Growing Pains: Exploring The Challenges in a Thriving Sumner County

Moving Sumner Forward
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Growing Pains is a podcast about the choices and challenges shaping Sumner County. Host Deanne DeWitt talks with local leaders, neighbors, and decision-makers about how a thriving community handles growth, opportunity, and the tough calls that come with both. Brought to you by the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus. Learn more at https://republicanfreedomcaucus.com/

  1. 5D AGO

    Inside Sumner County's Government | County Commissioner Mark Harrison

    In this episode of Growing Pains, host Deanne DeWitt sits down with Sumner County Commissioner Mark Harrison for a straightforward conversation about what county government actually does and why it matters. Drawing from his experience in both banking and public service, Harrison explains the core responsibilities of the county commission, including setting the tax rate, approving the budget, and funding schools, public safety, and infrastructure. They discuss infrastructure needs in Portland and across the county, the realities behind long commission meetings, and the tension between calls for smaller government and the services citizens rely on every day. Harrison also reflects on integrity in leadership and why understanding the limits and responsibilities of local government is essential for voters and future candidates alike. ========== Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community.From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking.Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    31 min

  2. FEB 12

    The Playbook for Thriving Communities | Growing Pains

    In this episode of Growing Pains, host Deanne DeWitt sits down with former Gallatin Economic Development Agency Director James Fenton to unpack what really happens behind the scenes of major investment and growth in Sumner County. With more than a decade leading economic development, Fenton explains why communities must invest in themselves before companies will invest in them, and how relationships, infrastructure, and steady leadership shape long-term success. The conversation revisits the complexity of Project Skillet and the Meta data center investment, highlighting the dozens of votes, land negotiations, and utility challenges required to bring transformational projects to life. Fenton also shares why public tone matters, how delays can cost companies millions, and what separates reactive growth from smart growth. It’s a candid look at the strategy, discipline, and forward thinking required to build a thriving community that lasts. ========== Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community. From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    30 min

  3. FEB 5

    What Leadership Looks Like in a Growing Sumner County | A Growing Pains Compilation Episode

    This special compilation episode of Growing Pains brings together some of the most meaningful, challenging, and hopeful moments from conversations across Sumner County. Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, this episode gives you a snippet of just some of the conversations that capturing the heart of what this podcast exists to do: acknowledge that growth is hard, educate with honesty, and contribute positive local media rooted in service and solutions. Together, these moments form a clear narrative about Sumner County’s growing pains: the tension between progress and preservation, the responsibility that comes with opportunity, and the conviction that communities thrive when leaders and citizens choose character, compassion, and thoughtful decision-making. This episode is not about soundbites or outrage, but about understanding the forces shaping our county and inviting listeners into a more informed, constructive conversation about the future we’re building together. ========== Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community.From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    35 min

  4. JAN 29

    Doing What’s Right | Inside Sumner County’s Approach to Justice with DA Thomas Dean

    In this episode of Growing Pains, host Deanne DeWitt sits down with Thomas Dean, the newly appointed District Attorney for Sumner County, for a wide-ranging and illuminating conversation about justice, public safety, and what it really means to “do what’s right” in one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing communities. Dean breaks down the role of the district attorney in clear, human terms, explaining how prosecutors, law enforcement, judges, victim advocates, and community partners form a connected web that keeps Sumner County safe. He reflects on the weight of the job, the responsibility of balancing justice for victims with fairness for defendants, and the moments that stay with him most, including encounters that reveal the power of dignity and respect even in the hardest cases. Grounded, thoughtful, and candid, this episode offers a rare look inside the philosophy guiding Sumner County’s approach to justice at a pivotal moment. ========== Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community. From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    33 min

  5. JAN 22

    Inside Sumner County’s Housing Reality | with Desneige Bourret

    In this episode of Growing Pains, host Deanne DeWitt sits down with Desneige Bourret, founder and CEO of Grace Place Ministry, for one of the most honest and challenging conversations the show has had about growth, housing, and the human cost of policy decisions in Sumner County. Grace Place is a long-term home and life restoration program serving single mothers and children experiencing homelessness, and after more than a decade of work, Denise brings both data and deeply personal experience to the discussion.Denise explains why family homelessness is not a moral failure but a math problem, shaped by rising rents, stagnant wages, childcare costs, transportation gaps, and limited housing supply. She shares what she sees every day on the front lines: working mothers, teachers, hospital staff, first responders, and service workers who can no longer afford to live in the communities they serve. The conversation tackles uncomfortable realities around affordable housing and the ripple effects these choices have on schools, the workforce, and the local economy.This episode reframes the growth conversation through compassion, responsibility, and shared community impact, offering a perspective that challenges assumptions while calling Sumner County to think bigger about what it means to care for its neighbors.==========Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community.From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking.Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    35 min

  6. JAN 8

    Can We Disagree Without Dividing? A Conversation on Leadership with Aaron Allison

    Can we disagree without dividing? In this episode of Growing Pains, host Deanne DeWitt sits down with Dr. Aaron Allison, pastor of CIL Church, professor, and former member of the Gallatin City Council, for a thoughtful and timely conversation about leadership, faith, and civic life in Sumner County. Drawing from decades of ministry, teaching, and public service, Dr. Allison shares how a core belief in the inherent value of people has shaped every role he has stepped into, from the pulpit to the council chamber. They also unpack complex and sensitive topics such as social media responsibility, compassion within conservative principles, age-appropriate access to library materials, and what it truly means to pursue healthy growth in a fast-changing Middle Tennessee community. Grounded in optimism and humility, this conversation is ultimately about relationships, responsibility, and leaving Sumner County better for the next generation. ========== Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community. From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    26 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    The Truth About Sumner County's Roads with Toby Ellis

    In this episode of Growing Pains, host Deanne DeWitt sits down with Toby Ellis, Sumner County Road Superintendent, for a behind-the-scenes look at the work that quite literally keeps the county moving. From growing up in a family paving business to leading large-scale infrastructure projects across Middle Tennessee, Toby shares how a lifelong passion for roads turned into a calling to serve his community. The conversation explores what it really takes to build and maintain safe, reliable infrastructure in one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing counties. Toby explains why investing in roads now saves taxpayers money later, how ARPA funding helped accelerate long-overdue improvements, and what it means to pave more than 200 miles of county roads in a single term. He also pulls back the curtain on the unseen work of the highway department, from bridge maintenance and drainage to signage, mowing, striping, and emergency response during storms. They discuss the human side of infrastructure as well, including building a culture where county employees feel respected, fairly compensated, and proud of their work. Toby shares concerns about worker safety in active work zones, the importance of public patience during construction, and how new technology and transparency tools will help residents better understand where their tax dollars are going. Grounded in service, experience, and long-term vision, this episode shows how roads are more than asphalt, they’re the foundation of a thriving Sumner County. ========== Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community. From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    32 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    Faith, Service, and America’s Future | With John DeBerry

    In this powerful episode of Growing Pains, host Deanne DeWitt sits down with John DeBerry, civil rights activist, former Tennessee state legislator of 26 years, and now Senior Advisor to Governor Bill Lee. With a lifetime shaped by faith, sacrifice, service, and the example of courageous parents, DeBerry shares the deep convictions that have anchored his leadership through some of the most turbulent cultural and political moments in recent history. The conversation explores what servant leadership really means, why America must re-learn gratitude for its freedoms, how civil discourse can be restored, and why the future of Tennessee depends on leaders who understand responsibility over ego. He offers wisdom for emerging public servants, insight into Governor Lee’s priorities, and deeply personal reflections on legacy, loss, and the responsibility he feels toward his grandchildren’s future. This episode is a moving testament to courage, conviction, and the enduring belief that America’s best days are still ahead. ========== Hosted by Deanne DeWitt, Growing Pains is the official podcast of the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus, featuring candid, in-depth conversations with the leaders, movers, and shakers shaping our local government and community.From business development and public policy to education, infrastructure, and responsible growth. Each episode dives into how decisions made today impact the future of Sumner County. Guests include elected officials, policy experts, business owners, law enforcement leaders, educators, and citizens who are actively working to keep our county strong, accountable, and forward-thinking. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply passionate about your community, Growing Pains offers insight into how local leadership, conservative principles, and collaborative problem-solving can help Gallatin and Sumner County grow the right way, preserving our legacy while protecting our future.

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Growing Pains is a podcast about the choices and challenges shaping Sumner County. Host Deanne DeWitt talks with local leaders, neighbors, and decision-makers about how a thriving community handles growth, opportunity, and the tough calls that come with both. Brought to you by the Sumner County Republican Freedom Caucus. Learn more at https://republicanfreedomcaucus.com/

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