Curious Nashville

mack@wpln.org

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Why is there a tiny typo on the Tennessee driver's license?

June 20, 2026

Have you ever looked closely at your Tennessee driver’s license? There might be something surprising in the fine print. Curious Nashville listener Sam Barocas used his microscope to find it. And then he asked:Why is there a microscopic typo on the Tennessee driver’s license?In some instances — likely on millions of licenses — a thin ribbon of text reads “The VolunDeer State.” With a ‘d.’Among the theories: It’s a genuine mistake. It’s an intentional security feature. It’s an easter egg tucked...

How did kudzu vines first get introduced to Tennessee?

June 13, 2026

Kudzu is a woody, hairy vine with distinct three-pronged leaves. During the blooming season in late summer, the plant produces grape-smelling purple flowers. And, always, it has a way of crowding out other plants."Kudzu is like a glamorous villain ... ‘the vine that ate the South,' " says Ben Nanny, the conservation director at Ijams Nature Center.This ubiquitous vine prompted this question:How did that annoying "kudzu" first get introduced to the area?The answer ties back to the late 1800s, ...

Why is a Nashville middle school named after a racist segregationist?

May 30, 2026

J.T. Moore Middle School in Nashville is named after John Trotwood Moore, an author and prominent landowner. He was also openly racist, a proponent of lynching, and an apologist for the "Old South". This sparked a question to Curious Nashville:Please help us understand why schools in Metro are named after people with such heinous records and what can be done to correct this.The answer, in part, has ties to the state's Tennessee Heritage Protection Act. (You may recall this prior episode: Why ...