Station Leadership Team
Steve attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and began his radio career in the newsroom of KFWB in Los Angeles, where he was a Desk Assistant, rising to writer, producer and Assistant News Director. He served as News Director and Executive Editor of 1010 WINS in New York City before moving into station management at WTOP in Washington, DC. Shortly thereafter, CBS asked him to return to New York where he was VP and General Manager of two all news radio stations, 1010 WINS and WCBS Newsradio 880. In 2011 he moved back to DC to be Senior VP and Market Manager for the six CBS Radio stations. Steve was named President and CEO of Nashville Public Radio in April, 2019. He and his husband Stewart, an accomplished Young Adult author, singer songwriter and college professor, have four wonderful children and a French Bulldog who light up their lives. Rob comes to Nashville Public Radio from Boston, where he was Vice President of News at the legendary WBZ NewsRadio as well as Regional News Director for iHeartRadio’s News/Talk stations in the Northeast. Prior to that, Rob spent nearly two decades at CBS Radio in a variety of leadership roles including Managing Editor and Assistant News Director at WCBS New York and later Program Director and Executive Editor for CBS Radio’s English language all-news and Spanish language music and sports stations in Washington, DC. Rob’s first media experience was with the local NPR station in his hometown of Miami, FL. A portion of WLRN’s broadcast day was programmed by the students in the Radio Broadcasting program at Miami Lakes Technical College, from where he graduated in 1991. Rob was recruited for his first management role at age 26 at KBLA in Los Angeles, where he helped launch a Spanish language news and information station. In his personal time, Rob loves to travel. He says, “Some people collect things as a hobby; my thing is collecting experiences.” Those experiences have ranged from safari in Africa to hiking a volcano in Costa Rica to attending the Burning Man festival. He’s also a self-described aviation nerd (don’t get him started talking about airplanes and airports.) Rob lives in Germantown. When not traveling, he and his fiancé Julian enjoy exploring Nashville’s many green spaces as well as the amazing food and music scene. Mack is the VP of Audience Engagement for WPLN News — but what does that even mean? In the past, this might have been called "programming." But with all due respect for the term, "programming" sounds a bit one-directional for today's world. We no longer simply program shows for our audience to consume. We engage with our audience across the platforms they use. We strive to have reciprocal dialog and reflect our community. Previously, Mack was the station's digital director, and he's worn a few other hats in his 20-year public radio career. Mack's a Nashville native, a musician, dad, tinkerer and explorer of too many disparate hobbies. With more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit industry, Kenda has diverse experience including executive management, major gifts, membership programs, board leadership and all aspects of institutional giving. Her career has included leadership roles in Chicago and Austin, including Bat Conservation International, Chicago Children’s Choir, The Field Museum, The Center for Community Arts Partnerships at Columbia College Chicago and Northwestern University. Kenda graduated from Northwestern College of Iowa with a degree in Theater and performed live stage theater for many years. She has served on the Chicago Chapter of the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and was an adjunct faculty member for the Arts Entertainment and Media Management program at Columbia College Chicago, where she taught fundraising and management at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Kenda is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Nashville Chapter.
Steve Swenson
President and CEO
sswenson@wpln.org
Robert Sanchez
Chief Operating Officer
sanchez@wpln.org
Mack Linebaugh
Vice President, Audience Engagement
mack@wpln.org
Kenda Lovecchio
Vice President, Development
kenda@wpln.org
Finance
Before joining Nashville Public Radio in 2021, Michael Robertson (he, him) was the Business Finance Manager at Metro Nashville Public Schools for nearly six years. Previously, he served as the Comptroller at Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center and worked in various roles at Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company. He received his undergraduate degree and MBA at Tennessee State University. Born and raised in Nashville, he works with the Kappa League, a mentoring program for young men focused on leadership and social and educational development. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, sci-fi movies and TV shows, light hiking, and amusement parks. Keri Pagetta joins the Nashville Public Radio team as its Accounting Specialist, processing accounts payable and receivable and supporting the Finance Department in a variety of ways. She was previously the Director of Operations for Safe Haven Family Shelter. Keri has had a varied career working in the hospitality industry both in New York and Nashville, as a high school Spanish teacher in MNPS, and as a studio teacher on ABC’s Nashville. As an actor and voice-over artist, she has voiced characters for Veggie Tales, starred in commercials for the Tennessee Lottery and Dollar General, and appeared in numerous short films and theater productions. She was the 2015 recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship for Acting (Theater) and a winner of a Nashville Scene 2021 Best of Nashville Critics' Pick for her work as the producer, director and lead actor in The Passion of Ethel Rosenberg (a Radio Play) podcast. Keri has a master’s in Teaching and Learning from Lipscomb University, a B.A. in Sociology from Montclair University, and a certificate in Immersion Spanish Language Study in Mexico and Guatemala. Keri lives in the Donelson area with her husband, twin daughters, her mom and Becky the Cat. She is a believer in, and sustaining member of, public media. Among her favorite quotes through which she draws inspiration is, “If we have no peace, it's because we have forgotten we belong to each other." – Mother Teresa.
Michael Robertson
Director of Finance
mrobertson@wpln.org
Keri Pagetta
Accounting Specialist
kpagetta@wpln.org
WPLN News Staff
Rachel Iacovone (YAH-kuh-VOAN-ee) is the morning host for Nashville Public Radio. Rachel began her public radio career covering politics in Florida during the 2016 presidential race. Rachel was outside as the eye of Hurricane Irma passed over Southwest Florida and on air for WGCU, the same station she listened to as a kid as Hurricane Wilma tore the roof off her childhood home. Rachel is a Florida Gulf Coast University alumna (wings up!) and an avid AP Style enforcer. When she’s not hosting or reporting, Rachel can be found cooking and posting her creations to social media, all while watching true crime shows. Nina Cardona is a native of Middle Tennessee and near-lifelong listener to WPLN. Cardona joined Nashville Public Radio in 1997 fresh out of Converse College. She began as a classical music host and later ran the 91Classical music service. However, the majority of her years at the station have been spent sharing the news, first in the afternoons during All Things Considered and now as the local host of Morning Edition. She has a deep interest in history and has been known to dabble in photography, various textile crafts and open water swimming. Char got his start in public radio as an intern at WYSO public radio in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he answered questions sent in by listeners for a program called WYSO Curious. He went on to work at St. Louis Public Radio and WBEZ Chicago, where he produced the daily talk show Reset and reported for the education desk. His work has also appeared in Curious City, Chicago Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Char attended college and grad school at the University of Chicago, where he wrote his master’s thesis on the politics of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. As a journalist, he is interested in the ways big political decisions and historical events shape our everyday lives. He loves to learn about education, the arts, activism and the ways people help one another. Unable to settle on one creative project, Char enjoys writing poetry, plays and video essays in his spare time. You’ll likely find him rushing to choir rehearsal or seeking out Nashville’s best Thai and Korean food. Josh Deepan joins WPLN as a Multimedia Producer for This is Nashville. Previously, he worked at NewsChannel 5 Nashville as a producer for NewsChannel 5 Plus, and before that worked as a Producer/Editor for WCTE-PBS in Cookeville. In his spare time, he writes/makes movies, cooks spicy dishes thanks to his Indian roots, and loves learning languages. Before entering the media world, he taught high school English in France for two school years - his first year in Avignon, and his second in Strasbourg. Rose grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and Montespertoli, Italy. She comes to WPLN from a reporting internship at The Tennessean. In 2020, she was senior producer for the USA TODAY podcast “Changing the Game.” During college, she worked for The Daily Princetonian, and interned with NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley in Paris. She studied international and public affairs at Princeton University, and received a master’s from Columbia Journalism School in 2021. Rose speaks English, Italian, and French. When she's not reporting, she enjoys visiting museums and checking out the local music scene. Caroline Eggers covers environmental issues with a focus on equity for WPLN News through Report for America, a national service program that supports journalists in local newsrooms across the country. Before joining the station, she spent several years covering water quality issues, biodiversity, climate change and Mammoth Cave National Park for newsrooms in the South. Her reporting on homelessness and a runoff-related “fish kill” for the Bowling Green Daily News earned her 2020 Kentucky Press Association awards in the general news and extended coverage categories, respectively. Beyond deadlines, she is frequently dancing, playing piano and photographing wildlife and her poodle, Princess. She graduated from Emory University with majors in journalism and creative writing. Khalil Ekulona has been involved with media for almost his entire life. Recently he served as the host and producer of No More Normal, the pandemic-focused radio show on KUNM in Albuquerque. He’s also served as the co-host of Good Day New Mexico on KOB4, and as a correspondent with New Mexico PBS. Born in New Jersey, raised in Maryland, Khalil received his degree in political science from Elon University (then Elon College). During his time in Los Angeles, Khalil worked as an educator for at-risk high school students and an associate producer for film, and he founded the hip-hop group Fresh Air. Khalil loves to find humor and wisdom in life’s turns and corners, and enjoys discovering the events that define our lives by talking to his fellow human beings and strives to learn from their experiences. He is also an avid fan of elevator music. Meribah Knight is a senior reporter and producer at Nashville Public Radio. She’s the host and creator of the Peabody Award-winning podcast, The Promise as well as Serial’s recent podcast The Kids of Rutherford County. Her reporting on race and inequality in public schools prompted a wholesale shift in enrollment and attitudes toward school choice in one Nashville neighborhood. And her reporting on the juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, Tenn., led to the retirement of its juvenile judge and new oversight of its juvenile detention center. Knight has received numerous national awards for her reporting, including the George Foster Peabody Award and the George Polk Award. Knight was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the Goldsmith Award, and twice a finalist for a National Magazine Award. Knight received her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Liv Lombardi is a Nashville-based artist, audio-engineer, and producer. She is Technical Director for “This is Nashville” as well as a freelance mix engineer for studio, immersive and live. Liv is a Recording Academy member, Blackbird Academy alum, and part of the Keychange U.S inaugural cohort. She lives in Nashville with her wife and two sweet puppies. When she isn't mixing or recording audio for someone else, Liv is fronting a couple different bands, riding her bike or weightlifting. Since moving to Nashville in 1991, Mary Mancini has followed an entrepreneurial career path marked by rewarding adventures in music, tech, media, advocacy, and community outreach. During a career transition, she taught herself audio recording, editing and podcast production, and brought those skills with her to her role as a multimedia producer at WPLN’s This is Nashville. When she’s not busy asking questions, watching Mets baseball and Rangers hockey, or spending time with family and friends, she’s fighting the urge to adopt another dog. Paige Pfleger covers criminal justice for WPLN News. Previously she has worked in Central Ohio at WOSU News, covering criminal justice and the addiction crisis, and was named Ohio's reporter of the year by the Associated Press in 2019. Her work has appeared nationally on NPR, The Washington Post, Marketplace, and PRI's The World, and she has worked in the newsrooms of The Tennessean, Michigan Radio, WHYY, Vox and NPR headquarters in DC. Catherine Sweeney is WPLN’s health reporter. Before joining the station, she covered health for Oklahoma’s NPR member stations. That was her first job in public radio. Until then, she wrote about state and local government for newspapers in Oklahoma and Colorado. In her free time, she likes to cycle through hobbies, which include crochet, embroidery, baking, cooking and weightlifting.
Tony Gonzalez
News Director
tgonzalez@wpln.org
Rachel Iacovone
Director of Multiplatform Publishing
rachel@wpln.org
Nina Cardona
Morning Host
nina@wpln.org
Char Daston
News Producer / Reporter
cdaston@wpln.org
Josh Deepan
Multimedia Producer, This Is Nashville
jdeepan@wpln.org
Rose Gilbert
General Assignment Reporter
rgilbert@wpln.org
Caroline Eggers
Environmental Reporter
ceggers@wpln.org
Khalil Ekulona
Host, This Is Nashville
khalil@wpln.org
Meribah Knight
Senior Reporter/Producer of Special Projects
mknight@wpln.org
Liv Lombardi
Technical Director, This Is Nashville
liv@wpln.org
Mary Mancini
Multimedia Producer, This Is Nashville
mary@wpln.org
Paige Pfleger
Criminal Justice Reporter
paige@wpln.org
Catherine Sweeney
Health Reporter
csweeney@wpln.org
Nashville Classical Radio Staff
WNXP Staff
Jason Moon Wilkins is an award-winning broadcast journalist with a diverse background and deep roots in the music industry. Since coming to WPLN in 2016, he has earned multiple honors from the AP Awards and PRNDI, including the team’s national Breaking News award in 2018. Born in Arkansas and raised in North Louisiana, Jason moved to Nashville in 1993 to attend Belmont University where he majored in English and minored in Music Business. Before completing his degree, he earned a job at a local radio station and its nationally syndicated sister publication and went on to become Music Director. He left that position in 1997 to become a full-time touring and session musician and later transitioned into the business side of music working in management and events. The 2000’s also included a stint at the Tennessean’s weekly entertainment magazine and the development of the Next Big Nashville music festival and conference. Since 2010 he helped launch a publishing division for music company Thirty Tigers, co-founded entertainment listings engine Do615 and was a founding consultant for the annual tech investment conference 36/86. He was a member of the prestigious Nashville Mayor’s Music Council, served on the NARAS/Grammy Board and worked with the Nashville Film Festival and Tin Pan South. He is also a Leadership Music alumnus and was nominated for the Nashville Emerging Leader Award by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Hi, I’m Justin. I was born in Milwaukee, WI. I started as an intern at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee and worked my way up to Music Director. There I started a segment called “From the Music Desk” where I interviewed over 500 artists including Thom York, Lizzo, Steve Martin, and Phoebe Bridgers. At 88nine I also got to speak passionately about the music I love on the radio, which is a true gift and I still get to do every day. There I also made a podcast called “Backspin: The Search for Milwaukee’s First Hip-Hop Song” which I enjoyed doing more than anything else I’ve ever done and was acclaimed in The New York Times. Highlight of my life. I love music, I love people and I love a good yarn. At the end of the day my goal is to tell stories that are as good as the ones my dad tells me. I’ll tell em on the radio, in print, or next to you at the corner bar. I host the evening show from 6-10 p.m. and I also serve as the production coordinator for WNXP. I started radio back in 2014 working for my college radio station at The University of Alabama. I hosted various sports shows and a classic hip-hop show titled “Can I Kick Out.” Since graduating from Alabama, I have been a program director and producer for Tide 100.9 and a producer for ESPN 102.5 The Game in Nashville. My career has been sports to this point, but what a lot of people do not know is music radio was my first passion. Growing up in Southern California I would listen to Power 106 and pretend to be an on-air personality, while other kids wanted to be doctors and lawyers. I grew up around a melting pot of music. My grandma was listening to Charlie Pride and other old country music tunes while my grandpa would be in the other room playing his Blues records like the hallways were Beale Street. My mother was listening to R&B and soul dating back to the 60s going from Motown to the sweet sounds of Mary J Blige. I was listening to hip hop music with my older brother and uncles. and my best friend growing up would have me head banging to some Pantera. I moved to Alabama in 2004, so even though Kanye West “College Dropout” was in my CD player, I could get down to some country. I say all that to say I am sponge for great music, regardless of what genre its from. So, kick back, jam out to some tunes, have a few drinks and explore the wide range of music we have to offer. Like countless other sweet suburbanites, I watched Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” in high school and wiped clean my concepts of the future: when I grow up, I’ll be a rock writer, a musician or a Band-Aid, I decided. What else is there? While my college days offered plenty of concert-going and a few overwrought album reviews, too, it was curating playlists and hosting local artists on the student radio station WUSC-FM that really made meaning for me. I enjoyed solo and co-hosted free-format programs every semester throughout my four undergrad and first two alumni years in Columbia, S.C., before relocating to Nashville in 2009. A nonprofit professional full-time, I’ve remained blissfully music biz adjacent in Music City, U.S.A., partnering with artists, venues and festivals via nonpartisan voter engagement organization HeadCount at live music and community events. Also via HeadCount, I co-produced monthly streaming content for the short-lived ScionAV channel “Headliners” in 2012 and 2013, introducing concert recordings and interviewing music makers such as The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir. Beginning in 2017, I returned to the FM airwaves with the all-volunteer, low-power station WXNA and hosted Wednesday morning show “What Moves You,” manning live broadcasts, amplifying the work and stories of guest artists and packaging recorded content in the age of COVID. I am thrilled to begin sharing time on WNXP as morning host, promoting music discovery and celebrating our dynamic local scene. “It’s all happening!” Favorite artists: Stephen Malkmus, My Morning Jacket, Fiona Apple, Grateful Dead, Talking Heads, Phish, Billy Strings, St. Vincent + basically any funk, soul and rock ‘n roll with HORNS (i.e. Daptone Records) Born and raised in Nashville, I had no choice but to develop an affinity for music. From growing up on the country classics and classic rock to developing my own personal taste and discovering the various types of artists Nashville had to offer, I became completely consumed with discovering new music. Since then, my whole life has been dedicated to the local music scene and sharing my knowledge with the Nashville community. There is nothing I love more than supporting the artists I love, so I was thrilled when I began my radio journey in 2015 at Lightning 100 where I was able to book up-and-coming artists for in-studio performances and club shows and support programming efforts specifically within the indie and local music realms. Eventually, I became a part of their on air staff and was able to develop my skills as a DJ. I had always prided myself on my ability to set the mood and make a killer a playlist (just ask my yoga students), but I loved learning the ins and outs of radio specifically. In 2020, I launched my own show called Acid Reflux on Acme Radio, spinning garage, psych rock and any other weird things I love. I am thrilled to now have the opportunity to serve as a DJ for WNXP, sharing my fondness for the local music scene and beyond and helping Nashville discover their new favorite bands.
Jason Moon Wilkins
Program Director, WNXP
jwilkins@wpln.org
Justin Barney
Assistant Program Director, WNXP
justin@wnxp.org
Marquis Munson
Production Coordinator
munson@wnxp.org
Celia Gregory
Morning Host and Special Programs Manager, WNXP
celia@wnxp.org
Emily Young
Host and Events & Promotions Director, WNXP
emily@wnxp.org
Development
A singer/songwriter and music aficionado, Ray first came to Nashville in 2010 to attend Belmont University. After graduating from Belmont with his BBA, Ray relocated to the Northeast, where he began his career in development at WAMC, the NPR member station in Albany, NY. He later worked in gift processing for Western New England University in Springfield, MA. Ray returned to Nashville in 2019 with a dual intention of reconnecting with his musical roots and continuing work with organizations that make a difference. Ray is a huge proponent of public education and freedom of information. He joined Nashville Public Radio in 2021 after having served as the Development Coordinator for Tennessee Justice Center. With a knack for graphic design, digital curation, and bringing people together, Nicole Kemp is deeply committed to building inclusive spaces where everyone's voice is heard. In 2016, Nicole began her career in public media as a development coordinator in St. Louis, curating acknowledgements and experiences for members. Upon returning to Nashville, she leaned into her desire for communal spaces and co-founded Women of Color Collaborative as a restorative space for women of color in Nashville. Previously, as a communications manager, she used her skills to connect people with causes that mattered, and as a program manager, she ensured the city's youth have the support they need to thrive. From streamlining communications to coordinating youth programs, Nicole brings her warmth, creativity, and passion for positive change. Zea grew up listening to NPR from the backseat of her parents' station wagon, and jumped at the opportunity (quite literally, she leapt into the air when the call came through) to work for Nashville Public Radio. She joined the Membership Department in 2012, and has been instrumental in growing the Sustaining Member Program. When she's away from the station, she can be found brewing award-winning homebrew beer, or telling her Scottish Terrier that he's the cutest little fur demon yes he is. Molly was born in Sacramento, California, and moved to Nashville with her family at age 11. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in political science and business administration, she stumbled into a job in public media fundraising, and for the last 20+ years has held various roles in the membership department at Nashville Public Radio. Molly’s been a Nashville Public Radio member since she was 21 years old, and has deep roots throughout the Nashville community. She lives in the Crieve Hall area with her husband and teenage son, and enjoys going for walks and hanging out with family, friends, and neighbors. Jesse is a grant writer, classical percussionist, certified master gardener, and lifetime public radio listener. Born in the Atlanta suburbs, he relocated to Nashville in 2010 and now lives in a magical pocket of Davidson County called Neely's Bend. Prior to joining Nashville Public Radio in 2024, Jesse managed a grants consulting business for five years, eventually stewarding around $3 million in annual grant revenue across several arts & cultural organizations, small, medium, and large. His work supported programs at the Nashville Symphony, Actors Bridge Ensemble, Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!), Tennessee Arts Academy, and Centennial Park Conservancy, among others both locally and nationally. He has also secured institutional funding in service areas as diverse as mental health, childcare and early education, restorative justice, and healthcare. Jesse was previously the Assistant Artistic Director and percussionist for chatterbird, a Nashville-based contemporary classical ensemble. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Belmont University, where he studied marimba, snare drum, timpani, tambourine, crash cymbals, xylophone, vibraphone, almglocken, glockenspiel, quijada, finger cymbals, congas, crotales, maracas, gongs, sleigh bells, and everything else under the sun that can be hit, slapped, tapped, kicked, or scraped. Kate Teague is Nashville Public Radio’s Associate Director of Development. She focuses on creating meaningful connections with generous donors. With a career rooted in radio, Kate has traversed various sides of the field, having previously served as the Producer for the Oxford, MS-based syndicated live radio show, Thacker Mountain Radio, and as the Development Manager at WYXR, a freeform community radio station in Memphis, TN. Beyond her radio pursuits, she channels her creative energy into music as a songwriter/musician and enjoys long walks with her faithful dog companion, Benson.
Ray Curenton-Dillinger
Membership Coordinator
ray@wpln.org
Nicole Kemp
Director of Events - WPLN
nicole@wpln.org
Zea Miller
Development Project Manager
zea@wpln.org
Molly Nicholas
Director of Development
molly@wpln.org
Jesse Strauss
Director of Institutional Giving
jesse@wpln.org
Kate Teague
Associate Director of Development
kate@wpln.org
Corporate Sponsorship
Kyle joined the corporate support team in 2009. Previously, he worked at several ad agencies in Chicago and as a television Research Director in Nashville. A native of Goodlettsville, TN, Kyle graduated from MTSU with a degree in communications. Kyle serves on the board of The Brooks Fund. In his off time you'll find him cheering on the Blue Raiders, playing softball and hanging out with "Army" (Armistead Maupin), the world's best Dachshund.
Kyle Bradley
Account Manager
kbradley@wpln.org
Operations
Missouri born, and Midwest/Southwest raised, Josh Connor began his career as a freelance jingle and advertising writer and producer, later landing successful on-air and administrative roles in markets like Robinson, IL, and Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, Iowa. Josh’s work reached national scope when he began producing for legendary Nashville country music stations in 2007. He was part of the talent stable for the syndication launch, and first three years, of Westwood One’s popular Nash Icon format. After Icon, Josh joined Nashville’s market leading music station. Josh has always been a fan and advocate of public broadcasting, growing up watching and listening — even finding his first chance to participate in broadcasting on his hometown public stations. An avid WPLN listener, Josh values WPLN News’ unique and original content, and is excited to join this important Nashville resource. When he’s not guiding Nashville Public Radio’s technical and production systems, he enjoys reading and writing, music, sunsets at the beach, and cheering on his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes.
Josh Connor
Operations & Production Manager
josh@wpln.org