That Sounds Fun With Annie F. Downs

Y’all get ready, because today I get to talk with my friend, Ellen Skrmetti—one of my favorite follows on Instagram. I bet you love her too…she makes those “Hey Jesus, it’s me,” videos…and she’s just as funny in person as she is online. Her southern humor is just spot on in the bless-your-heart kind of way and I laughed so much during this conversation. We did a real deep dive on how her comedy career got started, church potlucks, the speed of funerals, panty hose, a new sausage ball recipe… and we also got to talk about her brand new book, Hey Jesus, It’s Me. Y’all, hand to heaven, ask my coworkers, I laughed out loud multiple times reading this book. It is so funny and so good. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  Find the show notes here! . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Wee

Who else absolutely LOVED the book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever growing up? It was one of my favorites and tomorrow it’s coming to the big screen, and we get to talk all about it today with Dallas Jenkins, who directed the movie, and his wife, Amanda. Y’all know them and love them already because Dallas is the director of The Chosen, but I’m telling you, I’ve cried BOTH times I’ve seen this screening of this movie. You’re going to LOVE it. Do not miss Dallas's story at the end of how he got to produce this amazing movie!  . . . . Find the show notes here! . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THAT

You may remember Bethany Joy Lenz from One Tree Hill (she was Haley James Scott on the show), but today she is being generous with her story of faith and freedom and identity, as she talks about the journey of finding herself in a cult, the manipulation she experienced, and the empowerment she found to break way from it all. She shares even more of this story and the destruction narcissism can cause in her brand new memoir, Dinner for Vampires, which, y’all, I seriously couldn't put down. . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Every week of November, AG1 will be running a special Black Friday offer for

In case you haven’t been with us for a while, once a month we’re recapping each of the last 10 years in honor of the 10th anniversary of That Sounds Fun, so this month, we’re recapping 2022... but what we actually do is talk about anything else. Today we talk big about the World Series and (mainly Shohei Ohtani), Lin-Manuel Miranda, AI, and water because why not.  Also, let us know on Instagram what you would with 41 million dollars!!! . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . .  Join us for our Advent series, Stay Tuned!  . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month.  KiwiCo: Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo code THATSOUNDSFUN. . . . . . If you’d like to partner with Annie as a spons

Learning how to be a person of faith in 2024 seems very challenging and the center of a lot of conversations these days. Today felt like the perfect time to talk to my friend Phil Manginelli about what's going on in the world, in the US, in our faith, and where those all meet. Phil equips churches and organizations teaching internationally on navigating the cultural landscape of a post-Christian world and following Jesus in a secular age, and serves as the Lead Pastor of The Square in Smyrna, GA. I think you all will love this conversation and his new book You Are Not Alone: A Guide To Following Jesus In A Secular Age.  . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first

We're going there today! My friend Ryan Wekenman and I talk about how to help our churches and pastors understand how to serve the single people in their church. Ryan’s a pastor at Red Rocks Austin and he’s also the author of Single Today, which came out earlier this year. We also talk about finding contentment and being present in your current season, finding community, and permission to change your mind in big life choices. No matter your season or relationship status, I think you'll find this conversation really helpful.  If you’re single (or know someone who is), our open registration season for Single Purpose League is coming to a close next week (on Oct. 28th), and it won’t open again until the New Year, so make sure you come join us, especially because you’ll get to go through our Advent series, Stay Tuned, together. You can find all the details at singlepurposeleague.com. There's a resource that I want to give you, too, at anniefdowns.com/pastoringsingles. It's a short PDF that offers some ideas to

One of my BFFs, Danielle Walker, is back and this is her 5th time on That Sounds Fun, so you know what that means, right?! HALL OF FUN induction.  Her new cookbook is called Make It Easy: A Healthy Meal Prep and Menu Planning Guide and I’m telling you.. If you’re already building your Christmas wish list, put this on it. Especially those of you who like a meal prep plan. She’s got you covered. Y’all know I don’t cook much, but when I do… Danielle’s my girl for all the recipes. We also answer some of your questions you asked her on our AFD Week In Review!  Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! other topics we cover: Infant Loss Awareness Day, insecurities, New York Times Bestsellers, favorite New York restaurants, and Disneyland . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Join us for our Advent study this year at anniefdowns.com/advent! . . . . . Join

You 90s CCM lovers are in for another treat! Michael Tait (from DC Talk) and Adam Agee (from Audio Adrenaline) are here today and share how they became apart of Newsboys. With over 10 million records sold, I know you’re no stranger to Newsboys! I think we can really learn something about faithfulness and obedience through their long careers in Christian music. Part 1 of Newsboys latest album, World Wide Revival, is out now and part 2 comes out tomorrow!  . . . . . Find the show notes here! Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off

When the Advent season rolls around every year, the theme that always leads the way is waiting with anticipation. Waiting with excitement because the birth of Christ is near. But sometimes that’s hard because Advent is ANOTHER season of waiting for a lot of us. How do we level up excitement and joy around WAITING when it feels like waiting is our whole year? That’s why we’ve created Stay Tuned: An Advent Series For Those Already Waiting—a series designed for anyone struggling with unanswered prayers and hope that feels a bit worn out. Whether you’re single or simply navigating a tough season, this Advent, we’ll face the challenges of waiting together and discover the beauty and purpose in the midst of it. Join us for three weeks of devotionals (available in written form, audio, and video), prayers, and reflection questions on how to wrestle with the waiting, find hope in it all, and celebrate the faithfulness of God as we anticipate the arrival of our King. For all the Advent details and to purchase this s

