That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

David Platt, a passionate pastor and missions leader, shares riveting stories from his recent trip to Brazil, highlighting the global impact of Brazilian missionaries. He discusses the personal nature of evangelism, recounting moments where everyday encounters led to profound spiritual conversations. Platt emphasizes the importance of risk in sharing faith in challenging areas and encourages practical steps for listeners to engage in global missions. He also offers encouragement for single women pursuing ministry, affirming their vital role in spreading the gospel.

In this enlightening conversation, author and speaker Jordan Lee Dooley shares her journey as a mother of three under three and how it reshaped her view on body stewardship. She discusses shifting from a mindset of fixing appearances to honoring our bodies as gifts. Jordan emphasizes reframing health as an act of worship, not just for results. She also highlights the importance of community in well-being and practical steps for affordable health habits. Her new book, 'Be Good to Your Body,' dives into these transformative ideas.

In this heartfelt conversation, Tatum Green, a mother who faced the tragic loss of her infant son TJ, shares her family's journey and discusses the creation of the children's book 'Where Did TJ Go?' to help others navigate similar grief. David Thomas, a licensed counselor, provides invaluable insights on supporting children through anticipatory grief and emphasizes that everyone's grief is unique. The duo advocates for open conversations about loss, offering practical steps for families to heal together.

Caroline Shankle, a recent college graduate and author of "The Lion and the Bear," joins her mother, Melanie Shankle, a seasoned author and parenting expert. They dive into incredible insights about facing fears during college years and the spiritual journey involved. Caroline shares her transition from aspiring vet to writer, inspired by her personal struggles. Melanie discusses the challenges of parental fears and the importance of trust in God. They even touch on the excitement of SEC football and the joy of supporting young women through faith.

Chris Tomlin, a Grammy-winning contemporary Christian music artist, joins to discuss his new album, 'The King Is Still The King.' He shares insights on worship and how it serves to reorient the soul toward God. Tomlin emphasizes the importance of engaging with worship music actively and describes how he captures spontaneous musical moments. They dive into the meaning behind the album title and the impact of his earlier songs on different generations. The conversation also touches on maintaining faith amidst life's challenges.

Ben Rector, an acclaimed singer-songwriter, unwinds the creative journey behind his latest album, *The Richest Man in the World*. He shares insights on how music captures life's milestones, reflecting on the golden days of parenthood. Ben opens up about the challenge of balancing creativity with social media demands and discusses the art of crafting engaging set lists. With a healthier touring model, he emphasizes being present for family while savoring simple moments in life. It's a heartfelt conversation about music, family, and friendship.

Logan, Madison, and Taylor from the sibling band CAIN join to share their vibrant experiences on the CAIN Live And In Color tour. They discuss the challenges of balancing family life with touring, including managing kids and logistics on the road. The emotional depth behind their new song 'I Made It' is revealed, highlighting themes of healing and community. The trio also reflects on the spiritual significance of their performances, creating moments for worship and authentic connections during shows.

Mike Kelsey, a pastor known for his insights on spiritual growth, joins to explore the meaning of fall in our lives. He encourages listeners to embrace the beauty and loss of this season, reflecting on the importance of trusting God's goodness during change. The discussion delves into distinguishing healthy growth from unhealthy, emphasizing the need for spiritual rhythms and community support. Mike also shares tips on storing up resources during times of flourishing to prepare for future challenges, promoting a mindset of resilience and hope.

When we get to this part of the year, I think we often look around and wonder how it came so fast. How is it that the leaves are about to change colors and we’re going to start talking about the holidays? Why did the winter feel eternal back in January and now we’re not sure how the year is almost over? But what I love about what we’ve been doing on That Sounds Fun this year is getting a chance to actually be present in each season and think about where we are today—to stop and define the realities of the shift in our own lives.  So what IS fall? What does it mean for our everyday lives? Our spiritual lives? Does it bring up stress for you because it’s marked with a lot of busyness? Does it spark idyllic dreams of lattes and pumpkin patches? Is there relief for you that you’re back in a routine after summer was more relaxed? Does it bring up fear because things are changing and moving so fast? On Monday, September 22nd, we’re starting our last season of 2025 together, here on That Sounds Fun as we step into the fall, and we’re going to talk about all of it. We’re going to explore what the harvest looks like and how we can be a part of it. We’re going to talk about how to be the healthiest versions of ourselves even when we start running out of steam at the end of the year. We’re going to talk about how to prepare for the next right thing. We’ve got some really incredible guests coming to help us finish the last 3 months of the year really well. Guests we’ve hand picked for this specific season—many you know and love—because we knew we’d need them to help us with some intentional steps this fall. And, as always, Eddie and I are going to keep talking once a month BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE DO. The fall pages in our TSF Seasons Guidebook have everything you need to take notes and process questions from each episode. And we’ve thrown in a gratitude journaling page, fun fall recipes, and some sabbath and self-care ideas to help you make space for rest in the middle of all the busyness. If you don't have a copy yet this year, head over to anniefdowns.com/seasons to purchase yours and you’ll get the full guidebook including all four seasons from the podcast this year. Pastor Mike Kelsey, our Pastor of the Pod this year, will help us kick off the fall on Monday, September 22nd so make sure you’re subscribed to That Sounds Fun so you don’t miss a single episode. We’ll see you then. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You never know what conversation Eddie and I are going to get into, and today is no different. If you want to hear the ideas we have about a Christmas episode, the instagram account I was so surprised Eddie was following, or the diabolical way Eddie transitions his wardrobe from summer to fall…well, just keep listening. As always, we have some note taking pages for you for this episode over in our TSF Seasons Guidebook, so you can find that on page 94, and if you need a copy of the guidebook, BECAUSE THE FALL SEASON STARTS ON MONDAY, then head over to anniefdowns.com/seasons! . . . . . Find the show notes here Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify App, or 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! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/soundsfun.  Boll and Branch: Go to bollandbranch.com/thatsoundsfun for 15% off and free shipping! NIV Application Bible: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/NIVAB and use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN. Thrive Market: Go to ThriveMarket.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift. Helix Sleep: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 27% off sitewide. Make sure you enter our show name after checkout so they know we sent you! NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices