Tennessee State University (@tennstateu) plays most of its home games at Nissan Stadium, and the move has generated some confusion – and pushback – about how much this costs the school.

It’s been nearly thirty years since TSU held regular football games on campus at Hale Stadium, also known as “the Hole.” Many alumni want games returned to campus, but TSU’s athletic director says the current arrangement is the most financially beneficial. The TSU and Titans agreement changed in 2023 and TSU pays no rent to use Nissan Stadium.

Aside from monetary concerns, WPLN’s Camellia Burris (@camellia.elaine) reports that some alumni, like Henderson Majors, cite nostalgia and the sense of community offered on the North Nashville campus as the main reasons to bring games back to Hale.

“You got music playing in the background from Jefferson Street. It`s just an atmosphere that can`t be duplicated. That is a treasure within itself.”

Tap link in bio for the full story.

Video Producer: LaTonya Turner
Editor: Megan Jones

Have you ever looked your doctor in the eye and said, “I want a second opinion?"

When patients get a major diagnosis and treatment plan, they might consider getting another doctor’s take before deciding what to do next. But it can feel awkward to seek a second opinion. A St. Louis-area woman who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer says she felt like she was “cheating” on her surgeon.

But a family medicine physician in New Jersey, Jen Caudle, encourages patients in her practice to have open conversations across their care team, including the primary care provider and specialists.

“We doctors should not be mad at you,” she tells HealthQ hosts Blake Farmer (@flakebarmer) and Cara Anthony (@caraanthony). “We shouldn`t be offended. We shouldn`t impede this. In fact, we should support you.”

The QTip: Your primary care provider can help you navigate first and second opinions from specialists.

Head to our website for the full story.

Producers: Katherine Ruppelt and Emily Siner
Editor: Megan Jones

I wanna call you on your bird phone. Ring ring — it`s our new podcast Calls from the Wild — now available on the NPR app and NPR One, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

On the “Calls from the Wild” podcast, you`ll hear what kudzu, bears, mussels and bats have to tell us about our changing environment. Guests include former NYT columnist Margaret Renkl and pubic radio reporters from throughout our region. Your narrator is John Boyle.

It`s easy listening. And after you listen you are invited to join our project on iNaturalist (inaturalistorg). It covers Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia and roaming in the region is encouraged. It`s easy, it`s free, and it`s a great way to get into the habit of noticing and recording the birds, plants, insects and animals around you. And when you contribute — congratulations — you made some science!

Tap link in bio to get to the podcast.

Calls from the Wild is a collaboration of Nashville Public Radio and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. (@porchlightnews)

Video producer: Megan Jones
Editor: Andrew Henderson

“I see patients every week in my office who are tortured by the results of tests that they really didn’t need to ever have,” said Rita Redberg, a University of California-San Francisco Medical Center professor and cardiologist.

Medical tests like full-body scans are often marketed as a way to find diseases early and seek peace of mind. But many medical screenings carry costs and risks that patients might not expect. And the results often lead to additional testing in a phenomenon known as a “diagnostic cascade.” Studies show that overtesting and overdiagnosis can leave patients worse off than simply doing nothing.

So how do you decide whether a test is right for you? Redberg suggests asking yourself and your medical provider: What am I going to learn from this test? How is this test going to help in my care? Could I improve my health without doing this test?

She told HealthQ’s Cara Anthony that many test results, especially in her field of cardiology, end up pointing patients back to the basics of a healthy lifestyle, like eating well, exercising, and not smoking. And patients could make those changes even without a test.

The QTip: Before saying yes to the test, ask about the risks and benefits — even if your doctor recommends it.

Illustration: @studioria