Today I talk with my long-time friend Lindsay Sherbondy (or you may know her as Lindsay Letters). She’s a full-time artist, living just outside of Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, Dugan, and their two kids, Eva and Phoenix. Their world was turned upside down in August of 2019 when Eva sustained a traumatic brain injury, and as you can imagine, every day since has presented itself with new challenges and new beauty. Today Lindsay is generously sharing their story and it was an honor to get to hear her talk about the broken-heartedness of what they’ve walked through and I think you’re going to feel that too.

If you’re taking notes in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, we’re on page 11.

Shop Lindsay's amazing art at lindsayletters.co

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TSF Seasons Guidebook is available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. 

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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! 

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Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

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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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One of our favorite pastors around is here- Pastor Mike Kelsey. As we were planning for this year on the podcast, we knew we wanted a pastor to help us set up each new season and give us a spiritual look at what it all means. SO WHAT AN ACTUAL GIFT that Pastor Mike is going to be here at the start of every season to help us really figure all of this out. Today, we’re going to talk about how we define winter in our own lives, and I cannot wait to see what God wants to teach us throughout this season. This is a note-taking episode for sure, because you know Pastor Mike is always bringing us some truth. (Guidebook page 10)

Today, Pastor Mike Kelsey is starting us off on our Seasons series talking about winter. He is here help us answer the question, “How do I define winter in my life?”

We have a TSF Seasons Guidebook available for you over at anniefdowns.com/seasons that will lead you through this entire year as well. When you purchase it, you’ll get a download of all of the questions and prompts for the winter season, and then we’ll email the content for each new season as it begins. 

. . . . .

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?

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

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

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Thank you to our sponsors!

AG1: You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer!

Daily Look: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order.

Thrive Causemetics: Right now, my friends can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF.

Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. 

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If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

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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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Y’all know I love a meeting- whereas most people say “that meeting could have been an email” I tend towards “that email could have been a meeting”... so this is the one time a year I feel like we get to have a meeting. Which brings my soul joy. Epiphany is when I get to stop the show for a minute and instead of you listening to an episode of TSF, you are listening to what is going on behind the scenes, the plans, the people, the direction. It’s also a day I always want to see and celebrate, pause and think, and invite you to do the same thing.

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Get your TSF Seasons Guidebook here: https://www.anniefdowns.com/seasons/

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Show notes

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Find more about Annie's new Where Did TJ Go? book here

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Join us as we read the gospels together again over on the Let’s Read the Gospels podcast!

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Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

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

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

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If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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

What an actual treat to get to talk to Eddie every single month this year... listen for an update on if he's going anywhere?! And also... a special update on his robe situation. We also talk lots of minutes of serious about marriage, friendships, and of course the new Wicked movie. I think you'll enjoy this last show of the year!

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Find the TSF Seasons Guidebook at anniefdowns.com/seasons.

View the show notes here

. . . . .

Join us as we read the gospels together again starting January 1st over on the Let’s Read the Gospels podcast!

. . . . .

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

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

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

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If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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

There’s something really profound to be said about the changing of a season—winter, spring, summer, fall—but even more so—there’s something profound about actually realizing which season you’re in emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

To pay attention to your season raises some important questions...

Where is the hope in the winter?

What’s blooming in and around us in the spring?

What kind of fun are we chasing in the summer?

And what’s being harvested in the fall?

These are the themes that will be the center of the That Sounds Fun Podcast in 2025. We’re going to spend the entire year talking about the spiritual impact of all four seasons in our lives. We’ll use questions about the seasons we find ourselves in as guides for the conversations on the podcast and we’ll also have some episodes that are just me processing with you.

We’ve created a TSF Seasons Guidebook as a companion to walk through this year with you. It includes space for you to take notes and capture your reflections on the podcast episodes, some fun activities and recipes to try, scripture to reflect on, and journal prompts to respond to. We’ll deliver additional pages at the beginning of each season so that, by the end of the year as we’ve walked through all four seasons together, we’ll be able to look back at all God has taught us and what we’ve seen Him do for us, in us, with us.

We are really looking forward to this year and hope you'll join us. Find the guidebook here: www.anniefdowns.com/seasons

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Want to watch this trailer on YouTube? Head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

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If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast in 2025, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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

My friend Matthew West is here and I loved this conversation! We catch up about work, life, and his new book, Come Home for Christmas. I love that we get to continue our Advent conversations with friends we trust like Matthew and I’m grateful we get to walk into Christmas with the help of his pastoring voice. 

. . . . .

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 advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

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

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

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Thank you to our sponsors!

BetterHelp:  Visit BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to get 10% off your first month.

Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter our code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off site wide.

Lumen: Go to lumen.me/TSF to get 15% off your Lumen. 

Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun.

Aura Frames: Save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35-off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code FUN at checkout. 

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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

Anthony O'Neal is a financial expert, but today he’s not only helping us think through the vision of how to use our resources, but really the big vision of who’s around us to help us get where we want to be spiritually, relationally, and financially. I love that we’re ending the year here, because it really sets us up well as we think about what kind of 2025 we want to have.

Single Purpose League, you’re especially going to love this one too, because Anthony’s single and also navigating the dating world while continuing to work on being the healthiest version of himself right now. 

His brand new book, Take Your Seat at the Table comes out January 14th and is an incredible resource to help us start the new year well!

. . . . .

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 advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent

Join our Patreon community Single Purpose League as we tackle the question: What is my single purpose and what is my purpose while single?

. . . . .

If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll also love our Build Your Board series and the guidebook would be a great way to help you start the new year. You can find everything at anniefdowns.com/buildyourboard.

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

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

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Thank you to our sponsors!

AG1:  AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer!

Thrive Causemetics: Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/TSF.

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun.

Daily Look: Head to Dailylook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your order.

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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

My friend, Danielle Kartes is here and she’s bringing us the Christmas season food tips (and just all around fun) that we need. We talk about her journey from selling make up to becoming a regular on the Kelly Clarkson show. Her story is full of hard work and hope, and you do not want to miss her hilarious story at the end about... a cherry tomato. 

Danielle is an author, recipe genius, and entrepreneur living near Seattle. She and her husband run their boutique food, lifestyle, and commercial photography business, Rustic Joyful Food. 

She has written and published four cookbooks, seven children’s books, and one devotional memoir, and she is a regular culinary contributor to The Kelly Clarkson Show and The TODAY Show.

. . . . .

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! 

. . . . .

If you liked this episode, you'll love these! 

• 2019 Christmas Party Episode 6: Aarti Sequeira
• Episode 495: Aarti Sequeira on What Praying Before You Cook Can Do

. . . . .

Join our advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent

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

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Thank you to our sponsors!

BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.ccom/THATSOUNDSFUN today to get 10% off your first month.

StoryWorth: Go to StoryWorth.com/thatsoundsfun and save $10 on your first purchase! 

Aura Frames: Save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35-off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code FUN at checkout. 

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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

My friends, Jen and Jami are here and we’re reviewing Great American Family Christmas movies! Did we create our own rating system?! YES, YES WE DID. 

If you want to watch these too, check your local listings for Great American Family or download the Pure Flix app to stream them. You can find all the info at pureflix.com. And don’t forget, we created a bingo board for you to fill out while you watch!

. . . . .

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 advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent

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

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Thank you to our sponsors!

Shopify: Go to shopify.com/soundsfun to upgrade your selling today.

LiquidIV: Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to liquidiv.com and use code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout.

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If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

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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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, I get to talk with the king of whimsy himself, Bob Goff. This is his third time back to That Sounds Fun and he’s always a good friend to us and a really wise voice we can learn from. His new book Catching Whimsy is a 365 day devotional challenging us to intentionally live a life full of kindness and wonder and, of course, some whimsy too. He shares stories of visiting prisons in a Santa Claus suit, building a giraffe habitat, and encourages us to get curious about other people. I think you'll really like this one. 

. . . . .

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 advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent

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. 

Aura Frames: Save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35-off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code FUN at checkout.

Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/thatsoundsfun.

Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter our code TSF at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide.

Ritual: Get 25% off your first month at ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN.

. . . . .

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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

Today on the show, I get to talk with my long-time friend Lanier Ivester.

I’ve known her for 30 years and I don’t think I’ve talked publicly much about my grandmother’s book store, but Lanier worked there growing up, so this conversation was so sacred to me—to relive some of those memories, to get to talk about my grandmother AND THEN get to talk about the Advent & Christmastide season, which y’all know is sacred to me too.

Lanier’s very first book, Glad and Golden Hours: A Companion for Advent and Christmastide, is out now and it's so good. She has walked through great grief in infertility, losing her parents, and a house fire. I think you’re really going to love getting to know her story and her heart. 

We also recorded a little bonus for Single Purpose League too.

. . . .

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 advent study at https://www.anniefdowns.com/advent

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: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. Go to DrinkAG1.com/soundsfun to get this offer!

KiwiCo: Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo code THATSOUNDSFUN.

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/soundsfun. 

Glorify App: Download the #1 Christian devotional app for free at glorify-app.com/THATSOUNDSFUN.

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If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

. . . . .

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