That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

Today on the show, we’re answering the question, “How do I pray in the winter?”John Eldredge is back and officially becomes a member of the Hall of Fun! His spiritual leadership and wisdom is so helpful and you’re going to want to take notes from this one for sure. He also has a new book releasing tomorrow called Experiencing Jesus. Really. If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 23. And as always, if you still want to get a Guidebook, you can find it at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Our Place: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 10% off sitewide. Better Help: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Lumen: Go to lumen.me/TSF to get 20% off your Lumen. AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer! "I Want to Trust You, But I Don't" Bible study: Learn more and watch Session 1 for free at HarperChristianResources.com/trust. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . If you liked this episode you may also like these: Episode 499: Brooke Ligertwood on the Uniqueness of Worship on This Side of Heaven Episode 210: John Eldredge Episode 281: John Eldredge + A Year of the Pandemic Episode 388: John Eldredge + Resilient Resting Well This Summer with John Eldredge – Episode 898 NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Savannah Guthrie is back! You know and love Savannah from the TODAY show. Last year, I got to talk with her about her New York Times bestselling book, Mostly What God Does. You can go back and listen to that one, it’s episode 863, and now she has a brand new kids’ book out this week called, Mostly What God Does is Love You. If you’re following along in the TSF Seasons Guidebook, there’s no notes pages for this one, because it’s a bonus episode! You’re welcome. . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Catch our special miniseries over on Annie’s miniBFF podcast for these weeks leading up to the release of Where Did TJ Go? It’s about Who We Are. Why We Are Here, and Where We Are Going. Be sure to subscribe for the miniBFFs in your life. . . . . . If you liked this conversation, you may also like these: Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I showed up with a whole list to talk to Eddie about…including recapping the SNL 50th anniversary. Because duh. And Eddie also came rolling in asking for forgiveness about something he did and you’re going to love this story. If you’re following along in the TSF Seasons Guidebook, there are no note-taking pages for this one, but by all means, if you want to take notes, we’re not the boss of you. Go for it. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . Order Where Did TJ Go? Here . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, Mattie Jackson is back to help us answer the question "Where is the hope of winter?” You may remember her from episode 345 and if not, you’re going to love her. She is an incredible author, speaker, and entrepreneur with a heart for helping others find hope in the midst of life’s hardest seasons. Mattie so generously offers her wisdom and story as a friend who’s experienced tremendous grief after suddenly losing her husband at the age of 28. Her latest book: Through the Valley of Grief, is a 365-Day Devotional of Spiritual Practices for Hope in Suffering, and as we talk about trying to find hope when it feels like winter will never end, this devotional and Mattie’s heart is something I think you’re going to learn a lot from today. If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 21, And if you’re wanting a copy of the guidebook, you can find that at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Catch our special miniseries over on Annie’s miniBFF podcast for these weeks leading up to the release of Where Did TJ Go? It’s about Who We Are. Why We Are Here, and Where We Are Going. Be sure to subscribe for the miniBFFs in your life. If you liked this conversation, you may also like these: Episode 345: Mattie Selecman + Lemons on Friday Episode 477: Granger Smith on Country Music, Ministry, and How Loss Changes Your Whole Life Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Go to BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Daily Look: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order. AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer! WayFair: Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once a month this year, we'll have an essay from me with some thoughts and ideas I am processing in real time, and we call those Always Annie episodes because I am, in fact, Always Annie. Last month, I told you how much Nashville means to me and how it feels to have my heart living in two cities right now. I am here today in New York City, the other city I call home and the other city that holds my heart. Two days ago, we released Where Did TJ Go?, a children’s book about grief and loss but more important to me, a book about my nephews Sam and TJ. TJ was born in June of 2022 and died later that summer. I already loved New York then, but it never crossed my mind to consider this city my home... . . . . . TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . If you liked this episode, here's last month's: Always Annie: I Love Nashville – Episode 954 . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to introduce you to my sister, Tatum Green, and we’re also joined by David Thomas, whom you know and love from Daystar Counseling and the Raising Boys and Girls podcast. Together, we’re going to share with you the story of my nephew, TJ, and why we wanted to put this brand new book, Where Did TJ Go? in your hands. We keep saying this is a book we wish no one needed, but so many families do, and that was our reality as a family in 2022 when we realized we couldn’t find the right book to read to my nephew, Sam, about losing his baby brother. We absolutely have the hope of heaven, but grief and loss can make it feel like it’s always winter and it will never end, so if you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 19, and we’ve given space to process today as you listen. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Catch our special miniseries over on Annie’s miniBFF podcast for these weeks leading up to the release of Where Did TJ Go? It’s about Who We Are. Why We Are Here, and Where We Are Going. Be sure to subscribe for the miniBFFs in your life. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! HiyaHealth: My friends receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. BetterHelp: Discover your relationship “green flags”, with BetterHelp.Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . If you liked this episode you may also like So Happy to Know You! Behind the Scenes of Launching a Children’s Book! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re big Popcast fans around here at AFD Inc, and I honestly can’t believe it’s taken us this long to get Erin on the show. If you aren’t already obsessed with our podcasting cousins over at the PMG, then let me tell you more about Erin. She’s a writer, podcaster, and storyteller. She is the Resident Bible Scholar and host of the Faith Adjacent podcast, and senior creative at Popcast Media Group and her very first book, I’ve Got Questions just came out! Today we talk about it along with everything from aging and makeup to doing life with people we don’t always agree with. If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 18. . . . . . Show notes Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Pre-order Annie's new children's book Where Did TJ Go? . . . . . Catch our special miniseries over on Annie’s miniBFF podcast for these weeks leading up to the release of Where Did TJ Go? It’s about Who We Are. Why We Are Here, and Where We Are Going. Be sure to subscribe for the miniBFFs in your life . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . If you liked this episode you may also like: TSF Couples 2019: Knox McCoy + Jamie Golden from The Popcast . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams from She Reads Truth are BACK for their *sweet sixteenth* episode! You know we love to talk about the church calendar around here and the way it guides our seasons. So today we're talking about Lent and digging into what the seasons are inside this winter season. The interesting thing about lent is that it takes us from winter to spring, so what does that mean for our spiritual lives? Our prayer lives? This is a note taking episode for sure so grab your journal or your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 17. *Use code ANNIELENT for 15% off their Lent collection!* . . . . . TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. WayFair: Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Ritual: Get 25% off your first month for a limited time at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to keep talking with your pal and mine, Eddie Kaufholz. He needs no introduction around here, but do we cover the hard-hitting questions like does a snowman count as Christmas decorations or can they be part of just general winter decorations? We also talk a little bit about my new kids book coming out on grief and loss that I wrote with my sister, Tatum Green. You can find more info and preorder that here: Where Did TJ Go? If you’re following along in the TSF Seasons Guidebook, there are no note-taking pages for this one BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO DOCUMENT THIS NONSENSE. But. There is a nice crossword puzzle on page 16 so if you want something to do with your hands while you listen, we’ve got you covered there! . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to talk with Pastor Tyler Staton from Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon. He’s also the National Director of 24-7 Prayer USA and you know we love to talk about prayer around here so Tyler such is such a deep well on the topic. We’re going to talk about where God is in the winter and as we do we’re going to talk about his relationship with prayer and how he’s navigated praying in the middle of pain and a lot of unknown. Tyler also has a new book releasing about the Holy Spirit and it is SO GOOD. It’s called The Familiar Stranger and this is one you’re really going to love. If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 15. And if you’ve been on the fence about getting a copy, you still have plenty of time to jump in for Winter, so you can find that at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! DailyLook: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . If you liked this episode you may also like these: Being an Apprentice of Jesus with John Mark Comer – Episode 854 Episode 429: John Mark Comer on Spiritual Formation NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, every month, I’m going to be sharing one of these episodes, one of these stories, something that I am thinking about, wondering about, experiencing myself. Hence the reason we are going to call these “Always Annie”... because no matter the city I’m in or the situation I find myself in, I am, in fact, for better or for worse, Always Annie. Today’s question, that I hope you will open your TSF Seasons Guidebook to page 14 and answer for yourself, is “How do I find cozy moments in this winter?” . . . . . TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew and Ellie Holcomb are here and can you believe this is the first time they’ve ever been interviewed together?! Today we talk about finding blessings in the winter, holding grief and joy, and seeing fruit after winter seasons. If you’re looking for a soundtrack for this season, Drew and Ellie have an album releasing on Friday that you. are. going. to. LOVE. It’s called Memory Bank and it’s coming your way this week, so you don’t have to wait long! Go pre-save it now and let’s plan to make it the soundtrack of winter! If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 12. And if you’ve been on the fence about getting a copy, you still have plenty of time to jump in for Winter, so you can find that at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter our code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I talk with my long-time friend Lindsay Sherbondy (or you may know her as Lindsay Letters). She’s a full-time artist, living just outside of Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, Dugan, and their two kids, Eva and Phoenix. Their world was turned upside down in August of 2019 when Eva sustained a traumatic brain injury, and as you can imagine, every day since has presented itself with new challenges and new beauty. Today Lindsay is generously sharing their story and it was an honor to get to hear her talk about the broken-heartedness of what they’ve walked through and I think you’re going to feel that too. If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 11. Shop Lindsay's amazing art at lindsayletters.co . . . . . TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. Thrive Causemetics: Thrive Causemetics is luxury beauty that gives back. Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of our favorite pastors around is here- Pastor Mike Kelsey. As we were planning for this year on the podcast, we knew we wanted a pastor to help us set up each new season and give us a spiritual look at what it all means. SO WHAT AN ACTUAL GIFT that Pastor Mike is going to be here at the start of every season to help us really figure all of this out. Today, we’re going to talk about how we define winter in our own lives, and I cannot wait to see what God wants to teach us throughout this season. This is a note-taking episode for sure, because you know Pastor Mike is always bringing us some truth. (Guidebook page 10) Today, Pastor Mike Kelsey is starting us off on our Seasons series talking about winter. He is here help us answer the question, “How do I define winter in my life?” We have a TSF Seasons Guidebook available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer! Daily Look: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y’all know I love a meeting- whereas most people say “that meeting could have been an email” I tend towards “that email could have been a meeting”... so this is the one time a year I feel like we get to have a meeting. Which brings my soul joy. Epiphany is when I get to stop the show for a minute and instead of you listening to an episode of TSF, you are listening to what is going on behind the scenes, the plans, the people, the direction. It’s also a day I always want to see and celebrate, pause and think, and invite you to do the same thing. . . . . . Get your TSF Seasons Guidebook here: https://www.anniefdowns.com/seasons/ . . . . . Show notes . . . . . Find more about Annie's new Where Did TJ Go? book here . . . . . Join us as we read the gospels together again over on the Let’s Read the Gospels podcast! . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What an actual treat to get to talk to Eddie every single month this year... listen for an update on if he's going anywhere?! And also... a special update on his robe situation. We also talk lots of minutes of serious about marriage, friendships, and of course the new Wicked movie. I think you'll enjoy this last show of the year! . . . . . Find the TSF Seasons Guidebook at anniefdowns.com/seasons. View the show notes here . . . . . Join us as we read the gospels together again starting January 1st over on the Let’s Read the Gospels podcast! . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s something really profound to be said about the changing of a season—winter, spring, summer, fall—but even more so—there’s something profound about actually realizing which season you’re in emotionally, physically, and spiritually. To pay attention to your season raises some important questions... Where is the hope in the winter? What’s blooming in and around us in the spring? What kind of fun are we chasing in the summer? And what’s being harvested in the fall? These are the themes that will be the center of the That Sounds Fun Podcast in 2025. We’re going to spend the entire year talking about the spiritual impact of all four seasons in our lives. We’ll use questions about the seasons we find ourselves in as guides for the conversations on the podcast and we’ll also have some episodes that are just me processing with you. We’ve created a TSF Seasons Guidebook as a companion to walk through this year with you. It includes space for you to take notes and capture your reflections on the podcast episodes, some fun activities and recipes to try, scripture to reflect on, and journal prompts to respond to. We’ll deliver additional pages at the beginning of each season so that, by the end of the year as we’ve walked through all four seasons together, we’ll be able to look back at all God has taught us and what we’ve seen Him do for us, in us, with us. We are really looking forward to this year and hope you'll join us. Find the guidebook here: www.anniefdowns.com/seasons . . . . . Want to watch this trailer on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast in 2025, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friend Matthew West is here and I loved this conversation! We catch up about work, life, and his new book, Come Home for Christmas. I love that we get to continue our Advent conversations with friends we trust like Matthew and I’m grateful we get to walk into Christmas with the help of his pastoring voice. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to get 10% off your first month. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter our code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off site wide. Lumen: Go to lumen.me/TSF to get 15% off your Lumen. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun. Aura Frames: Save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35-off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code FUN at checkout. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony O'Neal is a financial expert, but today he’s not only helping us think through the vision of how to use our resources, but really the big vision of who’s around us to help us get where we want to be spiritually, relationally, and financially. I love that we’re ending the year here, because it really sets us up well as we think about what kind of 2025 we want to have. Single Purpose League, you’re especially going to love this one too, because Anthony’s single and also navigating the dating world while continuing to work on being the healthiest version of himself right now. His brand new book, Take Your Seat at the Table comes out January 14th and is an incredible resource to help us start the new year well! . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll also love our Build Your Board series and the guidebook would be a great way to help you start the new year. You can find everything at anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer! Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. Daily Look: Head to Dailylook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your order. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friend, Danielle Kartes is here and she’s bringing us the Christmas season food tips (and just all around fun) that we need. We talk about her journey from selling make up to becoming a regular on the Kelly Clarkson show. Her story is full of hard work and hope, and you do not want to miss her hilarious story at the end about... a cherry tomato. Danielle is an author, recipe genius, and entrepreneur living near Seattle. She and her husband run their boutique food, lifestyle, and commercial photography business, Rustic Joyful Food. She has written and published four cookbooks, seven children’s books, and one devotional memoir, and she is a regular culinary contributor to The Kelly Clarkson Show and The TODAY Show. . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . If you liked this episode, you'll love these! 2019 Christmas Party Episode 6: Aarti Sequeira Episode 495: Aarti Sequeira on What Praying Before You Cook Can Do . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.ccom/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. StoryWorth: Go to StoryWorth.com/thatsoundsfun and save $10 on your first purchase! Aura Frames: Save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35-off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code FUN at checkout. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friends, Jen and Jami are here and we’re reviewing Great American Family Christmas movies! Did we create our own rating system?! YES, YES WE DID. If you want to watch these too, check your local listings for Great American Family or download the Pure Flix app to stream them. You can find all the info at pureflix.com. And don’t forget, we created a bingo board for you to fill out while you watch! . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Shopify: Go to shopify.com/soundsfun to upgrade your selling today. LiquidIV: Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to liquidiv.com and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. Thrive Causemetics: Get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com right now to get your home holiday ready. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to talk with the king of whimsy himself, Bob Goff. This is his third time back to That Sounds Fun and he’s always a good friend to us and a really wise voice we can learn from. His new book Catching Whimsy is a 365 day devotional challenging us to intentionally live a life full of kindness and wonder and, of course, some whimsy too. He shares stories of visiting prisons in a Santa Claus suit, building a giraffe habitat, and encourages us to get curious about other people. I think you'll really like this one. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Aura Frames: Save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35-off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code FUN at checkout. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter our code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Ritual: Get 25% off your first month at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to talk with my long-time friend Lanier Ivester. I’ve known her for 30 years and I don’t think I’ve talked publicly much about my grandmother’s book store, but Lanier worked there growing up, so this conversation was so sacred to me—to relive some of those memories, to get to talk about my grandmother AND THEN get to talk about the Advent & Christmastide season, which y’all know is sacred to me too. Lanier’s very first book, Glad and Golden Hours: A Companion for Advent and Christmastide, is out now and it's so good. She has walked through great grief in infertility, losing her parents, and a house fire. I think you’re really going to love getting to know her story and her heart. We also recorded a little bonus for Single Purpose League too. . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. Go to DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer! KiwiCo: Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo code THATSOUNDSFUN. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, December 1st, kicks off Advent, and you know how I feel about ADVENT! I have absolutely zero chill that we finally get to start our Advent series with a ton of you today. We truly have been talking about this one and planning for this one for a long time. Today is the only day we’re going to share our Advent series here on the That Sounds Fun feed, but if you listen along and decide you want to join us for this series, you can jump in anytime! You’ll find the links to purchase the digital bundle over at anniefdowns.com/advent. Once you download it, you get to choose if you want to listen to each day’s devotion, read them, or watch them on video. Whether you’re starting your day, running errands, cooking a meal, or working out, I hope these 9 minutes offer you an invitation to not let this Advent season pass you by without acknowledging where your hope is and where you can find it. Join us for the rest of the series here: anniefdowns.com/advent . . . . . Advent Facebook Group . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Name a better way to spend Thanksgiving than listening to a conversation with our pal Eddie Kaufolz. We’ve been recapping each year of the past 10 years with Eddie and can you believe we’ve made it to recapping 2023? LAST year?! Except we barely mention it... we mainly just catch up, talk Thanksgiving traditions and food, invent the term "travel robes" LOL, and you don't want to miss where you can potentially see Eddie TODAY on TV.... and no its not the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (hint: woof woof). . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sadie Robertson Huff and I talk about what it looks like to figure out a next step forward when you feel stuck, Her lifestyle devotional called, The Next Step, released last week and y’all are going to love it! This would be such a great gift for a girl in your life who’s trying to navigate a “next thing,” whether that be a new semester at school, figuring a job change, or taking steps towards something they’ve been dreaming about. Plus, you know Sadie’s like a little sister to me, so it’s always the best to just catch up about life. We talked about all the things happening with her podcast and Live Original (or LO, as you’ll hear us call it), family traditions around the holidays, and her balancing working and being a mom. I love just love her and work she’s doing for the kingdom. . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Lumen: if you want to stay on track with your health this holiday season, go to lumen.me/TSF to get 15% off your Lumen. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/soundsfun. Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . If you enjoyed this episode, I also think you’ll also love any of these previous episodes! How to Share Your Faith with Willie Robertson – Episode 894 Episode 362: Sadie Robertson Huff That Sounds Fun Podcast Episode 42: Sadie Robertson TSF Couples 2020: Sadie Robertson Huff + Christian Huff . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is the official birthday of That Sounds Fun. Ten years ago today, the first episode released. Yes, of course we’ve been celebrating all year, but I couldn’t let the actual day of the start come and go without pausing and giving thanks, for you and with you. This podcast also opened the door for my first ever show at the Ryman Auditorium- truly a dream come true. Over 2,000 of you were in the room with us, but that’s just a fraction of the friends listening today. So I thought it would be fun to grab our old pal Eddie for a few minutes, who was an integral part of the night, and recap it for you here. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Little Women’s Christmas is a contemporary retelling of the beloved classic novel, and it follows the lives and loves of the March sisters in a small Tennessee town at Christmas. It was filmed here in Franklin, TN and your girl AFD got a small cameo in it! I can’t for you to see. Today, we’re sitting down with 3 of the cast members: Laura Osnes who plays Beth March, Julia Reilly who plays Amy March, and Jesse Hutch who plays John. The movie premieres this Saturday, November 23rd at 8pm ET/7pm CT on Great American Family and Pure Flix (pureflix.com), so you’re going to want to check your local listings to see if you get Great American Family or head to pureflix.com and start their free 7-day trial so you’re ready to watch on Saturday. Invite your friends, put on your comfy clothes and let’s watch this adorable movie together. . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Ritual: Get 25% off your first month at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter our code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Story Worth: Go to StoryWorth.com/thatsoundsfun and save $10 on your first purchase! Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun. Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. -- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strahan Coleman is a teacher at Practicing the Way, founder of the ministry Commoners Communion, AND he’s an award-winning musician. He lives in New Zealand with his wife and three young boys and in his latest book, Thirsting, Strahan poetically explores how to rediscover and fulfill our deepest desire through communion with God. We talk about how his chronic illness and losing his ability to sing lead him into a deeper friendship and closeness with God, the depths of God being like the dark ocean, the time it takes for a tree to produce fruit, and more. I hope this conversation leaves you thirsting for more of God. . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Every week of November, AG1 will be running a special Black Friday offer for a free gift with your first subscription, in addition to the Welcome Kit with Vitamin D3+K2. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to see what gift you can get this week! Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. Go Bible: The Go Bible is available wherever Bibles are sold online, as well as KidsGoBible.com or at your favorite local bookstore! Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Bevere is one of those wise, mothering voices we all can learn from—strong and full of wisdom—and today we’re talking about being empowered women running after God. Her latest book The Fight for Female is out now so you’re going to hear all about it and hear why this was the book that was needed for our generation of women right now, in 2024. . . . . Other topics include miscarriage and infant loss, Heaven, mothering voices, and fasting. . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Daily Look: Head to Dailylook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your order. KiwiCo: Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo code THATSOUNDSFUN. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y’all get ready, because today I get to talk with my friend, Ellen Skrmetti—one of my favorite follows on Instagram. I bet you love her too…she makes those “Hey Jesus, it’s me,” videos…and she’s just as funny in person as she is online. Her southern humor is just spot on in the bless-your-heart kind of way and I laughed so much during this conversation. We did a real deep dive on how her comedy career got started, church potlucks, the speed of funerals, panty hose, a new sausage ball recipe… and we also got to talk about her brand new book, Hey Jesus, It’s Me. Y’all, hand to heaven, ask my coworkers, I laughed out loud multiple times reading this book. It is so funny and so good. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! Find the show notes here! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! WayFair: Head to Wayfair.com now to shop Wayfair’s Black Friday Deals. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/soundsfun. Fatty15: You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/TSF and using code TSF at checkout. LiquidIV: Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to liqiudiv.com and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who else absolutely LOVED the book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever growing up? It was one of my favorites and tomorrow it’s coming to the big screen, and we get to talk all about it today with Dallas Jenkins, who directed the movie, and his wife, Amanda. Y’all know them and love them already because Dallas is the director of The Chosen, but I’m telling you, I’ve cried BOTH times I’ve seen this screening of this movie. You’re going to LOVE it. Do not miss Dallas's story at the end of how he got to produce this amazing movie! . . . . Find the show notes here! . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Factor: Head to factormeals.com/tsf50 and use code tsf50 to get 50% off your first box and 20% off your next month. Ritual: Go to ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN for 25% off. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may remember Bethany Joy Lenz from One Tree Hill (she was Haley James Scott on the show), but today she is being generous with her story of faith and freedom and identity, as she talks about the journey of finding herself in a cult, the manipulation she experienced, and the empowerment she found to break way from it all. She shares even more of this story and the destruction narcissism can cause in her brand new memoir, Dinner for Vampires, which, y’all, I seriously couldn't put down. . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Every week of November, AG1 will be running a special Black Friday offer for a free gift with your first subscription, in addition to the Welcome Kit with Vitamin D3+K2. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to see what gift you can get this week! Great American Family: For all the Great American Family goodness, go to pureflix.com to start your free trial! Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Helix Sleep: Get 25% sitewide + 2 FREE dream pillows with any mattress purchase at helixsleep.com/ThatSoundsFun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In case you haven’t been with us for a while, once a month we’re recapping each of the last 10 years in honor of the 10th anniversary of That Sounds Fun, so this month, we’re recapping 2022... but what we actually do is talk about anything else. Today we talk big about the World Series and (mainly Shohei Ohtani), Lin-Manuel Miranda, AI, and water because why not. Also, let us know on Instagram what you would with 41 million dollars!!! . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join us for our Advent series, Stay Tuned! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. KiwiCo: Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo code THATSOUNDSFUN. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learning how to be a person of faith in 2024 seems very challenging and the center of a lot of conversations these days. Today felt like the perfect time to talk to my friend Phil Manginelli about what's going on in the world, in the US, in our faith, and where those all meet. Phil equips churches and organizations teaching internationally on navigating the cultural landscape of a post-Christian world and following Jesus in a secular age, and serves as the Lead Pastor of The Square in Smyrna, GA. I think you all will love this conversation and his new book You Are Not Alone: A Guide To Following Jesus In A Secular Age. . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/soundsfun. Thrive Causemetics: get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Orgain: Go to orgain.com/THATSOUNDSFUN for 20% off and make sure you use my promo code, THATSOUNDSFUN. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/TSF and using code TSF at checkout. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. It would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Spotify as well. Your ratings and reviews help us spread the word to new friends! And your feedback lets me know how I can better serve you. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you will LOVE this one: The Spiritual and Cultural War on Men with Jon Tyson – Episode 887 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going there today! My friend Ryan Wekenman and I talk about how to help our churches and pastors understand how to serve the single people in their church. Ryan’s a pastor at Red Rocks Austin and he’s also the author of Single Today, which came out earlier this year. We also talk about finding contentment and being present in your current season, finding community, and permission to change your mind in big life choices. No matter your season or relationship status, I think you'll find this conversation really helpful. If you’re single (or know someone who is), our open registration season for Single Purpose League is coming to a close next week (on Oct. 28th), and it won’t open again until the New Year, so make sure you come join us, especially because you’ll get to go through our Advent series, Stay Tuned, together. You can find all the details at singlepurposeleague.com. There's a resource that I want to give you, too, at anniefdowns.com/pastoringsingles. It's a short PDF that offers some ideas to help your pastor connect with the people who aren’t married in their church. . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Lumen: Go to lumen.me/TSF to get 15% off your Lumen. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you will LOVE this one: Singleness in the Church with David Platt- Episode 857 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of my BFFs, Danielle Walker, is back and this is her 5th time on That Sounds Fun, so you know what that means, right?! HALL OF FUN induction. Her new cookbook is called Make It Easy: A Healthy Meal Prep and Menu Planning Guide and I’m telling you.. If you’re already building your Christmas wish list, put this on it. Especially those of you who like a meal prep plan. She’s got you covered. Y’all know I don’t cook much, but when I do… Danielle’s my girl for all the recipes. We also answer some of your questions you asked her on our AFD Week In Review! Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! other topics we cover: Infant Loss Awareness Day, insecurities, New York Times Bestsellers, favorite New York restaurants, and Disneyland . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join us for our Advent study this year at anniefdowns.com/advent! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/soundsfun. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. Daily Look: Head to Dailylook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your order. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Advent season rolls around every year, the theme that always leads the way is waiting with anticipation. Waiting with excitement because the birth of Christ is near. But sometimes that’s hard because Advent is ANOTHER season of waiting for a lot of us. How do we level up excitement and joy around WAITING when it feels like waiting is our whole year? That’s why we’ve created Stay Tuned: An Advent Series For Those Already Waiting—a series designed for anyone struggling with unanswered prayers and hope that feels a bit worn out. Whether you’re single or simply navigating a tough season, this Advent, we’ll face the challenges of waiting together and discover the beauty and purpose in the midst of it. Join us for three weeks of devotionals (available in written form, audio, and video), prayers, and reflection questions on how to wrestle with the waiting, find hope in it all, and celebrate the faithfulness of God as we anticipate the arrival of our King. For all the Advent details and to purchase this series: https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we get to sit under the wisdom of a mothering voice who understands long obedience in the same direction. What a gift. If you don’t know her already, Darlene Zschech is a Christian music LEGEND. She's an acclaimed Australian composer, worship leader, pastor, author, and speaker who helped pioneer the modern worship movement in the Church from the 1990’s onwards. Her new album “Testament” marks the milestone 30-year anniversary of “Shout to the Lord,” her song that became an anthem for the church worldwide. Her voice and that song has absolutely shaped my faith, and I got to tell her today (yes, I cried). . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Liquid IV: Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to liquid.com and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. Fatty15: You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/TSF and using code TSF at checkout. KiwiCo: Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo code THATSOUNDSFUN. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you LOVE these episodes! Episode 465: CeCe Winans on How the Holy Spirit Changes Everything, Perseverance, and Building Your Legacy in the Church Episode 302: Michael W. Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is Lysa Terkeurst’s 4th time here on the podcast and she’s that friend to all of us who just isn’t afraid to talk about the real and hard things that she’s walked through and what God’s taught her through it. Her brand new book came out this week… it’s called I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t… so we’re going in on broken trust and what to do with it. After several painful friendship breakups, the death of her marriage and other devastating betrayals, Lysa realized she was caught in a cycle of distrust and this book is the journey to figuring out how to move forward from it. I have no doubt there’s someone who’s broken your trust before (and maybe even recently), so you’re going to learn a ton from this book and this friend. . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Ritual: Get 25% off your first month at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Great American Family: Go to pureflix.com to start your free trial! . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to talk with my friend, Kendra Adachi or better known as The Lazy Genius. Y’all know Kendra has helped me Lazy Genius all the things.. my kitchen… basically my whole life. And y’all are going to LOOOVE her new book on time management called The Plan. She says, “you’re not starting something today, you are starting with where you are today.” It doesn’t matter if you’re working full time or part time or managing your home or school work, this book is sooo helpful. I always love learning from Kendra and I think you will too. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/soundsfun. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Wayfair: Wayfair is your one-stop-holiday shop for everything on your to-do list this season. Head to Wayfair.com right now to get your home holiday ready. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/soundsfun. If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you LOVE these episodes! Discernment and Decisions with Emily P. Freeman – Episode 869 Episode 280: Emily Ley + Growing Boldly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to catch up with one of my favorite dudes, Mack Brock. This is Mack’s third time back with us, but his first time flying solo! He and his wife, Meredith, have been here twice for our couples series in 2019 and 2021. I have no doubt you’re already listening to Mack’s music and probably singing them at church, but don’t even realize he wrote them. Mack was one of the founding members of Elevation Worship, but we get to talk about his brand new full-length album that just released last week called This is Holy. Y’all. The lyrics. The music. The song his daughter got to be a part of. We’re going to talk about all of it. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, America’s Favorite Government Teacher, Sharon McMahon, is here and we are all the better for it. Is there not a more perfect time than now for her to guide us through election season AND talk about her brand new book- The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement. We also talk about her 14 hour work days, how to navigate all the news sources, voting on policies or character, and why we vote. We are big Sharon fans around here and I know alot of you are too, so I can’t wait for you to hear this one. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Listen to The Fortitude Podcast Fatty15: You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/TSF and using code TSF at checkout. KiwiCo: Get 50% off your first month on ANY crate line at kiwico.com with promo code THATSOUNDSFUN Daily Look: Head to Dailylook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your order. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you LOVE these episodes! Episode 442: Sharon McMahon on Presidents, Current Events, and Our Responsibility as Everyday Americans Engaging in Politics with Gentleness with Michael Wear – Episode 855 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our buddy Eddie Kaufholz is back! If you haven’t been around for a minute, once a month we’re recapping each of the last 10 years in honor of the 10th anniversary of That Sounds Fun, so this month, we’re recapping 2021... but more importantly wow discuss Eddie's college band, signing up for Saturday Night Live tickets, and we also invent a name for those close friends you'd wear no make up around and a 20 year old t-shirt and gym shorts. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Nuture Life: Go to NurtureLife.com and use code TSF for 55% off your first order. Orgain: Go to Orgain.com/THATSOUNDSFUN and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 20% off your order. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y'ALL, get ready to laugh with my new friend, Leanne Morgan! You may know her and love her from her comedy special on Netflix or seeing her videos pop up on Instagram, but Leanne is here today and if you don’t already love her, you’re about to. She’s a comedian, actress, writer, producer, wife, mom, AND grandmama, and her brand new book, What In the World?! releases tomorrow. You’re going to love this book and you’re going to love her. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/soundsfun. Lumen: Go to lumen.me/TSF to get 15% off your Lumen. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. . . . . . It would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Spotify as well. Your ratings and reviews help us spread the word to new friends! And your feedback lets me know how I can better serve you. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you will LOVE these episodes! 2021 Christmas Party Episode 5: Nate Bargatze Episode 373: Anjelah Johnson-Reyes + Who Do You Think I Am? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, get ready to laugh. My longtime friend Lyndsay Rush is here, but you may know her better from her instagram accounts: rushbomb or maryoliversdrunkcousin. Lyndsay is hysterical and found herself writing poems on social media that eventually turned into a book deal, and this week, Lyndsay’s very first book of published poetry releases called, A Bit Much. We talk about getting older, moving, friendships changing, and the gift poetry gives you to think. Lyndsay and I became friends when she first moved to Nashville (over a decade ago) and it’s been so much fun to see her superpower gift of words and wit turn into a book we can hold and read. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Liquid IV: Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to liquidiv.com and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you will LOVE this episode with fellow poets: Friendship & Poetry with Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore – Episode 865 . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, my friend Alyssa Bethke is here and you’re in for a treat. Alyssa and her family recently moved to Nashville from MAUI, so we talked all about the transition and what that’s been like and then dug into her latest book, When Doing it All is Undoing You. Does anyone else get overwhelmed when fall rhythms start back?! We talk about trying to to do too much, holding everything together, managing and controlling our circumstances. What do we do when we start falling apart? I think you'll really like this one. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/soundsfun. Daily Look: Head to Dailylook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your order. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. Factor: Use code tsf50 at factormeals.com/tsf50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month while your subscription is active! . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. It would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Spotify as well. Your ratings and reviews help us spread the word to new friends! And your feedback lets me know how I can better serve you. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you LOVE these episodes! TSF Couples 2019: Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke Heaven and Humility with Megan Fate Marshman – Episode 910 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few days ago, I did a question box on my instagram about my dual citizenship between Nashville and New York City, particularly about being in New York since I currently am. One of the questions that was asked was “Have there been any surprising disappointments in this otherwise fun year?” And while I was able to answer most of the submitted questions on the little one slide of an instagram story, this one deserves a whole episode. Because yes, while this has been a very fun experience, it has also been very very hard. And disappointing. If you have thoughts to share, there’s a great place for that on instagram… @thatsoundsfunpodcast. I’d love to hear anything that came up for you in this episode and any suggestions of topics you’d like to hear future episodes about. ..... Check out my instagram page @afdinnyc Listen to all AFD in NYC Episodes HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carlos Whittaker...you know him and love him and he’s a Hall of Funner. We’re diving into the project he’s been working on the the past few years. If you don’t follow Carlos on social media and haven’t heard about this, you’re going to be fascinated. Carlos spent 7 weeks away from screens and spent time with monks and amish farmers to see how it would impact his life AND his brain. He’s written all about it in his brand new book, Reconnected AND he’s been working on a documentary of the whole thing. We’re going to talk about all of it today. Buckle up! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: Rwanda, African New Life, pickle ball, family, the Amish, monks . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Wayfair: Visit Wayfair.com or get the Wayfair mobile app. NutureLife: Head to NurtureLife.com and use code TSF for 55% off your first order. KiwiCo: Get 50% off your first month on ANY crate line at kiwico.com with promo code THATSOUNDSFUN. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. . . . . . Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. It would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Spotify as well. Your ratings and reviews help us spread the word to new friends! And your feedback lets me know how I can better serve you. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you will LOVE these episodes! Episode 433: Carlos Whittaker on Friendship, Humanity, and Holy Spirit Lent & Fasting with Dr. Darren Whitehead – Episode 861 Learning to Unplug with Hannah Brencher- Episode 914 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, one of our favorites is back. Sophie Hudson, also known as Boo Mama, is here! Sophie’s latest book, A Fine Sight to See, comes out tomorrow and it’s all women embracing their role as leaders, so you KNOW we’re going to talk about it today. BUT ALSO College Football has started back, so we couldn't help but discuss that, too. I think you'll really enjoy this conversation with Sophie who is an author, podcaster, and all around delight of a human. She’s the co-host of the Big Boo Cast with Melanie Shankle and if y’all aren’t listening to them tell the most ridiculous stories, you’re missing out! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: college sports, sorority rush, Exodus, Moses, music, social media, the enneagram . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Ritual: Get 25% off your first month at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at Shopify.com/soundsfun. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. It would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Spotify as well. Your ratings and reviews help us spread the word to new friends! And your feedback lets me know how I can better serve you. . . . . . If you liked THIS episode, you will LOVE these episodes! Episode 51: Sophie Hudson Episode 228: Sophie Hudson Episode 204: Melanie Shankle + On the Bright Side Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices