songwriter Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Eden Turner sit down to talk about Eden's reporting on the Cottages at Drakes Creek, Nashville's first publicly funded housing co-op. They discuss what makes a housing cooperative unique as a response to the affordable housing crisis and the tight community that has formed as Drakes Creek tries to establish one. Eden also talks about her latest story on Vanderbilt University Medical Center's decision to stop performing gender-affirming surgeries for adults. Finally, they briefly share their thoughts on Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters and the movie-themed Happy Meals they had for lunch. Produced by Andrea Tudhope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Churchwell Sr. made history when he joined the original Nashville Banner as the city's first African American reporter. The paper's owner at the time, James Stahlman, opposed integration, but Churchwell made a name for himself anyway — even if he didn't have a desk in the newsroom at first. Last week, a historical marker commemorating his accomplishments was unveiled outside the North Nashville magnet school that bears his name. In this special episode, Robert Churchwell Jr. shares his memories of his trailblazing father's career and life outside of work — where "he was always dad." This interview was originally recorded as part of our premier episode. Guest: Robert Churchwell Jr., son of Robert Churchwell Sr., Nashville's first African American staff reporter Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When he took over as executive director Fisk University's John Lewis Center for Social Justice last year, Dr. Sekou Franklin knew he was stepping into a big role, and one steeped in history. "He has demonstrated a deep commitment to social justice, education and community — values deeply ingrained in Fisk's mission and legacy," the university's president, Agenia Clark, said when he was hired in July 2025. The longtime political science professor hopes to carry forward that legacy as he works to connect students, faculty and Nashvillians from across the city. A veteran of social justice activism, including a key role in getting a community oversight board on the ballot in Nashville, Sekou says he is impressed every day by the talent he sees in the students on campus, and young people around the city. Guest: Sekou Franklin, executive director, John Lewis Center for Social Justice at Fisk University Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Mikeie Honda Reiland sit down to talk about Mikeie's reporting on the case of Estefany Rodríguez, the Nashville Noticias reporter who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 5. After our recording, Estefany was released on bond on Thursday, March 19. In this episode, we talk about her background as an immigrant and a reporter as well as the disputed circumstances surrounding her arrest and detention. Mikeie shares his experience visiting her home to talk to her husband and what we've learned about the mass deportation regime by following her case closely.  Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in Johnson City, Tenn., Mo Sabri could look out the window of his parents' house and see cows. He grew up listening to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. He played baseball and football. It was an all-American childhood in many ways. Add a guitar, and all of this sounds like the perfect backstory for a country music singer — except for a detail or two. Mo's parents immigrated from Pakistan, and he grew up Muslim. Neither of those facts can take away his love for country music, or his pride in being raised just down the road from the hallowed ground of Bristol. Still, after nearly a decade in Nashville and an international following, Mo still finds that for many, just being Muslim is, as he describes it, "radioactive." But that's not stopping him from writing songs or finding new connections between the traditions he embodies. And now, those connections are coming to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, where Mo will perform a special Eid concert on May 31 with musicians of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, combining Appalachian country with South Asian qawwali. This episode was first broadcast in April 2025. Guest: Mo Sabri, musician Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott sit down to talk about the fairgrounds, the property's fascinating role in Nashville politics over the past 15 years and Stephen's story about the latest tensions surrounding its development. They also discuss last week's Metro Council meeting and Oscar-nominated movies. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Is God really a boy?" That's a question that the Rev. Margie Quinn says she found written in her very first diary. Growing up in Nashville — and eventually taking up Ultimate Frisbee, which she still plays seriously — it took many years before she began to see herself as pastor material. But early questions like this showed her eagerness to wrestle with the messy workings of the world and search for deeper truths within. Vine Street Christian Church is more than 200 years old. Recently, the congregation voted to call Rev. Quinn to be their senior minister. At 35, she is young for the position, but the vote was unanimous. Being installed as a pastor in her hometown was a moment she once could not have imagined — having fled the South for nonprofit work on the West Coast — but also the kind of homecoming she later came to realize she needed. Guest: Rev. Margie Quinn, senior minister, Vine Street Christian Church Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporter Steven Hale sits down with statehouse reporter Sarah Grace Taylor to talk about several immigration-related bills currently under debate at the state legislature. They discuss the proposed policies, including one that would require schools and other public entities to track and report immigration status, and how they might play out in the context of the Trump administration's ongoing mass deportation efforts. Sarah Grace explains why she's not sure when the legislative session will end and Steven wonders what the prediction markets would say. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the beginning, Musica — the massive ring of dancing figures that towers nearly 40 feet above Buddy Killen Circle just off Music Row — was meant to be more than a sculpture: It was also supposed to be a fountain. Few know the original vision for Musica better than Andrée LeQuire, whose husband Alan LeQuire created the piece. Now, she's helping bring that vision to life, finally, with the help of some friends and the city. A Nashville native who left for five years to explore the world before returning to her hometown, Andrée has worked in real estate and as a gallerist, served on the Planning Commission and, just once modeled for her sculptor husband. Now, she's got designs in hand to turn Musica into the water- and light-filled creation it was always intended to be. Guest: Andrée LeQuire, gallerist and planner Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In May 2025, Tennessee Highway Patrol teamed up with ICE for a sweeping joint operation that resulted in more than 600 traffic stops, largely in immigrant communities around the city. The Banner reviewed more than 50 hours of body and dashboard camera footage and found that agents routinely profiled people before pulling them over, treated drivers differently once it was clear they were not immigrants, competed with each other for the most people arrested, and both treated and talked about people in demeaning ways once they were in custody. In this special episode, Banner reporters discuss how they analyzed the video and what they observed. Guests: Araceli Crescencio, Banner multimedia reporter; Stephen Elliott, Banner metro reporter; Sarah Grace Taylor, Banner state government reporter Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up with two artistically minded parents, Sai Clayton never wanted for something to fill her time — using her imagination wasn't just encouraged, it was expected. Creativity runs in the family, and it permeated her early life. That included many days spent at the Frist Art Museum, exploring the galleries and, in her childhood years, hanging out in the ArtQuest area. Life has come full circle for Sai, who was selected as the Frist's inaugural curatorial fellow and now, has co-curated the new exhibit In Her Place, which showcases the works of numerous women artists who have helped shape the art scene in Nashville. For Sai, it's a balancing act, living in her home town as both a curator and a practicing artist, but it's one she wouldn't trade for anything. Guest: Sai Clayton, artist and curator Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banner reporter Steven Hale sits down with education reporter Lillian Avedian to talk about the education-related bills she's following at the state legislature, from vouchers to curriculum about communism. Lillian explains the policy debates and reflects on her first week on the hill. Steven catches her up on the various romance-related storylines at the Winter Olympics. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his role as Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk, Lonnell Matthews Jr. sees his share of the kind of youth we have become accustomed to calling "troubled," Often they've come through life without the kind of guidance and support that can keep them on a better path. Lonnell understands all too well what the stakes are, because his own life was profoundly changed by violence: His younger brother was shot and killed in a drug deal gone bad. It is, as Lonnell tells it, a tale of two brothers — siblings and best friends with identical upbringings but very different outcomes. Continuing the work that has defined his public life, Lonnell was recently named co-chair of a new Community Safety Task Force, bringing together leaders and community members from across the city. He's also working on a book he never expected to write. Guest: Lonnell Matthews Jr., Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk, co-chair of Community Safety Task Force Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Banner's Steven Hale sits down with Metro reporter Stephen Elliott to talk about Tuesday's Metro Council meeting and the various upcoming reviews of Nashville's winter storm response. Stephen talks about an unusually muted night for the council and the issues that came up in the meeting's brief public hearing about the budget, and Steven asks how he and councilmembers interpret the public feedback they receive. Both Stev/phens offer up some television recommendations, and producer Andrea is glad she happened to have a doctor's appointment during the recording, thusly missing the special occasion of having All Four Banner Steves alone in a room. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Banner’s Steven Hale and Araceli Crescencio talk about Nashville's historic winter storm, power outages and their personal slip-and-fall counts. Araceli shares what she's heard from Spanish-speaking Nashvillians trying to access Metro resources and Steven encourages her to watch Sister Act and Sister Act 2. Produced by Andrea Tudhope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Working as a fact-checker is great training for any writer. But especially so when one's subject is a notorious teller of tall tales. This was the case for Jonathan Bernstein, who was tasked with writing a biography of the late Justin Townes Earle. Known for his soul-searching songs and keen delivery of them, Earle also lived his short life negotiating the shadow of his father Steve's legend, as well as that of his middle namesake Townes Van Zandt. In the new book What Do You Do When You're Lonesome, written with the blessing of widow Jenn Marie Earle, Jonathan tracks the life of this talented musician — from rough and tumble beginnings in the notorious "Chicken Shack" in a Green Hills backyard, to acclaim in New York City and beyond, to unraveling sobriety and a tragic end. Along the way, he also paints a picture of Nashville and other up-and-coming contemporaries of Earle's who helped shape the city, and Americana music, indelibly. Guest: Jonathan Bernstein, author, What Do You Do When You're Lonesome: The Authorized Biography of Justin Townes Earle Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Banner’s Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott talk about the first Metro Council meeting of the year. It was a late and action-packed night for our Metro reporter. The council discussed how to use a $15 million state grant for downtown safety, and deferred legislation to add a commercial compatibility overlay along Buchanan Street in North Nashville — a proposal that triggered ferocious debate at a planning commission meeting last week. All that, and the Steph/vens reveal how much they love talking about Nashville's mayoral races as far out from an election as possible. And with Joy Styles entering the race, now they get to! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Nashville Hidden Gems was a hit Instagram page, it began as a food tour, taking a small group of guests through a series of creator Anas Saba's favorite local spots. The audience is much larger now — more than 130,000 followers as of this writing — and many of those beloved eateries less "hidden" than they once were. One thing that's remained constant through it all is his dedication to local businesses, especially those run and frequented by immigrants. But regardless of who's working the kitchen or front of house, what matters to Anas is an experience with passion and intention behind it. That same idea is pushing him to think beyond being "the food guy" in town and using his storytelling skills in new ways. Guest: Anas Saba, creator, Nashville Hidden Gems Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Banner’s Steven Hale and Sarah Grace Taylor talk about the return of the Tennessee legislature, what they've done so far and what to expect in the coming months. Sarah Grace discusses bills related to immigration policy, some newly proposed and others carried over from last year. She also highlights a likely debate over expanding vouchers and proposals targeting LGBTQ+ rights. Steven wonders what this year’s “chemtrails bill" will be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Craig Havighurst's new book Musicality for Modern Humans: How to Listen Like an Artist aims to talk about music theory in a non-theoretical way — to get at how and why music affects us, and to help foster a deeper appreciation for its many forms. That includes experimental, instrumental and orchestral works, which move beyond the familiar verses and choruses that make up the vast majority of streamed music. As a journalist, Craig has written extensively about music, and as editorial director for WMOT Roots Radio 89.5 FM, he hosts the a weekly show on culture and American music. He was also senior producer and co-host of Music City Roots from 2009-2018. Guest: Craig Havighurst Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Although Nashville is known as Music City, some of the most important history — songwriting sessions, recordings, rehearsals — took place in either nondescript houses you'd never think were remarkable in any way, or in buildings that were demolished long ago. That can make piecing together the many stories a bit of a detective game. Enter Brian Mansfield and his page, Nashville Musical History Tour, connecting the dots between ordinary-looking places and extraordinary moments in Nashville's musical history. A longtime journalist and collector, Brian takes his audience along for the ride as he bridges lore and location, turning up legends at every turn. Guest: Brian Mansfield, journalist and Nashville music history aficionado Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of every Banner & Company episode — the very end, after the credits have rolled and the theme music fades out — there's a little hidden feature that regular listeners are likely familiar with. We call it "the final question," and it's when we ask our guest to pull a slip of paper from a fish bowl (fish not included) and read what it says. On that paper is a question, left by a previous guest on the show. It's a little bit random, but also an intentional way to connect all of our guests to each other. So just for fun, for the last episode of the year we present a few of these "final questions" in sequence, from asker to answerer, in a way you can't usually hear them. Guests (in order of appearance): Ellen Angelico, musician Steven Womack, writer and former Watkins professor Major Jackson, poet and teacher Phil Bredesen, former Tennessee governor and Nashville mayor Michael Shane Neal, portrait artist Giancarlo Guerrero, former music director, Nashville Symphony Willie Steele, writer and aspiring knuckleballer Rebecca Haw Allensworth, author of The Licensing Racket Rev. Matt Steinhauer, pastor and advocate Plus, Kelley Sirko of the Nashville Public Library tells us about what it's like fielding semi-random questions as part of your job. Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up, Stephen Bargatze got into plenty of trouble. He wasn't a very good student. His home life was rocky at best, and he had a terrible relationship with his mother. But with some help from family, he got a chance to turn his life around. And when he found he had some skill at magic tricks, his world brightened a bit. Then he discovered that with clown make-up on, "talking funny" was actually an asset. These days, Stephen is still dazzling audiences with his sleight-of-hand and enjoying the outsize fame of his son, comedian Nate Bargatze. (His parents still think of him as Nathaniel.) He'll soon be recording his first special with his family's production company — one of the many doors that Nate's success has opened for the family. This episode was originally broadcast in October. Guest: Stephen Bargatze, magician and comedian Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bonus content was created in partnership with the podcast Niche to meet you. Shedrich Webster is Middle Tennessee’s premiere Black Santa. For three years in a row, he has done the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the National Museum of African American Music. But he also travels all around the country. And along the way he’s learned that there’s great need for Santas like him, for kids and adults alike. It’s for that reason he helped found the Santas of Color Coalition, a first-of-its-kind organization centered around training and supporting Black Mr. and Mrs. Clauses. Produced by Leslie Thompson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What started as an ordinary ride home from a track meet changed Cathy Carillo's life. When Metro Police stopped her father for a broken taillight in 2009, they arrested him, and he was later deported. Cathy, who was 14 years old at the time, was left stranded on the side of the road and wondering: “Is this really home?” That night set Cathy on a 15-year path that recently led to helping found The ReMIX Tennessee, a grassroots Latino community organization. As more families are torn apart by separation due to ICE arrests like those that took place during May's joint-federal state immigration sweep through Nashville’s Latino neighborhoods, Cathy spoke to Banner & Company about starting the anonymous hotline Music City Migra Watch for people to report ICE sightings and The ReMIX Tennessee’s urgent and evolving work. This episode was originally broadcast in August. Guest: Cathy Carillo, co-founder, The ReMIX TN Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producers: Lilly Sabella and Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before The Store opened, Jasmine Ledsinger would drive by and wonder what this new business was going to be. When she learned it would be a place for those in need to shop for free food, she quickly became interested — and before she knew it she was the first employee hired by founders Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. Today, Jasmine is The Store's program director. It's not exactly where the Nashville native saw herself after studying social work at MTSU, but it's a job she knew right away was meant for her. In just a few years, The Store's mission has grown as need has grown. Even so, they have an extensive waiting list despite serving hundreds of families across the city. Early next year they'll expand their operation with a second, much larger facility. Guest: Jasmine Ledsinger, program director, The Store Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch -more episodes at nashvillebanner.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A familiar face to many, Joe West is the "house band" at Nashville International Airport. In this role, he performs regularly for ever-changing crowds as they arrive in the city for the first time, or return home from far-flung travels. His regular gigs at the airport have also earned him high-profile spots on other stages in Nashville and beyond. Joe comes from a musical lineage. His parents, Sarge and Shirley West of Fayetteville, Ark., formed the first African American country music duo, and toured together and broke barriers with every performance. Today, Joe's daughter Rebecca often joins him onstage. And after a recent health scare involving a ruptured aorta — he's fully recovered now — Joe is more grateful than ever for the chance to make music. This episode was originally broadcast in January. Guest: Joe West, musician Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producers: Andrea Tudhope and Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 2003-2023, Jim Cooper represented Tennessee in Congress — most recently from the reliably Democratic District 5, which included Nashville. But when the Tennessee legislature redrew the congressional maps, splitting Nashville across three new heavily Republican districts, it didn't take him long to do the math, and he did not seek re-election. Born into a political family in Nashville and raised in nearby Shelbyville, Jim has always kept busy. And he still keeps his ear to the ground politically. The race to fill one of the seats carved out of his old district is a surprisingly close one, and it will come as no surprise whose campaign he donated to — but some of his other ideas might raise an eyebrow. Hint: They include changing Nashville's borders again. Guest: Jim Cooper, former Tennessee congressman Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Nashville attorney John Day, there is no overstating how important the rule of law is to our everyday lives — not just when it comes to our personal freedoms, but also in making the economy work in a predictable fashion. He compares it to oxygen: You don't notice it until it starts to go way. John was recently named president of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a nationwide group that has advocated to preserve the rule of law under increasing pressure. He had always planned to study and practice law with his father in Wisconsin, but a college professor suggested John see some of the world first: North Carolina first, for law school, then Nashville for an internship. The law community at the time was much smaller than comparable Southern cities, and he felt like could fit in. He's been practicing here ever since. Guest: John Day, attorney Host: Demetria Kalodimos Producer: Steve Haruch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices