That Sounds Fun With Annie F. Downs

This may be a tear-jerker YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. If you are moved by talk of family, adoptions, orphans, and the love and grace of God, this one may get ya. My friend Emily Chapman Richards is the newly appointed executive director of ShowHope and I think she's just one of the best and brightest and most inspiring women I know. If you'd like to know more about ShowHope, just head to their website!  https://showhope.org . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm so so happy to have Jeremy Cowart back on the show! We have lots of topics to cover (as you will see) including an update on The Purpose Hotel and his new amazing book I'm Possible. We also spend some time on Santa Claus and and adoption and chronic pain so yeah, we're something special. :) http://jeremycowart.com . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It all started when one of you sweet friends handed me a novel by Charles Martin. Then I saw I had another on my book shelf from my mom. Then I read them both and now I'm a massive fan and I pretty much begged Charles Martin to come be on the show because FAN GIRL STATUS IS REAL. His new book, What If It Is True?, is my companion for the next week as we walk towards Easter. (This episode will tell you why and why you should join me!) (Quick reminder: we are taking next week off the show to celebrate Holy Week. I hope you will take the time you usually spend here with us and use it to read, listen, and learn about why Easter week changed everything for us.)  Happy Easter, friends. He is risen indeed. See you Monday April 22nd! . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is like a little love letter to us all! Jeremy and Audrey Roloff are as amazing and kind and fun to be around as you would guess based on watching their family's hit reality show Little People, Big World. We talk a lot about enneagram and relationships and soccer so what I'm saying is this may be the apex show of my life. :) Their new book A Love Letter Life is already getting incredible feedback - I think you'll love it too. . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily P. Freeman is so dear to me. Getting to talk to her, listen to her, learn from her, it's quite a gift. I'm so honored to have her on the show today, to get to share her with you. Her newest book just released this week- The Next Right Thing- and along with her podcast, this work is just totally changing me.  I bet it will change you too.  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I do not like April Fools so this is no joke: you guys have been BEGGING me to have Ben Rector on the show and we finally made it happen today! He shows up in a million ways- in humor, in kindness, in wisdom. He's a great musician but an even better man. His latest album Magic is an absolute favorite and if you get a chance to see him on tour, TAKE IT. His live show is so so good.  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I love being friends with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. She is every bit as genuine and kind and truth-telling as you expect her to be. You'll hear in this conversation all about her prayer life, her family life, her television life, and her author life. Her new book Point of View just released this week and I think you will really love it. Get your journal out, there are nuggets galore in this one. . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I've been a fan of David Crowder for about as long as I've been buying music. He is one of my favorite musicians, one of my favorite writers (y'all have GOT to read some of his prose), and now one of my favorite dudes. This conversation was incredibly fun and entertaining for me across the table, I cannot wait to hear how you feel about it too! Crowder's newest album I Know A Ghost is a really good one. Father, Son, Holy Spirit- that part of this convo stuck with me. What a genius. I think you're going to love this one! . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably recognize Trudy's maiden name- Cathy. Like Truett Cathy. Like CHICK-FIL-A. Trudy Cathy White is way more than fried chicken, though. Over the last few years as I have gotten to know her, she has taught me faithfulness, joy, long obedience in the same direction. Every conversation moves me to be better. Her new book Climb Every Mountain will walk you through the harder days. It's so so beautiful.  Enjoy this convo and tell me your favorite Chick-fil-A order! :)  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gracious I love Lysa TerKeurst. What an honor and a joy to have her on the podcast. If you haven't heard her speak live, GO DO IT. If you haven't read her books yet, WHY NOT. If you haven't heard a conversation with her recorded with you in mind, you're welcome. :) Make sure you grab a copy of her new book It's Not Supposed To Be This Way. It is so moving and inspiring and I'm sure you will connect with it in your own way, just like I did. . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of my favorite things in the whole world is introducing my friends to my friends. I bet many of you already know Trey Kennedy from his comedy and videos and killer voice- he's the best. But hearing more about his life and spiritual disciplines and faith experience is going to be the best part of your day. Trey is one of my friends that I look forward to living life with over the next few decades to see how his discipline and heart and talent shape his life. Three cheers for great (and FUNNY) humans like Trey Kennedy! https://shop.treykennedy.com . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MY GIRL MERE! I've been WAITING to get her onto the podcast. Meredith Andrews has been dear to me for years- it's been long overdue to bring her to meet you. Her new live worship album Faith & Wonder just released last week and it is on repeat nonstop in my house. I think you're gonna love it, too. And Mere. She is a GIFT. . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For 30 days in 2019, over 400 churches in the greater Nashville area prayed and fasted together for revival in our city.  Pastor Dave Clayton from Ethos Church and Cross Point Pastor Kevin Queen (pastor of the pod, duh) came into my office to chat about Awaken Nashville- answer questions about why/how it got started, tell stories about what we've seen so far, and talk about what the first steps are for you to start this in your city. http://awakennashville.com . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I only know how to play three songs on the guitar, and Julie Roberts's song "Break Down Here" is one of them. I've never met her before but WOW am I glad to have met her. This conversation- about growing up, country music, marriage, and an MS diagnosis- runs the full gamut. Her new book Beauty in the Breakdown is an amazing and inspiring read. You're gonna love this woman and this book!  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a special day here on the podcast as we welcome Jonathan Pitts- pastor, author, and husband to my friend, the late Wynter Pitts.  The very day she passed away, Jonathan and Wynter turned in a book on marriage called Emptied. I thought talking about this book, and Wynter, and Jonathan's transition to Nashville, would be great at the end of TSF Couples 2019. Hope you'll enjoy this very moving and honest conversation with Jonathan. (We love you, Wynter. You are missed here.) https://twitter.com/PittsTimes6 https://forgirlslikeyou.com . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To finish out our couples month on the podcast, I got two of my favorites around the microphones... Pastor Kevin Queen and his wife Rea! It's right to end the month with a seasoned couple (married 19 years!) who can walk us through some of the hard seasons of marriage. So many of my questions are answered in this one. I'm so grateful. This one is for you, husbands. (Kevin gives the best piece of advice I've maybe ever heard to men.) This one is for you, wives. (Rea shares some deeply important ideas.) This one is for you, friends who want to be married someday. (Their dating advice to me has stayed with me.) Hope you love this one as much as I do! . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew East is an NFL long snapper. Shawn Johnson East is an Olympic gold medalist gymnast. POWER ATHLETE COUPLE FOR REAL. Together they are one of my very favorite couples (in real life and on instagram). I have loved watching their marriage grow and change via the internet, and this conversation is a special one - about how to meet the right person, how to persevere in your dreams, and how to make patterns and decisions that will make you who you want to be in the long run of life. Y'all are gonna love these people. https://www.instagram.com/andrewdeast/ https://www.instagram.com/shawnjohnson/ . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stars of Flip or Flop Atlanta, Ken and Anita Corsini have an incredible story of God opening doors for them, how He ordered their steps, and how He sustained them when their son had cancer. This is far more than a story of HGTV celebs (though they are that too!)- it's deep and beautiful. We've been friends since college- over 20 years- and this is one of my favorite conversations with them ever.  . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... join in the conversation wherever hashtags are welcome. :)    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm a little without description on this one, I'm just so happy about it. Mack and Meredith Brock are two strong leaders who have found home in each other. The depth of their communication and relationship is so dang inspiring to me (and wait until you hear how they talk about fasting and praying!). Mack Brock's most recent album Greater Things is an ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. Make sure you grab it! Grateful for these two. The fact they are also HILARIOUS seems borderline unfair- people shouldn't be this all around awesome. Makes the rest of us look bad. ;) http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... hashtag along with us!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It wouldn't be TSF Couples month here in Nashville without a country music super-couple! So here we are with Russell Dickerson and his amazing wife Kailey. I only cry once in this one... it's just so special, y'all. Make sure you check out Russell's music- truly one of my favorite voices in the country space right now. Even if you aren't totally a country fan (yet!), he might be the one to win you over. https://russelldickerson.com (PS- I love TSF Couples month SO SO MUCH. I hope y'all are enjoying it too!!) . . . . . http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast ... hashtag along with us!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices