I love being friends with Elisabeth Hasselbeck . She is every bit as genuine and kind and truth-telling as you expect her to be. You'll hear in this conversation all about her prayer life, her family life, her television life, and her author life. Her new book Point of View just released this week and I think you will really love it. Get your journal out, there are nuggets galore in this one. . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags ar...
Mar 28, 2019•1 hr 11 min
I've been a fan of David Crowder for about as long as I've been buying music. He is one of my favorite musicians, one of my favorite writers (y'all have GOT to read some of his prose), and now one of my favorite dudes. This conversation was incredibly fun and entertaining for me across the table, I cannot wait to hear how you feel about it too! Crowder's newest album I Know A Ghost is a really good one. Father, Son, Holy Spirit- that part of this convo stuck with me. What a genius. I think you'r...
Mar 25, 2019•56 min
You probably recognize Trudy's maiden name- Cathy. Like Truett Cathy. Like CHICK-FIL-A. Trudy Cathy White is way more than fried chicken, though. Over the last few years as I have gotten to know her, she has taught me faithfulness, joy, long obedience in the same direction. Every conversation moves me to be better. Her new book Climb Every Mountain will walk you through the harder days. It's so so beautiful. Enjoy this convo and tell me your favorite Chick-fil-A order! :) . . . . . http://annief...
Mar 21, 2019•49 min
Gracious I love Lysa TerKeurst. What an honor and a joy to have her on the podcast. If you haven't heard her speak live, GO DO IT. If you haven't read her books yet, WHY NOT. If you haven't heard a conversation with her recorded with you in mind, you're welcome. :) Make sure you grab a copy of her new book It's Not Supposed To Be This Way . It is so moving and inspiring and I'm sure you will connect with it in your own way, just like I did. . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ...
Mar 18, 2019•1 hr 4 min
One of my favorite things in the whole world is introducing my friends to my friends. I bet many of you already know Trey Kennedy from his comedy and videos and killer voice- he's the best. But hearing more about his life and spiritual disciplines and faith experience is going to be the best part of your day. Trey is one of my friends that I look forward to living life with over the next few decades to see how his discipline and heart and talent shape his life. Three cheers for great (and FUNNY)...
Mar 14, 2019•1 hr 11 min
MY GIRL MERE! I've been WAITING to get her onto the podcast. Meredith Andrews has been dear to me for years- it's been long overdue to bring her to meet you. Her new live worship album Faith & Wonder just released last week and it is on repeat nonstop in my house. I think you're gonna love it, too. And Mere. She is a GIFT. . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. ...
Mar 11, 2019•1 hr 10 min
For 30 days in 2019, over 400 churches in the greater Nashville area prayed and fasted together for revival in our city. Pastor Dave Clayton from Ethos Church and Cross Point Pastor Kevin Queen (pastor of the pod, duh) came into my office to chat about Awaken Nashville- answer questions about why/how it got started, tell stories about what we've seen so far, and talk about what the first steps are for you to start this in your city. http://awakennashville.com . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #th...
Mar 08, 2019•1 hr 5 min
I only know how to play three songs on the guitar, and Julie Roberts 's song "Break Down Here" is one of them. I've never met her before but WOW am I glad to have met her. This conversation- about growing up, country music, marriage, and an MS diagnosis- runs the full gamut. Her new book Beauty in the Breakdown is an amazing and inspiring read. You're gonna love this woman and this book! . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are wel...
Mar 07, 2019•1 hr 8 min
It's a special day here on the podcast as we welcome Jonathan Pitts- pastor, author, and husband to my friend, the late Wynter Pitts. The very day she passed away, Jonathan and Wynter turned in a book on marriage called Emptied . I thought talking about this book, and Wynter, and Jonathan's transition to Nashville, would be great at the end of TSF Couples 2019. Hope you'll enjoy this very moving and honest conversation with Jonathan. (We love you, Wynter. You are missed here.) https://twitter.co...
Mar 04, 2019•1 hr 6 min
To finish out our couples month on the podcast, I got two of my favorites around the microphones... Pastor Kevin Queen and his wife Rea! It's right to end the month with a seasoned couple (married 19 years!) who can walk us through some of the hard seasons of marriage. So many of my questions are answered in this one. I'm so grateful. This one is for you, husbands. (Kevin gives the best piece of advice I've maybe ever heard to men.) This one is for you, wives. (Rea shares some deeply important i...
