Ask Mayor Freddie O’Connell and three women who knew Christa Pike on death row

Today, Mayor Freddie O’Connell joins us in the studio to take our questions—and yours.

We’ll ask him about the Nashville Symphony’s financial struggles and the state law that would cut the Metro Council in half. Plus, we’ll ask what’s in part four of the city’s just-released capital spending plan.

If you have a question for the mayor, the phones are open at 615-760-2000.

At the end of the hour, Tasha A.F. Lemley hears from three women who knew Christa Pike on death row. A federal appeals court ordered a last-minute stay of execution just one hour before she was scheduled to die by lethal injection the morning of September 30, 2026. We’ll provide the latest updates.

This episode was produced by Tasha A.F. Lemley and Mary Mancini.

Guests

• Freddie O’Connell, Mayor, Metro Nashville and Davidson County

Further reading

• Tennessee’s rare execution of a woman is halted by a court in final hour [WPLN]
• After failed execution, health workers say Tennessee’s rules flout medical ethics [WPLN]
• Christa Pike’s spiritual advisor on Buddhism, execution and the responsibility to respond [WPLN]
• Listen to preview Ask the Mayor episodes here