$750k home back in 2018, 5 years later SO much has changed. There’s a house asking $2,000,000 off 12th street off Shelby St. It would be awesome to revisit this story to see what’s changed and what has a remained the same. Post COVID, post Mayors Berry and Briley…

Beyond the well constructed podcast and journalism, I fell in love with the people we got to know within each series. Big Man, Tonya Shannon… so many more. Inspiring, smart, gritty, kind, sometimes tragic… very real. Well done! Wish we could keep getting to know all of them!

This is amazing. By the end of season 1 I was in tears. Good job Principal Gibbs and the Warner team and to the podcast journalism!!! I’ve applied for my kid to go to Warner, she’s #8 on the waitlist! Fingers crossed. I drove by lockeland Elementary the other day and saw no black kids AT ALL. Still a sad truth. As a black woman I couldn’t imagine sending my child there. I felt uncomfortable just driving through in the morning like I didn’t belong and would never put my kid in a situation like that. I hope both schools become more diverse and that funding &equity is spread out more evenly with MNPS schools.

I was floored by the depth of Ms. Knight’s reporting. What an outstanding piece of journalism!

This extraordinary, meticulously edited and vividly narrated podcast drew me in from episode 1 to thebonus episodes and post season interviews!! A phenomenal and honest look into the sociology of East Nashville. Fantastic job Maribah and team!

In both seasons, Meribah Knight artfully and skillfully walks the line between a balanced chronicler while being emotionally invested in the people and story. You might find yourself questioning - in the most powerful of ways - your assumptions about race, inequity and public eduction. Both seasons should be required listening for any public official or anyone interested in public education. Kudos to Ms. Knight and all who worked on the series. You have done a stellar job and should be so proud of this series.

We are what we put into this country

Let’s keep following Big Man and Mis Brenell, please !

Excellent in depth and multidimensional reporting on such a complex topic. Learned a lot - hoping to keep learning and find appropriate actions to support the most vulnerable in my community.

Great listen! I’d love to hear a follow up from this year and how virtual is going for Warner students.

This is the kind of journalism that literally can change lives. Grateful for your hard work to tell the truth of the glaring inequity in our city.

This high quality, thoughtful, and thought out reporting pieces is one of the many reasons local media and reporters should be invested in by us, the community. They are the ones who dedicate their time to the nuanced and important local stories and help us understand ourselves and hopefully, compel us to do well and to do better.

This podcast is a lesson for us all. I’m trying to be hopeful instead of ashamed, but maybe we should be both.

I was surprised the residence abhor the crime & they need protection like any other citizen. The reputation of Cayce public housing doesn’t seem to warranted. The police exacerbate the problems because they have pre-conceived notions & the people who live in Cayce don’t stand a chance of fairness & can be shot with little or provocation. I’m really tired of hearing of black men being shot in the back - that’s not a threat, that’s lazy police work. The numerous video cameras is a good idea & a police precinct of black police officers need to be inside Cayce. A community of mainly black residents need authority figures that look like them. I’ve never been in a position like this but I feel under the intense situations, white police officers can’t offer black people anyone to look up to. Periodic inspections should be made of low income units to ensure only those that are on the lease live in the apts. Also it needs to become a gated community, complete with key cards and/or keypads for entry. Undesirables will find a way in but residents hosting outside people need to be held accountable. Cops need to stop using their gun as a first result, when they have other options. White cops policing black people is dangerous.

Overwhelmingly genuine reporting with a lot of heart and space for those who need to be heard. Keep up the great work!

Incredible reporting, and so full of heart. Had me teary eyed often; keep up the great work!

Such a wonderful podcast! I’ve enjoyed listening to both seasons of the show. I hope that there might be an update episode over this upcoming winter, letting listeners know how the school year is going and how single parents, specifically single moms. I, also hope that there will be more seasons of The Promise!

Incredibly enlightening, this podcast tells a story that is at once intriguing and challenging.

An excellent study into the segregation of Nashville schools, past and present, and the people struggling to overcome it. At times infuriating, often inspiring, and ultimately a challenge to all of us to keep our promises to the children in our community.

I love, love, love this Podcast!! I’m not a resident of Nashville and I’m not a parent. I just forwarded this to my college friends that teach. Thank you ❤️

This podcast is truly outstanding journalism. I loved the first season about Casey homes, but this second season about Warner Elementary is incredible. The storytelling is so compelling and important. Keep up the great work!

I love storytelling podcasts that focus on a place, and this is a good one. It poses important questions about modern cities, economic outcomes, and more, and the approach Meribah and team take is interesting if also open to questions. Good stuff, looking forward to season 2!

A wonderful true story based in Nashville.

I think this should be required listening for everyone living in Nashville. WPLN is amazing 🙌🏼

I’ve been looking forward to this podcast since the prior one focused on Casey Homes. Keep up the excellent work!

This podcast is life changing. Thank you.

What a great podcast, and introduction and window into a world that isn’t mine. Looking forward to season 2

I’ll admit, I was half listening at times but it would make me stop and rewind because it was interesting. These are the types of stories so many people need to hear. The way we talk about poor people in America, esp. poor people of color, implies that they somehow “did something” to deserve living in poverty. I was really hoping that this show would get deeper into the policies and effects of government-backed loans and redlining and the inequities of acquired generational wealth due to housing discrimination among other things, but maybe for another podcast?!

Incredibly too short. With the unsuspecting surveillance and absolute need for control, I won’t look at public housing the same ever again.

This was an insightful podcast into the pros and cons of gentifrication. I really enjoyed this podcast. I hope they come back for a second season

With all the gentrification going on around America this was a thought provoking podcast. One that we all could learn from. Mass exodus has been apart of this country history and it always about resources and money.

These are moving and important stories with really nice production and insightful interviewing.

It was a good podcast on the outset. The stories of the people are compelling and the content interesting. Then, BAM! The whole narrative changed right in the middle! The surprising shocker in the middle episode says a lot more about us as humans than any words can express.

I loved the storytelling and the way the director delivers the content. People feel known, but not exploited.

Please bring back this podcast I have enjoyed following this season!

This was a fantastic glimpse into local politics and their continued failure to take care of those in need. Well done.

I just loved this podcast - the story drew me in and showcased a whole new, complicated side to my understanding of public housing. Great job!

Ending an episode with a story that ends in a murder/suicide seems as if you care more about getting listeners than offering any benefit to the public. Sensationalism is a cheap and insulting way to gain listeners.

This podcast about a difficult public policy issue is told with a human touch. Through interviews with residents of the Cayce Projects as the housing authority in Nashville undertakes a re-imagining of public housing. Listening one can’t help but contemplate Cabrini-Green in Chicago, 20 years ago. I can say one thing for sure after listening to this: I want to hear from Big Man again.

This is every bit as good as the long-form narrative shows with national exposure I’ve been listening to for years. Added value that I know Cayce homes, but would appeal to those who don’t. Please give us more.

Great reporting and flow. Quick knowledgeable listen.

This podcast dove right into the social and racial issues that Nashville faces daily. I lived in Nashville for four years and I learned so much more about Cayce listening to this podcast than I did while living there. This is probably one of my top 3 podcasts now!! Highly recommend!

Episode 4, where Big Man meets his neighbors and things go unexpectedly from there, may be one of my favorite podcast episodes ever.

Hi my name is Lauren I really enjoy this podcast I listen to it over a two day period. I googled the Cayce homes to get a visual of what I was listening to. I was born and raised in Detroit and I understand the struggle though I never lived in public housing the struggle was still all the same as well as the violence. You all did a great job and telling the story and I look forward to what’s to come

Thank you, Meribah. I initially resisted this podcast but I was looking for a series and I’m always interested in all things Nashville. I sighed and subscribed. The reality, the people and information captured my attention and I listened without pause. Thank you for telling the residents’ stories and the plight of survival with no income or limited income in Urban America. These stories will both inspire you and pain your heart.

After stumbling upon this podcast, it became one of my faves. It’s been a privilege to meet doe of this he residents in the James Kaycee projects and hear their views on their affluent neighbors, the police and the plan to redevelop. Great reporting in a human interest vein!

I love how this podcast is focused on sharing the real stories of people in a neighborhood who are getting ready for improvements promised by local government. Has this local government really listened to them? I am really curious if these improvements really help or just displace people. We need more podcasts like this looking at how we can improve built environments without gentrification. Great job! Make more episodes!

SOME OF THE BEST PODCAST OUT THERE. BEAUTIFUL.

A very well produced series surrounding the issues of public housing in Nashville with interviews of subjects on both sides of the divide. Important, fascinating, heartfelt storytelling with fair, honest and relevant reporting by Maribah Knight.

Insightful, essential journalism. Powerful storytelling about important topics