Banner & Company
Banner & Company is a Nashville-focused podcast from Nashville Banner that mixes interviews and narrative storytelling about life in Music City and the local news shaping it. Episodes spotlight the people, institutions, and everyday issues that affect residents of the Nashville area. Rather than national headlines, the show digs into the city's culture, politics, growth, and community stories. It is produced by Banner & Company Productions, the podcast arm tied to the Nashville Banner news outlet.
Episodes
Staking Our Claim Episode 1: Walking Home
Shawn Dromgoole was afraid to walk in his own neighborhood. Even though he’d grown up in 12South, as a Black man in a rapidly gentrifying part of Nashville, he felt paralyzed by fear. Then, what started as a simple walk with his mother became a national story, and blossomed into something bigger than either of them could have imagined. In this episode, we meet Shawn, along with his mother Lyn, his
Metro happenings — a DC Blox loss, Sheriff Hall and more
Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott sit down to talk about the DC Blox lawsuit, Sheriff Daron Hall’s retirement and this week’s Metro Council meeting. There’s much discussion about a no-longer-endangered salamander. Plus we unveil the podcast’s new official name and honor Andrea’s new title as the city’s Best Audio Producer in 2026 per the Nashville Scene.
Produced by Andrea Tudhope
Staking Our Claim: Trailer
Introducing Staking Our Claim — a new limited podcast series from Banner & Company Productions and the Nashville Banner.
Hosted by writer, critic and podcaster Kashif Andrew Graham, Staking Our Claim follows seven Nashville area families who, over the past few years, have found themselves up against difficult circumstances — navigating day to day life amid an atmosphere of displacement, exclusion
A nightmare execution in Tennessee
Banner managing editor Andrea Tudhope sits down with reporters Steven Hale and Mikeie Honda Reiland to talk about the nightmare that unfolded at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution this week. Christa Pike was set to be executed Wednesday for the brutal 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer. After an eleventh hour stay was vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court, the state proceeded with the execution. The 1
Joe Kennedy III: former U.S. Representative, diplomat and founder of Groundwork Project
Formerly the U.S. special enjoy to Northern Ireland and U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, Joe Kennedy III has had an impressive public career, befitting a person with his surname. (He swears there is no required skillset that comes with it, though.) It was on a trip to Ireland that Joe met Demetria, and on a recent trip to Nashville, he found a spare hour to sit d
Tamara Saviano: author of Poets and Dreamers: My Life in Americana Music
Tamara Saviano has worked in radio, been a publicist — Kris Kristofferson was a client — served as president of the Americana Music Association (the first woman to do so), and produced albums and award shows at the Ryman Auditorium. All of this has given her an inside view of the Americana scene from the very start. If that sounds like a singularly winding career path, you can now read about it in
A new look at Nashville’s migrant population and the extreme loss of services they face under Trump
Banner reporters Steven Hale, Stephen Elliott and Eden Turner sit down to talk about new data on how many refugees have likely ended up in Nashville in recent years and the dwindling resources available to them now due to policy changes and funding cuts under the second Trump administration. Stephen tells the story of a mother fleeing threats of violence and political persecution in Venezuela, and
Smilin' Jay McDowell: writer and former member of BR549
Like many musicians before him, Jay McDowell came to Nashville with a guitar and a dream. And then, as he was trying to help his friends find an upright bass player, with little luck they finally asked him: Why not you? And to his surprise, he said yes. The band was BR549, a group of throwback country rockers who played on Lower Broadway in an era when there were no celebrity bars and few tourists
A top city official’s shady deals
Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott go deep into the weeds of an unfolding scandal involving a top official in one of the Metro government’s largest departments. Stephen explains the exclusive reporting he’s done on former Metro Water Services official John Honeysucker, Nashville businessmen Roy Dale and Mack McClung, all three of whom are under federal investigation. While we don’t k
Mindy Merrell and R.B. Quinn: authors of 'Self-Rising'
Every Southerner knows the importance of a good biscuit. But not everyone knows how deeply important self-rising flour has been to the development of the South. In their new book Self-Rising: The Magic Rise Behind Biscuit and Cornbread Culture, Mindy Merrell and R.B. Quinn look at this underestimated ingredient, which not only helped provide inexpensive meals for hard-working people but became a v
Watching Waymos watching us
Banner reporters Steven Hale and Sarah Grace Taylor put on their tinfoil hats and chat about why it feels like somebody or something is watching them. Sarah Grace brings us into her reporting process for her recent story on Waymos idling and recording in residential areas around Nashville. They discuss why it’s worth reporting on questions of privacy in an era when many people assume they are bein
Brian Hull: Dolly Parton Collaborator, Writer, Singer and Puppeteer
Not too many people can say they got to sing with Dolly Parton. But Brian Hull can. Over the years, he wrote and directed numerous multimedia performances for Dollywood, the late singer and songwriter's eponymous theme park, and in recording sessions would often sing along with Dolly on parts that would later be performed live onstage. Her death this week hit him particularly hard.
"She was there
Candice Storey Lee: Vanderbilt University athletic director
Candice Storey Lee was recruited to play basketball for Vanderbilt University, and halfway through the drive from Alabama, she changed her mind. She begged her dad to turn the truck around. But he stayed the course. That was 30 years ago, and since making it to West End, she has not looked back, though she admits she never thought she'd stay at Vanderbilt this long.
Three degrees later — bachelo
Music City Center, police drones and vice mayor, oh my!
Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott get together to talk about the Metro Council. First thing’s first, Steven asks Stephen to weigh in on the Titans rebranded raccoon mascot T-Rac. Stephen carefully explains the situation with the Music City Center refinancing and expansion plans. Then they discuss police drones and the start of the vice mayoral race. Both reminisce on their blogging
Michael Burcham: Entrepreneur
A connector, mentor and start-up whisperer, Michael Burcham is one of the most influential figures in Nashville's business ecosystem. The founding president and CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, he's a serial entrepreneur himself, starting three successful investor-backed businesses. He teaches business and healthcare innovation at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management
The execution of Anthony Darrell Hines
Banner reporter Steven Hale sits down with Steve Cavendish and Mikeie Honda Reiland to talk about Thursday’s execution of Anthony Darrell Hines for the 1985 murder of Catherine Jean Jackson Jenkins. They discuss the details of the case and the recent court fights surrounding it. Steven shares his history with Hines’ defense team, Mikeie explains what he saw outside the prison and Steve details his
Bonus: Meet the Women Behind Nashville’s 40+ Double Dutch Subclub
Kimmie Christian has been jumping Double Dutch for as long as she can remember.
“It's kind of like a passage, right?” she said. “When you're born, you just, everyone just jumps Double Dutch. My mom jumped Double Dutch. My aunts jumped Double Dutch. My sisters jumped Double Dutch. It's just kind of what the girls did in the neighborhood.”
She brought that longstanding tradition from her upbringin
Marsha’s win, Ogles’ defeat and all things primary election
Banner reporter Steven Hale is joined by Steve Cavendish and Sarah Grace Taylor to talk about all of Thursday night’s primary election results, from Marsha Blackburn’s victory to Andy Ogles’ upset defeat. Sarah Grace details her time crisscrossing the state with the Blackburn campaign in a private plane before the three breakdown what to (and not) take away from who won and lost.
Produced by And
Andrew Leeper and Will Minkoff: Nashville Severe Weather Livestreamers
Middle Tennessee weather can be unpredictable — and dangerous. When things get iffy, a trio of "suburban dads" keeps the information flowing. But once the watches turn to warnings, they really get serious: That's when they start livestreaming on YouTube, tracking storms in real time and letting their audience know when to shelter and when it's safe to carry on.
