That Sounds Fun With Annie F. Downs

What an honor to have Steven Curtis Chapman on the podcast. His new book Between Heaven and the Real World is so worth your time to read. For a girl who grew up listening to Christian music, this was a really special interview- not many people have been a part of my life as long as Steven's music has. I'm grateful for the hour we got to spend together and I hope you'll love it too. http://stevencurtischapman.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 whole life has changed since my way of eating changed in 2013. Diagnosed with PCOS and a dairy allergy, to be the healthiest version of Annie meant it was time to change alllll my ways. And Danielle Walker, author of the New York Times Bestelling Against All Grain cookbooks and hugely popular website, was a true gift from God that year of learning (still is!). Not only are her recipes insanely delicious (her dairy-free ranch made me tear up), she's also an absolutely lovely human being and now one of my dearest friends. My bet is you know her, you follow her, and you love her (and her foods). But if by chance she is a new friend to you, I'm so glad to introduce y'all. :)  http://againstallgrain.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'm kicking off the season of writing a new book, and for the last few weeks y'all have been sending us questions about the process. So even though I don't know very much :), I attempted to answer a few of the questions with everyone's favorite assistant, Eliza!  (It's just the beginning of the process... we have so much more to discuss... so keep those questions coming!) So let's talk about writing books! 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 have been so excited to have this conversation with my friend Tsh Oxenreider. As I followed along with her family as they traveled the world last year, I could not wait to hear more and read her book At Home In The World. Amazing author, brilliant woman, faithful friend. You're going to adore her, her brain, her story.  Make sure you check out her books, blog, and podcast! http://theartofsimple.net 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

Lisa-Jo Baker is my favorite South African turned American turned author turned awesome. And knowing some of her story, it was really brave of her to write an entire book on the pains and joys of friendship called Never Unfriended. We talk about it, as well as our favorite television shows and Beauty and the Beast and the life of an author, amongst other things. Lisa-Jo is a joy. You're gonna love her. http://neverunfriended.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

John Mark Comer is one of my very very favorite authors and teachers in the church right now. I've long been a fan and am just now lucky enough to call him friend. I've loved all his books (and his preaching podcast), and his new book God Has A Name is an incredibly thought-provoking read that I think you will enjoy. Our conversation kicks off with enneagram (duh y'all know me) and circles through to modern day church life and the best coffee in Portland. Hope you'll enjoy hanging with us! https://johnmarkcomer.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

A few years ago, I was asked to speak at a church in Sioux Falls, SD. I had no idea that day that I would meet a lifelong friend and one of my favorite pastors in the nation. Adam Weber is one of the best and I am so so glad to get to introduce y'all to him. His new book Talking With God is all about prayer and talking with Adam about it has changed me and my prayer life. I think you're gonna love the book, the conversation, and this guy. http://adamweber.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

Since it began in 2009, I have been a fan, family member, and contributor at (in)courage. It's a beautiful corner of the internet for women to gather and make friends. I love that I got to be a part of their new book, Craving Connection. Fellow author, contributor, friend, and all around ball of fun Jennifer Dukes Lee joins me on this episode. We talk about, well, everything (you know how it goes around here, y'all). But we spend a good amount of time swapping book-writing stories. I think you're going to love this gal.   http://www.cravingconnectionbook.com http://jenniferdukeslee.com http://www.incourage.me 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

Russ Ramsey is one of my favorite pastor voices in Nashville. His new book Struck might just blow your mind a little bit. A real-time retelling of his life-threatening heart infection and surgery, this book is beautiful for anyone who has suffered, or is currently suffering, and trying to believe God. I love this dude and I think you will too.   http://russ-ramsey.com http://www.anniefdowns.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You hear her beautiful singing voice on every single episode. Now you get to hear her beautiful talking voice too as Ellie Holcomb and I sit down to discuss all sorts of things, including her new (and incredible) album Red Sea Road. We laughed. We cried. We told you the truth. I think you're gonna love this one. http://anniefdowns.com http://ellieholcomb.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Bible Williams and Raechel Myers from SheReadsTruth are back to talk to us about Lent, the next season on the Christian calendar. If you've ever wondered about this 47 day journey, how and why we celebrate it, what it all means and how to participate, join us for this amazing conversation. I love these women and how they love Jesus and the Bible. And I love Lent! So fun to chat about it.   http://anniefdowns.com http://shereadstruth.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah Lyons is just one of those women that you want on your team. She's fun, she's honest, she loves God and loves her friends and gosh I could just go on and on. (And I kinda do in this podcast.) I'm so thankful that Rebekah and I got to sit down and talk about life and her kids (whom I adore) and her new book "You Are Free."  I've read it a lot. Trust me. You'll love this book. And you'll love this gal. And you'll love this podcast. (Valentine's week, y'all. So. We're still talking about love over here.) :) http://youarefreebook.com http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's kick off Valentine's week with our first ever married couple show! Mike and Molly Grayson are not only married (with a kid), they are also an AMAZING duo called Grayson|Reed. Their new EP "Walk" just released and it is on repeat at my house. Can't wait for y'all to meet them and fall in love with their story, their music, and the way they talk about each other. (IT IS THE BEST.) http://graysonreedmusic.com/ http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Wear may be one of the smartest men I know. He spent four years in the White House with President Obama working on faith initiatives. His new book "Reclaiming Hope" is about that season of his life, where faith and politics meet, and what hope looks like going forward. And also? He sings like a crooner on snapchat. So. You have THAT to look forward to. You're gonna love this guy. http://michaelwear.com http://www.anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know the best way to end a Christmas party is standing around laughing with your favorite people, and that is why we have Eddie Kaufholz back with us today. With Christmas just around the corner, I definitely needed to get Eddie's opinion on some very important holiday topics. But obviously, we ended up talking about 73 other things as well. Hope you enjoy the end of the party and we'll see you in 2017! (Thank you for listening, friends. I love hanging with you here.

She's been singing to my heart (and my ears) for almost twenty years, so I have a lot (read: ALL) of Christy Nockels's music. But her new Christmas album, A Thrill of Hope, is on repeat over at the Downs Books Inc office these days. The Christmas party continues with a good long chat with Christy about music and Franklin, TN and raising children and finding a church and Christmas and how I embarrassed us all the first time I met her.  This party is full of the very best people, isn't it?  http://anniefdowns.com http://christynockels.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ann Voskamp joins us for the third week of our #thatsoundsfunpodcast Christmas party! With lots of wisdom and wit and patience (with me, mostly), Ann will be a breath of fresh air and a calming conversation amidst the crazy of this holiday season. Her new book The Broken Way is a great addition to any woman's stocking. Ann is so smart and funny and great to be around, making this officially the best Christmas party I've ever attended! :) http://anniefdowns.com http://thebrokenway.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Bible Williams and Raechel Myers from SheReadsTruth join us for our second week of our That Sounds Fun Christmas party and we talk all about what Advent is, what it looks like in our families and lives, and how it can change us to really celebrate the season, not just December 25th. Pretty much, we go to church in this episode. It brought tears to my eyes when we recorded and when I listened again.  So welcome to the longest Christmas party you've ever attended! :) The episode with Landyn was for your home, this one is for your heart. http://anniefdowns.com http://shereadstruth.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Landyn Hutchinson, better known as writer and blogger Living With Landyn, is one of the best and most creative decorators I know and one of my favorites to follow on every corner of the internet. So the best way to kick off a Christmas party is to make sure you've got your recipes cooking, Christmas cards printing, and home decorated without blowing your budget. Landyn is your girl! http://anniefdowns.com http://livingwithlandyn.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Sauls, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN is one of my newer friends in town. But after we met about a year ago, I decided he was totally stuck with me. :) I asked Scott to join me on the podcast to talk about his new book, Befriend, and to talk about community in general. The conversation that came out was different and better than I could have ever expected. https://scottsauls.com http://anniefdowns.com #thatsoundsfunpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices