Curious Nashville

Just about every day, a freight train grinds to a halt and blocks traffic somewhere in Tennessee. At times, an entire day (or longer) passes before it gets rolling again. As federal officials ramp up their tracking of this chronic problem, WPLN’s Cindy Abrams documents the concern and explains the factors that lead to blocked crossings. Credits: Tony Gonzalez is the executive producer of Curious Nashville and WPLN Director of Digital Products Mack Linebaugh edited this episode. Julia Ritchey, Chuck Cardona, Damon Mitchell, Marianna Bacallao, and Jackie Llanos contributed voice acting; Rachel Iacovone contributed a train recording. The music is from the Blue Dot Sessions.

The way we pronounce the names of some places in Tennessee can raise eyebrows for newcomers. But even long-time residents can’t always explain why those names are the way they are. This prompted a question to our Curious Nashville project, and sent WPLN’s Marianna Bacallao [mary-AW-nuh bahk-uh-YOW] in search of the stories behind a few prominent place names. Credits: Tony Gonzalez is the executive producer of Curious Nashville and WPLN Director of Digital Products Mack Linebaugh edited this episode. The music is from the Blue Dot Sessions.   

Just after English and Spanish, Arabic ranks as the third-most spoken language in Tennessee. Nearly 27,000 people in the state speak it. But there are less common languages offered on the written driving exam in Tennessee. WPLN’s Alexis Marshall explores why, and helps a local Egyptian American man start a conversation with the state’s director of Driver Services. Read more at the online version of this story here, and you can ask a new question at WPLN.org/curious. A transcript is available online here. This show is a project of Nashville Public Radio. And this time, some of the sound you just heard first appeared on our daily hourlong show This Is Nashville. It’s essential listening for anyone interested in this community — and you can subscribe to it in your podcasting app. I'm Tony Gonzalez, the executive producer of Curious Nashville. Mack Linebaugh, our director of digital products, edited this episode. The music is from the Blue Dot Sessions.

Confusing road lanes and limited traffic signals can make commutes on Bell Road excruciating near Interstate 24 and Exit 59. Why was it designed this way, and will there be any relief for drivers in the Antioch area? For photos, and to explore more of the reporting by Hallie Graham, visit this story at WPLN.org/Curious. Curious Nashville is a project of Nashville Public Radio. The executive producer is Tony Gonzalez and this episode was edited by Director of Digital Products Mack Linebaugh.

Nicholas Qualls, a voter in Antioch, wants to know more about voting stickers. He asks: What determines what location gets what “I Voted” sticker? My location had a pretty generic oval sticker, but I see several people at other locations get a neater Tennessee-shaped red one. The answer turns out to be fairly simple — but fun facts abound in this short-form episode.

After a brief intermission, Curious Nashville returns to the airwaves to answer listener questions about Middle Tennessee. WPLN Special Projects Editor Tony Gonzalez joins This Is Nashville host Khalil Ekulona to share some of his favorite stories from past Curious Nashville episodes and gives a glimpse into what’s being investigated next.

In this series, we're going to tell you about what's been described as a toxic culture of misconduct and retaliation within the Metro Nashville Police Department. And the disciplinary system that has allowed that culture to thrive.

If you glance down at the street at the right moment in Nashville, you might spot a “stikman.” This little street art character appears in thousands of places around the world, but the artist behind them remains mostly unknown. Thanks to an observant listener, Curious Nashville delves into the phenomenon.  Curious Nashville is a project of Nashville Public Radio. The executive producer is Tony Gonzalez and the editor is Emily Siner. This episode’s music is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions.

Nashville was right on-trend in 1975 when the revolving Polaris restaurant opened atop what was then the Hyatt Regency hotel. It quickly became the go-to destination for special occasions and marriage proposals. But the restaurant has navigated some tougher turns in the past decade, leaving a local architect wondering: Does it still spin?

To combat our feelings of isolation and everyday repetitiveness, we present four short stories that deliver surprises about things we might otherwise overlook: What a tree in the backyard can tell us about environmental changes  How the past flickers on amid Nashville’s growing skyline Whether a famous 1904 short story accurately depicts Nashville How proximity to an interstate is a good thing for an Antioch cemetery These stories are a testament to our observant listeners. When you notice interesting things and ask us to learn more, we find stories we’d otherwise miss! Prod us with your latest questions at curious.wpln.org. Credits: Tony Gonzalez is executive producer; editing by Emily Siner; music from the Blue Dot Sessions.