Nashville Severe Weather started as
The school year ahead
Banner reporters Steven Hale and Lillian Avedian sit down to talk about the coming school year in Nashville and how Lillian approaches covering education. They discuss what Lillian learned from her first year on the beat, how she’s keeping up with schools while school is out of session and what she has her eye on this fall. Steven wonders if later start times will help him get his kids to school o
Larry Underwood: Horror Movie Host aka Dr. Gangrene
Do you like scary movies? Larry Underwood sure does. He remembers growing up in Nashville watching Frankenstein and Creature From the Black Lagoon movies on television. The way those monster movies were sometimes introduced to the audience, by way of a "horror host" (like Elvira, Mistress of the Dark or Svengoolie) was also a big part of the appeal, setting up the "shock package" of creature featu
Willie Steele: Writer, Professor and Aspiring Knuckleball Pitcher
When the other kids wanted to watch Indiana Jones, Willie Steele took a chance on a baseball movie instead. He didn't know it at the time, but watching Field of Dreams by himself in 1989 would alter the trajectory of his life. He would go on to write his master's thesis about Shoeless Joe, the novel the film was based on, and then, in an unlikely turn, write the biography of that book's author, W.
Bonus: 2026 Election Round Up
Banner reporters Steven Hale, Sarah Grace Taylor and Stephen Elliott sit down to talk about primary elections. Steven asks about their formative election-watching memories, and they discuss races for state House, Congress and governor. They also think through the implications of new Republican-drawn congressional maps, which leave one district resembling a kind of snake rainbow that touches Middle
Lamar Alexander: Former Senator and Tennessee Governor
Lamar Alexander once walked more than 1,000 miles from one end of Tennessee to the other, won election as governor as a Republican when Democrats ruled the statehouse, and served in Congress in a period of relative bipartisanship. Throw in time served as U.S. secretary of education and president of the University of Tennessee and you've got the makings of a new memoir: The Education of a Senator.
Bonus: The Bills and the Beef on Data Centers
Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott and intern Anna Blubaugh sit down to discuss — what else? — data centers. Anna and Stephen talk about what they saw and heard at this week’s Metro Council meeting, where hundreds of Nashvillians weighed in on legislation about the controversial facilities. Anna shares what she learned from conversations with people getting engaged in local politics
Shane Caldwell: Comedian
Shane Caldwell got his start on public access television as "kind of a goof," after watching a comedy show and thinking he and his fellow bartender friends could do much better. What they came up with, The Sylvan Brothers, became an underground sensation. That led to a local sketch comedy show called Cuts that aired right after Saturday Night Live. The first musical guest? Vince Gill.
The child o
Jill Biden: Former First Lady and Author, 'View From the East Wing'
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
Matt Wiltshire: Affordable Housing Investor
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
Lucas L. Johnson II: Author, 'Remembering Roots'
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:
Bonus: Nashville Debates Data Centers
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 ab
Macon Kimbrough: Former Warehouse 28 Manager and LGBTQ Activist
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.
M
Bonus: A Marathon Metro Council Meeting, Public Hearing on Budget
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 mor
Margot McCormack: Chef and Restaurateur
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
Freddy Angelico: Musician, Writer and Host of Podcast 'Girl in a Hurry'
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 re
Bonus: A 'botched' execution in Tennessee
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 pentoba
Ruth and Lloyd Shular: Nashville Couple Married 75 Years
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 bri
Bonus: Tennessee Abortion Ban Lawsuit Delay
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
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Le
Feed Drop: You Might Be Right
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
Bonus: Tennessee Congressional Redistricting Recap
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.
