When we hear the word serve, we immediately start thinking about all the things we should be doing, the places we should be volunteering and donating our clothes, serving meals, and being the hands and feet of Jesus. But what if serving starts with paying attention to the people God has already placed around us? What if we start by asking where there’s a need and how God might want to use us to meet it?

Today, I get to talk with Heather Rice-Minus, who is the President and CEO of Prison Fellowship, an organization that works to restore those affected by crime and incarceration through the Gospel. Heather is going to help us think about what it looks like to serve people in our own communities, especially people we might not naturally think about or even know how to reach. 

I think this conversation is going to help us see our cities a little differently and maybe even recognize an opportunity to serve that we’ve been walking past. I’ve gotten to serve in prison ministry the last couple of years and it has truly changed my life.

View the show notes here

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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.

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Eddie and I keep talking about ALL the things:

• Eddie’s marathon and training journey (he completed it this weekend, but this was recorded a few days before!)
• What we’re watching right now
• Baking muffins
• Graphic novels
• And whether or not to have a TV in your bedroom 

I’m sure you’re going to have lots of opinions! Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Find the show notes here

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You can find out more about my TV show by searching I Gotta Ask on Prime Video or by visiting IGottaAsk.com!

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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.

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God made you creative and your gifts have a purpose.

Today we start talking about another rhythm that’s helping us get spiritually stronger: service. We're talking about how to serve in your gifting, how to recognize the ways God has uniquely wired you, and how to use those gifts to bring hope to the people around you. 

Al Gordon is a Christian leader, pastor, and voice in the global creative movement within the church. He’s the founder of Renaissance, leads SAINT, a church in East London that was planted with a mission to bring hope and renewal to a neighborhood where less than 1% of people attend church. Al recently released his book Spark in March and it’s the perfect resource for this conversation. 

Find the show notes here

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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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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Carl and Laura Lentz walked through infidelity on a really public platform and since 2020 have put in the work towards restoration, redemption, and healing. When they realized there weren’t many books for couples walking through infidelity and betrayal, they felt the invitation to not only tell their story, but share the practical steps that have helped them stay together and heal.

I realize this may not be your story or your struggle, but sin is something we all deal with and secret sin specifically is not something we’re going to play around with around here. I admire Carl and Laura’s vulnerability and honesty to share what this has looked like for them. It’s really brave and I’m really grateful.

If you know a couple that could benefit from reading Overcoming Infidelity or maybe that’s you - go grab a copy of their book.

Find the show notes here

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Have you watched my talk show, I Gotta Ask?! Head over to IGottaAsk.com and we have all the instructions on how to find the show! I want to hear your thoughts after you watch!

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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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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Worship is something we can do anywhere, anytime, but I asked Dwan Hill today why corporate worship and gathering together matters. And you’re going to be so encouraged by his response. I love his heart for the Church and hearing the way he’s been uniquely gifted to help lead us all as we glorify God.

Dwan Hill is the worship pastor at Cross Point Church, and both a Grammy and Dove award winner and the founder of the Choir Room, which we’re going to talk about today.

We’ve even got a worship practice guide for you that’s available over at spirituallystronger.com today. It just has some practical ideas of ways to connect with God in worship that may fit your personality—whether you prefer worship through music or art or words or nature.

View the show notes here

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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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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Poetry and liturgies and some of these quieter methods of worship are powerful and for a lot of people - their preferred way of worship.

Doug McKelvey is the brilliance behind the Every Moment Holy books. These liturgies are incredible and their popularity proves that sometimes we need words to help guide us in worship. I bet you’ve picked up one of them when you needed the right words during a major life moment or even just on a Monday morning when you need help connecting with God.

As always, we’re unpacking the conversation even more over at SpirituallyStronger.com - so head over there as we talk about the way we connect with God through words and writing.

Find the show notes here

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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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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Stephen McWhirter is here today and we’re talking about what it looks like to worship even when shame is telling you that you don’t belong in the room.

Stephen has a story of radical restoration. He went from hating Jesus, battling addiction, and feeling completely beyond saving to becoming a worship leader, songwriter, and someone who now gets to tell people all over the world that Jesus is real. He’s also the author of Radically Restored and the songwriter behind a song you probably hear often: “Come Jesus Come.”

I think Stephen’s story is going to remind you that worship isn’t something we earn the right to do. It’s a response to the grace we’ve already been given. 

Find the show notes here

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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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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Today on the show, Eddie and I get to keep talking about ALL the things. We’re chatting about:

• Pillar
• Annie's Wedding
• The release of Don’t Let That Hold You Back
• A new TV show called Totally '90s House
• The Emmys
• SNL, briefly

We need to know - do you take your wedding rings off when you go to bed or do you sleep with them on? We need you over in the comments on @thatsoundsfunpodcast’s instagram.

Find the show notes here

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Thank you to our sponsors!

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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.

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Hosanna Wong is here to help us start a multi-episode mini series on our next spiritual rhythm: worship. 

She has been on this really beautiful journey of trying to uncomplicate worship and uncomplicate spiritual rhythms. As she researched for her latest book, Uncomplicate It, she actually asked 1,000 people all over the world two questions: 

1. What stands in the way of you connecting with God?

2. What’s a unique way you’ve been able to connect with God?

From those conversations, she discovered seven different worship personalities—or, as she calls them, “praise-analities.” And I LOVE this because the point isn't to put you in a box or tell you, This is the one right way you worship God. It’s actually meant to set you free to worship God in the way you’re naturally wired—or in the way that makes sense for the season you’re in. Take the quiz to see what your Praise-o-nality is at hosannawong.com/quiz!

Find the show notes here

. . . .

We’re unpacking the conversation even more over at SpirituallyStronger.com - it’s just like my old blogging days over there and I love it.

. . . .

Order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books!

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Thank you to our sponsors: 

• OurPlace: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 10% off sitewide. 
• Ritual: Save 25% on your first month at Ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN.
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• Daily Look: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order.
• SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.
• Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus. 
• Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun.

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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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Today on the launch of Don’t Let That Hold You Back, I’m honored to get to sit down with a woman who’s paved a way for other authors and teachers like me…truly not held back by anything.

One of our spiritual mothers in the faith, AND one of my book launch day twins, Joyce Meyer is here! Joyce is 83 and while she’s authored over 150 books, she’s releasing her memoir for the very first time today. It is called My Battlefieldand it’s just beautiful. The life she’s lived has not been without pain and suffering, but you will hear her say today why it mattered to her to tell this story. I will warn you, that as we talk about her upbringing, we get into some conversation about sexual abuse, so please be gentle with yourself if that’s something you’ve also walked through and parents, this may be an episode you’d rather have your headphones in for if you’re around my miniBFFs.

Find the show notes here

. . . .

Order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books!

Here's a list of all the books that released today!

We’ve got 3 more stops for the Don’t Let That Hold You Back book tour this week, so Southlake, TX we’ll see you Thursday with my friend Kailey Dickerson, Houston on Friday with Melanie Shankle, and then our virtual book stop is Saturday night with our pal and yours, Eddie Kaufholz. It’s not too late to grab a ticket - at DontLetThatHoldYouBack.com.

. . . .

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• SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.
• Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus. 
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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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

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I'm so happy to be here with you…the day before Don’t Let That Hold You Back officially releases to the world! I can’t wait for you to get it in your hands, so we can all start talking about how and why you’ve been held back and what we’re going to do about it.

Honestly, this episode was basically as if Jess Connolly and I sat down for breakfast to just catch up, but turned on the microphone. So, this is your invitation to pull up a chair and join us at the table.

Jess has a book coming out in October called You Can’t Be Brave Until You’re Scared so she basically fear coached me about book launch week for half of this episode. We realized as we recorded that we both are releasing our 7th trade books this year, which is wild, so we both did a little coaching for each other and I’m just so grateful for Jess’ friendship to all of us. She’s SUCH a cheerleader and just a treasure.

Find her Cortisol Reset Guide here

Find the show notes here

. . . .

Order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books! [pre- order gifts available dontletthatholdyouback.com]

. . . .

Thank you to our sponsors: 

• BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun.
• Good Ranchers: For a limited time, you can get a free Ground Beef bundle with your first Good Ranchers order. Visit GoodRanchers.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to claim. Plus, when you start a plan, you’ll get free meat with every order.
• CreaTone: Get started with 20% off your first order. Visit TONETODAY.com… Promo Code TSF.
• Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide.
• Daily Look: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order.
• SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.
• The Subtext Podcast: Search for The Subtext wherever you get your podcasts.
• Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus. 
• Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun. 

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. 

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

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