That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

Ready to laugh? Need to lighten things up a bit at the end of this party? There is no one finer in the land than actress and comedian Anjelah Johnson. You are probably already a fan (Nail Salon? Bon Qui-Qui?) but being friends with Anj is totally next level. Sit back, relax, this isn't a note-taking episode but I will warn you instead it may be a spit-take episode if you're sipping on a drink and...

Well listen. If there is one episode that is DEEPLY RESEARCHED (and there is literally ONE that is researched every year), it is this one. My BFFs and PhD candidates in Hallmarkology, Jen and Jami, are back to tell us about the lineup of Hallmark Christmas movies for 2020. We also get an incredibly special and fun visit from Hallmark star Nikki DeLoach and if you're sure you are ready to hear Jami...

Your favorite and my favorite Ben Rector is back to party with us today! Of all my friends y'all request to chat with, Ben is at the top of that list. His new Christmas album, A Ben Rector Christmas, is one of our faves around the office and one I can't quit at home, too. Enjoy this convo!  Remember we have episodes for you EVERY DAY between December 7-18! Twelve days of (Podcasting) Christmas! ....

I just cannot tell y'all what a gift it feels like to have Amy Grant on the podcast today. For myself, and many of us, Amy and her voice and her stories have been a constant companion. Getting to chat with her and share this with you is just such a highlight of 2020 for me. I hope you love this conversation as much as I do! (PS SORRY I CRIED but you aren't surprised.)  Remember we have episodes fo...

Happy Sunday- the third Sunday in Advent! It's such a joy to welcome a listener favorite and the pastor of the pod, Kevin Queen, back to join us again! A few tears, a few laughs, and lots of wisdom for you. Pastor Kevin is the lead pastor at my church, Cross Point Church, here in Nashville and you are always welcome to join us online or in person!  . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Revi...

We love talking about the enneagram tool here and when you put together enneagram and presents, I AM HERE FOR IT! Dr. Drew Moser is an absolute expert and the author of The Enneagram of Discernment. He goes through each number and sets us up for excellent shopping by sharing a comfort gift and a challenge gift for each type of friend in our lives.  Want more ideas? Go listen to our Enneagram Gift...

Oh y'all. This conversation is a gift from God. Kimberly Schlapman comes and tells us about her family's holiday traditions, adoption, miracles, prayer, and the pain of deep loss. (To prepare your heart, I do want you to know we talk about the loss of a spouse and the loss of a baby.) I'm so so grateful for the Kimberly's kindness and honesty and how inviting she is in her stories. We are lucky to...

Favorite recipes, favorite restaurants, and the power of browned butter. Charles Hunter III, you may know him online as The Salted Table, is a favorite local chef who has lots of amazing thoughts and ideas for us as we prepare and eat well this holiday season! Remember we have episodes for you EVERY DAY between December 7-18! Twelve days of (Podcasting) Christmas! . . . . . Sign up to receive the...

Settle in for this one, friends. Dr. Chip Dodd is one of the wisest men I know and we are going to talk deep quick about our mental health, addictions, and how 2020 has brought us pain and what to do with it. This one is powerful.  Also- miniBFF warning. Maybe listen to this one first before your kids listen along? Make sure you grab a copy of Hope in the Age of Addiction: How to Find Freedom and...

Our party continues today talking about the season of Advent with Tsh Oxenreider. She's a longtime friend of mine and just one of the best. Her new Advent book Shadow and Light is gorgeous and the whole Advent experience she's created is amazing. Make sure to order the book and check it out!  Remember we have episodes for you EVERY DAY between December 7-18! Twelve days of (Podcasting) Christmas!...

It's time for our 12 Days of Christmas Party here at That Sounds Fun! And we kick this off with the best of men. My gracious, Santa Claus has got a lot to sort out this year in delivering gifts and keeping the elves healthy in the days of COVID-19 and if you've been wondering how he's going to make this year work, I asked him all about it!  TOTALLY unrelated: Dave Barnes is the best and you should...

This episode feels like a party FOR REAL. Why is Rend Collective the most fun and talented group ever??! (Because they're Northern Irish, that's why.) I laughed just about the whole time and feel like I have new best friends who make the coolest music! AND we are SO EXCITED to be featuring the song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" from their new Christmas album- A Jolly Irish Christmas- starting toda...

What an absolute JOY to talk with Kathie Lee Gifford! I learned so much, wished we could all fly to Israel together, and really enjoyed talking about her new book It's Never Too Late. We also got to read her book on MiniBFFBookClub a few weeks ago- Hello, Little Dreamer- it's awesome!  If you enjoyed this episode with Kathie Lee, we've got another one I bet you'll love too: Episode 129: Elizabeth...

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! No one better to chat with today than Kimberly Williams-Paisley! Not only do we talk long about Father of The Bride, we also discuss her TWO Christmas movies (they are SO GOOD!), life in Nashville with kids and husband Brad Paisley- their story of meeting is INCREDIBLE, and most importantly, food insecurity across our nation. On a day about feasting, let's remember tho...

THIS WOMAN. Are y'all even ready for this conversation with Natalie Grant?!? Lots of laughs, a couple of tears, and lots of talk about her new album No Stranger that is getting me through 2020. Natalie is a dear friend and an amazing voice and a leader for so many. I could not have loved this convo more- I know you will too! If you enjoyed this episode with Natalie, we've got two others I bet you'...

One of our favorites if BACK! I just love getting to sit and talk with Lysa TerKeurst about life and writing and today, forgiveness. Her new book, Forgiving What You Can't Forget, is a much needed and incredibly helpful guide for any of us (all of us?) who may need a little help forgiving. If you enjoyed this episode with Lysa, we've got two others I bet you'll love too: Episode 106: Shelley Gigli...

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 Like...

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:...

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 fro...

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...

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 We...

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...

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...

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 o...

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 conversat...