From Next-Door Neighbor to Nashville News | Lydia Fielder
Long before Lydia Fielder was sitting down for an interview on Heart of the Gulch, she was literally our next-door neighbor.
Back when Heart of the Gulch was operating out of its very first Nashville studio, Lydia was right next door. Fast-forward to today, and the Emmy-nominated WSMV 4 Nashville anchor and reporter has built a career covering some of Middle Tennessee’s biggest stories.
WSMV 4 Nashville anchor and reporter Lydia Fielder discusses journalism, breaking news and her television career on Heart of the Gulch.
That history makes this episode a little different — and a pretty cool full-circle moment.
Inside Lydia Fielder’s Heart of the Gulch Interview
Welcome to Heart of the Gulch, a Nashville-based interview show featuring the artists, media personalities, entrepreneurs and people helping shape Music City. Host and creator Tony Mendoza sits down with WSMV 4 Nashville anchor and reporter Lydia Fielder to discuss journalism, breaking news, memorable interviews and the stories behind her career in television news.
And because these two go back to the early days of Heart of the Gulch, there’s plenty of friendly trash talk along the way.
Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza interviews WSMV 4 Nashville anchor and reporter Lydia Fielder about her journalism career.
Reporting the Stories That Matter to Nashville
Lydia’s career has put her in the middle of major stories across Middle Tennessee and beyond.
From natural disasters and breaking news to nationally followed trials, her work requires being able to step into unpredictable situations and quickly understand the people and stories at the center of them.
But some of Lydia’s most meaningful reporting has also focused on stories that can easily go overlooked.
Her Emmy-nominated work on Our Stories, Too explores diversity and representation within country music, giving Lydia an opportunity to combine journalism with conversations about an industry deeply connected to Nashville.
Lydia Fielder talks about covering Middle Tennessee news, interviewing Nate Bargatze and her Emmy-nominated reporting.
From Breaking News to Nate Bargatze
Not every assignment involves a disaster or courtroom.
Lydia has also interviewed some major personalities along the way, including Nashville comedian Nate Bargatze.
During our conversation, she talks about navigating those different sides of journalism and what she enjoys about connecting with people away from the traditional anchor desk.
That ability to move between serious reporting and personality-driven storytelling has become an important part of her career.
There Was Obviously Going to Be Football Trash Talk
We couldn’t have Lydia on the show without addressing one serious issue: the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Lydia is a proud Arkansas fan. Tony is a Texas A&M Aggie.
You can probably figure out where the conversation went from there.
WSMV 4 reporter Lydia Fielder discusses her Emmy-nominated Our Stories, Too reporting and representation in country music.
The rivalry gives us a chance to step away from the newsroom and get to know Lydia beyond television — from the things she cares about to the personality Nashville viewers don’t always get to see during a newscast.
A Full-Circle Nashville Moment
There’s something special about interviewing someone who was there — quite literally — during the earliest days of Heart of the Gulch.
Both careers have evolved considerably since those neighboring Nashville studios, making this conversation as much about where Lydia is headed as where everything started.
From breaking news and Emmy-nominated reporting to country music, sports and life away from the anchor desk, this episode introduces another side of one of Nashville’s familiar television news voices.
Watch Lydia Fielder on Heart of the Gulch
Watch the full conversation with WSMV 4 Nashville’s Lydia Fielder as she discusses television journalism, Our Stories, Too, covering major Middle Tennessee stories, interviewing Nate Bargatze and her journey as a Nashville news anchor and reporter.
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with artists, media personalities, entrepreneurs and people shaping Nashville and beyond.
