Today we’re talking about how the enneagram helps you self regulate to connect and grow in parenting, dating, and other relationships. Beth McCord, better known as Your Enneagram Coach, is here and her latest book, Enneagram for Moms, which released this summer. Its such a helpful tool for trying to better understand yourself and better understand how you interact with your children. Whether you’re raising your own kids, leading a classroom of them, loving on nieces and nephews, or being a spiritual mom to the miniBFFs in your life, I think you’re really going to find this one helpful.  If you didn’t catch our EnneaSummer 2024 series back in July, listen here! . . . . 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 1-year supply 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. . . . . . 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, we’re talking all things 2020 with our friend, Eddie Kaufholz. I know y’all have been asking about a recap of the Ryman show with Eddie, but we’re saving that for that actual anniversary week of That Sounds Fun which is in November... although we couldn't help ourselves to talk about it a little bit! But Annie and Eddie Keep Talking got started in 2020, so you KNOW today we are chopping it up about the weird, sad, and nostalgic days that year. What a wild time.  . . . . 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!    . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: College Football, Georgia Bulldogs, Florida Gators, the Ryman, quarantine . . . . . 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'll LOVE listening back to these!  2020 Year in Review with Eddie Kaufholz TSF Quarantine Episode 1: Saturday with Eddie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The one. The only. Mrs. F. Downs is IN THE HOUSE. It’s bring your mom to work day and I could not be more excited for us to sit down and talk to the founder of Whole30, Melissa Urban. You know we love talking about spiritual, emotional, and physical health around here and Melissa's latest book The New Whole30 is so helpful! Since my mom and I both have experienced the goodness of Whole30, I thought it would SO fun for us both to share our stories and ask Melissa our questions. Is Mrs. F. Downs my new favorite co-host?! (sorry Eddie...) Amy Rambo - Blue Pineapple Travel . . . . 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! Athletic Greens: Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first subscription at drinkAG1.com/soundsfun. 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! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: diet culture, holistic health, pcos, food freedom, healthy food . . . . . 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 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 Lord, and how to identify soul exhaustion.  Can you guess which song from Seasons I added to my AFD's Friday Fav's Spotify Playlist? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order when you visit thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Reliefband: Go to Reliefband.com and use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN to receive 20% off plus free shipping. Caraway: Visit Carawayhome.com/TSF to take advantage of this limited-time offer for up to 20% off your next purchase. . . . . . 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 the 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’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 before any of my miniBFFs do. Jana so graciously opened up about what she’s walking through when it comes to church, faith, and some of the tough parts of it. I think you’re really going to love the honesty in this episode, and I feel really honored that Jana would invite us into her story this way. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Thrive Market: Join Thrive Market today to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Go to https://ThriveMarket.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Raycon: Hurry now to to https://buyraycon.com/thatsoundsfun to get 20%-50% off sitewide. KiwiCo: Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the 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 the 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

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 AFD in NYC Episode 2 AFD in NYC Episode 3 AFD in NYC Episode 4 AFD in NYC Episode 5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 discount code they brought especially for our group of friends! Head to shereadstruth.com and use the code ANNIEADVENT15 to get 15% off anything in their Advent 2023 collection! This code will be live until 12/31/23.  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/soundsfun. Daily Bible Trivia: Download Daily Bible Trivia for free today. Ritual: Get to know your nutrients on a deeper level with 30% off during your first month. Visit ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.com/SOUNDSFUN. Chime: Get started at chime.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 the 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 Advent season, we want to invite you to be part of the 2023 That Sounds Fun Advent series. This was SUCH a joy to do last year, mattered so much to me and many of y’all, and we are excited to offer it again with an updated and expanded Advent Guidebook. Whether you joined us last year and want to go through the season with us with another year's worth of experiences or you didn’t get to be a part last year, we invite you to this four week journey through hope, peace, joy, and love. And this year, we’re offering the Advent Guidebook in both English AND Spanish! Yes, SPANISH! We are so hoping this will give us a chance to serve so many friends who want to engage with the Advent Guidebook in their heart language of Spanish. Just head to anniefdowns.com/advent to learn more and get everything you need to be a part of this series and season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brooke Ligertwood is truly one of my very favorite guests and friends, and man, I'm so grateful that she sat down with us to talk about why worship here on earth matters, cultivating an awareness of God's presence, and experiencing spiritual warfare in the midst of ministry. Brooke's newest album EIGHT is SUCH a good album that I know you're going to love just as much as I do. Every conversation I have with Brooke, I leave feeling strengthened and encouraged in my faith and I am just so thankful for her wisdom. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! The Best of You Podcast: Listen & subscribe to The Best of You - https://tinyurl.com/TheBestOfYouPodcast Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.com/SOUNDSFUN. Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun to receive 50% off your first order. Beam: Get up to 50% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com/TSF and use code CYBER at checkout. Prose: Go to https://prose.com/thatsoundsfun for your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first order today. . . . . . 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 the 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

Anticipation is actually one of the gifts of my personality type--I love the days before an awesome thing often as much as I love the thing. But it really works against me in seasons like this. Where I feel the time, the days, the experience, slipping through my fingers. Time moves fast sometimes. I’m feeling that here. I cannot slow time. But I can savor the minutes, days, weeks, months I have here. I’m trying. If you missed the story of why I moved to New York for a couple months, be sure to listen to AFD in NYC Episode 1, AFD in NYC Episode 2, AFD in NYC Episode 3, and AFD in NYC Episode 4. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y'all. I have NO CHILL about this episode. Today on the show I get to talk to my friends Nate Henry and Luke Rodgers who are the hosts of the Blurry Creatures podcast. Their podcast is truly one of my favorites and I've been dying to share it with you guys. Today's conversation is all about how they started the podcast, their experience talking about blurry creatures and spiritual warfare, and of course I HAD to ask them my burning questions about megalodons (you get it...), and about Jesus and the disciples talking about ghosts. It is so.good. Now listen, I know this may not be your thing, but it 100% is what sounds fun to me and I think you’ll find this episode really interesting!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! ARMRA: Go to tryarmra.com/THATSOUNDSFUN or enter THATSOUNDSFUN to get 15% off your first order. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order when you visit 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 the 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

Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . .  Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November 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

Today on the show we finish up our Build Your Board series with Devin and Hunter Cordle. As we’ve talked about making sure you’re choosing who is influencing you in a world of influencers, we couldn’t wrap up this series without talking about social media. When we’re thinking about building our board, what role does social media get to play? It includes a lot of voices, so how do we figure out the right boundaries for social media as well as finding ways to learn from people who both think like us and those who don’t? If you’re not familiar with Hunter & Devin (known as The Cordle Family), go look them up on social media right now because they’re just a bright spot on my feed! This is such an insightful conversation that I think you're going to love! For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Hello Fresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/50TSF and use code 50TSF for 50% off plus free shipping! Liquid I.V.: Get 20% off when you go to LIQUIDIV.COM and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. Daily Bible Trivia: Download Daily Bible Trivia for free today. Reliefband: Go to Reliefband.com and use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN to receive 20% off plus free shipping. . . . . . 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 the 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, you’re in for a good one. You’ve probably heard me talk about my friend, Jonathan Merritt, and today you’re going to get to know him AND his dad, Dr. James Merritt. These two have a really special relationship as father and son even though they don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, including sexuality. Today we’re going to talk about their latest books The God Who Hears and My Guncle and Me, and we’re also going to talk about their relationship and how they’ve navigated their differences. Listen. I want you to lean in here…this is a really nuanced conversation, which is hard to do in a public setting. It’s such an honor that Jonathan and Dr. Merritt would agree to have this conversation with us and the sacredness of this is not lost on me. I have so much to learn from both of them and I’m grateful for what I learned in this conversation.  For parents, we recommend listening first without your kids so you can decide how you want to engage any conversations this episode might bring up. . . . . 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! Better Help: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 10% 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! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: football, georgia bulldogs, prayer, sharing Jesus, evangelism, unconditional love, cancel culture, identity, . . . . . 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

As we wrap up this week, we are coming to a close on our coaching conversations. And gosh, this week has been SO. GOOD. Y’all LOVED Janice Gaines when she was on the pod during our Summer Lovin' Series. So of course we had to have her back! And this time, her husband EJ Gaines, joined us as well to help us figure out if our relationships need a coach. Whether you’re married, dating, engaged, or single, a relationship coach may be the person you need to help you navigate the season you’re in. I think you’re going to love their wisdom and guidance today as we figure out what our relationships need. For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partner! KiwiCo: Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.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 the 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. I'm having the BEST time this week talking about all the different kinds of coaching. Today's conversation is with my friend, Christy Wright. Christy is a certified business coach and personal development expert, and today we’re talking all about life coaching. What does a life coach even do? And how might one be able to benefit us? We talk about life balance and expectations, feeling disconnected from our bodies, and defining goals and seasons (Christy giving us permission to set a goal to have more fun?! Um...DONE!). Christy is just brilliant and I think our conversation is so helpful as we think about whether or not the next right voice we need is a life coach. For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/soundsfun. Ritual: Get to know your nutrients on a deeper level with 30% off during your first month. Visit ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Earth Breeze: Subscribe to Earth Breeze and save 40%! Go to earthbreeze.com/thatsoundsfun to get started. . . . . . 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 the 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 my best friends, Rachel Cruze, is BACK on the show and I’m just having the best time talking to ALL my friends this week about coaching. Rachel loves to help people start winning with money and create a life they’ll love, and today she’s helping us figure out if we actually need a financial coach in our lives, how to be our most generous selves, and how to look at our finances from a place of hope and not fear. I’m so thankful for Rachel and the voice she has on my board! Also. Don’t miss her brand new kids book I'm Glad for What I Have coming out in November. It’s adorable! For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your November Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partner! Beekeepers Natural: Go to beekeepersnaturals.com/THATSOUNDSFUN or enter code THATSOUNDSFUN to get 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 the 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 a city where I have to pay attention all the time and where I am learning constantly, I’m also being invited by God to LET GO more than I expected. I want to tell you about it. If you missed the story of why I'm moving to New York for a couple months, be sure to listen to AFD in NYC Episode 1, AFD in NYC Episode 2, and AFD in NYC Episode 3. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friend, Amanda Tress (founder and CEO of the FASTer Way to Fat Loss) is here today to help answer the question, "How will a health coach help me?" We also go SO much deeper as we talk about where our spiritual health and physical health meet. To be clear, this is not an episode about going on diet or the size of your body. Thinking about a health coach is thinking about how we can be as healthy as possible for as long as possible so we can continue to do what God has called us to do. When you hear Amanda's story, you'll understand why I think you're going to love this episode. For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Beam: Get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com/TSF and use code TSF at checkout. Masterclass: Get 15% off RIGHT NOW at masterclass.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 the 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

As we continue our special Build Your Board series, this week, we’re starting a whole week episodes about coaching. We have daily, shorter episodes featuring some specialized coaches who may be the next voice you need to live the life you want. Today's episode is with my manager and business partner, Kelli Haywood, and our business coach, Chris Weinberg. We talk all about entrepreneurship, the difference between a consultant and a coach, and how to know when it's time to find a business coach. Whether you own a business or not, y'all are going to love this one. Chris and Kelli are two of the most brilliant people I know! For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.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 the 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'm ALWAYS here for a good bonus conversation! You heard Micah and Shireen Eldridge yesterday as we talked all about who is praying for you? And you guys, if you haven’t listened, you’re definitely going to want to go back and listen HERE!! Micah and Shireen are trusted friends of mine that are so wise and pastor a lot of people in their community. So as we are thinking about finding the voices you need to live the life you want, what if the voice you need is a pastor? What do you do if you ask your pastor to be on your board, but they say no? Micah and Shireen are just so helpful as we dive in to one of YOUR most asked questions! For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . 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 the 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 for an amazing note-taking episode! Micah and Shireen Eldridge are two of my favorite pastors who are trusted, faithful friends of mine that I know are praying on my behalf. And as we talk about who might be missing on your board, it maybe a person (or people) who you know are consistently praying for you and want to know when there’s something going on in your life that they can be praying about. We’re going to talk today about what that looks like and why it all matters. Be sure to stick around here tomorrow on TSF for a special 10 minute bonus conversation with Micah and Shireen as they answer the question, "What if I want my pastor to be on my board?" It's going to be another good one! For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/soundsfun. Butcherbox: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/tsf using code TSF to receive Ground Beef for Life + $20 off your first order. Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun to receive 50% off your first order. ZocDoc: Go to Zocdoc.com/THATSOUNDSFUN and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE. Prose: Go to https://prose.com/thatsoundsfun for your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first 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 the 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 is one of those conversations that will meet you right where you are no matter what you’re walking through and is an invitation to think truly and critically and kindly about your own story and your own faith. Today's conversation with Seth and Amber Haines fits right in as we're thinking about the voices in our lives, our spiritual growth, and our spiritual leaders. We talked about participating in hope even when you don't feel it, how to disciple kids in the midst of pain caused by the church, and why Catholicism was the next right thing for the Haines family. Seth and Amber's book The Deep Down Things is absolutely beautiful! It made me laugh and cry and ALL THE THINGS! I'm so thankful for the Haines and their honesty about their journey of faith.  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . 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 the 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 guys. I'm officially in New York! I wanted to share a few thoughts and experiences I've had as I am learning and living.  If you missed the story of why I'm moving to New York for a couple months, be sure to listen to AFD in NYC Episode 1 and AFD in NYC Episode 2. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter what you've walked through, you’ve probably had a painful experience in your life and found yourself asking: Why does God allow bad things to happen? My friend, Davey Blackburn walked through a horrific tragedy in 2015, and now, Davey is sharing his story and helping us all figure out how to navigate those questions in his brand new book, Nothing is Wasted. I just loved this conversation and I think you will too! And as a head’s up, you will likely want my miniBFFs to sit out on this one since we’re approaching some really heavy topics. . . . . 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. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: podcasting, enneagram, redemption, spiritual realm, wrestling with God, perspective, grief, loss, forgiveness, heaven, purpose, why does God allow bad things? . . . . . 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 our last Build Your Board episode,  you got to hear from my mentor, Nancy, who disciples me, and today you get to hear from Becca, who I disciple and Harley who Becca disciples. It’s like this little family line of discipleship! Here’s why we wanted to do this… so many of you guys talk to me about wanting these kinds of relationships in your life, but aren’t sure where to start or what to do.  We thought it’d be fun to bring on both Becca and Harley, so we can talk about what discipleship practically looks like for all of us. As followers of Jesus, we all have a calling to go and make disciples, so we’re going to break down what that looks like for me and Becca and Harley. I feel so honored to be in this stack of women and am grateful for each of them! For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. ARMRA: Go to tryarmra.com/THATSOUNDSFUN or enter THATSOUNDSFUN to get 15% off your first order. Nutrafol: Go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code TSF to save $10 OFF your first month’s subscription, plus FREE shipping. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order when you visit 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 the 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 we love a Friday show around here!! Having my dear friend, Micah E. Davis, here talking about being a part of a city you love, serving at your local church, and navigating wounds and scars when it comes to church and family, really means the world. Talking about the next generation and celebrating their bold faith is one of the things I love to do the most! I am so thankful for my friends like Micah who are living a life of obedience to what God has called them to do. Make sure you grab a copy of Micah's book Trailblazers (and get all those pre-order bonuses!!) - I think you're really going to love it.  If you're near the Indianapolis area, check out Micah's book launch event HERE. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partner! Ritual: Right now Ritual is offering listeners 20% off your first three months. Visit ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to start Ritual today. . . . . . 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 the 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 have been asking me about my mentor, Nancy, for YEARS and I am beyond excited to get to share her voice with you all. As we continue our Build Your Board Series today with Nancy, we get to talk about what exactly mentorship looks like, what to look for in a mentor, and the difference between mentorship and discipleship. Nancy is the ACTUAL best and I can't wait for you all to get a glimpse of the wisdom I'm honored to receive from this spiritual mother of mine.  For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/soundsfun. Thrive Market: Join Thrive Market today to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Go to https://ThriveMarket.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Hatch: Go to hatch.co/thatsoundsfun to get $20 off and free shipping! Beekeepers Natural: Go to beekeepersnaturals.com/THATSOUNDSFUN or enter code THATSOUNDSFUN to get 20% off your order Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.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 the 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 continuing our Build Your Board Series with today's episode all about counseling! I'm honored to have Melanie Rogers from Come Alive Counseling with us as we talk about how to know if we need a counselor, what a spiritual director is, and what to do if counseling doesn't fit within our budget. She is one of my favorite therapists and I'm so happy I got to sit down with her! I know some of you are ALL IN on counseling and others of you are unsure or uninterested, and I think this conversation will be like a “counseling 101” starting place to help all of us figure out the role therapy can play in our lives. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741. For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Reliefband: Go to Reliefband.com and use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN to receive 20% off plus free shipping. Raycon: Hurry now to to https://buyraycon.com/thatsoundsfun and use code BIRTHDAY to get 20%-40% off sitewide. Chime: Get started at chime.com/thatsoundsfun. KiwiCo: Get 50% your first month on any crate line plus free shipping at kiwico.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 the 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 talk to me all the time about how hard it is to make new friends as adults, and I get it. So today, four of my best friends--Jami, Kelley, Ashley, and Jen--join me to talk about how our friendships started, what it looks like to maintain friendships as adults with really busy lives, and what we expect from each other. You’ve met them before on other episodes, but I’ve never had all of these friends here at once, so this was a GOOD TIME. For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question--who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun to receive 50% off your first order. Ritual: Right now Ritual is offering listeners 20% off your first three months. Visit ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to start Ritual today. . . . . . 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 the 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 we kick off a special series called Build Your Board where we want to help you find the voices you need to live the life you want…because in a world of influencers, you get to decide who is influencing you. I am so honored to have Al Andrews with me today talking all about loneliness. We knew before we started talking about the voices you need in your life, we wanted to get to the root of it all…loneliness. I think you’re going to love him and the wisdom he brings. For a full list of all the resources from our Build Your Board experts go to anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard. Be sure to grab your copy of our Build Your Board Guidebook for this series. There are pages to take notes for every episode and questions to walk through and process, so that by the end of the series, you will have a completed resource AND the answer to the question- who is the NEXT voice I need to help me build the life that I want? . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/soundsfun. Brooklinen: Use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN for $20 off your online purchase of $100 or more plus free shipping on Brooklinen.com. Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.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 the 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

Can I just be Annie on a Sunday every now and then? This feels like friend talk anyways. I can't believe I'm leaving for New York City in just four short days. I've been thinking a lot lately about leaving home and how loud FOMO can get. So what do you do when you don't want to do the thing you want to do? If you missed the story of why I'm moving to New York for a couple months, be sure to listen to Episode 1 of AFD in NYC. 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 for a really fun Monday episode on That Sounds Fun as we start the Build Your Board Series! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . .  Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October 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

This is a fun one, y'all! Yours and my favorite Food Network Star, Aarti Sequeira is back to talk all about how her faith impacts her professional life, aging publicly, and staying true to who she is. I am SO excited that Aarti is back on the pod! Her new devotional cookbook, Unwind, is out now. Y'all. This book. It's amazing! I just love this whole idea. My soul felt so full after talking to Aarti and I know yours will too. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Beekeepers Natural: Go to beekeepersnaturals.com/THATSOUNDSFUN or enter code THATSOUNDSFUN to get 20% off your order Blueland: Get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/thatsoundsfun. Nutrafol: Go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code TSF to save $10 OFF your first month’s subscription, plus FREE shipping. KiwiCo: Get 50% your first month on any crate line plus free shipping at kiwico.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 the 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

Have you considered having a “Board of Directors” for your life? The community you surround yourself with helps you grow as a person and grow in your relationship with God. And we want to help you figure out who you need right now and how to find them. For the month of October, we’re hosting Build Your Board, a That Sounds Fun podcast series to help you find the voices you need for the life you want. We’re going to talk about finding friends as an adult, why counselors matter so much, how to find a mentor, why discipleship doesn’t have to be intimidating, and So. Much. More. Go download your Build Your Board Guidebook at anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard and subscribe to That Sounds Fun if you haven’t already. Let’s Build Your Board. Because in a world of influencers, it is important that YOU decide who is influencing you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re so glad y'all love these episodes with Eddie as much as we do! If you’re new around here, our friend Eddie Kaufholz has been joining us every month (well except June) as we’re recapping the last 10 years of pop culture and our lives in honor of the 10 year anniversary of That Sounds Fun podcast. We’ve now made it all the way to 2019 and as always, we spent about 8 minutes recapping 2019 and 45 minutes just chatting LIKE.WE.DO. You get it. Is Eddie really a spy? Did I almost get eaten by a mountain lion? And of course we HAD to talk about the upcoming Olympics.  Check out our previous recap episodes. . . . . . 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. ButcherBox: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/tsf and use code TSF at checkout and enjoy your choice of bone-in chicken thighs, top sirloins, or salmon in every  box for an entire year, plus get $20 off! Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order by going 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 the That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, pop culture, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I have the honor of getting to talk with Dr. Scot McKnight. I know talking about the church falling apart does NOT sound fun...but it's such a needed conversation right now. So many of us have been or are currently in a complicated spot with a church. Dr. McKnight teaches us about hope, pain, and leadership. Y'all know I also LOVE a good Gospel conversation and this does not disappoint! I think you're really going to love learning from him. His latest book—co-written with Laura Barringer—called Pivot, which is such an important read if you’re a pastor or church leader or a business leader. It is a helpful, hard, beautiful book. We begin the conversation talking a good bit about church hurt and if this is a part of your story, this episode may be tender to you. I wanted you to know beforehand so you can take care of your heart. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your October Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Liquid I.V.: Get 20% off when you go to LIQUIDIV.COM and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. Kitsch: Go to MyKitsch.com/thatsoundsfun to get 30% off your entire order. Earth Breeze: Subscribe to Earth Breeze and save 40%! Go to earthbreeze.com/thatsoundsfun to get started. . . . . . 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 the 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 LOVE a Friday bonus episode and this one is extra special! I get to talk to my friend, Dr. Carolyn Weber, who is the author of Surprised by Oxford. Y’all, when I tell you I fell in love with this book the first time I read it...I cannot wait for you to hear Carolyn talk about writing it and now seeing it come to life on the big screen. It is a FASCINATING conversation! This film is playing nationwide for a limited time — so regardless, don’t miss your chance to see my favorite book turned into a film in theaters on September 27th (you know, and maybe catch my cameo). You can go to surprisedbyoxford.movie to find when and where it’s playing near you. Win 2 free tickets to see Surprised by Oxford in theaters September 27 by following @surprisedbyoxford on Instagram, then click LIKE and SHARE on this post HERE!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . 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 the 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 are in a Next Gen era on the pod and I am LOVING it! Riley Clemmons and I have been friends for a long time and I think you're going to love her! Today we are talking about social media boundaries, touring, and her new album, Church Pew. This album is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait for you all to hear it! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Just Different Podcast: Listen & subscribe to SHOW - https://tinyurl.com/TheJustDifferentPodcast Hatch: Go to hatch.co/thatsoundsfun to get $20 off and free shipping! Ritual: Right now Ritual is offering listeners 20% off your first three months. Visit ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to start Ritual today. ZocDoc: Go to Zocdoc.com/THATSOUNDSFUN and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE. Simple Modern: Go to www.simplemodern.com/thatsoundsfun and by sharing your email you’ll get a  unique discount code just for you or bundle and save for back to school. . . . . . 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 the 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, we are celebrating the release of my brand new kids book So Happy to Know You! which is officially out TODAY. It means so much to me that you all have this book in your hands and in your lives and classrooms...GAH...I know a ton of you always want to hear more about the writing process and the behind the scenes of writing and launching a book, so today the illustrator of So Happy to Know You! (andWhat Sounds Fun to You?) Jennie Poh joins me ALL the way from the UK and for the first half of the show we’re going to talk all about how she takes my words and creates these beautiful illustrations and characters. She’s so talented, y’all! Then, during the second half, you’ll get to hear my conversation with Taylor Ann (who’s in charge of our miniBFFs) and Katy (who’s our Content Manager) as we talk about the process of releasing a book. I’m telling you, it takes a village, y’all!  Be sure to check out Katy's new book You Can Trust as well! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . 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 the 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 are in for a TREAT! This is a special and vulnerable conversation with Dr. Anita Phillips. She is so wise and honest and I loved our conversation about how emotions reveal what we need, the importance of loving our bodies, and what to do with heart pain. I know, I know...I probably should thank you for participating in my counseling session...Dr. Anita's book The Garden Within is extraordinary. Truly. Her book goes so much deeper than what we had time for in this episode and I'm telling you...this is the book you need in your life. If you want more of Dr. Anita's voice in your life (I know I do!) be sure to check out her podcast In the Light with Dr. Anita Phillips. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun to receive 50% off your first order. Reliefband: Go to Reliefband.com and use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN to receive 20% off plus free shipping. Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.com/SOUNDSFUN. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order when you visit 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 the 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. This one. Such a special conversation with my friend Matt Redman. I definitely cried at the end while I thanked him for years of music that have so deeply impacted me. We talk all about how to stir up mystery and reverence during our worship, the difference of Christianity between Western and Eastern cultures, and OF COURSE we talked about Matt’s latest album, Lamb of God, (which is just extraordinary). If you haven’t heard this album yet, you’re going to love it. And gosh, I wish we could have chatted for 3 more hours! I’m so grateful for Matt and the impact he has had in my life and in the world. For more info on the Worship and Theology Conference Matt mentioned, go to Worthworship.com. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . 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 the 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 Madison Prewett Troutt. Her new book, The Love Everybody Wants is an empowering message about where we go to find love. I'm really enjoying opening up these conversations after our Summer Lovin' Series around dating and sex, and what that looks like right now. We also got to talk about God's peace and coming into relationships out of an abundance rather than scarcity. I'm so grateful to Madi for sharing her story with us! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/soundsfun. Thrive Market: Join Thrive Market today to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Go to https://ThriveMarket.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Preorder So Happy to Know You and nominate a teacher who had a huge impact on your life or a teacher you know and love. Entries close September 18th at 8pm ET. Head to sohappytoknowyou.com to enter. Prose: Go to https://prose.com/thatsoundsfun for your FREE in-depth hair consultation and an extra $20 off your first subscription 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 the 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

Oh I am so happy to have my friend Noah Herrin on the pod to talk all about his new book Holy Habits! Noah is such a trusted voice and I think you're really going to love this conversation. We also got to talk about planting churches for the next generation, how there is freedom in setting habits, and how Noah and his wife do Sabbath as a young family. There is so much hope in the leaders and generation coming up behind us! I think the world of Noah and am just so grateful for him and his friendship! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. KiwiCo: Get 50% your first month on any crate line plus free shipping at kiwico.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Chime: Get started at chime.com/thatsoundsfun. Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.com/SOUNDSFUN. Preorder So Happy to Know You and nominate a teacher who had a huge impact on your life or a teacher you know and love. Entries close September 18th at 8pm ET. Head to sohappytoknowyou.com to enter. . . . . . 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 the 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

Oh friends. This is your friendly heads up that this is a MAJOR note-taking episode! The brilliant Dr. Alicia Britt Chole teaches us about the night originating before sin in Eden, what the Gospel says about our capacity, and how to do grace well. It's also a very special conversation about the Gospels that I know you're going to love. Make sure to grab a copy of Dr. Chole's latest book, The Night is Normal. It's incredibly beautiful and I hope you will not just read it, but sit with it. I'm so thankful for this conversation and the kindness of Dr. Chole! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp Online Therapy: Visit betterhelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. FabFitFun: Sign up at FabFitFun.com/THATSOUNDSFUN, customize your box, and get access to discounts up to 70% off. Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun to receive 50% off your first order. Simple Modern: Go to www.simplemodern.com/thatsoundsfun and by sharing your email you’ll get a  unique discount code just for you or bundle and save for back to school. Indeed: Claim your $75 credit now at Indeed.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 the 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

Buckle up y'all because we are GOING there today! My friend and one of your favorite humans, Jim Cress, is in the studio diving into ALL the questions you sent us after our Summer Lovin' series. All things dating, friendship, sex, and singleness. PHEW! I'm so grateful for Jim and his thoughts as he helps us address these things head on. You may not agree with every single thing we talk about, but my biggest hope is that this episode would spark a conversation with your people.  Because of the topics we cover in this episode, this is one you will want to listen to when there aren't miniBFF ears around.  Head to our Spotify Playlist to listen to all the episode of our Summer Lovin' series. . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/soundsfun. Brooklinen: Use promo code THATSOUNDSFUNfor $20 off your online purchase of $100 or more plus free shipping on Brooklinen.com. Nutrafol: Go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code TSF to save $10 OFF your first month’s subscription, plus FREE shipping on EVERY order -- this is their best offer ANYWHERE and it is only available to US customers for a limited time. . . . . . 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 the 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 a summer we are having on the pod! Y'all KNOW we love talking about the Gospels! Which is why I was so excited to talk to my friend, Rich Villodas, about his latest book, The Narrow Path, which is all about the Sermon on the Mount. I absolutely loved this book and I think you'll love it too. The work Rich does around the Gospels is such a gift! We also had some great conversations around why truthfulness matters, what it looks like to follow Jesus, and living in a post Christian city. Get your notebooks and note apps out because this is note taking episode! . . . . 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! Athletic Greens: Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first subscription at drinkAG1.com/soundsfun. Earth Breeze: Get 40% off when you go to earthbreeze.com/thatsoundsfun to get started. Lumen: Go to lumen.me/TSF and get 15% off your Lumen. 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! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: New York, the Sermon on the Mount, helping those in need, the dignity of people, living in a post Christian city, self-awareness, lust, pornography, loving enemies, truthfulness . . . . . 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 about the Sermon on the Mount and following Jesus. Walking with Jesus with Darren Mulligan from We Are Messengers – Episode 886 Being an Apprentice of Jesus with John Mark Comer – Episode 854 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cody Carnes released a brand new album called FIRM FOUNDATION (LIVE) and Y'ALL...it is SO.GOOD. I am thrilled we got a chance to sit down and talk about the supernatural effects of worship, the story of his new song Firm Foundation (He Won't)...and trust me...you do NOT want to miss the moment when we're joined by my friend Shayna (remember her from our Summer Lovin' Attachment Theory episode??). Her story of how God used Cody's song for an encounter with the Holy Spirit...well, it's incredible and I can't wait for you to hear. What a perfect conversation for a Friday! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Don't miss our BIG SUMMER BLOWOUT sale where you can find discounts up to 75% off! Head to shopanniefdowns.com and check out the deals before the sale ends September 4th. . . . . . 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 the 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

Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . .  Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September 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

I get HYPED to talk to my friends who are seminary professors or are people who talk about prayer...they're basically like my version of a Kardashian...so basically, y'all are in for a TREAT with this conversation. Esau McCaulley's latest book, How Far to the Promised Land, is an eye-opening and a profoundly honest story. I really enjoyed the book and was so honored to have this conversation. We talked about our love for Scotland, black spirituality, and OF COURSE we had to talk about the Gospels! I'm so thankful for Esau's teaching! And I can't wait to have him back with us to do a deeper dive on the Gospels! . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. Go to https://anniefdowns.com/gospels to purchase your September Reading Plan or Let’s Read the Gospels Guidebook. . . . . . Find more fun things on this episode by going to anniefdowns.com/thatsoundsfun. . . . . . Head to anniefdowns.com/books for more information and to sign up for the AFD Book of the Month. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! Earth Breeze: Subscribe to Earth Breeze and save 40%! Go to earthbreeze.com/thatsoundsfun to get started. Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order when you visit thrivecausemetics.com/TSF. Reliefband: Go to Reliefband.com and use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN to receive 20% off plus free shipping. Hatch: Go to hatch.co/thatsoundsfun to get $20 off and free shipping! . . . . . 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 the 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