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Audrey Shulman: Screenwriter, 'Sitting in Bars With Cake'
"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
Bonus: 2026 State of Metro Analysis and Yes, He's Running
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
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Michael Shane Neal: President Biden Portrait Artist
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 Kins
Bonus: 2026 Legislative Session Recap
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 a
Jordan Ritter Conn: Writer and Author, 'American Men'
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
Adam Dread: Attorney, Comedian and Former Metro Councilmember
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 t
Bonus: The Latest From Metro Council and the East Bank, Plus Shadow Politics
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
Morgxn: 'Make It Out Alive' Singer, Songwriter and Advocate
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 th
Bonus: Cooperative Housing and Community at Drakes Creek
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
Robert Churchwell Jr.: Son of 'The Jackie Robinson of Journalism'
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 Nashv
Dr. Sekou Franklin: Executive Director, John Lewis Center for Social Justice
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 Ju
Bonus: The Case of Estefany Rodríguez
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 dis
Mo Sabri: Muslim Country Musician
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
Bonus: Soccer Stadium CBA Update, Plus a Brief History of the Fairgrounds
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
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Rev. Margie Quinn: Senior Minister, Vine Street Christian Church
"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
Bonus: Immigration Bills at the Tennessee Legislature — Undocumented Students and More
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 ongoi
Andrée LeQuire: Gallerist and Arts Advocate
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
Special Episode: How Banner Reporters Reviewed 50-Plus Hours of THP-ICE Video
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 immigr
Sai Clayton: Artist and Curator
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 circ
Bonus: Education Bills at the Tennessee State Legislature, Including Ten Commandments and Communism
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 Tudho
Lonnell Matthews Jr.: Juvenile Court Clerk
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
Bonus: First Post-Winter Storm Metro Council Meeting Yields Budget Talk, Limited Public Feedback
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 feed
Bonus: Nashville Power Outages, Other Ice Storm Effects — and Dangers — Linger
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
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Jonathan Bernstein: Writer, Justin Townes Earle Biography
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 w
Bonus: Metro Council Is Back, Plus Downtown Safety, Buchanan Street and Mayoral Race
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
Anas Saba: Creator, Nashville Hidden Gems
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 lo
Bonus: Discussing the Opening of the 2026 Tennessee State Legislative Session
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 w
Craig Havighurst: Author, Musicality for Modern Humans
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 strea
Brian Mansfield: Nashville Musical History Tour
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 T
Special Episode: 'The Final Question'
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
Best of 2025: Stephen Bargatze: Magician, Comedian and Father of Nate
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 actual
Bonus: Shedrich Webster and the Santas of Color Coalition
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
Best of 2025: Cathy Carillo: Co-Founder, The ReMIX TN
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
Jasmine Ledsinger: Program Director at The Store
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 whe
Best of 2025: Joe West: Musician and Nashville Airport House Band
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, Sa
Jim Cooper: Former Tennessee Congressman
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 ra
John Day: Attorney, President, American College of Trial Lawyers
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 ha
Mark Deutschmann: Real Estate Entrepreneur, Juggler
Throughout his career, Mark Deutschmann has tried to balance preservation — he worked to develop the historick Werthan Mills complex into lofts — with progress. He's a big advocate for the development of the city's greenway system, and hopes for more ways to build attainable (rather than "affordable") housing.
Mark had a winding path to Music City — one that included working with orcas, nearly ge
Sharon K. Roberson: President and CEO, YWCA Nashville
Raised in a military family and a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, Sharon K. Roberson has drawn on years in the corporate world to lead the YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee (not to be confused with a similarly named but unrelated organization that you might associate with workout equipment). Moving in to the nonprofit world was an adjustment, but in a way she's returned to her ro
Steve Norris: Former Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner
Steve Norris had never set foot inside a prison when became commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction. And he had only been on the job three months when he was suddenly thrust into one of the biggest crises in the state's history: an inmate uprising, including a "full on riot," across multiple prisons. Five correction officers were taken hostage. Inmates were allowed to give a live pr
Barry Mazor: Music Writer, Author of Everly Brothers Book 'Blood Harmony'
For a long time, Barry Mazor (along with fellow music writers) puzzled over what struck them as a glaring omission: There was no dependable, carefully sourced book on one of music's most important groups, The Everly Brothers. Eventually, Barry's agent asked a question that seems somewhat obvious in hindsight: "Why don't you write it?" That is the origin story of Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers
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