That Sounds Fun With Annie F. Downs

Today we’re answering the question, “How do I find joy in this season?” with Tauren Wells. You know him from his music—you’ve heard his voice, you’ve sung along in the car—but today we’re talking about some really exciting new chapters in his life. He’s releasing his first book called Joy Bomb  and we talk about what joy really means, and how to carry it in hard seasons. Also, Tauren’s pastoring a new church in North Austin called Church of Whitestone and we’re talking about what this move and new step has looked like for him and his family. If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 53. And if you don’t have a guidebook, you can find it at anniefdowns.com/seasons. It’s never too late to jump in! . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to get 10% off your first mont

Ashley Anderson is a ministry leader and wise voice who lives in New York and has become a dear, dear friend of mine. She was our April guest on the Single Purpose League podcast last month, and we had a conversation around having a theology of singleness—What does that mean? Why does it matter? What does Scripture say about being single? It felt so important to all of us so, today, we’re sharing that conversation with all of you.  We’re doing that this week because Single Purpose League registration is open! We only open it up certain times a year, so we’re able to have intentional time going a little bit deeper with our members, so SPL registration is open RIGHT NOW but it closes on Thursday—THIS Thursday May 15th—at 11:59pm CST. If you have a friend who could benefit from a community of women figuring out our single purpose and our purpose while single, will you text them this episode and let them know about Single Purpose League? Every month we’re tackling topics that help us thrive as single people. We

Christy Nockels is here today to help us answer the question, “How do I process change in busy seasons?” She’s in the process of launching her third kid into the world, marrying off another, releasing a brand new lullaby album (of course you’re going to love it) and figuring out what parenting and life looks like entering an empty nest. Whether you’re in a similar parenting season or just trying to navigate the craziness that is May, I think you’re going to love this episode.  If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 52.  . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . If you’ve been thinking about joining Single Purpose League, now is your chance! Registration is now open until this Thursday night—Thursday, May 15th—so head over to singlepurposeleague.com to learn all about it and come join this special community of friends. We’ve got our own exclu

From time to time, we want to replay episodes that really stuck out to us or maybe episodes that feel relevant to things going on around us, and this is one of those. Whether you’ve heard it before or this is your first time, I think there’s always something new to learn about Scripture.  I recently got to teach the kick off to a brand new series at Cross Point, where we’re spending an entire year going through the book of Mark. Y’all know how I feel about the Gospels!! This Cross Point sermon could not have been more perfectly picked for me. I read a bunch of books and commentaries to prepare for this sermon, and I went back to our Gospels episode with Dr. Esau McCaulley to listen to him teach on the book of Mark and my feet were barely on the ground—I was so fired up about this book.  This episode isn't in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, but you'll want your notes page out for this one! . . . . . You’re invited to read through the Gospels with us during the month of May. We’ve got a whole reading group of

Y’all get ready because my friend Lisa Harper is here! She’s one of my favorite teachers and today we’re talking about being lifelong learners, the kindness of God, and what we love about Jesus. Her brand new book, A Jesus Shaped Life, comes out tomorrow and I kept wanting to slow down and re-read and underline because it’s just so deep and special.   We’re also going to dive into our question in our TSF Seasons Guidebook today: How do I rest in this season? If you’re following along we’re on page 51.  . . . . . You’re invited to read through the Gospels with us during the month of May. We’ve got a whole reading group of friends joining us and can listen along with us over on the Let’s Read the Gospels podcast, so make sure you’re subscribed. We’re also going to be reading in the order that’s in the Let’s Read the Gospels Guided Journal, so you choose to just listen, or just read and journal along with us OR DO BOTH. It’s totally up to you! We also have a facebook group for all of us who are reading toget

Our friends, Abner and Amanda from JOHNNYSWIM are back with us today and we got to sit down in person at the Hepzibah House in New York City to record this one.  Their brand new album, When The War is Over came out in February and y’all know we needed an album to be our soundtrack for the spring, so I hope you’ve already started listening to this one. It’s SO good. We talk about how this album was inspired by an intense season of change, our shared love for musical theater, and our favorite NYC restaurants. If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 49! Find the show notes here . . . . . Starting May 1, you’re invited to read through the Gospels with us during the month of May. We’ve got a whole reading group of friends joining us and can listen along with us over on the Let’s Read the Gospels podcast, so make sure you’re subscribed. We’re also going to be reading in the order that’s in the Let’s Read the Gospels Guided Journal, so you choose to just listen, or just read and

Our friend Eddie Kaufholz and I keep talking about anything and everything from which band we’d go see in a different country, what we love most about big concerts, prioritizing rest, and then Eddie offers up some GREAT suggestions for me and CAIN and the Live And In Color tour.  We added some note taking pages for you for this episode over in our TSF Seasons Guidebook and you can find that on page 48 of your guidebook! Come tell us over on @thatsoundspodcast instagram if you have an idea for a great name for Annie & Eddie listeners. What should we call you?! If you have any questions from this episode drop them in the Q&A box on your Spotify app if you’re a Spotify listener, or send them to us on instagram at @thatsoundsfunpodcast and we’ll try to answer them there! . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe  OR watch on your Spotify app! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to fu

“How does love look different in different seasons?” Jada Edwards is here- I know y’all love her and I do too! We’re going to talk about what it looks like to actually love people well and being honest with the Lord. That’s not always easy, especially depending on the season you’re in, but Jada’s new book A New Way to Love Your Neighbor is an excellent resource to help us figure out how we do this. And I’m not just talking about you loving Christian friends. I hope you have people in your life who don’t believe everything you believe. If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 47. And if you’re wondering what we’re even talking about with this guidebook thing, you can find it at anniefdowns.com/seasons . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you t

Today on the show, we’re answering the question, “How do we identify when spring is here?” with Pastor Jon Tyson. Jon is the pastor of Church of the City in New York and a best selling author. We’re going to talk about identifying spring, revival and resurrection, and what role we play in all of it.  This is also our last episode before Holy Week and Easter, since we don’t release episodes during Holy Week, so we also talk about ways to enter into this next week as we finish Lent and celebrate the resurrection.  And if you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 45. As always, if you still want to get a Guidebook and join us, you can find it at anniefdowns.com/seasons.  As you know, we don’t release shows during Holy Week, but we do have an entire Holy Week playlist that you can go back and listen to where I read the Scripture from each day of that week leading up to Easter.  . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel

Today we’re answering the question, “How do I transition seasons?” with Pastor Levi Lusko. Spring is here, and with the changing of seasons can come all sorts of transitions—whether it’s physically happening around us, or in our hearts, our work, or our relationships. Levi is such a wise voice in this and, especially, can speak to the realities of the big impact of it all with the release of his new book, Blessed Are the Spiraling, which comes out tomorrow. If you’re following along and taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 43, and if you don’t have a copy but would like one, you can find that at anniefdowns.com/seasons . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . 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 fir

Today Melanie Shankle is here to help us answer the question, “What do I do when spring still feels like winter?” Melanie’s always making us laugh on The Big Boo Cast, telling us which jeans to wear on the internet, and writing brilliant books and her latest is just incredible. It’s called Here Be Dragons: Treading the Deep Waters of Motherhood, Mean Girls, and Generational Trauma and it’s Melanie’s honest and deeply personal story of trusting God to heal generational wounds so she can be a strong presence for her daughter. I know she’s not the only one with this kind of story and like many of us has found herself at times in a winter season when everyone else is in spring and we’re going to talk about how to navigate that. I think you’re really going to love this conversation. If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we're on page 42. If you don’t have a guidebook yet, head to anniefdowns.com/seasons to purchase yours so you can hop in with us for the spring. You’ll get emailed the winter and

Pastor Mike Kelsey is back to help set us up well as we step into spring…BLESS GOD. As you may remember, Pastor Mike is here with us at the start of every season this year, so we can really be intentional about thinking through not only the physical changes of the season but the emotional and spiritual side too. Today on the show, we’re answering the question, “What is spring and how do I define it in my life?” Y’all had LOTS OF THOUGHTS when he was here with us in the winter, so I can’t wait to hear what you think about this episode. Single Purpose League, we also recorded a bonus clip for you that’s available over on Patreon. We finally get to turn THE ACTUAL PAGE in our TSF Seasons Guidebook today and jump into the spring pages, so we’re on page 40. And if you haven’t gotten a Guidebook, today’s the perfect day to purchase yours. When you do, you’ll immediately be able to download the winter and spring pages and get started with us…you can find everything you need at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . . Find

We are so glad you’re loving this rhythm of walking through the seasons together this year on That Sounds Fun, and WE KNOW YOU’RE READY FOR SPRING. My gosh, we are too. We all feel it, right? The anticipation of a new thing. More light. More warmth. More color. The winter was both long AND full of purpose. It was both painful AND sacred, cold AND cozy. But we are ready for spring! Starting Monday, March 24th we officially kick off the spring on the podcast with none other than our pastor for this year in the seasons, Pastor Mike Kelsey. Y’all loved his insight on the winter and he’s returning to help us usher in this new season. He’s going to help us figure out what spring means spiritually and how we define it in our lives. And as the spring continues we’re bringing on some incredible guests to help us answer questions like: What do I do when spring still feels like winter? How do I transition seasons well? How do I identify when spring is here? And how do I process change in busy seasons? Spring is going

Our friend Eddie Kaufholz and I keep talking and you know we’re getting into the hard hitting stuff like… the relationship between brain size and head size, talking animals, and opening day of baseball.  But there’s 7 minutes of serious too, because we had to talk about shoes and financial security and being misunderstood. We’re going there today. Don’t forget to download your spring pages for your TSF Guidebook to be ready for Monday! If you purchased it already, those have been emailed to you… and if not, head to anniefdowns.com/seasons to buy yours. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form! . . . . . NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popu

 Today we’re answering the question, “How do I handle the changing of a season?” We’re talking about the changing of the seasons today and I love what Ellie said about this book, because it’s exactly what we need right now as we step into spring. She said: “We all know what it’s like to be in the winter seasons and this book is a reminder that winter never gets the final word.” Ellie’s new kids book and accompanying album is called Spring Sings and it’s an Easter book so this would be such a fun gift to put in Easter baskets!  You’re going to love this conversation and if you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 27. For those of you who have the guidebook, your spring pages are being emailed to you today! And it’s not too late to jump in and still get a guidebook. Head to anniefdowns.com/seasons to purchase yours and you’ll get our winter and spring pages, and then we’ll email you summer and fall when those seasons begin.  . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episod

Once a month this year, we'll have an essay from me with some thoughts and ideas I am processing in real time. This started when I first moved to New York, and we called them AFD in NYC, as I was real time learning what it was like to live here. One of the episodes that mattered a lot to you all (and to me) was AFD in NYC Episode 6: An Essay About My Body and how NYC was changing my body... well, how it was changing my mind about my body. And a truth that remains today is that my body thrives in New York more than other cities...  . . . . . TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins.  . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email

Today on the show, we’re answering the question, “Why does the winter feel so long?”  You may know Cubbie Fink as one of the founding members of Foster the People, but he’s also an incredible producer and creative force. And joining him is his wife Rebecca St. James—Grammy and Dove Award-winning Christian artist, worship leader, author, and just all-around wonderful human.  I think we’re all feeling OVER THE WINTER at this point, so we’re going to talk about why it feels so long and how we handle it, AND we get to talk about Cubbie and Rebecca’s book about their life and marriage, called Lasting Ever.  If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 25. And as always, if you still want to get a Guidebook (especially because spring pages are coming soon, we’re emailing them out on March 17th!), you can find it at anniefdowns.com/seasons . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . .

What better way to start the Lent season than with the guy who plays Jesus on The Chosen, right?! Jonathan Roumie and I talk about what this season holds and some really cool things the Hallow App has to offer during Lent. And I want to hear from you, what is your plan for Lent? How are you observing it this year? Hop over to @thatsoundsfunpodcast on instagram and tell us there. I’ve decided to watch one episode of The Chosen every weekday leading up to Easter (except for my Saturday Sabbaths), so if you want to join me in that you can download the Chosen App and find seasons 1-4 there or you can find them on Amazon Prime. We also have a PDF of the watch schedule you can download that’s available in the linked here! AND Part one of Season 5 hits theaters on March 28th, so mark your calendars, followed by Parts 2 and 3 releasing in theaters in April, so GET READY.  . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

Today on the show, we’re answering the question, “How do I pray in the winter?”John Eldredge is back and officially becomes a member of the Hall of Fun! His spiritual leadership and wisdom is so helpful and you’re going to want to take notes from this one for sure. He also has a new book releasing tomorrow called Experiencing Jesus. Really. If you’re following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 23. And as always, if you still want to get a Guidebook, you can find it at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! Our Place: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 1

Savannah Guthrie is back! You know and love Savannah from the TODAY show. Last year, I got to talk with her about her New York Times bestselling book, Mostly What God Does. You can go back and listen to that one, it’s episode 863, and now she has a brand new kids’ book out this week called, Mostly What God Does is Love You. If you’re following along in the TSF Seasons Guidebook, there’s no notes pages for this one, because it’s a bonus episode! You’re welcome.  . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Catch our special miniseries over on Annie’s miniBFF podcast for these weeks leading up to the release of Where Did TJ Go? It’s about Who We Are. Why We Are Here, and Where We Are Going. Be sure to subscribe for the miniBFFs in your life. . . . . . If you liked this conversation, you may also like these: Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . If yo