That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

Holy Week Bible Reading: Palm Sunday

Matthew 21:1-11

Mark 11:1-11

Luke 19:29-44

John 12:12-19

(Read from my Bible in the New International Version 1984)

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#TSFHolyWeek

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Today on the show, I get to talk with my friend, Rabbi Jason Sobel. You may remember him from episode 1022 when we had him here during Advent to talk about the connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament when it comes to Jesus’ birth. Immediately when we finished recording that episode, I told him he had to come back and talk to us during Lent to help us also talk through Jesus’ resurrection.

He has served as a spiritual advisor for The Chosen since it started and y’all went nuts for his latest book, Transformed By the Messiah. ME TOO. Rabbi Jason is a Jewish man who believes Jesus is the Messiah, and the way he connects the dots between the Old Testament and the new is like watching the story of Jesus go from regular definition to full-on high definition.

Next week, we won’t be airing any new Spiritually Stronger episodes, but we are going to air a daily Scripture reading for Holy Week. I’ll read through the stories from the Gospels that correlate with each day’s events during Holy Week. We’ve made a reading plan for you too that you can check off whether you prefer to read or listen along. You can find that at spirituallystronger.com!

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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We’re going to keep talking about fasting today with my friend, Dr. Derwin Gray. He is the co-founding and Lead Pastor of Transformation Church, just outside of Charlotte, NC. 

We also talking about memorizing Scripture and what grace really looks like as we prepare for Holy Week. Head over to spirituallystronger.com after you listen because he also mentions “virtue ethics” today and I want us to talk about this some more and how it relates to spiritual disciplines. I’m really curious what you think.

View the show notes here

. . . .

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.

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 the Winter Olympics (mountaineering is wild!), the latest wild west movie I’ve watched, snow skiing stories, the difference in weighing things vs measuring them, and what makes a good biscuit... and of course we're just adding to the list of what we want The Buddies Tour to look like! 

Plus, you’re not ready to hear Eddie’s new way of saying, “I have to use the restroom.” Things get a bit unhinged today. 

Have you gotten your tickets to The Buddies tour yet?! Eddie and I are coming to:

Keller (Fort Worth), Texas on Friday, May 15th

Colorado Springs, Colorado on Saturday, May 16th

Orlando, Florida on Friday, June 5th

Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, June 7th

Trussville (Birmingham), Alabama on Friday, June 12th

Nashville, TN on Saturday, June 13th

Y’all, this is going to be an actual blast. I hope these nights are just pure fun. Tickets are selling QUICKLY! Go to thebuddiestour.com We cannot wait to see you there!

IF YOU MAKE SOAP, please come tell us over on instagram at @thatsoundsfunpodcast or shoot us an email at [email protected].

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⁠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! 

We have a Substack now! Find it at spirituallystronger.com.

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

. . . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!


Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠.


Capstone Wellness: Learn more at capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun.


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.

#thatsoundsfunpodcast
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It’s time to talk about fasting. Lisa Bevere is a spiritual mom to a lot of us and was the exact right person to help us kick off this conversation.

What I love about this conversation is how Lisa reframes fasting not as punishment or performance — but as invitation. As a way of intentionally making space for God to move in us and through us.

We talk about what fasting actually is — and what it isn’t. We talk about motives, about hunger (the physical and the spiritual kind), and about how fasting, when paired with prayer, can sharpen our awareness of God’s presence in everyday life. It’s practical and deeply spiritual at the same time. If fasting is something you’ve been curious about but never tried, we talk about some simple ways to start.

Head over to spirituallystronger.com after you listen as we process this together and give some questions to think through this week. Remember, this year we’re saying give us one hour a week listening to this episode and 10 minutes a day going through the Substack questions. We have loved this rhythm and love reading your comments each week!

Find the show notes here

. . . .

Thank you to our sponsors!


This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: Sign up and my friends get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun.


ELIC: To learn more, visit elic.org/thatsoundsfun.


Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.


Our Place: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 10% off sitewide.


Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠.


Capstone Wellness: Learn more at capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun.


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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