Feb 28, 2019•1 hr 10 min
Andrew East is an NFL long snapper. Shawn Johnson East is an Olympic gold medalist gymnast. POWER ATHLETE COUPLE FOR REAL. Together they are one of my very favorite couples (in real life and on instagram). I have loved watching their marriage grow and change via the internet, and this conversation is a special one - about how to meet the right person, how to persevere in your dreams, and how to make patterns and decisions that will make you who you want to be in the long run of life. Y'all are g...
Feb 25, 2019•1 hr
The stars of Flip or Flop Atlanta , Ken and Anita Corsini have an incredible story of God opening doors for them, how He ordered their steps, and how He sustained them when their son had cancer. This is far more than a story of HGTV celebs (though they are that too!)- it's deep and beautiful. We've been friends since college- over 20 years- and this is one of my favorite conversations with them ever. . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever has...
Feb 21, 2019•59 min
I'm a little without description on this one, I'm just so happy about it. Mack and Meredith Brock are two strong leaders who have found home in each other. The depth of their communication and relationship is so dang inspiring to me (and wait until you hear how they talk about fasting and praying!). Mack Brock's most recent album Greater Things is an ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. Make sure you grab it! Grateful for these two. The fact they are also HILARIOUS seems borderline unfair- people shouldn't be thi...
Feb 18, 2019•1 hr 1 min
It wouldn't be TSF Couples month here in Nashville without a country music super-couple! So here we are with Russell Dickerson and his amazing wife Kailey . I only cry once in this one... it's just so special, y'all. Make sure you check out Russell's music- truly one of my favorite voices in the country space right now. Even if you aren't totally a country fan (yet!), he might be the one to win you over. https://russelldickerson.com (PS- I love TSF Couples month SO SO MUCH. I hope y'all are enjo...
Feb 14, 2019•1 hr 3 min
I know this is one of your favorite "couples" that come on our show- MINE TOO! This episode is perfect combination of a friendship we want to get to know AND the start of Lent season leading towards Easter! The SheReadsTruth girls and I talk all about healthy friendship with women, but we also talk about the next reading plans- four weeks of Job and four weeks of the Easter story (then Revelation eek). https://www.shopshereadstruth.com Remember to use the code "thatsoundsfun" to get 15% off your...
Feb 11, 2019•1 hr 8 min
TSF Couples Month continues with Jeff and Alyssa Bethke . These are two of my favorite friends to follow on socials and keep up with as their marriage and family grows and changes and strengthens. And they live in Maui so who wouldn't want to see that life on the regular? :) This episode brings up some important practices and disciplines to survive those young toddler years (three under five? THESE PEOPLE ARE BRAVE!) and these two are so honest about their joys and struggles. For many of you rig...
Feb 07, 2019•1 hr 4 min
TSF Couples Month REALLY kicks off today with these two adorable and amazing humans- newlyweds Jessica Mack and Dre Plackis. Jess and I have known each other for a while here in Nashville, she's a gifted singer/songwriter and one of the cast members of CMT's Music City , a reality show based here in town. Dre and Jess met between the two seasons of Music City (you're gonna hear the whole story and IT IS AWESOME) and their wedding was featured in the last two episodes of Season 2 of Music City ! ...
Feb 04, 2019•1 hr 14 min
No better way to kick off our month of couples than with these two (who are actually, in fact, not a romantic couple). Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden are the hosts of The Popcast and Bible Binge, as well as some very very fun side shows they offer their Patron community. You can find everything you want to know about them over at KnoxandJamie.com ! We fling from here to there in this convo and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I've been DYING to be friends with these two and now they are so totall...
Jan 31, 2019•1 hr 11 min
I am just so excited to have my longtime friend Lisa Leonard on the podcast. I have been wearing her jewelry for almost a decade, and reading her words on her blog, but her book is a whole new thing. (It's amazing.) Lisa is so creative and wise and honest. Her new book Brave Love is just beautiful. You're gonna love it. We had some tech difficulties so we didn't get to talk as long as I wanted to, but I think you will love what we got! . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... j...
Jan 28, 2019•38 min
I love love love having pastors on the show- they just always have some nuggets for us that will lead to good growth and change. Scott Sauls is one of those pastors to me- he is an expert on faith and culture and where those meet, as well as just a kind, generous, and thoughtful human. I'm grateful for where this conversation went as we talked all about struggles and faith life and changes and HOPE. His new book Irresistible Faith released this week. Make sure you grab a copy- it's so so good. (...
Jan 24, 2019•1 hr
My girl Hollyn is on the show today and y'all just aren't even going to believe this story. What I thought was a simple, "update me on life" question led to a whole episode of how God writes stories that are unlike anything we could do for ourselves. To finish up the Next Gen series, another expert from inside the Next Gen camp, reminding us that God is at work in all of our lives, no matter your age, and if you seek Him you WILL find Him. Pretty fun one. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. . . . ...
Jan 21, 2019•1 hr 6 min
Y'all. This one surprised me. I called a couple of my favorite gals- Camden (13), Raleigh (15), and Katie Marie (19)- to see if we could talk all about being a teenager. Because all of our experts this month have been experts BUT who knows teens better than teens. And these young women BLEW MY MIND. Buckle up for an incredibly beautiful and profound conversation. (Also dear adults, here's a spoiler: we still don't need to be on snapchat- teens think that is weird, but we need to understand it.) ...
Jan 17, 2019•1 hr 9 min
Pretty often, JP Pokluda 's name crosses in front of me, so I've known of him for a long time. But this was our first time getting to be friends. But I knew when I was gathering up experts on the next generation, he was one of the dudes I wanted to speak into this series. So far our experts have been talking to us about middle and high schoolers (mostly), but JP is here to talk college (mostly). :) We're also gonna hit a few other topics I think you will love- like hearing God, accountability, a...
Jan 14, 2019•50 min
Fifteen years ago, Drew Hill and I served in the same student ministry. He and his wife Natalie moved to Athens, Georgia and became the leaders of the student ministry where I was volunteering. I learned so so much from him the year we served together. Impacted me forever. Drew has been committed to investing in the next generation for twenty years and he's finally (literally FINALLY) written a book called Alongside: Loving Teenagers with the Gospel . When I think of who loves teens well, and sh...
Jan 10, 2019•58 min
We are taking a few episodes to talk about the next generation- what it looks like to invest in them, how to care for them, and how to love them well. When I think about who speaks teenage the best and can teach us a whole lot, it is Amy Byrd . She is the director of girls ministry at Hunter Street Baptist Church and also an absolutely brilliant writer, gifted speaker, and excellent friend. I think you're just gonna love her and her thoughts. Whether you are friends with a teenager, raising a te...
Jan 07, 2019•58 min
HAPPY NEW YEAR, friends! So glad to be kicking off another season with you. We have some fun plans in the next few weeks, and I wanted to start the year by having a conversation with Carey Nieuwhof . Pastor, teacher, author, podcast host, leadership expert, Carey has a lot of right answers for the questions we are asking right now about how to start 2019 in a way that leads us to the healthiest year yet. His newest book, Didn't See It Coming , is helping me to navigate some important things this...
Jan 03, 2019•52 min
There was no other way to end the year than having our old pal Eddie Kaufholz back on the show. We talk about 2018 like it can't hear us- the things we loved and hated, the ways it surprised us, Eddie's big changes this year (and he parents his daughters a few times), and we dive deep into plans for 2019. This is a thinker and an LOLer. Of course it is. Thanks for an amazingly fun year, you guys. I wouldn't do this without you. Over 5 million downloads and 70+ shows in 2018, and still the best p...
Dec 27, 2018•1 hr 4 min
I've never gotten to do a Christmas Eve show until this year, AND I AM SO THRILLED ABOUT IT. I imagine this being the episode you listen to as you drive home, or cook for your people, or out on a walk with your pup to get a little break from family time, or driving to and from the golf course. Or maybe y'all turn on the tree and gather around, old school style, and listen together. Loads of people on this one- the Downs Books team, lots of my #miniBFFs, Pastor Kevin, AND MY MOM AND DAD. This is ...
Dec 24, 2018•46 min
My friend Nicolle Galyon throws incredible parties. Never stressful, never stuffy, always welcoming and incredibly fun. So when we planned our Hallmark Movie watching party for Saturday night (remember we're all watching Jingle Around The Clock on 12/22 at 8pm/7pmCT), I knew I wanted Nicolle to come and teach me how to throw a party like she does! Also. I should mention. She is a Grammy-nominated, award-winning songwriter with five number one hits. CASUAL, NICOLLE. ( Here is the playlist of the ...
Dec 20, 2018•57 min
We've had some huge stars on the podcast this year, but today exceeds them all. Santa Claus is here. Parents- I *think* it's okay for your kids to hear this one, we didn't say anything that would lead to heartbreak, except for Santa's dislike for mall Santas. But just heads up that I know some of my pals who listen are under the age of 12 and I wouldn't want you to proceed without a tiny warning that, well, Santa tells us some behind the scenes of the North Pole and we hear from an angry elf. (A...
Dec 17, 2018•52 min