Today we get to sit under the wisdom of a mothering voice who understands long obedience in the same direction. What a gift. If you don’t know her already, Darlene Zschech is a Christian music LEGEND. She's an acclaimed Australian composer, worship leader, pastor, author, and speaker who helped pioneer the modern worship movement in the Church from the 1990’s onwards. Her new album “Testament” marks the milestone 30-year anniversary of “Shout to the Lord,” her song that became an anthem for the church worldwide. Her voice and that song has absolutely shaped my faith, and I got to tell her today (yes, I cried). . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunp

This is Lysa Terkeurst’s 4th time here on the podcast and she’s that friend to all of us who just isn’t afraid to talk about the real and hard things that she’s walked through and what God’s taught her through it. Her brand new book came out this week… it’s called I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t… so we’re going in on broken trust and what to do with it. After several painful friendship breakups, the death of her marriage and other devastating betrayals, Lysa realized she was caught in a cycle of distrust and this book is the journey to figuring out how to move forward from it.  I have no doubt there’s someone who’s broken your trust before (and maybe even recently), so you’re going to learn a ton from this book and this friend. . . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign

Today on the show, I get to talk with my friend, Kendra Adachi or better known as The Lazy Genius. Y’all know Kendra has helped me Lazy Genius all the things.. my kitchen… basically my whole life. And y’all are going to LOOOVE her new book on time management called The Plan. She says, “you’re not starting something today, you are starting with where you are today.”  It doesn’t matter if you’re working full time or part time or managing your home or school work, this book is sooo helpful. I always love learning from Kendra and I think you will too. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank

Today on the show, I get to catch up with one of my favorite dudes, Mack Brock. This is Mack’s third time back with us, but his first time flying solo! He and his wife, Meredith, have been here twice for our couples series in 2019 and 2021. I have no doubt you’re already listening to Mack’s music and probably singing them at church, but don’t even realize he wrote them. Mack was one of the founding members of Elevation Worship, but we get to talk about his brand new full-length album that just released last week called This is Holy. Y’all. The lyrics. The music. The song his daughter got to be a part of. We’re going to talk about all of it.  . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD

Today on the show, America’s Favorite Government Teacher, Sharon McMahon, is here and we are all the better for it. Is there not a more perfect time than now for her to guide us through election season AND talk about her brand new book- The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement. We also talk about her 14 hour work days, how to navigate all the news sources, voting on policies or character, and why we vote. We are big Sharon fans around here and I know alot of you are too, so I can’t wait for you to hear this one. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions t

Our buddy Eddie Kaufholz is back! If you haven’t been around for a minute, once a month we’re recapping each of the last 10 years in honor of the 10th anniversary of That Sounds Fun, so this month, we’re recapping 2021... but more importantly wow discuss Eddie's college band, signing up for Saturday Night Live tickets, and we also invent a name for those close friends you'd wear no make up around and a 20 year old t-shirt and gym shorts.  . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month. Nutu

Y'ALL, get ready to laugh with my new friend, Leanne Morgan! You may know her and love her from her comedy special on Netflix or seeing her videos pop up on Instagram, but Leanne is here today and if you don’t already love her, you’re about to. She’s a comedian, actress, writer, producer, wife, mom, AND grandmama, and her brand new book, What In the World?!  releases tomorrow. You’re going to love this book and you’re going to love her. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your fir

Today on the show, get ready to laugh. My longtime friend Lyndsay Rush is here, but you may know her better from her instagram accounts: rushbomb or maryoliversdrunkcousin. Lyndsay is hysterical and found herself writing poems on social media that eventually turned into a book deal, and this week, Lyndsay’s very first book of published poetry releases called, A Bit Much. We talk about getting older, moving, friendships changing, and the gift poetry gives you to think. Lyndsay and I became friends when she first moved to Nashville (over a decade ago) and it’s been so much fun to see her superpower gift of words and wit turn into a book we can hold and read. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to

Today on the show, my friend Alyssa Bethke is here and you’re in for a treat. Alyssa and her family recently moved to Nashville from MAUI, so we talked all about the transition and what that’s been like and then dug into her latest book, When Doing it All is Undoing You. Does anyone else get overwhelmed when fall rhythms start back?! We talk about trying to to do too much, holding everything together, managing and controlling our circumstances. What do we do when we start falling apart? I think you'll really like this one. . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1:

A few days ago, I did a question box on my instagram about my dual citizenship between Nashville and New York City, particularly about being in New York since I currently am. One of the questions that was asked was “Have there been any surprising disappointments in this otherwise fun year?”  And while I was able to answer most of the submitted questions on the little one slide of an instagram story, this one deserves a whole episode. Because yes, while this has been a very fun experience, it has also been very very hard. And disappointing. If you have thoughts to share, there’s a great place for that on instagram… @thatsoundsfunpodcast. I’d love to hear anything that came up for you in this episode and any suggestions of topics you’d like to hear future episodes about. ..... Check out my instagram page @afdinnyc Listen to all AFD in NYC Episodes HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carlos Whittaker...you know him and love him and he’s a Hall of Funner. We’re diving into the project he’s been working on the the past few years. If you don’t follow Carlos on social media and haven’t heard about this, you’re going to be fascinated. Carlos spent 7 weeks away from screens and spent time with monks and amish farmers to see how it would impact his life AND his brain. He’s written all about it in his brand new book, Reconnected AND he’s been working on a documentary of the whole thing. We’re going to talk about all of it today. Buckle up! . . . . . Other topics we cover in today's episode: Rwanda, African New Life, pickle ball, family, the Amish, monks . . . . Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  . . . . Subscribe to Let's Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs HERE. . . . . . Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single? . . . . . S