That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

This conversation is another breath of fresh air for us. Aundi Kolber came into the podcast studio and was a gift from minute one, and I think you will agree. Aundi is a Licensed Professional Counselor (MA LPC), writer, and speaker in Castle Rock, Colorado. She specializes in trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. Her new book Try Softe...

Another year and we are here together and I am so grateful. And why not kick it off with an incredibly vulnerable and personal episode? LOL. Seth Haines joins us to talk about all the facets of sobriety, how to face your desires, what to do next, and it all is just a step towards who we want to be in the next decade. His new book The Book of Waking Up is a beautiful, helpful, and life-giving read....

What choice did we have but to have Eddie Kaufholz back on the podcast to help us wrap up 2019? We talk down all the big topics that matter and don't matter and pretty much sort out everything about the last decade as we head into the next one. Always grateful for when Eddie makes me laugh AND cry.  (We also have a little drop in from our buddy Andy Barron... so that's a special year end treat!) H...

Everyone's favorite big guy is back on the show today, ready to really process through the day after Christmas, his biggest and most important work day. What an honor to have Santa Claus land the sleigh here at the That Sounds Fun Studio at Downs Books HQ. And remember to check out my youtube page for a follow up question with Santa! Totally unrelated: http://davebarnes.com . . . . . http://annief...

We finish this year's 12 Days of Christmas with my parents! They always show up at my parties and I'm so glad.  Enjoy the Christmas stories from a lot lot lot of our 2019 guests! Have a very Merry Christmas, friends. Thankful for you! . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Molly Reed Grayson is by far my favorite instagram baking follow! Every week with her #SundayBakes shows she entertains and teaches and I absolutely love it. As you are preparing for time in the kitchen the next few days, this episode will help you do it well! (And definitely stick around to the end... we have a moment that has NEVER HAPPENED before on the show! And I totally cried and it's awesom...

What a gift to have the pastor of the pod back with us today! Kevin Queen talks to us about transitions, prayer, church life around Christmas, and how to pray for your city. Enjoy the Christmas stories from 2019 guests Bianca Oltoff, Mark Batterson, and Heather Land.  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystud...

This may be one of my favorite episodes this year. Melinda Doolittle is every bit as fun as she sounds from start to finish. She is kind and hilarious and thoughtful AND A CHRISTMAS TREE UP YEAR ROUND? Yeah, we need her. And now we can't WAIT for her Christmas album in 2020! Enjoy the Christmas stories from 2019 guests Clay Scroggins, Hillary Scott, and Dustin Nickerson. . . . . . http://anniefdow...

Victoria Duerstock and I jumped RIGHT ON IN to friendship as soon as she walked into the podcast studio. I love love love having someone at our Christmas party that talks about holiday decor- and this conversation combines the importance of purpose behind your decorating, staying on budget, and why it all matters. Her latest book Heart & Home for Christmas- is such a sweet read with daily devotion...

Ted Dekker is the first guest EVER on this podcast (he's really the reason I started podcasting in the first place!), so it's such a joy to have him and his daughter Rachelle Dekker on the podcast today! I'm devouring their new book The Girl Behind The Red Rope- it's a novel I think you'll enjoy! Can't wait for you to hear the Christmas stories from 2019 guests Casey J, Mike Donehey, and Jess Conn...

Y'all request Food Network star Aarti Sequeira ALL THE TIME and MERRY CHRISTMAS she came to the party! I just adore Aarti and have loved her every minute since we met on the set of Hallmark Home and Family! Today, Aarti gets very honest about God and the holidays and family transitions. What a gift she has given us today. Also enjoy the Christmas stories from 2019 guests Benjamin Watson, Kristen S...

As we recorded EnneaSummer2019 episodes (which you can go back to June 2019 and listen to), I asked each enneagram pair to tell us about what they'd like for Christmas.  Today, my three lifelong best friends- Molly, Misti, and Enneagram Coach Haley Watkins- sit down in the studio with me and we talk through each of the nine types of the enneagram and what they each would like for Christmas! Enjoy...

It has been far too long since Sarah Bessey and I caught up and it's most definitely time for her to be on the show! Her calm presence and kind voice felt just perfect for our Christmas party. So many topics, not enough time, but gracious and I grateful for her honesty and stories and heart. Make sure you grab a copy of her latest book Miracles and Other Reasonable Things! Stick around for Christm...

Our Christmas party continues today, the third Sunday of Advent. Pastor Alex Seeley joins us to talk all about her new book The Opposite Life and the best parts (and the hardest parts) of the holiday season. What a gift to think through how to celebrate and grieve during these weeks- I'm so thankful for Pastor Alex talking us through this. Stick around for Christmas stories from 2019 guests Drew H...

The most requested and waited for show every year- Jami and Jenn are here to talk all about this year's brand new batch of Hallmark Christmas movies!  And yes- we talk loooong about our day at Dollywood as extras in Hallmark Christmas movie "Christmas at Dollywood." And yes, we still have the highest hopes that someday we'll get Dolly Parton on the podcast!   . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #that...

I fangirl SO HARD in this episode, y'all. Phil Wickham is one of my very favorite artists and I am beyond grateful that he let us use music from his new album, Christmas, for the whole month of December! Make sure you grab a copy of the album- it's one of my very favorites. Can't wait for you to hear Christmas stories from 2019 guests Amena Brown, Knox McCoy, and Jordan Lee Dooley! . . . . . http:...

I've been so hoping we could get Jeff Henderson on the podcast and YES HERE HE IS. One of my favorite pastors (you'll hear why  in the show- I also cry SORRY BUT YOU KNOW ME), Jeff and his wife and daughter join us to discuss pastoring and running a business, raising kids to love the church, what it looks like to be FOR your community, and disappointing people (ouch). This guy is just one of the b...

I just finished listening to this episode with Liz Bohannon and I feel like I have more air in my lungs than I did before hearing it. She's just the absolute embodiment of INSPIRING. Her new book Beginner's Pluck is a must read for all of us. With Christmas stories from past 2019 guests Andrew Osenga, Julie Roberts, and Ryan Hall!  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in...

Gracious I thought this conversation with Clay Scroggins was equal parts helpful and incredibly fun. For all of us who are leading (spoiler: we all are!), the conversation about what can distract us (spoiler: it's not just your phone!) may help you shape 2020 in some really important ways. His new book How to Lead in a World of Distraction is an excellent read that I think you'll enjoy. And surpri...

I mean. I figured we would like Zach Williams, I had no idea we would like him THIS MUCH. His music is absolutely great, his story is so unique, and I just like him to pieces. Make sure you're listening to his album Rescue Story- it is SO. GOOD. Y'ALL. And who is gonna connect us to interview Kanye? :)  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever ha...

Amena Brown is such a special friend, my word I love her. WE go to a lot of places today, some that are not so easy. But it felt like the perfect episode for Thanksgiving- gives us lots to think about and talk about with our people. From dating to church to racism to writing and podcasting, we cover it all.  Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Grateful for you each! . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #that...

I absolutely always LOVE have Eddie Kaufholz on the podcast, and y'all do too! Today we're talking all things The New Activist- how Eddie got all of us started in our love for Christian Appalachian Project, why he got involved with IJM in the first place, and all about his brand new series (that is INCREDIBLE) about the life of a young child in slavery in Ghana, Esther. Here are the links to all t...

I have been a fan of ABLE since literally day 1, and Barrett and Jordan are absolutely two of my favorite friends, so this made today's show one of the best. We talk all about fair living wages for people working in fashion, who works at ABLE and what all they create, and where the company is going next and where fashion is going next.  ALSO. Before Black Friday deals even kick off, they are givin...

Just a quick little drop in show to tell you THANK YOU for being the best pod-friends a girl could ever ask for, tell you a bit about where the podcast is going, and tell you as much as I can about the new book (AND HOW YOU CAN BE IN IT)!! Here is the link: http://bit.ly/TSFbooksurvey Remember the first 700 people who tell us what sounds fun to them get to be in the book! Y'all are the very best....

Y'all have been asking to have her on the show and she and I have been trying our darnedest to get our schedules to align and FINALLY! HUZZAH! Here she is! Jordan Lee Dooley is such a joy and absolutely brilliant but also kind and thoughtful and I just am a little obsessed with her, okay? Her book Own Your Everyday should be FRONT AND CENTER on your Christmas buying list. (Just a reminder as I men...