Childcare in Tennessee isn't just a family issue—it's an economic one, a workforce one, and increasingly, a political one. Across the state, parents are struggling to find affordable, reliable care.

Providers are stretched thin, and employers are feeling the ripple effects as workers are forced to make impossible choices between their jobs and their families.

In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Melanie Shinbaum, Executive Director of Nashville's Early Education Coalition, to understand what's driving the shortage, why costs remain so high, and how it's impacting communities from Nashville to rural counties across the state.

There's a bill of biblical proportions in the Tennessee Legislature. Some are questioning its constitutionality.

State House Rep. Gino Bulso filed HB1419. The legislation, which Bulso refers to as the "Protecting Religious Liberty and Expression in Public School Act" would require religion to be taught in Tennessee schools and permits prayer on campuses.

In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Sara Mayeaux, a Vanderbilt Law professor to discuss whether or not it's a violation of separation of church and state.

Nashville has a cost of living crisis. Less than 9% of Nashvillians can afford a typical home in Nashville. It's even worse for minorities. Less than 1% of Black and Brown communities can afford a typical home.

The crisis has been exacerbated by our city's zoning code which limits affordable and middle income housing. There's a new push by the Planning Department to amend it. The enthusiasm comes after the recent release of Nashville's Unified Housing Strategy. The document outlines code reforms addressing affordability.

In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Metro Nashville's Director of Housing Angela Hubbard to understand Nashville's Unified Housing Strategy and how it could be implemented.