That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

HAPPY SEPTEMBER, FRIENDS! And there is no better way to kick off the fall than talking football with one of the coolest women we know. Samantha Ponder is one of the most respected women in sports broadcasting and definitely one the most recognized faces in football. But to me, she's also an amazing Jesus-loving woman who is one of my favorite instagram follows FOR SURE. Y'all are just gonna adore...

YOU GUYS. I'm trying to play it cool but TEAM NO CHILL that we get to be friends with Payne Lindsey and talk all things Up and Vanished, podcast creation, and storytelling. If you'll recall from the episode with John Crist, we were both addicted to Season 1 of Up and Vanished and I am so pumped to have had this conversation with the creator of the show.  Season 1 is absolutely worth your time, but...

Y'all called it. You've told me to have her on the show and legit the minute we sat down in my office we were laughing and then I was teary telling her the truth and OMG Melissa Radke is everything. Her new book Eat Cake. Be Brave. is already on many of your shelves (and in your hearts) but wow is it a special one. And so is she. And so is this conversation. Get ready to laugh- this woman BRINGS I...

It is with SO MUCH JOY that I put this conversation in your ears and put this organization in the front of your mind. What an honor for us to get to partner with Christian Appalachian Project to bring picture books to kids in three counties of Kentucky!  Listen in as Mike from Camp AJ and I chat about all things CAP, the importance of reading, and what it is like to love your neighbor well. Our go...

Gosh I love Christy Wright. She's a ball of fun and compassion and smarts and you're going to see all those on display in today's episode. As I'm taking a few weeks off for vacation, I knew Christy was the businesswoman I wanted to talk with about how we rest well and run after our dreams and lead from a place of peace. Oh, and we also talked about our trip to Vegas. :)  If you think we're fun in...

The calmness of Aaron's voice is going to be what makes the truth bombs fall much lighter into your heart. :) I am such a fan of this guy- as a writer, friend, worship leader, experience creator, and family man. His new book, The Eternal Current, puts down on paper the way that Aaron has lived and led us for so long. I think you are going to love this conversation and this book.  https://www.aaron...

I have been so dying to get Jessica Honegger on the show! (And you guys have requested her like crazy too.) The founder and CEO of Noonday Collection, she is also the author of Imperfect Courage. This conversation with Jessica is enneagram 7 heavy :), so prepare your hearts for that. You know when you get two of us together, it's volume and laughter and tears and dreams. Don't say I didn't warn yo...

YOU GUYS. Okay so I already loved her music I had no idea I WOULD FALL ALL THE WAY IN LOVE with Steffany Gretzinger. Like, immediate need to know her and be her friend forever kind of love. Her music and her worship leading have meant so much to me in the last few years, but gracious her wisdom and humor! I didn't know BUT NOW WE KNOW. If you haven't listened to her album Blackout, please do. Like...

Oh y'all. I so love this dude. Jeremy Courtney is truly one of my heroes- not just in what he does, but how he thinks and talks and leads. Jeremy and his wife Jessica run Preemptive Love, bringing relief and jobs and friendship to people in war-torn nations like Iraq and Syria. And not just for a season, but for the long haul. This conversation is so moving as Jeremy walks us through what their li...

I'm so excited to have Russ Ramsey back on the podcast to hang with us! We talk about all sorts of topics - prayer, Jesus, his new adventure in pastoring- have lots of laughs and a few tears (duh it's me).  He has three new books that released last week and I love them -- The Advent of the Lamb, The Passion of the King of Glory, and The Mission of the Body of Christ. (And you gotta listen to the s...

I am such a huge fan of Ally Fallon. As my friend, as a writer, and as a woman who is living open and honest and telling the truth. I admire her so so much and I think you will too after this conversation. Pre-order her latest book Indestructible- it's such a beautiful story of pain and resilience and trust and hope. https://allisonfallon.com Join us August 2nd!! --> https://www.redjett.com http:/...

It's my birthday week so this podcast is just some of my favorite things! :)  First up, Dave Barnes and Aaron Chewning are back to talk us through the final 8 teams of the World Cup and who is gonna win this whole thing. Then, my friends and co-workers Maggie and Eliza bring some of the questions that you guys asked during the TSF Survey we put out in May. Friendship, God, singleness, church, Star...

