That Sounds Fun With Annie F. Downs

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 epis

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

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 . . . . .

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 informat

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

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 bu

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 resourc

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 th

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

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 v

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

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 serie

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

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

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 th