New Canaan Society Franklin Podcast

New Canaan Society is a network of men joined by a common desire for a deep and abiding friendship with Jesus, and lasting and transparent friendships with each other. This audio is from the group of men in Franklin, TN who support each other toward being better men.
New Canaan Society is a network of men joined by a common desire for a deep and abiding friendship with Jesus, and lasting and transparent friendships with each other. This audio is from the group of men in Franklin, TN who support each other toward being better men.
Episodes
Episodes
May 1, 2026
May 1, 2026
34 min
For more information on the Franklin, TN chapter of the New Canaan Society, go here: https://newcanaansociety.org/franklin/
Scott has served in influential churches in both New York City and Nashville and is the author of several widely read books on faith, leadership, and spiritual formation.
He’s known for bringing theological depth together with honesty about the pressures men face—ambition, success, failure, identity, and grace. He has helped many navigate what it means to follow Christ with conviction and humility in a complicated cultural moment, and today he's working with the Sycamore Community to continue that work.
Jan 27, 2026
#120: Greg Jones - Lean Into What God is Doing
Jan 27, 2026
Jan 27, 2026
25 min
For more information on the Franklin, TN chapter of the New Canaan Society, go here: https://newcanaansociety.org/franklin/
L. Gregory Jones (he goes by Greg) is currently the President of Belmont University, with the vision to be "the leading Christ-centered university in the world, radically championing the pursuit of life abundant for all people."
He's overseen a lot of growth there and continues to strengthen the University's role in creating positive change both locally and globally. He has a long track record of leadership at both Baylor University and Duke University, including serving as the Dean of Duke Divinity School. He's also authored a number of books on Christian living and theology.
Jan 21, 2026
Jan 21, 2026
24 min
For more information on the Franklin, TN chapter of the New Canaan Society, go here: https://newcanaansociety.org/franklin/
Have you ever felt like you knew what life with God was all about? Have you ever been surprised by His voice disrupting everything you thought you knew—inviting you deeper?
Bryan Josey went from playing football at Vanderbilt to leading in his community, including serving as chairman of the board for FCA in Rutherford County. After decades of leadership, 29 years of marriage, and two grown sons, Bryan’s story—and his walk with God—are still developing. It’s a powerful reminder that faith and purpose don’t stop when life feels successful or comfortable.
Bryan is passionate about men’s ministry, so come ready to be encouraged, challenged, and connected with other men chasing the same thing—a life that matters.
Oct 23, 2025
#118: Jon Petersen - A Life Journey With God
Oct 23, 2025
Oct 23, 2025
29 min
For more information on the Franklin TN chapter of the New Canaan Society, go here: https://newcanaansociety.org/franklin/
How often have you prayed, "God, I'll go where you send me"? How often have you meant it?
Jon Petersen's story starts with missionary parents in Tokyo, but he describes himself as a product of the Jesus Revolution in California where he began church planting among counter-culture youth in the 1970s. Since then God has led him and his family to serve prostitutes, drug addicts, and Satanists in Amsterdam, then to evangelism, church planting, and prayer ministry in Russian Siberia, Eastern and Western Europe, and finally back here to the United States.
For the last 7 years he's been following God's call to minister to cities. Today, through City Table and Greenhouse Training, Jon equips church, business, and government leaders to bring transformation to their communities.
Sep 23, 2025
Sep 23, 2025
22 min
For more information on the Franklin TN chapter of the New Canaan Society, go here: https://newcanaansociety.org/franklin/
Steve Cummings, founder of Bringing Kingdom, has a passion for helping men fully realize their true identity as beloved sons and live out of it daily. He’s been doing it for over 30 years, and as an extension of this passion, he’s also helping to restart the Atlanta chapter of NCS.
Steve spent 16 years as a radio producer for such programs as “Breakpoint” with Chuck Colson and “Insight for Living” with Chuck Swindoll. Currently he’s employed with Redeemer City to City, which was co-founded by Tim Keller. He and his wife Julia are the hosts of The Parent Pivot Podcast, which helps parents of adult children pivot from parenting to partnering.
Jul 2, 2025
#116: Hal Hadden
Jul 2, 2025
Jul 2, 2025
35 min
Most of us have struggled with a sense of purpose at one point or another.If you're like me, you have had seasons where you feel directionless, needing clarity about how to connect your daily activities to some important goal. For some of us it doesn't hit too hard until after retirement.This Thursday Hal Hadden will be joining us to talk about this. As the founder of Christian Leadership Concepts (now called Christ Led Communities), he has a lot of experience helping people with finding a deeper purpose that provides meaning in their life.
Jun 18, 2025
#115: George Tolbert
Jun 18, 2025
Jun 18, 2025
33 min
How do you reconcile the ugly parts of yourself with the work of the Holy Spirit?
This week we're joined by George Tolbert, who will share about the need for God to heal the three parts of our soul: the sanctimonious, the straying, and the suffering.
Come hear his story about how God is continually doing this in his own life, and the joy and satisfaction it's created.
Feb 14, 2025
#113: Charles McGowan
Feb 14, 2025
Feb 14, 2025
38 min
We are living longer than our grandparents. Are you ready for the gift of being older? “Late adulthood” said a recent article in Atlantic Monthly, “is a time when the potential for grandparenting, mentoring, and volunteering peaks. It can be a time when zero-sum goals such as social competition and personal ambition yield to positive-sum pursuits such as building community and nurturing relationships.” Are you ready for it? Sounds good to me! What are the opportunities, pleasures, challenges, and heartbreaks of growing older? Charles McGowan, who is in his mid-80s and a dear friend of many of us, will be with us Thursday to give a glimpse of what’s ahead. Charles is a retired Senior Pastor of churches in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee -- most recently at Christ Presbyterian Church. After retiring from the pastorate, he founded McGowan Global Institute with a mission of helping churches thrive. Ten years ago Charles and Neil Anderson told us what it was like being primary caregiver for their wives. Alice McGowan began her life in heaven nearly seven years ago. Whether “late adulthood” is years off, just around the corner, or if you are in it now, you will enjoy and benefit this Thursday from the wisdom and experience of a Nashville treasure, Charles McGowan.