As my college pastor at UGA's Wesley Foundation and my pastor for a season at RiverStone Church, Tom Tanner is one of the most influential voices in my life. Tom and Melissa are on a short list, after my own parents, of people who have had the most impact in my life and growth. And I think that is true for hundreds of my friends, including some that you know- like Tyler Reagin from Catalyst and my...

What a joy to have such a strong, insightful, and fun woman on the podcast with us today! Kate Bowler is a brilliant writer and communicator and we really dig into some of the hard things going on in her life right now. This conversation is special. For sure. She's honest and kind and a real joy to hang out with. Her new book, Everything Happens For A Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved, really move...

Here's the thing. I saw Black Panther and I loved it. Then I saw Avengers: Infinity War and I loved it. So you know what sounded fun to ME? Learning more about these superheroes that most of y'all already know and love. And my buddy Tyler Huckabee is just the guy to teach us.... well, me. So stick around for some incredible thoughts on writing, faith, and superheroes, and where all those worlds co...

Possibly the most creative person I have ever known, Andrew Peterson  is a songwriter, singer, author, filmmaker, farmer, and pretty much a billion other things. He's just significantly cooler than me, which you'll know soon enough. If you've been around here for a while, we've been talking for a long time about one of Andrew's songs- The Sower's Song- the one that got me going about myrtle a few...

Christine Caine is one of my favorite voices. She's an incredible preacher, a strong activist against slavery, and just one of a kind. The thing about Chris is she is SO FULLY CHRIS and SO FULLY given over to the work of the Gospel and the love of Christ. It's awesome to watch and massively inspiring. Her new book, Unexpected, just released and it's the power punch you've been waiting to read. Thi...

You know I have two real dreams for my friends listening- that you would love the enneagram and international soccer. The Men's World Cup, the biggest worldwide soccer tournament, begins next week and this summer is the best time for you to jump on board and learn to love the sport. (I hope. I hope so hard.) So I grabbed two of my favorite dudes and soccer (and comedy) experts- Aaron Chewning and...

YOU GUYS WE DID IT. 100 episodes. And you're still here. (Thanks for that!)  This one is ridiculous and fun and a sprinkling of stuff that matters and lots of Royal Wedding and a promise about Christmas that you don't want to forget (because I'm never talking about it ever again). Just 100 hot takes. Y'all have made my life so much more fun. Thank you. . . . . . Make sure you follow Eddie and list...

Y'all know we love talking about Sabbath around here, and with summer kicking off this week, let's talk a bit about slowing down and what rest can look like (I bet it's different than you think). Curtis Zackery, or CZ as we friends call him, has written a new book called Soul Rest all about it. We knock into a lot of topics- church leadership, race, miscarriage, just to name a few- and you're goin...

Harvest and I have been friends for years and I've watched her grow as a worship leader and as a woman of God in amazing (and pain-filled) ways. Buckle up for a conversation about pain and worship and the book of Revelation... and movie pass. :) Her new album Preachers will be a gift to be played over and over in your life.  https://www.harvestbashta.com Podcast survey: http://bit.ly/2018TSFsurvey...

Dropping another surprise Monday episode in here because y'all are awesome and I want you to hear my new favorite song! Right Now is a song written for our local church but I am BEYOND HAPPY that you can hear it now too. Krissy Nordhoff, Zach Kale, and Mike Grayson wrote it together and it has been SUCH a gift to our church for the last few months. Can't wait for you to hear it and hear the heart...

My gracious I love these people. If you are a church person, you probably have been singing Passion Music songs for years. And I bet you already know Kristian Stanfill, Melodie Malone, and Brett Younker. But today we sit down and have one of my favorite conversations with all three of them. (And we call on the power of Shelley Giglio a few times too... mainly to get us La Croix endorsements.) Pass...

Here's what.  I just have some things I want to tell you (some fun and exciting things!) and some questions I have for you and the only real way I know to communicate with you is to talk to you. So pretend we are sitting down at my favorite coffee shop in Nashville just having a conversation about this little corner of the podcast universe we call the That Sounds Fun Podcast. And then let me know...

I am so so happy to have a sweet mama on the show this week to help kick off your Mother's Day Weekend celebrating! Hilary Yancey has a unique, hard, and beautiful story of her growing family that I think will connect with you and change you. Her first book, Forgiving God: A Story of Faith is moving and powerful and yet intensely vulnerable and kind. You've gonna love it and you're gonna love her....