Welcome to the first episode of This Is Nashville. Today the show explores how the region’s explosive growth has led to a sense of disconnect, between the old Nashville and the new. Host Khalil Ekulona talks with guests who are shaping the new Nashville and asks them what Music City is gaining and losing with all of these rapid changes.
Before we dive into the conversation, Executive Producer Andrea Tudhope joins Khalil in the studio to talk about what listeners can expect every day from This Is Nashville and how the Middle Tennessee community can contribute.
Guests:
- David Steele Ewing, Nashville historian and CEO of Nashville History on Tour
- Albert Bender, Cherokee activist with the American Indian Coalition
- Dilman Yasin, community outreach coordinator with Kurdish Professionals
- Rosa Castano, mindfulness coach and former sales director for Bach Weekend
- Jehlin Hayes, senior at Big Picture High School and aspiring musician
Quote to know:
As someone who grew up here in Nashville, it’s been really fun to be able to see the growth, but with the growth comes the discomfort. I’ve heard balance be reiterated many times and I’m in absolute agreeance of that. It is a delicate balance of being excited about the growth and seeing it happen because it’s good for us all. It brings in incredible dollars that have really, really helped the infrastructure in the city, which we are still needing a lot more progress on. – Rosa Castano
Resources and additional reading:
- Nashville’s Latest Big Hit Could Be the City Itself, The 2013 New York Times article that’s frequently credited with launching Nashville’s “it city” status
- Movers & Thinkers: The Fine Art And Vague Science Of Keeping History Alive
- Greetings from New Nashville: How a Sleepy Southern Town Became It City, edited by This Is Nashville senior producer Steve Haruch
The lead producers on this episode are Andrea Tudhope and Steve Haruch. Follow Andrea on Twitter, and Steve on Twitter and on Instagram.
The masterminds behind the This Is Nashville theme music are L’Orange and Namir Blade.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM