That Sounds Fun With Annie F. Downs

It is about time we had a star from the NBA on our show! Meet Cody Zeller, player for the Charlotte Hornets, starting his eighth year in the league! If you've been looking for a reason to watch basketball, if you've been looking for a jersey to buy your kid for Christmas, if you've been looking for a funny conversation and a professional athlete to look up to, Cody is your dude.  I donated to LikeAChild.org and Cody is matching it! He'll match your donation as well before December 1!  If you enjoyed this episode with Cody, we've got two others I bet you'll love too: Episode 112: Tim Tebow  Episode 103: Taylor Twellman . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast -- Thanks to our partners! Simplified Planner: Go to emilyley.co/thatsoundsfun to see all that Simplified has to offer!  Rothy’s: Check out all the amazing shoes, bags and masks available right now at Rothys.com/soundsfun.  Indeed: Indeed is offering our friends a FREE $75 CRE

A few years ago, Christine D'Clario and I went on a trip to Ecuador with Compassion Intl and IMMEDIATELY hit it off. Like, sisters from different misters. I love how she loves God and how she loves worship and how she talks about both. This show brought me to tears. Prepare yourself, friends. This is a spiritual hour. If you enjoyed this episode with Christine, I bet you'll also love: Episode 137: Amanda Lindsey Cook Episode 68: Tauren Wells Episode 198: Tauren Wells + Citizen of Heaven . . . . . Join us for the That Sounds Fun Podcast Birthday Party on November 23rd! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thanks to our partners! Thrive:Join Thrive Market today and you’ll get a FREE gift of your choosing, up to $24 dollars in value. Go to https://ThriveMarket.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Curology: Go to https://Curology.com/thatsoundsfun for a free 30-day trial, just pay for shipping and handling! Ancestry: Don’t miss special holiday pricing

To celebrate Veteran's Day this week, we are so excited to have Captain Harold and Rachel Earls on the show! They are incredibly fun to listen to and learn from, have an awesome family and awesome story. Grab a copy of their book A Higher Calling today and start reading ASAP! It's very very good.  (Sorry for the sound issues- totally my fault! But we loved this conversation too much to keep it from you!)  If you enjoyed this episode with the Earls, we've got two others I bet you'll love too: Episode 184: Kristen Strong Episode 234: Drew and Stacey Morgan . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast -- Thanks to our partners! BetterHelp: Receive 10% off your first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. Flamingo: Visit shopflamingo.com/annie to get your Flamingo Shave Set for just $16 + FREE shipping. Ritual: Get 10% off during your first 3 months at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone

It was such an honor to get to speak to John Bevere for today's episode. The impact his ministry has already had on the world is astounding- so he's the exact right person to talk to us about the impact our lives can have as well! Go ahead and order yourself a copy of his new book X: Multiply Your God-Given Potential. You'll love this one. If you enjoyed this episode with John, we've got two other Bevere family episodes I bet you'll love too: Episode 239: Lisa Bevere Couples Month 2020: Addison and Juliana Bevere . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thanks to our partners!  Freshly: Freshly is offering our friends $40 OFF your first two orders at freshly.com/soundsfun.  Indeed: Try Indeed out with a FREE $75 credit at Indeed.com/soundsfun. Offer valid through December 31, 2020.  Prose: Take your FREE in-depth hair quiz and get 15% off your first order today at Prose.com/thatsoundsfun.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Maybe my favorite episode every year is when we get to sit down with Amanda Bible Williams and Raechel Myers from She Reads Truth and talk all about the season of Advent! (starts November 29!)  Grab your study book and join us as we read the Bible together to finish out the year! shopshereadstruth.com and use the code ADVENTFUN for 15% off everything Advent! . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our partners! BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. JennyLife: Visit jennylife.com/thatsoundsfun for your free life insurance quote today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the beginning, not the end, of our 2020 US Election conversation. (We have two more shows planned with two of my favorite political experts around the inauguration in January!) Y'all have heard me talking about this a bit, but my real prayer and hope is that we can hang onto our faith and friendships through this election season. Gabe Lyons, author, speaker, and founder of Q Ideas, is here to talk us through the election through the eyes of our Christian faith, answers some hard questions, and leaves us with a lot of hope. If you want to join us November 11-12 for the Q Ideas Q&A event, use the code DOWNS10 for 10% off your ticket!  If you enjoyed this conversation about politics, I bet you'll also like: Episode 23: Michael Wear Episode 111: Michael Wear + mid-term elections Episode 221: Eugene Cho . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thanks to our partners! Honey: Get Honey for free today at joinhoney.com/fun!  Rothy’s:

It is such an honor to have one of my favorite novelists on the podcast today! Karen Kingsbury is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author and her Baxter family of characters are many of our favorite friends that we don't really know (LOL)! Today Karen and I talk about her new novel, Truly, Madly, Deeply, her family, COVID, and a plethora of other things! She's wonderful! Enjoy! (As mentioned in the intro, we talk a bit about policemen and police work because the main character in her new novel is a policeman. You may want to listen to this one without your kids the first time just so that you know how you want to have the follow up conversation. While we may not all agree with every guest, I hope you'll listen along with open ears and heart.) If you enjoyed this episode with Karen, I bet you'll also like: Episode 133: Charles Martin Episode 212: Charles Martin + The Water Keeper Episode 152: Robin Jones Gunn . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoun

After I read Chris Singleton's book, Different: A Story About Loving Your Neighbor, for a Monday night #miniBFFBookClub on instagram live, I knew I wanted to have a longer conversation with him. He's an incredibly gifted speaker with a heartbreaking and hope-filled story and I think you're gonna love this conversation. Here is the link to Chris's Kickstarter for Your Life Matters. Don't miss out on this one! If you enjoyed this episode with Chris, I bet you'll also like: Episode 69: Dansby Swanson Episode 211: Ellie Holcomb . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thanks to our partners! Grove: Go to grove.co/soundsfun to get a FREE cleaning gift set plus free shipping with your first order!  Freshly: Receive $40 OFF your first two orders at freshly.com/soundsfun!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These are some of my very favorite ladies ever. Point of Grace is a group that has been singing in my ears for decades, but the real joy was when I got to tour with them about a decade ago. They are absolutely wonderful. You're going to love this conversation with Denise, Shelley, and Leigh. Their new book How You Live is so helpful- like coffee with three really wise older sisters. This conversation was just as comforting and fun. Love them so much. If you enjoyed this episode with Point of Grace, I bet you'll also like: Episode 124: Meredith Andrews Episode 163: Bianca Oltoff . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: Join Thrive Market today and you’ll get a FREE gift of your choosing, up to $24 dollars in value. Go to https://ThriveMarket.com/THATSOUNDSFUN Raycon: Go to buyraycon.com/THATSOUNDSFUN and they’re going to give my friends 15% off your order! Jenni Kayne: My friends will recei

I am such a huge fan of Lecrae's music and his writing and his story. His new book I Am Restored is such an honest, deep, and painfully real take on his life that I think you'll find it inspiring and moving and a worthy read. Today's convo is special to me- I hope it will be to you, too. If you enjoyed this episode with Lecrae, I bet you'll also like: Propaganda + Dr. Alma Zaragoza-Petty Episode 128: David Crowder . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our partners! Rothy's: Check out all the amazing shoes and bags available right now at Rothys.com/soundsfun. Third Love: Go to thirdlove.com/soundsfun  and get 10% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y'all know I'm a huge fan of sports, so anytime an athlete comes on the show, I AM A HAPPY ANNIE. Sam Acho is today's guest and his story of faith and family and football is one I will not soon forget. Make sure you grab a copy of his new book Let The World See You. It's a powerful read and you will hear why in today's conversation. If you enjoyed this episode with Sam, I bet you'll also like: Episode 98: Sam Ponder Episode 156: Benjamin Watson . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our partners! BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun! Ritual: Try it out satisfaction guaranteed and get 10% off your first three months! Go to ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to start your Ritual today. Indeed: Get a FREE $75 credit to boost your job post! Go to indeed.com/soundsfun. Offer valid through December 31, 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I did not mean to make us new besties BUT IT HAPPENED, Y'ALL. I have been a long time fan of Maddie & Tae's music, but now I am just a superfan of who they are as women and artists and creatives and business owners. After you listen to this episode, make sure to give them a follow and check out all their music- including their new album The Way It Feels and their Christmas EP We Need Christmas!  If you enjoyed this episode with Maddie & Tae, I bet you'll also like: Episode 160: Drew Holcomb Episode 149: Hillary Scott . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast  Thank you to our partners! Feetures: Receive $10 Off your first pair by going to Feetures.com and using my code SOUNDSFUN at checkout! Enneagram Daily Reflections Series: Receive 30% off + free shipping on the available volumes by visiting ivpress.com and using the promo code EDR30.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What an absolute honor to have Dr. Russell Moore join us on the podcast today. I have long looked up to him and respected his work, and his new book The Courage To Stand is an important read. Today Dr. Moore answers a lot of my questions and a lot of your questions and gives me (and us?) hope for what is to come. . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thanks to our partners!  BetterHelp: My friends get 10% off your first month by visiting betterhelp.com/thatsoundsfun!  Flamingo: Visit shopflamingo.com/annie to get your Flamingo Shave Set for just $16 with FREE shipping!  Jenny Life Insurance: Go to jennylife.com/thatsoundsfun to get a FREE quote right now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gracious I love my friend Jamie Ivey and I REALLY love her new book You Be You. She lives this message as much as anyone I know, which is fun to watch and so helpful to read. I know many of you (myself included) are fans of Jamie's podcasts and her writing, and this episode is one of the best conversations. Grab the book, follow Jamie, subscribe to her podcast- you'll be glad you did. . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thanks to our partners! KiwiCo: Get 30% off your first month plus FREE shipping on any crate line kiwico.com/THATSOUNDSFUN!  Third Love: Go to thirdlove.com/soundsfun to get 10% off your first purchase!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh my gracious I am so excited to have our friend Alli Worthington back in the podcast studio again! Her pure joy and excitement about life always makes me smile but its the deeper conversations, the heart of the matter, the way she got SO HONEST in today's show, that's the good stuff. Make sure you grab a copy of her latest book, Standing Strong! . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our partners! Liquid IV: Get 25% off when you go to liquid-iv.com and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout!  Rothy's: Check out all the amazing shoes and bags available right now at Rothys.com/SOUNDSFUN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have been long hoping to have Tyler Merritt on the podcast- you probably know him as the guy from his Before You Call The Cops viral video. I know him as the guy who volunteers in our church's kids area. We've known each other for a while but our friendship grew three sizes today, just in our Hamilton conversation! :)  By the way, this is a great conversation for the whole family, but I do think maybe adults want to listen before my #miniBFFs listen as we discuss racism and how to love our neighbors well. We go deep on this convo and I'm grateful for Tyler's faith and his words. . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our sponsors! Nutrafol: Go to nutrafol.com and use promo code SOUNDSFUN - new customers will get 20% off! Plus you get FREE shipping on every order. Ancestry: Head to Ancestry.com/TSF to get your AncestryHealth kit today!  Freshly: Get $40 OFF your first two orders at freshly.com/soundsfun!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I biiiinged DeMarcus Family Rules on Netflix a few weeks ago and my gracious I really liked it. I've been a fan of both Jay and Allison for a long time so getting to chat with them about their new show and their family life and their life in Nashville- what an incredibly fun conversation. And I got to sing with Jay DeMarcus so I'm the happiest. LOL. Y'all gotta watch their show! . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our partners! Thrive: Go to thrivemarket.com/thatsoundsfun. Join today and you’ll get a FREE gift of your choosing, up to $24 in value!  Jenni Kayne: Make getting dressed the easiest part of your routine at jennikayne.com and get 20% off your first order when you use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. Grove: For a limited time, when my listeners go to grove.co/SOUNDSFUN you will get a FREE cleaning gift set plus free shipping with your first order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is my first day being friends with Dr. Derwin Gray, but I have been a fan and follower for a very very long time. What an amazing dude! Strong teacher, kind pastor, good friend. His new book The Good Life is exactly what we need right now- a reminder that our world doesn't value the same things God's kingdom values. And that matters. I think you're going to love this conversation and his new book! . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thanks to our partners! Raycon: Get 15% off your order at buyraycon.com/thatsoundsfun! Rothy's: Check out all the amazing shoes and bags available right now at Rothys.com/SOUNDSFUN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fall is here(ish) and it's time to start thinking about how our homes will change with the seasons. There is literally no better expert than Myquillyn Smith, also known as the Nester. Her latest book, Welcome Home, is an absolute treasure trove of goodness for making your home the most livable and the most lovely every season of the year. She's absolutely one of my faves and I know she's one of y'all's too! . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our partners! Ritual: Try it out satisfaction guaranteed—go to ritual.com/thatsoundsfun to start your Ritual today. Indeed: Indeed is offering our listeners a FREE $75 credit to boost your job post at Indeed.com/soundsfun. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through September 30. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is ABOUT TIME my friend Levi Lusko joined us on the podcast! You remember his wife Jennie was on just a few months ago (Episode 220) and now Levi is here to talk about the pandemic and prayer and the power of our thoughts and fasting and a billion other topics (you know how we do). I'm going to be starting his new 40-day devotional, Take Back Your Life, and I hope you'll join me! (We always give our AFD Week in Review friends a heads up about who will be on the podcast- sign up here to get the email on Fridays!) . . . . . #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our partners! Christian Appalachian Project: Hunger still walks among us, but we can make a difference. Find out more at www.christianapp.org/anniefdowns Raycon: Go to buyraycon.com/THATSOUNDSFUN and you’ll get 15% off your order! Ancestry: Head to Ancestry.com/TSF to get your Ancestry Health kit today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices