Composer and jazz trumpeter Hannibal Lokumbe is debuting his new opera “The Jonah People: A Legacy of Struggle and Triumph” this month. In today’s episode, we hear how Lokumbe created his visionary work and his collaboration with the Nashville Symphony. WPLN editor LaTonya Turner also takes us behind-the-scenes for a look at the complex scenic and technical design that must be put together in the next few days.
What is the future of Middle Tennessee’s trash?
What will we do when we reach capacity at the Middle Point landfill in Rutherford County, where Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s trash goes?
Why Columbia, Tennessee, celebrates the humble mule
Mule Day is an annual celebration of what the New York Times once called “one of the most ancient, useful, wise and frugal” workers.
Tracing Nashville’s hip-hop roots
This is hip-hop’s 50th year. In honor of that, we’re looking at Nashville’s hip-hop scene and how it has evolved over the decades.
Community responds to the Covenant School shooting
Four days have passed since six people were killed by a shooter at the Covenant School in Green Hills. There is still much we do not know, and the grieving process has really only begun.
Diving into North Nashville’s artistic heritage, then and now
Much of the Black middle class that had sustained North Nashville moved away, leading to years of neglect and disrepair. Today, a new generation is working to honor the artistic heritage of the area while also bringing it into the future.
The buzz about pollinators
On this episode, we explore the world of pollinators in Tennessee. Bees, butterflies, even birds and other insects provide the essential service of carrying pollen from flower to flower, helping to grow the food we eat.
Making it click with Nashville photographers
In the age of the smartphone, everyone has a camera with them, pretty much all the time. With social media, anyone can “publish” a photo immediately — with no editor and, if you want, #nofilter. So what does it mean to be a photographer now?
Margaret Renkl on hope, despair and the diminishing call of songbirds
Author and 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.
Allergy season in Middle Tennessee
We’re talking about the environmental, geographical, and sociopolitical factors that shape our local allergy problem, and how it affects our community.
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