Today is an exciting day over here at AFD Inc! Because we’re launching Single Purpose League TODAY (make sure to click the link to find out more!!), we wanted to have a real conversation about being single in the church… because…well… it’s a whole thing. There’s a lot of beauty to it, but there’s also a lot of hurt, misunderstanding, and disappointment, so we invited my long-time friend, Pastor David Platt back on pod, so we could have an honest conversation about how singles can thrive in their...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min
We’re taking things back to 2014 with our good buddy, Eddie Kaufholz. If you missed the news, each month this year, in honor of our 10th Anniversary of That Sounds Fun Podcast, Eddie and I will be reviewing each year the podcast has existed. We’re going to talk about what happened in the world, the top songs and movies, and what happened in our own lives…this is going to be an adventure back to all the things we forgot and all the memories that have stuck with us too. GOOD GRAVY this is a fun co...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min
How are we this lucky to have a January full of our favorites?! Michael Wear is back on the pod to walk us through how to prep in prayer for this election year, being involved in politics without making it our identity, and telling us about the greatest kitchen tool ever made (does it have something to do with ravioli?...MAYBE). Michael's newest book, The Spirit of Our Politics is such a good read! So helpful. Be sure to grab a copy for yourself and another for your pastor, spiritual leader, or ...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min
John Mark Comer, one of our worldwide favorite guests is back! His newest book, Practicing the Way, is SO GOOD (and like I said...STOUT). We talked all about purifying our motivations through Jesus, the stages of our spiritual journeys, and the social disruption of the digital age. Are we not so lucky that John Mark always makes time and space for us?! I'm so grateful for how he has shaped my life throughout the years. This is another truly incredible conversation to help us really kick off this...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 8 min
I'm thrilled to continue talking about seasons on today's episode with Michelle McKinney Hammond. I have been a fan of hers for two decades and I am just blown away by this conversation. We talk all about having a full life as a single person, why it matters to pay attention to what season we're in, and keeping our eyes on God. Y'all are going to love her newest book, When Shift Happens. We sure do love a theme around here! . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our You...
Jan 15, 2024•59 min
Y'all. God has got a theme for us and we're right in the middle of it. Today, we're talking with my friend Mike Foster about our emotional health. Mike's latest book, Seven Primal Questions, is a framework to help you find emotional freedom and healing. I think this is SUCH a great conversation to really help us step into 2024 well and give us some ways that we can keep growing. Gosh, I'm so grateful for what Mike is teaching us today. To find out what your primal question is, head to primalques...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Today on the show I get to talk to my friend and one of my favorite pastors, Banning Liebscher. Banning has some important things to say about where we should go in 2024, particularly in our spiritual lives. And I am here.for.it! We talked about thankfulness putting us in a position of abundance, having hunger and expectancy for the Lord, and asking God what should this year be shaped like. LET'S GOOOO! I'm so thankful for Banning and the wisdom he brings to this conversation. Welcome to 2024 y'...
Jan 08, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Y'all know Epiphany is my favorite day of the year. I think God might have something special for us this year so I wanted to share some of my thoughts with you. Also, plan to be in Nashville August 11. I'M JUST SAYING.... Make sure to check out Emily P. Freeman's podcast The Next Right Thing, Episode 307: What Worked in 2023. Head to shopanniefdowns.com and use the code TSF to get That Sounds Fun the book for $7! . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channe...
Jan 06, 2024•21 min
Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE.Today's reading is John 3. . . . . Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to download your free January - March 2024 Reading Plan. . . . . Follow Let's Read the Gospels on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 03, 2024•9 min
Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE.Today's reading is John 2. . . . . Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to download your free January - March 2024 Reading Plan. . . . . Follow Let's Read the Gospels on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 02, 2024•8 min
Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE.Today's reading is John 1. . . . . Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to download your free January - March 2024 Reading Plan. . . . . Follow Let's Read the Gospels on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 01, 2024•11 min
Today on the show, we are continuing our annual tradition of looking back at the year and doing a year in review with our good buddy, Eddie Kaufholz. It’s so fun to get a chance to catch up and take a look at 2023 together. We had a very important deodorant conversation, talked about podcasts & tv shows that we love, and of course we had to discuss Travis & Taylor. And we have some REALLY FUN Eddie news we share in this episode. You’re going to love it! Make sure you head to my Instagram...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr 13 min
I am SO honored to get to talk to the brilliant Dr. N.T. Wright and I've been dying for y'all to hear our conversation. Dr. Wright is one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars, so you know we talked a lot about the Gospels! We also talked about the connection between holiness and hope, making yourself a part of the Biblical story, and of course Paul. Dr. Wright's newest book called Into the Heart of Romans is so helpful! I feel incredibly lucky that we get to talk to Biblical scholars li...
Dec 21, 2023•56 min
Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to download your free 2024 January - March Reading Plan. . . . . Follow Let's Read the Gospels on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2023•3 min
The one. The only. Santa Claus HIMSELF is back in the studio to chat with us about gifts, looking for love, outsourcing, and one of our favorite dudes, Dave Barnes and his new album Featherbrained Wealth Motel. As always, I learned so much today...what a gift to get to visit with Santa a week before the big day! Listen to all our episodes with Santa HERE. And watch Santa dancing away HERE. . . . . . Join us as we celebrate Advent together. Go to anniefdowns.com/advent to get started! . . . . Sub...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Y'all know we love to talk about cooking, decorating, and gift giving every Christmas season. So I reached out to my new friend Sabrina Chazen and boy did she not disappoint! I love that today we are getting to talk to one of our Jewish friends about her celebration of Hanukkah, Christmas, and her experience of the world right now. I think you're going to love getting to know Sabrina. Go give her a follow on Instagram for some inspiration this season and to check out all the amazing gifts she me...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Today on the show is a guest y'all have been asking for for a long time…Matt Maher! This is such an incredible conversation that I think you're going to love. We talk all about Matt's Catholic faith, the structure of the Church, Advent, and so much more! This is FOR SURE a note-taking episode. I learned so much!! If you’re looking for another Christmas song to add to your playlist, you’ve also got to check out Matt's latest single, Go Tell It (Gloria) which also features Dwan Hill and The Choir ...
Dec 11, 2023•1 hr 5 min
We have a fun announcement just for the miniBFFs in your life! Annie’s miniBFF Podcast will be back with brand new episodes in 2024! Starting on Monday, January 8th, we’ll be sharing stories from the gospels as depicted in some of our favorite storybook Bibles from our friends at Zonderkidz. We can’t wait to learn more about Jesus with all our miniBFFs (and their grownups too) in the new year! . . . . . Here are the children’s Bibles we’ll be reading. . . . . . Remember to use the code AD20 for ...
Dec 08, 2023•5 min
Today on the show are my New York City besties: Ginna Claire Mason Moffett, Mary Kate Morrissey Blake, and Meredith Toering! We all sat down a few days before I left New York just to recap my two months of living there. Yes, I loved it and yes, I cried. These friends were the catalyst behind me even thinking about moving to New York for a little while so this was so fun (and sad too) to just rehash how it all played out with three of my best friends. If you haven't gotten to listen to the AFD in...
Dec 04, 2023•48 min
The time has come. It's the final episode of AFD in NYC and I'm officially headed back to Nashville! I’m going to go ahead and spoil the ending here: I don’t have a bow to tie on this experience. I don’t have my top ten takeaways. I don’t have big announcements or proclamations. But I do have a story to tell you... I'd love for you to share your questions or thoughts for more episodes like this with me over on @thatsoundsfunpodcast. See you back here tomorrow on That Sounds Fun Podcast! Previous...
Dec 01, 2023•16 min
Oh friends, you know I love when we get to talk about the Gospels and today is one of those days! Kristi McLelland is one of my favorite Bible teachers. She’s also an incredible resource when it comes to learning more about Israel. I think you're really going to enjoy this conversation. We chat all about reading the Bible through a Western lens, pursuing a calling while taking care of our family and community, and what's going on in Israel right now. Kristi's newest book Rediscovering Israel is ...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your December Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . Follow Let's Read the Gospels on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2023•3 min
Cue the Christmas music. Let's GOOOOO!! Chris Brown from Elevation Worship is here to talk about their debut Christmas album, Echo the Angels, the complicated nature of serving the church globally while you're serving locally, and the wonder of Christmas. Y'all. I'm so glad Chris is our new friend of the show!! He's just the best. Make sure to add Echo the Angels to your Christmas playlist and let's see if we can "sneaky Jesus" some of our friends this season. 😉 . . . . . Join us as we celebrat...
Nov 27, 2023•58 min
Y’all, you’re going to love my new friend, Anh Lin! I need you to head over to her social media and go see her beautiful DIY styling and design videos. They are so fun! And listen, if decorating for Christmas is on your to-do list this weekend, maybe her videos and this conversation will inspire some ideas! Anh is also the author of Forever Home which is all about Anh's story and experiencing the abundant life that God designed just for you. It's really beautifully written and I think y'all will...
Nov 23, 2023•50 min
I know y’all love my dear friend, Lisa Harper, and CAN YOU BELIEVE she hasn’t been on the show since 2017?! Y’all. We were clearly long overdue to catch up over microphones and talk about my favorite subject. Jesus. What are some of the characteristics of Jesus? Can we love our Bibles TOO much? And does God really call us to contentment? Lisa's newest devotional: Jesus: A Scandously Devoted, Conspicuously Uncool, Super Transparent Homage to Who Our Savior Is and How Much He Loves Us is beautiful...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Gosh, this conversation is one of those thought-provoking, note-taking, mind-blown kind of conversations. My friend, Faith Eury Cho, just released her debut book called Experiencing Friendship with God. This book is beautiful and I think you're really going to love getting to know Faith and learn from her. We get to talk about feeling tired in our lives and our walk with Jesus, how to know when the Holy Spirit is growing something within us, and befriending the presence of God. I just adore Fait...
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Today on the show I get to talk with my friend Natalie Grant. Y’all LOVE her and so do I! She is no stranger around here and her brand new album, Seasons, is out now and Y’ALL. Have you listened to it yet!?! IT'S SO GOOD! Okay...I could not have loved this conversation more and y'all just aren't even prepared for Natalie's story about Dolly Parton! Not only did we talk about all the amazing collabs that happened on Natalie's new album, we also talked about longevity, our partnership with the Lor...
Nov 13, 2023•58 min
I’m so excited to have my friend Jana Kramer here! And y’all. I’m so proud of the way she shares her story with such honesty and vulnerability in this conversation and in her latest book, The Next Chapter. Today we’re talking about what her life has looked like post-divorce, her journey with motherhood, the questions she’s asking God, and what she’s learning about freedom and redemption. Because we’re talking about some tender parts of her story, it’s probably best for you to listen to this befo...
Nov 09, 2023•54 min
Here’s what feels true: almost every part of me is thriving in NYC. Thriving. I did not want these two months in New York City to upend my Nashville life, but I think they are going to. I think they have. So what am I supposed to do? I don't know. But I do know that I love to glow. I'd love for you to share your questions or thoughts for more episodes like this with me over on @thatsoundsfunpodcast. See you back here tomorrow on That Sounds Fun Podcast! Previous Episodes: AFD in NYC Episode 1 AF...
Nov 08, 2023•13 min
I know you’re not surprised how much I love the Church Calendar and Advent OR how much I love these friends! Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams from She Reads Truth are back to talk all things Advent, why they’re the very first entry in the Hall of Fun, and what waiting for Jesus can look like in our lives. I learned some new prayers (mind blown emoji!) and just loved getting to have this conversation. I know you’re going to love what they share with us AND you’re going to love that discoun...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 8 min
