Best Abumrad Podcasts (2025)

1
Your Turn to Talk: One Small Step with Jad Abumrad 50:16

7d ago50:16

50:16

Through guided dialogues, One Small Step encourages participants to listen just as much as they speak and stay open to a wide range of opinions. Dialogue Vanderbilt has partnered with StoryCorps to bring One Small Step to Middle-Tennessee and Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt’s Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and c…

1
The Darkest Dark 26:28

24m ago26:28

26:28

We fall down the looking glass with Sönke Johnsen, a biologist who finds himself staring at one of the darkest things on the planet. So dark, it’s almost like he’s holding a blackhole in his hands. On his quest to understand how something could possibly be that black, we enter worlds of towering microscopic forests, where gold becomes black, the de…

1
Tennessee state legislative preview 50:19

13h ago50:19

50:19

In this episode, we hear from reporters who will offer insights into what’s at stake and break down the major topics expected to dominate the conversation in the coming months — from school vouchers and abortion pill access to immigration and guns. And we want to hear from you: What issues are important to you? And what do you want from lawmakers i…

1
The horrors and complexities of human trafficking 50:14

1d ago50:14

50:14

Each year, millions of adults and children fall victim to sexual exploitation, forced labor, or both. In this episode, we confront the harsh realities of human trafficking in Middle Tennessee and the broader state. We explore who is affected and learn about the efforts of local enforcement, nonprofits and community leaders who work to prevent this …

1
Exploring Ancient Mysteries, Psychedelics, and Civilizations with Graham Hancock and Guy Keltner 1:39:34

5h ago1:39:34

1:39:34

Get ready for a journey into Ancient Mysteries and the world of Psychedelics, all in the search for inspiration for a new song.Guy Keltner of the band Acid Tongue sits down with renowned author and researcher Graham Hancock. Together, they explore a wide array of fascinating topics, including ancient civilizations, psychedelics, and Hancock’s groun…

1
Support for families of the incarcerated 50:03

9h ago50:03

50:03

It is often difficult to figure out how to visit and stay connected to a loved one who is incarcerated. It is also challenging to navigate the emotions, and often judgement, that comes with the loss of someone close from daily life to prison. Today we’re talking about what it’s like to love someone - a child, a parent, a spouse, a friend- who is in…

1
Profile: Odessa Settles 49:57

3d ago49:57

49:57

Today, we talk with Settles about the philosophy behind her mission to heal, what music means to her, and how she chose to center everything she does from a place of love. Plus, she performs live for us in the studio. Guest Odessa Settles, musician and retired nurseBy WPLN News - Nashville Public Radio

1
Smarty Plants 34:35

4d ago34:35

34:35

In an episode we first aired in 2018, we asked the question, do you really need a brain to sense the world around you? To remember? Or even learn? Well, it depends on who you ask. Jad and Robert, they are split on this one. Today, Robert drags Jad along on a parade for the surprising feats of brainless plants. Along with a home-inspection duo, a sc…

1
How to find a new career in Middle Tennessee 50:17

6d ago50:17

50:17

Today, we talk about Tennessee’s job market and some of the major concerns employers and employees face right now. We also hear about the local resources available to help anyone, even young people, figure out their next career step and get support while navigating a job search. This episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys. GUESTS Dr. Donald Bruce…

1
Talking to strangers with Folx Table 50:07

7d ago50:07

50:07

Folx Table provides strangers the space and opportunity to meet — and hopefully, become friends. Today, we talk with the founders about connection and building community. Plus, to demonstrate how it works, some people who have never met join us in the studio to play Folx Table's "get to know someone better" games. Guests Emma McCallie | Co-founder …

1
Profile: David French 50:00

8d ago50:00

50:00

Today, we sit with the thought leader as he reflects on the rigidity of political thought and the ways in which he believes political discourse in America must evolve. Plus, we talk about his journey and what led him to write for high profile publications like the New York Times. And, as we enter another new era of Conservatism and Liberalism, what…

301
Match Made in Marrow 1:01:14

11d ago1:01:14

1:01:14

In an episode first reported in 2017, we bring you what may be, maybe the greatest gift one person could give to another. You never know what might happen when you sign up to donate bone marrow. You might save a life… or you might be magically transported across a cultural chasm and find yourself starring in a modern adaptation of the greatest stor…

1
Re-Air: This is Nashvillians 50:00

12d ago50:00

50:00

Their responses can be spoken word poetry, an essay, a speech. It can be ... whatever they want. It’s their voice expressing what their city means to them. Today seven people share their perspective on what this city and region means to them. Their words. Their voices. This Is Nashville presents … This Is Nashvillians. This episode was produced by …

1
Re-Air: Mindfulness For The Holidays- Centering with Tai Chi, Yoga and Meditation! 50:01

15d ago50:01

50:01

The holiday season is in full swing! With preparing for all of the fun, parties, family gatherings- and maybe even traveling, you might find yourself feeling a bit drained and tired. That is where practices like tai chi, yoga and meditation come in. Today we’ll talk with Nashvillians who use those practices to help themselves and others recenter an…

1
Re-air + Update: Celebrating Kwanzaa in Middle Tennessee 49:48

19d ago49:48

49:48

Our host, Khalil Ekulona, joins us as a guest alongside his parents to share how they started celebrating Kwanzaa as a family and what the holiday means to them. Then, local community leaders share more about how Kwanzaa is celebrated in Nashville. Guests: Khalil Ekulona, host of This Is Nashville Olufemi Ekulona, retired caregiver and Khalil’s mom…

1
JD McPherson’s Seasonally Sensitive Holiday Extravaganzo 49:59

21d ago49:59

49:59

It features music from his modern holiday classic LP 'Socks' alongside handpicked, off-the-wall Christmas song selections and paired with interviews delving deep into 'Socks' and McPherson’s own holiday traditions. It’s guaranteed to be the only holiday special to reference 'Goodfellas,' dictatorial crowd control techniques and Black Sabbath’s "Chi…

1
Probing Where the Sun Does Shine: A Holiday Special 25:37

21d ago25:37

25:37

This holiday season, we want to take you on a trip around the heavens. First, co-host Latif Nasser, with the help of Nour Raouafi, of NASA, and an edge-cutting piece of equipment, explain how we may finally be making good on Icarus’s promise. Then, co-host Lulu Miller and Ada Limón talk about how a poet laureate goes about writing an ode to one of …

1
Re-Air: This is Nicheville 50:39

22d ago50:39

50:39

One of the main ways we can interact with others is through our hobbies and niche interests. And they’ve got another benefit, too: When we learn more about other people’s hobbies and niche interests, we better appreciate the world around us and we can embrace and celebrate our differences. Today, we delve into three vastly different niche activitie…

651
Curiosity Killed the Adage 47:06

25d ago47:06

47:06

The early bird gets the worm. What goes around, comes around. It’s always darkest just before dawn. We carry these little nuggets of wisdom—these adages—with us, deep in our psyche. But recently we started wondering: are they true? Like, objectively, scientifically, provably true? So we picked a few and set out to fact check them. We talked to psyc…

1
Your Turn to Talk: Ask the Mayor + Santas! 44:43

26d ago44:43

44:43

Today, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell joins us to take your calls. You can dial (615) 760-2000 to participate. Plus, Niche to Meet You podcast producer and host Leslie Eiler Thompson joins us to talk about the history of Santa, the personal stories of some of the real-life Santas she’s met, and how for these folks, being Santa is more than just …

1
Your Turn to Talk: Parking Problems 50:24

27d ago50:24

50:24

Demand for affordable spaces outpaces supply, rates are soaring and parking management wrongfully charge fees and boot without warning. Today, we discuss parking problems, what can be done to alleviate some of them, and what the future of parking looks like as new construction continues to boom and expand into residential areas. And we want to hear…

1
Discovering Ayurveda Stress Relief, Pregnancy Tips, and Ancient Wisdom with Dr Claudia Welch 1:04:57

28d ago1:04:57

1:04:57

Dr Claudia Welch delves into the holistic health benefits of Ayurveda, focusing on stress relief, pregnancy nourishment, and balancing modern life with ancient wisdom. She shares personal experiences and expert insights on the interplay between physical, mental, and spiritual health. We explore topics ranging from the importance of a balanced lifes…

1
My experience...in and aging out of foster care in Tennessee 50:37

28d ago50:37

50:37

A recent study by Belmont University reports that 70-80% of young people who age out of foster care without adequate support face homelessness, addiction, imprisonment and mental illness by the age of 21. Today we speak with two Nashvillians who both found themselves in foster care. We’ll hear about their stories, the support that made a difference…

1
This is Nashvillians 50:00

29d ago50:00

50:00

Their responses can be spoken word poetry, an essay, a speech. It can be ... whatever they want. It’s their voice expressing what their city means to them. Today seven people share their perspective on what this city and region means to them. Their words. Their voices. This Is Nashville presents … This Is Nashvillians. This episode was produced by …

1
Dark Side of the Earth 24:04

1M ago24:04

24:04

Back in 2012, when we were putting together our live show In the Dark, Jad and Robert called up Dave Wolf to ask him if he had any stories about darkness. And boy, did he. Dave told us two stories that became the finale of our show. Back in late 1997, Dave Wolf was on his first spacewalk, to perform work on the Mir (the photo to the right was taken…

1
Long-term recovery from the 2023 tornado and Hurricane Helene 36:44

1M ago36:44

36:44

Just over a year ago, a tornado outbreak struck Middle Tennessee, killing seven people, injuring more than 80, and damaging or destroying thousands of homes. In September, Hurricane Helene and the subsequent flooding devastated upper East Tennessee. In the aftermath of both disasters, volunteers and relief organizations quickly mobilized to provide…

1
Extraordinary Pen Pals 49:59

1M ago49:59

49:59

Today’s guest, long-time Nashvillian Keely Scott, kept a written relationship for over 30 years with an eccentric Manhattan artist, starting when she was a second grader in Texas. The story of their relationship is marked by moments in Keely’s own life and contains beautiful stories of friendship. Not surprisingly, Keely is passing this legacy onto…

1
Creating meaningful connections during the holidays 50:01

1M ago50:01

50:01

In today’s episode, we explore how to make connections and have meaningful conversations across our differences — while maintaining healthy boundaries. We'll also explore what community means and feels like today and learn about the skills necessary to feel more connected. Plus, we hear how one Nashville family stays close-knit despite it all. This…

1
Profile: Singer-songwriters Gillian Welch & David Rawlings 49:59

1M ago49:59

49:59

Despite how influential they’ve become, they’ve maintained an insular musical world, evolving in their own way and at their own pace. Today, Nashville Public Radio Senior Music writer Jewly Hight sits down with Welch and Rawlings for an intimate conversation about their musical influences, the beauty of embracing imperfection, and the career self-s…

1
How Stockholm Stuck 1:04:58

1M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

In August of 1973, Jan-Erik Olsson walked into the lobby of a bank in central Stockholm. He fired his submachine gun at the ceiling and yelled “The party starts now!” Then he started taking hostages. For the next six days, Swedish police and international media would tie themselves in knots trying to understand what seemed to them a sordid attachme…

1
The Financial State of Tennessee State University 50:04

1M ago50:04

50:04

Since 2021, the financial health of Tennessee State University has been in the news. In 2021 a group of state lawmakers found that in the previous 50 years the state had underfunded the school by about a half a billion dollars. Then, in 2023, a federal report said that the state underfunded the university by far more than the original estimate — ab…

1
Downtown Presbyterian Church and the 100th Annual Waffle Shop 50:00

1M ago50:00

50:00

DPC has hosted US presidents. It’s been a hospital during the Civil War and has been on both the right and wrong side of civil rights. Today it houses a small, active congregation as well as nonprofits and artists — and the building itself is one of the best remaining examples of Egyptian Revival architecture. In this episode, as they celebrate wha…

1
Ever go to concert inside a cave? You can at The Caverns 52:04

1M ago52:04

52:04

Musicians and fans from all over journey to The Caverns in Grundy County for a truly unique experience. You can catch some performances there on the PBS series The Cavern Sessions (formerly Bluegrass Underground). Today we’re talking with the people who made the dream of holding concerts in a cave into a reality. We'll also hear from singer-songwri…

1
Profile: Julia Martin, artist and gallery owner/operator 49:57

1M ago49:57

49:57

As an artist, Julia loves faces, the human figure, waxed pastels and oil paint. As the owner and operator of the Julia Martin Gallery, she relishes the close-knit arts community she’s helped build. In this episode we hear from Julia about her art, the life-changing exhibitions she’s curated, and why she thinks it’s important to give up-and-coming a…

1
Less Than Kilogram 24:56

2M ago24:56

24:56

In today’s story, which originally aired in 2014, we meet a very special cylinder. It's the gold standard (or, in this case, the platinum-iridium standard) for measuring mass. For decades it's been coddled and cared for and treated like a tiny king. But, as we learn from writer Andrew Marantz, things change—even things that were specifically design…

1
Re-Air: Turkeys? Wild! 50:38

2M ago50:38

50:38

Wild turkeys are what biologists call an indicator species — meaning its presence in a location is indicative of a healthy ecosystem for all other species, including humans. The turkey is also a significant figure to Native cultures, both spiritually and practically. In the early 1900s, commercial hunting left the wild turkey population decimated, …

1
Re-Air: 12 Steps Through The Holidays 50:42

2M ago50:42

50:42

The holidays are a time full of joy and celebration for most- but they can also be an especially challenging time for those struggling with alcoholism or addiction - or who have a loved one who is. Today, we are talking to members of different recovery communities here in Middle Tennessee to learn about 12 Step programs, local 12 Step resources and…

1
Re-Air: Pat Boone 50:43

2M ago50:43

50:43

He may have been born in Florida, but Mr. Boone has deep Nashville roots. He attended Lipscomb, had his first performances in Centennial Park, recorded in middle Tennessee, and appeared on Hee Haw. Today, we'll hear from Boone about his singing and film career, his family, deep religious roots, his heavy-metal phase and so much more. Join us! Today…

1
Science Vs: The Funniest Joke in the World 42:52

2M ago42:52

42:52

When he rounded them up, he had a 100. A few months ago, Wendy Zukerman invited our own Latif Nasser to come on her show, and, of course, he jumped at the chance. Laughter ensued, as they set off to find the "The Funniest Joke in the World." When you just Google something like that, the internet might serve you, "What has many keys but can't open a…

1
Your Turn to Talk: Ask the Mayor, plus Thanksgiving Traditions 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

Although we never know exactly what’s going to come up on our Ask the Mayor show — that's up to you – on this month's agenda is the Capital Spending Plan, the grocery sales tax and the arrest by Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers of several people for camping on state property Downtown. Plus, Jude Mason from our sister station, WNXP, joins us to tal…

1
Climate change and vulnerable communities 49:59

2M ago49:59

49:59

Through the Nashville Environmental Justice Initiative, Tennessee State University and Urban Green Lab are working to capture the voices of those affected first and worst. Today we hear about this first-of-its-kind oral history project. We also hear how these same communities are a source for real solutions to a more sustainable and equitable Nashv…

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